POETRY SNIPPET AND A POPE FRANCIS CONNECTION PLUS LAC DAY.

30 JULY 2013 POETRY SNIPPET AND A POPE FRANCIS CONNECTION PLUS LAC DAY. "Lie at the heart of the emotion, time Has its own work to do. We must not anticipate Or awaken for a moment. GOD CANNOT CATCH US UNLESS WE STAY IN THE UNCONSCIOUS ROOM OF OF OUR HEARTS. We must be nothing, Nothing that God may make us something. We must not touch the immortal material We must not daydream tomorrow's judgement GOD MUST BE ALLOWED TO SURPRISE US." Patrick Kavanagh. Capitals inserted by me! This snippet has been posted as a result of the last entry. It also fits what Pope Francis said in his World Youth Day homily on 24 July 2013. "I would like to speak of three simple attitudes: hopefulness, openness to being SURPRISED BY GOD, and living in Joy." Today, Sister Mirjam and I had an early start, as we left KORCA promptly at 6.00a.m., with our little group of seven. This included two blind and their helpers, plus other volunteers in work with the blind. We had a most wonderful day in Lac - pronounced "latch" - a Franciscan place of pilgrimage in the mountains, five hours away from Korca. The day was glorious and we welcomed the air conditioning in the minibus as we hastened to complete our journey for 11.00a.m. Mass. We arrived within minutes of the start of Mass. Later, one of our pilgrims, our only Baptised Roman Catholic, met the priest, whom Mirjam knew. We were gifted with two lambs, not standing, but ready for the deep freeze and we also enjoyed our wholesome picnic in the mountain air! Altogether, it was a very happy day and you were all in our prayers and thoughts too. Tomorrow, Saint Ignatius, and also Mother Foundress' Birthday, material for celebration on another day. Next week, the Blind go to the mountain town of Erseke for a Summer Camp. I will not visit, as its quite a journey from here, and a day trip would not really be worthwhile. Instead, I am planning to give students a few days holidays and also plan with Mirjam for a few days. All possibilities are in the pipeline just now! Blessings on each one as we move into August.

FEAST DAY AND BIRTHDAY JOY!

PLANNING MEETING FOR LAC PILGRIMAGE

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.

BISHOP'S VISIT, GLU PROJECT, TRAVEL TO KORCA AND PRE-CHAPTER SESSION.

MONDAY 15 JULY 2013 BISHOP'S VISIT, GLU PROJECT, JOURNEY TO KORCA AND PRE-CHAPTER SESSION "Every picture tells a story" is surely true of this morning's surprise visit by Bishop Ottavio Vitale, Lezha, and a few of his group. They came to thank for the lunch enjoyed by the full group of eight, yesterday, before the Bishop said Mass for us and the Bilisht Catholic community tat came with the three Franciscan Sisters. This morning the group had very little time so I just o offered a Baileys, fresh from travel last week. Those that accepted, enjoyed, and then we had a photocall, on hearing the Italian CHAMPION MOUSTACHE BEARER was in the group. See the photos! The group then left for Pogradec and Ohrid, Macedonia. On hearing of Ohrid, I spoke of our dear friend, Pere Stephan KUSAN,SJ who died suddenly in the recent past RIP. GLU - the GOD LOVES YOU Project in Belfast, now seems very far away and it was new to me. I attended the two sessions, one given by Reverend Anne Toland, local Presbyterian Minister and the one I gave on Saturday. My input was based on Ephesians 3:20 and a line from Patrick Kavanagh - "God must be allowed to surprise us" which seemed to go well. On Sunday evening, I joined representatives of the other three Churches at our local Methodist, where i did a Scripture reading. The Church was packed with young people and visitors. On Tuesday, I headed for Dublin and, having enjoyed a meal with my sister, Bernie, I headed for our Provincial House. There I met PATRIZIA from our Generalate in Rome. She was enjoying he "DREAM HOLIDAY" - seeing all the Irish beauty spots. I had heard that my friend Sister Lila Dempsey, Sister of Saint Clare, was returning to her convent in Florida on Wednesday morning too. Even though we were in the airport at the same time, we did not manage to meet. This was not surprising with the crowds traveling. My journey went quite smoothly but arrived in Tirana quite late. I was delighted to see Sisters Amira and Mirjam there when i eventuall got through Passport Control and collected baggage. Great to hear that Mirjam would travel to Korca - what a treat! \the road has two new tunnels and a super road that shortens the journey. We got very heavy rain and a flooded city en route but all was well, thank God. Mirjam gave us a splendid report on her pre-Chapter experience in Germany. Sister left us with a very clear picture of the focus of the work completed. On Friday morning we had our first Planning Meeting for a Social Project with the Blind, planned to take place over the next two months. I have asked to travel to Tirana, with Sister Lalini, tomorrow, so that we can meet and dine together with Sisters Amira and Mirjam - our final "FAREWELL" meal as it is unlikely that we will meet and minister together again when sister Amira completes her Year of formation in Canada. So, happy feast for Our Lady Of mount Carmel tomorrow and every blessing for the holidays.

BISHOP OF LEZHA'S GROUP

Bishop, Centre is Italian Champion of MOUSTACHE, Dolores, Bishop's niece.