6 JUNE 2010 LEZHJA ASSEMBLY AND CLARENCE GILYARD!
I begin by assuring you I had much help and support from Mirjam in getting the Lushne videos onto the blog - hope they worked for you!
Yesterday, I attended the General Assembly of Religious. This was held at "Hotel Rafaelo", Shengjin, Lezhja and about 60 religious attended. Shengjin is more than six hours from here so I stayed overnight, enjoying Sr. Imelda's Loreto hospitality in Tirana, both going and returning. As we arrived in the meeting hall I was on the lookout for someone to interpret, as everything, even the progremme was in Italian! Seeing a Dominican habit, I asked for help! In fact, I had approached the main speaker. He pointed me towards a check shirt, the wearer of which turned out to be a Father Ivan, Maltese priest in Durres. He did an excellent job and the focus of the talk was collaboration and the transformation that can take place if we are fully inserted in mission, even through the 'shadow'. I will type up the notes elsewhere. Mass followed, celebrated by the Papal Nuncio. At the end, he presented each of us with a little bottle of perfumed oil, symbol of the Word of God permeating our lives. An excellent lunch completed the programme!
As we left the Assembly at Shengjin, a Focolare member encouraged us to attend a drama later in Tirana, emphasising that Clarence Gilyard was responsible for the project. I had never heard of him and was amazed at the profile of his films and acting given before the show by the American Ambassador! The drama that followed was -"The Permanant Collection." It was excellently performed by Clarence in English and the other actors in Shqip, with the relevant translations on a side screen. There was a standing ovation at the end. What a surprise when this same Clarence turned up at our English Corpus Christi Mass in the Cathedral this morning and did one of the readings.
I have been back in Korce for more than four hours now. So far I have not seen any of the community or our visitor Sr. Gudula. I presume Mirjam has gone to Macedonia to bring back Lalini from retreat. The glorious weather must have tempted Gudula and Amira to make the journey too.
Have a good week - regret I cannot share the perfumed oil with you!
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Monday, 31 May 2010
LUSHNJE, CONCERT AND SPEEDY VISITATION
31 MAY 2010 LUSHNJE, CONCERT AND SPEEDY VISITATION
We were without internet from Friday until Sunday evening - due to an error with a switch in the house. I was the only one affected and maybe the blog as my three companions were away! Mirjam quickly set things right when she returned quite weary from Lushnje. She and Amira had left the house on Saturday morning at 4.30a.m. for the five hour drive with the teenagers to the Albanian Youth Day. Lushnje was all sunshine and music. Mirjam succeeded in capturing some snippets of video on her camera. I may try to add the links here tomorrow for a glimpse of our reality!
Last evening, Bea, our houseowner and I went along to the nearby Cultural Centre for a concert of classical music. This was my first such experience in Korce and the standard of the three women, pianist, cellist and violinist was extremely high. We gathered all three were Albanian and we thoroughly enjoyed the hour.
Today, Feast of the Visitation, Mirjam went to Pogradec to meet with Mons Hil Kabashi and two visitors from a German funding group. About 5.00p.m. I had a phone call to say the funders were coming on here. In fact they were about three minutes away, passing the Greek Cathedral. One was an Australian priest, a missionary of the Sacred Heart, same as Myross Wood in West Cork. He claimed to have a small fraction of Irish ancestry. The other, Peter, was very clearly German but had excellent English. They liked our setup here but left quickly as they were going to visit our Maltese catechists and then return to Tirana this evening.
Au revoir until I attempt to insert this You Tube link for you in the near future!
We were without internet from Friday until Sunday evening - due to an error with a switch in the house. I was the only one affected and maybe the blog as my three companions were away! Mirjam quickly set things right when she returned quite weary from Lushnje. She and Amira had left the house on Saturday morning at 4.30a.m. for the five hour drive with the teenagers to the Albanian Youth Day. Lushnje was all sunshine and music. Mirjam succeeded in capturing some snippets of video on her camera. I may try to add the links here tomorrow for a glimpse of our reality!
Last evening, Bea, our houseowner and I went along to the nearby Cultural Centre for a concert of classical music. This was my first such experience in Korce and the standard of the three women, pianist, cellist and violinist was extremely high. We gathered all three were Albanian and we thoroughly enjoyed the hour.
Today, Feast of the Visitation, Mirjam went to Pogradec to meet with Mons Hil Kabashi and two visitors from a German funding group. About 5.00p.m. I had a phone call to say the funders were coming on here. In fact they were about three minutes away, passing the Greek Cathedral. One was an Australian priest, a missionary of the Sacred Heart, same as Myross Wood in West Cork. He claimed to have a small fraction of Irish ancestry. The other, Peter, was very clearly German but had excellent English. They liked our setup here but left quickly as they were going to visit our Maltese catechists and then return to Tirana this evening.
