Jubilee Celebrations | Helping SMA
Remembrance of Deceased SMA Missionaries
Another phase in the 150th Jubilee Celebration of SMA was a day of prayer for deceased SMA missionaries. All deceased members of the Society were honoured and remembered. Mass was concelebrated at St Joseph’s SMA Parish Church, Wilton, Cork on Saturday, 10 June 2006 and was followed by a special commemorative ceremony in the adjoining SMA Community Cemetery.
More than 600 relatives and friends of deceased SMA missionaries from all over Ireland attended.
Bishop Patrick Harrington SMA, Bishop of Lodwar (Kenya) and former Superior General of the Society was the main celebrant and he was assisted in the sanctuary by Bishop Noel O’Regan SMA of Ndola Diocese(Zambia), Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll SMA, Provincial Superior, and former Provincial Superiors, Fathers Con Murphy SMA and John Quinlan SMA. Numerous SMA priests joined in the concelebration as did Fr McGuinness OFMCap who was home from Papua New Guinea.
Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll preached the homily. The text of the homily can be seen here…
In a preliminary to the Mass representative objects were presented – African cloth by Fr Andy O’Sullivan SMA, African carved crucifix by Fr Fionnbarra O Cuilleanain SMA, picture of the SMA Founder by Fr Joe Maguire SMA and mission box by Fr Tomas Walsh SMA.
Readings at the Mass were read by Sexton Cahill and Breda Keyes. The Prayers of the Faithful were recited by Sr Deanna Donohoe OLA and Sr Mairead Hickey OLA.