A Dubliner's Perspective
The last week was a relatively quiet one thank God! A few says ago I got a request from the editor of Goodnews Magazine to write an article for the Jan-Feb edition. In the course of our phone conversation we agreed that I would do something on the notion of resistance in prayer i.e. a propensity to move away from relationship with the Lord because of negative images and feelings about the Lord which lurk in the unconscious. That article has been completed and sent to London. By the way you can read the magazine by googling "Goodnews charismatic." I have placed the last article I wrote for the magazine on using mantras in prayer in the articles section of this website.
The next day I got a request to write an Advent type article for a magazine that is published by the Irish Daughters of Charity. I completed that one in record time and emailed it to the editor. Then I got writing a talk entitled, "Are Irish Christians a Dying Breed?" which I delivered last night at an ecumenical gathering in Gorey county Wexford. Currently I'm writing five talks and two homilies for a charismatic leaders course in London this weekend. So, as you can see, I have been writing a lot this week. By the way, I have also done some work on my book which is going well. Yesterday I got an email which contained information about a video on UTube, in which I play a minor part. Any of my readers from Detroit may be particularly interested because it is about the STL in the New Evangelisation in Sacred Heart Seminary. You can access the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEJrJuE0TvY
An Easier Week
Thank goodness this week was easier that the last two. On Monday I brought the Toyota Yaris car I drive to do the NCT test. Although the car got a service a few months ago I had no confidence that it would get through. But to my amazement and my relief it had nothing wrong with it, even through it is 8 years old. On Tuesday I began the day by attending an Alpha management meeting and then headed for Donegal to help out on a Vincentian mission that was being conducted in the town of Stranolar. I joined two lay members of the team and said a missioin mass, visited the sick and conducted a a service where we celebrated the sacrament of reconciliation. We had a very good attendance. Confessions went on for nearly two hours. Having said mass on the Thursday I headed back to Dublin and conducted an Alpha meeting in Clonliffe College. On Friday I got back to writing my book on basic evangelisation. On Sunday I go to Cork and back to pray for a woman I know who is not well.
I HAVE SURVIVED THANK GOD!!
Nearly two weeks ago I began the Portmarnock mission by speaking about reducing stress and finding peace in the White Sands Hotel in Portmarnock. The attendance of 40 was not as big as I had hoped, but we had a fruitful evening together. Following the talk there was a lively discussion. On the Tusday f that week I attended the provincial assembly of the Ango Irish province of the Vincentians in Emmaus House Retreat centre in Swords. It went on until the Thursday. During that time we discussed Vincentian topics and elected delegates to go to the General Assembly in Rome. During the assembly I went to speak on the New Evangelisation in Skerries, a seaside town north of Dublin. On Friday morning I was up at 3.45 A.M. and boarded a plane for Birmingham in England at 6.30 A.M. I was collected at the airport. Later that day I attended a charismatic regional conference in Hereford. It was organized by Mary and Simon Cameron my gracious hosts for the weekend. There were 3 speakers, but one of them was unable to come because of illness and another had to leave early so I ended up speaking more than I had expected. I was delighted to find that good friends of mine, Archie and Cathy Cameron - who are not related to Mary and Simon - were recording the talks. The conference came to a fitting conclusion when archbishop Smith of Cardiff in Wales celebrated the final Mass and preached a fine homily. On the Monday morning I was up at 4.45 A.M. and boarding a plane at Birmingham airport at 7.50. I was in Dublin around nine when a parishoner from Portmarnock parish picked me up. I was on the altar for the 10 A.M. Mass where I preached a mission homily. Each day I did this and then ran a spirituality seminar. After lunch I met with people for a chat, sacrament of reconciliation or prayer. Then in the evenings we had a mission service culminating on Friday with a healing service which was very well attended. I also visited the local secondary school, and met with young mothers and their babies and with the senior citizen group. It was a hectic, demanding but blessed week. I saw the grace of God at work from beginning to end. A big thank you to Fr. Michael Comber the Parish Pries for his hospitality. I also want to thank all the lay people who helped me so much. I arrived back in St Peter's, my home parish, late on Friday and resumed my usual duties here on Saturday. Last night I attended a lively meeting of the New Springtime Community where, amoung other things, we discussed Paul VI's letter Evangelisation in the Modern World.
A Look at the Diary
Many thanks to friends in St Vals who have been in contact recently. I have not had much time to write my blog because I have been so busy with other tasks. Last week besides working in the parish, I visited the parish where I begin a mission today, in order to make the final arrangements. On Wednesday, there was an unexpeted request to officiate at a funeral type service in a local crematorium. In the event I ended up officiating at three funerals. I remembered my last end while there.This weekend I spoke at six masses in Portmarnock parish where I will be conducting the mission. It is a large middle class area. THe church has been newly renovated and there is an excellent parish centre. I will be speaking at a Charismatic Conference this coming weekend in England. All in all I have had to write 22 talks for the confrence, the mission and another engagement this week. It is tough going. Fortunately, I can use stuff I have written before in modified form. Last night I met with the members of the New Springtime Community where we discussed our future plans. Among other things we are running 6 Alpha courses which are being attended by 230 people from all over the Archdiocese. We are very pleased with the response. At the moment the weather is good. The sky is blue and the air is crisp.
