Thank you for your interest in my journeys over the last six weeks. I feel very blessed to have had such wonderful opportunities. Seeing volcanoes in El Salvador and Japan, venues of the Inquisition in Salamanca and Seville and Marist Universities and schools in Alcala de Henares, Salamanca, San Salvador, Guatemala City and Chichicastenango, to name but a very few of the experiences, has given me a keen sense of the enormous history of struggle and achievement that precedes us, as we strive to build the Kingdom of God today. As for the highlights, these are the ones that strike me [View Full Entry]

---

---

Toyko, which means Eastern Capital, is a city of 12 million people with 8 million in the city proper. Japan has a population of 127 million. Buddhism and Shintoism are the main religions, although Japanese people like to celebrate Christmas each year. In the 17th Century, Toyko was larger than Paris and London when Japanese society was very peaceful. There are no casinos in Japan. Public transport is excellent in Tokyo. Interestingly on the bus from Narita airport to Tokyo, we were asked not to use our mobile telephones, as they annoy other people on the bus. Education is valued [View Full Entry]

---

---

Leaving Geneva I witnessed some stunning views of the nearby snow clad Jura mountains as we began our one and a quarter hour flight to London Heathrow's new Terminal 5. Then, after a short stay, I took the twelve hour flight to Tokyo. As we flew past the north pole, the British Airways flight attendants pointed out to us the Northern Lights which we could see from the left of the plane. This light or ‘aurora borealis’ (named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora and the Greek name for north wind Boreas) is a natural light displayed in the sky [View Full Entry]

---

---

Franciscans International is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) founded nearly 25 years ago. It is the first common Franciscan ministry, representing approximately one million Franciscan sisters and brothers in over 160 countries. Franciscan International strives to help those most in need, particularly in the areas of justice, peace, the care of creation and the promotion of human rights. Franciscans International has General Consultative Status at the United Nations with offices in Geneva, New York and Bangkok. The Marist Brothers are involved through the presence of Br Cesar Henriquez [View Full Entry]

---

---

Geneva, with its population of 300,000 people, is described as the 'City of Protestantism' having adopted the Reformation in 1852. It is the second largest city in Switzerland after Zurich and also the world capital of watch-making. Following the completion of the Marist Higher Education Conference in Salamanca, we were invited to travel to Geneva, in the south west of Switzerland (with its 6.5 million residents), to visit Br Cesar Henriquez and witness his work with the United Nations. Cesar is our Marist representative with Franciscans International. Geneva is situated where the Rhone river [View Full Entry]

---

---

Zamora is a city known as 'The Living Romanesque Museum' due to the artistic mark left by the 12th Century on its many notable churches. 70,000 people live in the city which is located on a hill overlooking the River Duero, about 30 km from Salamanca. The city was seized by the Romans from the Celtic tribes. Many people visit the city during Holy Week to see one or more of the seventeen religious processions which take place during this week. [View Full Entry]

---

---

We travelled north west by bus from Madrid to Salamanca on the central plain of Castille - a journey of some 250 km. Snow was visible once we started to climb the mountains. Salamanca has a population of 160,000 people. Salamanca is one of seven World Heritage Cities in Spain with its two cathedrals and magnificant Main Square. The city hosts two universities and consequently 55% of the population is under 25 giving it a vibrant feel. 35,000 people attend the University of Salamanca and 5,000 the Pontifical University. The Salamanca University, founded in 1219, is the oldest University in Spa [View Full Entry]

---

---

We are blessed to be staying at The Royal Scots College while attending our Marist Higher Education Conference. The College has a history of almost four hundred years of training priests for the Scottish Mission. It is described as a house of prayer and study, particularly for the formation of priests. The Royal Scots College is also available for others who would like to reside here, particularly those seeking a spiritual atmosphere and the opportunity to study at the Universities in Salamanca. This building was originally owned by the Brothers, being used as their Scholasticate. It was so [View Full Entry]

---

---

Our third Marist Higher Education Conference began today at the Pontifical Catholic University of Salamanca in Spain. The thirty participants hail from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Philippines and Spain. The general thrust of the conference is to find ways that the various Universities and other Marist Education Centres can share Marist knowledge and programmes and offer exchanges for students and staff. A number of papers were presented to the Conference including 1. 'Marist Mission in Tertiary Education'; 2. Project contributing to the training in Marist Spirituality [View Full Entry]

---

---

Alocala De Henares is a city of 220,000 people located 35 km north east of Madrid. The name ‘Alcala De Henares’ is Arabic for ‘Castle of the Heneres’ - Heneres being the nearby river. Alcala is a Moorish Arabic word for fortification. The conquering Romas moved to this site in 1 BC, becoming the only Roman town in the Madrid region. The Moors arrived in 711 subduing the now Visigothic city and founded another site for the city. In 1118, the city was reconquered by the Archbishop of Toledo. In the 1480s, Christopher Columbus met here with King Ferdinand and Queen [View Full Entry]

---

---