Irene Passed

Well Irene came and went. She caused more damage to some than others but, think it’s fair to say, people were generally pleased that things were not as bad as had been expected.

I had two Masses on Sunday – the first at 7am and there were nine people there! Not a typical Cathedral attendance. The other was at 5pm when the winds had settled and the congregation was more along the lines you’d expect. I didn’t preach at the earlier Mass as I felt people might have endured enough “wind” for one day!!

I came to Boston on Monday and am here at the moment – spent time with my good friends, Carrie and Guillermo and, from their home, got the chance to meet with other people I wanted to meet and thankfully do most summers – the Kerins’ from Collooney – Olivia and her family, Edel and her’s. Always lovely. We had a long walk on the beach and I enjoyed that too.  We also had a chance to check out Dan and Edel’s Chicken Coup!  Not sure if they’re Rhode Island Reds but there’s something “Celtic” about a few of them!!

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I met my cousin Frances and her husband and son earlier today and, this evening, met Joanne another good friend from Collooney days. My day began with Mass in the Cathedral here in Boston. I went to concelebrate but finished up being the Principal Celebrant and saying a few words. I don’t think they endured as much wind in Boston so they weren’t spared Hurrican Vinnie!!!

Heading back to New York tomorrow morning and home tomorrow evening so looking forward to that as well. Will meet Alpha on Thursday I’d say so he’ll either wag his tail in delight or bite my hand off. If this blog comes to an abrupt end, you’ll know which way it went!!!

Just watched two episodes of Frasier here and will end now with his catchphrase, albeit a bit modified,

Goodnight Sligo, Kilmovee, Gurteen, Boston, New York, Virginia …… Thanks for listening!

Goodnight Irene …..

Filling Station displaying "NO GAS" sign

It’s Friday evening in Rockville Centre, New York.  The place – the East Coast of America is bracing itself for Hurricane   Irene.  I took this photo about two hours ago. It’s a petrol station on the corner and its message is simple – there’s no petrol left.  Apart from that the sun is shining, there’s a warm and gentle breeze in the air and nothing to indicate the expected arrival in a few hours time of the worst storm to hit this part of the country in nearly sixty years.  The television channels are full of warnings, the mayors of all the local towns and of New York are giving press conferences, telling people to get out of their homes.  It’s mandatory, in some areas, that this will happen.  All trains, buses and  subways come to a standstill from noon on Saturday.

“NO GAS” – the handwritten sign tells those who might plan on stopping for a fill-up that there is no point.  Too many have done it before you and now the fuel is gone.  It’s a sign that belies the stillness around it.  The Mayor of New York told people today not to be fooled by the sun or the beauty of the day – it is, he told them “the calm before the storm”.  It’s so hard to believe that and yet it’s obviously the case.

Is there something of this in our Gospel Passage this weekend when all seems to be going well and Jesus tells his disciples that he’s about to be handed over to the authorities, to suffer and die?  How difficult it was for the apostles to take this in.  The calm before the storm ….

Farewell – Heading to “oceans” new

Fr John McCarthy

Fr John McCarthy is one of the priests here at St Agnes’ Cathedral.  We share an Ordination Date (though a good few years between the two!!  He was ordained three years ago).  John spent about twenty years in the US Navy before deciding to become a priest.  He believes his vocation came through his work with the Navy and that it was there he should minister.  He has spent three years in this parish and will, in the early days of September, resume his life with the US Navy but this time as a chaplain.  I wish him every happiness and blessing.  He’s a good man and has been very welcoming and kind in any dealings I’ve had with him.

John very kindly contacted me following the deaths of my parents and I appreciated that very much.  He’s a reassuring presence and I’ve no doubt he’ll bring much goodness and hope to all with whom he lives and to whom he ministers.  His new base will be in Georgia.

The staff here organised a BBQ on Wednesday last to celebrate his new venture and wish him well on his way.  They presented him with a remote controlled “sailing boat” – to help him re-adjust to the waters!!  I think he’ll be dealing with slightly larger boats and submarines but it was a humorous gift!!  The joke wasn’t missed.

Including a few photos below.  I hope those featured don’t mind!!

“The Help”

I was in Virginia for two days last week.  I met my aunt there and spent some time with family friends.  It was lovely – too much food – but that was lovely too 🙂

On Friday afternoon we went to the cinema – a.k.a. “Movie Theatre/TheatER” (Tomaaaaato/Tomato)  We went to see a film called “The Help”.  I had never heard of it before though I think I might have been in the only in the group that hadn’t and certainly the only one that hadn’t “read the book”.  I really SHOULD read more.  Another should, among a long line of “shoulds” in my life but that’s for another day.

The movie!  I really enjoyed it a lot.  Set in Jackson, Mississippi, it told the story of the relationship, or maybe lack of relationship, that existed between those who worked and those for whom they worked.  It touched, again, on segregation, prejudice and injustice.  It spoke too of God’s role in the lives of all and the importance of the Gospel in giving solace to the afflicted.

One of the scenes that struck me was when a huge charity event was arranged to feed the poor in Africa and, as can often happen, the worthiness of that was lost in the awful truth that the poor on the doorsteps of those organising the event, went unheeded or belittled.  It can be easy to organise events for far off places and fail to see injustice in front of us.

I found myself tear-filled on a few occasions but it was dark!!  I heard afterwards that this was a “chick-flick” but I’m not convinced it was – not that there’s anything wrong with chick-flicks!!  I think it told a story and told it well.  There may have been some license taken – who knows but the truth remains we need to address wrong-doing, bigotry, hatred and do our very best not to promote these in any way by action or omission, by word or silence ……

There were a number of movies on show in the theatre and another was “The Guard” but I had seen it at home a few weeks ago.  Certainly not a “chick-flick” but it did make me laugh.  I’m not so sure how my movie-going companions on Friday last would have enjoyed it though.  Maybe they’ll go at some stage and let me know.

