25 OCTOBER 2011 DANIELA, BOBOSTITCHE, BIRTHDAY, BILISHT1
Sister Daniela arrived on time from Germany on Thursday last, and came by furgon to Korce. Her visit of five nights seemed very short. It was a great joy for us to have her visit. We really were glad to catch up on Province news and especially, to see many photos of our new Novice, Andrea, now completing her Novitiate, with two other Novices, in Angers. On Sunday, after Mass, we enjoyed a festive meal at a nearby tourist area in the country. This was at Bobostitche, and was just a few miles from Korce.
That evening, Father Marek, a Slovakian Franciscan who had celebrated our Mass, came here and told us he would be at Bilisht for the week, making his annual retreat. There would be Mass available to us each evening. Yesterday evening, we accepted his invitation and went to Bilisht. Sister Daniela had not been there previously. This morning, Mirjam left with Sister Daniela quite early, for Tirana initially. Daniela will then go to Rinas for her flight back to Germany.
Today is Sister Lalini's Birthday! As it was a crisp, sunny, autumn day, we decided to go to a nearby lakeside village - Prespa. It is actually made of of nine small villages hidden along the coast and in the hills. It is very picturesque. Today was beautiful there and we returned here in the early afternoon. Amira and I went to Bilisht later. On our way back we visited a neighbour, Janetta, who leaves for Philadelphia at 2.00a.m. I asked her where she is changing planes and she had no idea. Its amazing how so many Albanians travel, without a word of English!
Over these few days, I have heard of severe flooding in Thailand, Turkey and now in Ireland. I hope and pray that people are safe when living near the affected areas.We actually have had brief power cuts and water cuts here, due to our everlasting road re-construction! Today I spoke to the engineer and he told me that the Director of the group assigned to complete our road, has been changed to Tirana! Another group has now been assigned but they are due to begin their work elsewhere!!! So, we will continue to live in hope!
Enjoy the remainder of the week and every blessing for the weekend.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
AMIRA, NATIONAL HOLIDAY FOR NENE TEREZIA!
19 OCTOBER 2011 AMIRA, NATIONAL HOLIDAY FOR NENE TEREZIA!
Amira surprised us on Monday. There was nobody in the house at the time! I was nearby, having coffee in a cafe with a young woman I have been working with for some months. My mobile rang - "Amira here - at the Cathedral"!!! I got back to the house as quickly as I could, got the keys and went off to collect Amira and her baggage. All was well and it was great she was here a day earlier than expected.
Yesterday was European day against Human Trafficking. We got a very good poster. It was completed in 18 languages at our Renate Conference in Krakow. We made a special effort to get it to where young people would see it. At Fan Noli University, a Professor agreed to share it for us. She added that she will travel to Ireland, with five colleagues, at the end of the month! I also visited Kennedi Evangelical Centre and a few other places, giving both the poster and the prayer that came with it.
Word came from Sister Daniela last evening that her flight to Thessaloniki was cancelled. This was due to the unrest there. I was glad to hear it as I had heard it was very likely that the border would be closed anyway. That would be a real problem! Thank God, an alternative flight was available to Tirana. This means Sister will hopefully arrive here at about the same time.
Today is a free day for all State bodies. Schools as well as public offices are all off. First thing this morning, I received the following Nene Terezia quote - "Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfil it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is life, fight for it." I thought it well to pass this quote on as we are here in the land of her birth.
Tomorrow is the anniversary of the day I entered and I think there are one or two other anniversaries in the house too. So, let's pray for one another and for all the intentions over the next few days Happy Feast!
Amira surprised us on Monday. There was nobody in the house at the time! I was nearby, having coffee in a cafe with a young woman I have been working with for some months. My mobile rang - "Amira here - at the Cathedral"!!! I got back to the house as quickly as I could, got the keys and went off to collect Amira and her baggage. All was well and it was great she was here a day earlier than expected.
Yesterday was European day against Human Trafficking. We got a very good poster. It was completed in 18 languages at our Renate Conference in Krakow. We made a special effort to get it to where young people would see it. At Fan Noli University, a Professor agreed to share it for us. She added that she will travel to Ireland, with five colleagues, at the end of the month! I also visited Kennedi Evangelical Centre and a few other places, giving both the poster and the prayer that came with it.
Word came from Sister Daniela last evening that her flight to Thessaloniki was cancelled. This was due to the unrest there. I was glad to hear it as I had heard it was very likely that the border would be closed anyway. That would be a real problem! Thank God, an alternative flight was available to Tirana. This means Sister will hopefully arrive here at about the same time.
Today is a free day for all State bodies. Schools as well as public offices are all off. First thing this morning, I received the following Nene Terezia quote - "Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfil it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is life, fight for it." I thought it well to pass this quote on as we are here in the land of her birth.
Tomorrow is the anniversary of the day I entered and I think there are one or two other anniversaries in the house too. So, let's pray for one another and for all the intentions over the next few days Happy Feast!
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
MIRJAM, URAT AND WOMEN'S MEETINGS.
12 OCTOBER 2011 MIRJAM, URAT AND WOMEN'S MEETINGS.
Mirjam came as expected on Saturday last. She had our first Winter day for travelling - in fact there was snow on the hills near two of the towns on the way down. Sunday was the same but the weather is much milder since then.It is great to have three of us here now.
Lalini and I were in Tirana yesterday for a URAT meeting. I had to do a report on Poland so I used the Powerpoint and an Albanian Sister translated into Italien for the group!! The Sisters welcomed the views of the Conference as they had heard a lot about the event. At the moment, I am sorting out little pieces of video and I have enough for two little films!! One is of short interviews with about seven Sisters - in all 20 minutes. The other is of our theologian, Mary Grey, and that is less than 10 minutes. I get help to put them together!
