Proclaim God’s marvellous deeds to all the nations.🥳🙏🏻

We arrived early for 8AM Holy Mass this morning in the beautiful Guardian Angels Catholic Church. Sacrosanct sacred space covered in cloak of silence, devout priest already sat in prayer, sacristan too. Even the footsteps of folk arriving for Holy Mass seamlessly soundless.

Father spoke of the unconditional love of Jesus for the Father and the unconditional love of the Father for Jesus. The love Jesus receives from the Father cannot be contained and the love we have received from Jesus cannot be contained too. It is so dynamic it has to be offered, it has to be shared without conditions. Ask today to love like the Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father.

He ended his homily with the words: ‘I can tell you plainly! ‘If you cannot share the love of the Father then you have no love in you’. 

I really felt and knew in my deepest spirit that I was present at the supper of the Lamb.

‘For with You is the fountain of life; In Your Light do we see light’. (Psalm 36:9)

Walking back to our apartment a ‘beginning again’, feeling wrapped itself around me. I was reminded of my first pilgrimage to Medugorje more than twenty years ago. A feeling of newness.......

(A never-ending beginning again of the joy of hearing me’. (Jesus to Gabrielle Bossis)

‘God is eternal newness. He impels us constantly to set out anew, to pass beyond what is familiar, to the fringes and beyond’. (Pope Francis)

Labyrinth🧐🤨

Thirty minute stroll this morning turned into a prolonged searching, we got utterly lost. Barclay Street seemed to have disappeared right off the map. In our wandering mayhem wouldn’t you know! Catholic Church just happened to pop up before my eyes. O happy day☀️ Doors locked but around the side Alison busy cleaning Momma Mary’s Grotto told us that the side door was open for just a few moments more. We dashed inside and knelt in humble praise and thanksgiving. Holy Mass at 8AM tomorrow morning she told us too. I am beyond thrilled.

Many kind folk gave us directions, like Mr. Howard Soon, Master Winemaker, Vanessa Vineyard. Wonderful encounter with Mr. Soon, interesting conversation, lots of fun. ‘How soon’ gets bandied about a lot, he told us. Joy filled folk are such a blessing to behold. Humble man too.

Eric, young guy with impeccable manners kindly looked up ‘Barclay Street’ on his phone. I offered him my prayer and as he half-accepted it, I told him that I am just an Irish Granny who wishes with all my heart that our beautiful young folk would know that they do not have to figure it all out by their own might. When he heard that my late husband and eldest son are both named Eric he was shocked. God-incidence for sure🎆 ‘I will keep this prayer. Thank you very much’, he replied, really upbeat and super happy.

Tonight we dined with Killian’s two housemates Jonathan and Aaron. Three amigos, steadfast friends since childhood, easy, enjoyable evening, ton of fun. Jonathan and Aaron both accepted my prayer of course😀

‘In peace I will lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety’. (Psalm 4:8)

 

                                                                       Three amigos.👲👲👲

                                                                       Love birds🐦🐦💞 

Divine Mercy.🙏🏻

We began to chat about Ireland, man seated next to me on the bus to Victoria this morning. Once upon a time he was on vacation in Kerry. After a while I asked if he was holidaying in Victoria right now and his reply changed everything. ‘Today is a very sad day for me. I am on my way to the hospital and I hope I get there before my son Michael passes away’. 

Speechless I offered him my prayer and he accepted saying; ‘I could use all the strength I can get right now’. Asking if it would be ok that I pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for his son Michael, Barry agreed gratefully. I explained best I could the importance of praying the Chaplet when a person is passing from this world, how it appeases the wrath of God, how Michael’s soul will find peace and his death be a happy one. (Elevator pitch!)

‘When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between my Father and the dying person, not as a just judge but as a merciful Saviour’. (Jesus to St. Faustina)

Rosary beads in hand I prayed while Barry sobbed quietly. I shed a tear too. Singular moment of Grace, pure Divine Mercy covering Michael, his Dad, and each one of us on that Victoria bus this morning. Beauty from ashes, nothing impossible with God.

Chris who served us lunch in his restaurant refused my prayer like he was dismayed to be offered such a thing. Extremely helpful young man, we had a ton of fun and riveting conversation. As we took our leave I said; ‘I know you don’t want my prayer Chris but I will pray for you always’. Chris’s smile will remain forever in my heart. ‘I am so happy to meet you Bridget’, he replied. Mere mention of Prayer softens hearts, letting light of Christ shine brightly in dark places. I must never ever take refusals personally.

The pleasant friendly guy who offered to take our photo (we were about to take a selfie on the ferry) told us that we would really enjoy Victoria as it is a great place for ‘old people’.!!!

Robin, looking much younger than her forty eight years sat on the footpath wrapped in a blanket. She accepted my prayer and yes👍 she knows Jesus is real. Her anguished expression pierced my heart as she placed the money Mary gave her in her well worn wallet. I couldn’t help wondering how beautiful Robin found her way to this dark dank awful corridor of pain and suffering.😪

On journey home we visited Canada’s longest pier but too exhausted to walk the whole way. Drained in the most glorious way, being the Hands and Feet of Christ enormous privilege. Jesus does all the heavy lifting, I simply tag along.

‘But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, that no flesh should glory in His presence’. (John 1:27-28)

                                                            Victoria Parliament Buildings.

