UPDATE - BELFAST. FEAST OF ST.FRANCIS X.

3 DECEMBER 2012 BELFAST - FEAST OF SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER I have opened the blog and am surprised I have not made an entry since 18 November. 20.11.12 - Travelled to Tirana, so as to be in time to meet Sister Daniela at Rinas! 21.11 - Daniela arrived on time! Amira had arranged the first Mass in our Tirana setting. This included our Renewal of Vows and was celebrated by a French Jesuit 22.11 - Daniela left for Munich. I returned to Korce and Lalini arrived from Angers about two hours later. 23.11. Packing up and many "Goodbyes". All the time, I insisted it may only be "Au revoir". 24.11 Left KORCE for Tirana, accompanied by Lalini, Bea and my little friend Xhoana. Shared a "Farewell" meal with Mirjam and Amira. 25.11. - Journey to Belfast was straightforward. Was surprised by being met on arrival by Sister Rose, who had arrived from Dalgan, for the closure of the Twinbrook house. 26.11 - Community Meeting with Provincial Council. In the afternoon, Sister Noeleen and I attended a Church Service at the Church of Saints Paul and Barnabas. Our friend Denis Moloney joined us as he was doing a commentary on "I Have a Dream*. This was a Depaul event and most interesting as it gave the history of their 10 years in Belfast. 28.11.12 Sister Brigid Keane's sister Nora died and I was asked to go to the funeral. 30.11.12 Sister Brigid and I set off for Knock, settled in and then left for Clonbur for the evening funeral. The Mass on Saturday was close by Maum, in Kilmilken, and was celebrated by Father Miceal McGreal, SJ. who has close links with the family and is a native of the area. Later, we visited Leenane and then had a quiet day in Knock on Sunday, before travelling back to Belfast in the evening. 2.12.12 Word came there is a Retreat in Derry. This will begin on Wednesday afternoon. I hope to travel for these days. Now that my commitment to Albania has ended I finish with a quote from Paulo Coelho - "One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through. Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters - whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished." I am sure I will realize the wisdom of this in due course. Now, I am settling in anew and delighting in the everyday life of the community. A blessed Advent to you.