Still on “The Island”! Thankfully still enjoying it too. Met some wonderful people and had the chance to work with some great priests and a deacon who is to be ordained a priest of Clogher Diocese. That, in itself, has been great to see. I watched him as he led us in Benediction last night and couldn’t but notice the reverence he brought and showed to the Blessed Sacrament. Perhaps, at times, we need reminders like this, lest we become too casual.
Today included bidding farewell to the “pilgrims” who came to Lough Derg the same day as myself. Having completed their Vigil and the “Stations” of the Island and celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation, they return home now – hopefully enlivened and enriched by the time spent here. I watched them depart and felt a connection with them, since they were part of the group I led into Vigil on Monday night and with whom I celebrated Evening Mass on Tuesday evening.
“Round and round the story goes”
It’s a bit quieter here this morning so decided to wander around and take a few photos. Hope you like them! This is one of my favourites:
“A DAISY A DAY” in a chain of prayer and pilgrimage
As pilgrims leave, others take their place now and that’s the way life goes here. I continue to be genuinely impressed by the depth of faith of the people and the span of ages attending here.
I heard a song yesterday that I’d never heard before. That’s not surprising of course but the fact is I have the song on my ipod and there’s no doubt I heard it before but never really “heard” it, if that makes sense! It caught my attention yesterday on my way home from Marie Sharkey’s Funeral Mass because it totally tied in with the Gospel at this weekend’s Mass where Jesus compares the Father’s love for us with His ability to count the hairs on our heads (not an over-taxing role for God in my case!!) and with God’s noticing even the Sparrow that falls from the sky. The song very much speaks to the theme and maybe it’s worth a listen today. This version has the lyrics as well … Hope you enjoy it.
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
This song was submitted on November 20th, 2013 and last modified on March 19th, 2017.
I went to Maynooth on June 13th for the annual Maynooth Union Day. It celebrates the anniversaries of priests who have been ordained from the college down through the years. Ordination Classes from five years on are invited. In more recent years, I think from one year to ten and then in five year groupings after that. The Silver Jubilee Class and the Golden and Diamond Jubilee Classes are the main groupings. This year is the thirtieth anniversary of the ordinations of my classmates and myself.
I met a number of my classmates there and it was good to see them. As a class, we have been good at meeting through the years with a reunion each year. I don't think all classes do that but, for some reason and thankfully, we have done so.
There was Mass in the College Chapel at 12noon. The Silver Jubilee Class take responsibility for the Mass with one of its members being Principal Celebrant and another preaching the homily.
After Mass a few of my classmates and I went down town to a coffee shop we used visit when we were students. I hadn't thought of it in years but one of the lads suggested it and we went. We weren't even sure if it was still there and, to be totally honest, I couldn't even remember which side of the street it was on!! It's there and on the right hand side:) We had a good chat and caught up a little and laughed a bit too. That's always good ...
There was a lecture in the afternoon and I went to that. Struggled a bit, to be honest to keep focused but that was more to do with me than the presenter. After the lecture we had a little while to wander around and then we had the Union Dinner which was excellent.
So what did it all mean to me? What did I notice?
It meant something about sharing a journey with people. Maynooth has been in existence since 1795 and thousands of priests have been ordained there. A section of them, there yesterday. I noticed people happy to be together and sharing memories of other days. There was a fair span in age but a common bond too. I sat at table with some of my own class and two men that were celebrating sixty years of priesthood. They were so full of life and one told us that the other was his best friend since their days together in Maynooth. It was refreshing to hear. Two men, in different parts of Ireland, keeping a friendship alive for close on seventy years now. Something good about that - reassuring too and what struck me most was how happy they seemed. One of them forgot the charger for his phone and asked could be borrow mine to call his nephew - I was happy to share it with him and happy too that his nephew took the call, chatted with his uncle and told him he'd sort things out. Reminded me again how much we depend on our families ...
As an aside, when the man wanted to make the call he called out the number to me but got it wrong. He said he'd see if there was enough charge in his phone to find the right number. He turned it on and I could see the low battery light flashing but he found the number, called it to me and I dialed. When he finished the call, he handed me back the phone saying "He will sort it out for me. Wasn't it a good job there was enough charge left in the phone for me to find the number?" I thought the same about the man - wasn't it great that there's enough charge in him to live, enjoy life and keep in touch.
One of the things I enjoyed was spending a bit of time in the College Chapel. It's an amazing place. In more recent years the corridor leading to the chapel is locked and I'd not been able to go there. Walking into it yesterday brought back so many memories. Sometimes you hear talk about Maynooth being too big now for the number of students and that maybe other options need to be explored. I've no doubt there's merit in such thoughts but I couldn't help wonder what would become of the College Chapel. I didn't dwell on that but it seems unthinkable that it would have any other purpose other than be a place of worship and gathering.
