Sabbatical Reflections
Wednesday April 23rd
I left Chicago early Wednesday evening. It was a great flight from Milwaukee to Chicago and great from Chicago to Dublin. Getting to All Hallows College was not a problem at all. I followed the directions for the least expensive way that looked the most interesting. I took the bus (cost of less than two euros) and got off across from a hotel and took the back street behind the “Cat and Cage” Pub to the back door of All Hallows College.
I walked through the door thinking, “What did I get myself into??” There is this rather small campus with few buildings the main one under construction; I followed my directions to the reception area where my key was waiting. Found my room through a couple of doors with security buzzer and dragged by stuff up two flights.
My room is small. I had a bigger room in the un-remodeled seminary dorm at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee…..what am I doing here.
My first encounter was with Ann the cleaning lady who made me tea and showed me the ropes, the bathroom (quite a distance down the hall) where the extra towels were and how to use the washer and dryer. Next I met a Redemptorist Brother from Singapore named Celestine: a great guy working on a master’s degree with an emphasis on youth ministry.
I found the cafeteria, and met the co-director of the program. Received a warm welcome and was invited to make myself at home.
I spent some time exploring and fighting to take a nap lest I find myself overcome by jet lag. After supper that night, which consisted of a few unidentified salads that Celestine and I procured from the kitchen. We ate in the sabbatical break room, and after he took me to the “Cat and Cage Pub” for a Guinness. Not bad for the first night. I do feel however feel like I’m at summer camp needing to write home to Mom and Dad begging them to get me out of here.
Friday and Saturday I took the trek to downtown Dublin for the historical tour. I walked the entire distance (about 30 minutes) to the city center and got lost. Yes I did ask for directions. I plugged into the city bus tour that runs continually all day. I bought a ticket and “hop on and hop off” at the various spots of interest.
I toured Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Cathedral…absolutely beautiful churches. The underground medieval crypt of Christ Church contains a display of church treasures (Catholic treasures in an Anglican Church!!) and is the oldest building in Dublin going back to 1030.
On Friday I also took in the tour of Guinness (tons of people, a huge admission price – for a glass of Guinness at their 7th floor “gravity bar.” It was interesting and a good history of the Beer that continues to make Ireland famous.)
The next stop was a trip to the Kilmainham Gaol (jail.) It’s the largest unoccupied jail that gives visitors an insight into what it was like to be confined between 1796 and 1924 when it closed. The guide was fantastic with a history of rebellions in Ireland, who led them, the causes and what the fate of the losers was. He (Michael) was obviously a lover of history and a teacher by vocation. He was and is a good one! It was worth the price of admission just to get his take on Irish History. I walked back to All Hallows College (got lost again) and stopped for some great salmon at the Ivy Restaurant near the College. Needless to say sleep is coming easy.
Saturday I once again plugged into Friday’s tour. (I had some time left on my 24-hour ticket.) This time I took the bus to downtown and did not get lost. I toured the William Butler Yeats display at the National Library and took in the National Museum of Ireland. I’ve come to a real appreciation for Yeats, whose work in writing, poetry and politics influences Irish thinking even today. He’s got some rather strange theology however….
I took in Trinity College, but did not go through the Book of Kells Tour. I’ve done that a number of times before. The Book of Kells is a beautifully hand transcribed and decorated book of the four Gospels by Irish monks in the 9th Century. It’s beautiful.
St. Stephen’s Green downtown is the largest “Central Park” in Europe. There were many people there on Saturday and Grafton Street and O’Connell Street and the shopping areas in between were filled with thousands of Irish and visitors alike. Lots of young people were out just enjoying the day and the shopping and the Downtown Dublin atmosphere. I’m not exaggerating with the “thousands.”
I spent some time today at St. Mary’s Cathedral St Kevin’s Oratory where the Ukrainian Orthodox were celebrating Good Friday (on Saturday??) and St. Therese’s Church operated by the Carmelites. Celebrated Reconciliation there and only got one Hail Mary…. must have been good!
