HONORABLE CITIZEN AND SCHOOL OF MUSIC.

29 APRIL 2012 HONORABLE CITIZEN AND SCHOOL OF MUSIC. Tuesday evening was memorable. Many people came to honour our two "Honorable Citizens"!. Just before the ceremony began, my phone rang and, as I left the Theatre to take the call, I met the second recipient. He was Sherif Merdani and he introduced me to his wife and son. Sherif had been a singer, was arrested and accused, by the "System", of singing foreign songs. For this, a sentence of 30 years in Burrell prison was handed down. Burrell was the most notorious prison here. Sherif served 16 years before the "System" collapsed. While in prison, he taught Italian, English and Greek His son now sings in Tirana and, on Tuesday evening, they sang together. I asked that he sing one of the songs that led to his imprisonment. He agreed, and said he would sing one in English! I found his part of the ceremony quite moving. One of his support speakers was Secretary of the Persecuted in Korce. Charlie's part of t he evening was a great demonstration of the value of his contribution to Korce. A spokesperson from the Education Department, said Preca College came second in all of Albania. Three young people spoke,a few teachers and a lady from our Church. Altogether, it was a great honour for all involved and we were happy to be part of the event. Spring has really come to Korce in the past week! One of my "pupils" - a teacher at the School of Music, invited me to a Concert last evening at the Cathedral. I really enjoyed it very much. Especially, I loved hearing "Panis Angelicus" beautifully sung. To me it seemed a very nice lead-in to Good Shepherd Sunday. So, greetings to each one for tomorrow and have a great week. I will finish with a detail from last week and our Conference in Pogradec. I only caught up with it on Sunday last! David, Superior at the Maltese Community had just arrived back from Malta.He had gone there following an appendix operation and also he had a problem with his arm, for which he was receiving physiotherapy. He was hastily awakened by Rainer on that Saturday morning -"Get up quickly - you are on your own to push the minibus"!!!!! This was in fact true, even though it does not seem very good medical practice!!! All's well that ends well!

WEBSITE ARTICLE AND NEW WEE MINISTRY!!

24 APRIL 2012 WEBSITE ARTICLE AND NEW WEE MINISTRY!! On Sunday, I completed a small article on our Training Day at Pogradec. Got some help while editing, that enabled me eliminate a few inaccuracies. Then, some further help yesterday, with attaching photographs, and off it went. Hopefully it will reach our website in the near future. I found it a good exercise to complete the task - my first response to a personal invitation to contribute, so its a first effort in that particular direction! Over the weekend, I have enjoyed seeing photos and even videos of the Training Day and now, I hear, there is another video arriving soon! Yesterday, I also began a new minuscule ministry! Last week, I was invited to visit a new project that is being run by a man from our Church. This was a Braille Teaching Session that is being very effectively run by an almost totally blind person. I was so glad to see the eight persons attending. They were happy and content and obviously enjoying both the input and also the company of the other participants. Towards the end of my visit last week, I was invited to come for a short visit each week. Already, the group uses a little English, so, I intend adding a word or two each week to their store of knowledge! Today, feast of Mother Foundress, is special, for a totally different reason! This evening, at a local Theatre. - "Andon Zake Qajupi", Charlie, one of our Maltese friends, will be made an "Honorable Citizen of Korca". This is a Civic honour and will reflect very positively, not only on Charlie but also on the College where he is is Principal, the students and Rromas, his Society of Christian Doctrine and on members of our Church. So, watch this space for details of a new happening! Enjoy the feast too - already, a few beautiful greetings have been circulating on Facebook! Have a blessed day!

URAT TRAINING DAY AT POGRADEC, 21.04.12.

22 APRIL 2012 URAT TRAINING DAY AT POGRADEC, 21.04.12 Yesterday was a delightful day at Pogradec! Our URAT Training Day went so very smoothly that it was difficult to think of it as work! The group travelling from Tirana had a good journey and our venue, ENKELANA HOTEL, was superb. Rainer's input - the findings of his survey into - "Teenagers' use of the Internet" really suited our needs. His research, that included 1,435 (age12-16) young people from eight schools, opened up a whole new area of information and vocabulary for all who attended. Our group included teachers, Peace Corps. Volunteers, an advocate and our everyday colleagues. Altogether, we had eighteen participants. We had six or seven Nationalities so, our input was in English and Albanian. Because of this, Rainer was assisted by a student from Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, a former Preca College girl and a senior student at present in her Final Year at Preca. Both were very competent. Altogether, the day was a great blessing and most beneficial for our ministry to women and girls, as well as to young people with whom we come in contact. Our past week was a little different. The Rroma or traveller children came morning and evening for a few days. The problem has now been solved and they attend a nearby Centre for Rromas. This is run by Kennedi Evangelical Church. Just as I wrote the above sentence, six Rromas, aged 3-13 arrived and requested food. They have now left quite content. Hopefully they will return to the Church Centre tomorrow as has been arranged for them. Now, it is time to wish you a good celebration for St. Mary Euphrasia on Tuesday. Our bishop telephoned to give us greetings for Good Shepherd Sunday today. We discovered later that the feast is next Sunday. Instead, we had two buses of young people and adults for Mass today. The young people performed a drams on the Passion for an hour first. After Mass, the women of the Church went out for lunch, which all enjoyed very much. Feastday wishes and have a great week!

EASTER....ORTHODOX, AND RROMAS TOO!

