Pilgrims’Progress: Journal Entries from a 60th Anniversary Pilgrimage – #2

On August 15, 2019, thirteen Canadian Jesuits will note their 60th Anniversary as members of the Society of Jesus.  Two members of this group – Charlie Pottie Pate, SJ and David Eley, SJ  – have chosen to make a special pilgrimage to mark the occasion.  They have graciously agreed to share their journal entries and photos with igNation which will post them once or twice a week.

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# 2 June 7

Hello everyone,

Today is the 50th anniversary of my ordination to the presbyterate – sharing this day with Eric Jensen, Mike Hawkins, JP Horrigan and some of our French Canadian companions.   Also is wedding anniversary of my brother Wayne and his wife, Jean – Happy Anniversary!

Had a pleasant trip over to London on Air Canada. Seem to go pretty fast – reading, sleeping, organizing photos on my cell phone, etc. Arrived in this great hub of Heathrow Airport where one sees the “united nations” walking around there – every shape, colour, gender, ethnic roots can be seen there. Struck more by this as I watched people come and go in the airport.

Got an earlier flight out from London to Copenhagen than planned on BA.  Decided to splurge and have an English sultana scone with strawberry preserves and cream. See photo.  Delicious. Wanted to have tea with this but lo and behold, even on British airways they don’t give you a cup of tea free! I paid for the scone and it was worth it…… but paying for a cup a tea on British airline!!?? How chincy of BA!  I had a glass of water with it.

Garden at Jesuit Residence, Copenhagen

David had arrived in Copenhagen an hour before me.  And we headed straight for the Jesuit residence at the school Niels Steensen Kollegium, close to the historic centre in Copenhagen. There are 3 young Polish Jesuits and an elderly German Jesuit working there at our school (elementary and high school of 700 students) there.

The young superior of community, Pawel,  was most gracious and showed us around and then invited us to share in the barbeque in the garden that they (the Jesuits) had set up for today for their benefactors and friends.  Was a delicious meal that the 3 Polish Jesuits prepared themselves – salads, quiches, skewers of veggies and pork!  Even had some of homemade beer that the students make. Very good. I enjoyed it and I’m not usually a beer drinker. Lovely way to begin our trip in Denmark. We sat and talked with a Danish couple, she working at the diocesan centre and he an architect. So they gave us some suggestions for our meanderings tomorrow.

We were both tired and it’s time to retire.

Charles Pottie Pate, SJ, is the Prairie and Rockies regions Ecclesial Assistant for CLC. He resides at St. Mary's Cathedral Rectory, Calgary.

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1Comment
  • Maria Skarzynski
    Posted at 10:14h, 03 August Reply

    Go Father and have a super and safe time !!! (Calgary)

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