James McDonagh sent me this link. I was expecting it to be funny. I wasn’t prepared for what it was. Funny? Yes, but in a funny way – a moving and thought provoking way. Very natural stories, told well and in a lingering way. Thanks James!
Next Sunday, Paul Kivlehan will be ordained a priest of Achonry Diocese. It will be the first such ordination in the diocese in ten years and is a source of joy and blessing for us all. We wish Paul every happiness and blessing at this time and for his future ministry.
In days when ordinations were more plentiful, there was great rejoicing in parishes when one of their own became a priest. At one stage, ordinations took place in the seminary and the newly ordained came home the next day to celebrate his First Mass. There’s a lovely poem by John D Sheridan that captures such a homecoming and, in honour of Paul and his classmates to be ordained this summer, I thought it might be good to include it here. As I say, it’s from another age but hopefully some of the sentiment remains:
THE PRIESTIN’ OF FATHER JOHN
They’ll be priestin’ him the morra –Troth it’s a quare world too!For I min’ the rascal that he was,And the things he used to do.Many’s a time I chased himWhen the strawberries were ripeThough I own I never caught him –He was faster nor a snipe.He hit me wi’ a snowball once,And that same very handWill be blessin’ me the morra –Troth it’s hard to understand.Long Richard from Kircrubbin,Who a sort of far-out frien’,Is struttin’ round this fortnight back,Just like a hatchin’ hen.McAllister from Cargey,Who’s no more to him nor me,You’d think to hear the chat of himHe reared him on his knee.Tom the Tailor’s nearly betFrom hurryin’ on new suits,And there’s powerful heavy buyin’On caps and yella boots.The square is thick with buntin’ –Man dear there’ll be a sightWhen the late bus from DownpatrrickGets in the morra night.Oul’ Canon Dan, God bless him,Will be fussin’ fit to burst,And the women batin’ otherTo get the blessin’ first.But, Canon or no CanonAnd I’d say this till his face,For all his bit o’ purpleHe’ll take the second place.Sure even if the Bishop cameWi’ yon big mitre onHe wouldn’t get the welcomeThat we’ll give to Father John. The pains are at me constant nowI seldom cross the door –But I’m crossin’ it the morraIf I never cross it more.You can quit your scoldin’ , JuliaAn’ sayin’ I’m not wise –Sure the sight of him will ease me heartAn’ gladden me oul’ eyesIt won’t be easy bendin’,An’ the oul’ knees will hurtBut I’ll get down there fornenst himIn all the mud and dirt. And if I get the chance at allI’ll whisper in his ear(Och I’ll do it nice and quietso that no one else will hear) :“If anything should happen mebefore you go away,it’s no one but yourself I wantto shrive me on the clay.Th’ oul’ Canon mightn’t like itFor he’s still hale and strong,And I’m sure if he anointed meHe wouldn’t do it wrong.But I’d feel more contentedIf the hand to bless me when I goWas the hand that threw the snowballTwenty years ago.”
Meet my neighbour! She’s arrived again, about two weeks now and shares her space and days with another horse under the watchful gaze and occasional, intentionally menacing, bark from a territorial and jealous Alpha:)
I like horses though I know little about them. I’ve tried to get to know this one and her companion the only way I know – carrots! Moderate progress to date, the carrots have been taken. I think we’re still working on Trust. Maybe they associate me with Alpha’s less than GATHERING ways! On the other hand, they’re probably right – it’s one thing to offer a carrot but another to show true loyalty. We’ll see how it goes.
I know enough about horses to recognise and look forward to the not too distant day when there will be a smaller horse in the field beside my house. I know!! A FOAL:)
Received an email earlier which bore the title “IF DOGS WORKED IN OFFICES”. I liked it!! Checked YouTube and someone had gone to the trouble of putting the pictures together so rather than re-invent the wheel, here it goes!!
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