by Vincent | Apr 28, 2016 | General Interest, Religion, Photography
I had a few days away at a Media Conference. It was held in the Pontifical University of The Holy Cross, Rome and gathered over 400 people from all parts of the world. The focus was communications and media and the experience was very good.
Certainly you become aware of the vastness of the task of communication of the message of Christ and the Church in a world where so much has to be communicated every day. The church’s role is a role among many others.
I enjoy communications and believe that if something is worth sharing it ought to be shared. Also, in keeping with my father’s much loved quote about an old neighbour I never knew; “It’s all right in talking but no harm to say nothing”, I realise too that there are times for silence. I think the Book of Ecclesiasticus figured that out a while before I did … “A time for every purpose under Heaven”.
The variety of people at the conference was matched by the variety of languages. Here I feel very inadequate as I’m a one horse race when it comes to languages. Even my Irish is poor (to my shame) but it was incredible to hear people deliver papers in a variety of languages, Italian, English, Spanish, Portuguese and to have another translate as they spoke so that all could hear, like that first Pentecost Sunday, “in their own language”.
I walked this street each day, to and from the conference. It’s called Via dei Coronari and was an eye-opener. Narrow, full of life and people. A great variety of shops and cafés and all that makes a city a city. It is also the traditional Pilgrim Route to St Peter’s and, in this Year of Mercy, to the “Holy Door of Mercy”. It was incredible to meet so many people making that pilgrimage. (The picture above is of one such group. I had just met them, watched their faith in motion and decided to take a photo when they passed. I hope the journey’s end was good for them).
Via dei Coronari – a name given to the street because people used make Rosary Beads and sell them to pilgrims as they passed
I was struck by the fact that there is such a variety of people wanting in a variety of ways to share the Gospel. Every tool is used and every moment seen as an opportunity to promote “the good word”. Technology is to the fore and the desire to embrace new technology seems very much at home with communications. I think of Jesus using the withered fig tree, writing in the dust on the ground, pointing to the liles in the field, the hairs on our head, stars in the sky and any other image that came to mind to help plant in the minds and hearts of those he encountered the means to grasp his message.
My own part in all of this is very small but I suppose it’s my part. In the diocese, I try to do a bit around communications (our website, twitter, notifying media about diocesan events etc) and on this blog, I like to think I share something of the journey too. The days in Rome reminded me again of the vastness of the world and its people, the many languages that are out there and the need to find some way of being involved with people.
Around the days, I had the chance to meet some people. Some I knew from before and a few I met for the first time. We attended the General Audience in St Peter’s on Wednesday and I had the chance to be relatively close to the Pope and to see his enthusiasm around people. I stood beside people I didn’t know and eventually spoke to a girl beside me. She spoke English and was so full of joy. The day before her sister had been married in Rome and all her family had travelled to share the day with her and her husband. Six brothers and six sisters, she was the youngest and spoke of the joy of seeing her sister and her husband share the “sacrament” of marriage. That to her, and by the sounds of it, her entire family was the core of their faith. Marriage is a Sacrament. It was “a blessing” to be in Rome to celebrate her sister and boyfriend’s day. She asked me where I lived and told me she would pray for my parish!
I left, glad I’d seen Pope Francis (even at a distance) but perhaps even happier that there are so many people out there to whom the Faith means so much. Joy around faith and IN faith. Now there’s a message!
I’m glad I was there … as you can see below, I wasn’t the only one:)
by Vincent | Feb 6, 2016 | General Interest, Reflections, Photography
Earlier today I went through old photos I have on a hard drive. It’s amazing how many photos I’ve taken over the years. Need to sit down sometime and seriously go through them, delete and sort. That’s one of the downsides of digital photos, I tend to move them from the camera to some form of storage or delete them. Few ever make it to hard copies and if they do, it’s often just on ordinary paper that fades in time. There’s something nice about going through old albums that isn’t quite the same in the digital world.
I found many pictures of my parents – quite a number taken in the latter months of my mother’s life, R.I.P. A few video clips too. I watched one of them but they’re a bit of a tug on the emotions so I didn’t dwell. I got my mother (a life long Pioneer) to talk about her short-lived romance with Babycham!! She thought it was a soft drink and enjoyed many bottles en route from Dublin!! Of course that stopped when she found out there was alcohol involved. A lifelong Pioneer of course!!
I found one of Mary and Bill in the Nursing home – well two really but she had a nice smile in one of them. I liked it. The other had my father’s hands included and he was holding a bag of jelly sweets. They weren’t for himself. He figured she liked them and brought her a pack each evening. In fairness, he seldom had to bring the bag home!!
Anyway, thought I’d share this photo. I added a little quote from James Joyce that a friend sent to me on a sympathy card after my father died.
God rest the dead. God bless the memories. Thank God for photos!
by Vincent | Dec 4, 2015 | General Interest, Poetry, Photography
Spotted this last night as I pulled in at home. Took three of four shots and within minutes the scene had totally changed. How difficult it can be to capture a moment! Worth the effort though. Take no chances with special moments today …
by Vincent | Nov 25, 2015 | General Interest, Photography
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!!
by Vincent | Aug 29, 2015 | Holidays, Photography
Spent a bit of time again in Rockville Centre. Always enjoy visiting there. Didn’t travel too much but met a few good people along the way. Among those I met, Andy and Chris, Elizabeth and Joe, Noelle, Tom, Neil and Maeve – met two priests from home, Pat and Conor, a friend from Maynooth days, Denis. I met my aunt in Richmond and her cousin Pat. Had the chance there to connect again with a family I’d not seen for some years and that was very pleasant.
