Fr Sean Ryan SMA

February 22, 2014

The death has taken place of Fr Sean Ryan SMA at St Theresa’s Care Centre, African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork. Fr Sean died in his sleep at 3.30am on 22 February, 2014. He will be buried, after 12 noon Concelebrated Funeral Mass, on Monday, 24 February.

Fr James Higgins SMA, who spent more than 60 years in Nigeria, writes of Fr Sean: “Sean will be remembered for doing many wonderful things during his 42 years of service in the Mid-West (of Nigeria) but most of all, I think, for his dedicated service to his beloved Ijaw people. If we refer to Fr Zappa as the apostle of the western Ibos, Fr Corbeau as the apostle of the Ishans…, then I think missionary history may well refer to Sean Ryan as the apostle of the western Ijaws.” [Kindling the Fire, Nigeria, 2003, p 97]

Sean Ryan was born in Louth Village, Co Louth on 16 July 1933, the son of John and Mary (Macken). He was the 8th born in his family, having three step-sisters, three sisters and one brother. After completing his primary schooling he decided he wanted to be a missionary priest. And so he enrolled in the Sacred Heart College at Ballinafad, the secondary school run by the SMA in Co. Mayo. He spent one year there (1947-’48) and then went to the SMA College in Wilton, Cork, for three years before returning to Ballinafad, completing his Leaving Certificate exams in 1952.

The SMA Novitiate at Kilcolgan, Co Galway was Sean’s next stop on the road to missionary priesthood and, after one year doing his Novitiate and Philosophy studies, he travelled back north to the African Missions Major seminary at Dromantine, Newry, Co Down where he completed his Philosophy and Theology studies along with his eleven classmates. He became a permanent member of the Society on 12 June 1957. A little over a year later, on 18 June 1958, he was ordained to the priesthood in St Colman’s Cathedral, Newry, by Bishop Eugene O’Doherty.

During his student days, Sean was noted for his sporting interests. He was particularly adept at table-tennis and soccer. His interest in soccer endured and, as a priest in Nigeria, he refereed many important soccer games as an official Referee of the Nigerian Football Association.

1958 Ordination class
Fr Sean is on the left in the back row

After holidays, Fr Sean set sail for the diocese of Benin City, in the midwest of Nigeria. He was to spend the next 42 years working in that part of Nigeria. After some months in the Tyrocinium studying the local languages and culture, he was appointed to Ughelli, in Urhoboland, where he was soon conspicuous on his bicycle in every nook and corner of that vast parish.

During Sean’s years in Nigeria, Benin City, under the leadership of Bishop Patrick J Kelly SMA, was divided several times. Fr Sean was to witness the birth of 4 other dioceses: Warri, Issele-Uku, Uromi and Auchi as well as the Vicariate Apostolic of Bomadi.

Warri diocese

When Warri diocese was created in 1964 Sean was the Parish Priest of Bomadi, which itself was divided from Warri on 17 March 1991. Fr Sean was to spend 31 years working in Warri diocese.

He is pictured left with Fr Bill Power SMA (from Youghal, Co Cork) who spent 50 years in Nigeria, some of them in the same missions as Fr Sean.

“Sean was always thorough and regular in the pastoral ministry. The vast number of outstations in the Riverine area were visited frequently by a canoe with outboard engine. It was a difficult mission by any standards. … When Sean returned to Bomadi in 1984 for another long spell he was greeted with great enthusiasm and they acknowledged that he was the only ‘Fada’, and for that matter the only white man, ever to come back. The diet was simple; yams, gari and fish, meat being a rare luxury… Sean will be remembered for doing many wonderful things during his 42 years of service … but most of all for his dedicated service to his beloved Ijaw people.” (Kindling the Fire, pp 96).

All in all, Fr Sean served in the following parishes during his 42 years: Ughelli, Ubiaja, Warri, Bomadi (1963 – 1966), Aragba, Obiaruku, Sapele, Ozoro, Bomadi (1983 – 1991) and Agbarrho. In 1993 he heard that Bishop Anthony Gbuji of Issele-Uku diocese had invited the SMA to return to Issele-Uku. The SMA Regional Superior, Fr Willie Cusack, knew that Fr Sean was the right man to re-establish our presence in an area first evangelised by Italian-born Fr Carlo Zappa SMA. The Society had withdrawn from Issele-Uku several years before having adjudged that the local church was sufficiently well-established to ‘manage on its own’. Bishop Gbuji, in his wisdom, saw the benefit of having a ‘missionary’ presence in his diocese so that the local church of Issele-Uku would, in turn, become missionary to other parts of the world.

Issele-Uku diocese

On Pentecost Sunday 1993, Fr Sean took charge of a new SMA parish – St Patrick’s SMA Parish, Cable Point, Asaba. With a sense of SMA history, Sean knew that it was on Pentecost Sunday, 1888, that Fathers Zappa and Poirier arrived in Asaba. And it was fitting that Fr Sean, 105 years later, ‘returned’ to one of the earliest SMA missions in Nigeria.

Another long-serving missionary in Nigeria was Fr John Brown SMA who served with Fr Sean in Nigeria.

Fr Sean’s first challenge was to complete the Church building and, when he left finally for Ireland, St Patrick’s was the best attended church in Issele-Uku diocese. In Asaba, he worked alongside Fr Fabian Hevi SMA (from Ghana) and Fr Donatien Djohossou SMA (from Bénin Republic).

On the occasion of Fr Sean’s 40th anniversary the people of Asaba organised a grand celebration. In the booklet produced for that occasion the following tribute was paid to him: “… Throughout his long ministry in the priesthood, Father Sean has proved to be a very worthy Priest, an excellent Pastor of souls, a very capable Administrator and a prolific builder of churches and schools.

He was also a very keen, active sportsman renowned as an efficient football coach and an unrivalled referee, whose services were often sought for, because of his strict sense of fair play and impartiality.

Wherever he served, Father Sean Ryan is remembered for the wonderful, regular service he rendered to the people of God. We are very fortunate to have him here in Cable Point. We are grateful to the Society of African Missions for appointing him here. We thank Father Sean for the development of the Church in which we are now celebrating this Juilee Mass…”

Two years later, in 2000, he handed over to Fr Mattie O’Connell and returned finally to Ireland to continue in active ministry in the Archdiocese of Armagh, serving in Tallenstown (2001-2006) and St Peter’s, Drogheda (2006-2012).

Fr Sean retired to the African Missions in Dromantine. After his diagnosis of cancer he underwent several bouts of treatment but, through it all, never lost his steady, calm and cheerful spirit. He visited Cork several times for treatment. He returned to Dromantine before Christmas but it soon became clear he needed nursing care as his illness advanced. When he returned to Cork in January he knew that he was saying ‘goodbye’ to his family, friends and confreres in the north and that his time on earth was drawing to a close. And he was at peace with this.

When Fr Sean was leaving St Peter’s, Drogheda, there was a parish celebration to say ‘adieu’. Our photo shows some of his family who attended that event.

He is deeply regretted by his nieces Maura, Helen, Margaret, Bernadette and Stephanie and their families; his nephew Patrick and his family, grand nieces and grand nephews; great grand nieces and great grand nephews, cousins, relatives and confreres in the Society of African Missions.

Requiescat in pace.

The Central African Republic and the prospects for peace

February 20, 2014

Fr Nelson Adjei-Bediako, from Ghana, is an SMA priest. During his seminary years he spent time studying and working in his home country as well as in Benin Republic and Egypt before his ordination in 1998. Until 2007 he was on mission in Nigeria. When the SMA decided to create three distinct African units, Fr Nelson was appointed as Superior of the Gulf of Guinea District-in-formation, living in Lomé, Togo. In this capacity he was responsible for SMA priests from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo. As Superior Fr Nelson visited his priests working in many African countries, including the Central African Republic (CAR). One of them is now Bishop of Berberati, Msgr Dennis Agbenyadzi SMA.

Since handing over to his successor, Fr Nelson has been involved in a new parish development in Accra, Ghana (see photo below taken at the first Mass in a temporary Mass centre). He is now heading to a new fulltime parish appointment in Lomé, Togo.

Those visiting our website will be familiar with the ongoing violence in the Central African Republic, where the SMA has both members on mission and members from that country on mission elsewhere in Africa.

In light of his visits and speaking with people in CAR, Fr Nelson has written an evaluation of the situation in CAR and the prospects for peace, as part of his studies in International Relations & Conflict Resolution. This article is based principally on his work.

1st-Mass-SMA-Centre-Accra

Introduction

Today we are witnessing a strong and promising economic growth in most parts of Africa; yet the continent is still struggling with pockets of instability and violent conflicts.

In the Horn of Africa, Somalia’s militant Islamist group al-Shabaab is resisting African Union military forces (AMISOM) and gained even greater notoriety for its terrorist attack on a Nairobi shopping mall.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is still saddled with violent insurgents despite the surrender of its M23 rebel group in November 2013.

West Africa continues to witness attacks by Boko Haram and other armed groups in Northern Nigeria, and the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic has made the United Nations officials recently signed a warning against the potential for another Rwanda.¹

In this article I am examining the conflict in Central African Republic and the possibility for peace.

The Central African Republic (CAR) has a population of 4.6 million (UN, 2012) and covers an area of 622,984 sq km (240,535 sq miles) with Bangui as the capital city. Life expectancy is 51 years for women, 48 years for men (UN). The people are Christian [50%], Muslim [15%] and indigenous beliefs [35%]. CAR is surrounded on all sides by conflict-affected countries. The conflicts and insecurity in these countries – DR Congo, Sudan and Chad – have all spilt over the porous borders into the CAR.

The country and its conflict attracted little interest from the media or governments until recently when the UN warned of a possible genocide there. The UN described the situation in CAR as the ‘world’s most silent crisis’.

There is the dire need for international assistance as it ranks as one of the least developed countries in the world and has some of the lowest income and school attendance rates. The Séléka rebels’ coup in December 2012 launched the country into further turmoil which has affected the entire population of about 4.6 million. At least 200,000 families have been forced to flee their homes, and as a result, over 60,000 children and families are suffering from severe food shortages.²

Background History

The Central African Republic has experienced instability since its independence from France (1960). It is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranking 159 out of 169 in the 2010 Human Development Index (HDI) and in United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 2012 & 2013 reports on the Least Developed Countries.³

Who is involved in the conflict

The government of President Bozizé of CAR had become quite weak, and so began to lose control over the territory except the capital, Bangui. Three main rebel groups had been operating in CAR over the last few decades: the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP); the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR); and the Popular Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD).

There have been also other smaller rebel groups operating in the country, most specifically in the north. The situation is further complicated by a long history of neighbouring militias launching raids on CAR territory, particularly Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), who are known for brutal attacks against civilians, and is often pursued by the Ugandan Peoples Defense Force (UPDF).⁴

When it all started

Before independence the country was called Oubangui-Chari. Post-independence it became the Central African Republic. Since independence, the country has not really known peace due to the fact that military leaders began to stage coup after coup in order to take power from the previous leaders. From 1976 – 1979 CAR had an Emperor, Jean-Bédel Bokassa, who gained infamy for his extravagant lifestyle etc. Bokassa had seized power ten years previously and ruled as President until he decided to declare CAR an Empire. He was overthrown by French troops who reinstated David Dacko, the man he had overthrown 23 years previously.

But this did not bring peace and power struggles between competing factions in CAR continued. In 1993 the first fair and democratic elections were held with Ange-Felix Patasse being elected as president. Unfortunately, his terms in office witnessed several mutinies and a series of riots by civil servants and soldiers over the non-payment of salaries. In 2003 Patasse was ousted by Francois Bozizé, who was backed by the UFDR, and took over the control of Bangui.

As a result of this coup, together with the overspill from the Sudanese war, a civil war began involving the UFDR, who took control of several towns in northern CAR. As fighting between the UFDR and CPJP in the north intensified, Bozizé lost control of some parts of the country. This crisis continued well into 2007, with nearly 300,000 citizens displaced. ⁵

In 2008, the UFDR and APRD signed a peace agreement with Bozizé’s government, and promised to disarm and demobilize rebel fighters. However, the CPJP remained active, mainly in the north of the country where it was constantly attacking the Central African Army, as well as the civilians in the region.

Clashes between government forces and rebel groups continued despite peace agreements and ceasefires that were being signed by most rebel groups in the country. The LRA also continued to step up its attacks on CAR territory, and terrorized much of the area. The Presidential Guard and the Central African Army were being accused, as the same time, of committing serious violations against civilians, reportedly burning schools and homes. In January 2011, Bozizé was re-elected for a second term but was forced into exile by rebels in March 2013.

The ongoing conflict and years of political instability has adversely affected the economy of CAR, and over 20% of the population has fled their homes. CAR relies heavily on international aid and NGOs for money, and for services which the government cannot provide for its citizens.⁶

Séléka (also called the Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR) means ‘alliance’ in Sango, the national language of CAR. It is an alliance of militias⁷ in CAR that overthrew the government on March 24, 2013.⁸ Séléka leader, Michel Djotodia, proclaimed himself President. Nearly all the members of Séléka are Muslim.⁹

The rebel coalition brings together factions of the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP) and the Patriotic Convention for Saving the Country(CPSK), two of the CAR’s many anti-government militias. CPJP in this case refers to the “Fundamental” splinter group of the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace, one of many militias involved in the CAR’s long-running civil war. A different faction of the CPJP signed a peace accord with the government on 25 August 2012.

The Séléka first emerged on 15 September 2012 under the name CPSK-CPJP Alliance, when it published a press release taking responsibility for attacks on three towns that day. It was the last of the major rebel groups to do so. The Patriotic Convention for Saving the Country (CPSK) was previously hardly known.

On 15 December 2012 the group published its first press release using the full name “Séléka CPSK-CPJP-UFDR“. Two groups that do not appear in the title, the long-standing militia Democratic Front of the Central African People (FDPC) and the newly minted Alliance for Revival and Rebuilding (A2R) were reportedly part of the alliance.

In September 2013 Michel Djotodia announced that Séléka had been disbanded. The group dispersed into the countryside and, since then, has been committing mass atrocities according to Human Rights Watch. Executions, rape and looting by ex-Séléka fighters after the coup and disbanding have fomented religious tension where the population is over 50% Christian. Christian militias, using the name anti-balaka, have been formed to fight the Muslim Séléka. The United Nations considered sending troops to stop the atrocities. On 26 November 2013, France indicated that it would boost its presence by deploying a further 1,000 troops to augment its existing 400 troops if it receives UN backing.¹⁰

Anti-Balaka

Anti-balaka denotes the Christian militias formed in CAR after Michel Djotodia came to power. Anti-balaka means “anti-machete” or “anti-sword” in the local Sango and Mandja languages. Michel Djotodia was the leader of the mostly Muslim rebel coalition known as Séléka that overthrew François Bozizé in March 2013. Djotodia became the first Muslim leader of the country. The increasing violence in the country is largely reprisal attacks on civilians from ex-Séléka’s mainly Muslim fighters and the anti-balaka. As many Christians had sedentary lifestyles and many Muslims were nomadic, claims to the land were yet another dimension of the tensions. In November 2013, the UN warned that the country was at risk of spiraling into genocide, was “descending into complete chaos” and France described the country as “…on the verge of genocide” On 2 December, anti-balaka militiamen were suspected to have killed 12 people, including children, and wounded 30 others in an attack on the mostly Muslim Peuhl ethnic group in Boali, according to the government.¹¹

Civil War Turning Religious?

The conflict is escalating daily into a religious war that’s hampering the effectiveness of international aid, according to a chief UN envoy. “As a result of its predominantly Muslim composition, Séléka abuses against the Christian populations in the CAR were quickly interpreted as a religious conflict pitting Muslims against Christians,” UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, said in a statement.¹²

The worsening strife in the country with its Muslim-Christian overtones risks escalating into sustained violence along religious lines and this could spill beyond the country’s borders, further destabilizing the entire region.

“Killings in Bangui (the capital) and in the rest of the country continue every day, and the population remains divided along religious affiliation,” Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman told the Security Council in a briefing on 6 January 2014. He said that thousands of people are estimated to have been killed, nearly 1 million driven from their homes, and 2.2 million (about half the population) need humanitarian aid.

“Access to residential neighbourhoods in Bangui is controlled either by ‘anti-Christian’ or ‘anti-Muslim’ checkpoints, manned by armed civilians. Similarly, places outside Bangui like Bossangoa, Bouar, Bozoum and Paoua, among others, witness atrocities on a daily basis, including direct clashes between the Christian and Muslim communities.”¹³

Political not Religious Conflict

The situation in CAR is critical because it’s beginning to confirm the notion that people have on the African continent because of what’s happening in Nigeria where there seems to be practically a schism between Muslims and Christians who have existed together in many African countries for years with no problem. The horror that is going on particularly in the capital, Bangui, is terrible.

People watched in horror as militiamen rush through houses and looked for Muslims to shoot them dead or hack and club them to death. The two-day frenzy of violence in Bangui in December, in which militia killed 1,000 people according to Amnesty International, brought fears that the Central African Republic was about to descend into religious warfare on a level comparable to Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.

The heinous attack was a vengeful response to months of atrocities committed mostly by Muslim fighters from the Séléka rebel group who seized power in March, which compelled the prompt intervention of France who deployed 1,600 troops under a UN mandate to protect civilians.¹⁴

Religious leaders had sounded the alarm over abuses by the Séléka after they burned churches, looted and killed during their march from the north towards the capital in early 2013. Many in the country will strongly disagree with the view that the origins of the bloodshed have something to do with religion, because Muslims and Christians in this country have long lived together in peace. They blame rather a political struggle for control over resources in one of the weakest states in Africa.

The militia, known as anti-balaka, carried out these reprisal attacks mainly because according to them the country has been invaded by foreigners, especially from Chad and Sudan. For them the group’s aim was purely political: they would fight on to oust the Séléka leader, Michel Djotodia, installed as interim president.¹⁵

Rich in diamonds, timber, gold, uranium and oil, the Central African Republic has been racked by five coups and numerous rebellions since independence as different groups fought for control of state resources. That, and the spillover from conflicts in neighbouring DR Congo, Sudan and Chad, has disregarded the rule of law, leaving a phantom state with an ill-disciplined army, corrupt administration and a lawless interior.

Djotodia and other Séléka leaders launched their uprising to gain access for northern peoples to the nation’s wealth, particularly oil, found in their northern homeland and now under the control of the China National Petroleum Corporation.

Djotodia says his northern Gula tribes people, Muslim pastoralists neglected both under French colonial rule and post-independence governments, were betrayed by former President Francois Bozize, who sought their aid for a 2003 coup but surrounded himself with his Gbaya tribe once in power.¹⁶

With support from battle-hardened Chadian and Sudanese fighters, many of them also Gulas, Séléka swept southward, overrunning not only Bozize’s poorly equipped troops but also a South African peacekeeping force in March 2013.

Once in Bangui, unable to speak French or the local Sango language, Séléka fighters sought out Arabic-speaking Muslims and stayed with them, often hoarding looted goods in their homes.

Non-Muslims equated this with complicity, said Archbishop of Bangui Diedonne Nzapalainga, with the devastating effects seen in the early December violence until today.

“To non-Muslim locals, Muslim now equals Séléka and Séléka equals Muslim,” said Nzapalainga, who for months has worked with Muslim clerics to try to calm rising religious tensions. “We came out early and declared that this conflict was not a religious conflict but a political one.”¹⁷

The Role of the International Community

It is always impossible to describe the scale of international failure when you look at the conflicts in Rwanda, in Darfur and today in Syria. Prominent commentators and writers have therefore commented that “in general at the UN, conflict prevention is preached more often than it is practiced.”¹⁸

To prevent such atrocities the international community must tackle the root causes of these conflicts. For example, groups are often labeled as inhuman by describing them as sub-human – this includes terms such as inferior races and animals. Tutsis were called cockroaches in Rwanda during the genocide in which more than 800,000 people were slaughtered in a three month period. Some citizens are not considered citizens but foreigners in CAR and in other states. Once the other has been delegitimized, no longer considered as fellow human beings but rather something less and not worthy of life and liberty, the end result is often brutal with the best case being the suppression and violation of human rights and the worst case being mass atrocities and genocide.¹⁹ In the case of CAR groups such as Séléka and Anti-Balaka should either be disbanded completely or be made to reconcile with each other.

The International Community’s seemingly inaction, in the face of violation of human rights, is due to the UN Charter under Article 2.4 which states that “all Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.” There are two exceptions to this blanket prohibition.

First, as provided by Article 51 of the Charter, states may act in self-defense.

Second, under Articles 41 and 42, the Security Council can authorize enforcement actions and allow for the Security Council to take measures by air, sea, or land forces to maintain or restore peace and security.²⁰

So with the authorization from the Security Council, French and African Union (AU) troops are presently in CAR to protect lives and property and to curb the atrocities taking place there.

In 2000, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, in response to the atrocities in Rwanda and troubled by the “confusing legal justifications surrounding NATO’s intervention in Kosovo… asked the General Assembly the following: ‘If humanitarian intervention is, indeed an unacceptable assault on sovereignty, how should we respond… to gross and systematic violations of human rights that offend every precept of our common humanity.’” The government of Canada, in response to Kofi Annan’s inquiry, brought together the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS) to develop a report on the a range of moral, political, and legal issues concerning humanitarian intervention. The final report produced by the ICISS and endorsed by the UN Secretary General in 2005, introduced the concept now widely known as “the Responsibility to Protect” (R2P) – a comprehensive framework for diplomatic and economic sanctions and finally military interventions as a last resort to prevent gross human rights violations²¹, the latter being applied in the CAR today.

