This blog finds me in Edmonton, Alberta , Canada, my birthplace and place of residence once again. To say that I sadly left Ireland is an understatement, however, I hope one day that I may be back in Ireland, the place that I call home.

They call the path I’m on in this life…."the way of Nada" or "the way of Nothing". It seems the more I journey with the Lord, the more blank my page becomes.

I saw many needs in the Irish Catholic Church and I would have loved to have been thrown in there like a dirty shirt, as they say. However, it looks like the Lord has a different idea, at least, for the moment.

In this journey, of walking the way of Nada, I have just enough light at my feet to see the next step.

I’m writing this blog on Wednesday, September 18th from the Tattykeel House B&B near Omagh. I know that I am returning to Toronto on Friday and then on to Edmonton on Saturday. At the writing of this blog, I do not know where I will be staying in Edmonton. That is how blank the page is….

I regret nothing of going to Ireland. I hopefully spread the fragrance of Christ wherever I went, as St. Paul says….I was able to see and experience the most glorious places, and finally, I made a personal assessment of the state of things for the Irish Catholic Church.

The recession is bad, is very bad….4 businesses a week go under in Monaghan town alone. The banks are becoming the sole owners of Ireland. Where will it end? I have been told, it is only going to get worse. My heart breaks for the people of Ireland who not only lost material things, but who have lost hope and trust in a healthy and fulfilling livelihood. And then there’s the Church. Given those circumstances, it was impossible for me to establish myself and remain in Ireland.

Maybe I’ll return to a situation where I can contribute to the renewal of faith in Christ and build community. That will be so, if it is the Lord’s will. I do believe one thing…Ireland remains a beacon of light for the Universal Church as we all try to realize the vision of Vatican II and the mission left to us by Christ. Mark Father Tom Shanahan’s words paraphrased: "We need to prepare for the laity to be responsible for the faith and the church, but, the stubborn mules need to move".

I leave you with a picture of one of the most glorious places in Ireland, Galway Bay. Out of the near 1300 pictures I have taken, the one provided here, is my favourite. The caption could be "Watching the Sun Go Down On Galway Bay" Have you ever been across the sea to Ireland? If not, I encourage you to go one day, as the Mystique of Ireland, is somehow wrapped in the Mystique of Christ.

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