Our journey to Santiago Compostela, Spain to ordain Christina Moreira was full of surprises and unexpected delays.
Mary Theresa and I were scheduled to fly together from Dulles but her plane was delayed in Albany, New York for hours. As a result, she missed the flight to Madrid. My dear brother Sean and sister-in-law Nancy offered hospitality in their home.
Then on the next day, Nancy dropped her at the airport. The plane took off and 3 hours later turned around to go back to Dulles because of technical problems. Later Mary Theresa found out that the plane had been hit by lightning! Then - finally- after midnight and more delays, the plane took off and landed in Madrid in mid- afternoon. However, it was too late to connect with my flight and thus, Mary Theresa missed her flight to Compostelo and had to get a hotel room to stay overnight. She finally arrived Sunday afternoon. We were delighted that she was with us. In spite of all delays and setbacks, she persisted and was on time for our review of the Altar Book in preparation for Christina’s episcopal Ordination.
Christina’s ordination was beautiful. Members of her local community and supporters from a wide variety of Associations attended. Bishop Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger RCWP traveled by car from Austria and Bishop Gisela Forster RCWP from Germany took 5 trains to participate in the Rite. It is customary to have 3 bishops at the ordination of a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church. I was the presiding bishop at the ceremony. Mary Theresa was the MC and bishop’s assistant.
Priests Jim Marsh ARCWP traveled from Albany, New York, and Belen Repiso ARCWP from Spain. Deacons Loan Rocher ARCWP from France and Maria Teresa RibeiroARCWP from Spain also participated in the Ordination Rite.
The news media covered her Ordination in Spain, Portugal and France. Newly ordained Bishop Christina received numerous calls from journalists and inquiries from women interested in the path to Ordination.
After the ordination Mary Theresa and I spent time vacationing in Spain. For the first several days, we traveled with our hosts and wonderful guides Victorino and Christina around the beautiful seaside and mountains of Galicia. The weather was perfect/ warm and sunny but not hot. Christina cooked a delicious dinner for us before we left for Madrid. We spent 6 days in Madrid and toured the ancient cities of Segovia, Ávila, and Toledo.
We met several people who helped us with directions and recommendations on our journey.
What a blessed time we had on our journey as we encountered the wonderful people of this beautiful land with its rich history and culture!
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