The most difficult and controversial principle to apply is that of “right authority”. When it concerns authorizing military intervention for human protection purposes, the argument is compelling that the United Nations, and in particular its Security Council, should be the first port of call. The timely intervention of France in northern Mali and Central Africa Republic (CAR) has saved so many lives and has avoided another imminent and catastrophic genocide especially in the CAR although the situation is not fully contained. In the case of Syria, the silly nature of the guerrilla fighting and the growing sectarian ties of both the rebels and government forces make a potential military intervention extremely difficult.²²

Prospects for Peace – Way Forward

Despite the concerted, determined efforts of the UN and the AU backed French forces, no peace has emerged yet. Despite the resignation of the coup leader, Djokoto, and the setting up of an interim government headed by Catherine Samba-Panzathere is still no peace in the country.

This “civil-turned-religious conflict”, compared to other conflicts, has not lasted too long but has had a huge amount of devastating consequences, human and material, that many no longer believe that a solution can be found. However, with the assured commitment of the interim government, prospects for eventual peace can be guaranteed.

The key to resolution is very easy to state, but extraordinarily difficult to achieve.

It needs the total commitment of all Central Africans and the government, with the active participation of the International Community and the many other NGOs and entities that want to help.²³

It’s not a conflict between Christians and Muslims. The Central Africans feel they are undivided one nation, but it was discrimination that led to the coup. Muslims were viewed as foreigners in the capital but they have rights as well.

Resolution to this conflict, if all parties agree, is this: commitment to the task of reconciling all, especially Muslims with Christians. Security is what the Central Africans don’t have for themselves, even though security for all is in the general interest for all.²⁴

Present indications are that hostilities are likely to continue, unless all the parties involved in the previous agreements, their guarantors and the Central African civil society re-dedicate their commitment, deciding to find a lasting solution to the political problems in CAR, re-engage in dialogue on outstanding issues and develop a clear implementation plan that includes
(a) representation from all sections of the population,
(b) commitment to a longer term peace process and
(c) setting up of an independent monitoring mechanism to track progress and agree on a joint and peaceful path to recovery.²⁵

The people of CAR must take the decision themselves, with the help of the International Community. It must not be imposed from beyond. They must understand by now that the destiny of the country rests in their own hands.

The style of dialogue that needs to be adopted should be inclusive (all Central Africans) and they must dialogue on the key issues that have caused a succession of rebellions in their country: centralized governance; political exclusion; persistent failure to implement previous peace agreements; lack of development projects; poor public services, and cross border conflict dynamics.

Thus the existing problem is due to a dispute over who should be in power and be in charge of the country’s resources. Yet all sides thus have a strong incentive to resolve the problem. Central Africans want peace and an end to the conflict, to regain the country’s peaceful existence, and enjoy the benefits that would accrue as a result of promoting normal relations among themselves and with their neighbors. The ordinary people are suffering from poor living standards and violence. Their lives are miserable. Naturally they want to find a way out of this situation as quickly as possible.²⁶

Like George Mitchell who talked about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I am optimistic that there will be a resolution sooner or later in the conflict. But it cannot be imposed externally. The parties themselves must negotiate directly, with the active and sustained support of the UN and the AU.

All recognize and acknowledge the need to settle their differences, dialogue and move on. To succeed, they will have to engage in compromise and be flexible without preconditions. But most of all it will take political leadership by all concerned, leaders who are willing to take some risks for peace. I believe that though this conflict is escalating it can and will be ended, in part because I believe that the pain from negotiating and implementing an agreement, which will be substantial, will however be much less than the pain that the people will endure if there is no agreement.²⁷

Conclusion

The heart of the conflict is the struggle for power or control over the country’s resources. The Somalia conflict, for example, is centered on the tremendous oil that Chevron has found in Somalia, and since Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991, the country has been in crisis. The chaos in Sudan over Darfur and the conflict raging within South Sudan presently is centered on the tremendous resources that are in Darfur. The former colonial masters have to find a way back in, and the way back in is the conflict on the continent that evidently the Africans can handle themselves, so it opens the door for the former European colonial masters to get back into Africa.

So the question now is how the conflict can be resolved or does the resolution require the participation and mediation of the international community. The international community is needed but not directly. The problem can be solved if the AU can be strengthened and supported in terms of finance and other logistics. Africans must also have the moral and political will to deal with the problems of Africa and gather the resources needed for a standing army, for a peacekeeping force. Given the chance, with the necessary financial support from the Western and Eastern nations, Africans have the capacity to solve their own problems, in this case the CAR conflict.²⁸

If this is not done the turbulent situation in the country will spill over and affect the neighboring African states and the impact will be devastating. A good example is the DR Congo that is surrounded by 8 countries. Every one of them, because of the conflict in the Region, is affected by what takes places in the DR Congo – Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, CAR and the rest. Conflict within those countries will cause an influx and spillover of refugees and internally displaced people. What has to be done is try to contain it so that it doesn’t become the kind of problems that we witness in Kenya with Somalia that ended up in the tragic Nairobi Mall bombing. So Africans and those who live in the continent have a responsibility to make sure there is an effective conflict resolution mechanism in place so as to ensure the well-being of the people.²⁹ This should be the fundamental focus of the AU, not who should own the resources and how they are to be exploited.

Further information:

Hugo Reichenberger in Bangui, Central African Republic: Emergency evacuation from a crucible of violence http://www.unhcr.org/52e24b0c6.html

By David Smith in Bossangoa, The Guardian, Friday 22 November 2013 15.14 GMT http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/22/central-african-republic-verge-of-genocide#start-of-comments

http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/jul/27/the-central-african-republic-a-country-abandoned-to-its-fate-video – link to a video: The Central African Republic: a country abandoned to its fate

Notes

http://www.brookings.edu/events/2013/12/16-prospects-for-peace-africa
http://www.warchild.org.uk/what-we-do/central-african-republic
http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ldc2012_en.pdf
http://www.warchild.org.uk/issues/conflict-central-african-republic
Ibid
Ibid
Ibrahim, Alkhali; Abdraman, Hassan (2012-08-20). RCA : Protocole d’accord militaro-politique contre le regime de Bozizié:http://cpjp.centrafrique.over-blog.org/article-rca-protocole-d-accord-militaro-politique-contre-le-regime-de-bozizie-109416289.html
Francis Kpatindé: http://web.archive.org/web/20130122132420/http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20121229-centrafrique-roule-Séléka-bozize-faca-cpjp
David Smith in Bossangoa, The Guardian, November 22, 2013 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/22/central-african-republic-verge-of-genocide
John Irish, Reuter, France says Central African Republic on the verge of genocide,November 21, 2013. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/11/21/uk-centralafrica-france-idUKBRE9AK0WU20131121
David Smith, ibid
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2014/01/07/CAR-descending-into-religious-war/UPI-27221389108083/?spt=rln&or=1
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp/www.iaea.org/sc110218pm.flv/petition/html/html/story.asp?NewsID=46874&Cr=Central+African+Republic&Cr1=
Daniel Flynn and Peter Graff, http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/131226/central-african-republic-conflict-political-not-religious
Ibid
Daniel Flynn and Peter Graff, http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/131226/central-african-republic-conflict-political-not-religious
Ibid
Fen Osler Hampson and David M. Malone, “Introduction: Making Conflict Prevention a Priority,” in F. O. Hampson and D. M. Malone, eds., From Reaction to Conflict Prevention: Opportunities for the UN System (Boulder: Lynne Rienner,2002), p. 4
Peter Ronayne, IRLS610 D001 Fall 13 Lesson: Identity: The Foundation for Genocide, Us Versus Them.
Akshan de Alwis, Does the Doctrine of R2P Apply in Cyria, 2013, p. 168 http://www.turkishpolicy.com/dosyalar/files/vol_12-no_2-alwis.pdf
Ibid.
Ibid, p.171
George J. Mitchell, ‘Negotiating in Business, politics and Peace http://www.sandiego.edu/peacestudies/ipj/programs/distinguished_lecture_series/biographies/SenatorGeorgeJ.Mitchell.php
Ibid
Kennedy Tumutegyereize and Nicolas Tillon, Conciliation Resources, March 15, 2013 http://africanarguments.org/2013/03/15/central-african-republic-peace-talks-without-the-talks-%E2%80%93-by-kennedy-tumutegyereize-and-nicolas-tillon-conciliation-resources/
Rubin, Barry. 2012. Is the peace process dead? Middle East Review of International Affairs 16, no. 2: 30-36.
George J. Mitchell, ibid
Akbar Muhammad, http://voiceofrussia.com/2013_12_08/How-critical-is-current-situation-in-Central-African-Republic-9354/
Ibid

One of the best-kept secrets

February 19, 2014

There persists within popular culture a belief that Catholic priests live lonely and unhappy lives. Furthermore, the commitment of a celibate lifestyle by clergy is often assumed to stunt psychological health and promote psychosexual deviancy.

Msgr Rossetti addressed several groups during his visit to South Africa

The findings of recent research undertaken by Msgr. Stephen Rossetti with representative samples of Catholic clergy in the USA challenge many of these assumptions and suggest that the majority of these priests experience high levels of satisfaction in their personal lives and public ministry. Similar work satisfaction studies across a broad sampling of occupations repeatedly report clergy as being the most satisfied of any career (NORC, 2007; Forbes, 2011). Intuitively, these findings make sense as ministry affords clergy the opportunity to live out their deepest convictions within a community of believers who shares their values of compassion, service and social justice.

While priests are as vulnerable as any other occupation to work stress and personnel challenges, these research findings would seem to suggest that the majority of priests enjoy being priests and believe they are making a difference in the world.

The Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) Ongoing Formation Committee, in collaboration with the Society of African Missions (SMA Fathers) and the Archdioceses of Cape Town and Johannesburg recently welcomed Msgr. Rossetti to South Africa for a series of symposia and workshops. Rossetti is considered one of the leading international authorities on the psychospiritual health of Catholic clergy and has authored several books and numerous articles on topics related to priestly wellness. He is the President of Saint Luke Institute (USA) and teaches on the faculty of the Catholic University of America and the Gregorian University in Rome.

In a series of workshops to bishops, clergy and religious, Rossetti spoke about his research and what predicts happiness among Catholic priests. Key factors included a personal relationship with God, commitment to daily prayer, living a purposeful life, a strong love for the sacraments, realistic self-image, healthy friendships, good self-care practices, positive view of celibacy and respect for religious authority. Detrimental factors under-mining priestly happiness included loneliness, anger management problems, sexual conflicts, low self-esteem and dysfunctional early life.

The importance of healthy, appropriate and supportive interpersonal relationships was repeatedly emphasized by Rossetti as a key source of meaning in the lives of priests and seminarians. Rossetti found in his research that the strongest predictor of a positive relationship with God was having close friends. This finding makes sense when we recall in the scriptures how Jesus himself spoke of love of God and love of neighbor as being two sides of the same coin. The priest is continually called in the practice of ministry to be a man of communion and a relational bridge between God and humanity. Healthy connections in the lives of priests with family, friends, clergy peers and parishioners serve to strengthen their relationship with God. The practice of daily prayer was found to be a powerful protective factor against depression, emotional exhaustion and loneliness in the lives of clergy.

Priests are called to live lives of positive integrity and authenticity. At its core, priesthood involves the living of a radical and total commitment. There is no question that priests experience many challenges in the daily living out of this commitment within a secular culture which provides little validation. However, they also experience many consolations. Rossetti encouraged priests to open their hearts to the power of God’s grace working through them and to welcome the support of family, friends, clergy peers and religious leaders. The need for rest and renewal is understood to nurture deeper levels of satisfaction in the lives of priests. The SACBC Ongoing Formation Committee is tasked to promote a culture of wellness among clergy and religious and facilitates annual sabbatical programs and educational workshops across the region. Many priests who attended the clergy day symposia in Cape Town and Johannesburg reported feeling affirmed in their vocational calling and challenged to live their priestly lives with joy and gratitude.

The Society of African Missions were thanked for facilitating the visit of Msgr. Rossetti to South Africa and for their sustained commitment in supporting the ongoing formation of clergy in Africa. The witness of joy and gratitude in the daily lives of priests becomes an effective instrument of evangelization and inspires us all to become better people.

Father Hugh Lagan SMA
SACBC Ongoing Formation Committee

Harden not your Hearts

February 11, 2014

Harden not your Hearts lampedusa
February, traditionally the first month of spring in ancient Ireland, still looks and feels like winter. And it still seems like a cold, inhospitable winter for so many impoverished asylum seekers and refugees in what is known as “fortress Europe”, of which Ireland is a notable member. Desperate people are still risking their lives to cross a treacherous Mediterranean sea, so as to grab a toe-hold in Greece or Italy before trying to move north. But it makes sense that anyone choosing to leave home and undertake such life- threatening journeys must be in a very bad way. Those of us living comfortably in our homes, even with more or less financial difficulty, have no conception of what life must be life for anyone fleeing for their lives, especially if there are children too. Yet we in Europe can tend to regard such people as, at very least, nuisances, welfare scroungers, opportunists, “economic migrants” and so on. Once a person or group of people is labelled like this it is very easy to dismiss them and push them out of our concerns.

Continue

Archbishop Abegunrin installed

February 3, 2014

With a light harmattan haze enveloping Ibadan, crowds converged from every direction on the grounds of SS Peter and Paul Seminary on Friday, 24 January 2014, for the installation of the second Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Rev Gabriel Abegunrin, former bishop of Oshogbo (pictured right).

Traffic was chaotic as one of the main arteries into Ibadan was clogged by the morning rush hour traffic and those heading for the installation. Police, Traffic wardens, Federal Road Safety personnel, church wardens, often giving contrary instructions, battled to bring order into the chaos and keep the traffic moving. Those going to the celebration were often oblivious to their instructions and their own safety as they hurried to get a good vantage point in the tented square facing the altar in the football field of the seminary.

Over forty bishops attended the ceremony. Four hundred specially designed take-away chasubles and stoles were provided for priests but this number was not sufficient. Various religious congregations were present in great numbers confirming Archbishop Job’s statement that “Ibadan is the Rome of Africa”. Dignitaries including the Governors of Oyo and Ekiti States, traditional rulers and politicians were given places of honour.

Farewell Address

The ceremony began with Archbishop Job giving a 45 minute farewell address entitled “Feeding the Flock of God – The Journey of my life.” He thanked God for choosing him, as the youngest Nigerian bishop ever and the longest serving. He described his journey of 43 years as bishop as “long but fruitful, tedious but rewarding.”

Archbishop Job, Archbishop Abegunrin and the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Augustine Kasuja

He expressed gratitude to Bishop Finn SMA who established the diocese on a good foundation in 1953. When he took over the diocese there were just two diocesan priests. Now there are 87. There were 15 parishes now there are 43 and countless outstations. He spoke in detail about the different apostolates in the Archdiocese: Health, Education, Social Development, Justice and Peace and Youth Apostolate which now has a world rated Youth Centre on 250 acres of land at Lantate. He thanked everyone for their support over the years and made special mention of the SMA and OLA “our founding missionaries.” He ended by saying “I know there will always be a job for Job. Having worked in the pastoral ministry for 47 years without a holiday, I will go on a lengthy vacation and on return become by residence a curate to the parish priest of St Joseph’s Oke Ado and an unofficial auxiliary to Archbishop Abegunrin.”

The Installation

It was now time for the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Augustine Kasuja to take centre stage and lead the new Archbishop to his Episcopal Chair. “By the mandate given to me by the Apostolic See, I hereby invite Most Rev Dr Gabriel Abegunrin to be installed as the Archbishop of Ibadan.” The announcement was followed by the blast of a trumpet and the loud applause of the crowd. Balloons were released into the air and the choir rendered a special celebratory song.

Most Rev Gabriel Abegunrin, aged 66, was the former bishop of Oshogbo. He was born in Iwere-Ile in Iwajowa council area of Oyo State. He attended St. Kizito Minor Seminary, Ede, Osun State and SS Peter and Paul Major Seminary. He was ordained priest on 21 April 1979 at Iwere-Ile by Bishop Julius Adelakun. He moved to the Pontifical Urban University in Rome in 1984, where he obtained a doctorate degree in Canon Law in 1988. After that he was the administrator of St. Benedict’s Cathedral, Osogbo and worked as a parish priest in Oyo, Ilesa and Ogbomoso before being appointed as the first Catholic Bishop of Osogbo diocese in 1995. In 2010, he came to Ireland for the ordination the SMA Superior General, Fr Kieran O’Reilly, as bishop of Killaloe, stayed in Blackrock Road and was driven from Blackrock Road to the ceremony by Malachy Flanagan.

The Homily

A fifty minute well-crafted homily was preached by Bishop Michael Olatunji Fagun, former bishop of Ekiti. He began by comparing the experience of Archbishop Gabriel being chosen as Archbishop of Ibadan as similar to that of Jacob at Bethel and went on “As God assured Jacob of being with him so as to have a good grip over the land he had reached so God now assures Archbishop Abegunrin of a strong spiritual grip over Ibadan Archdiocese with its flourishing faithful Christian communities.”

John-OHea-greets-new-ABp He lauded the spirit of Ibadan as a cosmopolitan city welcoming all comers where Christian and Muslims live in peace together. He spoke of it as a truly African city, unlike Lagos and Kaduna which he described as “colonial cities.”

He then traced the history of the Catholic Church in Ibadan beginning with the arrival of two SMA priests, Frs Jean Baptiste Chaussse and Theodore Holley, 130 years ago. Ibadan today is a city with a population of 2.3 million people, less than 10% of them Catholic. What an onerous task awaits the new Archbishop! he interjected.

Fr John O’Hea SMA, a missionary in Ibadan for more than 53 years, greets his new Ordinary and promises him obedience and respect.

He spoke at length about leadership in Nigeria saying, “It is unfortunate that the wrong concept of leadership in our society has insidiously crept into the Catholic Church. The image of leadership in this country has debased what true leadership should be. Many misunderstand leadership as dominance and a sinecure post, not service and hard work. It is used for self-advantage, not self-giving; for honour, power and vain glory not humility and self-sacrifice for the benefit of the led.” He put forward Christ, the Good Shepherd, who gave his life for his flock as the model of true leadership. In our own time, he said, Pope Francis and Nelson Mandela model this type of leadership.

Speaking to priests, he told them not to be career priests who try to make their mark for self-glory, self-reputation, self-fulfillment, esteem and satisfaction, mostly for worldly values and material gain. On the contrary, the vocation to the priesthood is one of self-denial and self-giving, following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.

II-Episcopal-procession-aft

Procession of Cardinals, Bishops and clergy after the Mass

He ended on a rather somber note, in contrast to the general mood of the day. “Let us pray for our country Nigeria that is getting deeper and deeper into distress, with masses living in poverty in the midst of plenty, all due to bad government. All is not well with Nigeria. All is not lost either. There is hope. May the light of hope inflame the hearts of our leaders and citizenry. From all evil may the Lord deliver us.”

From there the Mass went on as usual, but with the ceremony nearing the four and a half hour mark the harmattan lifted and the sun blazing down penetrating even through the canopies and with many bishops leaving the altar to catch flights in Lagos the Archbishop brought the liturgical part of the day to a conclusion with a few short appropriate words.

Archbishop Abegunrin addresses his flock for the first time

“I am grateful to God for overlooking my weakness to make me a useful instrument in His hands, to serve in the Church of His son Jesus Christ. I promise to remain faithful to God and the Church and to be available to my duty as the shepherd of the flock of God in Ibadan. I am aware of the challenges ahead but because of the great work done by my predecessor, Archbishop Job, and with the love of God, they are surmountable and with the support of you the people of Ibadan I am ready to face them.”

At the end of the celebration the bishops and invited guests headed for the University of Ibadan for a special meal while the tented square became a giant cafeteria with food and drinks for everyone.

Leaving tired and exhausted, one could not but join with lay faithful, the real stars of the day, as the sang, “This is the day the Lord has made let us be glad and rejoice in it” and remember with gratitude Theodore Holley and Jean Baptiste Chausse and the many SMA and OLA missionaries (as well as those from other groups who came more recently) who worked in Ibadan over the years and made this day possible.

But great pride must be taken by the people of Ibadan who responded to the preaching of the Gospel and are the pillars of the Catholic Church in this great city.

May God bless the people of Ibadan! May God bless its new Catholic Archbishop! May God bless Archbishop-emeritus Job! May God bless Nigeria! May God bless the Society of African Missions!

– with thanks to our Correspondent in Ibadan and additional reporting by the SMA Communications Director

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2014 – Year A

January 29, 2014

2 March 2014

Isaiah 49:14 – 15
1 Corinthians 4:1 – 5
Matthew 6: 24 – 34

In today’s Gospel Christ says: “Look at the birds in the sky….your Heavenly Father feeds them….. think of the flowers growing in the fields.”

So we will do just that, and speak about a Gospel of Flowers, of daisies, buttercups and bluebells.

To say that Christ had a deep love of nature, is obvious. He entered this world in a stable, to the smell of sheep and animals. The first Scriptures he read were “the Scriptures of the Fields”.

As a young boy in Nazareth, he walked the fields with Joseph. And from Joseph, the carpenter, the expert in wood, he learned the names of trees and wild flowers. He walked the fields of Nazareth for 30 years, the roads of Galilee & Jerusalem for only 3. And in these 3 years he went back again and again to the fields and to the mountains to pray.

Jesus walked the fields, climbed the mountains, went boating, went fishing, held open air picnics in the multiplication of the loaves, where all shared bread on the cloth of green grass. No wonder his parables smell of the land, of sheep and goats, of cornfields, of sowers and reapers.

The early Irish monks, like Christ, found God in nature, in places like Gouganebarra, Glendalough, Skelligs Mhichil to mention a few.

St. Bernard, the monk of Clairvaux, wrote: “What I know of the divine sciences and Holy Scriptures, I learnt in woods and fields. I have no other masters than the beaches and oaks.”

However, today there is a movement to the cities, a worldwide phenomenon called urbanisation. Are Gospel stories, which grew out of the land, losing meaning for urbanised people? They live in a world of concrete and steel, of highways and shopping centres. Have they lost the Gospel of the Fields? The Celts were a rural people. Our cities are all imports brought in by the Vikings.