Change myself and I change the world.☀️

Advertising’Skellig soaps’ for Alice 🧼🎆

Many wonderful interactions today in downtown Vancouver. I bought a new backpack and Kevin was pleased to accept my old one. He sat on the footpath sad and dejected, lost and alone in his own dark world. He did not accept my prayer. Nelly in the little shop in the Holy Rosary Cathedral told me that in this our day and time Momma Mary is crying for our world. I picked up another statue of Momma Mary that glows in the dark for Killian this time. 

Ken searching in the bin for food accepted my prayer although he was quick to point out that he never prays. He read it and smiled telling me that I reminded him of a boss he had one time. ‘She was good’, he added.

Daniel from Columbia served our meal. I suggested  he pray my prayer every morning and the whole host of Heaven would be minding him as he went about his day. He replied: ‘Funny you should say that because my grandmother told me exactly that always’. Daniel unsurprisingly is very sad about the Ukrainian people. ‘If we all do what is in our power to make this world a better place’, I said - to which he replied: ‘Yes. Change myself and I change the world’.

Mary and I danced with abandon to a busker’s delightful music, only coz we could. Killian and I walked on the beach this evening as the sun was setting. Oh and we sat petrified and elated through the ‘Fly over Canada’ riveting experience. 

Guy on bicycle almost ran me over as I ambled onto bicycle lane unbeknownst to myself. He went on his way but turned and came back to apologize for scaring me. I assured him that the fault lay with me. Gracious guy☀️

All kinds of everything kind of day.

‘I have been all things unholy: if God can work through me, He can work through anyone’.                    (St. Francis of Assisi)

                                                         Dance dance wherever you may be.....🎶🎶

                                                                      ‘Fly over Canada’✈️

                                                 Killian’s ‘glow in the dark’ Momma Mary.🙏🏻

                                                           Don’t worry, be happy....😀😀

‘He must increase but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from Heaven is above all’. (John 3:30-31)

Life in the city🎆

Beautiful Holy Mass in Cathedral of the most Holy Rosary this morning. Magnificent choir. Afterwards as I purchased Rosary beads in the little Legion of Mary shop run by two Phillipino ladies, I spied a statue of  Mother Mary, (Momma Mary to the Phillipino ladies). Over the moon I picked it up for Diarmuid. 

Many years ago in an effort to get our statue of Mary to light up in the dark, Diarmuid placed it on the bulb of a reading-lamp. After some time, extremely upset he told me that: ‘He had burned Mother Mary’s dress’. Diarmuid loved that statue of Mother Mary with the ‘burnt dress’ and when time came for him to go to college, he did not leave home without Her. Alas in the rough and tumble of moving myriad times over the years, his favourite statue got mislaid. He told me lately that he had searched everywhere for it but to no avail. How thrilled am I with my precious find in that tiny sacred shop here in Vancouver.

Outside Church, Lesley in her wheelchair, cup in hand, looking fragile and cold, her once pretty face bone weary. She accepted my prayer happily and as Killian handed me twenty dollars to put in Lesley’s cup, she said: ‘You have a beautiful son’. We promised to pray for one another henceforward. (One thing renews another! Lesley is also the name of my dear Marina’s 🐒)

In the evening we visited Vancouver Buddhist Temple. Our first time ever and I am so glad we did. Profoundly peaceful.

Shopping in Walmart (endless aisles of useful and useless objects). Macdonalds tasty meals before returning to our apartment for a much needed early night. I like Vancouver.❤️

‘Trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be’. (St. Teresa of Avila)

Dear Marina and her faithful Lesley. 🐒

If you go down to the woods today.......🐻🐻

Yesterday we met Grinder and Coola, two sizeable cuddly brown bears having the time of their lives. Grouse Grind is definitely a gem not to be missed when visiting Vancouver. We traveled from the base in a ‘Gondola’ - (Cablecar). Unforgettable amazing experience. Snow in May - very unusual. All planned by Awesome God for our sheer dismay and delight. 

‘For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, My thoughts higher than your thoughts’. (Isaiah 55:9)

                             Travelling in style - Killian’s rented Honda Minivan in the background.🚎

                 Park guide notably informative and kindly took our photo with Grinder and Coola.🐻🐻

                                                               On our way to the top 🏔 

                                                               ‘Wait up’ Mary🤨

                                                            ‘I think we’re lost lads’.🤔🐻🐻

Lean on me when you’re not strong....I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on......😀🎶🎶🎶

Skellig soap 🧼 

Away we go.....🥳😃

Ohhh whatta day😃☀️🎶🎶🎶

Whatta Mighty God we serve🙏🏻❤️

First day in Vancouver 🥳

Jet lagged yesterday. So good to see at last where Killian and his mates reside. Unbelievable to be here in Vancouver. One moment at a time I keep telling myself. Soon it will be over. Every minute counts. 🙏🏻🥳☀️

                        Pick up a car/drop a car. Wonderful way of getting around Vancouver. 🚘 

Waitress Bella served our ‘Kitsilano’ bountiful breakfast. ‘You’ll be nice and jittery today’, she told Mary as she served her coffee.☕️

                                                                       My boy and me.❤️

 

Forever friends.👭

                                                                        Coffee break.☕️

                                                                      Some tulip. 🌸 

                                                                     And another one....🌸

                                                                    Deep in conversation🤥

                                                                    Off they go......🏃‍♀️🏃

                                                                     ☕️ floors up......☕️