Well after my last blog entry you know we are running full tilt with CCD, RCIA, Bible Studies and Adoration. Just to make life interesting, this was the 3rd week of the month and our monthly trip to Nassau to meet with clergy for support, prayer and teaching.
I was glad we were going because about a month ago one of my dental caps fell out. I have been sticking it back on whenever it comes loose, but lately that has been pretty often. We have no Dentist on Andros so this was going to be a good thing.
So we get to Nassau, I go to the meeting, Ginni goes to St. Joseph's parish (our home on Nassau thanks to Fr. Martin Gomes, sscc). After the meeting we go get Ginni and I spend the afternoon with her in the Finance Office of the Chancery dealing with all the bills and admin details I am still learning. This woman also arranged my dentist appointment. It was then the tummy began to churn and I got pale. It seems lunch at the Conference Center was not a chicken gumbo and rice but actually conche gumbo and rice. Lately when I eat conche I see it again in about 3 hours. This was to be no exception. What made it interesting however was we had finished with the Finance Office and stopped by to see the Archbishop before we left. Yup - it was in the Archbishop's Office that the conche decided it was time to reappear. I literally apologized, got up and ran - with Ginni sitting there saying 'He hasn't felt too well since lunch'. I made it to a restroom - barely. You know those cartoons where the cartoon character's cheeks are puffed out and he has his hand over his mouth to suppress hurling - that was me! Thank God the restroom was empty.
So we leave the Chancery, go back to St. Joe's where the cook has prepared a wonderful lamb dinner (Ginni said it was delicious).
The next day I am fine and its off to the Dentist which was actually quite good. I didn't know what to expect from Dentists here but while his office was small, it was clean, had all the state of the art equipment, wonderful hygenists and in 20 minutes and $50 later I was all set. What was very providential about this is that when Ginni visited Norwood last month Fr. Culloty gave her a $50 dollar donation a parishioner had asked him to pass on to us. As you can see it really came in handy.
Since we returned from Nassau, Ginni has developed a case of 'pink eye' or conjunctivitis. One eye is brite red, itchy and leaking gross gooey stuff. (Don't ya love it)
So this was our first experience with the local clinic. The Doctor is off island so the nurse saw her and gave her some ointment. Once again the service was wonderful, the clinic was clean, well managed and Ginni thought the care was great. We shall see how well she responds.
This morning I went for my 2nd Bahamian haircut - last time I said the barber here has zero experience cutting a white man's hair and that I looked like a little dutch boy - this time its more the Obama look. Ginni was actually shocked when I walked in the door. All I can say is picture me with a wiffle and a white beard. If we can get Ginni's camera to download a pic we will. Its a haircut to be remembered (or forgotten depending on your perspective).
Enough for now. Please keep us in your prayers.
.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
How fast can you run?
In my last blog entry I said we have about 30 children in CCD. Well, since we started classes this week we have almost hit 50! School starts here at age 5 and so does CCD. We have 3 churches with children from 5 to 18 and Ginni and I are sticking to putting them into four categories. Pre-1st Communion, First Communion, Confirmation, and those in between First Communion and Confirmation. It should be interesting.
My RCIA background is also going to be put to work. Currently four people have come forward asking about RCIA, one of whom has not been baptized. So once again Tuesday night will once more be my RCIA night.
So, now that we are settled in and have had a few months to get organized our schedule shapes up like this:
Monday afternoon - 330-430 CCD at Christ the King (grades 1-6)
Monday afternoon - 500-600 CCD at Christ the King (grades 7-12)
Teusday afternoon - 330-430 CCD at the AUTEC Navy base
Teusday evening - RCIA
Wednesday afternoon - 330-430 CCD at St. John's (grades 1-6)
Wednesday afternoon - 500-600 CCD at St. John's (grades 7-12)
Thurs evening - Mid-week Bible Study
First Friday's - Holy Hour/Adoration
Then its the weekend - time for our 3 weekend liturgies
Sometime mid-week I hope to write homilies and pay bills (yup, the role of pastor has hit me full force and I have a greater appreciation for all the administrative stuff that Fr. Culloty does behind the scenes at St. Tim's back in Norwood).
