While the sun might be shining, and it looks like a great day out – one still does not go out unprepared for the cool (well, we’d call it cold). Do you like my new boots? And the hat! Very cute – and I’ve worked out how to make it, so anyone who wants one, just let me know! We could start a new season trend in Queensland this winter! With matching scarves!
Today marked the beginning of the pilgrimage proper! We gathered together, all 35 of us, in the House of Mercy – the house built by Catherine McAuley in 1824-ish to be a place where the poor children of Dublin could come to be educated and protected. It is built in the Georgian section of the city, in the same style as the surrounding houses – houses that were very grand (and still are). She set up her house of mercy and refuge among the wealthy of Dublin. This was, in anyone’s estimation, a brave move and a political statement. When you walk around the area you can just about hear the outcry from the neighbours!
We gained an excellent insight into what motivated Catherine to direct her sizeable inheritance to the benefit of the poor. We gained an insight also into the continuing work of the Sisters of Mercy around the world.
The purpose of this pilgrimage is to listen, learn, observe and absorb the Mercy tradition that we have inherited and which is today, in our hands, as people who continue the work of those first sisters.
One of the things that continues to interest me is that Catherine did not one day decide to be a nun.Rather, she decided she had to do something about the poor. That she was motivated by the example of her father, and her understanding of the Gospels is not in doubt. But she knew she needed to act. She did not become a nun until late in her life, and then was only a nun for 10 years before her death. But in that time, her commitment and vision had captured the imagination of a group of young women who carried on her work after her death.
Mercy today was described as ‘the sympathy of God’. I find that a really good description. It was a good day.
I’ve finally figured out how to get photos into the blog! It is a bit of a ’round about’ way of manipulating between the iPad and the computer, but I’ve managed it! Now the trick will be putting on captions and making sure I remember how to do it!
Today the weather is beautiful again. Fine, sunny, cool and certainly looks like springtime!
This is a great city to walk around: flat and logical! So off I went this morning – to get the SIM card put into my ipad! And now it works – as does the keyboard! The phone is still a problem! Just lucky I don’t need to make calls! My need for the technology – my absolute dependance on it – is a bit of a surprise to me. Makes me realise how much I take it for granted, and how lucky I am that I have these tools at my fingertips (literally, and metaphorically). It makes me think about those great grandparents, and the Sisters of Mercy, who left this place in the nineteenth century, cut off from family, friends and the places they were familiar with. When I think about it, the similarity of cultures that we now enjoy globally – in the technologies we have, the brands, the global systems – things are very similar across the western world at least. But in the past, the cultural shift from Ireland to Australia, as well as the journey itself, was monumental.
This afternoon we began our pilgrimage! 35 people who are associated with Mercy facilities – hospitals, schools, aged care, community care, disability services – have come together in this place to learn, celebrate and connect ourselves to the Mercy story. A pilgrimage is a journey – but itt is more than beig a tourist. A pilgrim, in religious terms is one who is seeaching – listening for the direction to take, filled with a sense of purpose yet open to where the path will lead, open to the experiences, the surprises that enfold along the way. A pilgrimage teaches us, inspires us and motivates us.
The pilgrimage to Mercy International is a journey to the beginnings of the Sisters of Mercy – to the source of the motivation, the impetus which drove these women in the early nineteenth century, to listen to the heartbreak of the poor and disadvantaged, and offer them comfort, to suppport them and advocate for them. These women then responded to the needs of those in the Amercias and in Australia – those whose plight was perhaps even more desperate than those in Ireland.
The legacy of these women is today a group of hospitals, aged care facilities and other ministries still striving to care for those in need of care. We are here to learn, and to imbibe some of the spirit, the faith and the hope that drove those women.
Grafton Street Dublin
Mercy International
Walking, walking…I’m rather hopeful that my jeans will all be too big for me soon. I do feel fitter, which is good.
Yesterday was spent out sightseeing, taking photos of the architecture (which I find really interesting), and a bit of shopping. I bought a pair of boots, and might go back to the shops this morning!
During yesterday, more of the people who will be doing this Pilgrimage began to arrive in the hotel – it was good to see them. A few of us – those not suffering jet lag – went out to dinner. The food and wine were both good. Sr Anne Hetherington had launched her book yesterday too, and that proved to be a great gathering of Sisters of Mercy and others at Mercy International.
I also trekked around looking for someone to fix my wireless keyboard, to no avail. Because it is three years old apparently, one can’t expect that it has any life left in it, despite the fact that it is a sealed unit requiring only three batteries. However, Ron tells me this morning that all I need to fix it is a small piece of alfoil, as the problem resides with the contact for the batteries. So now I’m off in search of something as simple as aluminium foil.
