The days are passing and home is in view. I have enjoyed the time here very much but am happy to be going home – which is always a good sign for me, that I am content where I am.
I celebrated a wedding here on Saturday and it has been a few years since I did that in this parish. It was lovely to be involved and to share the day and beginning of married life with Maeve and Eric. Wishing them every blessing now and always …..
On Saturday evening, I met with some cousins of mine who live here in Rockville Centre. We meet each year and they kindly take me to dinner. We really had a fine meal and it was great just to sit with them, chat a while and laugh a lot! Afterwards a phtograph was taken and in this one the two husbands were left out, being told “You are not blood relatives”!!! They took it okay and one of them took the photo!
Over the weekend, I had the chance to meet with some people that I was happy to see. Three generations of one family came to Mass on Sunday morning and we went for some food afterwards. I was happy to see Marian, Tara and Fallyn (Marian, being a niece of the late Marie Sharkey, Urlaur). Later in the day I went into to New York to meet Joe, Elizabeth and Lorraine – my Kitimagh connection. We had a lovely afternoon together and it was great to catch up with them. I wandered around for a while, went to St Patrick’s Cathedral but there was a line waiting to get in and I don’t especially like lines. I’d not have stood in line for the Queen’s funeral – not that she would be overly disappointed or upset by that! May she rest in peace.
As I walked towards the railway station, my eyes caught the registration of a car parked in a street. I felt I had to take a picture of it and admire the wit of the owner but doubt, even if I could select my own registration that I would ever put this number on a car I might own. Would you?
When I got back here on Sunday evening the streets were closed in preparation for a funeral that was to take place in the Cathedral on Monday – the funeral of a man who retired from the FDNY about six months ago but who has battled illness since attending at the scene of 911’s terror attack. He lost his brother that day. God rest them both.
The funeral was this morning and I went out to see the arrival. It was a most impressive operation, very dignified and respectful. It is clear that a very strong bond exists between these firefighters. That bond keeps them safe at work, in most cases, and deppens their frienship.
I noticed the flag last night, draped between two fire engines and when I read up on it, the symoblism is around the bridge between life and death, earth and Heaven. The flag flew again today, albeit at a different location to last evening.
So the days are drawing to a close but, as in other years, I have many happy memories to bring home with me. I am thankful to all who have made them possible.
For the past few weeks I have been back in Rockville Centre, New York. It’s difficult to believe but it is twenty-five years since I came here first; that time to St Patrick’s Parish in Huntington. I went there for two years and then started to come to the Cathdral of St Agnes in Rockville Centre. With the exception of the dreaded “Covid” years, I have been here every year since 1999. I stay here for three weekends and supply cover where needed. Some people refer to it as a “busman’s holiday” but I really enjoy being here. I enjoy the different setting for a few weeks and especially enjoy getting to visit with people I know from home and others that I have met through coming here.
This year I spent sometime with my aunt in Richmond and that too is always a special opportunity to be with somoene who has been part of my life for so long. Next month, please God, she will celebrate her 99th Birthday.
I travelled to Washington DC by train and was met there by two people I met on my first visit here, back in 1997; Corky and Jeannie Korves. They have become dear friends and proved the depth of that friendship by many repeated kindnesses through the years. Recently they moved to a new home and I had the chance to visit them there, spend a night and enjoy their companay. That evening included dinner with their son Chris and his family who live not too far from them. Chris’ daughter, Maeve, baked a beautiful cake because, as I was to find out that night, it was “International Chocolate Day”. How could I have known!!
The next day I travelled with Corky and Jeannie to Richmond where we went to Mary Margaret’s home. It was great to see her and to meet Susan who spends some time with Mary Margaret during the week. We celebrated Mass together in the house and then went for lunch to a wonderful restuarant called “The Can Can” and we did did!!
I spent the evening with Mary Margaret and we chatted and remembered. She is very good at both! The next day, I caught the train back to New York. A long journey enough, of more than six hours. It was great to be able to do it.
On returning to New York I found myself in a new part of Penn Station. It is called Moynihan Hall and was opened in January 2021. It is named after an Irish American Senator and is a fine building. It has been many years in the planning and will, quite likely this year, mean that trains can travel from Long Island (LIRR) directly to Grand Central Station. This will be a major advantage to people and I look forward to travelling that route next year, please God.
I was in Crestwood where I met a Mullaghroe woman, Noelle McEnerney (McLoughlin) and her daughter and son. Her husband Tom was away at work so did not meet him but might yet! Noelle and her daugher Niamh took me to a lovely park, close to them and we spent some time there. The park features the Untermyer Gardens and is in Yonkers. We had a lovely walk there and I was very happy to have been able to visit. Again, Noelle is someone that I have managed to visit every year since I started coming here and it is always a good experience.
Later in the day, Noelle dropped me to the home of other friends; Carrie, Guillermo and Beatrice. Carrie is daughter of Jeannie and Corky and again I met her on my first visit here in 1997.