Gerald Manley Hopkins in a poem wrote, “Feet no longer feel being shod.”

“Think of the flowers growing in the fields”……. (Mt. 6:28 in the Gospel)

The daisies and buttercups, how long more will they survive. Wild flowers only grow now in the margins of fields, or in uncultivated land. The honey bee is in crisis, due to spraying of chemicals on the land and on flowers.

So much for wild flowers, what of wild animals? Must they go too? Animals are our relatives. Scientists tell us that we share a similar DNA. Every animal, insect, tree and flower has a right to be here, because God put them here. He told us to care for them, not to exterminate them.

Reducing our planet, its flora and fauna, as something to be exploited for profit, is not acceptable. Integrity of Creation is part of our own SMA JPIC code of ethics.

We would do well to learn from nature, how all things are bound together. The bees take nectar from the flowers for honey, in return they fertilise them. The tree is nourished by the soil, the soil in turn in nourished by falling leaves. The one who receives, must also give. We have yet to learn it.

Indigenous peoples always respect the land. I began with the flowers of the field, part of the longer Sermon on the Mount. Let me conclude with the Sermon on the Plains, given by the Red Indian Chief in Seattle in 1854, when the U.S. Government wanted to take the land from his indigenous people, and put them into reservations.

The Chief sent this message to the White Man Chief in Washington. As it’s a bit long, I’ll read part of it to you. I’ll let the Chief speak for himself and for his people:

“How can you buy or sell the sky, the rain, or the wind? Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist… every humming insect is holy to my people. We are part of the earth, and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters, the deer, the horse, the great eagle, these are our brothers.

We know that the white man does not understand our ways.

The earth in not his brother, but his enemy. He treats his mother the earth, and his brother the sky, as things to be bought, plundered and sold.

What is there in life if a man cannot hear the cry of the owl, or the arguments of frogs around a pool at night? The air we breathe is precious to the red man, for all things share the same breath, the beast, the tree, the people. I am a savage, and do not know any other way. Yet this I know, the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. The earth is precious to our God, and to harm the earth, is to heap contempt on the God who made it.”

One day may we all share the prairies of Paradise with this great Chief, and may we too, like him, hear the cry of the owl, calling our name from the pines of Heaven. Amen.

Bishop Tim Carroll SMA, emeritus Vicar Apostolic of Kontagora, Nigeria

Remember this Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

Presentation of the Lord

January 29, 2014

2 February 2014

Malachi 3: 1 – 4
Hebrews 2: 14 – 18
Luke 2: 22 – 40

It is natural that whenever we want to give someone special a gift we want it to be the best possible.

In today’s feast the best gift Mary and Joseph can give to God is their son Jesus, whom Simeon describes as the ‘salvation of God’ and ‘light of the Gentiles’ (i.e. everyone). Traditionally this feast is called Candlemas Day because we have a procession before Mass with everyone carrying candles which are blessed and then lit, signifying that Jesus is the Light of the world.

We are amazed at the gift Mary and Joseph are offering to God. Was this the long-awaited Messiah? Who could imagine that this helpless child could be the Messiah whom the Jews had been longing for through the centuries? So this gift, the best Mary and Joseph could offer, is telling us a great amount of what is pleasing to God and why.

This best gift is a helpless, needy child who is absolutely dependent on his parents. Could this be really God in human form, in swaddling clothes? This is an important lesson for us today. This helpless child gave Mary and Joseph the capacity to be all that they could be for this little baby. His helplessness drew from them love, concern, protection, caring, a going out of themsleves to take the best possible care of this infant. It was not the strength, control, independence of Jesus which caused this but the very opposite.

Is this not how it is for every parent?

Before the arrival of a child a married couple are simply husband and wife. But when a child arrives they are parents. Is it not the same with us and God? It is not our virtue and goodness which call forth God’s love for us but our going to God in our need of Him. The more aware we are of this and the more we do it, the more we draw forth or allow God to do all that He can for us.

The more aware we are of our need for God and go to him with this need, the more we allow God into our lives.

When we present ourselves to God, when we offer ourselves to others, we need not be stainless and sinless, almost the perfect person we dream or would like to be. The best of who we are includes all our weaknesses and sifulness. We are creatures with a good share of limitations.

The Feast of the Presentation teaches us to offer ourselves to God and others in spite of our imperfections and weaknesses. It is especially in our weaknesses and imperfections that God loves us.

This is the authentic giving and offering of oneself. Indeed, we may feel unworthy as a gift to others, but our sincerity and honesty in acknowledging and embracing the sinful person we are makes us special and precious. If we fail to embrace and love all that we are – good and bad – then we may well project it on to others and judge them harshly for the things we are unaware of or don’t want to acknowledge in ourselves. Therefore it is not perfection that counts, it is the love which we offer to others that matters most.

The offering of Mary and Joseph in the Temple of the “ordinary” helpless, needy, dependent infant Jesus wrapped in fragility. In like manner, the real gift of oneself should have no pretensions or reservations. This is the best!

This is Good News – God does not seek perfection, sinlessness or total goodness. He is content with the best we can offer, no matter how much that be. But our going to Him in our need, which includes our sinfulness and poverty, draws forth from Him all that He wants to be for us and give us.

As a young seminarian I was very taken by a quotation from some saint (I can’t recall who it was): Jesus did not say “succeed”, but “strive”.

4th Sunday of Easter 2014 – Year A

January 29, 2014

11 May 2014

Acts of Apostles 2:14, 36-41
1 Peter 2.20-25
John 10.1-10

A certain young woman in her early thirties was a very fearful person. She was fearful of so many things: her health, that she would lose her job, that she might be killed in a car accident any day she travelled to work. She was fearful of risking marriage in case she married the wrong man etc. She really lived with so much fear in her life. That was 10 years ago. Since then there has been a great transformation in the life of this young woman. She actually met a young man who understanding her fears gradually led her to an ever-greater freedom. She eventually married him.

This young man reminds me of the last verse of today’s gospel when Jesus says ‘I have come that you may have life and have it to the full’. Of course the young man would never compare himself to what Jesus came to do. But he certainly helped the young woman who became his wife to have a much fuller, happier and less fearful existence. He led her out of her fears as the shepherd leads out his sheep.

What about you and me here this morning? How would we describe the quality of our lives? Would we say that we are close to living life to the fulness? Are we at peace? Do we experience much joy in our lives? That is not to say that there won’t be difficulties and trials but deep down do we have this inner peace so many desire. So where do we go or to whom do we go to find this peace and joy? The great German mystic Meister Eckhart wrote: “As far as you are in God, thus far you are in peace and as far as you are outside God you are outside peace…for where you lack peace, you must necessarily lack God, since lack of peace comes from the creature and not from God”.

The image used for Jesus in the gospel today is that of a shepherd. Jesus was living in a rural setting so the image of sheep and shepherd would have been familiar to the Jews. For the Jews down through their history God was seen to be a Good Shepherd for his people, always caring for them.

In the rural set-up of the time of Jesus a number of shepherds would bring their flocks home before night came. They would have put them into a common sheepfold or enclosure. Each night one shepherd would keep watch over all the sheep to guard against robbers or wild animals that could steal or kill the sheep. Early next morning all the shepherds would arrive, they would enter the sheepfold and call their sheep one by one, by name. The sheep would know the voice of their own shepherd who would lead them out to where they could pasture. Each shepherd knew his own sheep very well.

Like the young woman there are people who would are enclosed in their fears or addictions like drink, drugs, sex, money or power etc. That is why Jesus the Good Shepherd is inviting all to leave what is enclosing them and reach out for the fullness of life. He is inviting them to follow him to a greater freedom, peace, in fact to the fulness of life he offers in the gospel today.

There are many voices calling out to us each day. The voices of advertisements urging us to buy this or that product and so be happy. As if it was that easy. We rarely see sad faces in the adverts. We are children of God and called into an ever-greater relationship with Jesus the Good Shepherd who alone can guide us along the way to true peace and joy. I know a man who once decided to explore a large forest and nearly died of thirst because he got completely lost for nearly 3 days. Luckily someone passed by the place where he was and so his life was saved. From then on he would never enter the forest without a guide. Jesus the Good Shepherd is like that. A shepherd is there to guide his flock. We have a sure guide for life if we have a good relationship with Jesus. It is more than just saying prayers or going to Mass. It is asking him to teach us to become a real friend of his and have an ever-deeper friendship with him. The danger is that Jesus can remain a stranger to us unless we live close to him.

In Jesus’ time the true shepherd guided his flock, he nourished them, went after the stray, knew each sheep by name and assured their safety. Jesus does all this and even more for us if we allow him.

Before Jesus left the world, he commissioned Peter to feed his lambs and tend his sheep (John 21:15-16). The work of shepherding God’s flocks is an ongoing task that is entrusted to the whole church with Peter as head. As today we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday or Vocations Sunday we need to ask ourselves two important questions:

1 Am I a faithful member of God’s flock?

2 How could I participate more closely in the work of shepherding God’s flock?

Popes and bishops as well as parents, school teachers, church ministers etc – all participate in various forms of shepherding God’s flock. How can I be a better shepherd in my own state, reaching out with understanding and compassion to the weak and misguided dropouts of church and society, so that through me they may hear the loving voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd? Let us pray for genuine vocations to the priesthood, religious life and the lay state.

“Lord Jesus, may I allow you to be the Good Shepherd in all areas of my life”

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

5th Sunday of Easter 2014 – Year A

January 29, 2014

18 May 2014

Acts of Apostles 6.1-7
1 Peter 2.4-9
John 14.1-12

Sometime ago I met a woman whose husband had died very suddenly because of cancer and she herself had been recently diagnosed with cancer too. She said that it was obvious to her that God was punishing her. When I asked why, she replied that many years ago when her husband was working for his company overseas for a few months she had had an affair with another man. She became pregnant and had had an abortion. She believed that the cancer now was God’s way of punishing her. This is certainly not true. But she is like many people who believe that God punishes them because of their sins. Yet Jesus spent a great amount of time during his public life healing people. Nowhere do we find Jesus punishing people for wrongdoing. And in the Garden of Gethsemene he begged his Father to spare him the suffering that he would undergo because of his enemies. How then can we say God punishes us?

In the gospel today Philip says to Jesus: ‘Let us see the Father and we will be satisfied’. Jesus replies: ‘Have I been with you all this time Philip and you still do not know me? To have seen me is to have seen the Father.’ Many of us have grown up with and maybe still have a wrong image of God. Jesus is telling us very clearly here that when we read the gospels and see him in action we see who God really is and to say that God punishes us is to deny how Jesus lived and loved. We must of course avoid the danger of thinking that I can do anything I like since God doesn’t punish me. That would be an insult to God instead of doing his will in gratitude. It would also lead us to punish ourselves. One simple example is that if I decide to have casual sex and get AIDS, who punishes me? Surely myself, certainly not God.

So who is the God Jesus reveals to us by his own life? He tells us as he did to Philip: ‘Look at me and you will know who God is’. Of course, Jesus as a human being was limited whereas God is not but in the fullest way possible, humanly speaking. Jesus reveals to us who God our Father is and what he is like.

The first thing we can say is that Jesus reveals a God who is a Consoling God. Here in today’s gospel Jesus is trying to console the disciples. They hear that he is going away and so they are fearful of the future. He simply says ’Let not your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still and trust in me’. I will not leave you orphans. I will not abandon you. I will be with you every step of the way through the Holy Spirit that I will send you. It was like when my uncle was dying and had two young children. On his deathbed he asked his brother to promise that he would take care of his children after he died. The brother promised he would and in fact did so. Is the promise of Jesus any less trustworthy than that?

Jesus also assures them that he is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We all know that in our world today, on TV, on the radio, through advertisements that there are many calls on us to listen to these as if they could give us happiness. Jesus is telling us very simply and clearly that he will guide us if we turn to him and try to live by his values and teaching. It is one thing to know the Truth and to know the Way, what makes Jesus so different is that he is the Life. He is the Lifegiver who empowers us to be lifegivers in turn. I can only say from my own personal experience that the more I try and live by the gospel values of Jesus by calling on the help of the Holy Spirit the more certain I am that the way of Jesus who is the Way is the only sure path for me. I know equally how life-giving he has been and is for me.

Then Jesus gives us this incredible promise. “Whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works because I am going to the Father”. This might seem an exaggeration but it is not. We know Jesus was limited to his own areas and time. Today his name is known all over because his followers wherever they went brought their faith in Jesus with them. This is seen in the lives of all the poor Europeans who emigrated to the United States in the last centuries. Most were uneducated but the lived by their faith and witnessed to Jesus. They would hardly have thought of themselves as missionaries but they certainly were. They spread the kingdom far beyond what Jesus did.

Jesus is telling us how incredibly good we are in his and so in God’s eyes. He is affirming us as best he can saying that we can do marvellous things to bring about his kingdom. We don’t have to be priests or religious. When we do acts of love, forgive people, share with others and all this very often in small, hidden ways we participate in doing what Jesus was doing. We owe it to Jesus and God and ourselves to believe in our own capacity for greatness mostly through small daily acts of kindness. By the way we pass on the faith and gospel values to our children etc. Jesus believes in us, do we believe in ourselves?

Then when Jesus promises the disciples that they are many rooms in his father’s house, he is saying that Heaven is as wide as God’s heart which is limitless. He says that there is room for us all if we choose to go there.

“Lord Jesus, how can we ever thank you enough for all your goodness to us. Amen”.

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

3rd Sunday of Easter 2014 – Year A

January 29, 2014

4 May 2014

Acts of Apostles 2:14, 22-28
1 Peter 1:17-21
Luke 24: 13-35

Some time ago I was visiting a family and one morning the mother was sending 2 of her children to school. After a kiss and a hug for each, her final words of advice were: ‘Remember you never, never talk to strangers’. Unfortunately in nearly all cultures today this is very necessary advice.

What would have happened in the gospel today if the two disciples had refused to talk to the stranger who appeared at their side and started to converse with them? He noticed that they were very sad and downhearted and asked them what they had been talking about that had caused this. We know the answer from today’s gospel, ‘You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know about the things that have been happening there these last few days’. And they describe what happened to Jesus. This leads to a frank and profound dialogue that set their cold hearts on fire with insight and inspiration. All because they trusted a stranger and were open to inform and be informed by him.

In their disappointment and sadness they say to this stranger ‘our hope had been that he would have been the one to set Israel free’.

What of us today? What are our hopes? Do we hope that Jesus will set us free not from the Romans as in the case of the Jews of Jesus’ time but from fears, prejudices, from looking at reality in a wrong way, from our inability to forgive etc.

Cleopas and his companion shared with the stranger all the way through. Not only were they ready to share their confidences with him, but they went all the way and shared their meal and shelter with him. It was in the process of this sharing that the moment of disclosure occurred and they suddenly realised that the one whom they had accepted all along as a stranger was indeed Jesus, the answer to all their heart’s questions. This discovery that the one in whom they had trusted, Jesus Christ, was indeed alive and not dead, gave new meaning to their lives, their faith and their vocation. Banishing all fear and fatigue they went back that same night to rejoin the apostles and followers of Jesus and share the good news with them that they had met the risen Lord and that they met him in the person of a stranger.

It is important to note that Jesus explained to the two companions all the scriptures had spoken about him. So it was in breaking the Word of God for them that opened their eyes also. He did not speak only about the wonderful things God had done for his people and is still doing for us. He spoke of the suffering which was part of his own human experience.

“Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory”. It is may be enough easy to speak generally about the cross in life. But when it touches our own lives we may wonder where God is. Yet in genuinely trying to do God’s will, suffering will come our way, as for example when we try to be faithful in marriage, be honest, forgive, show kindness to all we meet etc. Then we may expect in faith that we will also share in the resurrection of Jesus and not only when we die. We ought to pray for all priests each week that they would have the gift of preparing their homilies well by prayer so as to be able to break the Word of God for their Sunday congregations. They owe it to them to do this. It is not an option but indeed a serious obligation.

When Jesus went in with the 2 disciples for a meal, he breaks the bread in his own special way and immediately they recognize him in this action. We are told that their eyes were opened. It might be good for us to ask the Lord to open our eyes too to recognize him in his Word and in the sacrament of his Body and Blood each time we take part in the celebration of Mass.

The problem for us is that nearly always God appears to us in so ordinary ways, in so ordinary people and actions each day. If we fail to see him in these and wait for extraordinary signs we may never encounter him.

The resurrection was for Jesus the dividing line between earthly life when he was limited to the form of a male Jewish body, and his risen life when he is no longer limited in this way. The risen Lord now appears in all types of bodies: male and female, White and Black, young and old, rich and poor, those with special needs, native and immigrant, Catholic and Protestant, Christian and Muslim, liberal and conservative etc. Though we may see those who are different from us as strangers, today’s gospel challenges us to start seeing them simply as companions on the way. When we reach out to them in hospitality we reach out to God and so receive his blessing.

‘Lord Jesus, open our eyes to recognise you in the breaking of the Word of God and at the breaking of the bread at each Eucharist. May we also see you in the strangers in our midst. Amen’.

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

2nd Sunday of Easter 2014 – Year A

January 29, 2014

27 April 2014

Acts of Apostles 2.42-47
1 Peter 1.3-9
John 20.19-31

Some time ago I was speaking to a young man in his late 20’s. He wanted to make a decision. He had been going with his girlfriend for the previous two years and he felt the time had come for him to decide whether to marry her or not. He listed many good qualities she had but he still wasn’t sure. He said also ‘when I see so many marriages nowadays ending up with couples separating how can I be certain the same won’t happen to us if we marry’. The simple answer is, of course, he can’t be certain. What would you think of this young man if before marrying he wanted every guarantee and assurance that he was not going to make a mistake in marrying his girlfriend? Many would regard him as a very calculating young man who had not much of a heart to give.

Maybe things have not changed much since the first Easter, and so, like Thomas, sometimes called ‘Doubting Thomas’, we may continue to ask for more than is needed in order to believe. Maybe we too would like to see and touch Jesus and have everything proved beyond doubt. We could not then be said to believe as there would be nothing left to believe in. Neither faith nor love call for absolute certainty.

Perhaps too we may think that having doubts of faith is something to be ashamed of. In fact if we have doubts and still believe in spite of them are we not making a great act of faith in the other? So like the young man doubting whether to marry or not, we too may have our doubts but basically we are saying to God. “I believe in you’. Even on the human level is not this a great gift, a great compliment to pay to another? Did you ever say to another ‘I believe in you’ as hopefully the young man decided to say to his girlfriend, ‘I believe enough in you to want you to be my wife. I believe we can have a very good future together and work through whatever difficulties may arise. Yes, I love you because I believe in you’. Did anyone ever say to you ‘I really believe in you’? How did you feel as a result?

In the gospel today we have many doubters, not just Thomas. We have the disciples locked into the Upper Room because of fear. They were afraid that what happened to Jesus would happen to them. They have lost all faith in ever seeing Jesus again. After all, he died on the cross and was buried. And then the unthinkable happens. Jesus appears in their midst. His opening words are ‘Peace be with you’ and he repeats it again. There is no condemnation and we are told the disciples are filled with joy when they saw the Lord. But Thomas was not there and he refuses to believe them when they tell him about the appearance of the Risen Jesus. Eight days later Jesus appears again and this time Thomas is there. Again the opening words of Jesus are: ‘Peace be with you’. And in his great love Jesus came to the doubting Thomas and allowed him to touch his hands and side. Then Jesus says ‘You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and believe’. Hopefully we are among those whom the Lord addresses. John is saying very clearly that the faith of the Church in the Risen Jesus does not depend on the sort of proof Thomas demanded. The reason for writing the gospel is then given. All the signs and miracles of Jesus are recorded so that people may believe that Jesus is the Son of God and believing they may have life in his name. The purpose of believing in Jesus is to have the fulness of life.

When Jesus appears to the disciples in today’s gospel he showed them his hands and feet meaning he went back to his Father in his woundedness. This is to say that we too can have confidence in going back to our Heavenly Father in our woundedness. Unlike Jesus whose wounds were physical, ours are our sins. And the Good News is that our wounds are no obstacle to our being with God. In fact he wishes we go to him and allow him to embrace us, wounds and all, as did the father of the Prodigal Son.

We are also told in today’s gospel that Jesus breathed on the disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit. We too are sent by Jesus and so need this Holy Spirit to witness to Jesus especially his forgiveness.

A very important aspect of today’s gospel is that the mission to proclaim the forgiveness of sins is entrusted to the community as a whole and not only to certain leaders. John describes the group simply as the gathering of the ‘disciples’.

It is above all by forgiving others that the gospel or Good News looks to the future, opening up the possibility of a new existence. We can always begin anew with God after failures. The joyful realisation that one has been accepted by God even after betrayal and sin is a central part of the Easter experience and brings with it an obligation to become God’s instrument in announcing his forgiveness to all.

“Lord Jesus we believe you are risen from the dead. Praise you for always being faithful, always ready to forgive and especially for accepting us totally in our woundedness. Amen”

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

Feast of the Ascension 2014 – Year A

January 29, 2014

The Ascension of the Lord
1 June 2014

Acts of Apostles 1:1-11
Ephesians 1:17-23
Matthew 28.16 -20

A few years a certain man was driving along in his car and suddenly another car came out of a side street and collided with the car in front of him. He went to court as a witness and although the lawyers of the driver who caused the accident tried to show that this witness may not have seen things exactly as they happened, he simply kept repeating what he saw. He spoke from his personal experience of the accident and was so convincing as he never changed what he said no matter how often he was questioned, the judge was in no doubt that he was telling things exactly as he had witnessed them.

Today’s feast of the Ascension is a call to the disciples of Jesus to be witnesses to all the world of what they experienced when they were with him while he was still alive. It is interesting that today’s gospel from St.Matthew does not focus on the Ascension as such but on the sending of the apostles to carry out his mission to make disciples of all nations. What matters about the Ascension is not so much about how it happened as to what it means, namely that the time of visible Jesus on earth is ended for he is now in glory in heaven. It is now the time of the apostles and the Church.