The music at the Mass was very special and though there was only a handful of seminarians there, their sound filled the chapel. I took some comfort from that, the fact that even though numbers are small, the song goes on. Speaking of song, they sang a beautiful piece after Communion. They were a few words in when I decided to record it but I got enough to give a flavour of it
Later, in his closing words of thanks, the Principal Celebrant drew attention to this piece and acknowledged its composer, Fr Pat Ahern, who was present at Mass and celebrating his Diamond Jubilee
I faced for home after dinner, glad that I'd gone for the day. I had considered not going but glad I changed my mind. As I drove home, I felt thankful that I'd gone to Maynooth - not just yesterday - but back in September 1981. I thanked my parents, in prayer, and my family and friends for their support through the years. I regretted mistakes and some of the changes that have happened through the years but when all is said and done, I felt content that I've done the right thing with my life ...
I'm thankful!
Five years ago I spoke at the Maynooth Union Dinner. Yesterday's words were shared by Fr Seamus Quinn, Diocese of Clogher. As I listened I realised he was much MUCH more brief than I. I was reminded of a story I shared on Sunday last about a preacher who began his homily on Trinity Sunday with a question; "Where do I begin to speak about the Trinity?" He repeated the question, "Where do I begin to speak about the Trinity?" He paused and a man shouted up at him "as near to the end as possible"!!!
In any case, thought I might put a link to those words of five years ago. Just in case you have a time on hand!! (Maynooth Union 2012)
Going to Maynooth tomorrow (today) for the Maynooth Union Day. Each year classes gather to celebrate significant anniversaries, most notably Golden and Silver Jubilees. Classes from five years on, all the way to sixty and maybe seventy years meet to remember, renew and be together.
I look forward to meeting some of my classmates there (thirty years now) and members of other classes I’d have known.
I’ll let you know how it goes!
Giving Holy Communion to my parents on June 14th, 1987
Yesterday, with close on forty people from our parish, I visited Lough Derg for the One Day Pilgrimage. In his words of welcome, Fr Owen Joe McEneaney referred to Fr Eamonn Conway’s book on Lough Derg “Island of Quiet Miracles” and commended the book to all present. He also mentioned that I had written a short review of the book. It featured some months ago in The Furrow magazine. Thinking about Lough Derg this morning, I thought it might be good to include that review here as well.
Thanks to all who joined us yesterday. God bless the work of all on Lough Derg and the Faith Journeys of all who travel there for the one or three day pilgrimage.
LOUGH DERG (Island of Quiet Miracles) by Fr Eamonn Conway
“To hear the whisper of the Lord,
you must turn down the volume
of the world. Find time to
disconnect from everything
around you and
be still in His presence.”
These lines, by an anonymous pilgrim poet, echo the work of Fr Eamonn Conway in this publication. Fr Conway’s belief in St Patrick’s Purgatory, like its encircling lake, runs deep. Because of this he wishes to remind those who have visited of its blessedness and arouse interest in the pilgrim-to-be.
There is a well-researched overview of Lough Derg’s history that, I suspect, may be revelation to many regulars on the Island. The present day format and “vigil” are contrasted with a more prolonged pilgrimage of the past when pilgrims were encaged for three days in a structure not allowing even standing room. It is interesting to note that just before the Famine 30,000 pilgrims visited Lough Derg and reassuring that today the constant stream of visitors to the Island is on a par with the highest points of its long and faith-filled history.
“Making sense of not yet” (p17) and linking the pilgrimage with the “fifth gospel” the Sea of Galilee, the author leaves no room for doubt – this is a place of prayer where encounter with God is not alone possible but probable. The point is made that it’s not that God is more likely to be in remote locations but that it may be easier to be present to Him there due to lack of distraction. The Pilgrimage is about conversion and “can be a valuable moment to reconnect with Christ in the community of the church”. (p45)
Fr Conway spends some time in exploration of the current culture in which we seek to live the Faith. Leaving the Island, in the physical journey to the shore, is paradoxically an invitation to bring what was encountered there to the mainland of our lives.
The book is introduced by Bishop-Emeritus Liam MacDaid and concludes with a reflection by the Rector, Fr McEneaney. Text is interlaced with photographs, including a picture of the Basilica perfectly reflected in the still waters of Lough Derg. A fitting image, it would seem, for the pilgrim having found him or herself afresh, standing tall again – renewed and strengthened.
It is clearly a work of the heart, thoroughly researched, beautifully presented and rooted in Jesus’ response to his early disciples when asked where he lived; “Come and see”.
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