Au revoir until I attempt to insert this You Tube link for you in the near future!
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
MANY VOICES AND COMMUNITY BUILDING
25 MAY 2010 MANY VOICES AND COMMUNITY BUILDING
FR.MAREK,OFM, came for Mass on Sunday. He prayed in Czechi and we followed with Albanian Northern dialect, Sri Lankan, German, Arabic, Irish, Maltese, English and local Albanian. Not bad for a congregation of around 30 persons who also sang superbly.
Yesterday morning we left the house at 8.00a.m en route to Macedonia. As we travelled, in each field there were one or two persons already busily at work while many others walked along the road with their shovels. We also saw five or six small flocks of sheep, each guarded by its own shepherd. The countryside was a hive of industry! The Border Control went smoothly and then Macedonia - not a person in sight until we reached the city of Orhid more than half an hour later. At 10.30a.m. we began our very important day - our first in a series of planned community building days, facilitated by the Ex-Provincial Jesuit of Croatia. Fr. Stjepan Kuson has an impressive Retreat and Pastoral Centre which is modern in style and has accommodation for more than 50 persons. This is situated right beside his Diocesan Church. In this centre Marriage Encounter is organised for a few countries, courses are organised for those working with Special Needs and for those who visit landmine victims - all this as well as retreats. Our day was not all work. After lunch we went to the beach - less than five minutes walk. There we were persuaded to go for a half hour boat ride by the owner of a little motor boat called Captain Cook! This was an ideal way to see the city. We saw a castle on the hill and glimpsed four or five churches - a few of the 362 that the city boasts according to our guide! Probably 361 are Macedonian Orthodox as the Catholic population is tiny. Our day continued till mid-afternoon and we left very satisfied and aware it had been a valuable day for our community development.
Au revoir.
FR.MAREK,OFM, came for Mass on Sunday. He prayed in Czechi and we followed with Albanian Northern dialect, Sri Lankan, German, Arabic, Irish, Maltese, English and local Albanian. Not bad for a congregation of around 30 persons who also sang superbly.
Yesterday morning we left the house at 8.00a.m en route to Macedonia. As we travelled, in each field there were one or two persons already busily at work while many others walked along the road with their shovels. We also saw five or six small flocks of sheep, each guarded by its own shepherd. The countryside was a hive of industry! The Border Control went smoothly and then Macedonia - not a person in sight until we reached the city of Orhid more than half an hour later. At 10.30a.m. we began our very important day - our first in a series of planned community building days, facilitated by the Ex-Provincial Jesuit of Croatia. Fr. Stjepan Kuson has an impressive Retreat and Pastoral Centre which is modern in style and has accommodation for more than 50 persons. This is situated right beside his Diocesan Church. In this centre Marriage Encounter is organised for a few countries, courses are organised for those working with Special Needs and for those who visit landmine victims - all this as well as retreats. Our day was not all work. After lunch we went to the beach - less than five minutes walk. There we were persuaded to go for a half hour boat ride by the owner of a little motor boat called Captain Cook! This was an ideal way to see the city. We saw a castle on the hill and glimpsed four or five churches - a few of the 362 that the city boasts according to our guide! Probably 361 are Macedonian Orthodox as the Catholic population is tiny. Our day continued till mid-afternoon and we left very satisfied and aware it had been a valuable day for our community development.
Au revoir.
Saturday, 22 May 2010
PENTECOST GREETINGS FROM KORCE
22 MAY 2010 PENTECOST GREETINGS FROM KORCE
Greetings and blessings for our feast of Pentecost. There were no 'ash' problems as I left Belfast yesterday, thank God, and flights were on time. I caught up with developments in the new anti-trafficking group, while enjoying a great welcome from Sr. Imelda Poole in Tirana last night. This morning I caught an early minibus and arrived here before 1.00p.m. The neighbours were waiting, each with roses! I am delighted to be back and feel settled in already.
As I left Belfast word had come that approximately 700 members of our Good Shepherd family are gathering to celebrate this special festive weekend. Such a get-together will have a unique flavour. I am sure we will catch up on on its special moments in due course.
Enjoy the feast!