As I said in my last post, without any religous ed for 4 years the size of the first communion class is huge. We have 20 of the 50 kids who will recieve First Communion from ages 7-14. Our goal is to try to make this a reality by the feast of the Ascension in May.
One really nice benefit of doing this is that Ginni wanted to use music with the kids and one of the men on the Navy base sold us one of his guitars. Ginni couldn't bring hers due to limitations on luggage but this has proven to be a great asset. One of the women who makes straw baskets weaved a guitar strap for her from the same palms she uses to make baskets. The guitar really is an asset in the CCD classes, especially with the little kids.
Well, time to get back to work. Keep us in your prayers.
My RCIA background is also going to be put to work. Currently four people have come forward asking about RCIA, one of whom has not been baptized. So once again Tuesday night will once more be my RCIA night.
So, now that we are settled in and have had a few months to get organized our schedule shapes up like this:
Monday afternoon - 330-430 CCD at Christ the King (grades 1-6)
Monday afternoon - 500-600 CCD at Christ the King (grades 7-12)
Teusday afternoon - 330-430 CCD at the AUTEC Navy base
Teusday evening - RCIA
Wednesday afternoon - 330-430 CCD at St. John's (grades 1-6)
Wednesday afternoon - 500-600 CCD at St. John's (grades 7-12)
Thurs evening - Mid-week Bible Study
First Friday's - Holy Hour/Adoration
Then its the weekend - time for our 3 weekend liturgies
Sometime mid-week I hope to write homilies and pay bills (yup, the role of pastor has hit me full force and I have a greater appreciation for all the administrative stuff that Fr. Culloty does behind the scenes at St. Tim's back in Norwood).
As I said in my last post, without any religous ed for 4 years the size of the first communion class is huge. We have 20 of the 50 kids who will recieve First Communion from ages 7-14. Our goal is to try to make this a reality by the feast of the Ascension in May.
One really nice benefit of doing this is that Ginni wanted to use music with the kids and one of the men on the Navy base sold us one of his guitars. Ginni couldn't bring hers due to limitations on luggage but this has proven to be a great asset. One of the women who makes straw baskets weaved a guitar strap for her from the same palms she uses to make baskets. The guitar really is an asset in the CCD classes, especially with the little kids.
Well, time to get back to work. Keep us in your prayers.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Stress in Paradise
A friend of mine emailed me and asked me how life was in paradise - well, let me tell you, there is stress even here. Two things have consumed our life over the past week. First, is CCD. They have had no religious training here for four years. Soooo there is a backlog of kids for first communion, all the way up to age 14 - try to invent a first eucharist curriculum that spans ages 7-14.
After several weeks of registration we have over 30 kids, in 3 churches. We have decided they fall into 4 groups, Pre-1st communion, 1st communion, confirmation, and the kids between first communion and confirmation. Over the 3 churches there is a different combination of ages but we think we can do one parish all afternoon on Mon, the Navy base will be Tues afternoon, and our home parish will be Wednesday. We also have 2 adults that want to join the Church so Tues night will be RCIA.
Ginni and I have been wrestling with what to teach, what books to use, how to stucture the classes, etc. - so this is the 1st thing causing stress.
The second has to do with a bulldozer - yep, a bulldozer.
Yesterday, the man who owns the land next door began to clear more of his land. We first heard about this when a bulldozer started ripping away the rock bluff between our church and his lot. It created quite a stir when we began discussing where he thought the border was and where I thought it was. Lets just say the conversation was 'difficult'. Surrounded by 6 large Bahamian construction workers this dialogue was something less than constructive. I ended up on the phone with the Archbishop's office. (All parish land records are in Nassau, but nobody can find them right now). Meanwhile, the neighbor is bulldozing away, and nobody is quite clear as to who is right about where the borders are.
