Monday 27 July 2015

Croke Park next Sunday

If anyone would invite me to Croke Park on Sunday next, 2nd August, to see Dublin beat Fermanagh, I will be so grateful! At present I am in Bray on holidays and it would be a great opportunity to see the Dubs again as I will be back in Paris by the time they lift "Sam" in September! Just email me at                ajdtroy@gmail.com                     A.T.

Belfast Wedding

Had a most pleasant time at a wedding in Belfast last Friday afternoon. Couple being married were great and the church part and the reception at the hotel both went well. A Belfast daily newspaper, The Irish News, sent a press photographer to take a few pics and put some on the front page and inside the paper on Saturday. It was good to meet again a lot of Ardoyne parishioners whom I knew during seven years I served there before moving to Paris in September 2008. Now I am enjoying a visit to family in Bray and visiting friends in the Dublin area. Weather not as hot as Paris but pleasant. Sorry to miss being at the end of the Tour de France yesterday. Keep in contact with St Joseph's Church notices and a reflection on Sunday Mass readings that I write each week and post on www.stjoeparis.org                               A.T.

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Ireland

Have just landed in Dublin Airport. On way to a wedding taking place on Friday. It is still a special feeling to land back here. Left a warm Paris for a much cooler Ireland - but no rain! A.T.

Wednesday 15 July 2015

Parades

I really enjoyed yesterday France's Fete Nationale or Bastille Day - 14th July. I wandered around the streets of Paris. There were huge numbers of people, a fly past by planes and helicopters, bands, army, navy and cavalry. There was a big visible police presence as France remains on high alert following the killings in January this year.

It made me sad to see the 12th July scenes on TV of Ardoyne, Belfast where I spent 7 very happy years. The last time I commented on possible ways forward to peace and reconciliation in this area, my suggestions were resented. That said, I still believe that there are enough good people in North Belfast who are better than the scences that have gone around the world.

My prayers are with Phoebe Clawson who was seriously injured by a car driven towards her and others. I hope she makes a full recovery. The family and relatives are in my prayers.

The weather in Paris is glorious these days - over 30 degrees. I love the sunshine and the bit of heat!
A T

Saturday 11 July 2015

Hioliday Weekend

Bulletin 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

I have written a piece on the call I believe we all have to be Prophets in our world. Maybe this Holiday time you have more to do than read my 'Ramblings from Paris'. With the Pope in South America, I thought it might be a good time to see what each of us might be able to do in our circle.

Unfortunately, I am not great at technology - find www.stjoeparis.org - click on the link, (blue opening page should appear), enter the website (page will be green in colour) and click on 'Reflexions' for 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Hope that this does not exhaust you.

Thanks for visiting my Blog and come back soon again.              A.T.

P.S. Sunday Morning Masses are at 10.00 a.m. and 12 Noon
Sunday evening Mass is 6.30 p.m. and Saturday Vigil Mass is at 6.30 p.m.

Thursday 9 July 2015

Summer in Paris

I like summer in Paris. The weather is lovely - some complain about the heat. When I was growing up we used to pray for fine weather and so I always thank God for sunshine. Last week I was in Belfast for meetings and left Aldergrove Airport with the temperature about 22°. In Paris the RER B trains were not going from the airport and so I took the Air France coach which displays the temperature. It was 4O° except when going through tunnels when it was 39°.

Last weekend the summer alteration of Mass times came into operation. Instead of the usual five weekend Masses, for July and August there is one Mass less. It is lovely to meet many visitors to Paris who come to Mass at St Joseph's.

The Paris traffic is less now that schools are closed and some people have left the city for holidays. Using the bicycle to get around the city - which I do almost daily - is far more enjoyable and safer!

Paris is gearing up for next Tuesday, 14th July, Fête National, when the city will be thronged with crowds celebrating Bastille Day. It is a day of great pageantry and colour. The aircraft and helicopters are roaring overhead now as they rehearse for their flight over the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées. At the same time the city and country remain on high security alert.

By the time France celebrates the 14th July, my hope and prayer is that the 12th July will have passed without trouble. 

A reflection on last Sunday's and this Sunday's Mass readings is posted on the website - www.stjoeparis.org