Reflections of Boston and Quincy

For the past four Junes, the folks at the IPC, those in Brighton and Canton and all attending the various coffee mornings, picnics and Mass’s have no doubt waited with bated breadth or maybe dread to see the latest seminarian that Maynooth has to offer!

This is the fourth year that Fr John, Sr Marguerite, Kathleen, Cora and all have extended great hospitality and a very warm welcome; 3 years ago it was Patrick O’Donaghue, then John Harris the last 2 years and now myself.

Summer ’09 has been enjoyable and very educational and apart from a very wet start in June I have really fallen for the charm and beauty of Boston, Quincy and Dorchester. I suppose the purpose of the summer pastoral placement here in Boston has been to give me and fellow seminarians in the past and hopefully in the future some insight into ‘Pastoral Work’, this has certainly been provided by all at the centre and indeed my participation with the Summer Bible Camp at St Brendan’s in Dorchester.  

Growing up in Ireland we were always led to believe that everything in America was bigger and better and the summers were great…..well its true to a point; the pot-holes of course are bigger and as for the summer….the less said the better!  There are however many things which do fall into the ‘better category’ and many of these are being provided by the IPC; The seniors program, provides a fantastic service, from coffee mornings, picnics, presentations and regular ‘calls’ and chats from Cora just checking in on people. I’d like to thank one and all for your warm welcome and kindness. The centre also provides a fantastic service for those seeking jobs and those offering employment, providing a type of ‘referral’ service, and of course a welcome for many J1’s looking for work, advice and a friendly ear. As well as counseling services, spiritual needs are also provided for at the centre.

One other vitally important part of the centre’s work involves issues of immigration, from the running of immigration clinics to prison visitations for those who have fallen foul of ICE. I’d like to thank all, especially the undocumented for being so forthright and open and trying to give me some understanding of the issues and plight faced by the undocumented on a day to day basis.

Again growing up, the US was always viewed as the ‘Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave’ where the opportunities were limitless and with hard work the rewards reaped would be great; this unfortunately is not entirely true as many seeking a better life and future don’t find themselves ‘free’ to do so due to the fear of incarceration and deportation, which like a cloud, hangs over the many undocumented who find themselves in a somewhat hopeless ‘limbo’-  a situation which needs to be addressed immediately. I find the idea that an undocumented person should spend up to 3 months in jail awaiting deportation both ludicrous and deplorable and one which could be sorted very quickly if the relationship between Ireland and the USA is as good as we are led to believe.

However here is not a ‘soapbox’ so I’ll dispense with the ‘politics.’ I’d like to finish my little ‘Boston Reflection (Rambling)’ by thanking everyone at the IPC, St Brendan’s and all those in between I have come into contact with most sincerely for your welcome, your time and your teaching.