Tour of Cemetaries, Felons Club, Dinnder with Collum and Christina

                                  Dinner with Collum at Farset - and Collum gave us all gifts

Irish weather today proved the truth of the saying “If you don’t like the weather wait a few minutes and it will be different.” It has been rainy, sunny and everything in between. We’re told it is just normal Irish weather. Our outdoor tour today was in pouring rain, drizzle, overcast and sunny weather.

Our day started at the “usual” time. Breakfast was shared then we met for the daily schedule review. Paula led devotions and shared two poems. Deb rehearsed the music we’ll share in worship on Sunday.

Our scheduled activities for the day started with a cab ride to the City Cemetery. Our guide, Darra Barrett, met us and told us about the history of the cemetery and pointed out the designer planned it in the shape of a “bell” for Belfast. We visited several grave sites and learned about who was there and why they were interesting characters. One he showed us was a “mass murderer” as he was the head of a tobacco company. We also saw where one of the dividing walls was located, nine feet under.

Then it was “across the street” to the Milltown Cemetery, the Catholic Cemetery. This cemetery has the graves of many of the Catholic freedom fighters and hunger strikers, also known as members of the IRA. They also have the graves of several Polish soldiers who perished in a plane crash during WW2. We were also introduced to the doctor who has seen more maimed bodies than anyone else. He was a physician during the Boar War and then a pathologist. He would crawl out to those wounded to try and save them while the fighting was still going on. There were several others we were introduced to and you are advised to check with your friends on this trip for further impressions.

Our last scheduled activity was lunch at the Felon’s Club. This was once a private club and where the IRA had its founding. Pictures on the wall reminded you of its history.

The rest of the day, well at least until dinner at the hotel, was free. The majority of us returned to the hotel for rest. Six of us went to An Cultúrlann which is a center for Irish Culture, including the Irish language - Gaeilge (which was of great interest to Rod.)

Dinner was at the hotel tonight because it is difficult to get into any restaurants due to the Giro International Bike Race starting and ending in town today. Christine and Collum joined us from Armagh. They met some of the team a couple of years ago and have remained friends. Conversations continued well into the evening.

Tour of Belfast City Cemetery:

Walk along Falls Road and a view of some Murals on buildings:

Felons Club, where we ate lunch:

On the walk back to Farset Hotel - strong feelings in the Catholic section about Boston College's release of "priveleged" information:

Dinner at Farset with Collum and Christina:

Work Day, Dinner with Forthspring staff and Srs. Gillian and Bridgette

Presentation of items and money raised by Burnt Hills UMC Youth to Forthspring Youth

Another excellent day, unusual in that we got little rain and some sun and comfortable temps.
After breakfast and devotions, we made the five minute walk to the Forthspring Intercommunity Group for a workday.

 

I learned that while there are several agencies in Belfast promoting communication and understanding between the significantly segregated protestants and Catholics, Forthspring is unusual and well situated because it is on a street that is predominantly Catholic on one side and protestant on the other. My impression is that Forthspring is doing many fine things, especially with youth.

Our work included replacing capstones that were vandalized, weeding and sweeping the grounds and trimming bushes, moving and rearranging offices, and mounting a tv, among other things. That evening we were treated to a delicious and generous meal by Forthspring, followed by a delightful evening with Sisters Bridgette and Gillian. They live adjacent to Forthspring, Catholics living in peace in a heavily protestant community. What a witness they are.

It has been an unsettling experience for me, walking down a street with an invisible barrier in the middle, with Catholic families on one side, protestants on the other, neither willing to cross the street to commune with the other. While the violence has greatly diminished - only one murder last year - the suspicion and apparent dislike of each other seems to be very strong among very many Northern Irelanders. However, we have met several folks who have wonderful hearts, full of love, and wanting desperately for the separation and enmity to end. These range from an international icon, Fr. Gerry Reynolds; to a young couple we met in a restaurant, to the staff at Forthspring and the youth they serve who risk ridicule and worse from their neighbors and classmates.

I do not expect a kumbaya soon, but am in awe of the courage and faith that we see daily. Thank you, Pat and Mike, for giving me this experience.

 

 

 

 

Submitted by Paul Phillips

 

 

Working at Forthspring:

 A Break for Lunch:

Bake to Work:

Sharing Pizza with Staff:

Visiting with Sr. Bridgette and Sr. Gillian:

Presenting funds raised by BHUMC Youth to Forthspring Youth:

 

 

 

 

 

Stormont, Youth and political leaders

                                                                Team at Stormont

Today started out with a bang - Irish breakfast! Eggs, potato bread, sausage, ham, toast, croissants... Instant 5 pound weight gain, but delicious.

Later in the morning we went to Stormont, the seat of Northern Ireland government. A beautiful structure, especially the interior (symmetrical). Our fast talking guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining. During WWII, the white exterior was painted black using tar and cow manure because it was available and cheap. After the war it took 7 years to remove the Black, and sections of the building simply could not be cleaned and remain black!

After our time at Stormont VIM was unleashed on Belfast City. The Wicker Man, a store specializing in only goods made in Ireland, had a great day. Our tour last night made it easier to get around.

This evening we went to Forthspring to attend a panel of local politicians and neighborhood leaders discussing ways to improve life in Northern Ireland in General and the Springfield Road area in particular. The youth group of Forthspring put the program together and were the majority of the audience. They asked some pointed and difficult questions to which the five panelists tried to respond!

