Kiltegan

Kiltegan

Have been in Kiltegan these days – another retreat, this time with the priests of St Patrick’s Missionary Society.  It’s a lovely place and a great group of people, around 70 priests attending the retreat.  The welcome is good and so far things have gone very well, thanks be to God.

I visited the Cemetery on Sunday evening and spent a bit of time there.  I wanted to visit three graves and was pleased to be able to do that.

The graves were those of Frs Ciaran Needham (Gurteen), Kevin Brehony (Keash) and Leo O’Sullivan (Dingle). Each of these had an influence for the good in my life.  May they, with all buried here, rest in peace.

 

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Up in Down

Up in Down

Not the most original joke I’ve ever managed but that’s the truth of it. These days I’ve been up in Down.  To be more exact, I’ve been in Dromantine, near Newry, the home of the SMA Missionary Society and a Conference Centre.

My reason for being here is a Diocesan Priests’ Retreat and I’ve been meeting with some of the priests of the Diocese of Clogher. The days have been very enjoyable.  There’s a lovely energy around meeting and talking with a group of priests and, in that meeting, I am reminded what made me want to be a priest in the first place – that sense of decent men, doing their best.  Of course, life has taught me that it’s not always that simple but the truth remains, priests are doing their best to be their best.

Anyway, I don’t want to write about that just now.  I’m just in from a walk (The Darkness Into Light must have spurred me on!!).  I don’t know how far I walked but it was pleasant. I didn’t really talk to anyone along the way – apart from the odd wave and hello – but tried to notice what was around me.

A few images – among them four dogs in a field.  Their owner was totally in charge and almost got them to pose for me.  Cattle in another field walked towards me to see who was passing the road.  Near a house I noticed a small model house built into the garden. I wondered was it done at some stage for a child of the house and if so, is that child still there or long gone.  Either way, the structure is there and looked well.  I spotted the sign for Dromantine and in smaller letters “African Missions” and thought of countless young men from all over Ireland who travelled here not knowing really where “here” was but just in response to what they believed was a call to Missionary Priesthood.  I spotted lovely colours along the way, a lamp – not yet lit – that will when needed cast light into darkness.  Lastly, the lake in the shadow of Dromantine and two little ducks, doing what ducks do so well – afloat and at ease in each other’s company.

See what you think …

Mullaghmore

Mullaghmore

I’ve spent the past few days in Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo. It’s not my first time here but it is the first time I remember spending time around here and I have to say, it’s a lovely part of my home county.

Since Monday evening, I have been in the Star of The Sea, Retreat and Conference Centre. I was asked some months ago by the director, Sr Kathleen, if I’d lead a Pre-Advent Retreat.  I said I would but, apart from that, didn’t really know what to expect from the days. I didn’t know how many would be here or what sort of group.  As it turned out there were ten Religious Sisters here from different parts of the country; Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo and Galway.  Only one of them was known to me.  I was happy to see her here as it gave me a bit of confidence facing into the days.  I told her that too!!

The days went well, thank God and the response has been good.  It’s been a pleasant few days.  I made an attempt to walk yesterday (Tuesday) but didn’t go too far.  The day was cold and the rains not far away.  Last night I went to visit a couple and their children in Kinlough and another family in Grange.  Was good to have the chance to catch up there too.

The walk happened today – just short of 5K of a circuit walk that took me along the coastline.  It wasn’t the best of days but the scenery was spectacular.  Certainly a place to visit again on a sunnier day! Please God, that will happen.  Felt proud of Sligo as I watched the ocean move in and out against the coastline.  Thought it could and would hold its head with any part of the country.

The retreat is almost over but I feel its memories will remain with me for a while. Hopefully some of it with the ten too!!

The Fields of Athenry

The Fields of Athenry

Greetings from Esker!! I’ve been here the past few days with some priests from the diocese of Killaloe. I’d been asked to lead their annual Priests’ Retreat and that started on Sunday evening. A truly lovely bunch of men and delightful to be with. I only knew one of them from Maynooth days but felt instantly at home in their midst. I don’t take that for granted though and attribute the sense of ease I felt with their sense of ease with each other.

The days have gone well, thank God and I’ve found them helpful to myself. Certainly good to stop from time to time and think a bit about where we’re at and going.

Went for a walk on Monday with the intention of a manageable stroll to focus the thoughts and get a few ideas. I took what I thought would be a circular route – hate turning back – but misjudged it. I walked nearly 11km:). At one stage I looked into a field of cattle and just stopped short of asking them for directions!!

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I think they knew I was out of my depths!!!

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In fairness I looked, as I was, lost

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Not the first time a man in a Sligo jersey got lost in Galway :}

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