Blog update
I must apologise to all those who read this blog because I let it lapse for a while. I have been very busy with many things. At the moment I'm writing a new book. It has the provisional title, Basic Evangelisation: A Handbook for Catholics. So far I have completed five chapters. There are still about five more to go. While it involves a lot of time and concentration, I'm enjoying the work. So do forgive the fact that I have not been writing regular reports, it is hard to write some more when one has been writing for many hours already. I have travelled a lot since returning from Detroit. Here are some of the places I have gone. Shortly after returning from Detroit I spoke at a weekend Summer School on the kerygma (basic Christian proclamation) in Gelendalough in Wicklow. This event was put on by the New Springtime Community to which I belong. We had an open day on the Sunday which was well attended. Following that I had a few easy weeks when I took a short break. Besides working in St Peter's parish I attended a few Alpha meetings. During that time I got in touch with Cardinal Brady and discussed the possibility of the bishops considering the worthwhileness of publishing a national plan of evangelisation. He seemed to be receptive to the idea and encouraged me to write to bishop William Leee about the matter. Subsequently I sent bishp Lee a three page letter about the proposal. I know it has since been discussed by a committee of the bishops's conference. Please God the hierarchy will adopt the proposal. Toward the end of August our new community had another training day in Glendalough.
On Sat the 9th of September I helped to conduct an Alpha training day in Galway, which is in the West of Ireland. It was well attended and we were encouraged by the interest shown. The following day I celebrated mass in my home, together with my two brothers and sister for all the deceased members of our family and afterwards shared a very nice meal with them. The following weekend I travelled on my scooter to Southport in England to speak at a large spirituality conference. It was attended by about 300 people. Although it was tiring I enjoyed the trip largely because I met people I have known for many years. Last weekend I was in Waterford city in Ireland to speak at a charismatic conference which was attended by hundreds of people. This week I'm back writing, working in the parish and attending three Alpha events. More about that anon.
The weather has been very disappointing since returning from the USA. It has been cloudy and raining most of the time. We have been told that it has been the wettest Summer since records began in the 19th century. Our people continue to suffer from the effects of the economic downturn. I want to say a huge thank you to Fr. Paul and to all the parishoners in St Valentine's for the wonderful hospitality I received while being there for four weeks. I can truly say I love you all and hope that, God willing, there will be another opportunity of spending time with you all. In the meantime remember what I shared during the retreat, "always and for everything give thanks to the Lord." Keep the faith, and try to share it with others.
Back in the USA
I'm back in Detroit where I spent two happy years between 2006 and 2008. I was asked to come by Fr. Paul the pastor of St Valentine's parish in Redford while he was on a visit to his native India. A few days ago I was talking to the catechist here and she said that it was only recently that she realised that I write this blog in a chronologically sequential way. She had expected that I'd put in new entries at the top. When I heard what she had to say I thought, "she is right," hence the change this time.
Thank God there were no complications with the flight over, both passenger and case arrived together on time. I was picked up at the airport by Ellen Wright who lost her husband suddenly and unexpectedly a couple of months ago. I knew Pat well and miss his company. It is painful seeing how much Ellen mourns his loss. As soon as I settled in I hired a Ford Focus. It is expensive but necessary because for all intents and purposes there is no public transport here in Detroit.
The weather was very hot when I arrived, about 95 degrees. But it has dropped since and it is closer to the climate in Dublin, warm and cloudy a lot of the time. I say mass for the parish every day, and four masses each weekend. Apart from that my duties are not demanding so I have time to meet with friends and to write. For example, a few days ago I read an article by the American bishops about Reiki healing. I decided to write a report based ion what they had said. I submitted it to Goodnews magazine in England which will publish it in two months time. Then I decided to offer a shortened version to the Michigan Catholic a newspaper that comes out here once a week. As far as I know it is due to be published this week. Then I sent a slightly changed version to the Irish Catholic and received an email from Garry O'Sullivan to say it will be published.
We celebrated Independence Day on Sat, and I joined a family in the parish for a lovely celebratory dinner. However, the recession has taken the gloss of things. There is an unemployment rate of over 14% here in Michigan. Things are particularly bad in the city due to the woes of the motor industry. I have visited Sacred Heart Seminary on a couple of occasions and met some of the lecturers. I found that there was a fire in the chapel some time ago and that the floor has to be replaced. Some of the water used by the firemen got into the library and so renovations are needed there also.Tomorrow I'm off to the Diocesan Office of Evangelisation to pick up as much useful information as I can. During my free time I'm writing talks for the summer school the New Springtime community is running in Glendalough at the end of July. I'm also preparing for a retreat I'm conducting here in the parish at the end of this week. This Wednesday I intend to go to the Vincent de Paul meeting. The members are doing great work in the parish during these troubled times.