Sunday April 27, 2008
Mass today was held in the college chapel at 11:00am. I attempted a walk earlier in the morning but met Sr. Ilish (sounds like Irish only with an L refers to Elizabeth or Eileen??) talked my arm off and didn’t get a chance to walk. She’s one of the neighbors who loves to go to mass and enjoys a good homily by priests who actually prepare…doesn’t say much for the Irish clergy!!
Also met Eddie and Jim. Ed is a real storyteller, in the best sense of the word. Talked about the Irish priest (Fr. Thomas O’Reiley) who saved Atlanta Georgia during the Civil War by talking Sherman into not burning the city because a fire would burn the churches. God wouldn’t be happy with that. They’d be “gone with the wind.” The city was untouched by Sherman. I really have to check this out further, though the reference to this is listed in the All Hallows College History display…These Irish sure are important.
He also mentioned how the Irish brought Ice Hockey to Canada because when the early settlers arrived and brought their hurling sticks, they couldn’t be used during the ice and snow. They made some revisions and created hockey instead…fascinating.
Met many of my new classmates today. The females have us outnumbered.
Monday April 28 Classes begin.
There are 19 of us from Scotland, Ireland, Nigeria, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and myself from the United States. There are four men and the rest religious sisters. We’re outnumbered.
First, what are we going to study? The overview reads:
“Theology, Spirituality, and Literature; Leadership; Scripture for Life; Celtic Roots; Liturgy; Lectio Divina; The Challenge of Faith in Society Today; Transformation; The Convergence of Spirituality and Psychology; Ministry and Drama; Aesthetics and Spirituality.”
We began with a class entitled the Human Person and the Risen Christ. It’s the Easter topic with the application of Resurrection spirituality to everyday life. Fr. Martin Nolan, former Superior of the Augustinians taught the classes. He was followed by Brian Dooney who spoke of Hope in Music and Literature. He did a great job with music, art and personal experience. These have been great classes that were almost of a retreat approach.
I’ll continue this later. Back to laundry, sewing on a button and trying to keep the nuns who are watching the soccer game from using bad language.
Wednesday April 23rd
I left Chicago early Wednesday evening. It was a great flight from Milwaukee to Chicago and great from Chicago to Dublin. Getting to All Hallows College was not a problem at all. I followed the directions for the least expensive way that looked the most interesting. I took the bus (cost of less than two euros) and got off across from a hotel and took the back street behind the “Cat and Cage” Pub to the back door of All Hallows College.
I walked through the door thinking, “What did I get myself into??” There is this rather small campus with few buildings the main one under construction; I followed my directions to the reception area where my key was waiting. Found my room through a couple of doors with security buzzer and dragged by stuff up two flights.
My room is small. I had a bigger room in the un-remodeled seminary dorm at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee…..what am I doing here.
My first encounter was with Ann the cleaning lady who made me tea and showed me the ropes, the bathroom (quite a distance down the hall) where the extra towels were and how to use the washer and dryer. Next I met a Redemptorist Brother from Singapore named Celestine: a great guy working on a master’s degree with an emphasis on youth ministry.
I found the cafeteria, and met the co-director of the program. Received a warm welcome and was invited to make myself at home.
I spent some time exploring and fighting to take a nap lest I find myself overcome by jet lag. After supper that night, which consisted of a few unidentified salads that Celestine and I procured from the kitchen. We ate in the sabbatical break room, and after he took me to the “Cat and Cage Pub” for a Guinness. Not bad for the first night. I do feel however feel like I’m at summer camp needing to write home to Mom and Dad begging them to get me out of here.
Friday and Saturday I took the trek to downtown Dublin for the historical tour. I walked the entire distance (about 30 minutes) to the city center and got lost. Yes I did ask for directions. I plugged into the city bus tour that runs continually all day. I bought a ticket and “hop on and hop off” at the various spots of interest.
I toured Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Cathedral…absolutely beautiful churches. The underground medieval crypt of Christ Church contains a display of church treasures (Catholic treasures in an Anglican Church!!) and is the oldest building in Dublin going back to 1030.