For the apostles the Ascension obviously meant three things:

1) It was an ending. One stage had past and another had begun. The day when their faith was faith in a flesh and blood person, Jesus of Nazareth has gone. Their faith depended on his being with them physically. Now they are linked to someone who is forever independent of space and time.

2) But it was equally a beginning. The disciples did not leave the scene heartbroken. They left it with great joy. Now they knew they had a master from whom they would never be separated. Did he not say: ‘And know that I am with you always to the end of time.’ So rather than seeing the Ascension just as the departure of Jesus we should see it as the sending of the Church on mission (you, me and all Christians). We are being asked to take the place of Jesus. Wow! Rather than seeing the Church as an orphan it should be seen as being given adult status, being given the responsibility to witness to Jesus Christ. That is how much trust and confidence Jesus has in us to continue his work

3) Still further, the Ascension gives the disciples the certainty that they had a friend not only on earth but also in heaven. Surely it is the most priceless thing of all to know and feel that in heaven there awaits us that self-same Jesus who on earth was so marvellously kind. To die is not to go out into the dark; it is to go to him.

In the story at the beginning it was the personal experience of the man who witnessed the accident that gave him the assurance to witness clearly and simply. So too for us as Christians we will be able to witness to Jesus only to the extent of our own personal experience of him. What then is the extent of my personal relationship to Jesus? Do I allow him to be a true friend, someone to whom I feel close? Does my personal experience of what he has done for me in my life make me want to share my knowledge of him with others? It is like a young man who has fallen in love and keeps on telling his friends about his girlfriend. He feels more alive because of her. Is it like that with Jesus and me? If not maybe I should pray to have this personal experience of him.

The first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles tells us that Jesus informed the apostles that they were not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for what the Father had promised, in other words to be baptised with the Holy Spirit. It was as if Jesus was telling them very clearly that unless they had this Holy Spirit they could not possibly witness to him, as he would have wished them to. It is almost as if he is telling them. ‘Please, please, do not claim to be my disciples, my followers if you try to do this without the help of the powerful Holy Spirit because it is impossible without his help’. Trying to be a disciple of Jesus, a close follower of his is just not possible without the Holy Spirit whom we receive in Baptism and Confirmation. But whether we are aware of this and live out of this reality is another thing altogether.

The first reading also tells us that when Jesus ascended into heaven the apostles were gazing into the sky as he was taken from their sight. But the two men in white standing there ask ‘Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky?’ They are being told clearly that the Ascension rather than pointing to the skies directs the believers attention to the vast horizon of their mission on earth.

One very consoling fact in the gospel is that when the apostles saw him as he was about to ascend they fell down before him, though some hesitated. This phrase, ‘though some hesitated’ gives each of us so much courage and hope. That even though we may have certain doubts and hesitations about some aspects of our faith, these in themselves are no barriers to God using us. He sent out some hesitant apostles to be his witnesses. Can he not do the same with us if we offer ourselves to him?

‘Lord Jesus, help us to be true witnesses to you on earth with the help of the powerful Holy Spirit. Amen’

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

5th Sunday of Lent 2014 – Year A

January 29, 2014

6 April 2014

Ezekiel 37:12-14
Romans 8:8-11
John11.1-45

A number of years ago my father called me, as he had to go into hospital and said: “I might not come out alive as I have a serious blood complaint”. A few nights later the nurse went to see him and she said: “There is a priest in the hospital now. Do you wish to see him?” My father replied ‘no’. An hour later she was back. ‘The priest is still here. Maybe you should see him’. My father who never seemed to fear anything asked ‘am I dying?’ The nurse replied ‘it seems you may be’, so my father said ’o.k. send him along’. Later on my father said ‘the moment the priest anointed me with the oil of the sick I knew I was healed’. My father didn’t see himself as a religious person. He lived a good number of years after that incident and felt he had been given a new lease of life – a kind of resurrection experience.

In the gospel today we hear Jesus being invited to go to the home of Mary and Martha who send him a short message ‘he whom you love is sick’. They refer to their brother Lazarus. They did not ask Jesus to go to the house. They gave him the freedom to respond to their request as he wished. Going to their house to see Lazarus was a risk. The enemies of Jesus were out to get him. Thomas, one of the 12 knew this and says in v.16 – ‘let us go too and die with him’. Despite this, his friendship with this family of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, people Jesus loved, was enough reason for him to risk his life to go to them in their time of trouble. When Jesus arrives at the village Martha meets him and she shows great trust by saying: “If you had been here my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God he will grant you”. Jesus then tells her that her brother will rise again and she says she believes that he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day. Then comes the great statement of Jesus. “I AM THE RESURRECTION. If anyone believes in me, though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Martha believes. What of us? Do we believe? How fully do we believe it? It is surprising how many Catholics claim to follow Jesus and yet have problems with the resurrection from the dead. Quite a number say they believe in reincarnation.

The resurrection is the central belief of our Christian religion. And as Jesus said above – whoever believes in him though he dies, he will live. Obviously there are people who are enslaved by sin now and Jesus is offering them freedom from this slavery now. It could be the slavery of fear, of drink, drugs, hatred, unforgiveness, of what others think of them or whatever. The resurrection begins now if we wish it by calling on Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life to free us, unbind us. Towards the end of the story when Jesus goes to the tomb and asks for the stone to be taken away Martha objects. She says:’It is now the fourth day. He will smell’. Jesus asks her to trust him. Is there not always the danger that in the face of a big problem we will seek a human solution only? Here we are asked to believe and not to reduce God’s capacity to help us to our way of thinking.

So here we have Lazarus in the tomb which is closed off by a large stone. He is in the darkness. He is dead. He is bound with cloth. This is a good image of how we ourselves can feel like at times thinking there is no way out. Jesus is there. He asks for the stone to be removed. He calls out in a loud voice “Lazarus come forth”. He does. Jesus lifts up the one who was lying down, loosens what was bound and gives life to the man who was dead. Jesus is saying here that the can call us forth from whatever tombs we may be in now. Whatever the darkness may be for us, he can call us into the light as he himself said more that once ‘I am the light of the world’. He can unbind us too from whatever prevents us from moving freely as children of God.

It is important to remember that prior to calling Lazarus from the tomb Jesus prays to his Heavenly Father. It is a prayer of communion with his Father and the conviction that since what he is asking the Father for is that those standing around will believe, his prayer will be answered. It is.

Finally, it is good to note too that Jesus asked the help of others to remove the stone, to unbind Lazarus. Jesus still uses us to help him give new life to others until the day arrives when we will receive the fullness of eternal life after we die.

In the second reading St.Paul reminds us that nowadays this is the work of the Spirit within us. The Spirit dwells in us and so death is already overcome. The Spirit must eliminate the fear paralysing us, from closing in on ourselves and preventing us from seeing what is new in our lives. Also where God is challenging us to do what we can to help our brothers and sisters to be free in whatever way we can.

“Lord Jesus we believe that you are the Resurrection and the Life. Free us on all levels of our being where we are entombed, bound, unfree and lacking in a real faith in your power to raise us up now and after death Amen”.

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

3rd Sunday of Lent 2014 – Year A

January 29, 2014

23 March 2014

Exodus 17:3-7
Romans 5:1-2,5-8
John 4:5-42

One time a 12 year old girl was sent by her family, living in a semi desert area, to go to a well 3 miles away to get a bucket of water. On her way back a snake appeared almost under her feet. She jumped away from it and sadly all the water in the bucket was lost as she fell. Because it would have been unthinkable to return home without water she had no other choice but to make her way back to the well for water and take it home. The overall journey was about 7 miles. For her family water meant life. We live in countries where we can turn on the tap. Probably it is almost impossible for us to appreciate how people in poor countries suffer to have water just to survive.

The gospel we have just heard – the Woman at the Well – also centres around the theme of water and life. The woman can be said to represent 3 oppressed groups with which Jesus and the gospel are interested: women, prostitutes and sexually immoral people generally – all kinds of outsiders. These are people regarded by many religious people as being unclean and far from God.

The woman here is a Samaritan. These Samaritans were regarded by the Jews with scorn because their religion and customs were mixed with pagan elements. The Jews and Samaritans were enemies and would have had nothing to do with each other. Once again Jesus goes beyond prejudices – religious and political boundaries and speaks to the woman who is amazed that he would do so. But the love of God knows no limits, and the God Jesus proclaims does not fit into the spaces we build for him or into the concepts through which we attempt to understand him.

Not only that but Jesus is at the mercy of the woman in the sense that he needs her help to have a drink of water. Here is an amazing reversal of roles. It is interesting to note that Jesus never worked a miracle for himself. Here he is in need of water. He is also hungry and has sent his disciples to the town to buy bread. We may rightly be amazed at how human Jesus reveals himself to us here. He is very tired as he sat down immediately by the well. He also has to be patient until someone came along to draw water, most probably a woman. It was a woman’s task to draw water, not that of a man. Does not all this give us great courage to approach Jesus in our human and spiritual needs?

This woman who had 5 husbands and was presently living with another is the one Jesus chooses to dialogue with, to relate to. She came alone in the hottest part of the day probably because the other women in the town rejected her because of her immoral lifestyle. Usually women in that culture came to the well in groups and in the cooler times of the day.

Jesus starts off by asking for a drink of water and she obviously thinks of the water in the well. Almost at once Jesus raises the conversation to another level. Jesus now promises her living water. Misunderstanding him she argues again on the human level. Jesus goes further and says to her ‘Everyone who drinks the water in the well will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life’.

In this dialogue we see that it is really Jesus who is longing for something. He is thirsting to give salvation (the water welling up to eternal life) to the woman and to whomever else he encounters. He also has eternal food to offer, himself and not the human food that the disciples come back with from the town. Later on in chapter 7 Jesus invites all by saying ‘If anyone is thirsty let him come to me. Let anyone come and drink who believes in me for from his breast shall flow fountains of living water’. Jesus is in fact here talking about the life-giving Holy Spirit.

The woman is so amazed by this offer of living water and by Jesus revealing himself as the Messiah that she hurries off. She wants to tell her townspeople about Jesus. She is so full of what has taken place. As a result they come and persuade Jesus to stay with them which he does for two days. They now believe in Jesus because of their own experience of him but it was the woman who first brought them to Jesus.

Here Jesus uses someone to be a missionary about him to others whom religious people have rejected. She was immoral, had five husbands and was at that time cohabiting with another. A non-Jew as well, therefore considered an infidel. The Good News is that despite our sinfulness, failings etc God can use us if we accept his call which comes to us because of the water of baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

What is the water we seek to quench our thirst with? – the water welling up to eternal life which Jesus offers or the polluted water from the wells of pleasure that cannot deliver peace and joy, or the water of success, wealth, power, drugs, etc.? The Good News is that the living water Jesus offers us is free and we have but to ask for it. It alone can satisfy our longings and deepest desires.

“Lord Jesus, thank you for the life-giving water you offer us freely. Help us to reveal you to others too”.

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2014 – Year A

January 29, 2014

9 February 2014

Isaiah 58:7-10
1 Cor 2:1-5
Matthew 5:13-16

A certain man was invited by his friends to a local restaurant for a meal. After having tasted the food he asked for the salt. As far as he was concerned the meal needed some salt to give it flavour. Apparently the cook had forgotten to add salt.

Jesus in today’s gospel uses some images to describe what his disciples are like. The first image is that of salt. As we know good salt is very pure so one of its functions is to purify. Another is to preserve. And as already mentioned to give flavour. This then is what Jesus is saying. He says to his disciples ‘you are the salt of the earth’. He doesn’t say that they should become the salt of the earth. By his very calling of them they have a certain quality about them. But of course we know as he himself states that salt can become tasteless. And then it loses its value. It is also interesting to remember that salt is never actually seen in the food when it is put on the table. It remains hidden in the food and a little amount is usually all that is necessary. Salt does not draw attention to itself though it is used to give flavour, to improve the taste of the meal. Jesus in using a very ordinary well known commodity like salt is teaching his followers that they too wherever they find themselves are to be people who can purify and preserve his teachings so as to hand them on to others. For the most part his disciples are very ordinary people. They are not meant to draw attention to themselves. What they are asked to do is to live as true disciples of Jesus, so that people will be drawn to Jesus himself and not to them. And most of the time this work will be hidden – husbands, wives, children, business people, craftsmen, teachers, farmers etc. quietly going about their daily business but doing it as true disciples of Jesus.

Another image used by Jesus in this short passage is that of light. He tells his disciples that they are to be the light of the world like Jesus himself who once said “I am the Light of the world”. For many of us living in the so-called First World with electricity available all the time the image of light may not be so striking. It is probably taken for granted nearly all the time. For many years I worked in the developing world where we had no electricity and when evening came lanterns were needed to see where one was going. A small light, even a flashlight could really light up the way and so the importance of light was underlined. Again, like salt, light has no value in being light for itself – its importance comes from the value it has for others. Again Jesus is asking us his followers to be like that.

Some lights, especially very large ones will light up a large area, others quite small do the same for smaller spaces. We see the same in people. People like Mother Teresa of Calcutta, even though a small frail woman, was a very large light on the world scene. She would constantly say that any good she may have done came from her close relationship with Jesus who for her was the Light who inspired her. She was in many ways like the moon. The moon has no light in itself, it merely reflects on to the earth the light it receives from the sun. She tried to be a reflection of Jesus, the Light of the world. She gave a meaning, importance to so many people dying in Calcutta. And because of her incredible witness many other people joined her in her work.

Others are people like Nelson Mandela who in spite of the way he was so harshly treated for many years in prison in South Africa preached reconciliation instead of revenge when he was eventually released after about 27 years. And he continued to not only ‘preach’ this but live it to the end of his days last year.

Jesus then in speaking to his disciples and to us in today’s gospel is telling all of us that though we may think we are weak and insignificant we are very necessary for carrying on his work to bring about his kingdom on earth. The gifts given to each of us by God are not given for private use but must be communicated to others. They must shine through the weakness of its bearers. We can’t all be like Mother Teresa or Nelson Mandela but we can be the best we can be wherever we are no matter how little we feel our contribution may be. That is all the Lord asks each of us.

So the good that we try to do is not meant to glorify ourselves but to glorify our Heavenly Father. In today’s gospel (verse 16) Matthew tells that the light will be manifested in good works. As Isaiah says in the first reading these will be seen in precise deeds with very concrete benefits for our neighbours: sharing bread with the hungry, providing housing, clothing the naked, forgiveness etc. If we do that ‘our light will rise in the darkness’ – the last verse of Isaiah today.

The Good News of today’s gospel is that Jesus is reminding each of us of our great vocation – that we are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Jesus believes it of us. Do we believe it of ourselves? How can I be more the salt of the earth and light of the world?

“Lord Jesus, help us to believe that we are called to be salt of the earth and light of the world. Give us the Holy Spirit to enable us to be what you ask of us. Amen”.

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

What a cause for celebration!

January 25, 2014

SMA Bishop Nestor Nongo-Aziagbia of Bossangoa in the Central African Republic has spoken of his hope that with the departure of President Michel Djotodia a brighter future may be in store for his country. Slowly, businesses are returning to ‘normal’ and the amount of violence (which has been immense) is decreasing.

Background and report on the crisis in the Central African Republic.

At the same time, Bishop Nestor is caring for 50,000 internally displaced (IDP) citizens in the grounds of his seminary. They had fled their villages when attacked by the Seleka rebels. The former President had led an uprising against the previous government but when he, and his Muslim rebels, seized power Mr Djotodia was unable to keep control of his forces and they began a systematic pogrom of looting and attacking Christian churches and homes.

Bishop Nestor has written that many villages and homes have been destroyed as well as crops in the farms. Because of the lawlessness it is proving very difficult to get humanitarian aid to his IDPs as Bossangoa is far from Bangui, the capital, where most of the aid arrives. The road network is in very poor shape. It is estimated that there are more than 1 million IDPs in CAR, out of a total population of 4.5 million.

To help Bishop Nestor in caring for the IDPs click our Online Donate link here.

Under the list Please Choose a Cause click on Central African Republic IDPs. Your full donation will be sent to Bishop Nestor to help provide shelter, food and water for those living in his seminary compound. Many thanks for your support.

Journeying to SMA priesthood

January 16, 2014

“Much of what is contained within is not confined to SMA so it is a book of huge relevance to all those preparing for priesthood.”

With these words the SMA Superior General, Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll, commended the latest publication from the pen of Fr Tim Cullinane SMA.

Fr Tim Cullinane, from Brosna, Co Kerry, is a well-respected Spiritual writer and lecturer. He has several works on the spirituality of the SMA Founder, Bishop deBrésillac, and also on St Therese of Lisieux. He is a much sought-after Retreat giver. Hidden behind a quiet demeanour is a man of deep spirituality and compassion. He has been involved for many years in the formation of SMA seminarians. From this comes this latest work.

Listing some of the different ministries Fr Cullinane has been involved in over the last 50 years – school teacher, seminary lecturer, Rector and Spiritual Director (in Ireland and Nigeria), Provincial Councillor – Fr O’Driscoll writes that, from such a wide variety of experiences, Fr Cullinane writes from the heart, a heart rooted in Christ and love for priesthood.

“This book has taken years of study, reflection and prayer. May it serve all our students to prepare for priesthood with great courage and dedication and may it help all of us priests to live our missionary priesthood with great commitment and integrity” concludes Fr O’Driscoll.

In his Preface of the book Fr Cullinane explains to seminarians the purpose of the book: “The book is meant to be a practical book to help you on your journey. It is designed so that at the end of each chapter there is an opportunity to listen to the Word of God, who is your real formator, to reflect and share with others the fruits of your reflection on this word, on the content of the various chapters and be enriched in turn by the sharing of your brothers.”

Among the chapters are: SMA Vocation; Personal Relationship with Jesus; Prayer; Faith sharing; Discernment; The Mass, Self-denial; Celibacy; Pastoral work…

Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, “there is nothing more beautiful that to know Him and to speak to others about Him” which is what your missionary priesthood is about.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of one who brings good news, who heralds peace, brings happiness, proclaims salvation.” (Isaiah 52:7)

A story of the Little Flower of Lisieux

January 7, 2014

St. Thérèse was born in Alencon in France on 2^nd January, 1873. She was the last of nine children, four of whom had already died. Her father was a watchmaker and her mother ran a small lace making business. Her mother spoke of her at the age of three as lively, alert, intelligent but sensitive and nervous.

The death of her mother of cancer when Thérèse was four brought about a big change in her life which lasted until she was fifteen. Writing about this time she says, “my happy disposition changed. I became timid and retiring. I was shy in the presence of strangers and one look was enough to reduce me to tears.” She was very close to her elder sister Pauline whom she called her second mother. When she was ten years of age, Pauline entered the convent and shortly afterwards Thérèse became very ill experiencing what could be called a complete nervous breakdown. She had terrifying hallucinations imagining all kinds of monsters attacking her. Fearing for her life, her family prayed in desperation before a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary which was in her room. Thérèse too turned imploringly towards Our Lady. Suddenly the statue seemed to come to life. Our Lady smiled down on her and she was immediately cured.

On Christmas night 1886, her sensitiveness, self-absorption and timidity were dramatically healed. There was a French custom that young children got gifts in their shoes when they came home after midnight Mass. As she collected her gifts and was going upstairs she overheard her father say to her sister Celine, “Fortunately this will be the last year”. At this she was ready to burst into tears but then something happened. Jesus changed her heart and instead of a flood of tears she came down the stairs with confidence and with a smile on her face and embraced her father. She realized that God had accomplished in one instant what she had tried to do for the last ten years on her own; “I felt charity enter into my soul and the need to forget myself” She was no longer a slave to fear and what other people thought about her. Now she wanted to forget about herself and help others.

Thérèse entered the Carmelite convent at Lisieux at the age of sixteen and took the name Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. She spent the next nine years of her life in the convent living faithfully as a Carmelite sister doing ordinary everyday things.

On Holy Thursday night 1896 she began to cough up blood, the first sign of tuberculosis which was eventually to kill her. The next 18 months were times of great mental, physical and spiritual agony. The medical treatment at the time was very primitive by modern standards, with no pain killers being used. Worse still was the spiritual agony she went through. The God who, before she entered the convent, seemed so close to her now seemed to disappear and all was darkness. She could only hold on to God with blind faith but could not feel his presence.

The end came for her on 30^th September, 1897, at the young age of twenty-four. As she lay dying she held on to a crucifix. Her last words were “Oh! I love him… my God, I love you.”

After her death, everything in the convent went back to normal. One nun commented that there was nothing to say about Thérèse. It was the publication of her writings put together by her sister Pauline, under the title of “The story of a Soul” that changed all that and showed there was much to say about her, so much so that Pius X called her the “greatest Saint of modern times”.

She was canonized on 17^th May, 1925, by Pope Pius XI, proclaimed Patroness of the Missions in 1927 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997 by Pope John Paul II.

Her ‘Little Way’ of trusting in Jesus to make her holy and relying on small daily acts done with love instead of great deeds appeals to thousands of Catholics and others throughout the world who are trying to achieve holiness in their daily lives. Along with St Francis Xavier she is Patron of the Missions, not because she ever went on the missions (she didn’t) but because of her special love of the missions, and the prayers and letters she wrote in support of missionaries, encouraging them in their daily toil and sufferings. This should encourage anyone who thinks they can do nothing. The Little Flower teaches us that little things keep God’s kingdom growing.

Before she died she said, “when I die, I will send down a shower of roses from the heavens. I will spend my heaven by doing good on earth.” This is why so many pray to her today and receive their own particular rose, or answer to their prayers (offered through her intercession).

Prayers to Saint Thérèse

St Thérèse of the Child Jesus
Teach us to follow your way of confidence and trust.
Help us to realize that a father’s love
watches over us each day of our lives.
Obtain for us the light
to see in sorrow as in joy,
in trials and in peace
the loving hand of our Father.
Give us your faith and trust
so that we may walk
in darkness as in light
holding fast to the way of love,
knowing as you did that everything is grace.

