Slán go foil

Pronounced 'shlahn goh foihll' today's blog title means Goodbye for now. I am sorry for not having blogged since last Friday but I've 'flat out like a lizard drinking'.

On Saturday I visited Trinity College Dublin. This university is probably one of the best known in Ireland. It is very old (on the site of an old monastery - though none of the original buildings remain) but even still many of the buildings date back to before Cook's voyage up the east coast of Australia. There I visited the Book of Kells and spent quite a bit of time getting the requisite gifts for family. I also had a good look around the older part of Dublin.

Sunday began with a slow start and then joining Mary and Brendan for a drive to the Botanical Gardens, and St Stephen's Green. We attended the Advent Service at St. Andrew's, Blackrock - an ecumenical service led by clergy from the Presbyterian, Church of Ireland (Anglican) and Catholic churches. I enjoyed joining Mary and Brendan's family for a scrummy dinner.

On Monday Mary dropped me up to Mt Seskin Community College at Tallaght. I spent the day with Chaplain Paddy and saw how a chaplain in a 'state school' operates. I spent some time discussing chaplaincy with some of the local clergy and also had some time with the College principal. I was 'billed' to the college (by Paddy) as a visiting professor from Australia (should ask for a raise). I work-shadowed Paddy in a class Mass, and two religious education classes. I was fortunate enough to score a lift with Paddy back into Mater Dei.

Tuesday presented an opportunity to visit Belfast by train. I caught up with Kim, a former high school student of mine (from nearly 20 years ago). She and her husband Edmund live in Belfast and own a coffee shop 'California Coffee' where they serve the best brew in town. Kim was kind enough to drive me around looking at most of the important sites in town. After lunch we walked around town and then later drove out to visit Carrickfergus Castle, a fort that remained active until the 1940s. I finished the day having a Guinness with Edmund and Kim in a Irish pub that was built in 1720 (50 years before Cook 'discovered' Australia).

Today's (Wednesday) been an interesting day - spent the morning analyising some of the data I have collected during my time in Ireland. This afternoon I caught up with Mary and PJ to discuss some of my thoughts. School chaplaincy in Ireland and Australia have many things in common but also many contrasts and differences. School chaplaincy in both places is relational, incarnational ministry to school communities (kids, staff and families). In both places churches don't necessarily understand or recognise what chaplains do, and yet in both places, chaplaincy practice offers hope to churches who struggle to engage with young people the way they used to. Of course Ireland is predominantly a mono-religious, mono-ethnic country (though that is changing) while Australia is multi-religious and very multi-ethnic. This fact changes the roles of what school chaplains do in each place but further dialogue between our two countries will be beneficial. In any case I have lots of ideas to take back to my home institution - Christian Heritage College.

Tomorrow I fly out of Ireland. The people have been very welcoming. I've seen so much history and learnt so much. I am so grateful to CHC funding this trip, and to Mater Dei for allowing me to visit. I am particularly thankful to God for the way He has journeyed with me and blessed me along the way. I am also very grateful to Drs PJ Sexton and Elaine McDonald, and Mary and Brendan Coffey for looking after me while I was here and welcoming me into their homes. I have also had a great time staying at the Redemptoristine Monastery guest house and especially thank Sr Lucy Conway.

Slán go foil!