28 SEPTEMBER 2011 CARITAS-ALBANIA ANTI-TRAFFICKING MEETING.
On Tuesday of last week, I had a telephone call from Caritas-Albania. The person that rang has responsibility for Anti-Trafficking. She had telephoned our bishop and he had given my name and mobile number. They requested a meeting here, with us inviting a relevant group. Theme of the meeting would be "Internal Trafficking". I asked for confirmation of the details in writing. Eventually, on Friday, the email came, confirming the meeting for Monday! So, a busy time ensued, getting suitable people and refreshments as the meeting was scheduled for noon. Everything went well and the two staff were very pleased with the lively meeting that took place - all based on local knowledge and experience. We felt affirmed that our interest and involvement in this work were recognised by Caritas. Also, it was an opportunity to share about the Renate Conference at Krakow.
Today, I was asked to call at the city Prefecture and was given a copy of a hefty - "National Action Plan for the fight against trafficking in human beings 2011-2013", together with the most recent National Report on the same topic. We have plenty of reading for the weekend!
Last weekend, Lalini and I had a short trip to the mountains. We were amazed to see villages with no roads! In fact, in the first, a bride was making her way down the narrow path that sufficed for a street. She was beautifully dresssed in a full-length white dress and she had quite a walk to the waiting vehicle. Apparently, in this area, the brides often make this first part of the journey on horseback! The whole scene was memorable.
Enjoy Michelmas Day tomorrow and the rest of the week!
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Friday, 23 September 2011
THESSALONIKI, CELEBRATION, TRAFFICKING.
24 SEPTEMBER 2011 THESSALONIKI, CELEBRATION, TRAFFICKING.
Following our Church Service on Sunday, we celebrated Maltese Charlie's birthday - an early moment, with refreshments and song! I then returned for a speedy lunch and left, with a neighbour, for Thessaloniki. There was not too much time to enjoy the beautiful seafront in the sunshine! Just as we arrived at the airport, the flight was re-scheduled and would be more than an hour late. Then, the Customs had a great interest in Sr.Lalini's case! All went well, thank God and we had a good journey back here.
On Monday evening we were invited to celebrate Charlie's Birthday with a restaurant meal, on the actual date! There were ten of us. We had a lovely evening, in spite of a severe thunderstorm outside.
Yesterday, I was meeting a solicitor, here we say advocate, with whom I work - just for a coffee. She has moved office from the city-centre to a new complex that is just beside our little Church. I was quite surprised - we descended a few flights of stairs inside, and there, UNDER the new very modern Courthouse,- was a delightful little snack restaurant! My friend has just been appointed to mentor work in the domestic violence field, so we plan a continuing contact, beginning next week.
Last evening, I was at a delightful concert - a trio that included a Korce Girl who has studied in Bucharest. She had the support of a superb violinist and double bass -both men came from Thessaloniki.
Enjoy Mercy Day toay and have a great weekend!
Following our Church Service on Sunday, we celebrated Maltese Charlie's birthday - an early moment, with refreshments and song! I then returned for a speedy lunch and left, with a neighbour, for Thessaloniki. There was not too much time to enjoy the beautiful seafront in the sunshine! Just as we arrived at the airport, the flight was re-scheduled and would be more than an hour late. Then, the Customs had a great interest in Sr.Lalini's case! All went well, thank God and we had a good journey back here.
On Monday evening we were invited to celebrate Charlie's Birthday with a restaurant meal, on the actual date! There were ten of us. We had a lovely evening, in spite of a severe thunderstorm outside.
Yesterday, I was meeting a solicitor, here we say advocate, with whom I work - just for a coffee. She has moved office from the city-centre to a new complex that is just beside our little Church. I was quite surprised - we descended a few flights of stairs inside, and there, UNDER the new very modern Courthouse,- was a delightful little snack restaurant! My friend has just been appointed to mentor work in the domestic violence field, so we plan a continuing contact, beginning next week.
Last evening, I was at a delightful concert - a trio that included a Korce Girl who has studied in Bucharest. She had the support of a superb violinist and double bass -both men came from Thessaloniki.
Enjoy Mercy Day toay and have a great weekend!
Saturday, 17 September 2011
ANA, KRAKOW FOLLOW-UP AND CLINIC!
17 SEPTEMBER 2011 ANA, KRAKOW FOLLOW-UP AND CLINIC!
Late on Monday evening, I contacted Ana. She had not got to Tirana! When she was on the road, her brother had telephoned for her to return home at once. Their father was ill. He passed away around 9.00a.m. Thank God, Bea and I were able to go to the house and we followed the funeral, on a tiny road, to the cemetery - my first such experience in Albania. We did not partake of the Raki and biscuits at the cemetery gate as we left when the buriel was completed. Neither did we attend the lunch that followed. I got in touch with the Sisters to ask for their prayers for the family. Mirjam responded and we have had a lot of contact over the week.