St Thérèse
remember your promise to do good on earth.
Shower down your roses on all who pray to you.
Obtain for me from God
the favour I seek from His infinite goodness.
(Here mention your intention)
St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

Berengario Cermenati – Lokoja launching

December 27, 2013

In keeping with the Advent theme of the day, ‘Gaudete Sunday’, the congregation at Sunday Mass in the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Lokoja found a special reason to rejoice when Fr Edmund Hogan SMA brought them back in time to remind them that SMA Fathers, Jules Poirier and Carlo Zappa, established the first SMA mission there in 1884.

Concelebrants The Chief Celebrant of the Mass was Fr Anthony Akande, Cathedral Administrator, assisted by Fr Donatus Ogunleye, Fr Hogan and Fr Peter McCawille SMA.

Fr Hogan is pictured with Fr Ogunleye and Akande.

Fr Hogan was taking time out from his annual three-month teaching appointment in Good Shepherd Seminary in Kaduna to talk to the congregation and introduce to them one of his most recent publications, titled ‘Berengario Cermenati – Among the Ebira of Nigeria’.

During the course of his talk he gave a brief summary of the history of the growth of the Church in the area with special reference to the important role Lokoja played right from the beginning. Though the initial attempts at evangelisation were fraught with many difficulties, leading to the departure of the SMA group for Asaba in 1888, the town later became a strategic centre for the area – the Gateway to the North, the capital of the Northern Protectorate and the capital of Kabba Province.

Congregation-in-Cathedral

In his accustomed easy conversational style Eddie provided some interesting anecdotal evidence of the herculean figure that Berengario Cermenati proved to be in a career in Africa which spanned nearly forty years. Cermenati was a man of enormous stamina, blessed with a strong sense of independence, boundless self-confidence and a great sensibility to landscape. Presenting-book These qualities were amply demonstrated on a number of occasions. Conscious of the need to generate income he devised a scheme which involved the establishment, despite strenuous efforts by British Government officials to prevent him, in 1908 of a commercial farm on a small island called Beaufort Island, situated on the Niger about 20 kilometres downstream from Lokoja. It proved, however, to be an ill-fated project and within a short time the island was flooded due to unexpectedly heavy rains and Fr Cermenati was forced to take refuge on a little spur of high ground. His cries for help were ignored by those opposed to the scheme in the first place and he was eventually rescued and brought to Asaba by a Muslim whose canoe came close to the island.

He also undertook several epic trips by bicycle, visiting far-flung confreres and various government headquarters to negotiate land deals for the mission. One such memorable trip from Asaba to Warri involved a round trip of 300 miles and lasted four days! As Fr. Hogan describes him, Cermenati manifested ‘an extraordinary mixture of arrogance, foolhardiness and courage’. Not unexpectedly, he didn’t always see eye to eye with either the civil authorities or his own Society Superiors. Almost inevitably, there was an ever-present possibility of confrontation and consequent conflict as he passionately committed himself to the work of evangelisation.

Fr Hogan presents a copy of the book to Rt Rev Martin Dada Abejide Olorunmolu, Bishop of Lokoja diocese.

There is much evidence in the book to indicate that his dogged determination to get his way at all times eventually led to his being the only Catholic missionary to have ever been expelled (ironically by the Governor-General Sir Hugh Clifford who was supposedly a ‘devout’ Catholic!) from Nigeria in 1925. Despite several unsuccessful attempts at getting a reprieve Fr. Cermenati eventually accepted his fate and left Nigeria a broken-hearted man. The SMA Superiors had appointed him to Togo but when he reached Lagos in October, 1925, instead of going to Togo, he decided to head for his home in Monza, Italy. After a short period of mature recollection at home he eventually honoured his appointment to Togo in November 1926.

His last few years in Togo were unhappy ones for a variety of reasons and he was ordered out of the Prefecture by Bishop Joseph Strebler SMA. He was taken to France (he was a member of the French Province) and he was admitted to a sanatorium called La Croix ‘for moral and physical rehabilitation’.

Our picture shows the new Cathedral under construction to replace the present one, in order to accommodate the growing Catholic community.

New-Cathedral-under-constru

He made several attempts to return to Togo but all to no avail. In June, 1941 he left La Croix and headed for Italy where he died on 23 October, 1942. As Fr. Hogan indicated in the book Fr. Cermenati died a sad and lonely figure, unaware, contrary to his own conviction of having failed in his efforts at establishing the Church in the Kabba Province, that God had already abundantly blessed his tireless work. In Fr. Hogan’s final words, ‘Like the great John the Baptist in his day Berengario Cermenati was the prophet of Christianity in the Kabba Province in the early days of the 20^th century. The astonishing growth of the Church in Lokoja Diocese will forever remain as a permanent memorial to his zeal and serve as a lasting legacy of his indefatigable missionary spirit’.

Peter McCawille, SMA, SMA House, Abuja

Christmas Day Mass 2013

December 22, 2013

Isaiah 9:1-6
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14

A certain couple decided to have a party just before Christmas to celebrate the 80^th birthday of the husband’s father. It was a great celebration and went on much later than expected. So the wife said:‘Let us leave everything and go to bed. Tomorrow we can sleep late and then we’ll clean up’. She struggled out of bed at 10 o’clock with everyone else still asleep. She had more or less just cleaned one room when the front doorbell sounded. The last thing she wanted was visitors with so much cleaning still to be done. When she opened the door there facing her was a family of five – a couple she had not seen for years and their 3 children plus a dog. ‘We were just passing by and decided to call in’. There was nothing else to do but to welcome them. Luckily she had just cleaned one room and put them inside. She gave them cups of tea and biscuits and then more tea and biscuits. They shared with each other how life had been since they last met. Eventually the visitors decided to leave saying their good-byes. Their last remark was: ‘Isn’t it great you have nothing else to do but to make cups of tea and entertain visitors’. As we can imagine she could have gladly strangled them but simply smiled.

For her these people could not have come at a worse time. They were totally unexpected and she was equally totally unprepared. If they had only phoned or written ahead of time she could have given them a much better welcome, even preparing a special meal. She was caught completely unawares.

Wasn’t it like that the first Christmas? When Jesus entered our world, he came totally unexpected at that moment. The people were unprepared for his coming then. They were caught completely unawares. If he had only let them know ahead of time, they could have prepared a palace fit for a king. He certainly wouldn’t have been allowed to be born in a stable with a manger to lie in. This would have been unthinkable. But maybe it was just as well they didn’t know. How does one prepare for God? What welcome, what dwelling place would be worthy of him?

But that is what happened and in fact what still happens. Christmas is everyday, everyplace, everyone. Can we have the eyes of a child; the eyes of wonder, open to what is going on at any given time. So where is Christmas happening for us these times? Where is God coming into our lives?

Yet the mission of Christmas is very clear. Jesus came among a people dominated by the greatest political power of the time. He came and was accepted by the poor and marginalised, people like the shepherds. Jesus tells us that solidarity with the poor and the unimportant of this world is what will give us real happiness and peace. It doesn’t mean we are called to imitate them but it is often they who understand God who emptied him of power and majesty to ‘pitch his tent’ among us.

Are we not all poor in so many ways? Poor in reaching out to others we don’t like, sometimes unforgiving towards those who have hurt us. Bitter maybe because we haven’t been given the importance we thought we were entitled to by others. Sad because we would like to have more money. These are the areas in our lives where Jesus wishes to be born in us. The great Good News is that he loves us most where we love ourselves least. He is not ashamed to dwell in these parts of our lives. But we need to be aware of this and invite him in. He seems most at ease with weakness, dependence and vulnerability, all of which we usually wish to flee from. Yet here is the space he wishes to occupy.

Christmas is especially a call to all of us to hope. This is not an easy virtue to have at these times. We are witnessing the terrible murdering and pillaging in the Central African Republic, in Syria, persecution of Christians in Egypt and other countries, the ongoing persecution of Palestinian people in the the land of Christ’s birth…. On our TV screens we see the flood tide of refugees seeking some sort of place to stay in vast refugee camps. In the Philippines, people are struggling to cope with the death and destruction following Hurricane Haiyan…

Many of us are indeed touched by fear, by danger and death, afraid for the future. But it is not what the future holds which is important for us as Christians but who holds the future in the palms of his hands. Is it not our loving God and father? That is our security.

A child is born to us, a son is given to us. Christmas is a call to us to return to the source of our faith and trust in God. It is in the darkness that the light shows the way forward and if we believe Jesus is the Light of the world then he will lead us out of this darkness into his own wonderful light.

Yes, if we open our eyes we see the many signs of God’s care mediated through people who do not give up hope. We see all the aid workers in the refugee camps, the peace negotiators who spend so much of their time bringing warring parties together. Here is Jesus again among his people, the poor and needy.

“Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to us in weakness, vulnerability and littleness. Come into all the areas of our lives where we need you most. Help us to be people of hope, for you are our Saviour. Amen”.

The power of a Motswana smile

December 16, 2013

The power of a Motswana smile

On Sunday, 8 December 2013, Fr Noel Gillespie SMA launched his book, An African Village – The story of a journey into meaning, at the SMA House in Vleeschfontein, South Africa.

The book tells the story of the first Roman Catholic Church amongst the Botswana in the interior of Southern Africa. It is written in the style of a praise song of Africa. The first Mission amongst the Botswana was established by the Jesuits in Vleeschfontein in 1883. Vleeschfontein village today lies within the boundaries of the Rustenburg Diocese where many SMA priests work under the leadership of Bishop Kevin Dowling CSsR. The SMA team in South Africa – working in two dioceses (Rustenburg and Pretoria) are led by Fr Pius Afiabor SMA (from Nigeria).

An outdoor celebration in Vleeschfontein, the site of the first Mass among the Botswana

During the course of the launch Fr Gillepsie shared the following thoughts:

Our beloved former President, Nelson Mandela, lies in state as we the SMA family in South Africa gather to honour Our Lady of the Immaculate conception. The book providentially articulates his sentiments on the day of his inauguration in 1994: “We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us: it’s in everyone.”

The story honours the various peoples of Southern Africa. It tells something of some of the many individuals from various ethnic backgrounds who each in their particular moment lived out the truth of Gods Glory within. The Galway poet Graham Gillespie captures this truth in his lines:

“Porous barriers separate us if separate is the right word at all”

The following excerpts from the book give a flavour of the embryonic Rainbow nation that was South Africa in the late 19^th Century.

The Bushman is the collective name for the first peoples of Southern Africa many of whom still live today as hunter-gatherers as they have done for over 40,000 years. Africa, the cradle of humankind, is where the human story begins. In Africa we first walked upright. In Africa, a moment came when merely dividing of the spoils of the kill gave way to the first conversations around a camp fire. On African soil we celebrated our first supper together.

Fr Noel Gillespie is pictured with some parishioners.

To share supper together around the campfire, ‘eavesdropping waiting for the first stroke of night that will strike alight the moon once more’ is to invite the spirit of our ancient African continent to wrap around us an alert attentiveness.

When the bushman poet, Kabbo, looked into the camp fire at night he saw

“…the wood ashes that lie here must become the milky way that must white lie along the sky”.

Surely nature poetry in love with the creator.

The Botswana: The main population group who inhabit our story. The Jesuit missionaries of 1879 have the sensibility of the artist. They see a young African herd boy is a subject worthy of the artist’s attention.

‘While going through the wild beauty of these mountains we saw in the setting sun, a great herd of cattle coming down the mountain slope and going home to the kraal on the opposite slope of the valley. There were two to three hundred head of cattle in the herd. It was most interesting to watch them going along, one after the other, in a living chain, from one hill, across the valley to the other, thus uniting, as it were, these two hills. A small twelve year old Motswana boy, wearing a buckskin coat, his forehead ornamented with a tuft of white feathers, which contrasted with the ebony black hair, was leading this herd of cattle. This scene, one of the finest I have seen, could well be painted by an artist.’

Our picture shows Archbishop Slattery (Pretoria), Fr Gillespie and Bishop Dowling (Rustenburg) at the Book launch.

This twelve year old has the poise and grace of a chief at the head of his three hundred cattle that form a necklace-chain across the hills.

The Afrikaner: The white tribe of Southern Africa descended from Dutch settlers of the 16^th century. Lawrence Van de Post tells how his grandfather always referred to the ‘book’ and never referred to the ‘bible’. He had a special ritual before reading. He would reverently lift the large, heavy leather covers of the book with their ivory clasps that shone like silver, and open it slowly on the first ivory pages, smooth them out with his long, brown hand, and then let them lie there exposed for a moment. The Afrikaner reminds us of the primacy of the Word of God.

Landscape: A smiling landscape: Landscape, the earth’s skin cover, is infused with human presence. And landscape smiles when it is in harmony with human presence.

When the Holy Family Sisters first went to Vleeschfontein in 1913 to investigate the feasibility of establishing a convent in such a remote area, one Sister recorded a particular moment in her diary: ‘When the children left the church they were accompanied by a woman with a radiant smile. Experiencing the radiant smile gave the sisters the reassurance they needed.’ A convent was established in Vleeschfontein in part through the power of a Motswana smile.

The Batkgatla clan, have as their totem Kgabo ya Mollo, which translates as the tip of the flame. When Kgosi Linchi converted to Christianity in 1892, it could be said that the tip of the flame, the ancient guiding light of the Bakgatla, is now infused with the light of Christ.

May each nation’s gift continue to be a light for one and each other.

Advent celebrations from 4am!

December 16, 2013

Advent in the Philippines – Simbang Gabi Masses

Outside-GSP-Church-4.30am

Worshippers arriving at 4am for Mass in Good Shepherd Church

The Filipino way of preparing for Christmas during the Advent Season is quite unique. December 16 is always a much-awaited date as it is the start of the Simbang Gabi Masses. December 16 marks the second half of the Advent season and attention is focused on preparations for the coming of Jesus into the world as a child.

“Simbang Gabi” Masses are votive Masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They anticipate the birth of Jesus and are a way for preparing spiritually to welcome Jesus at Christmas.

Our picture shows some of the congregation at the Mass

Congregation-GSP The Simbang Masses are celebrated from 16th December to 24th December each morning at dawn, from 4am – hence the Mass is sometimes referred as “Misa de Gallo” (The Mass of the Rooster). Dawn has a symbolic character. It is a reminder that Christ is the Light who overcomes the darkness. Dawn too is a reminder of the penitential nature of Advent when people are encouraged to make some sacrifices by getting up early. These Masses form a nine-day Christmas Novena.

WHY ARE SIMBANG GABI MASSES CELEBRATED?
Simbang Gabi Masses are celebrated to pray for the perseverance of the Philippine nation in faith. The Mother of God is honoured as is the “dawn” of our salvation! Simbang Gabi Masses are sometimes called “Aguinaldo” Masses. Aguinaldo is a Spanish term meaning gift. So the Masses are considered as a sort of Christmas gift of the people of God as well as God’s gift to them. Simbang Gabi Masses are a reminder that salvation is pure gift.

WHERE ARE SIMBANG GABI MASSES CELEBRATED?
Simbang Gabi Masses are celebrated in every parish and other places throughout the Philippines. Office staff and factory workers have a Simbang Mass celebrated in the office or workplace… so much is the love and devotion to this unique religious practice.

HOW ARE SIMBANG GABI MASSES CELEBRATED?
Liturgically Simbang Gabi Masses are part of the Advent Season. However, white as opposed to violet is the liturgical color of this period of nine days. Even on Sundays in Advent, white vestments are permitted. The Gloria is sung. The mood is festive waiting, heightened longing and expectation as we await the joyous birth of Jesus.

Sr Kathleen McGarvey OLA bids Adieu to Nigeria

December 11, 2013

Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso of Kaduna Archdiocese recently hosted a celebration to honour two Sisters who have served the Catholic Church in Nigeria for many years. Fr Edmund Hogan SMA reports on the event:

Archbishop Man-Oso Ndagoso with Sisters Rita Schwarzenberger OP and Kathleen McGarvey OLA

The ceremony took place at the Kaduna Pastoral Centre, drawing a large crowd of people from all walks of life in the Archdiocese. The opening address was given by Fr Mark Monaghan SMA, one of the Vicar Generals in Kaduna, who is the APCEC Chairman.

V Rev Fr Bulus Lukas Karis, also Vicar General in Kaduna, gave the Closing remarks and Prayer.

Sister Rita Schwarzenberger, an American Dominican, was celebrating the Golden Jubillee of her Profession. She has spent almost all her religious life in Northern Nigeria. Her father is still alive in the USA, aged 95.

The second Sister was the recently-elected OLA Provincial Superior, Sr Kathleen McGarvey, from Falcarragh, Co Donegal. Among the attendacne were members of the Muslim community – and particularly those working along with Christian women for community harmony – in which Sr Kathleen was a moving spirit.

The diocesan newspaper – The Cross News – wrote of her, under the headline: THE FALCON FLIES AWAY

“On Wednesday 13 Nov 2013, the Archdiocese of Kaduna through her Pastoral Executive Council (APEC) organized a farewell dinner in honour of Rev Sr Kathleen McGarvey OLA, for her excellent pastoral contribution to the Archdiocese and to the Church in Nigeria, as she leaves on 15 November to take up appointment as OLA Provincial Superior in Ireland. Guests at that occasion spoke in glowing tributes of this enigmatic falcon, an erudite theologian, a conflict resolution expert and a pragmatic missionary called Kathleen McGarvey.”

Sr Kathleen receives a gift from the Archbishop during the Farewell ceremony.

After her First Profession in 1992, Sr Kathleen was sent to work in the OLA community in Argentina where she was involved in Missionary animation and formation. Her seven years on mission there were special years in her missionary formation.

In December 1999 she returned to Ireland to begin preparations for final vows and further studies. Her topic of choice was Women and Interreligious Dialogue, largely because of her interest in both areas and because the OLA Sisters are committed to promoting the dignity of women. She was conferred with a Doctorate in Missiology in 2006 from the Gregorian University, Rome and then returned to Nigeria where she has been until her election.

Her studies included two years research in Northern Nigeria – two challenging but adventurous years that brought her into the lives of both Muslim and Christian women, and strengthened her commitment to helping transform relations between these two groupings and create an environment in which they could become life-giving rather than death-threatening.

Fr Mark Monaghan SMA, Sr Kathleen, the Archbishop and Sr Rita listening to the speeches during the ceremony

In March 2008 she began, what has been until her election as Provincial Leader, her present mission in Kaduna, Nigeria. There she lectured in the Good Shepherd Major Seminary giving various courses, including Theology of Religions, Missiology, Ecumenism, Ecclesiology and Consecrated Life. Sister Kathleen has also been involved in diverse activities in the Archdiocese, particularly in the area of pastoral planning, with some women’s church-based groups. The importance of promoting interreligious dialogue at all levels has always been a priority and in recent years Sr Kathleen has become an influential figure particularly as a member of various committees set up by Government to help in responding positively.

From May 2010 until her election last September, Sr Kathleen was the Founder and General Coordinator, Interfaith Council of Muslim and Christian Women’s Associations, Kaduna, Nigeria. This group brings leaders and members of Muslim and Christian women’s faith organizations together in sincere and concrete dialogue to address conflict and women’s other concrete concerns.

Among her publications is ‘Muslim and Christian Women in Dialogue: The Case of Northern Nigeria’ (published Peter Lang, Oxford, 2009).

To read more about the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles click here.

Fr Edmund Hogan and Fr Colman Nilan represented the SMA at the ceremony.

Signs of the Times

December 9, 2013

Signs of the Times
The record breaking and terrifying Typhoon Haiyan which swept with such destructive force across the centre of the Philippines last month was of such magnitude that no one could have expected . In a country where typhoons are a regular occurrence, no one was prepared for this one. That is why so many have died. The final total is not yet known, and may never be known. At least one little family here in Cork is still waiting for news of family in Tacloban. A chef in Dublin spoke on radio of having lost ten members of his family. “I don’t know how I am going to cope”, he said. Anecdotes like this can bring some of the effects home to Irish people, mostly secure and sheltered in strongly built houses, and in a country that has regulations on safe building practices.

Continue

Fr Thomas (Tom) Mullahy SMA – family tribute

December 8, 2013

At the end of the Funeral Mass, a nephew of Fr Tom Mullahy, Padraic Fahey, spoke on behalf of the family about his uncle.

Very Reverend Fathers, brothers, ladies and gentlemen thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on behalf of Fr. Tom’s family.

Fr. Tom or Fr. Tommie as we affectionately knew him was born and grew up in Cornfield, Holly mount, Co. Mayo to a farming family. The path to the priesthood and the SMA order was paved for him by his uncle, Fr. Tom Bartley (died 1956), who served in the missions in Nigeria prior to Fr. Tommie.

As young children growing up we looked forward to Fr. Tommie coming home and there was something for everyone when he arrived. I always remember trying to be first to the sweets. Daily excursions followed with trips to places like Cinema, swimming and lots of sightseeing tours. We even got to try Yams or Sweet potatoes fresh from Nigeria before anyone local folks knew what they were, long before Aldi and Lidl came to town.

Ms Delia Bartley at grave of her uncle Fr Tom Bartley I had the pleasure of moving Fr. Tom from his parish in Limerick to the SMA House in Claregalway. I came prepared with Car and trailer and lots of boxes. Little did I know!

There was no need for a trailer or boxes as Fr. Tommie’s had limited earthly belongings – a small amount of memorabilia and some daily essentials.

Pictured on left is Ms Del Bartley (niece of Fr Tom Bartley SMA), at his grave in Wilton cemetery.

I want to thank the SMA for taking such good care of Fr. Tommie, particularly the nurses and staff in St. Theresa’s Nursing Centre. We always got such a great welcome when coming to visit Fr. Tommie. For us it was like Home Away from Home.

I want to finish off with a quote from Saint Francis of Assisi: “Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.”