Submitted by Chris Cary

                                                      In the Senate Chamber of of Stormont

                                                       
                                                         In the Legislative Chamber

                                       Political Discussions led by Forthspring Youth Group

                                                     Team members in audience

Clonnard, Forthspring, Tour of Belfast

 

The Team with Fr. Reynolds and Rev. Rae

After a night's sleep. The Team woke to Pat tapping on the door with a "Good Morning"! Breakfast and an outline of the day's activities followed by Devotions by Lyle. Our regular morning routine is already established. Then off we went to attend Mass at the Church of the Holy Redeemer. We were met by Sister Jillian. Sister Bridgette participated in the Mass.

We were warmly welcomed by Father Gerry Reynolds and others who attended the Mass. We were invited for tea and a talk after the Mass, at Clonard Monastery connected to the Church. Father Reynolds, Rev. Rae ( a Methodist minister) and Ed Peterson. Father Reynolds assistant. We had a discussion on reconciliation in Belfast - past, present and future.

Jim Rae was raised in Belfast and has seen much movement toward reconciliation, but still sees underneath great sectarianism. Those who are active in the Churches, both Protestant and Catholic, are peace builders with much interaction and comfort with each other.  There is a need to reach those who are not part of the active church community.

Ed Peterson is from New Jersey and his wife is from Belfast.  He has worked with Father Gerry as his assistant for 10 years.  Their church is changing the focus from getting people into the church, to reaching out from the church to the people.  He participates with a catholic/methodist group discussing how we hear the bible together - how we differ in bible interpretation.  He discussed how his children attend a Methodist high school and a discussion on education ensued. 

Jim Rae said the work of Clonnard has been historic to the whole peace process.  While the work of peacemakers may never be publicly known, work by those like Father Gerry should be in the history books.

The discussion went on covering politics and ongoing issues. Father Gerry asked, can we sow seeds of friendship while we are here?  Through this we can share our acceptance of others and make a difference.

We went to Forthspring a Community Center for lunch and orientation of what their ongoing activities are.  Johnston Price discussed discussed the 5 Decades Project, collecting 150 oral stories on living through the conflict.  The project documents shared but different pasts.  Several years of work is reaching culmination but Johnston does not see this as an end, but a continuous project he hopes will go on. 

Richard, the youth director, has taken on the Cross Interface Community Planning Project.  He dIscussed steps to improve surroundings, like litter cleanup mad dog foul cleanup that were community concerns.  A full plan is established and is being implemented.  The solid gate in wall will be replaced with a see through gate, which is a big deal.  

Sprinters is an after school program for ages 5 to 11for children from both Protestant and catholic schools.  

Youth Matters is for youth 11 and up.  They have accreditation programs, and youth groups to allow youth to gather and feel safe.  Much more information was shared. We toured the facility, discussed project options for our group, then off we went to dinner and a historical tour of Belfast downtown.  We ended at the giant fish by the river.

This write up May seem long, and yet it nearly captures the information and activity of the day.  And I didn't even mention any rain...  We all look forward to our adventures continuing tomorrow.

Submitted by Deb Aldrich

                                        The Team in Downtown Belfast at end of City Tour

Arrival in Ireland, New Grange, Dinner in Belfast

The Belfast VIM Team left the BHUMC at 1:30pm. Bob the bus driver delivered us safely to Logan Airport in Boston. No travel delays were encountered. Our overnight flight to Dublin was uneventful as well. Some of us got a fair amount of sleep. We enjoyed breakfast together after collecting our luggage. All except Jane Baker whose new luggage had been badly damaged! She reported it and they gave her a new American Tourister Suitcase!

The morning greeted us with sunshine! First stop - Knowth and Newgrange. We toured this ancient National Monument - a collection of small and large mounds covering underground homes and burial sited dating back before the pyramids were built. This area sits in the gorgeous Boyne Valley with the River Boyne flowing nearby. Green pastures held sheep and cows enjoying the sun and nourishment of the grass. These structures contain the largest and most exciting collections of megalithic or stone art, in Western Europe. Newgrange is older than Stonehenge by 1000 years and recently, carbon dating dated it to 3300 BCE. Unbelieveable!

We then journeyed by bus to Belfast and settled in at the Farset Hotel.

The day finished with dinner at the Failte Restaurant with Forthspring Director Maura Moore.

'Twas a full day for a tired VIM Team.

Submitted by Linda Noonan

                                                 Waiting in the airport for departure

The start of our trip to Belfast

Nine of the Team gathered at the Burnt Hills UMC around 1pm. After gathering all the baggage, and checking to make sure all had their passports, we held a brief meeting near the Church's Peace Pole. We read from Isaiah, and said a prayer for guidance and safety.

At 1:30 we boarded the Van and headed for Logan Airport. Very light traffic all the ways through, and arrived at Logan by 4:30.

Paul met a friend at the airport, who had lived in Belfast for several years, and had time for coffee with her. We also met up with the Cary's and then the team went through security almost without difficulty. Rob was picked for a random search of his carry-on, and they held his suspicious box of crackers hostage until a thorough check of the crackers could be made.

Martin and the Linders met up with us shortly after and then all checked out the food court.

First Team Meeting

 

Team Photo on March 22, 2014

From Left to Right: Paul Phillips, Jean Phillips, Paula Miller, Lyle Linder, Linda Noonan, Jane Baker, Mary Ann Linder, Dan Baker, Rod Aldrich, Debbie Aldrich, Pam Carey, Martin Carr, Chris Carey, Pat Thomas, Mike Thomas (unable to attend Robert Dean).

The Team met on Saturday, March 22nd, for the first time, at the Burnt Hills United Methodist Church. The Team discussed plans for the trip, and were also given a brief history of the VIM visits to Forthspring Intercommunity Group, Springfield Road and Woodvale Methodist Churches, and past teams' excursions to historic areas of Belfast,  Northern Ireland and the Republic. 

The next Blog entry will be in May as the team leaves for Belfast.