Suffice it to say after several hi stress discussions with the neighbor, phone calls to the Town Administrator (O no Deacon, all those plans are in Nassau), and a growing crowd of residents watching the drama play out, the bulldozer just kept on running - within 9' of our Church at one point. The jury is still out on this one, but my relationship with my nieghbor is not the best right now.
Well, I gotta get back to CCD (Oh I forgot to tell you about the young couple that wants to get married next month - despite the 4 month lead time required for Pre-Cana and the preliminary interviews I should conduct)
See you in Church
After several weeks of registration we have over 30 kids, in 3 churches. We have decided they fall into 4 groups, Pre-1st communion, 1st communion, confirmation, and the kids between first communion and confirmation. Over the 3 churches there is a different combination of ages but we think we can do one parish all afternoon on Mon, the Navy base will be Tues afternoon, and our home parish will be Wednesday. We also have 2 adults that want to join the Church so Tues night will be RCIA.
Ginni and I have been wrestling with what to teach, what books to use, how to stucture the classes, etc. - so this is the 1st thing causing stress.
The second has to do with a bulldozer - yep, a bulldozer.
Yesterday, the man who owns the land next door began to clear more of his land. We first heard about this when a bulldozer started ripping away the rock bluff between our church and his lot. It created quite a stir when we began discussing where he thought the border was and where I thought it was. Lets just say the conversation was 'difficult'. Surrounded by 6 large Bahamian construction workers this dialogue was something less than constructive. I ended up on the phone with the Archbishop's office. (All parish land records are in Nassau, but nobody can find them right now). Meanwhile, the neighbor is bulldozing away, and nobody is quite clear as to who is right about where the borders are.
Suffice it to say after several hi stress discussions with the neighbor, phone calls to the Town Administrator (O no Deacon, all those plans are in Nassau), and a growing crowd of residents watching the drama play out, the bulldozer just kept on running - within 9' of our Church at one point. The jury is still out on this one, but my relationship with my nieghbor is not the best right now.
Well, I gotta get back to CCD (Oh I forgot to tell you about the young couple that wants to get married next month - despite the 4 month lead time required for Pre-Cana and the preliminary interviews I should conduct
See you in Church
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Da Ants - Mike's 2nd video
I'm attaching another video my son Mike took with his phone during his Christmas visit with us.
This was midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and Mike thought he was getting a clip of our music ministry (1 drum) and us singing. What he also captured was me setting the table for the liturgy of the Eucharist. When I took the cap off the cruet of wine, about 50 ants (that had been blissfully sucking the sweet Muscatel from the side of the cruet) attacked. Like any good Deacon I squish as many as possible with the purificator before our visiting priest comes to the altar, then go get a new purificator. I thought you'd get a kick out of knowing the 'inside' stuff of what goes on behind the scenes doing ministry in the tropics.
This was midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and Mike thought he was getting a clip of our music ministry (1 drum) and us singing. What he also captured was me setting the table for the liturgy of the Eucharist. When I took the cap off the cruet of wine, about 50 ants (that had been blissfully sucking the sweet Muscatel from the side of the cruet) attacked. Like any good Deacon I squish as many as possible with the purificator before our visiting priest comes to the altar, then go get a new purificator. I thought you'd get a kick out of knowing the 'inside' stuff of what goes on behind the scenes doing ministry in the tropics.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Mike's Video
Hello All
Well we made it through the Christmas and New Years holiday and Ginni has returned. We should start CCD by the end of the month if all goes well. Final logistics need to be worked out, like when and where and how to get the children to and from the classes.
Mike has emailed me a few of the videos he had on his phone from his trip, lets see if I can get them to work here. This is a video he took after arriving at Christ the King church in Cargill Creek.
Well we made it through the Christmas and New Years holiday and Ginni has returned. We should start CCD by the end of the month if all goes well. Final logistics need to be worked out, like when and where and how to get the children to and from the classes.
