3RD. OCTOBER 2010 CEDAW WORKSHOP AND BISHOP'S VISIT.
Yesterday was indeed a crumb of history for us! We had our Workshop and twenty-two persons came. These included twelve Americans, mostly from the Peace Corps. A few had travelled up to seven hours, from as far away as Saranda and Lushnja, to get here. Ten other people, all of whom understood English joined us. These included the staff person at the Domestic Violance Unit and also the lawyer, who told us of the good work done in relation to the woman we referred to the Unit. This lawyer will continue with the work for trafficked women that she has in hand. We plan to cooperate with her if the opportunity arises. Our objective of awareness-raising was achieved and new contacts made too. Following a lively discussion, we all enjoyed a tasty Buffet! Today, a number of emails have come expressing appreciation for the afternoon.
Our Bishop came for Mass today. When he had finished, the people spoke up and asked what of his promise that there would be Mass every Sunday? We were not clear how the discussion ended but it seemed peacefully! Later, he called here and brought Charlie to interpret. He wanted to know if any progress had been made in relation to building in Pogradec. Amira and I were here and we suggested he discuss this with Sr. Daniela later in the month. As he left we extended greetings for the feast of St. Francis tomorrow as he is a Franciscan.
Have a good week!
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
AMIRA'S RETURN, CEDAW POWERPOINT
29TH. SEPTEMBER 2010 AMIRA'S RETURN, CEDAW POWERPOINT.
We were delighted to welcome Amira on Monday afternoon - its good to have three of us here. She was very tired and had been travelling from Lebanon since 2.00a.m. on Sunday.
I have been occupied getting together a Powerpoint presentation for our Workshop on Saturday next. Its only my second time making a Powerpoint. For that reason, I welcomed an Albanian friend who spent two hours with me, getting it together. More time might have produced a different item. I am happy to be ready since yesterday and hopefully the CEDAW message will be heard!
So, I say 'au revoir', now that we are back to French!
We were delighted to welcome Amira on Monday afternoon - its good to have three of us here. She was very tired and had been travelling from Lebanon since 2.00a.m. on Sunday.
I have been occupied getting together a Powerpoint presentation for our Workshop on Saturday next. Its only my second time making a Powerpoint. For that reason, I welcomed an Albanian friend who spent two hours with me, getting it together. More time might have produced a different item. I am happy to be ready since yesterday and hopefully the CEDAW message will be heard!
So, I say 'au revoir', now that we are back to French!
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
SPECIAL CORK, TIRANA AND KORCE EVENTS!!
22nd.September 2010 SPECIAL CORK, TIRANA AND KORCE EVENTS!!
Thank you Noeleen for sending me the news of Cork's All-Ireland victory!
On Monday, Lalini and I travelled to Tirana for an afternoon meeting of URAT. Our advocate, Florian, attended as we finalized the Statutes. The symbolism of the word URAT together with the English possibility of U.R.A.T. were detailed. I will send those few lines when the next two stages are completed. Now the Statutes, when all is corrected, will go to the Bishops Conference, where hopefully there will not be too much editing! Then they have to be sent to a legal Tribunal for ratification, so all this will take a little time yet.
We arived back yesterday afternoon, in good time to get a telephone call from Fr. Kusan. He had promised to visit Korce, if at all possible, prior to his departure from Ohrid. He told us he would come THIS MORNING with a group that would include five Jesuits and a few Croatians! Altogether, ten men arrived. They were from Lithuania, Germany, four Croatians, Macedonia, Sweden, Austria and also one Orthodox seminarian from Macedonia to complete the group. There was one Diocesan priest and the remainder were Jesuit seminarians, with one exception. There was a University Professor travelling with the group. He is completely blind. We had a beautiful Mass here with lots of singing. Then, we shared a great meal that was enjoyed by all. As they were leaving, Bea, our landlady, and I took them to visit the Orthodox Cathedral, as its quite beautiful. En route, we met a Prifti - I asked him to come with us but he was unable to do so. The group was delighted with that visit too.
Now, life has returned to an even keel!
Thank you Noeleen for sending me the news of Cork's All-Ireland victory!
On Monday, Lalini and I travelled to Tirana for an afternoon meeting of URAT. Our advocate, Florian, attended as we finalized the Statutes. The symbolism of the word URAT together with the English possibility of U.R.A.T. were detailed. I will send those few lines when the next two stages are completed. Now the Statutes, when all is corrected, will go to the Bishops Conference, where hopefully there will not be too much editing! Then they have to be sent to a legal Tribunal for ratification, so all this will take a little time yet.
We arived back yesterday afternoon, in good time to get a telephone call from Fr. Kusan. He had promised to visit Korce, if at all possible, prior to his departure from Ohrid. He told us he would come THIS MORNING with a group that would include five Jesuits and a few Croatians! Altogether, ten men arrived. They were from Lithuania, Germany, four Croatians, Macedonia, Sweden, Austria and also one Orthodox seminarian from Macedonia to complete the group. There was one Diocesan priest and the remainder were Jesuit seminarians, with one exception. There was a University Professor travelling with the group. He is completely blind. We had a beautiful Mass here with lots of singing. Then, we shared a great meal that was enjoyed by all. As they were leaving, Bea, our landlady, and I took them to visit the Orthodox Cathedral, as its quite beautiful. En route, we met a Prifti - I asked him to come with us but he was unable to do so. The group was delighted with that visit too.
