Day Nineteen: Orientation
Yesterday, we had taken transit to the site of the Congress. I decided to walk today. I don't feel I really see much of a city if I am always on some form of transportation. Walking took a little longer than expected but I met up with a member of the Society of the Divine Word, which I believe now is the second largest religious community of men after the Jesuits, the Society of Jesus. This group is now leading three parishes in Toronto. I met them first when I was on sabbatical in Chicago in 2002. They specialize in cross-cultural ministry. Their priests generally serve cross-culturally, e.g., a Polish priest serving in a Portuguese-speaking setting. In Toronto, this kind of community is a real gift.
We gathered in an exhibition hall for a Mass led by Archbishop Albert LeGatt of Saint Boniface, Manitoba. We had well over 1,000 people and I would guess 150 priests and other bishops, including my own Cardinal-Archbishop.
After the Mass the room became an adoration room for the benefit of pilgrims. I met another priest and we went off to hear a talk delivered by Archbishop Merini who had been Pope John Paul II's Master of Ceremonies. He spoke about the vision for the Church of Pope John Paul and in particular his interventions as a bishop at the Second Vatican Council in the 1960's.
Even priests play hookey. We wandered back toward the River Liffey and stopped at Ireland's National Gallery, where admission is FREE! After that we headed toward Grafton Street and went into Bewley's for an afternoon tea and dessert. It is still a tradition in Dublin, and much to the benefit of the management. We then parted ways and I stopped into a chapel near my hotel where the Eucharist is exposed for prayer and so Jesus, present in the Eucharist may be given honour. After some spiritual refreshment I continued to humanly refresh. After making myself smell nice again I changed and went out to dinner with one a couple from our group, a permanent deacon and his wife who works co-ordinating social outreach in their parish. Fresh pizza and good espresso were good and a little different from the sausage and fish and chips one is more likely to find. Tomorrow, I hope a little sleep-in. Over and out.
We gathered in an exhibition hall for a Mass led by Archbishop Albert LeGatt of Saint Boniface, Manitoba. We had well over 1,000 people and I would guess 150 priests and other bishops, including my own Cardinal-Archbishop.
After the Mass the room became an adoration room for the benefit of pilgrims. I met another priest and we went off to hear a talk delivered by Archbishop Merini who had been Pope John Paul II's Master of Ceremonies. He spoke about the vision for the Church of Pope John Paul and in particular his interventions as a bishop at the Second Vatican Council in the 1960's.
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| Caravaggio: Betrayal of Christ at the National Gallery of Ireland |