16 APRIL 2012 EASTER........ORTHODOX AND RROMAS TOO!! Everyday work commitments continued during Easter Week, while we managed a few special moments too! On Wednesday evening, Charlie and Rainer, our Maltese friends, joined us for supper. Afterwards, we viewed - "BOYSTOWN", which we thoroughly enjoyed. This was one of a bundle of 20 DVD's given to me by J.J. Tohill, friend of the Sisters in Belfast. I had brought back a similar number on an earlier visit and they have been much appreciated for Catechetics as well as leisure moments. Mel Gibson's "Passion of Christ" was shown at the Evangelical Centre - I attended a Service there on Fridayas they also celebrated Easter This weekend. Heavy rain greeted our Orthodox Cathdral - "Christ is Risen" Service held at midnight on Saturday. However, it failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the huge crowd. Later we really enjoyed hot chocolate( souvenir of an earlier hamper!), with some friends, here. Last evening, our day was finishing at 9.00p.m., when four Rroma children arrived. They are part of a family of six and had left the two younger ones with a neighbour while they walked the journey here. The oldest was a girl of 13 and the family is known to us. Mother had gone away, at least for the weekend, so they were hungry. When we had fed them, our Maltese friend Rainer, who works with the Rroma children in leisure time, came and drove them home. Have a great week and all the very best for Good Shepherd Sunday!

EASTER AND SNOW CELEBRATE TOGETHER!!

10 APRIL 2012 EASTER TUESDAY EASTER AND SNOW CELEBRATE TOGETHER!!! Surprise, surprise - this morning I awoke to a completely snow-covered Korce. A grey sky promised more of the same!! Easter was just great, thank God. On Saturday night, our Polish priest Baptised nine persons in Bilisht. For us, many Orthodox people came to our Liturgy, which was both lively and had great singing! Afterwards, all stayed for hot chocolate and Easter goodies. Our german friends from Pogradec came too - Anke had been with us for the Way of the Cross through the city on Friday. She was happy to join us again and brought a friend. Sunday morning we welcomed lots of new faces. Spoke to a couple, an Albanian whose wife said(in a very American accent!) - "I am Irish - my great-Grandad came from dun Laoghaire". Ana, our teacher joined us for lunch here on Sunday, following the 11.00a.m. Mass as she could not come in the afternoon. About 20 visitors spent a few hours with us. Later, an American friend cam, when I had gone upstairs to the Prayer Room. On finding our door locked, she said she cried. We are very much back to ordinary life as next weekend is the Easter here again. Enjoy the week and lets share the joy of this 'Alleluia Season'!

HOLY WEEK, SR.DANIELA AND EASTER PLANS

HOLY SATURDAY 7 APRIL 2012 HOLY WEEK, SR. DANIELA AND EASTER PLANS.
This is a moment to bring closure to this week as we prepare to attend our Holy Saturday Liturgy and Mass.

The early part of the week, with visit of Sr. Daniela, Germany, was quite full, right up to her departure, with Srs. Mirjam and Amira on Wednesday afternoon. The initial plan was to leave here at a very early hour on Thursday, to facilitate Daniela getting to Rinas Airport in time for her 12.00 noon flight.

On Thursday we were happy to welcome Fr. Iranaeus, OFM, a Polish Friar from Fier. He was here for the Eucharist in the evening and will remain until tomorrow. Father will complete all the Ceremonies both here and in Bilisht. A great Blessing for all of us. Tomorrow we will have Mass at 11.00a.m. In the afternoon we will welcome the parish to our house - a local custom.

At a ministry level, I have been busy since Sr. Daniela left, preparing material for our URAT Training Day on the 21 April. I plan to send this out on Monday, with further documents to go later in the week, including programme, travel and venue information. Please God, all will go well for the event.

A very happy Easter to each one of you, with joy and peace in abundance during the Paschal Season!

TRAVEL, IRELAND AND KORCE MOMENTS!!

2 APRIL 2012 TRAVEL, IRELAND AND KORCE MOMENTS!!
Just before I left Gatwick last evening, I telephoned Belfast. The phone was answered promptly by our dear 100 year old Lelia! Sister was happy to hear that my journey was going smoothly. In fact, I arrived in Tirana just before midnight. Now, I await the arrival of Sisters Mirjam and Amira as we planned to travel together after breakfast this morning.. However, Amira has got delayed and it is now well after 11.00a.m. I have just contacted Sr. Lalini to tell her we will be much later arriving in Korce!

My second week in Ireland sped by. Had one full glorious day in Inchydoney and an equally sunshine-filled one to celebrate, belatedly, Bernie's Birthday. We followed that day with a very special overnight at Killiney Castle, to complete her recent celebration.

Sr. Daniela will be at Korce until Thursday. I spoke to her briefly this morning. I also called to the Nunciature this morning to collect mail. I met the new secretary, Father Matthew, from Ghana. He is settling in well so far.

It is time to complete this entry.......our journey is complete, friends have called to welcome us, we have got settled and now the task is to prepare for tomorrow and its meetings and see how Spring has come to Korce over the past few weeks!

Have a great week as we traverse the Paschal mystery. I carry the image of the early morning Mass at the beautifully restored Clonard Redemptorist Monastery in Belfast. The priest shared the Scripture reading with two of the congregation, while a life-size statue of a donkey stood beside the Altar. With a red saddle and a red carpet to walk on together with long palm branches, the symbolism was clear and a fitting image for the week! Every blessing to each one!