Among the places, I walked The Highline in New York. Very impressive – an old railway track that has been developed into a lovely walk that overlooks parts of New York. I also spent a bit of time in (and said a prayer for family and friends) in the re-furbished and breath-taking St Patrick’s Cathedral. Visited the Whitney Museum and walked through five floors of art – some of it I appreciated more than I understood some of the other pieces. Had a few lovely meals along the way. I met Anita from Collooney on her way home after a stint here on the J1 Visa. Good to catch up. I celebrated Mass in The Cathedral of The Sacred Heart, Richmond, Virginia and had two seven hour bus trips (to and from Richmond).
I enjoy meeting people I know and meeting a few I didn’t. That’s always good. All the while, I kept in touch with home and that’s very important to me too. The heart is there! I met Gerry and his family in New Hyde Park and Nancy and Caroline there too. Caught up with Kay from Mullaghroe and her family.
Didn’t make it to Boston this time but spoke to the people I would have met had I gone there. All good, thank God.
Met some very good people in Rockville Centre – the priests of the parish, the staff of the rectory, cathedral and parish office. Enjoyed good food from the resident chefs and, sadly, lost no weight!! Met two priests I’d not met before – one just ordained. What a refreshing young man, full of life and enthusiasm. God bless him and it. Also a Franciscan who was working, like me, for a few weeks in the parish. Enjoyed meeting him a lot. He has a collection of birds that travel with him. Their sound was strangely soothing. I can’t see myself getting a cage (don’t panic Alpha!!) but it was different.
Going to add a few photos now. You might recognise a face or a place. If you do, all well and good, if not – no harm done either. If you’ve read these few lines, the photos might make more sense!!
and a few more!!
And the last word (or notes) to the birds!!
by Vincent | Feb 6, 2015 | General Interest, Reflections, Religion, Photography
This is the Sanctuary in St Joseph’s Church, Urlaur (Parish of Kilmovee). St Joseph’s is the newest church in Achonry Diocese – blessed and opened, by Bishop James Fergus, in 1969. There’s a great story to go with this church so might share a bit of it here …
In the early 1960’s there was no church in Urlaur. There had been an Abbey that ceased being used in the late 1800’s. People from Urlaur went to Mass in nearby Kilmovee, Glann, Kilkelly and some (I’m told) even went to the neighbouring parish of Tooreen!! There was a priest in the parish at the time who didn’t altogether like the idea of people leaving the parish for Mass so he started to celebrate Mass in the local primary school. He also, in fairness, was deeply aware of the role of the Abbey in Urlaur and felt the Faith of the people would be enriched through the presence of a church in the locality. This idea caught on and, from it, people looked at the possibility of building a new church for the Urlaur area of our parish. This was a massive undertaking since the population was relatively small but the project commenced.
Locals got behind it with full enthusiasm and many fundraising ideas were put to work. These included door to door collections locally and in neigbouring towns. People worked very hard to make the dream of a church come through.
Move the story about three thousand miles. Many years earlier a young fifteen year old girl left Urlaur and went to the United States. Later she entered an order of enclosed Sisters in New Jersey. She received word from home that a new church was going to be built. She was happy about this and decided to share the news with, wait for it the “New York Times”. Her letter wound its way to the desk of Nat Goldstein. As the name suggests he was not a native of East Mayo!! He was a Jew but was nonetheless impressed by the letter received and asked two journalists to go and visit the sister.
They reported back to him the outcome of their visit and said it was quite an experience. They spoke through a little meshed opening to Sister Mary of The Blessed Trinity (formerly Margaret Cafferkey from Aughadeffin) who shared with them her lifelong dream that there be a church in which her neighbours and family could pray. Towards the end of the interview, Sister Mary told the reporters she had been quite nervous about meeting them since she had been fifty-five years in the convent and they were her first visitors in fifty years!!
Goldstein impressed by the report and still conscious of Margaret’s letter and, in particular, one line which said her people wanted to build a “place of worship” took up the cause. Shortly afterwards, at a function marking his forty years service to the New York Times, he was prsented with $1000 and sent half of it to Sr Mary for the work on St Joseph’s.
He didn’t stop at that. He wrote to friends and presumably used the New York Times asking people to send him $5.00 to “help make and Irish Fairytale come true”! As a result more than $10,000.00 was collected (this was about £6000 of the £16,000.00 it took to build the church). All from one letter from a sister in an enclosed order. (Ironically some feel that enclosed orders don’t influence life beyond their walls ……. )
Goldstein later said that he liked the line about the “place of worship” and felt the world would be a better place if it had more “places of worship”. He said her letter was “full of faith and deserved more than a little notice”. He together with his wife attended the opening of Urlaur Church on Ascension Thursday, May 15th 1969. So also, the Commissioner of the New York Police Department (Howard Leary), his wife and two other visitors from New York – Irving Taubkin of the New York Times and his wife). The “place of worship” in a small part of East Mayo captured the imaginations of many.
Today that church is open. Its invitation to worship is as real and intense as it was on that Ascension Day in 1969. Its call is as sure. Chances are there’s a church open near enough to wherever you are right now … a quick visit might be no bad thing ….
