HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR 2009
A little late I wish anyone who reads this (there seems to be very few!) a Happy New Year. It was good having a visit back to Ireland after Christmas and catch up on meeting family and friends. While in Ireland it was good being able to go to Derry for the Funeral Mass and Burial of little Colum Canning who died in a swimming pool in Paris the week before Christmas.
I travelled back to Paris on January 5 to be greeted by snow ploughs and de-icing machines at Charles de Gaulle Airport. The cold weath has lasted since then. Last week the temperature fell some night to 10 degrees below. It was really cold with a lot of ice on footpaths and side roads. Today the temperature creeped up to 4 degrees above. Warmer weather is on the way, we are told. Not much to report from here. I am engaged in writing a book at present and hope that I can make some real progress before the end of January. It is in the area of pastoral care for people bereaved by suicide. It is tough to write as I can recall so vividly the pain of so many families whom I have been with in such a situation. What wonderful people and what strength of character they show in adversity.
The parish council here at St Joseph’s are engaged in intensive planning for Lent. The group is most careful and concerned to give a wide range of prayerful activities during this time.
Christmas in Paris has given way to sales fever! Even I have gone shopping in recent days and that is saying something.
Hope whoever may read this finds peace and happiness during the coming year. AT
