I have been having a few problems recently with Oso, my Labrador dog. He is fighting with too many dogs and I am not sure what to do. The thing is he is so big compared with most of the dogs around here and when he starts to fight he seems to be at an unfair advantage. I shall try and take him tot eh vet and see what advice is given!
Football seems to have dominated the last few days as I have been keeping in touch with things from Scotland. I have just finished watching the BBC videos of Tommy Burns’ funeral – a very emotional and sad occasion but reminded me that to be publicly proud of your faith, as well as your football should not be a bad or embarrassing thing! Of course, I had gone last Wednesday to see Rangers playing the UEFA Final. Colm, my Irish priest colleague (and friend) had been ribbing me that I should definitely go and see it in some bar in the centre of town. So I caved in and went with him – to a bar in the shopping mall. We were the only two watching the game. No one else bothered us as we saw the entire game …. Oh and I shall keep up with Thursday’s final day in the SPL.
Of course, I am a priest and I have been doing a few religious things this week. It is our big Parish Fiesta week and we kicked off with a walk through the sector with the Blessed Sacrament! We started at La Paz chapel but visited all eight Parish chapels saying a prayer and listening to a reading at each. There was a good crowd accompanying us along the four hour route as we went up the steep hills and down the muddy, rocky paths. I for one was very tired as the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament weighs a tonne! But in a very spiritual sense I felt that Jesus was walking amongst his people – poor but filled with dignity in themselves. We sang and chanted as we went along. A very enjoyable day!
The other spiritual event of the week is the Novena in preparation for our Parish Fiesta day this coming Sunday. Each night we have welcomed a guest speaker to lead in our investigation of the Pope’s letter on ‘Hope’. It is a rally humbling thing to hear the poorest of the poor coming up each night and giving testimonies about what hope means to them and what they hope for their future in the homes, their schools and their lives. It has, as ever, been accompanied by Tito and the music group (drums and all) so it has been a really lively occasion.
Building at La Paz and Maestro chapels goes on apace and it seems that both teams are keeping neck and neck in their work. This week has seen the chapels taking form with all the walls up and the metal roof structure being put on. WE had a bit of a scare at Maestro chapel this week as we heard that the City Council had arrived to measure the street for laying of tar and had said to locals that we had built too far out and were going to jut into the street and that it would have to be knocked down. What? However, after a few hours of negotiations, it seems we have been saved from disaster and the building goes on ……….
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