Siobhan is having her 30th birthday party tonight in Brisbane. To think, 30 years ago (well, her birthday is not till the 16th) I would be in Dublin and she would be traveling to New York for her birthday. I’m glad I’m here, and very grateful, but wish I could be there to give her a big hug!
Jenny and Doug have named their new baby – Elizabeth Frances! Beautiful! I feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life. And blessed to be given such a fantastic opportunity to be in Dublin with a group of people who are so dedicated to the work they do in the Mercy hospitals, aged care centres and schools.
This coming week will be an opportunity to learn and grow.
Yesterday I spent the day walking again, and now feel that I know my way around…I must look like I know my way around as well, as three people asked me for directions! And one of them I was able to assist.
I visited Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells and the Long Room – the library. I soaked up the ambience of a working university with such an ancient history. In the same vein I visited St Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church – again, both ancient cathedrals which carry the history and story of Christian Ireland.
Using the hop-on, hop-off bus I saw remnants of Viking Dublin and medieval Ireland, both of which could stand some further exploration, but chances are I won’t have time!
To fill in some of the gaps in my knowledge, in a digestible way, I downloaded Rutherford’s novel, Dublin, in the hope that this will let me get into the psyche of Ireland. I read his London, and found it quite fascinating.
Today I will get out and about again, as it seems that the weather remains conducive to walking. I’m hoping that by the end of the week my jeans will be too big for me!
I’ll try later to upload some photos from my iPad. Technology is not really my friend; we seem to play a cat and mouse game, and have a relationship that is not based on trust!
I went back and confronted the guys who sold me a dodgy phone, and they happily replaced it – with what can only be described as another dodgy phone! Sorry Samsung! It seems I’m too wedded to my iPhone to consider another! Just can’t figure out how it works…hopefully this morning I might be able to make a phone call on it!
Yesterday was my first full day in Dublin and I took advantage of the great warm, sunny weather to go exploring. I walked and walked, hoping to find my way around and get a sense of the layout of this ancient city. My hotel is by the Grand Canal, and a short 15 minute walk to the city centre, St Stephen’s Green, the Cathedral and the National Museum of Archaeology.
I was on a mission to find a local phone or SIM card, batteries, a brush and some other bits and pieces I had forgotten to bring.
I found a phone, and then left the battery charger in the store, meaning I will have to return today! I forgot the brush and batteries, so I’ll venture out again today.
The National Museum of Archaeology was really good, appealing to the erstwhile Ancient History teacher in me! I was surprised how much I remembered about Bronze Age Ireland and Britain! I also found the Little Museum of Dublin, a people’s museum, funded by public donations. I had a tour guide almost to myself, and again was surprised at how much of the history and literature of Ireland I could remember! Easter 1916, Yeats, Joyce, de Valera! Being a teacher seems like another lifetime, but the sense of continuity with my present life and career is strong in this place. I like to think of my ancestors walking these streets before they made that incredible trip to the other side of the world, a trip so easy by comparison today.
Today I will visit Mercy International, to take the books I carried over for Anne Hetherington’s book launch to her. I have to say I cursed their weight on more than one occasion, as I was forced to take them out of my luggage due to the additional weight I was carrying (despite the fact that QANTAS had told me I could carry 32k!
I would also like to visit the Mary Aikenhead Heritage Centre today: home of the Sisters of Charity. I’m keen to see the history of these major religious orders who carried their devotion and spirituality with them to Australia.
I’m a bit frustrated without my computer – I brought my iPad but the wifi connection is slow, and using this blog site quite difficult, so I’m using the free computer in the hotel lobby. I’ll try and log in each morning – as this seems the best way of communicating! The only difficulty is trying to upload photos! I’ll have to try and perfect that from the iPad, even though it is a nuisance. I might be able to set up a gallery for people to access. Facebook and email will cost a fair amount of data on the iphone. In addition, I am using Skype for phone calls and text messages.
The weather here today looks like it will be cool and overcast, but it is easy enough to get around. The hotel is comfortable enough: good water pressure and a good bed – the only things that one really needs!
The trip from Brisbane to Dublin was long and a bit difficult. The long haul from Singapore to Frankfurt is tedious when you can’t sleep! I had upgraded to premium economy so at least it was more comfortable.
My only real problem at present is unreliable Internet connection, but hopefully I can rectify that tomorrow.
The weather here is cool and a bit showery. I look forward to sleeping tonight and then going to explore a bit tomorrow.
For some reason the technology is not working and I can’t upload photos! This is situation critical!! This is a test blog. I can’t seem to add photos when I use the iPad but can do it when I use the computer. This is a bit of a nuisance as I had not planned on taking the computer to Ireland.
Our little van worked really well and we found it pretty comfortable. The bed takes some getting used to though.
Travelling Home 
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