Now, life has returned to an even keel!
Sunday, 19 September 2010
NEW PROJECT, POPE AND BBC, ALL-IRELAND!!
19TH.SEPTEMBER 2010 NEW PROJECT, POPE AND BBC, ALL-IRELAND!!
On Wednesday last we had a small meeting here. Lalini was in Tirana and members of the Evangelical Church requested to visit in order to discuss a new venture. A new unit has been opened for victims of Domestic Violance. I was delighted to hear this and even more pleased that I was invited to visit the unit on Thursday next. Its only occupant is a lady that we referred for help when we were here little more than a week. Also, it was good to hear she has been helped by a lawyer that I know quite well who is working 'gratis'. That morning I began to doubt that there WAS a project! The meeting at first was a series of questions from the Americans about CEDAW and New York!
As you know, we can tune in effectively to BBC only very rarely. Friday was an exception! I tried, and saw the Pope at Westminister with Rev. Rowan Williams. It was a real treat for Lalini and me to see the whole Ecumenical Service there. We had perfect 'reception'. I felt this little laptop gave superb service!
On a different level, I have tried in vain to catch a glimpse of the All-Ireland Final between Cork and Down this afternoon! I am sure the result will reach me soon enough!
Have a good week!
On Wednesday last we had a small meeting here. Lalini was in Tirana and members of the Evangelical Church requested to visit in order to discuss a new venture. A new unit has been opened for victims of Domestic Violance. I was delighted to hear this and even more pleased that I was invited to visit the unit on Thursday next. Its only occupant is a lady that we referred for help when we were here little more than a week. Also, it was good to hear she has been helped by a lawyer that I know quite well who is working 'gratis'. That morning I began to doubt that there WAS a project! The meeting at first was a series of questions from the Americans about CEDAW and New York!
As you know, we can tune in effectively to BBC only very rarely. Friday was an exception! I tried, and saw the Pope at Westminister with Rev. Rowan Williams. It was a real treat for Lalini and me to see the whole Ecumenical Service there. We had perfect 'reception'. I felt this little laptop gave superb service!
On a different level, I have tried in vain to catch a glimpse of the All-Ireland Final between Cork and Down this afternoon! I am sure the result will reach me soon enough!
Have a good week!
Monday, 13 September 2010
RETREAT, WEDDINGS AND AN EARTHQUAKE!
13TH. SEPTEMBER 2010 RETREAT, WEDDINGS AND AN EARTHQUAKE!
My journey to Macedonia by public transport was an adventure! It gave me three hours at St. Naum. This is a very beautiful resort on Lake Ohrid. It has an empty Orthodox Monastery and a hotel. I had time to attend a marriage in the tiny 18th. Century Orthodox Church. About 20 of the 100 guests came into the Church so there was room for a tourist and me. She was from Hawaii and has already sent me photos of the event! I took the public bus to Ohrid.
On Sunday, Father Kusan introduced me to two Dublin visitors after Mass. Joe is a Garda from Carlow and his 85 year old mother is on a holiday with him! He is based just over the Albanian border in Kosovo. He is an Adviser to a Unit of 200 border police. His brief includes trafficking and related matters and he could be a good resource for us in the future and would be happy to cooperate with us.
My retreat was truly blessed with excellent weather. I had the support of nine Franciscan priests from Albania who were also on retreat. I returned here on Friday.
On Saturday evening we had a wedding in our Korce Church. The bride was local and the groom was English, as was the priest. A moment after the couple had pronounced their vows, there was an EARTHQUAKE - a dramatic moment! The Church rocked and shuddered and there was a very loud noise. No damage except to window frames, thank God. All the buildings in Korce were affected and there were some wall cracks, but nothing more serious. The 'quake epicentre was 25 miles away and it registered 4.2 on the Richter Scale.
Father Kusan telephoned yesterday evening. He said he wanted to record that he was most impressed with the 12 young adults that Sister Lalini had brought for four days to Ohrid. They had taken a guitar, and organ and a mandolin and their music enriched the retreat days. He said the boys have had great formation and the girls will soon catch up with Good Shepherd involvement.
On Wednesday, it will be a year since we began our journey to Albania! So, au revoir rather than Mirupafshim for today!
My journey to Macedonia by public transport was an adventure! It gave me three hours at St. Naum. This is a very beautiful resort on Lake Ohrid. It has an empty Orthodox Monastery and a hotel. I had time to attend a marriage in the tiny 18th. Century Orthodox Church. About 20 of the 100 guests came into the Church so there was room for a tourist and me. She was from Hawaii and has already sent me photos of the event! I took the public bus to Ohrid.
