Earlier today (Sunday 25th March – Palm Sunday) we were joined at the 11.30am Mass in Kilkelly by 78 visitors from Michigan, U.S.A. The purpose of their visit was to visit the grave of Pat McNamara, the teacher who wrote the “KILKELLY IRELAND” letters on behalf of the Hunt Family, Urlaur. These letters, spanning some thirty years, were found by the family of an old man who died in Washington DC. On reading the letters, the story unfolded of a father keeping in touch with his emigrant son. A remarkable story of family bonds and love that traversed the Atlantic and reassured us that miles cannot create distance in the depths of the heart.
It’s been a favourite song of mine for many years and when I was contacted some months ago by Doug Berkshire and his singing companion, Jerry, wondering about the possibility of visiting Kilkelly and Pat McNamara’s grave, I was only too happy to encourage them to come along. They belong to a singing group called The Pub Runners and were organising a trip to Ireland to visit the locations of some of their favourite songs.
Gathered for Sunday Mass – Palm Sunday 2018
After Mass in St Celsus’ Church, Kilkelly
When I suggested they might like to join us for 11.30am Mass in Kilkelly they were eager to do so and there’s no doubt they added number and volume to our congregation today. It was lovely to have them with us for Palm Sunday as we begin our journey into and through Holy Week.
After Mass and a lovely lunch in Kilmovee Community Centre where some of our local musicians entertained the group, I accompanied the two coach loads of visitors to Urlaur Abbey. There I shared with them my limited knowledge of the song’s story. Earlier in the day, one of the locals told me where the Hunt Family home was. Ironically I’ve been passing it for nine years and didn’t know. Every day is a learning day. I knew Pat McNamara’s house and was happy to be able to show them both.
Together on a journey of discovery and creating memories
Looking in where others looked out!
A moment of wonder – a moment remembered
When the talking was done, the singers sang! It was beautiful.
After the song, and as we wandered around the Abbey Grounds, I noticed a “drone” in the air. I didn’t realise it was belonging to one of the visitors as there were some other people on the lake shore as well. However I was told one of the men had brought the drone with him, having to seek special permission to bring it on the flight, and that he was capturing a few of the moments. A short while ago, I got an email from Doug that included a link to some of the footage taken today.
One of my favourite lines in the Kilkelly Ireland song comes at the end of the last letter written by the father to his son. He had been writing to him for over thirty years and all his letters followed a pattern: news about home, the family, what was happening in locally and, in one wording or another, a call to the son to come home. The final one was “You say that you might even come for a visit, what joy to see you again”. That the line I like: “What joy to see you again.”
LENTEN THOUGHT: This Holy Week, may we hear the Lord’s call to us to come “home” and may we know his Joy at seeing us again.
Though I hadn’t closely followed the story of yesterday’s hostage taking in France, I was saddened to learn again of senseless loss of life. Among those who died yesterday was a policeman named Arnuad Beltrame. It appears he offered himself to the hostage-taker in place of a young woman hostage. Apparently his offer was accepted, the young woman released and subsequently the policeman paid the ultimate price.
“Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble”, the old Spiritual tells us and surely it must. You can only imagine how that young woman and her family feel today – relief that she is alive but surely guilt that another lost his life that she might live. You could never imagine a day, from now to eternity, that this family will not give thanks to and remember the selflessness of the policeman.
It’s difficult not to draw a comparison with the week we begin on this Palm Sunday. Jesus gave his life in the name of that young woman and of all people, not to a self-made terrorist but to the evil that has plagued our existence, seemingly from the earliest days of creation. There’s such a sadness in the realisation that people don’t have to die like this – shouldn’t have to.
LENTEN THOUGHT: As we enter Holy Week, let us remember in prayer this policeman and all victims of violence. Let violence cause us to tremble and, in that trembling, let us recoil from all that is evil.
I had Stations of The Cross this evening in Glann Church. As I drove to the church I was taken by the brightness of the setting sun and, on getting out of the car, took a photo of it. Not my finest photographic moment, admittedly, but it caught something of the moment.
Though I intended to take a photo of the sun I ended up taking more of the road than I had planned. I looked at the photo and thought it was as if the road were heading directly into the setting sun. I tweeted the image.
In any case, in the hope of keeping a daily thought here, I would like to suggest that the setting sun calls us to peace. “Never let the sun set on your anger”, we have been told.
LENTEN THOUGHT: Is there a need to be reconciled before the sun sets? If you are even thinking this may be the case, then you’re on the right road! The Road to Sunset – the road to peace.
I travelled to Derry today with a friend to attend the funeral of a mutual friend’s mother. May she rest in peace.
I enjoyed the journey, not least because I enjoy the company of my friend though we don’t meet that often or communicate very much. He’s one of those good friends that you feel you were talking to five minutes ago, even though weeks or months might have passed since you met or spoke. I always see that as a good sign of friendship.
On the journey we talked about different things and laughed too. I told him a story that I liked and then went to explain it to him. I didn’t get far in the explanation ….
“Leave me with it”, he said “I can join the dots”!!
Joining the dots! I hadn’t thought of that in years. Those little images we’d get as children and follow the dots until the picture was revealed. The dots had disappeared but the fullness of the intended image remained.
LENTEN THOUGHT: From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday – let us “join the dots”, so that the fullness of the story may be revealed.
In a secondary school today. Here to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the students. A number of priests here and the liturgy is organised by the school chaplain. Full credit to her for a job well done.
Out of my comfort zone a bit. I don’t have that much contact with this age group but have found them to be as sincere as they are welcoming. Genuinely good natured group.
My sense is that they know what they’re about. They are willing to engage with the celebration of the sacrament and clearly want to be honest.
It is time well spent. I wonder will they remember days like these? I hope they will and will remember, more importantly, that the Sacrament will always be available to them.
LENTEN THOUGHT: What are our memories of and relationship with this Sacrament of God’s forgiveness?
Sitting in Christ The King Church, Salthill. Waiting for a funeral to arrive.
From 1995 to 1997 I said Mass here each evening. It was a joyful place and I met many good people during those years as I did in Ballinfoyle Church from 1997 to 2000.
It was the only time I worked outside the diocese and was a good experience
Glad to be here just now. The Prom is across the way but I might give it a miss!!
LENTEN THOUGHT: give some time and thought to places and people life has brought to you.
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