Mike has emailed me a few of the videos he had on his phone from his trip, lets see if I can get them to work here. This is a video he took after arriving at Christ the King church in Cargill Creek.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Shipping and Receiving
Today I encountered a perfect example of island life. Back on Dec 23 I got a call from UPS. My son's Christmas package sent from Singapore had arrived in Nassau and it was going to be on the 4PM flight to the Navy Base Chapel. I should explain that we had told our son that if they were going to ship presents they should ship them to the Base since they arrive quicker than through the Bahamian mail. Using the Navy Base address, packages actually go to Florida, then on to the Base via the Navy mail system. Now then, that works fine with the mail, but UPS is another story. UPS can't deliver to the base so they got the package to Nassau and put in on the plane to the base (or so we were told).
So the next day we go do Christmas Eve services at the base (no package). I didn't think much of it because it was, after all, Christmas Eve and the base Post Office was closed. So Christmas comes and goes and on the 26th I go over to the base and the Post Office doesn't have it but its probably still in Shipping, try again later.
A few days pass, this time I go to the Base Post Office, still no package so I'm sent to Shipping - nobody has a package like that, nope not here, you should call UPS. So before doing that I email Matt in Singapore and this morning his lovely wife, and mother of my extremely bright and talented grandson, sends me the Tracking Number.
So today I determine to find the package - call UPS in Nassau and Robbie isn't in right now can I call back. I call back a few hours later and Robbie takes down all the information saying he remembers the package being put on the plane to Andros. I mentioned that the package was addressed to the Base and not me on Andros, but he assured me he'd find out where it went.
Time passes and Robbie actually calls back (a rarity here). The package had been sent to the SanAndros airport (the wrong airport), and then he sent it again to the AndrosTown airport (my town airport, not the Base) and the package was signed for by 'Chuck'. Robbie then asked if I knew anyone named Chuck?
Oddly enough, I do - and he works at the Navy base. So I call Chuck and he didn't pick it up. However, he knows another guy named Chuck who works in AirOps and he sometimes goes to the airport to pick up things for the Base. So off I go chasing this new Chuck, who is not in, but I got his cell phone. Call the cell phone, leave a message. Time passes, I call Air Ops a second time. This time Chuck is there and I explain about the package from Singapore, the airport, UPS, signed by Chuck, yada yada yada - Nope, not me, I never signed for any package, haven't signed for a package at the airport for months. Sounds like you need to go to the airport and see if they have a worker named Chuck.
So, off I go to the airport (mind you the whole aiport terminal is 30'x30'). I find a worker and explain what I'm looking for and without my saying it he says, 'O dat be picked up by Chuck'. Chuck who, I ask and he says, 'Da Chuck dat woiks at da base'. Then another worker joins the conversation and says, 'Ya man, you needs ta talk wit Chuck, he be next door right now'.
So we go next door, entering the Customs Office. There stands Chuck, the same man I spoke with at Air Ops, who now remembers the package. When he picked it up on 12/23 someone from Shipping and Recieving was also at the airport so he just passed it to him, but Chuck never signed for it, he just passed it to Russ (turns out the Airport folks sign Chucks name when he picks up UPS shipments). Chuck tells me I needed to find Russ in Shipping and Recieving, he has the package, but they're notorious for losing things.
So back to St. Johns I go, pick up my ID Badge to get onto the base and the phone rings. Its a woman from Shipping and Receiving at the base. She has the package I called about earlier when I was first looking for Chuck. I tell her to hold onto it tight and I'll be right there and off I go to the Base. She has it for me when I get there and take it on home.
When I get home there is a message on the answering machine - its Chuck, he's found my package!
So I call Chuck, and tell him I got it, and thank you.
Then I call UPS and tell him I got it, and thank you.
Then the first Chuck (the only Chuck I knew when this began) calls, asking if I got the package and I tell him I got it, and thank you.
