Weekend Masses

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I have spent the last week Sunday 14th today Friday 19th with 20 of my colleagues, all of us ordained around the same time at a renewal/ reunion at St Patrick’s Missionary Society, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow. It was, when we were students a very isolated spot in the west of the county and it still is. It is about 50+ miles from Dublin but it is another world, a world of farmland and trees and mountains. It is good to be here for a short spell. Renewing acquaintances and sitting together, eating meals together and telling stories is good for the spirit. We have all changed the hair is greyer the gait is slower but some of the idiosyncrasies remain the same. The renewal is good in that it’s not high powered but at a pace and a way that’s suited to us. As I do not have a car I have spent a lot of my spare time wandering around the compound and roads, observing, how the trees have grown or what new objects have appeared or watching the cattle, the sheep have eluded me. It has been a time to reflect to look back and to look forward; a time to pray and to give thanks for a journey that has had many twists and turns. It has also been a time to remember the ones who are not here, and those who have gone before us in faith. Every one of us need time to reflect and to renew ourselves for the challenges ahead. During this time I have remembered you all at Mass and in prayer. My thanks to those who took time off to go to the diocesan center on Tuesday 16th to argue our case for beginning to build a new rectory. Hopefully we will get that permission. This weekend 19-21 I go to visit a 91-year-old Uncle by marriage living in England. He is now the last of that generation so I always try to spend a little time with him. Let the journey continue, Pray for me as I pray for you, Fr Karl  

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, It has been an interesting week to say the least. During the week I visited the Motherhouse of the Medical Missionaries of Mary in Drogheda, Co. Louth. I was there for the funeral of a Medical Missionary, whom I have known for close to fifty years, Sister Bernadette Gilsenan. She had iced a cake for my ordination at my parent’s request because my father was afraid he would not get it right. She had served in the Turkana desert in Kenya. She had raised money and awareness of the Medical Missionaries in America. She had great faith and was one of the most hospital people I ever met. A great missionary. May she rest in peace. I returned home from that funeral on the train, which runs along the east coast a lovely trip after a sad event. The following day I had lunch with my sister and my niece. My niece lives in England and this was the one opportunity I would have to visit with her. Afterwards I went out to Howth, a fishing tourist village on a hilly peninsula (Howth Head) on the north Dublin coast and walked around and looked at the harbor and the boats. Most evenings I continued to visit my brother who is still in hospital and had more surgery during the week and took walks with my other brother. Tonight Sunday 14, I begin a get together workshop with two other classmates ordained around the same time. We are gathered at the Motherhouse of St Patrick’s Missionary Society at Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow about 50 miles south of Dublin in the Wicklow Mountains. More about that next week. Let the journey continue as we pray for one another, Fr Karl