Wherever Fr. Tommie went he reduced the fear of ignorance by education and spreading the word of God.

May Fr. Tommie rest in peace – Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Obituary of Fr Tom Mullahy SMA

Funeral homily of Fr Michael McCabe

Fr Thomas (Tom) Mullahy SMA

December 6, 2013

The members of the Society of African Missions are mourning the death of their confrere, Fr Tom Mullahy, which took place at 4.55am on Thursday, 5 December 2013. He died peacefully in the care of the nursing staff at the St Theresa’s Care Centre at the African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork.

Tom Mullahy, son of Patrick and Delia (née Bartley), was born on 28 July 1934 at Cornfield, in the parish of Kilcomman & Robeen (Hollymount) in the Archdiocese of Tuam. He was the youngest of five children.

After completing his primary education at Ballygarris National School he did his Leaving Certificate at the CBS, Ballinrobe. Having decided he wanted to be a missionary priest it was unsurprising that he chose to join the SMA as his mother’s brother, Thomas Bartley, was also a member of the Society and had a long career serving in the mid-west of Nigeria. He entered the SMA College at Cloughballymore, Kilcolgan, Co Galway. Up to then students who went to Cloughballymore did a two-year Novitiate and Philosophy programme. But the September 1953 class, on which Tom was one, spent nine months there doing a Spiritual Year programme, becoming a member of the Society on 25 June 1954. The class were then sent to Wilton, Cork to undertake studies at UCC. Tom gained a BA in Latin and Geography. He did his theological studies at the African Missions, Dromantine, Newry, Co Down.

He was ordained a priest on 21 December 1960 by Bishop Eugene O’Doherty of Dromore diocese in St Colman’s Cathedral, Newry. In 1961, after a 13 days ship voyage from Liverpool, he arrived in Lagos, in the south of Nigeria. He then had a 36 hours train journey from Lagos to Jos, in the north of Nigeria. He was to spend a total of 18 years ministering in different parts of Jos, particularly in the education apostolate.

Fr Tom is pictured (back row, left) after a wedding in Jos with Frs Martin Nolan, Edward Harrington and James Murphy, all now deceased. RIP.

His first appointment was to the staff of Mary Immaculate Teacher Training College in Kafanchan where he taught English, Geography and Maths for two years. Recalled to Ireland to undertake a Higher Diploma in Education, he returned to Jos – and to the Minor seminary at Barakin Ladi where he taught for two years. He was then asked to join the teaching staff at St Murumba’s College on the outskirts of Jos itself and he spent five years there, combining his teaching role with pastoral work in the Our Lady of Fatima parish. When the Teacher Training College needed a new Principal the Bishop, John Reddington SMA, turned to Fr Tom to take the reins. He happily returned to CMI but, within a year, a very serious illness forced his early resignation from that position. After a period of convalescence Fr Tom was asked to go to the south of the diocese, to Shendam parish, to the new Community School in Langtang which was to be his last assignment in Nigeria.

Bishop Gabriel Ganaka is pictured with the priests serving in Jos diocese on 13 July 1975. Twenty-six of them were SMA priests. Today, there are two SMA priests serving in the Archdiocese of Jos, which has given birth to several new dioceses in the intervening years.

Throughout his years in Nigeria, Fr Tom was deeply committed to primary evangelization. He firmly believed that the Church must go out of the towns and deep into the rural areas. As most adults where he worked were illiterate his ministry was one of ‘presence’. In time, his work (and those of the other missionaries, ably assisted by local Catechists) bore fruit. Today Kafanchan and Shendam are two separate dioceses and Jos has become an Archdiocese. God has certainly given the harvest. Despite his commitment to the service of the Nigerian people Fr Tom never fully recovered full health and, in 1979, he was forced to return to Ireland.

Reflecting on his years in Nigeria, Fr Tom often spoke of his great satisfaction in meeting former students who had done well for themselves, particularly those who had got there from poor and difficult circumstances. He was also very taken by their great desire for education. One of his students in Kafanchan, David Maigida, was to become the Principal of the Langtang Community School and this was a source of justifiable pride for Fr Tom.

After a period at home regaining his physical strength, Fr Tom joined the SMA Promotion team based in Dublin. After five years ‘on the road’ Fr Tom returned to his great love: pastoral work. Limerick diocese, under the last Bishop Jeremiah Newman, had an agreement with the Society to receive some diocesan priests to work alongside SMA priests in Nigeria. In a form of ‘reverse mission’ Fr Tom went to work in Limerick diocese for sixteen years, where he served in three parishes: St Munchin’s, Monaleen and Donoughmore. During his 12 years in St Munchin’s he also served as Chaplain to St Camillus Hospital, a ministry which made huge demands on him. He then moved to Monaleen for two years before his transfer to Donoughmore from which a return of ill health forced a decision by Fr Tom and his SMA Superiors to recognize the inevitable, and so he retired to the SMA House in Claregalway, Co Galway.

Fr Tom is pictured (back row, 4th from left) at a ceremony to receive new OLA Postulants.

By happy coincidence the Parish Priest of Donoughmore, Fr Oliver Plunkett, served for four years in Nigeria so no doubt there was many stories to share about ‘life on the missions’. Fr Tom’s years in Limerick were very happy ones for him.

In 2007, it became necessary for Fr Tom to move from Claregalway to the Motherhouse in Cork and he spent his final years in peaceful retirement greatly cared for by the SMA and Nursing / Care staff in St Theresa’s Care Centre where he died peacefully last Thursday.

His brother, Patrick and two sisters, Mary (Moran) and Nellie (Conway) predeceased him. He is deservedly mourned by his sister Kathleen Fahy, cousin Delia Bartley, nephews, nieces, other relatives, friends and confreres in the Society of African Missions.

May Tom’s gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.

Funeral homily of Fr Michael McCabe SMA

Family Tribute of Mr Padraic Fahey

Centenary celebrations in Ekiti diocese

December 4, 2013

Fr Des Corrigan recently returned from the concluding ceremonies marking the coming the Catholic Faith to Ekitiland in western Nigeria. There was much to celebrate and the Catholics of Ekiti put on a memorable and joyful celebration. Fr Corrigan witnessed, not for the first time, the way Nigerians celebrate and give thanks to God for His blessings. “When it comes to celebrating significant events no effort or expense is spared”, he states. Here is an edited version of his article.

The coming of the Faith

The people of Ekiti diocese were celebrating the centenary of the planting of a small seed in 1913. That year five young men left Usi-Ekiti and travelled to Ibadan to ask Fr. Louis Friess (a French SMA priest) to come to Usi to tell the people about the Catholic Faith. Fr. Friess accepted their invitation and, accompanied by these young, men travelled by train to Offa (now in Kwara State). They walked the rest of the journey to Usi-Ekiti.

On 19^th March Fr. Freiss celebrated the first Mass in Ekitiland. After spending a short time in and around Usi he returned and reported to Bishop Terrien SMA in Lagos. Bishop Terrien soon sent Frs. Friess and Paulisen to evangelise Ekitiland. These were joined by Frs. Wouters and Georges Laugel, who became the best know missionary in Ekiti in the early years. (There is still St. George’s school in Ado and the church which is now the Cathedral was for many years St. George’s Church but somehow with the coming of the Irish SMAs it became St. Patrick’s.)

In their wildest dreams they could never have imagined or even hoped how the seed of the Gospel they planted would grow and blossom over the next 100 years.

Grand Finale of Celebrations

There have been many events over the past year celebrating that growth but the Grand Finale was a Mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti on 19^th Oct. 2013.

It was a very colourful, joyful occasion with the majority of people dressed in a beautiful specially designed aso ebe (cloth for special occasions) while the bishops and priests wore chasubles designed for the centenary. The cathedral was packed as were the seats under canopies and in a nearby hall. The Papal Nuncio (Archbishop Augustine Kasujja), Cardinal John Onaiyekan of Abuja, about 20 bishops and over 200 priests concelebrated the Mass. The Bishop of Ekiti, Rt Rev Felix Ajakaye, was the principal celebrant.

Hundreds of Religious and thousands of the lay faithful participated with an obvious sense of joy, gratitude, pride and satisfaction. Two state governors along with the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Mr Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, were joined by many civic leaders and traditional rulers.

The bishops and the guests were accommodated in the Ekiti diocesean pastoral centre which has 75 en-suite rooms. On the previous evening Bishop Ajakaye hosted a big celebratory dinner for invited guests. Our photo shows him greeting Fr Eddie Hartnett SMA who has been a missionary in the Archdicoese of Lagos for 46 years.

SMA Presence

Having worked for nearly 9 years in Ekiti after I first went to Nigeria I was very happy to be present for these celebrations and to represent the SMA Irish Province. I was conscious of the many SMAs who gave long and dedicated service in that area. Earlier in the week there was a Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral remembering all the deceased missionaries, priests, religious and catechists who had laboured in the Lord’s vineyard in Ekiti.

Fr. Reginald Nwuchukwu, SMA, (Bight of Benin DF Superior) and Fr. Eddie Hartnett SMA, who is ministering in the Badagry area, were also present flying the SMA flag. Bishop Ajakaye and Cardinal Onaiyekan, in his homily, paid tribute to the SMA missionaries who brought the Faith to Ekitiland. However, it struck me that the memory of SMA in Ekiti and in many such places where we worked in the past, but are no longer physically present, is fading fast. Generations of priests and laity are growing up who know little or nothing of the SMA. We need to find ways of keeping that memory alive and harvesting the fruits of it. Having an SMA presence at events like this is one way but we need to explore others before a rich history, tradition and connection with local churches are lost.

Growth of the Faith

It seems very appropriate that in the year of Faith the people of Ekiti celebrated 100 years of the Faith in their land. What struck me most forcibly was the extraordinary growth of the seed of Faith planted 100 years ago by the early SMA missionaries. In the early years the growth was slow but the SMA priests persevered, despite the hardships and setbacks.

Our pictures above and below show the immense growth in the Catholic faith in Nigeria – packed churches, local vocations – Cardinals, bishops, priests, sisters and Brothers. And all this work is supplemented by the trojan witness of thousands of lay catechists.

For the first 20 years Ado-Ekiti was the only parish and resident mission so the priests and catechists trekked from there all over Ekiti. In the mid to late 1930s Efon, Usi and Ilawe became parishes with priests living there.

It was 1946 before the first priest from Ekiti, Anthony Oguntuyi, was ordained. Ekiti, Ondo and Ilorin became a Vicariate in 1943 and in 1948 it became a diocese under Bishop Thomas Hughes SMA (from Hollymount, Co Mayo). He was succeeded by Bishop William Field SMA in 1958.

Bishop Ajakaye (right) is joined by the first bishop of Ekiti, Rt Rev Michael Olatuji Fagun (on left) and Bishop Badejo of Oyo diocese (centre).

It was during Bishop Field’s time that Ekiti became a separate diocese in July 1972. I was fortunate to be there at that time and to be part of the new diocese under Bishop Michael Olatunji Fagun. I was in the Cathedral parish in Ado-Ekiti and, since Bishop Fagun had no bishop’s house, we lived together in the Mission House for 3 years. I found it an enriching experience living and working with Bishop Fagun and learned a lot from him. While I was there for the Centenary celebrations we reminisced about the beginnings of the diocese just over 40 years ago. Some facts may highlight the growth since then.

In 1972	In 2013
7 parishes	65 parishes
3 Nigerian diocesan priests	99 Nigerian diocesan priests & 10 Religious priests
9 SMA priests	No SMA priests
12 Irish St Louis Sisters	No Irish St Louis Sisters
No Nigerian-born Sisters	100+ Nigerian born Sisters from the diocese in several Congregations
4 Convents	15 Convents

Many new churches have been built and old ones replaced by larger ones. Places that were small outstations are now parishes with resident priests. The people are very generous and are supporting all those priests and parishes so the growth is sustainable.

The growth in the number of parishes and churches indicates the increase in the number of faithful filling those churches every Sunday. Bishop Fagun told me that the Cathedral parish where I and others worked in the 1970s has grown and been divided so often that it is now 16 parishes, served by 22 priests. In Ado-Ekiti town alone there are 8 parishes.

Ekiti is typical

I think that story of the growth and development of the Faith in Ekiti is typical of most parts of Nigeria and indeed of Africa. The church in Ekiti is vibrant, strong, full of life and energy and still growing and developing. It should be able to deal with the issues and challenges it will face in the next 100 years.

As I looked at the smiling, joyful faces of the people in the cathedral in Ado-Ekiti as we came towards the end of a 4 hour ceremony I thought we in the SMA can learn something from them. They came to give thanks to God for the growth of the Faith among them over the last 100 years and to rejoice in His blessings. As we look back I think we too can and should have a great sense of gratitude, joy and satisfaction at the way in which God has blessed the work of our missionaries. We are blessed to have reached the harvest time and see the fruits being gathered therefrom. In the Gospel of the Mass that day we heard Christ tell his disciples, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see and never saw it; to hear what you hear and never heard it.” I was privileged to be in Ekiti representing the SMA to see and hear that wonderful things God has done there in the last 100 years.

Thanks

I am grateful for the opportunity I had to represent the Irish Province at the celebrations. I am very grateful to Bishop Ajakaye, Bishop Fagun, the priests and people of Ekiti for the really warm welcome I received. I also want to express my thanks to SMA colleagues, Fathers Edward Muge and Tim Cullinane and the staff and students of the SMA Formation House, Ibadan for their hospitality and kindness.

[Editor’s note: Fr Corrigan humbly forgets to say that he was the man who, over several years, saw the acquisition of the site and built the Formation House in Ibadan].

The growth and development there is different but compares well with what I saw in Ekiti and gives us reason to be grateful for the past and to face the future with hope.

4th Sunday of Advent 2013

November 29, 2013

22 December 2013

Isaiah 7.10-14
Romans 1.1-7
Matthew 1.18-24

Some time ago I was invited to the 40^th wedding anniversary of a couple I know quite well. Their 6 children and also their grandchildren were present. After a very enjoyable meal the husband spoke of their long years of marriage, of both the joys and the struggles. He spoke too of the time before they were married. He said ‘we were so much in love that we would spend our time together until the early hours of the morning, walking around the streets, looking in shop windows. We didn’t want to part. We wanted to be together’. That was long before people cohabited or lived together before marriage.

When we really love someone do we not seek to be near the beloved, to be always with them? Is it not the same with God and us? Our God loves us so much that he wishes to be with us always, not only in this life but also in the life to come. That is why in the gospel today we are told that the child to be born to Mary would fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means God-is-with-us’. This is indeed Good News. We have a God who does not wish to be far away from us but desires ‘to be with us’, to be near the beloved. Sadly it is we ourselves who often keep God at a distance, maybe because of fear of committing our lives to him etc.

When my friends married many years ago, they promised to be faithful to each other, for better, for worse: for richer, for poorer: in sickness and in health etc. When God created us that was the promise he made also in his covenant and renewed daily in the Eucharist. He is a God who will never abandon us. We may become rich materially and forget God but he waits hoping we will turn back to him. Sometimes when we have perfect health we may forget God and live in a way which hurts others and ourselves. God is still faithful and often if we suffer bad health, it is then we turn back to God and this faithful God of ours is there to welcome us in spite of our forgetting about him when our health was perfect etc.

Today too in the gospel we hear about Joseph who was probably shocked and very saddened to find that Mary was pregnant, but not by him. It was obviously a time of crisis for him – what would he do? Being obviously a kind man he decided not to condemn Mary publicly but to divorce her quietly. In this time of darkness he decided on a human solution. Maybe he even doubted God. How could God have allowed this? Then he experienced the helping nearness of God. It was revealed to him in a dream not to be afraid to take Mary to his home since she had conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Here then in the gospel we have a God who wants to be near us, to be with us, to dwell among us. But he doesn’t force his way into our lives. He comes knocking on the door of our hearts, asking permission to enter our world through us. God decided to need Joseph to be the legal father of Jesus just as he needed Mary to give birth to Jesus. Never in their wildest dreams would they have considered themselves important enough to play such a key role in Jesus coming amongst us. Yet they were people of faith.

At Christmas time we give gifts as a sign of our love. The gift we received from God was Jesus. Could we not also give God a Christmas gift? Above all the gift of allowing him to come into our world through us as did Mary and Joseph. So amazingly God still decides not to come into our world in any other way except through us humans. Will we allow him to dwell with us by agreeing like Mary and Joseph to respond to his invitation? The goodness of God can only be present in our world when we are good to each other. His forgiveness and kindness is present when we are forgiving and kind to each other. Likewise with his compassion, patience, gentleness. On the other hand we can be unforgiving, selfish, angry people blocking off what God wishes for our world. God as man appeared in Jesus. Aware of it or not people experienced God then in the human person of Jesus. God’s smile was seen when Jesus smiled. God looked on us kindly in the kind glance of Jesus. God touched us in the human touch of Jesus. He welcomed and forgave in the welcome and forgiveness of Jesus. It is no different today. This is the way that God still comes to us, just as Mary and Joseph cooperated with God’s plan by allowing him to come among us. They could, of course, have refused.

All of us saw the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York on September 11^th this year. Who could have believed that these towering buildings made of solid concrete and steel would have collapsed but they did. They were manmade and undoubtedly meant to last for years and years.

In the gospel today we have two other towers. Mary and Joseph are towers of faith. They did not collapse when crises, attacks on their faith, darkness, doubts, suffering entered their lives. They were constructed not of solid concrete and steel but on the solid gift of faith and trust in God.

“Lord Jesus may we also be like Mary and Joseph – people of faith and trust who will allow You to come into our world through us, to allow you to be near us always so much do you love us. Amen”

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

3rd Sunday of Advent 2013

November 29, 2013

15 December 2013

Isaiah 35.1-6,10
James 5.7-10
Matthew 11.2-11

A 25-year-old young woman was explaining to her cousin about her relationship with her boyfriend Marco. She said that they had been together for 2 years. He often told her that he loved her and would sometimes give her gifts. She hoped they would marry. So one day she said to him. ‘I believe that you love me and I hope it is true. But how do I know for sure? He replied, ‘tomorrow you will know for sure’. When they met the following day he took an engagement ring out of his pocket and put it on her finger and asked her to marry him. She told her friend: ‘that deed was more convincing than all the words of love that he had previously spoken to me’.

John the Baptist in the gospel today is like that. He has heard many words spoken about Jesus and he has been hoping that Jesus is the Messiah who is to come. Now John is in prison and he wants to know if Jesus is the One to come so John sends his disciples off to ask this of Jesus. Jesus points to his deeds as proof. John when he appeared in the wilderness was a real ascetic, dressed in a garment made of camel hair with a leather belt round his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. Contrasted to this Jesus frequently attended banquets and meals offered him by the well-off.

John also would have had difficulty with the attitudes and preaching of Jesus which differed much from his own. John preached the gospel of divine holiness with divine destruction. He warned that if people did not repent and turn away from their sins they would burn in a fire that would never go out. Jesus came and preached the gospel of holiness with divine love. He spoke of God’s great compassion and forgiveness. In his parables he uses the images of the lost sheep, the lost coin, the prodigal Son etc to speak of God’s incredible determination to save all even at the cost of the life of Jesus on the cross.

So when Jesus came it looked completely different from what John expected. Indeed it was hardly recognisable. Does this not happen to our expectations too? Do we have the humility to let go of our false images of God, our prejudices and allow God to change us as he wishes? Can we let go of the idea that religion is about following rules and laws that certainly have their place, in order to hear the call to an interior conversion? What John the Baptist wanted, comes to pass but not from preaching a religion of fear. It comes from within. It is not whipped into place with a rod of iron and threats of eternal damnation, instead it grows out of the power of Jesus loving us, forgiving us and calling us to discipleship.

For me perhaps the hardest message to get across is that God is a God of Love. Many people seem to think that it depends on our being virtuous. Then God will reward us. This is a Profit and Loss approach to God. The more good I do here the more merit is credited to my heavenly account. But if I Iive immorally and do bad things this is held against me. When I die the two sides are balanced and depending on which is greater I will go to heaven or hell. This is as far from Christianity as one could imagine. Of course we try to live as well as we can, be a kind, forgiving and helpful as possible but only as a response of gratitude to our Loving God who offers his friendship and eternal life freely. Sadly we can refuse to want this. The whole life of Jesus was to tell sinners and outcasts that they were loved and accepted by God. ‘Come to me all you who labour and are heavily burdened’, he once said. No wonder people, especially the sinners, flocked to Jesus to hear his Good News.

In the gospel Jesus highly praises John. ‘Among those born of women, there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he’. What did John lack? What is it that the Christian has that John never could have? The answer really is simple. John had never seen the cross. Therefore he could never have known the full revelation of God’s love. The holiness of God he might know, the justice of God he might declare but the love of God in its fulness in allowing Jesus to die on the cross he could never have known. No one would really have called John’s message Good News. It was basically a threat of destruction if one did not repent. It took Jesus and his Cross to show us the length and breadth, the depth and height of God’s incredible passionate, unconditional love for us humans.

The things Jesus did in Galilee he still does. If we are blind to the truth about God, others, and ourselves he opens our eyes if we ask him. If we are lame in the sense that we find it hard to stay on the right path, he will strengthen us. If we suffer from the leprosy of sin he will cleanse us if we pray for this. Those of us who are dead to the voice of God and conscience will be able to listen. If we feel dead and powerless to love God he will give us new life if we honestly want it and ask humbly for it.

John prepared for the coming of Jesus but he could never have dreamed of the Good News that Jesus preached by his words and his life.

“Lord Jesus, help us to fully believe the Good News as you reveal it to us. Amen.”

Fr Jim Kirstein, SMA

Montana parish reaches out to SMA Philippines

November 25, 2013

Fr Michael O’Leary has had a varied missionary life, working in both rural and urban settings in Liberia and now working in Pretoria, South Africa. He is the Parish Priest of the Presentation Parish in Montana, in the north of Pretoria. It has been under the pastoral care of the Society of African Missions (SMA) since its establishment in the 1990’s.

