The Calling

Dark Secrets (Chapter 5)

    Arriving home at 2 o’clock, James had just enough time for a lunch, a nap and a shower before serving the evening mass. On the telly, the education minister of Ireland had announced a scheme for the best teachers in Dublin to be sent to the various counties of Northern Ireland to showcase their teaching skills to their British counterparts.  James was certain that this was how Cathleen ended up in Drumaness. Although, the news report also mentioned that this scheme would only be in operation for a month. James now knew that Cathleen would leave his village so he promised himself not to pay much attention to her. As a priest, it was also morally incorrect to do so.

He spent the next few hours after lunch and showering, writing the sermon he would give at the evening mass. Even though he wanted to rest, being the only priest in the village meant he had to perform his task. The evening service which Thomas usually performed was much more crowded than his morning one. With fifty or more people every evening, he hoped to give them a lecture about happiness, joy and love that one must share with others in order to live in harmony. James was a very smart young man who had no problem writing sermons. He was actually the brightest in the group of deacons at the seminary where he spent many years mastering theology. During his seminary years, he befriended another deacon called Adam.

Adam was a year younger than James. A native of Plymouth, going to college with James in London was something he did for years together. They were involved in everything the seminary had to offer and they both excelled in whatever they did. Being focused on becoming priests, they often went out and helped the needy, persecuted and disliked people in society.  Due to this bond that developed over the years, feelings towards each other also developed. Spending time together doing things to help society while making people happy and satisfied in life just as Jesus ordered his followers to do meant they understood each other more than anyone else could. It was more than just brotherly love, something more special.

After many years studying in seminary, Adam was transferred to a parish in Doncaster while James continued in London for few months and was then transferred to Northern Ireland. He was not very happy about it because he wished to stay in England for his first few years of priesthood, although he did not complain. Many young priests at the time were being posted in Northern Ireland to boost the Catholic culture in an Anglican-Protestant society. Even after hearing that he would be sent to Northern Ireland, he hoped to be a priest in Belfast for his first assignment. Much to his horror, the diocese sent him to Drumaness in County Down- a place he never thought he’d ever visit. Now being here for the past eight months, he lost contact with all his friends in London. Although he did worry about them, he hoped to soon be out of Northern Ireland and back to England and feel at home. His greatest wish was that he be transferred to Africa, India or even the Middle East where he felt he could be of great use to the less-fortunate and those who haven’t heard God’s word. Though for now as a 25 year old, he had to spend much of his time in small Northern Irish villages.