Just looking again at photos from last week, I am reminded that a week ago today we visited the Cathedral in Tegucigalpa on our way to the airport. It’s the Cathedral of Michael The Archangel and is truly beautiful. We spent a bit of time there and its size allowed for space and its space allowed for prayer and the prayer was a connection with people we’d met over the days and people we know that might be in need of a prayer (who isn’t?) I’m glad we had the chance to visit …..
Over the few days in Honduras I took photos. I’ve already shared some of them in previous posts. I’m going to include a good few of them here now, without words, since photos tell their own story. I won’t mention Honduras or Trocaire again until Lent 2017. So this is it!!
Meeting with a youth group and its leaders
A village visited
Short video clip of the only road allowing access to this village. When the floods rise this road becomes totally impassible.
Shores and homes
Sharing Sunday Eucharist
Community Concerns
Should be Paradise
Farmers, farming, food and life
So that’s it! Many others took photos too and chances are I am in a few of them. These were from the other side of the lens. They don’t tell the full story but I’d like to think give a flavour of the places we visited, the people we met and the stories we heard. If there are sounds to accompany these photos, they might include, laughter, bits of music from time to time, an odd song, sadness in people’s voices as they related stories of fear, intimidation and uncertainty for their future, hope, solidarity, purpose, water and always welcomes with the sharing of food and kindness.
Someone jokingly asked if I’d be on next year’s Trocaire Box! The answer is no. The little girl who will be on it is found in these photos. I’d like to think that come Lent 2017 my heart will be in the Trocaire Box and that I can encourage people to maintain that level of generosity that comes so naturally to the people of Ireland and that I now see the necessity for in a way, truth told, I had not fully grasped until this week.
Thanks for sharing these days with me and allowing me share them with you in the words written and the photos taken.
Thanks also to the group I was honoured to be part of: from Trocaire; Kevin and Anna, from the dioceses of Ireland, Rose, Claudine, Eddie, Damian, Dominic and Paul, from Trocaire in Central America; Harvé, Alexis, Santiago and Kristian, members of the “partner” NGO’s we met, our bus drivers and all who cared for and welcomed us.
Just attended Sunday Mass. a gentle and welcoming priest made us all feel at home. The church was large, unlike the congregation, and the atmosphere one of joy and worship.
The priests in our group; Paul, Eddie, Dominic, Michael and myself concekebrated. The other members together with Trocaire staff were also present for what was an uplifting celebration of Eucharist.
After the Offertory gifts were presented a young couple stood at the foot of the Altar. The man cradled a baby and the priest went to them, took the baby in his arms and raised it to the Heavens and then showed the baby to the congregation. There was a round of applause that was more than the clapping of hands. It was pure welcome. Later we discovered the baby is forty days old and this is the ceremony of presentation.
At the Sign of Peace a small boy ran to the Altar and shook hands with us all. I thought this was an isolated incident and was pleased his parents didn’t feel they had to run after him. It wasn’t! Every child in the church ran to the Altar and greeted us all. A lovely moment.
Eddie spoke on behalf of the group and, in Spanish, thanked all for the welcome and spoke of Trocaire’s work.
An early start had our group leaving hotel at 5.50am and heading for the airport to take a flight from the capital to San Pedro Sula. In three hired cars we travelled to Omoa Cortés, a small community of some 85 families that is situated on the shore line of the Caribbean.
All things being equal it would be an idyllic and much sought after place to live but the uncertainty of the ocean combined with an extended rainy season makes it a nightmarish place to live. Houses, homes – basic in construction, dot the shoreline and run the constant risk of flooding if not total devastation. When floods come the only road for access can become unusable and dangerous, effectively cutting the people off completely, resulting in undoubted hardship and death.
We were met in a Community Centre that had been the local school. Surrounded by grass and showing the signs of flooding, the centre was not readily accessible. That said, a very large gathering met us there. You could not but be taken by and impressed with their resilience and graciousness. The loveliest of people. Language barrier aside, they communicated a lovely nature and were unquestionably welcoming of us all, especially the representatives of Trocaire, who have been a source of strength and solidarity.
One of the ways Trocaire has helped is by co-sponsoring with the local minincipal council and other religious and non-profit agencies, the development of a canal that can link the iinhabitants with safety. One man spoke of this and whilst grateful for the hope this offers his people he made the point that the boats they have can only take twenty-five people at a time and the return journey is ninety minutes. This time exposes his people to heightened risk.