The first SMA missionaries landed in South Africa nearly 150 years ago. Read more about this and the birth of Montana parish here.

A growing multicultural parish it has a very active Caring Committee who invite the parishioners to reach beyond the parish limits to address the needs of others. During 2013 they have reached out to two projects proposed to them by the Caring Committee:

(1) They gathered funds to help the work in Twafwane Self-help Village in Kitwe, Zambia – a project founded by Fr Anthony Kelly SMA.

(2) A second project raised Rand 11,000 (just under €1,000) to help the work of Médecins sans Frontieres.

On learning of the terrible Typhoon in the Philippines they decided to, once again, reach out to others in need. Our picture shows the BBQ they had to raise funds. Fr Michael reports:

Greetings from Pretoria. I have been following with interest your report on the Philippines. ( see www.sma.ie ) Here in Montana we have challenged the people to support the cause of the SMA in supporting the relief effort and they have done well. I am forwarding the sum of €400 to Fr Gus O’Driscoll in Manila to help buy what is needed. We don’t seem to have great success in finding vocations in South Africa. However, the people here in Montana are very good when asked to help others in need. Earlier in the year they supported a project of Tony Kelly in Zambia and now they are supporting the Philippines.

I hope by now you have received copies of the 2014 SMA calendar that they have sponsored through a raffle and copies of this calendar have been offered to all parishes where the SMA are working in South Africa as a gesture of making the name of the SMA known in South Africa.

Montana parish is an example of how people, who themselves have many needs, are still aware of others in need. And not only aware, but willing to do something about it. And they can make it an enjoyable fun experience as our picture above shows.

Philippines: necessity is the mother of invention…

November 23, 2013

Fr Gus O’Driscoll continues to channel aid to two parishes in Tacloban – Leyte, thanks to the donations arriving through our Donate Online facility. As it is difficult to get supplies through due to the destruction of roads etc and the high cost of hiring lorries they have resorted to a novel way of sending help. Here is part of an email he sent giving an update on how Fr German Patiga is getting on after eventually reaching his family and how they are now sending supplies to Fr German’s parish of the Holy Family, Pawing.

I spoke with Fr German very briefly this evening, but it keeps cutting out, so no proper conversation is possible. Texts are better, though still incomplete ( “part of text missing”).

We sent a small truck load of relief goods from here about an hour ago, which hopefully will get on the bus leaving from north side of Manila tomorrow morning. We pay the fare of 10 passengers, so the goods can be loaded on those seats, as ‘occupants’! Its the best way we have found so far.

To help Fr Gus and the people in the Philippines click here.

Philippines needs YOUR help

November 19, 2013

The SMA has had a presence in the Philippines for nearly 30 years. Our principal purpose in going to the Philippines was to recruit and train priests for service in Africa. Today, Filipino SMA priests are ministering in Ghana and Tanzania. But as a quid pro quo for going to the Philippines the late Cardinal Sin asked that the SMA establish a parish in his Archdiocese. And so the Good Shepherd Parish in Las Piñas was born! It is staffed by three SMA’s – Fr Gus O’Driscoll (from Rathcormac, Cork) and two Filipino SMA priests: Frs German Patiga and Tony Gelaga.

The recent typhoon brought its tragedy home to us as Fr Gus reports. In these three articles we reproduce an edited account from his emails:

Monday, 11 November

The island of Leyte was hit by the eye of the storm. You have seen the pictures of some of the towns, especially Tacloban, crushed in Tsunami-like manner. Estimates of death? 10,000? Who knows? It might well be higher. Harrowing pictures and stories on the newspapers. The main picture this morning would break your heart! A young, dazed father, carrying the lifeless body of his 6 year old daughter in his arms to a makeshift morgue.

I feel a particular sadness because my SMA companion here in the parish for the past 6 years (he was in Ireland on FVC /Sponsors days a few years ago), Fr. German Patiga, is from that area. He was a student of mine in my early years in the Philippines. His town lies along the coast, badly damaged. It’s about 12kms from Tacloban.

His father is in hospital there, having suffered a stroke just last week.

Now he has no contact with his family; all communication systems have broken down. I was chatting with parishioners after Masses yesterday, and again this morning, who also come from that area; they also fear the worst.

We were working on relief operations this morning – rice, canned goods, water, medicines etc which are going on a truck tonight from here for his family and neighbours, and may reach in 24 hours, hopefully (in his 2^nd email Fr Gus told us that the truck took 60 hours!).

There are yet no commercial flights to Tacloban, but German has got a place on a military cargo plane that is leaving at 5am Tuesday. He is anxious and worried; what will he find when he reaches home?

The Philippines is used to typhoons, landslides, ships capsizing every year. The earthquake last month in the same central islands of the country brought a lot of destruction, and a few hundred deaths. Its a time of great sadness for the nation.

We had a lot of activities in our parish over the weekend; it kept our time and minds occupied. In the quieter times of today, the scale of the tragedy has hit home. I have not felt so sad in all my years in the Philippines.

Keep us in your prayers. Fr Gus.

If you would like to support the SMA effort in the Philippines click here to make a donation. Click on the The Greatest Need option. Your full donation – no deduction for bank charges etc – will be sent to Fr Gus to purchase what is needed to help. Thank You.

Thursday, 14 November

Fr German has not yet made it home. Though he spent more than 24 hours at the air base here in Manila, he failed to get a place on one of the military cargo planes; they were prioritising the army personnel and emergency relief. He then crossed the city to try and get a place on a bus, but failed again. He returned here to the parish last night in low spirits. But good news, great news came some hours later – his immediate family are safe. We thank God. A 1^st cousin who was unable to get out of his home on time was killed, and 2 aunts are still unaccounted for.

There are 4 houses in his family compound – the family home and 3 other houses of his siblings and in-laws. Two houses are destroyed, a third badly damaged. But one withstood the terror of the storm, and that is what saved them, though the water was above knee level. Communication is still sparse, as they have no electricity and run out of batteries.

The other good news – he received a text an hour ago from his niece, a teacher here in our parish, who was on that vehicle that left on Monday night with food and other essential items; it has just reached his home, 60 hours later! So he is much relieved.

German has now got a ticket for a commercial flight to the neighbouring larger island of Cebu for Saturday. He feels he can make it home from there.

Stories keep coming of how the tragedy has affected families directly. One of the graphic pictures that has featured on the news is of a large fishing boat that was tossed up out of the sea and landed on a row of small houses. A man came to our parish office this morning requesting masses and prayers; his relatives were in those houses – 9 of them perished. God be merciful to them all.

Meanwhile all our parishes are busy with purchasing and packing relief goods. We hope to send more supplies as we gather sufficient for another truck or join with other parishes in getting supplies there as quickly as possible.

And we continue as best as we can with our regular activities this month – 60 children for First Communion tomorrow, 260 candidates for Confirmation on Saturday, and 22 couples for the ‘multiple wedding’ next Wednesday and Thursday. God gives us the strength.

Saturday, 16 November

Greetings again from Manila! I write this on Saturday night, after our confirmation ceremony this morning, and at the end of a very long, traumatic and pain-filled week.

Fr. German finally got a flight this morning to the neighbouring island of Cebu; from there he got a smaller aircraft to Tacloban city in the afternoon. After arriving there, he sent me the following text:

“if I had not known the condition of my family before leaving Manila, I would surely have fainted on seeing the destruction in Tacloban. Flying in to the city, I could not have ever imagined the magnitude of the destruction. I cried while the plane was descending. I still have to see the life of my family”.

In a text message received on Tuesday, 19 November, Fr German wrote: “I am now here in Palo Leyte – near to Tacloban city – with my family. My parents, siblings and their respective families are all alive. But four of my first cousins are dead and soem nephews are missing. The village next to ours is completely destroyed and there are at least 130 dead there. Our village has less than 10 dead. Our houses are either severely damaged or completely destroyed.”

As you have seen on the continuous coverage on CNN and BBC, relief aid is getting through, but very slowly. Trucks of food that have gone from Manila by road and ferry are stuck at the ports and bridges; one report this morning said there is a backlog of trucks for 2 km. The goodwill is there from the people / donors, but the system of distribution is poor.

Parishes continue the relief operation. Here in Good Shepherd Parish, and with SMA Philippines, we are focusing primarily on two parishes in the devastated places ( its more helpful to have a particular focus, than to send relief in a general way). The first, primary focus is the parish of Fr. German Patiga – Holy Family Parish, Pawing, Palo, Leyte.

The second is the home parish of one of our SMA seminarians, studying theology here in Manila – Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish, can-Avid, Eastern Samar.

Donations we get here in Manila, and donations we receive through the SMA in Ireland, through our Philippines Disaster Relief Fund (SMA members, family friends, and others who want to help) will be used in our on-going relief operation. Obviously this project will not be for just a few weeks. After the people receive food, water and medicine, there is the longer work of re-building their lives. Rehabilitation of lives and structures will last for a long time.

All week long I have been praying Psalm 34, which we read at Mass on Tuesday – “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; those whose spirits are crushed, he will save”.

And the final verse of this Sunday’s Gospel brings consolation – “By your perseverance /endurance you will secure your lives”.

Thanks for your support and prayers.

needs

November 19, 2013

Fr Gus gives us an update on how Fr German is still unable to reach his family and how Good Shepherd parish is reaching out to their sisters and brothers in need… Join us in helping them.

German has now got a ticket for a commercial flight to the neighbouring larger island of Cebu for Saturday. He feels he can make it home from there.

FOA Summer project in Zambia

November 9, 2013

On 4 June 2013 the first of the Friends of Africa’s (FOA) summer volunteers set off on an exciting and memorable six week volunteering experience. FOA is a lay group who work in link with the Society of African Missions (SMA). This year we celebrate the 15^th anniversary of our foundation. Since 1998, a large number of volunteers have worked on projects in Zambia, South Africa and, more recently, in Tanzania.

This year six volunteers and their leader headed to Kitwe, Zambia to work with local people on two projects. It was an amazing opportunity to fully experience “real” Africa.

FOA-3-Twafwane-2013

Our picture shows the volunteers and some of the children / teenagers who participated in the different programmes organised during their six weeks trip. It is a eye-opening experience for the volunteers. Hopefully it will have a lasting effect on them which will, in the future, see them become more involved – in different ways – in helping to create a more just world, particularly for Africans in Africa.

Since 1999 the FOA have had seventeen long-term volunteers working under the auspices of the Zambian Episcopal Conference. These voluteers normally serve for one year or more. Anita McWilliams from Draperstown, Co. Derry has been in Zambia since last October and will remain until June 2014. The number of short-term volunteers is several dozen.

FOA-2-Twafwane-2013 From the start of our stay we were straight into work, which we began in Twafwane SelfHelp Village (pictured) – a project founded by Fr Anthony Kelly SMA and supported by the FOA. There are currently 64 houses, all of which needed painting in order to preserve the bricks and to make sure the rainy season doesn’t damage them. We completed 22 of them during our six weeks. Since we returned to Ireland the painting has been completed by local people with help from Fr Anthony’s brother and three children who came for a period to help. With the painting completed all that remains is to wire the houses for electricity. The residents have either come from poor housing conditions, are widowed, been affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic or have come through street shelter rehabilitation programs.

Anita has established a preschool in Twafwane. While the preschool is very basic – a few walls made of planks of wood – the impact of her work is immense. Along with Sylvia, a local lady, Anita and the volunteers taught basic English and Maths to 40 children (up to 10 years of age). It is so important for the children to learn English as it gives them a head start in school and gives them a better opportunity to complete their education.

During our time in Zambia, we learnt that the local Council had given land and permission to build a preschool for the Twafwane village. It was overwhelming to see just how much it meant to the people in the compound. The locals literally sang Anita’s praises for well over an hour to show how much they appreciated the work she had done. It’s an exciting time for the FOA as this will be our first, independent project in Zambia that we will work on.

Beside Twafwane there is a Shelter for young boys who have come off the streets. An independent organization, Friends of the Street Children (FSC), run the street shelters, try to place children who have been displaced from their homes for many reasons into safe accommodation. They also provide them with clothes and education until they can be reunited with their families (if possible). We spent most afternoons with the boys in Kwama Shelter playing games, teaching and FOA-1-R-McDonnell-2013 getting to know them and this was something the group really enjoyed. It was hard to imagine that these young boys, not much younger than us, had suffered so much in their lives. The youngest in the Shelter was only eight years old. FSC also have a girls shelter which takes in young girls from the streets.

Rachel McDonnell with some new Zambian friends….

The group also had the opportunity to experience the day outreach where they had the opportunity to see where the kids in the shelters lived previously and this really helped to put things into perspective for us all. The boys Shelter also offered a youth club each Thursday for both boys and girls from the area. This allowed them to interact and provided an opportunity to discuss important issues such as HIV/AIDs and gender equality, to name but a few. This is all run under the supervision of Anita and FSC workers and is something the children look forward to each week.

While our time in Zambia was short, we took the charity motto – “Small Steps Together” – on board and worked tirelessly, but were aware that we wouldn’t change the world in that short time frame. We can only hope that during our time in Zambia we learnt as much from the people there as much as we taught them!

Edited from an article prepared by Rachel McDonnell (FOA member) and additional input from the SMA Communications Director

I was a strager and you did not make me welcome

November 7, 2013

I was a strager and you did not make me welcome – Mt 25:43 Reflection
The practice of granting asylum to people fleeing persecution in foreign lands is one of the earliest hallmarks of civilization. References to it have been found in texts written 3,500 years ago, during the blossoming of the great early empires in the Middle East such as the Hittites, Babylonians, Assyrians and ancient Egyptians, all of whom figure in the Old Testament. In fact, the Bible is really the story of a migrant people who moved westward, and whose descendants, later, take refuge in Egypt, simply as economic refugees – needing to find food during famine. Of course centuries later this migrant people, led by Moses flee again, this time as what we would now call political refugees – because of a well-founded fear of religious persecution – and were eventually guided to what is today Israel / Palestine.

Continue

Fr Liam Burke SMA – funeral homily

October 31, 2013

Fr Michael McCabe, SMA Provincial Leader, led the Concelebrated Funeral Mass for Fr Liam Burke at St Joseph’s SMA Church, Wilton, Cork on Thursday, 1 November 2013 at 12 noon. Fr Burke died on 30 October at the St Theresa’s Nursing Unit in the African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork.

Joining Fr Michael as Principal Concelerants were Canon Seamus McEvoy (former Parish Priest of Fr Liam’s home parish of Inistogue, The Rower, Co Kilkenny), Fr Leo Silke SMA (a classmate of Fr Liam) and Fr Maurice Henry (Provincial Councillor and who worked in northern Nigeria with Fr Liam for many years). More than 50 other priests joined in celebrating the Mass. They included diocesan clergy as well as members of St Patrick’s Missionary Society (SPS), Augustinian Order (OSA) who had worked with Fr Liam in Nigeria.

Readings for the Mass: Isaiah 25:6-9; Romans 14:7-12 and John 17:24-26

After the Gospel, Fr McCabe preached the following homily

Fr Liam Burke joined the SMA on the 14th September 1946 and was ordained a priest in 1952. That same year he was appointed to serve the then Prefecture of Kaduna, Northern Nigeria. Apart from one year, on a special assignment in Ghana (1958-59), Kaduna would be his mission field for 47 years, until his retirement to Blackrock Road in 1999. Liam served in several parishes including Minna, Kantagora, Zuru, Gawu, Guni, Zonkwa and different parishes in Kaduna City. He also held key administrative posts in the Archdiocese of Kaduna under Archbishops John McCarthy and Peter Jatau. A glorious highlight of his time in Kaduna was his co-ordination of the arrangements and preparations for the vist of Pope John Paul II to Kaduna in 1982. His delight on that occasion is captured in a quite unique photo of him being embraced by the Pope (you can find this photo in the obituary notice on our website).

On the occasion of his Golden Jubilee in 2002, Fr Liam wrote that “what gave him the greatest joy was to share in establishing the indigenous Church in Northern Nigeria.” He was indeed privileged to witness, and to play a major part in, the dramatic growth of the Church in Northern Nigeria during the almost 50 years he worked there. A few words from a report he wrote while in retirement underline the extent of that growth.

The SMA had come to Northern Nigeria in 1907 and had lost many missionaries in pushing forward the frontiers proclaiming the Good News. I lived through a blessed time as we tried to cope with an extraordinary time of grace. When I took my departure (from Kaduna) in 1999, I was leaving behind a dynamic young Church which I could quantify: 3 Ecclesiastical Provinces (Archbishops), 17 Jurisdictions and over 300 indigenous priests.

However, it is not just the number of years Fr Liam spent in Kaduna or the numerical growth of the Church during that time which made him the remarkable missionary that he was. It was rather the special qualities that he brought to his missionary engagement that are, for me, truly significant. Liam was a well read man of broad vision and sharp critical intelligence, who reflected deeply on what it meant to be a missionary in the changing Church and Africa of his time. Missionaries have often been seen as doers rather than thinkers, but Liam was a thinking missionary who kept himself constantly updated what was happening in the Church and the world of his time. His reading and reflection shaped his missionary strategy and goals.

He was among the very first western missionaries to become involved in what was called “social development.” A seminal experience for him was his participation, from 1958-59, in a social development project in Ghana, inspired and organised by a Mgr John O’Grady (head of Caritas Internationalis). This project was, as Fr Liam put it, “a Catholic effort to prepare missionaries for a new era of evangelisation” on the cusp of Independence. When he returned to Kaduna from Ghana, he put his considerable administrative skills and enthusism into the deveolopment of self-help projects and other forms of community development. As head and coordinator of the social development committee in Kaduna Province, I was told that he always began meetings with a lecture elaborating the Catholic theology of social development. For him the Church’s involvement in social development is the social expression of the Church’s witness to Love; it is motivated not simply by humantiarian concern but by the Gospel; it must respond to the felt needs of the local Church, and involve the local Church in policy making and planing; its primary concern is with people not buildings; and its ultimate goal is promote independence not dependency. His balanced and well thought-out approach to social development earned him the trust and respect of Misereror and other Aid Agencies and he was a valuable contact person between them and the Church in Kaduna.

Fr Liam’s thoughful contribution to missionary work can be seen in other areas as well. In 1961, while he was still a young man, the Provincial Superior at the time, Fr Creavan, asked him to suggest a tyrocinium programme (with a reading list) for newly fledged missionariees arriving in Africa for the first time. In response he outlined a well-balanced up-to-date programme with emphasis on Bible study, Liturgy, theology, local Languages, African history and Geography, missiology, knowledge of civil law and goverment institutions as well as of ecclesiasticical law. All his life Liam kept himself up-dated, not only on what was happening in the Church and the world, especially events relevant to Africa, but also on current trends in theology and missiology. In retirement he developed a keen interest in African migrants, and the impact on them of the globalisation of capital and the communications’ explosion. In 2001 he wrote “we see the birth of a unique African who straddles continents and cultures” He felt that the SMA should do more to promote a positive image of Africa and its peoples in the context of growing intolerance and racism and of the negative image of Africa often portrayed in the media. In his submission to the 2001 Assemblies he proposed, among other things, that the SMA elaborate a policy on African Asylum seekeres to counteract racism and a professional SMA Journal on African Affairs.

Fr Liam’s close friendhips with many influential Muslim leaders in Northern Nigeria gave him a valuable insight into how to deal the many tensions that were, during his time in Kaduna, and even more so today, besetting the relationship between Christians and Muslims in North Nigeria. He was an active promoter of inter-religious dialogue long before such dialogue became fashionable. He was also involved in ecumenical dialogue. In retirement he became a member of the Cork Bible Society. His notes and letters during this time offer an insightful reading of the reason for the growing popularity of the Pentecostal Churches in Africa.

The remarkable contribution of Fr Liam Burke to the mission of SMA and the Church (both in practice and theory) could not have been made without a profound spirituality. The spirituality that underpinned his missionary commitment and nurtured him throughout his life is captured in a prayer he penned, while in retirement, in Easter 2001:

Grant, O Lord that we may never shrink from the task of proclaiming your Gospel to the people of Africa, to all people, to whom you sent us as missionaries. Grant us the courage to trust your word fully and commend your people to the Lord. We give you thanks for all you have achieved through your humble servants. Grant us disinterest, Lord Jesus, so that we may not want to interfere in the young Church we have now commended to you. Grant us detachment and to realise always that there is more joy in giving than in receiving. Let us pray for one another that through the intercession of Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, we may continue being members of a living Church in our lives. Our Lady of Fouvier, where our Society was founded, pray for us to be missionaries in spirit and in truth.

Fr Liam’s life of missionary commitemnt incarnated the four qualities mentioned in that prayer: trust in God’s Word; courageous witness to the liberating power of the Gospel; humility in the service of others; and detachment in letting go and allowing others to take over when we have made our contribution. And now we let our brother, Liam, return to the home of the Master whom he served so well on earth. We let him go confident in the Lord’s promise that those the Father has given him will be raised up on the last day. In this Eucharist, as in every Eucharist, we profess our belief in “the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting” – the ultimate horizon of our faith beyond the portals of death.

Fr William (Liam) Burke SMA

October 29, 2013

The death has taken place on 30 October 2013 of Fr William (Liam) Burke at the St Theresa’s Nursing Unit in the African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork.

Liam Burke, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (née Vigors) was born in Carrenroe, The Rower, Co Kilkenny on 3 October 1926. He was baptised the following day in Inistoge parish church, diocese of Ossory. He was also confirmed there thirteen years later (14 April 1939).

Liam was the eldest of six children: Martin, Maureen Prisciak (Canada), Seán (died 1980), Sr Breda (Mercy Congregation) and Tommy. He attended The Rower National School and did his secondary studies (1941-1946) at the Good Counsel College, New Ross.

