CELEBRATIONS - FEASTS, BIRTHDAY, ENDINGS.........!

WEDNESDAY 24 JULY 2013 CELEBRATIONS - FEASTS, BIRTHDAY, ENDINGS...!! Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel began for us a festive week! Sister Lalini and I travelled that day to Tirana. We had a Good Shepherd Community evening at a venue chosen by Amira. This was, in fact, a defining moment of change! We reflected on our time together since we met in the city of MONS, Belgium, on September 15, 2009. Memories emerged from that time in Mons and our contact with the Ursuline Community. Quite spontaneously, we spoke of significant moments along the way, beginning with our evening of films completed and shown by Mons Hil Kabashi, during our two weeks in VLORE This followed Lalini's request for - "NATURA,Natura,MONS." Our residence at the Bishop's house in Vlore helped us to get to know a little about Albania, but we were most interested in getting settled in accommodation either in Pogradec or Korce. On the 3 November, we moved to our new home in Korce. We recalled the rich Maltese kindness and hospitality that truly cushioned our settling in Korce. Our thoughts turned Sister Gudula and to Marie Droste, who gifted us with Architect, Klitl Kalamata! He came to our house on her feast. With their help we tiptoed through a network of negotiations and discernment for many months! Our evening together went on a little and prepared us for the farewells ahead. Lalini left early on the 17 and I returned directly to KORCE, where I was happy to join our Maltese friends, Charlie and Lawrence, to celebrate Charlie's feast, even though a day late. On Sunday, July 21, I left early for Tirana - the new tunnel makes the journey almost an hour shorter and the road from the tunnel to Elbasan is vastly improved. Mirjam whisked me away to Mass at the Cathedral. This was celebrated by Bishop George Frendo, who preached a succinct homily on the God of Surprises! We left quickly for Nene Teresa Airport, where we welcomed Sister Daniela, who had travelled, via Rome. Sunday was Daniela's feastday, Amira's Birthday and also my final farewell to Amira, as she leaves for Lebanon on Wednesday, 24 JUlY. We celebrated in an open-air restaurant outside the city, a wonderful choice for a warm evening and serving local dishes. Again, we had a reflective evening, so much so that Daniela said we had enough material to write a set of ALTERNATIVE ANNALS!! Sister felt this would make interesting reading!! All four of us were at the Jesuit Church for 7.00a.m Mass on Mondy morning. A little later, I left for Korce, having said "Goodbye" to Amira for her return to Lebanon and "Bon voyage" for her onward journey to Canada. My farewell to Daniela has marked the completion of her mandate as Provincial Leader of the German Province in October. I expressed regret I was unable to accept the invitation to the Maria Droste Celebrations, as I am travelling from Albania back to Ireland that day, and we have a Jubilee in the Community also. Our festive week has ended - I would like to offer a meaningful word and can say a heartfelt - " ALLELUIA" for the experiences of these years.