28 September 2009 Diamond and Chateau Day in Brussels
Yesterday was very special - the Jubilee Celebration was delightful with marvellous music. Towards the end of the Liturgy, the local Abbe - Parish Priest - who is also the Communications Manager for the Church in Belgium, missioned us to Albania and presented us with a unique little statue. The people were most interested and asked many questions when we gathered in our old Good Shepherd Chateau for drinks and savouries. This Chateau was once the residence of the exiled King of France and is now home to a lay Good Shepherd Community of ten families. Later, the invited friends had a festive meal in the Chateau - one of the caterers informed me they cater for three Ambassadors including the Irish! I could well believe him as the standard of the menu was excellent.
We returned to Mons in the late afternoon and prepared for the reality of today when we took a little time time to rejoice with our German companion for their Election success.
Monday, 28 September 2009
Friday, 25 September 2009
Framework Glitch and Identity Change!
25 September 2009
Thank you for letting me know the 'framework' of the Blog arrives in German. I felt it was so but was assured it would all appear in Engish. I plan to get help to get this 'glitch' sorted out over the next few days. Be assured once again I am not at all 'High-Tech' on computer!
This is for sure a very different sort of month. I left Brussels on the 15th. as 'Clare' and, on arrival here was greeted as 'one of the Albanian missionaries'! Even though we go out quite a lot and have a number of people working with us, there is a feeling of being enveloped in every way with the courtesy and kindness of the resident community. I would compare it to living in a cocoon - I speak as one who was always busily involved in a practical way at ground level so I wonder what transformation the end of the month might deliver! Maybe nothing more than a photograph for this blog if technical skills improve!
Perhaps too, this feeling results from the fact that at this moment our accommodation is not yet 'grounded! And for the one who plans to visit in Albania in due course, may I say it will be a great joy to welcome them at 'Shtepia Jone', whether that be in Pogradec or Korce. A prayer would enable a happy solution to emerge.
Bon weekend!
25 September 2009
Thank you for letting me know the 'framework' of the Blog arrives in German. I felt it was so but was assured it would all appear in Engish. I plan to get help to get this 'glitch' sorted out over the next few days. Be assured once again I am not at all 'High-Tech' on computer!
This is for sure a very different sort of month. I left Brussels on the 15th. as 'Clare' and, on arrival here was greeted as 'one of the Albanian missionaries'! Even though we go out quite a lot and have a number of people working with us, there is a feeling of being enveloped in every way with the courtesy and kindness of the resident community. I would compare it to living in a cocoon - I speak as one who was always busily involved in a practical way at ground level so I wonder what transformation the end of the month might deliver! Maybe nothing more than a photograph for this blog if technical skills improve!
Perhaps too, this feeling results from the fact that at this moment our accommodation is not yet 'grounded! And for the one who plans to visit in Albania in due course, may I say it will be a great joy to welcome them at 'Shtepia Jone', whether that be in Pogradec or Korce. A prayer would enable a happy solution to emerge.
Bon weekend!
Thursday, 24 September 2009
24 September - A look at itenerary for the next few weeks!
Today, Hedwig from Geneva asked -"Do you go to Albania in 2009?", so I had better give some detail now that we have almost finished the first two weeks with a facilitator. We have shared our stories and ministries in which we have been involved. Yesterday we began to learn a little Albanian or SHQIP from an Albanian couple.
We have a missioning Mass here on October 14 and Amira and Lalini leave by air for Tirana on the 15th. Mirjam and I leave on the 16th. by car for Dusseldorf and take the overnight car-train to Verona. We travel onwards down to Naples and plan to overnight at Buon Pastore, Napoli! Our plan to go to Brindisi has changed as there is no ferry from there on a Sunday. We go to another port and take the ferry to Durrus in Albania! To me that sounds like West Cork! There is quite a bit to happen here as yet and all is going well so far.
Its great to be in touch -I have had help from our German Sister Mirjam in setting up this Blog. Most people close to me are well aware I am an infant when close to technology!
Today, Hedwig from Geneva asked -"Do you go to Albania in 2009?", so I had better give some detail now that we have almost finished the first two weeks with a facilitator. We have shared our stories and ministries in which we have been involved. Yesterday we began to learn a little Albanian or SHQIP from an Albanian couple.
We have a missioning Mass here on October 14 and Amira and Lalini leave by air for Tirana on the 15th. Mirjam and I leave on the 16th. by car for Dusseldorf and take the overnight car-train to Verona. We travel onwards down to Naples and plan to overnight at Buon Pastore, Napoli! Our plan to go to Brindisi has changed as there is no ferry from there on a Sunday. We go to another port and take the ferry to Durrus in Albania! To me that sounds like West Cork! There is quite a bit to happen here as yet and all is going well so far.
Its great to be in touch -I have had help from our German Sister Mirjam in setting up this Blog. Most people close to me are well aware I am an infant when close to technology!
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
PRESENT REALITY - 22 September 2009
Soeurs du Bon Pasteur,
Chausee du Roeulx 333bis
7000 - MONS
Belgium
Tel. 00 32 6533 6947
22 September 2009
Here I am in our 1839 Good Shepherd Convent at Mons, Belgium. Three Sisters - Mirjam from Germany, Lalini from Sri Lanka and Amira from Lebanon are with me. All is going well as we are getting to know one another and above all, we were happy to receive an email from Albania with the good news that there are two houses for us to choose between for our future home. Now, I will take a step back and tell you how this Blog came about.
FLASHBACK TO DR. Alisdair McDonnell MP's SDLP OFFICE in Belfast
11 September 2009
When I called to say "Goodbye" to Kate, Seamus suggested a Blog might be worthwhile as the future could be worth recording and of interest, so here goes and hopefully it will be so.
Monday 14 September
Left Belfast for Brussels, where I was met by Sisters Odile and Lalini. Overnight I met with the Sisters who had shared community life with me during the four years I came and went to the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Meetings at the EU and 'grew' a little ministry there! Next day I came to Mons, where Daniela, our German Provincial waited to greet us as we gathered from East and West! The local Sisters, both apostolic and contemplative had prepared a very suitable unit for us and truly all is going well.
Chausee du Roeulx 333bis
7000 - MONS
Belgium
Tel. 00 32 6533 6947
22 September 2009
Here I am in our 1839 Good Shepherd Convent at Mons, Belgium. Three Sisters - Mirjam from Germany, Lalini from Sri Lanka and Amira from Lebanon are with me. All is going well as we are getting to know one another and above all, we were happy to receive an email from Albania with the good news that there are two houses for us to choose between for our future home. Now, I will take a step back and tell you how this Blog came about.
FLASHBACK TO DR. Alisdair McDonnell MP's SDLP OFFICE in Belfast
11 September 2009
When I called to say "Goodbye" to Kate, Seamus suggested a Blog might be worthwhile as the future could be worth recording and of interest, so here goes and hopefully it will be so.
Monday 14 September
Left Belfast for Brussels, where I was met by Sisters Odile and Lalini. Overnight I met with the Sisters who had shared community life with me during the four years I came and went to the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Meetings at the EU and 'grew' a little ministry there! Next day I came to Mons, where Daniela, our German Provincial waited to greet us as we gathered from East and West! The local Sisters, both apostolic and contemplative had prepared a very suitable unit for us and truly all is going well.
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