Symbolism

Lena presented a special book to me yesterday as we bid farewell to each other in Warrenpoint. 'Symbolism. The Glory of Escutcheoned Doors' by Mark Patrick Hederman, Irish Benedictine monk. I've been reading it and meditating on its content ever since. It is a wonderful gift which opened my eyes on realities that were known and close to my heart but never spelt out in such a way as the author was able to achieve...

He Found Me

On Thursday Tom asked me to present San Damiano crosses to pupils in one of the primary schools in his parish. San Damiano cross is the one from which Jesus spoke to young Francis of Assisi in San Damiano church... Yesterday Jesus spoke to me from the same cross through a special place and through a special woman. I thought that I was flying to Ireland to meet St. Patrick, but this time Saint Patrick invited Saint Francis of Assisi to meet me here, in the Emerald Island...He knew I would be unable to go to Assisi this time, so Saint Francis came over here to speak to me...

In Retrospect

Friday was the second day of my short visit to Ireland. My hosts planned a full day of meetings for me. In retrospect I must say that I received more than I was able to give those whom I met in various places...

Back To The Future

The first full day in Emerald Island was full of memorable moments. Yes, I was looking forward to the planned schedule for the day with apprehension, but it turned out to be a great day after all...

Serenity

Arrived to Dublin yesterday afternoon. Was overwhelmed and totally happy spotting Tom in the arrival hall. Felt like coming home...

I Miss You

One of those evenings, one of those days when my nostalgia for Ireland hits me back hard and I feel deep inside how I miss those wonderful moments with my great friends there... Someday... someday... God willing I will go back to where my missionary roots belong, from where my journey to Tanzania began in 1990. Miss you, guys, over there... and love you much! Here it is to you with my feelings of love, respect, gratitude and my best wishes! Take care!

Emerald Thoughts

I don't know why it is like it is today...But I have been overwhelmed by emerald thoughts...Why today? I don't know, but I miss the Emerald Island with particular force today...It is such powerful longing for that magical place on the globe, for people I admire, love and respect...to the extent of being physical experience...feeling almost sick! Maybe someone needs a special prayer, maybe one of my friends over there is in a danger or in distress, maybe there is someone who thinks about me today...I don't know...All I know is that I miss them so much and long so much to see them, to reconnect with them and to enjoy their presence...

20 Years

Twenty years exactly to the day passed yesterday since I boarded the British Airways plane in Warsaw Okęcie International Airport en route to Heathrow, then switching to Aer Lingus from Heathrow to Dublin, together with my fellow rookie missionary, Fr. Janusz Zajda, on our way to Archdiocese of Armagh, to spend three months there in order to improve our English language skills, before we were able to fly to Tanzania to begin our kiswahili language course in Maryknoll Language School in Musoma as the first step of our new missionary life...

Window Cleaner

I  have just opened my daily dispatch from Zenit agency. I found in it a document which drew my attention and I want to share it with you. This is Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor,  the retired archbishop of Westminster,  address to Ireland's priests, delivered on June 15 at the Maynooth Union Celebrations to mark the end of the Year for Priests:  "The Greatest Wound ... in This Present Crisis Is the Betrayal of Love".

I Have A Dream

One of my longest dreams to get fulfilled was to stand right in the heart of Christianity of All-Ireland and celebrate a thanksgiving Mass for a priceless gift of love and friendship I tasted since the first time back then in 1990 when I was getting ready to go to the missions in the Archdiocese of Armagh, in Drogheda, at the side of Father Tom, Father Eugene, Monsignor Frank, other priests and friends in Drogheda, Armagh and elsewhere I was blessed to go and meet fine people of Ireland till today...

The Presence

Every day in the retreat we celebrate Divine Mercy Hour – Eucharistic adoration at 3pm, at the hour of Christ’s death on the Cross. We follow the request of Jesus He gave us through St. Sister Faustina Kowalska of the Most Holy Eucharist to meditate on His passion at the hour He called Himself – a Divine Mercy Hour to the whole world. He promised us to grant us anything we ask in faith and trust in His Mercy if only our petitions comply with His Father’s Holy Will.