We had dinner, chatted for a while and I headed back to “The Island”
This is thr Cathedral at Rockville Centre where I spent most of my time. There are numerous Masses here every day (6.30am, 7.45am, 9.00am and 12.10pm) as well as weddings and funerals. At the weekend there are two vigil Masses in the Cathedral (one in Spanish) and one in the Parish Centre with Masses on Sunday at 7.00am, 8.00am, 9.30am, 11.00am, 12.30pm and 5.00pm. A busy place! I celebrate some of these Masses and it is a lovely experience. I am amazed by the attendance at the Masses. The daily Masses would each have at least 100 people in attendance and many times that at the weekend Masses. My first Sunday here, I met a couple outside and the young woman asked me what part of Ireland I am from – “Sligo”, I replied. “Me too,” she said, “I am from Tubbercurry”!! This year, in addition, to the regular Masses, I celebrated a Funeral Mass and a wedding.
I met Tony Hunt, a classmate from St Nathy’s during the week. We had met a few weeks ago at our Class Reunion in Ballaghaderreen and he said he would be in New York for a meeting and that we might get together. I am glad of that and enjoyed the conversation and sharing memories. Later that night, I met Denis Matthews, another friend from Maynooth days and we had dinner. I meet Denis each year and, once again, am always glad to connect with him.
This year, I met someone I had not met before. This came about because last October a man died in New York and I was asked to pray for him at Mass in Tubbercurry. His name is Jimmy Neary and he came from Tubbercurry. As a young man he emigrated, like countless others, and ended up working in a restaurant and eventually owning his own – Nearys on 57th Street. I watched his Funeral Mass on line. It was celebated by Cardinal Dolan a friend of Jimmy’s and a regular in his restaurant. Fifth Avenue was closed for the funeral procession and it was obvious that Jimmy was held in high regard by many. A few weeks ago, after Morning Mass in Cloonacool, Mattie Brennan told me that a street had been renamed in Jimmy’s memory. I decided to go there, take a picture and have it for Mattie when I would go home. I looked up the restaurant on line to get the address and decided to send a quick email to Jimmy’s daughter, Una. She replied immediately and invited me for dinner in the restaurant. I told her that was not my intention and she replied “I know, but it is mine!” I went to the street and took some photos but did not go in on that occasion. I returned there a few evenings later and met Una, a joy to meet. She has such a clear grasp of her father’s Tubbercurry and spent most of her summers there as a child. The restaurant was lovely, homely and very Irish.
As I left Neary’s, Una asked me how I was getting to Penn Station. I told her I would walk and she said to be careful. I pointed out that every street corner was swarmed with Police (UN meeting on in NY these days) and she said “You are right, there could not be a better night to walk!” I did and clocked up nearly 25000 steps that day – from the walk in New York and an earlier visit to the boardwalk at Jones’ Beach with Noelle McEnerny and her sister Kay Breen. My best walking day ever but I did have the pork chops in Nearys!!
A few days to go …. a few more to meet and maybe a few more lines for here.
During the week I said goodbye to my friend Alpha. It was difficult to do and has left a big gap in my life.
I am very thankful to all who have been in contact in recent days. I realise that in the circle of life, people are coping with very heavy crosses and great loss. My heart goes out to parents who have lost a child, husbands, wives, sons and daughters – all grieving. Alpha would not want to usurp anyone’s place in the chain of grief and I know who and what he was. I am glad however that I had the chance to share so much with him and, at day’s end, we got on well.
He had been sick for the past few months but thankfully did not suffer or show signs of pain.
Just want to remember him here.
This is a piece I put on Facebook on Wednesday
These are some of his moments here through the years …. thanks for sharing them and him with me ….
Once again I want to make a start on keeping this blog up to date! It is my space and I have enjoyed sharing it with you over the years. In more recent times, I find myself using Facebook a lot more and that surprises me because, those of you who know me, are aware that I was not always a fan:)
I want however to keep this space alive and will do my best to keep it updated.
Perhaps the beginning of February, the step in to Spring and the spring in our step is the way to go.
He was found dead. People spoke with genuine sorrow and more than a little regret. He kept to himself. He’d moved from England. He used sit on a park bench and some would say hello to him. His little house seemed so small on the evening news. The houses around looked bigger but the TV camera is focused on his. He’s not there anymore.
Someone walking the footpath in the middle of March noticed something and wondered.
The Emergency Services were called and they had to break in. The Christmas Tree was on in the kitchen and the Christmas decorations still up. He had been taken down but the decorations stayed in place. The camera focuses on a bit of tinsel.
It’s sad of course but sadly understandable too. It could happen anywhere. Some people are very private. They keep to themselves a lot. Maybe that’s the way they want it. We rush too and mightn’t always notice things.
What’s happening on Coronation Street? Fair City? Neighbours? East Enders? Home and Away? It seems strange that we might know the ends and outs of these fictional places but very little about our own neighbours and community.
A Mercedes hearse takes him away – I wondered was it the first time he was ever in a Mercedes? You’d hope he had a Happy Christmas – he must have wanted one – he put up decorations.
God rest his Soul.
There’s a thought here somewhere around “noticing” – not prying or interfering but noticing in a positive and caring way those around us.
A MOMENT TO PRAY
Lord,
As I put up Christmas decorations this year, help me to remember this man and to be thankful for those who will share my decorated home in the days to come. Direct my thoughts and actions that those who might all too easily be overlooked may know they are cared for and loved. Give me decency of spirit that I might respond to charitable appeals and help others to have something of the Christmas I hope for.
Remind me again that it is “in giving” we truly receive.
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This year I spent sometime with my aunt in Richmond and that too is always a special opportunity to be with somoene who has been part of my life for so long. Next month, please God, she will celebrate her 99th Birthday.
