Hello from Dublin, and from my first solo blog post! The past several weeks since getting back from Lourdes have been very busy, challenging and lots of fun. We have now experienced a full “normal” workweek in which we have visited schools, played for masses and worked at O’Connell House (among many other things). Getting a taste of what our regular schedule will be like has been great and helps to form our understanding of what our days will look like throughout this year. One of my favorite parts of jumping right in after our pilgrimage was beginning to work with the First Communion and Confirmation students in the schools. Geoff, Susanna and I split up between the classrooms which allows us to interact with the kids a bit more directly; we have a half an hour of very casual, unstructured time to talk through what the students have been studying in religion, discuss (often surprisingly deep) theological questions they bring up, and answer many random questions about all things American. Every week I have been shocked by how thoroughly these seven and twelve-year-olds think about theological topics and how interested they are in discussing them with us. Also, you can not help but smile when a second class student raises his hand to explain that life goes by very quickly, especially when you have a lot of fun.
Over the past few weeks we have also had more time to get to know the Notre Dame students studying abroad, during our time at O’Connell House. Though initially daunted by the task of remembering the names of fifty undergraduate students, one of the best parts of our work quickly became talking with students over meals, hearing about their adventures traveling and reflecting together at Tuesday Time Outs. We are blessed to have an incredibly diverse and talented group and I am looking forward to working and socializing more with them over the next few months. Being so close in age to the students puts Teach Bhríde in a unique position to empathize with their academic and social struggles from our own recent experiences, while hopefully offering a bit of advice and always being a trusted presence on which they can rely. Also, we can all watch Notre Dame football together which, in the land of rugby, Gaelic football and hurling, is a very comforting reminder of our shared home under the dome.
A highlight for all of Teach Bhríde was the opportunity to perform at Kylemore Abbey as Notre Dame officially kicked off its partnership with Kylemore at a cornerstone blessing ceremony, musical program and reception. Through the combined efforts and musical talents of Teach Bhríde Wexford, Teach Bhríde Dublin and two of our O’Connell House colleagues, we sang a version of St. Patrick’s Breastplate, The Deer’s Cry, along with Notre Dame’s Alma Mater. We had the pleasure of singing for and subsequently meeting Ireland’s Taoiseach (or prime minister, pronounced “tea shock”), Martin Naughton, one of the generous benefactors of Notre Dame in Dublin, and many other incredible people invested in the Notre Dame-Kylemore partnership. Even in light of rehearsing for our performance and all the excitement of the day, I was most overwhelmed by the beauty of Kylemore and the surrounding scenery. Picturesque hardly begins to cover it: between the sun reflecting off the water and illuminating a single fishing boat, the ornate and antique beauty of the Abbey and Gothic chapel, and the mountains enveloping the entire scene, I was so humbled by the chance to experience such a beautiful place and be a part of an important event for Notre Dame. Needless to say, I am excited to visit Kylemore again as soon as possible, and hopefully get the chance to climb the mountain behind the Abbey for a whole new perspective and even more amazing views!
Back in Dublin, we are already well into another very busy week. After more school visits and choir rehearsal tomorrow, we will have a full day at O’Connell House on Thursday. I am also preparing to accompany a school choir at a special prayer service to commemorate the feast day of St. Francis on Friday. This weekend, Susanna is heading to Belfast with OCH and Geoff and I will be experiencing a rugby match for the first time with friends from Lourdes! As always, we are thinking of and praying for everyone we love and miss at home, and all who make it possible for us to have these crazy and amazing experiences in Ireland. We are so thankful for your continued prayers and kind words!
With love and short-lived sunshine from Dublin,
Rikki
