First Day of Spring - Feast of St Brigid - 1st February 2009
This morning I had the great privilege of preaching the homily during the 11.30 a.m. Mass in the Irish College Chapel of St Patrick. This is situated in Centre Culturel Irlandais, 5, rue des Irlandais, 75005 Paris. This magnificently restored building is well worth a visit. The resident priest, David Bracken, had invited religious women and men as well as his usual parishioners to come along to celebrate the Year of Vocations which continues until 3rd. May 2009. The place was packed out and there was a St Brigid’s Cross for every religious woman and man in the congregation. After the Mass there was a lovely reception in which it was possible to eat, drink and chat. There were people from practically every county in Ireland, as well as French, American, Lebanese, English and so many other places. Great credit to Fr David for putting on such a wonderful gathering. At this gathering I was struck by the enormous kindness of people who asked after my well-being and offered most kind invitations to their homes, communities, embassy or wherever for a visit in the near future. It made me feel so good to be among such good and lovely people.
On Saturday, 31st January I conducted a day retreat for the 45 candidates for Confimation from St Joseph’s Church. They and their Sunday CCD teachers have done a great work preparing these young people for the Sacrament. Some of the group are from Marmount School where they receive great academic and religious formation. In most French schools there is no preparation for Sacraments alloted in the time-table and so it is the obligation of the parents to see to this. The parish does the best it can to facilitate this Christian formation.
It was great being back giving a retreat to young people. It reminded me of old times! Since coming here my life has changed so much. With only occasional visits to Marymount School, there are no parish schools to visit. My previous assignment in Belfast gave me opportunity to visit a number of schools every day. I did this because I know how important the relationship between family, school and parish can be. The same with visiting hospitals. It was a real privilege to visit the four Belfast hospitals that I went to regularly, the hospice, the nursing homes as well as the housebound and sick at home. Since coming to this wonderful, but different parish, I have not baptised one baby, celebrated one marriage, conducted one funeral or anointed one person. For me this is a huge change and one that leaves me feeling a huge lack in my life as a passionist and a priest. However, I know only too well that God and His people are and will do fine without my minstering in this sacramental way at this phase of my life.
The acceptance of this situation is fundamental to my well-being and the great happiness and contentment that are mine at St Joseph’s. There is one item that crosses my mind, none of my business I suppose, but when I was asked to leave my previous assigment after less than two four years terms, I did so as directed. To the best of my knowledge another member of that same passionist community in Belfast was also transferred to another passionist community. If this is true,and I cannot prove it, this same priest has a residence in Belfast still and visits the community to which he was changed for a few days at a time. It makes me wonder if I should have listened to the people who asked that I reconsider going instead of doing my best to silence any form of protest at my transfer out of Belfast. In a time when there is a call for transperancy from all forms of authorities I wonder would it be overreacting to wonder if a search under the freedom of information act would cast any light on what really went on. It is just a thought and may have no merit in it. It is no harm to wonder as long as it doesn’t rob me of my peace of mind. It won’t.
I’m getting ahead with writing and hope to have something to announce about a publication this year. It is just a bit early to even guess at a date and there is always the danger of ‘a slip between the cup and the lip’. The jogging is still going well and I am a regular now on the track at the Parc Monceau. So if you are in that Paris park and see a Dublin or Kickhams tracksuit going past, it is a fair chance that it ‘mise le meas’!
This week I have the honour of offering a prayer and a short talk at Sri Lankan National Day at their Embassy in Paris. Also, this week I have been invited to meet the Mayor of our area of Paris. So, it will be interesting to see these very different aspects of life in Paris. AT