Now, here's the dilemma - its Christmas presents from Matt and Melissa and Jack in Singapore. Do I open them now, or wait for Ginni to return?
So the next day we go do Christmas Eve services at the base (no package). I didn't think much of it because it was, after all, Christmas Eve and the base Post Office was closed. So Christmas comes and goes and on the 26th I go over to the base and the Post Office doesn't have it but its probably still in Shipping, try again later.
A few days pass, this time I go to the Base Post Office, still no package so I'm sent to Shipping - nobody has a package like that, nope not here, you should call UPS. So before doing that I email Matt in Singapore and this morning his lovely wife, and mother of my extremely bright and talented grandson, sends me the Tracking Number.
So today I determine to find the package - call UPS in Nassau and Robbie isn't in right now can I call back. I call back a few hours later and Robbie takes down all the information saying he remembers the package being put on the plane to Andros. I mentioned that the package was addressed to the Base and not me on Andros, but he assured me he'd find out where it went.
Time passes and Robbie actually calls back (a rarity here). The package had been sent to the SanAndros airport (the wrong airport), and then he sent it again to the AndrosTown airport (my town airport, not the Base) and the package was signed for by 'Chuck'. Robbie then asked if I knew anyone named Chuck?
Oddly enough, I do - and he works at the Navy base. So I call Chuck and he didn't pick it up. However, he knows another guy named Chuck who works in AirOps and he sometimes goes to the airport to pick up things for the Base. So off I go chasing this new Chuck, who is not in, but I got his cell phone. Call the cell phone, leave a message. Time passes, I call Air Ops a second time. This time Chuck is there and I explain about the package from Singapore, the airport, UPS, signed by Chuck, yada yada yada - Nope, not me, I never signed for any package, haven't signed for a package at the airport for months. Sounds like you need to go to the airport and see if they have a worker named Chuck.
So, off I go to the airport (mind you the whole aiport terminal is 30'x30'). I find a worker and explain what I'm looking for and without my saying it he says, 'O dat be picked up by Chuck'. Chuck who, I ask and he says, 'Da Chuck dat woiks at da base'. Then another worker joins the conversation and says, 'Ya man, you needs ta talk wit Chuck, he be next door right now'.
So we go next door, entering the Customs Office. There stands Chuck, the same man I spoke with at Air Ops, who now remembers the package. When he picked it up on 12/23 someone from Shipping and Recieving was also at the airport so he just passed it to him, but Chuck never signed for it, he just passed it to Russ (turns out the Airport folks sign Chucks name when he picks up UPS shipments). Chuck tells me I needed to find Russ in Shipping and Recieving, he has the package, but they're notorious for losing things.
So back to St. Johns I go, pick up my ID Badge to get onto the base and the phone rings. Its a woman from Shipping and Receiving at the base. She has the package I called about earlier when I was first looking for Chuck. I tell her to hold onto it tight and I'll be right there and off I go to the Base. She has it for me when I get there and take it on home.
When I get home there is a message on the answering machine - its Chuck, he's found my package!
So I call Chuck, and tell him I got it, and thank you.
Then I call UPS and tell him I got it, and thank you.
Then the first Chuck (the only Chuck I knew when this began) calls, asking if I got the package and I tell him I got it, and thank you.
Now, here's the dilemma - its Christmas presents from Matt and Melissa and Jack in Singapore. Do I open them now, or wait for Ginni to return?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Hello again,
It is New Years Eve and I am between services for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. The Archdiocese of the Bahamas only has two Holy Days of Obligation, Christmas and Mary the Mother of God on New Years Day. I just did the 6PM vigil service at the AUTEC Navy Base and at 9PM I will start my drive to Cargill Creek where we will sing Christmas carols from 10-11 and then at 11 start what will be the midnight service by the time we are done. St. John's will have its service at 8:30AM New Years Day (if I can out of bed, I should get home around 1AM and will need to get up by 6:30 to meet those that start arriving around 7:30).