Today we were at the Maltese house as there was a meeting for women. Ten attended, plus a number of children. Lawrence, one of our Maltese friends, has asked me to go to his class at Preca College to talk on Irish Culture. I am looking forward to the experience.
Have a good week, with a joyful and happy weekend.
Mirjam came as expected on Saturday last. She had our first Winter day for travelling - in fact there was snow on the hills near two of the towns on the way down. Sunday was the same but the weather is much milder since then.It is great to have three of us here now.
Lalini and I were in Tirana yesterday for a URAT meeting. I had to do a report on Poland so I used the Powerpoint and an Albanian Sister translated into Italien for the group!! The Sisters welcomed the views of the Conference as they had heard a lot about the event. At the moment, I am sorting out little pieces of video and I have enough for two little films!! One is of short interviews with about seven Sisters - in all 20 minutes. The other is of our theologian, Mary Grey, and that is less than 10 minutes. I get help to put them together!
Today we were at the Maltese house as there was a meeting for women. Ten attended, plus a number of children. Lawrence, one of our Maltese friends, has asked me to go to his class at Preca College to talk on Irish Culture. I am looking forward to the experience.
Have a good week, with a joyful and happy weekend.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
VISITORS, ST. FRANCIS' DAY, TODAY HERE!!
5 OCTOBER 2011 VISITORS, ST. FRANCIS' DAY, TODAY HERE!!
Yesterday and today have been really special. We were invited to Bilisht to celebrate St. Francis' Day and he was surely honoured as there were six Maltese priests for the Mass. These included the Archbishop of Malta, a Maltese Bishop from Tirana, plus four Dominicans from Durres. Later in the evening, our invitation here for morning Mass was accepted. So, this morning at 6.50a.m. the six clergy arrived, plus our four Maltese friends, who were hosting them, and also four Franciscan Sisters from Bilisht!! We had a full house and a memorable Mass and shared breakfast. Our visitors left quickly as they had a five hour drive to Vlore! Around 10.00a.m. Mirjam, who is still in Germany, informed me she had seen a photograph of our morning celebration on Facebook. We felt very privileged to have had such a blessing on our community.
We now look forward to Mirjam's return at the weekend!
Yesterday and today have been really special. We were invited to Bilisht to celebrate St. Francis' Day and he was surely honoured as there were six Maltese priests for the Mass. These included the Archbishop of Malta, a Maltese Bishop from Tirana, plus four Dominicans from Durres. Later in the evening, our invitation here for morning Mass was accepted. So, this morning at 6.50a.m. the six clergy arrived, plus our four Maltese friends, who were hosting them, and also four Franciscan Sisters from Bilisht!! We had a full house and a memorable Mass and shared breakfast. Our visitors left quickly as they had a five hour drive to Vlore! Around 10.00a.m. Mirjam, who is still in Germany, informed me she had seen a photograph of our morning celebration on Facebook. We felt very privileged to have had such a blessing on our community.
We now look forward to Mirjam's return at the weekend!
Sunday, 2 October 2011
CIARÁN, DARDHE, ANDREA TILMANNS.......!
2 OCTOBER 2011 CIARÁN, DARDHE, ANDREA TILMANNS........!
Wednesday evening brought the sad news of the unexpected death of my nephew, Ciarán, aged 44, in Calgary, Canada RIP. He was in great health and spirits when on a three week holiday in August, mostly in West Cork. His passing, from natural causes, has led to the speedy departure of his three sisters, Mary, Maeve and Cliona. They plan to spend 10 days in Calgary. They will be joined there by a few other relatives. Please remember Ciarán and family in your prayers at this time.
Yesterday, with our Maltese friends, we spent a few hours in a beautiful mountain village, Dardhe, which is near here. We had a lovely walk through the village during which we saw lots of purple crocuses. Then we ate the local traditional "Lakror". This is a sort of pancake, made with leeks or spinach - we managed to enjoy both!! In fact, when invited to Poland we were asked for a local traditional recipe for inclusion in a booklet. I have given the recipe for Lakror! This booklet we will receive in the near future as a follow-up to the Conference!
Today, at Church, a blind man from the parish informed me - "Andrea Tilmanns was received into Good Shepherd yesterday in France"! I was so surprised to hear this from Antonio! He told me the information was courtesy of Facebook. I was glad to hear this good news - even via Facebook!!!!
Enjoy the week, especially the Feast of St. Francis. Tuesday promises to be very special for us here in Korce!
Wednesday evening brought the sad news of the unexpected death of my nephew, Ciarán, aged 44, in Calgary, Canada RIP. He was in great health and spirits when on a three week holiday in August, mostly in West Cork. His passing, from natural causes, has led to the speedy departure of his three sisters, Mary, Maeve and Cliona. They plan to spend 10 days in Calgary. They will be joined there by a few other relatives. Please remember Ciarán and family in your prayers at this time.
Yesterday, with our Maltese friends, we spent a few hours in a beautiful mountain village, Dardhe, which is near here. We had a lovely walk through the village during which we saw lots of purple crocuses. Then we ate the local traditional "Lakror". This is a sort of pancake, made with leeks or spinach - we managed to enjoy both!! In fact, when invited to Poland we were asked for a local traditional recipe for inclusion in a booklet. I have given the recipe for Lakror! This booklet we will receive in the near future as a follow-up to the Conference!
Today, at Church, a blind man from the parish informed me - "Andrea Tilmanns was received into Good Shepherd yesterday in France"! I was so surprised to hear this from Antonio! He told me the information was courtesy of Facebook. I was glad to hear this good news - even via Facebook!!!!
Enjoy the week, especially the Feast of St. Francis. Tuesday promises to be very special for us here in Korce!
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