Wednesday 29 June 2011

Paris in Summer 2011

Summer has set in with warm and humid weather. Still, I'm not complaining! There are a great number of visitors around the city with a wide range of languages. Now and then, I hear an Irish accent! Four ordinations last Saturday for the Archdiocese of Paris. Parish here getting quiet as schools close and some people go away on their holidays. A meeting tomorrow night at Irish College in preparation for Eucharistic Congress in Dublin during June 2012. Following events in Greece as their financial situation seems to get worse. It's a really tough time for so many people caught up in a situation they did not create; can only hope that there will be some fair and just way out found. Some of the solutions offered so far seem to hurt the 'little' people most.                                                                                                          A T

Saturday 25 June 2011

Tennis et al

Last week it was Rory delivering at the USA Open in Golf. This week it is Tennis at Wimbledon with all that goes with this great sporting event. Then, there was a great victory, the first in 34 years, for London in the GAA 1st Round of the Championship when they beat Fermanagh. An interesting result!    A T

Friday 24 June 2011

Another Weekend in Paris

At long last there is something of a return to summer weather - after all 21 June is longest day of the year! A great Marymount Religious Sister died during the week, Sister Camille. She was 99 years of age and had lived at Marymount School Paris for 74 years. Originally from Portugal, she served faithfully the school and her community. Some years ago her health declined and for the past few years she was confined to her room. She always had a smile of welcome whenever anyone entered her room for a chat or to say a prayer with her. She will be sorely missed.
This Saturday there is a SOS booksale at St Joseph's. Booksales always attract a big number of people.
This weekend, the last one in June, will see the fully schedule of Masses and other services. Next weekend, the summer schedule comes into existence with one less Mass on a Sunday until the end of August.
Had a jog around Parc Monceau yesterday evening. I have no idea how often I was lapped!         A. T.

Wednesday 22 June 2011

Trouble in Belfast

Am really sorry to see images of trouble of streets around Newtownards Road and Short Strand over past two nights. There are issues to be resolved but attacking people will solve nothing. Hope and pray that there will be a resolution of whatever the issues are. From this distance I admit that I cannot know what the issues on the ground really are. But I hope everyone will soon be safe again and that the issues can be resolved through dialogue and talking with each other. A.T,





























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Monday 20 June 2011

Busy Weekend

There is nothing as good as being busy! Being the only priest at St Joseph's Church for the past weekend and next there is no shortage of activity and great people to meet. On Saturday besides the Masses, I baptised a baby and celebrated a wedding. Then, I attended the Paris 'Goal Ball'. As many will know this is a great helping charity established by John O'Shea to help the poorest of the poor. The ball was held at the Irish College, Paris. What a great place to have a good meal, music, etc. The Guest of Honour was Gabriel Byrne, the Irish Actor. Like Cinderella, I had to leave before midnight as I had early Mass on Sunday morning. But I really enjoyed it and there were great people at the table at which I was placed.
Activity continues here with news of the death of Sister Camille of the Marymount School Community, Paris.
She was aged 99 years and her funeral is on Wednesday this week. I am honoured to have been invited to celebrate her funeral Mass and burial. May she rest in peace.
A bit tired today because I could not go to bed until Rory had won the US Open. Well done!  A.T.

Saturday 18 June 2011

Anniversary of Holy Cross School Protest 2001

19th June 2001 marked the beginning of Holy Cross School protest. I was in Rome at that time finishing a seven year assignment there. In November 2000 I had been appointed to Holy Cross as parish priest to take effect the following summer. Others are better placed to give an account of what happened from June to August 2001. I arrived at end of July and was elected chair of board of governors of Holy Cross Girls and Boys Schools on 6th August 2001. The schools were to reopen on Monday, 3 September. With less than a month to go before that date I had a lot of learning to do. What happened from September 3 until 23 November when the protest was suspended is well documented. Media interest is in the 10th Anniversary of the beginning of the protest. Clergy and others who were there need to give an account of what they did. I believe the 10th Anniversary that matters is in November 2011 when the 10th Anniversary of protest ending will come about. After November 2001 it took some time to get back to any semblence of normality on Ardoyne Road but a beginning was made. That process is still going on and needed. I was moved from Belfast in 2008 but my interest and prayers for a final healing continue to this day. A T.











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Wednesday 15 June 2011

A NEW BEGINNING!

After closing down my previous blog (due mainly to my own neglect) a new one begins today. I'm still at St Joseph's Church, Avenue Hoche, Paris where I have lived and worked as parish priest since 2008. Before that I was at Holy Cross, Belfast. On Monday I was at a meeting of the Passionists(group I belong to) in Crossgar, Co. Down. From time to time I hope to resume sharing views and reflections on any topics that interest me (and may interest you). Each week I write a reflection for St Joseph's parish bulletin www.stjoeparis.org
Maybe that is enough for a start and hope to be back to the blog soon.
A T