They asked us to encourage support for their plight through supporting Trocaire’s Lenten Campaign which, in 2017, will focus on this community and its specific needs. We had the opportunity to meet the girl who will be featured on next year’s campaign box and literature. A delightful child and lovely family. Will come back to this again.
Later in the evening we visited Cuyamel, the name of a town and river. We met with a committee that is trying to reclaim its river from an international company who has taken control of its rights (committee would say due to corruption) and this has led to the devastation of the river. It was a very impassioned presentation and the need for support for this community and the protection of the river were at its heart. “the war of the future “, one man told us, “will be for water” and it was hugely impressive to see so many committee members there, men and women and especially the younger people.
As we left that meeting we met a group of young people who had been practising their routines for a marching band. Though they had finished their session, they agreed to play for us and played a number of pieces, the final one lasting over eleven minutes. I hope to put it on YouTube but signal not good enough to do that now. Watch (literally) this space.
Yesterday, I met Marian (a niece of one of our oldest parishioners in Kilmovee) and it was good to meet her. We went for lunch (Fisherman’s Catch, Point Lookout) and met with her daughter and son-in-law, whose marriage I celebrated in Rockville Centre. When I was here last year they had their first baby but time didn’t allow for us to meet. We rectified that yesterday. We had a lovely lunch and a good chat but the highlight for me was their little daughter. She was among the best humoured people I’ve ever met. Without saying a word (well at least a word I understood) she held the attention of all. I have to say it was a joy to meet her. I look forward to sharing these photos with her great grand-aunt. (I don’t think she’s an “on-line” woman!!)
Well into the “holidays” now and enjoying the days very much. That said, I’ve been very connected with home too, as I remember Ger Regan, R.I.P., whose Funeral takes place today. I had Mass here around the same time and remembered Ger, his family and friends there.
Over the past few days I’ve had the chance to do what I really like doing when I come here, connecting with old friends (and meeting some new ones too!). Last Sunday evening I went to New York to meet Joe, Liz and Keenan who have been friends of mine for many years. With them were some people from Kiltimagh, two of whom I’d met before. We had a lovely time and it was good to catch up. The other visitors were going to see “WICKED” on Monday evening and asked if I’d like to join them as they had an extra ticket. Needless to say I said yes, though I knew nothing about the show.
It’s one I need to think about but there’s a very positive message running through the show. Leave it with me!! This seems to be the central song in the show – “Defying Gravity”. I think it’s a message about not being kept down but finding and reaching your potential.
The Cathedral here has gone through quite a face lift since my last visit. It is covered in scaffolding just now but the work on the interior has been completed. Very impressive.
On Wednesday evening I went back into NY and met an old friend from Maynooth days. We had a lovely meal, walked around for a while. He took me to a Roof Top bar where there’s an excellent (and free!!) view of NY and NJ. I just took one photo there.
I stayed in NY that night and the next day wandered around for a while. It was gloriously hot (though people were complaining about the heat – I was happy enough to be in it – great weather for the bog!!) I enjoy walking and noticing bits and pieces as I go. I spotted one of “New York’s Finest” doing his duty and couldn’t help but notice his Patrol Car. I can’t see Bruce Willis saving New York in one of these … only saying!!
Later in the day I met a good friend, Seán, whom I’ve missed out on meeting in recent years. We went for a bite of lunch and chatted away as if we’d met the day before. That’s always a good sign of friendship for me. From there I went to Crestwood and met the McEnerney family. I’ve met them every time I’ve visited here and had the privilege of baptizing their children. The older of the two is about to go to College this year and is so excited about that. Hard to believe how quickly the years pass. His younger sister will be making the same trip next year. My memories of her go a bit further back to a young girl playing the piano for me and suggesting I stop “filming” when a few stray notes wander into her performance!!
At Mass this morning, here in the Cathedral at Rockville Centre, I noticed two people at Mass that I get the chance to meet each year. – Mary and Caroline Hunt – they are among the most faithful visitors to these pages and I was happy to see them. Mary’s husband, Martin (RI.P.) was from Ballaghaderreen parish and that’t the link.
What I like to think is running through these days is “connection” with people. At day’s end, I see that as one of the greatest gifts we have and I am blessed to be able to avail of it.
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