On Friday I also took in the tour of Guinness (tons of people, a huge admission price – for a glass of Guinness at their 7th floor “gravity bar.” It was interesting and a good history of the Beer that continues to make Ireland famous.)
The next stop was a trip to the Kilmainham Gaol (jail.) It’s the largest unoccupied jail that gives visitors an insight into what it was like to be confined between 1796 and 1924 when it closed. The guide was fantastic with a history of rebellions in Ireland, who led them, the causes and what the fate of the losers was. He (Michael) was obviously a lover of history and a teacher by vocation. He was and is a good one! It was worth the price of admission just to get his take on Irish History. I walked back to All Hallows College (got lost again) and stopped for some great salmon at the Ivy Restaurant near the College. Needless to say sleep is coming easy.
Saturday I once again plugged into Friday’s tour. (I had some time left on my 24-hour ticket.) This time I took the bus to downtown and did not get lost. I toured the William Butler Yeats display at the National Library and took in the National Museum of Ireland. I’ve come to a real appreciation for Yeats, whose work in writing, poetry and politics influences Irish thinking even today. He’s got some rather strange theology however….
I took in Trinity College, but did not go through the Book of Kells Tour. I’ve done that a number of times before. The Book of Kells is a beautifully hand transcribed and decorated book of the four Gospels by Irish monks in the 9th Century. It’s beautiful.
St. Stephen’s Green downtown is the largest “Central Park” in Europe. There were many people there on Saturday and Grafton Street and O’Connell Street and the shopping areas in between were filled with thousands of Irish and visitors alike. Lots of young people were out just enjoying the day and the shopping and the Downtown Dublin atmosphere. I’m not exaggerating with the “thousands.”
I spent some time today at St. Mary’s Cathedral St Kevin’s Oratory where the Ukrainian Orthodox were celebrating Good Friday (on Saturday??) and St. Therese’s Church operated by the Carmelites. Celebrated Reconciliation there and only got one Hail Mary…. must have been good!
Sunday April 27, 2008
Mass today was held in the college chapel at 11:00am. I attempted a walk earlier in the morning but met Sr. Ilish (sounds like Irish only with an L refers to Elizabeth or Eileen??) talked my arm off and didn’t get a chance to walk. She’s one of the neighbors who loves to go to mass and enjoys a good homily by priests who actually prepare…doesn’t say much for the Irish clergy!!
Also met Eddie and Jim. Ed is a real storyteller, in the best sense of the word. Talked about the Irish priest (Fr. Thomas O’Reiley) who saved Atlanta Georgia during the Civil War by talking Sherman into not burning the city because a fire would burn the churches. God wouldn’t be happy with that. They’d be “gone with the wind.” The city was untouched by Sherman. I really have to check this out further, though the reference to this is listed in the All Hallows College History display…These Irish sure are important.
He also mentioned how the Irish brought Ice Hockey to Canada because when the early settlers arrived and brought their hurling sticks, they couldn’t be used during the ice and snow. They made some revisions and created hockey instead…fascinating.
Met many of my new classmates today. The females have us outnumbered.
Monday April 28 Classes begin.
There are 19 of us from Scotland, Ireland, Nigeria, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and myself from the United States. There are four men and the rest religious sisters. We’re outnumbered.
First, what are we going to study? The overview reads:
“Theology, Spirituality, and Literature; Leadership; Scripture for Life; Celtic Roots; Liturgy; Lectio Divina; The Challenge of Faith in Society Today; Transformation; The Convergence of Spirituality and Psychology; Ministry and Drama; Aesthetics and Spirituality.”
We began with a class entitled the Human Person and the Risen Christ. It’s the Easter topic with the application of Resurrection spirituality to everyday life. Fr. Martin Nolan, former Superior of the Augustinians taught the classes. He was followed by Brian Dooney who spoke of Hope in Music and Literature. He did a great job with music, art and personal experience. These have been great classes that were almost of a retreat approach.
I’ll continue this later. Back to laundry, sewing on a button and trying to keep the nuns who are watching the soccer game from using bad language.
