GOD OF SURPRISES WAS BUSY!!

19TH. MAY 2011 GOD OF SURPRISES WAS BUSY!!
We have had a few days of surprises!!

On Monday evening, a visiting Maltese priest celebrated Mass at our Church Service time. Afterwards, Charlie said we could expect a visit from a Vincentian priest on Tuesday. HE WAS COMING WITH A VIEW TO SETTING UP A NEW FOUNDATION. We could not
"believe our ears"! Fr.Giovanni duly arrived. He is a fine priest, who has spent 25 years in Madagascar. He is now Regional Superior of the Vincentian/Lazarist house in north Albania. After Mass, he came to our house for an hour. Then we joined our Maltese brothers as all were invited to evening meal with the Sisters at Bilisht. We talked out the possibilities. Yesterday, Mirjam showed Father our ministry in Pogradec. He is most interested. They have six seminarians; and one priest ready for mission. Dialogue and decisions will now follow; the final decision will be taken by their three regions in Italy. Father has not yet met our Bishop. His visit was as a result of discussion with our Papal Nuncio.

Then, a telephone call last evening brought news that two priests would come today from Lezje, which is north of Tirana. They said they would confirm. No call came and we concluded it would not happen. At 1.45p.m. today, a call told us they would arrive at 2.00p.m. Two priests, one, Peruvian and the other, Italian. Both are priests of the Institute of the Incarnate Word. We had Mass and after, celebrated the Birthday of one with tea and fresh scones!! Later, Mirjam and I went with them to our mountain, Morava. We climbed to the Cross and then went to the little icon chapel. They left really happy with their visit.

We are just amazed at the surprises of the week. We are very hopeful that Fr. Giovanni's visit is the beginning of a new development in this area. We were so surprised to hear him say -"My congregation has already spent 6 years in Korce! That was way back from 1936 to 1942. So, this area is already part of their history!

As I wrote the last sentence, Lalini telephoned. No sign yet of her return to Korce. We plan to attend the Preca College end-of-year Prizegiving tomorrow. We are looking forward to the event.

Have a great weekend. By the way, when I opened the computer to complete the blog,I enjoyed a Slide Show of Queen Elizabeth's visit to Ireland. It seems to be going very well, thank God.