COVID Times
For the first time since our noviceship days, Luarena and I are living a regular monastic life. We rise, pray, breakfast and attend 10.30 Mass on RTE News Now.
This is followed by either work in the garden, tending house plants, writing annals, doing accounts, or tidying, organising and discarding material which will never be used again.
News is at 1pm followed by dinner. At 3pm.we read and discuss articles with Mary Fagan over the phone. We are currently learning to Zoom, so next week we hope to see Mary as well as hear her. The articles we have already read include, Diarmuid O’Murchu, Ilia Delio, and Pope Francis. This has proven a very worthwhile hour. After a cup of tea we either rest, or walk in the grave yard. The Sisters buried in the grave yard have not had so many visits since the community in Goldenbridge moved out. Evening Prayer comes next followed by tea, after which we play bridge and try to learn the conventions we never succeed in mastering. Sometimes we play scrabble, do crosswords or watch T.V.
Between times we read, knit and write cards and letters to many of our friends. We also send letters of appreciation e.g. to Mullingar Cathedral for the lovely Easter liturgy, from whom we received a lovely card of thanks. Phone calls also fill up our day. As a friend of mine said to me, her husband remarked ‘we could get used to this kind of life.’
We are so blessed to be looked after by our neighbours. Ann Marie does our shopping and others have offered. A knock at the door brings a cake, a basket of food, fruit and veg. (from past student of Galilee House) and Easter eggs from others. Our Easter Sunday dinner was supplied by our Sisters in the Paddocks.
We had the moving experience of the funeral of Phyllis R.I.P. one of our first neighbours in Emmet Crescent. All the neighbours lined Vincent Street, which was decorated with balloons, and a photo of Phyllis was attached to the railings of the flats. We all carried flowers, which were placed on top of the hearse as it passed, and everyone sang ‘we’ll meet again’ as they clapped and blessed themselves. We cried for Phyllis and not only for Phyllis but for ourselves, earth and all who are suffering during this COVID-19.
A highlight of the week is the Thursday night Bingo on the street, where we sit socially isolated in our own gardens.
During this cocooning time we are trying to deepen our consciousness and become more aware of God’s presence in the whole of Creation. We are reflecting on the signs of the times and our individual and collective response as Sisters of Mercy.
I finish with a quote from Micheal O’Muireachtaigh’s grandmother back in the 1930’s when asked by him about how she spent her day.
‘Eirim le diograis le breacadh gach lae’ – I arise with enthusiasm at the dawning of each day
Agnes Coll
Mayday 2020
Dublin 8
Annals From Booterstown
March 22nd, 2020
This afternoon, in an effort to help us to keep up our spirits and to distract us from worrying about COVID-19, Sr. Anne invited us to “Falling In Love”, one of her “Mercy Movies”. In keeping with our regulation re: social distancing, Sr. Anne confined the audience to five and required pre booking!! Catherine, Vera, Teresa Anne and Angela attended with Sr. Anne. It was hilariously funny and was a welcome relief from the gloom surrounding the possible effects of COVID-19.
March 24th
Another diversion this afternoon was provided by Teresa Anne who showed us the film documentary “Bohemian Rhapsody”, the story of Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the British Rock Band Queen. It was a wonderful treat, especially at this time and we all enjoyed it immensely.
Freddie Mercury
March 29th
This evening Sr. Anne did what she called a little ‘Show and Tell’ tech. programme in which she showed a few aspects of Google: Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs and also the Snipping Tool.
April 12th – Easter Sunday 2020
Some of us tuned into Mass in Booterstown while others availed of the Eurovision Mass on RTE which was previously planned for Metz Cathedral but, due to the restrictions surrounding the coronavirus, was broadcast instead from the Dominican Convent of Saint Jaques, Paris and was followed by the Pope’s traditional blessing Urbi et Orbi.
We enjoyed a delicious dinner provided by Mary after which at the suggestion of Catherine, we had a little celebration in which we exchanged stories, poems songs and jokes. It was most enjoyable and provided a distraction for us from COVID-19 which tends to occupy our minds each day.
Booterstown Community
Dublin
Stay At Home By H.W. Longfellow 1807-1882
Stay, stay at home, my heart and rest;
Home keeping hearts are happiest,
For those that wander, they know not where,
Are full of trouble and full of care;
To stay at home is best.
Weary and homesick and distressed,
They wander east, they wander west,
And are baffled and beaten and blown about,
By the winds of the wilderness of doubt;
To stay at home is best.
Then stay at home my heart and rest;
The bird is safest in the nest;
O’er all that flutter their wings and fly
A hawk is hovering in the sky;
To stay at home is best.
Did RTE take their Pandemic logo from Longfellow!
Bíodh sin mar atá tá an chomhairle tráthúil
Agnes Coll
Dublin 8
As I Saw it …….
Rambling along the riverside walk in Birr, I am in awe of so many signs of life.
The fresh Spring air is filled with birdsong; daffodils sway gently in the breeze, the river bank is full of brilliant celandine and an early butterfly rests on its petals. Sticky chestnut buds are ready to burst out their new born leaves. What beautiful signs of hope at this sad time!
Then just coming to the end of my ramble, I see two men working; they were erecting four large capital letters H O P E for all to see and experience. At night the word is floodlit! May the light of HOPE shine for all of us and for every person who needs hope, in the darkness of these anxious and worrying times.
Gay Kieran
Co Tipperary