On Sunday, Father Kusan introduced me to two Dublin visitors after Mass. Joe is a Garda from Carlow and his 85 year old mother is on a holiday with him! He is based just over the Albanian border in Kosovo. He is an Adviser to a Unit of 200 border police. His brief includes trafficking and related matters and he could be a good resource for us in the future and would be happy to cooperate with us.
My retreat was truly blessed with excellent weather. I had the support of nine Franciscan priests from Albania who were also on retreat. I returned here on Friday.
On Saturday evening we had a wedding in our Korce Church. The bride was local and the groom was English, as was the priest. A moment after the couple had pronounced their vows, there was an EARTHQUAKE - a dramatic moment! The Church rocked and shuddered and there was a very loud noise. No damage except to window frames, thank God. All the buildings in Korce were affected and there were some wall cracks, but nothing more serious. The 'quake epicentre was 25 miles away and it registered 4.2 on the Richter Scale.
Father Kusan telephoned yesterday evening. He said he wanted to record that he was most impressed with the 12 young adults that Sister Lalini had brought for four days to Ohrid. They had taken a guitar, and organ and a mandolin and their music enriched the retreat days. He said the boys have had great formation and the girls will soon catch up with Good Shepherd involvement.
On Wednesday, it will be a year since we began our journey to Albania! So, au revoir rather than Mirupafshim for today!
Friday, 3 September 2010
TRAFFICKING ON THE AGENDA
3rd. September 2010 TRAFFICKING ON THE AGENDA.
A brief work update of the week as I leave for Orhid a day early! On Wednesday I met with three members of the Peace Corps. They were most interested in the CEDAW report and discussed the possibility of having a meeting with volunteers who work with health issues out in the rural areas. This was followed up with a further meeting today. We hope to have the Trafficking get-together - a report on the CEDAW process - as close as possible to the end of the month. We can then inform the group that there will be a public event arranged to take place in Tirana for the Annual Anti-trafficking Day in October. So, things are beginning to happen that will hopefully lead to concrete improvements for Albanian women.
Au revoir till next time!
A brief work update of the week as I leave for Orhid a day early! On Wednesday I met with three members of the Peace Corps. They were most interested in the CEDAW report and discussed the possibility of having a meeting with volunteers who work with health issues out in the rural areas. This was followed up with a further meeting today. We hope to have the Trafficking get-together - a report on the CEDAW process - as close as possible to the end of the month. We can then inform the group that there will be a public event arranged to take place in Tirana for the Annual Anti-trafficking Day in October. So, things are beginning to happen that will hopefully lead to concrete improvements for Albanian women.
Au revoir till next time!
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
BOBOSHTICE, CONCERT, RETREAT IN ORHID
1ST. SEPTEMBER 2010 BOBOSHTICE, CONCERT, RETREAT IN ORHID.
This week has had a 'school' dimension, as our Shqip sessions continue. There was a touch of holiday around as the youth group planned a four day trip to Macedonia that began today.
On Friday we went to Boboshtice - a little village near Korce, famous for 'manna' - large balackberries that grow on trees more than two metres tall. With the help of two of our youth group we filled two small pots. These were given to our teacher and friend, Nadia, to make jam or liqueur. We await the outcome!
Sunday was quiet and in the evening I went to a concert, courtesy of the Tourist Board! We had three locals who work internationally - a pianist, a tenor and a soprano. They sang from "My Fair Lady" and the other items were familiar classics. We
heard no English but Italian, German and Spanish. The audience was thrilled by the high standard of it all and especially with the few Shqip songs with local flavour, that completed a great evening.
On Sunday, please God, I plan to travel to Macedonia in the minibus that goes to bring the youth group, and Lalini, back. I will stay some days to complete my retreat begun in upstate New York! I'll add a prayer for our Netherlands Good Shepherd. I am aware there will be a number of familiar faces to rejoice in the 150 years of presence and to celebrate!
This week has had a 'school' dimension, as our Shqip sessions continue. There was a touch of holiday around as the youth group planned a four day trip to Macedonia that began today.
On Friday we went to Boboshtice - a little village near Korce, famous for 'manna' - large balackberries that grow on trees more than two metres tall. With the help of two of our youth group we filled two small pots. These were given to our teacher and friend, Nadia, to make jam or liqueur. We await the outcome!
Sunday was quiet and in the evening I went to a concert, courtesy of the Tourist Board! We had three locals who work internationally - a pianist, a tenor and a soprano. They sang from "My Fair Lady" and the other items were familiar classics. We
heard no English but Italian, German and Spanish. The audience was thrilled by the high standard of it all and especially with the few Shqip songs with local flavour, that completed a great evening.
On Sunday, please God, I plan to travel to Macedonia in the minibus that goes to bring the youth group, and Lalini, back. I will stay some days to complete my retreat begun in upstate New York! I'll add a prayer for our Netherlands Good Shepherd. I am aware there will be a number of familiar faces to rejoice in the 150 years of presence and to celebrate!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)