Yesterday a man I had never met before dropped by in the middle of the afternoon. He had walked up the hill to the Church so didn't realize he was there until he started pounding on the door. He was about 50, his clothes were in shreds and he had no upper teeth. It was a difficult encounter because he wouldn't talk. When I asked how I could help him he just looked at his feet and shuffled back and forth and, with a nervous laugh mumbled, "I be here". I really couldn't understand him and I had to ask him to repeat it about three times until I figured out what he was saying.
His unwillingness to talk went on for awhile and it was a bit unsettling with me asking questions and him not responding. Eventually he told me his name and that he had been baptized here, "Dis be my Church". When I pointed out I hadn't seen him here in a month and a half he said, "I be away Faddah" (Please know I mean him no disrespect in typing his responses like this, I do so only to give you a sense of the language barrier). He really wouldn't talk or tell me much about himself and I eventually accepted the fact he just dropped by.
His shirt was full of holes and it was obvious that it hadn't been washed in some time. I asked if he had another shirt - no answer. I had just done a load of wash that was drying on the clothesline so I walked him over there and I took down a T-shirt of mine I'd recieved from a Red Cross Blood Drive and asked if he wanted another shirt. He smiled, which I took as a yes, and I gave it to him. He took off his shirt, put on mine, then tied the sleeves of the old one around his neck so it hung down his back, then he headed on down the driveway. A strange encounter but I'm still learning things like this may not actually be that strange.
When Peter, our groundskeeper/maintenance man came by I asked him about this guy and he said that sometimes he gets 'stressed out' but he was 'a super-cool guy' and I shouldn't worry about him (easier said than done). Time will tell if he drops by again or not, we shall see.
Keep us in your prayers, we can never get enough of that kind of support.
It is New Years Eve and I am between services for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. The Archdiocese of the Bahamas only has two Holy Days of Obligation, Christmas and Mary the Mother of God on New Years Day. I just did the 6PM vigil service at the AUTEC Navy Base and at 9PM I will start my drive to Cargill Creek where we will sing Christmas carols from 10-11 and then at 11 start what will be the midnight service by the time we are done. St. John's will have its service at 8:30AM New Years Day (if I can out of bed, I should get home around 1AM and will need to get up by 6:30 to meet those that start arriving around 7:30).
Yesterday a man I had never met before dropped by in the middle of the afternoon. He had walked up the hill to the Church so didn't realize he was there until he started pounding on the door. He was about 50, his clothes were in shreds and he had no upper teeth. It was a difficult encounter because he wouldn't talk. When I asked how I could help him he just looked at his feet and shuffled back and forth and, with a nervous laugh mumbled, "I be here". I really couldn't understand him and I had to ask him to repeat it about three times until I figured out what he was saying.
His unwillingness to talk went on for awhile and it was a bit unsettling with me asking questions and him not responding. Eventually he told me his name and that he had been baptized here, "Dis be my Church". When I pointed out I hadn't seen him here in a month and a half he said, "I be away Faddah" (Please know I mean him no disrespect in typing his responses like this, I do so only to give you a sense of the language barrier). He really wouldn't talk or tell me much about himself and I eventually accepted the fact he just dropped by.
His shirt was full of holes and it was obvious that it hadn't been washed in some time. I asked if he had another shirt - no answer. I had just done a load of wash that was drying on the clothesline so I walked him over there and I took down a T-shirt of mine I'd recieved from a Red Cross Blood Drive and asked if he wanted another shirt. He smiled, which I took as a yes, and I gave it to him. He took off his shirt, put on mine, then tied the sleeves of the old one around his neck so it hung down his back, then he headed on down the driveway. A strange encounter but I'm still learning things like this may not actually be that strange.
When Peter, our groundskeeper/maintenance man came by I asked him about this guy and he said that sometimes he gets 'stressed out' but he was 'a super-cool guy' and I shouldn't worry about him (easier said than done). Time will tell if he drops by again or not, we shall see.
Keep us in your prayers, we can never get enough of that kind of support.
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