Greetings and blessings for our feast of Pentecost. There were no 'ash' problems as I left Belfast yesterday, thank God, and flights were on time. I caught up with developments in the new anti-trafficking group, while enjoying a great welcome from Sr. Imelda Poole in Tirana last night. This morning I caught an early minibus and arrived here before 1.00p.m. The neighbours were waiting, each with roses! I am delighted to be back and feel settled in already.
As I left Belfast word had come that approximately 700 members of our Good Shepherd family are gathering to celebrate this special festive weekend. Such a get-together will have a unique flavour. I am sure we will catch up on on its special moments in due course.
Enjoy the feast!
Friday, 14 May 2010
ANGERS LAMP, OBERAMMERGAU AND FATIMA
14 MAY 2010 ANGERS LAMP, OBERAMMERGAU AND FATIMA
Our Angers Lamp is burning for the German Province this week. Here in Belfast, the Sister leading Evening Prayer clearly adds - 'and Albania' at each gathering. Our thoughts are a little more in Germany than is usual just now. This is due to the fact that Sr. Noeleen got a surprise invitation to join an Ecumenical Celtic Studies group that left for Oberammergau yesterday. Already, Noeleen has called us to say the group has wonderful accommodation and all are looking forward to the highlight of the week - the famous Passion Play. She is still amazed with the generosity of it all being total gift for her. We know the group well as we have attended their Study Group for some years.
We got an email from Limerick on Wednesday suggesting that we watch 'Nationwide' - an Irish television currant affairs programme that evening. We did so and discovered it was a documentary on Fatima. This was based on a group of twenty-two LIMERICK women led by Sr. Anna Landy. In the course of telling the FATIMA story, the presenter showed the Limerick group in their new Irish Hotel - St. Brigids. Anna was interviewed not only about having her group in Fatima but also on our Irish Church problems. She presented really well- looking very much at ease, she spoke very clearly and with great compassion woven throughout. The programme was a very apt lead-in to the Pope's visit yesterday.
Enjoy a good weekend!
Our Angers Lamp is burning for the German Province this week. Here in Belfast, the Sister leading Evening Prayer clearly adds - 'and Albania' at each gathering. Our thoughts are a little more in Germany than is usual just now. This is due to the fact that Sr. Noeleen got a surprise invitation to join an Ecumenical Celtic Studies group that left for Oberammergau yesterday. Already, Noeleen has called us to say the group has wonderful accommodation and all are looking forward to the highlight of the week - the famous Passion Play. She is still amazed with the generosity of it all being total gift for her. We know the group well as we have attended their Study Group for some years.
We got an email from Limerick on Wednesday suggesting that we watch 'Nationwide' - an Irish television currant affairs programme that evening. We did so and discovered it was a documentary on Fatima. This was based on a group of twenty-two LIMERICK women led by Sr. Anna Landy. In the course of telling the FATIMA story, the presenter showed the Limerick group in their new Irish Hotel - St. Brigids. Anna was interviewed not only about having her group in Fatima but also on our Irish Church problems. She presented really well- looking very much at ease, she spoke very clearly and with great compassion woven throughout. The programme was a very apt lead-in to the Pope's visit yesterday.
Enjoy a good weekend!
Monday, 10 May 2010
FRACTURE CLINIC PROGRESS REPORT
10 MAY 2010 FRACTURE CLINIC PROGRESS REPORT
A little update on my visit to a very busy Fracture Clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital today. My consultant said 'union' of the bone or 'knitting' was well in progress. Good co-ordination of upper and lower arm plus fingers showed that this work is well under way, thank God. Having seen the level of mobility, I was sent round to the physiotherapist who gave me three exercises for everyday use. Also,
I had been using a rather cumbersome sling and this was changed for two much lighter ones. These are interchangeable and came with the freedom to omit wearing either. So, altogether, the visit was worthwhile and my next appointment is in June which suits well.
So, may I say a very sincere - 'Thank you' for your prayers and good wishes thst have helped me this far. Please keep up the good work until healing is complete.
Again, thanks!
A little update on my visit to a very busy Fracture Clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital today. My consultant said 'union' of the bone or 'knitting' was well in progress. Good co-ordination of upper and lower arm plus fingers showed that this work is well under way, thank God. Having seen the level of mobility, I was sent round to the physiotherapist who gave me three exercises for everyday use. Also,
I had been using a rather cumbersome sling and this was changed for two much lighter ones. These are interchangeable and came with the freedom to omit wearing either. So, altogether, the visit was worthwhile and my next appointment is in June which suits well.
So, may I say a very sincere - 'Thank you' for your prayers and good wishes thst have helped me this far. Please keep up the good work until healing is complete.
Again, thanks!
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