Here’s the trailer from “The Help” –

Attitude :)

Yesterday I tried to find a few words to say on the gospel passage of the hiring of the workers for the vineyard.  It seems a strange one!  Employer goes out early in the day, hires workers, agrees a wage and sends them to work.  Later he goes out again, hires more and sends them to work as well. He repeats this a few times and eventually hires some workers almost at the end of day.  He pays all the workers the same wage, leading to grumbles from those who worked the full day.  They expected to earn more than those who had worked for just one hour.  The employer disagreed.  He told them he had agreed a wage with them and paid that wage so where was the justification for their grumbles?  Fair point!  It was understandable though that they might have expected to get more or that those who were employed later in the day might get less.

It’s another reminder that God’s ways are not our ways.  It is likely he admired the determination of those who didn’t give up but felt they had something to bring to the vineyard and that eventually their talents would be put to use. On realising they were not going to be employed, they could have just wandered off to day of idleness, gossip or maybe even destruction.  But no, they held on – as I say – in the belief they had something to offer.  They were right.  They had and, in time, it was noticed and brought into play.

Could it be the attitude of those who started the day differed greatly?  They entered into negotiation – a wage was agreed and they knew what to expect at day’s end.  Those coming to the vineyard later, struck no deal but were happy to do something productive with their day.  It was a bonus to them to be employed and, quite likely, a shock to receive a full day’s wage.

Is this story then as much about attitude as hours of work?

Where do you go?

Since August 1997 I have been coming to Long Island, New York for a few weeks each year.  It started when I worked in the Marriage Tribunal, Galway and our office used to close for the month of August.  I spent two “Augusts” in St Patrick’s Parish, Huntington and, since August 1999, I have been coming to St Agnes’ Cathedral in Rockville Centre.  I enjoy coming here a lot, meeting people and priests here in the parish and having a chance to visit family and friends in New York and beyond.  It’s a lovely opportunity to get away and, being the creature of habit that I am, it’s an easy choice!  I went out earlier and took a fairly short video clip of the cathedral and surrounds and thought I might include it here.  (In hindsight I shouldn’t have included the background music so hit MUTE!!)

Holiday Time!

“How is Alpha?” is a question I’ve been asked quite a bit in recent months.  He’s doing well.  At the moment he’s on holidays with my cousin Brendan who is seriously good with dogs!!  I was in Brendan’s house a few weeks ago and was very taken by how well behaved his dogs were.  He certainly has a way with them so I asked him if he’d take Alpha for a bit of “brendan time” while I was on holidays.  He readily agreed and I’m very grateful.  I sent Brendan a text earlier to see how things were with Alpha – he sent me back this photo.  It’s of Alpha with his brother and sister …. they seem to be getting on well together.

The Dobermans!! - Alpha (left) with his sister and brother in a very Sunny South Sligo. Alpha decided to holiday in Ireland this year 🙂

Urlaur Pattern

We had the usual Pattern at Urlaur Abbey on August 3rd.  A DVD of the Mass, Pageant and family day celebrations will soon be available.  I had my own little “Flip” recorder and took a few short clips.  Including one here – it’s a dance performed following the Pageant and it was a lively and lovely inclusion and conclusion to the earlier part of the day.

 

 

“Just married” …..

I celebrated today (August 12th) with my cousin Lauren Gaffney and Jeremy Sternberg as they married in St Agnes’ Cathedral, Rockville Centre.  It was a lovely gathering of family and friends.  I was happy to be part of it and wish them every happiness and blessing as they start out on the journey of marriage.  May God bless them and keep them ever close and loyal to each other.

Later we went to the Bridgeview Yacht Club for Jeremy and Lauren’s reception.  It was a lively affair with such a huge variety of food on offer.  I had to go for a walk to stop myself eating!!  Okay, I didn’t rush into the walk but I DID go!  I took some photos outside the reception that give a flavour of the day and place.  A few indoors as well, from First Dance to evening’s end.  I met some McDonnell cousins there too and it was good to catch up with them.

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May in August!

NO, I’ve not finally flipped!!  It’s time for May in August ….

I heard “Kentish Town Waltz” on Mid West Radio yesterday and thought it was a lovely piece of music – didn’t fully catch the lyrics but the tone was pure class.  I caught the name of the performer “Imelda May” but didn’t know anything about her.  I met a girl earlier today and we ended up talking about Gay Byrne’s interview with Imelda May on “For one night only”.  Strange that her name came up again. Anyway, did a YouTube ramble and found Kentish Town Waltz and the Gay Byrne interview.  What a lovely person she is and SO talented.  So, if you’ve only a few minutes to spare watch and listen to “Kentish Town” (brings me back a quater of a century to when I spent a few weeks of the summer as a Deacon in St Gabriel’s Church, Holloway Road.  A classmate was in Kentish Town and I used to visit him there.  No, we didn’t waltz!!!  We did eat a lot of junk food though 🙂 …. Kentish Town ……….)

And if you’ve a bit more time – follow the clips from the “For one night only” show.  Thanks to whoever went to the trouble of posting them on youtube.  Thanks to Imelda for her reality, her gift, her talent …. her songs.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

My father kept bees …

But I don’t like honey:)  Just came across this video on another website and think it’s buzzing (sorry!!) – very cool …

Insofar as you helped ….

An amazing few minutes of video – far outweighing the team performance on the World Cup Stage (in my opinion) but due, nonetheless to the passion that it so universally unfurls.  There are great people in this world.