I have a good friend, a woman who is a very reflective and committed Christian believer. Up to about fifteen years ago she used to travel quite a long distance every Sunday to go to Mass in a particular church. The priest who celebrated the Eucharist there was very much in tune with the spirit of Vatican II and with the reality of present-day Ireland. He had the gift of celebrating the Mass and preaching in a way that provided real spiritual nourishment to my friend as well as to many others who made a point of coming to that church each Sunday.