Where I’ve Been
These are the chaplancies where I have served as a Locum Chaplain, taking services for a period ranging from 2 Sundays to 6. Usually, accommodation is provided and travel expenses reimbursed. It’s a good chance to explore different parts of the Diocese in Europe, with time and space for reflection and relaxation, and is one aspect of my vocation as a pilgrim.
I can’t add Norway (Bergen and Balestrand) to this table at present, but you can see the work in progress here: Norway 2024
| Luxembourg | March, April 2017 |
| Pau | May 2017, June-July 2023 |
| Heidelberg | June 2017, August 2018, April 2019 |
| Fontainebleau | December 2017 |
| Menton | August 2018 |
| Santiago | October 2019 |
This page is for more general reflections. For posts written from locum chaplaincies, choose Locum from the pull-down menu of categories at the foot of the page.
Santiago is an exception. See Pilgrim Priest.
Reflections in Pau, May 2017
Because the blog posts are preoccupied with the walks, I need a page, hidden away, for what may be going on under the surface.
Why do I need to achieve something, even if it is only a certain number of steps, or a chapter of theology, to make the day worth something? Or a blog post, come to that. Rob R always asks me what I have done this week, or am going to do, and I feel too ashamed to answer “Nothing”. It was the same in Japanese class, where I had to admit that the highlight of the previous day was going to the supermarket on foot by myself and coming home in the bus.
The prayer of intercession at Morning Prayer speaks of being united in heaven with those who have died. This reminds me of something one of the boys said at June’s funeral, that they had written message for her to take to their father and grandparents. Uneasily, I was not sure that I want to be united with Michael, or even with my parents. Until I thought how they might welcome me, and how good that would be. I once had a dream of meeting Michael in heaven and finding him so much happier and more at ease being able to fulfill his potential.
I haven’t been asked to do much here since Sunday – just an ecumenical prayer meeting on Tuesday evening. Otherwise, long walks, and a few really good nights’ sleep, though not all. I think the rest is doing me good, and perhaps bringing me to the point where I have more intellectual and spiritual energy for exploring the journey.
Norway 2024 : my current locum chaplaincy in Bergen and alessandria.
emeritablog: life after work 