Sister Clare Nolan has sent a wonderful set of photographs taken in Krakow. She really managed to capture the spirit of the week! For my part, I have looked at the photos and video clips I took. I am amazed they seem so good!! Those who know me will understand my amazement! In due course, I will hopefully complete the work on them, for future use.
I have been to "Mary Potter" Clinic a few times during the week - for a couple of different reasons. Irena, the Director saw me coming and, as I made a request, she responded - "I have asked you so often to come here and now, God Himself has led you to us!!" As we enjoyed her words, one of our Maltese candidates came in with his mother. She will hopefully have chemotherapy in the clinic in the near future. They were very happy to see a familiar face before them! Also, I was able to leave them home, as Mimosa is not yet fully recovered from surgery.
Have a great week. Let us pray for one another. My solitude will end tomorrow when, please God, Lalini is due to return.
Late on Monday evening, I contacted Ana. She had not got to Tirana! When she was on the road, her brother had telephoned for her to return home at once. Their father was ill. He passed away around 9.00a.m. Thank God, Bea and I were able to go to the house and we followed the funeral, on a tiny road, to the cemetery - my first such experience in Albania. We did not partake of the Raki and biscuits at the cemetery gate as we left when the buriel was completed. Neither did we attend the lunch that followed. I got in touch with the Sisters to ask for their prayers for the family. Mirjam responded and we have had a lot of contact over the week.
Sister Clare Nolan has sent a wonderful set of photographs taken in Krakow. She really managed to capture the spirit of the week! For my part, I have looked at the photos and video clips I took. I am amazed they seem so good!! Those who know me will understand my amazement! In due course, I will hopefully complete the work on them, for future use.
I have been to "Mary Potter" Clinic a few times during the week - for a couple of different reasons. Irena, the Director saw me coming and, as I made a request, she responded - "I have asked you so often to come here and now, God Himself has led you to us!!" As we enjoyed her words, one of our Maltese candidates came in with his mother. She will hopefully have chemotherapy in the clinic in the near future. They were very happy to see a familiar face before them! Also, I was able to leave them home, as Mimosa is not yet fully recovered from surgery.
Have a great week. Let us pray for one another. My solitude will end tomorrow when, please God, Lalini is due to return.
Monday, 12 September 2011
KRAKOW, AUSCHWITZ, PANDILA'S WEDDING!
12 SEPTEMBER 2011 KRAKOW, AUSCHWITZ, PANDILA'S WEDDING.
When en route to Krakow, we had time in Vienna. I wrote a blog entry but it disappeared except for the title. I was left with the computer in German!!
We arrived safely in Krakow on Sunday afternoon. The Salvatorian Centre, where we were resident, was top quality. We were five Good Shepherd's - Clare, New York, Helene, Paris, Melitta, Vienna and Mirjam, who is here with me in Albania, but is in Germany at the moment. There were 74 of us from 19 countries. The Conference - "When we hear the cry....." was a credit to Clare Nolan and to the Planning Team. It was a great learning curve for all, but especially for the Polish Sisters and those further East in Europe. We had a small meeting during the week with Sisters from Kosovo, Bosnia-Hertzagovina(sp!) and Croatia. Romania also joined us but contact there would not be viable. We hope to meet the other Sisters at least once a year. There was a group from Slovakia and eight Sisters from there will come to Albania next week to see the work here.
On Thursday last, we had a free day. We were given three choices. With 37 other Sisters, I decided to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau. I had previously made contact with a Mercy Sister from Dublin. Sister is fulltime at the Reconciliation Centre. On Wednesday evening, it was decided we would visit there first, so I rang to tell her. Sister works with two priests, one was away and the other was ill, so she hosted us very graciously. After a splendid lunch, we saw some objects left to them by relatives of prisoners. Then, Sister Mary gave us a very meaningful talk to point us towards the day. "Listen to the earth" and "Listen to your heart" were her two words of advice. We finished at the Centre and went to the camp before 3.00p.m. We left Birkenau around 8.00p.m.! It was a long but very powerful day.
The Conference finished on Friday lunchtime. I got back here in late afternoon on Saturday. I took the earliest furgon available! When I arrived here, there was no landline and no internet of any kind. Our road repairers had cut through the cables and there was not a trace of either! That evening, I visited Pandila, my first teacher! I was at her wedding in the Cathedral yesterday. I went with Ana, my present teacher, and her friends to the Valbona Restaurant, where there was quite a banquet. Pandila returns to America next week.
Today, Ana has gone to Tirana to begin a month of training. This will hopefully lead to employment for her. Also, we got back our landline and internet connection late this morning, thank God. As I write, I am aware that the second anniversary of our Albanian Project is later this week. I hope to do a little work on the Conference material of last week and link it with photographic efforts!!!
Have a great week!
When en route to Krakow, we had time in Vienna. I wrote a blog entry but it disappeared except for the title. I was left with the computer in German!!
We arrived safely in Krakow on Sunday afternoon. The Salvatorian Centre, where we were resident, was top quality. We were five Good Shepherd's - Clare, New York, Helene, Paris, Melitta, Vienna and Mirjam, who is here with me in Albania, but is in Germany at the moment. There were 74 of us from 19 countries. The Conference - "When we hear the cry....." was a credit to Clare Nolan and to the Planning Team. It was a great learning curve for all, but especially for the Polish Sisters and those further East in Europe. We had a small meeting during the week with Sisters from Kosovo, Bosnia-Hertzagovina(sp!) and Croatia. Romania also joined us but contact there would not be viable. We hope to meet the other Sisters at least once a year. There was a group from Slovakia and eight Sisters from there will come to Albania next week to see the work here.
On Thursday last, we had a free day. We were given three choices. With 37 other Sisters, I decided to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau. I had previously made contact with a Mercy Sister from Dublin. Sister is fulltime at the Reconciliation Centre. On Wednesday evening, it was decided we would visit there first, so I rang to tell her. Sister works with two priests, one was away and the other was ill, so she hosted us very graciously. After a splendid lunch, we saw some objects left to them by relatives of prisoners. Then, Sister Mary gave us a very meaningful talk to point us towards the day. "Listen to the earth" and "Listen to your heart" were her two words of advice. We finished at the Centre and went to the camp before 3.00p.m. We left Birkenau around 8.00p.m.! It was a long but very powerful day.
The Conference finished on Friday lunchtime. I got back here in late afternoon on Saturday. I took the earliest furgon available! When I arrived here, there was no landline and no internet of any kind. Our road repairers had cut through the cables and there was not a trace of either! That evening, I visited Pandila, my first teacher! I was at her wedding in the Cathedral yesterday. I went with Ana, my present teacher, and her friends to the Valbona Restaurant, where there was quite a banquet. Pandila returns to America next week.
Today, Ana has gone to Tirana to begin a month of training. This will hopefully lead to employment for her. Also, we got back our landline and internet connection late this morning, thank God. As I write, I am aware that the second anniversary of our Albanian Project is later this week. I hope to do a little work on the Conference material of last week and link it with photographic efforts!!!
Have a great week!
Saturday, 3 September 2011
Friday, 2 September 2011
SHEN NAUM, WEDDING RECEPTION, TRAVEL.
2ND. SEPTEMBER 2011. SHEN NAUM, WEDDING RECEPTION, TRAVEL.
On Sunday, Amira and I went to Shen Naum. This is a lovely lakeside 'beach' area just inside Macedonia. The weather was sunny and we were back by mid-afternoon.
During the week, many little videos and photographs of World Youth Day kept appearing on Facebook. Also, the Italian Sisters, Bilisht, visited and one Sister had been to Madrid. She and Amira were able to compare notes on their experience.
I have been dabbling a little in the mysterious area of 'uploading' photographs - just for practice. Hopefully, I will manage, with help, to make a powerpoint in the near future!
Today, we were invited to a 'Wedding Reception'. This takes place a few days before a wedding and only takes 10-15 minutes!! We congratulated the happy couple and their parents. Then, we were served candies and a drink, after which we left. Neither of us will be here for their Orthodox Church Marriage, or for the formal dinner that will follow, on Sunday afternoon. Amira leaves for Lebanon early tomorrow morning. Later in the day, I go to Tirana, where I plan to have a very early night. This is in view of leaving for the airport at 3.00a.m.!! Three of us will travel to Vienna and then, please God, to Krakow for a conference - watch this space!
Have a great weekend!
On Sunday, Amira and I went to Shen Naum. This is a lovely lakeside 'beach' area just inside Macedonia. The weather was sunny and we were back by mid-afternoon.
During the week, many little videos and photographs of World Youth Day kept appearing on Facebook. Also, the Italian Sisters, Bilisht, visited and one Sister had been to Madrid. She and Amira were able to compare notes on their experience.
I have been dabbling a little in the mysterious area of 'uploading' photographs - just for practice. Hopefully, I will manage, with help, to make a powerpoint in the near future!
Today, we were invited to a 'Wedding Reception'. This takes place a few days before a wedding and only takes 10-15 minutes!! We congratulated the happy couple and their parents. Then, we were served candies and a drink, after which we left. Neither of us will be here for their Orthodox Church Marriage, or for the formal dinner that will follow, on Sunday afternoon. Amira leaves for Lebanon early tomorrow morning. Later in the day, I go to Tirana, where I plan to have a very early night. This is in view of leaving for the airport at 3.00a.m.!! Three of us will travel to Vienna and then, please God, to Krakow for a conference - watch this space!
Have a great weekend!
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