In September 1946 he went to the SMA College at Cloughballymore, Kilcolgan, Co Galway where he completed his Philosophy studies in 1948, taking his First Oath of membership in the SMA on 29 June 1948. He did his theology studies at the African Missions College, Dromantine (1948 – 1952), becoming a permanent member of the Society on 11 June 1951. He was ordained a priest on 18 June 1952 by Bishop Eugene O’Doherty of Dromore diocese in St Colman’s Cathedral, Newry, one of ten SMA priests ordained on that day.

He was appointed to serve in Kaduna Prefecture in Nigeria. In 1953 Kaduna became a diocese and in 1959 was raised to the status of an Archdiocese. Fr Liam was to serve under two Ordinaries in Kaduna: Bishop (later Archbishop) John McCarthy [from Castlehaven, Co Cork] and Archbishop Peter Yariyok Jatau [the first Nigerian Archbishop of Kaduna].

Fr Liam with his sister, Sr Breeda, in the garden at Blackrock Road in July 2013.

During his service in Kaduna, Fr Liam served in several parishes, including Minna, Kontagora, Zuru, Gawu, Guni, Zonkwa and different parishes in Kaduna City. Minna is now a diocese and Kontagora an Apostolic Vicariate whilst Zonkwa is part of Kafanchan diocese.

From the original Kaduna Prefecture in 1952 there are now 5 dioceses and the Archdiocese of Kaduna, surely a sign of God’s blessing on the work of the missionaries and local clergy and people.

Fr Liam was deeply committed to community development. In 1958 he attended an international conference at the University of Ghana (Legon) on this matter which brought together many stakeholders, including the UN and other international agencies. He returned to Kaduna energised to do all he could to facilitate community development. His administrative skills were a great help to him in this. In 1965 he wrote a long letter to Fr Creaven, Irish Provincial Superior entitled ‘The Catholic Church and community development in northern Nigeria’. He wrote that his work was “aimed at stimulating village people towards self-help in raising their standard of living.”

He had a Social Development Committee which brought together the leading Catholic people in Kaduna, working together to help the people of Kaduna, no matter there religious affiliation. An interesting sidenote is that Fr Seán Healy SMA – of Social Justice Ireland, a leading voice on Social Justice in Ireland – ‘cut his social development teeth’ on this Committee during his years in Nigeria.

Fr Liam with Bishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA of Killaloe diocese during his visit to Blackrock Road in 2012.

Archbishop John McCarthy transferred Fr Liam from Zonkwa to serve as Archdiocesan Secretary, a post he was to fill with distinction for many years. He also served Archbishop Jatau in this capacity. He was also involved with the Kaduna Catholic Secretariat. During his years in Kaduna City Fr Liam also served in different parishes, including Our Lady’s and Queen of Apostles. It was during his time at Queen of Apostles that Fr Liam was also Administrator of St Gerard’s OLA Hospital. In 1996 when at home due to ill health, Archbishop Jatau wrote to the Irish Provincial Superior, Fr John Quinlan, saying that he hoped Fr Burke would be able to return to Kaduna. In his letter, Archbishop Jatau wrote of Fr Burke’s “cordial relations with parishioners” and that he “will continue to be of great service to St Gerard’s.”

Fr Liam was a man who got to know and became friends with many of the local Islamic leaders and Imams. In an era before Christian-Islmaic relations were spoken of, Fr Liam was already cultivating such relationships. He was on very good relations with State and Federal Government officials and was able to use such contacts to ensure that the Catholic voice was heard on issues affecting the country.

The one event which will be forever associated with Fr Liam Burke was the visit of Pope John Paul II to Kaduna in February 1982. He is pictured above with the Pope and Archbishop Jatau.

He was heavily involved in the organisation of that visit and has many pictures and memories of that historic occasion. In 1999, after officially returning from Nigeria, Fr Liam presented a copy of a 12th century Russian icon to the Society. It was a gift he received from the Neo-Catechumenate Way in Kaduna with which Fr Liam was closely associated. On hearing that Fr Liam would no longer be involved with this group the Holy Father appointed an official to ensure that someone would be appointed to continue this Chaplaincy work.

Fr Liam’s long missionary career of nearly 48 years of dedicated service came to a close when a worsening arthritic condition forced his return to Ireland for surgery. After recuperating from surgery he retired to Blackrock Road. At the weekly Sing-Song in St Theresa’s Fr Liam loved to hear The Rose of Mooncoin about his beloved Kilkenny. He took part in the weekly Lectio Divina prayer session until recent weeks. He was also proud of his cousin, the late Kevin Heffernan of Dublin football fame though his own loyalty on the sporting field was always with the Cats.

Fr Liam is deeply mourned by his sisters Maureen and Sr Breeda, brothers Tommy and Martin, his sister-in-law Anna, cousins, nephews, nieces and wider family circle as well as his confreres in the Society of African Missions and many friends, particularly in Nigeria.

Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a anam uasail

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

October 26, 2013

3 November 2013

Wisdom 11.22-12.2
2 Thessalonians 1.11-2.2
Luke 19.1-10

Once I met a woman called Matilda who belonged to a prayer group. She told me that another woman in the area wanted to join but she, Matilda, was totally against it because she considered her to be from a lower social group and besides she drank and smoked which Matilda herself disagreed with totally.

It reminded me of today’s gospel when Jesus decides to befriend Zaccheus. This amazed the onlookers because they considered Zaccheus to be a public sinner and certainly unworthy of being called by Jesus. Is there a danger that we can look down on others and consider them unworthy of friendship? Do we know any lonely or needy person in our area who would like to be befriended?

No one expected Zacchaeus a senior tax collector, a very wealthy and prominent man in Jericho to be hiding up a Sycamore tree. But he was very small in stature and therefore felt he had no opportunity because of the crowds to see Jesus who was to pass that way. Certainly no one would have wanted to help him either by making way for him. His fellow Jews would have hated him as he worked for the Roman army of occupation. Besides tax collectors in general were a corrupt group, well known for exploiting their own people and becoming rich as a result.

Maybe we are not able to see Jesus in our lives because we are crowded out by other people and the way they think. To see Jesus clearly maybe we too may have to get away from the crowd and risk being different, risk losing our dignity. The word “holy” in Greek actually means someone who is different, someone set apart.

How determined are we to see Jesus, to come close to him? Zacchaeus had to overcome the obstacle of his small size. What are the obstacles in our lives that might prevent Jesus coming close to us? Are we too busy to give him time in our lives? Do we spend enough time in prayer? Do we hear Jesus knocking on the door of our hearts asking us to invite him more and more into our lives? Or are our hearts too taken up with many concerns that do not lead to true peace and happiness? In what way may we be hiding from Jesus? Isn’t it wonderful that we have a Saviour who seeks us out irrespective of whatever our past sins may be or even some present sinful pattern? These are no block to Jesus.

We are told that Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, to catch a glimpse of him from a distance. In order not to be seen he hides in the Sycamore tree. We can imagine how amazed he was when Jesus looks up, calls him by name and invites himself to stay at his house. God always gives far more than we ask.

One of the things we notice in the story is that the initiative comes from Jesus. God always makes the first move. Zacchaeus responds generously by promising to give half his possessions to the poor and to pay back those he may have cheated

‘Zacchaeus, come down. I must stay at your house today’. How wonderful when Jesus says similar words to us! Yet at every Eucharist he makes this invitation at communion. At many other times too he wishes to enter into our lives. Are our doors always open and ready to offer him hospitality?

Zacchaeus has no hesitation. He climbs down quickly, delighted to welcome Jesus into his house. The reaction of the crowd, however, is something else. As already said they are deeply shocked and scandalised. “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Of all the people in Jericho, Jesus picks the house of possibly the most obnoxious and detested person in the town.

The story shows that Jesus addresses all kinds of people. No one is excluded from his call to participate in the kingdom. The kingdom is also for those who are not socially well considered or accepted, maybe today like AIDS victims, drug addicts or paedophiles. But change as in the case of Zacchaeus is called for. If anyone is excluded from the kingdom, it is because they have excluded themselves! Jesus came to seek out and save those lost – sinners. It is up to us to respond to his call.

Sometimes what prevents us from allowing God to come close to us is that we may think others may ridicule us for being a close disciple of Jesus. Zacchaeus was prepared to accept that ridicule of his fellow Jews but he stood his ground and responded to the invitation of Jesus.

In the gospel today we see Jesus entering Jericho and passing through it. So many times in the Gospel we see him passing by or through a place. Similarly, he constantly passes through our lives. He comes every day in one form or another. He will come into my life today in many ways.

Will I recognise him?

Where am I expecting to find him?

In what person?

In what place?

In what experience?

To be really ready I have to be prepared to meet him in ANY experience. Why not pray for this gift?

“Lord Jesus, help me, like Zacchaeus, to hear your invitation to invite you more and more into my life. Help me to understand ever more clearly that you alone can fulfill the deeper needs of my heart. Amen”

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

African Link – Newsletter of SMA Laity groups

October 21, 2013

The “African Link” Newsletter is a source of information and communication for the Laity Groups linked to different SMA houses in Ireland.

The primary purpose of the newsletter is to nurture a sense of connection among SMA lay supporters and to generate a fuller understanding of the range of work that goes on among the various groups. It is also intended to encourage the sharing of information, and it is hoped that the regularity with which it is published will gradually increase as the supporters themselves begin to contribute to the content.

African Link 1

African Link 2 – Autumn 2013

Irish SMA priest wins international award

October 21, 2013

The Caring Institute (USA), led by Senators Bob Dole and Tom Daschle, promotes the values of caring, integrity and public service, believing that behind all our efforts, past, present and future, is the central belief that one person can make a difference. The annual Caring Awards, inspired by the work of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, recognize people who try to make such a difference to the world and set an example for others.

The 2013 International Award is being conferred on Fr Patrick (Padraig) Devine SMA.

From Co Roscommon, Fr Devine has worked for the last 25 years as a missionary in Tanzania and Kenya. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (SCCRR) in Nairobi. The 2012 recipient was the Dalai Lama.

With Fr Oliver Noonan SMA, from Cork City, and a group of dedicated staff the Shalom team work with different groups in northern Kenya which has been seriously affected by generations of violence among pastoralist ethnic groups. This area is three times the size of Ireland and the conflicts stem from many sources such as the scarcity of grazing, water, cultural differences, state neglect, contested use of territory, and the proliferation of small arms. The work is financed by many groups, including the SMA, Misean Cara, Electric Aid and the Apostolic Work groups throughout Ireland. With this assistance Shalom are training people in conflict transformation, many of them coming from the groups involved in the conflict as well as government officials.

Fr Devine believes that Peace-building must address the roots causes of conflict and not just the symptoms of conflicts. “If we do this then we will help nations develop and flourish both economically and socially. Negative peace, which is the mere absence of violence, will never be transformed into positive peace, the experience of people reinforcing the wellbeing, harmony and development of each other. Missionaries and humanitarian workers have made tremendous sacrifices to this end.”

The awards ceremony will take place on 31 October in Fort Washington, Maryland, USA. Other Caring Award winners this year include Congressman John Lewis for his Civil Rights work and J W “Bill” Marriott Jr. of the Marriot Corportation. Among the Young Adult Winners are Zachary Certner President, Co-founder, Special Needs Athletic Programs (SNAP) and Nicholas Cobb, Founder, Comfort and Joy.

With an eye on the past we press forward into the future

October 16, 2013

As part of the Friends of Africa 15th anniversary celebration (Saturday 12 October 2013) we had presentations on the three countries where FOA members work, either as short or long-term volunteers. The focus was on the future and the plans FOA have to build that future. But in order to build a future one should keep an eye on the past, especially with the intention of learning from it.

The FOA motto – Small Steps Together – underlies the different projects in which FOA is involved. All involved – FOA members and the people in Africa – should have a sense of ownership, achievement and empowerment. The FOA is also committed to sustaina FOA-Breaktime bility in the projects in which they are involved. Facing into the future, conscious of the changing SMA and FOA realities in Ireland and Africa, it is important that there are clear agreements between all parties so that the work undertaken achieves the best possible result.

In 1999 the first FOA volunteers set out for Zambia where Fr Fergus Conlon (RIP), P J Gormely and others received them and helped them settle into mission life in Ndola diocese (part of the Copperbelt Region). These early volunteers – Quintin O’Kane, Tony McCloskey, Kevin McDonagh, Brian Higgins and Angela Dougan – were involved in different areas including working with the homeless, street children, night outreach, education and counselling, small business development.

Fifteen more volunteers were to follow in their footsteps right down to our present long-termer Anita McWilliams. And even though not listed here they each made a particular contribution to the FOA project in Zambia.

Michelle McCrystall presented part of the Tanzania report.

In 2008 Bernie Connolly volunteered to go to South Africa where she spent two years teaching in Holy Family Combined School, a Catholic school in Mogwase in the diocese of Rustenburg. Although the school was an English medium school and pupils had a good level of oracy, most struggled with reading and writing. With support from FOA, Bernie established a School Library which now provides a wide range of reading material for all ability levels.

At the same time as supporting long-term volunteers in Zambia and South Africa the FOA began to assist young people (third-level students) who wanted to spend a shorter period in Africa. And so was born the ‘short-term volunteer’ (STV) – a six-week intensive work programme in Africa.

The first group went to Zambia in 2001. Six years later STVs headed for South Africa and in 2008 Tanzania received their first group. Up to now 212 short-term volunteers have served in Africa. Many of the early STVs were in third-level education. But responding to a demand to facilitate second-level students FOA began a programme for school groups. This began in 2010 and the FOA now has formal links with four schools – Holy Trinity (Cookstown), St Pat’s (Armagh and Dungannon) and Sacred Heart, Newry.

According to a United Nations survey east Africa has a high initial primary school enrolment (about 90%) but 30-40% of pupils fail to complete their primary education. Other challenges in east Africa include student-teacher ratio, secondary enrolment, youth literacy rates. Fr John Gallagher (an SMA priest from Crossmolina, Co Mayo) decided to invite the FOA to run ‘education camps’ on the lines of the popular Dromantine Holiday Camp he was familiar with from his time as a seminarian. There would be time for lots of sport etc but also a specific period each day for learning English and Mathematics.

twafwani-village Anita McWilliams has been in Zambia since November 2012 and is involved with the Twafwane Self-Help Village project (pictured right).

Founded by Fr Anthony Kelly SMA, the FOA has been involved in this project for many years, initially with building and more recently addressing social needs and community development in the village. Some years ago the villagers expressed the wish to have a school for their children. In June 2011, FOA volunteer, Eileen Havern began a Pre-School but the temporary accommodation was susceptible to damage during the rainy season and there were no proper desks or seats. With Anita’s arrival the project is about to take a major step forward – the Local Council have allocated land for a proper school building, which will serve as a community centre on evenings and weekends. DAFA (Direct Aid for Africa) have agreed to fund the purchase of the land and assist with materials and labour costs. With Anita keeping an eye on it all the foundations are now complete and she has extended her placement for a further six months to see the completion of the building.

Meanwhile, back at home, FOA are hoping to find a volunteer to continue the work in Zambia – and see it though the next phase: the establishment, running and resourcing of the pre-school in Twafane.

And this is where our story ends… but FOA continues… and we invite you to be part of it in whatever way you can …

For information on how to become involved, visit www.friendsofafrica.org.uk

History of St Joseph’s SMA Parish, Wilton

October 14, 2013

The Parish includes Lower Bishopscourt, Donscourt, Cardinal Court, Wilton Court & Manor, Clashduv & Riverview Estate, Sandymount, Southbury Road, Summerstown, Green Park, Wilton Lawn & Villas, part of Glasheen Road, Wilton Park Villas, part of Bishopstown Road.

St. Joseph’s Church, Wilton was built in 1897. It was attached to the adjacent St Joseph’s College which for many years was a house of formation for students of the Society of African Missions (SMA) preparing for priesthood in Africa. It is now a retirement house for missionaries as well as a house of mission animation.

Celebrating 25 years as parish : 1982 – 2007

The Parish was formally erected in 1982 by the Bishop of Cork & Ross, Rt Rev Michael Murphy. On 1 December 2007 the Parish celebrated its Silver Jubilee. The occasion was marked by a special Thanksgiving Mass at which the then Bishop of Cork & Ross, Rt Rev John Buckley, was the principal concelebrant and was joined by a number of SMA and diocesan priests. Among them was the Provincial Superior of SMA, Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll, the Vicar General of the diocese, Canon Kevin O’Callaghan and the Dean of Cork, Canon Denis O’Connor.

The Parish Priest of Wilton, Fr Cormac Breathnach SMA welcomed the large attendance and preached the homily in which he outlined the history of the parish and the SMA presence. Brother Jim Redmond SMA was at the organ and singing was led by the Church choir. The Mass was followed by a refreshments and a social gathering in the Community Hall.

Four Parish Priests have served the parish:

Fr James O’Kane SMA : 1982-1992
Fr Maurice Kelleher SMA : 1992-1998
Fr John O’Brien SMA : 1998-2004
Fr Cormac Breathnach SMA : 2004 to date.

Apostolic Work Congress 2013

October 3, 2013

The Society of Apostolic Work was founded in 1923 by Agnes McAuley and a small band of young women who gathered in Belfast with the purpose of helping missionaries in whatever way they could – by prayer and material assistance. They began by providing Mass vestments and other things needed by the missionaries. But quite quickly they began raising funds to send to the missionaries so that they could use it to fund their work, as most of them were working with the very poor, in Africa, Asia and South America.

As Patrons for Apostolic they chose St Francis Xavier (the first to preach the Gospel in the Far East) and St Therese of Lisieux, Patroness of the Missions. In choosing the latter Apostolic members were imitating her – she never left her Convent in Lisieux but offered up everything for the spread of the Gospel and for the missionaries who go from their own lands to do this work.

Earlier this month, the Dromantine Conference & Retreat Centre hosted a celebration for the 90th anniversary for the dioceses in the Armagh Ecclesiastical Province. Nearly 200 Apostolic members came from Armagh, Down & Connor and Kilmore to celebrate a Thanksgiving Mass and have a meal afterwards. Report and additional photos of that event here.

On 28 September 2013 the Apostolic Work gathered at St Patrick’s Training College in Drumcondra, Dublin to celebrate the 90^th anniversary of that event. Members of Apostolic groups from all over Ireland came to listen to presentations by Baroness Nuala O’Loan DBE and Bishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA of Killaloe diocese on the role of Apostolic (and other similar groups) in an ever-changing world. Despite the fact that the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final replay was taking place in Croke Park that afternoon more than 40 Apostolic members from Killaloe diocese attended, though not all of them are from Clare. The Bishop of Killloe was also under some ‘pressure’ during the meeting as to which team he was supporting… as a Corkman and also bishop of much of Clare! With typical skill he replied: ‘The winners’!

The National President of Apostolic, Mrs Anne Donaghy (pictured right), introduced both speakers.

The theme for Mrs O’Loan was the ‘Relevance of Apostolic Work in the developing world today’. Mrs O’Loan spoke of the different facets of her work and especially of her work in Africa which she has visited several times to share her experience of being Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland. In Timor Leste as well as in Sierra Leone and other African countries she met missionaries who were making good use of the materials sent to them from Apostolic branches in Ireland. Throughout her presentation it was obvious that all she does is suffused with a deep faith and commitment to the social teachings of the Church.

Mass was celebrated by Fr Martin Kavanagh SMA and in the course of his homily he reminded us that ‘some give, by going; others go, by giving.’ Ireland has a proud tradition of missionaries, lay and clerical as well as development workers, who have and are giving their lives by going to all parts of the globe. But there are others – and Apostolic members to the fore among them – who go by giving of their time and work in the branches to support the missionaries who have left Ireland for other parts.

He also stated that down the years the demands made on Apostolic have changed and will continue to change. As a young priest he recalled carrying the Olivetti manual typewriter with him to Nigeria in 1980. Today it would be, not a laptop computer, but a Tablet or multifunctional iPhone! In the past Apostolic workers spent hours sewing beautiful vestments etc. Today those fingers are not as nimble as before so what can we do with our hands now? “You can join them together in prayer for the Missions and the people we serve there.”

In the afternoon, Bishop Kieran O’Reilly (pictured) spoke on the theme: Mission going forward with reference to Church teaching. He began his address to the Congress by reminding us that part of the Irish identity as missionaries includes non-Roman Catholic missionaries. “We were not the only ones who went from here with the sense of the gift of faith which we as a people had received.”

Since the 2nd Vatican Council we have had a series of Papal documents which strive to focus on the reality spoken of at that Council: ‘to revise methods, to seek by every means how we can bring the Christian message to modern men and women’ and that goes right up to the 2012 Synod of Bishops on New Evangelization. And that 2012 Synod tried to find meaning for that particular sentence from the Council: “What methods do we use; how can we bring our message to the world in which we live in?”

The missionary activity of the Church is probably the one area of Church life which has generated the most Papal documents since the Vatican Council. “So it is a very interesting aspect of what we’re asked to engage in when you engage in your missionary participation you are right at the centre of a search to see how we can bring it to modern men and women” but this is not simply about renewing ourselves. The Council and the will of Pope John XXIII was that this Council would be a window out into the world.

All the Papal documents since the Council hold fast to the principle that we never give up in proclaiming the Gospel to all, which is the basic pillar we build on.

In a Question & Answer session following his presentation it was clear that Apostolic, despite an ageing membership, has no intention of folding up. Rather, the membership are anxious to respond to the new challenges they face in a confident way convinced that they have a role to play which is part and parcel of the Church’s evangelizing mission. They need to reach younger Church members and present what they do in such a way as to evoke a positive response from those they meet, during mission displays, in schools and in the local churches.

Before bringing the Congress to an end there was a period for sharing ideas etc in Working groups. This was very worthwhile as it gave members the opportunity to share on the different things they are doing: to raise awareness, fundraising, how to publicise their work etc.

Thanks is due to Anne Donaghy and the National Council as well as Diocesan Presidents who helped in the organisation of the day, arranged transport for their members to Dublin and a very enjoyable lunch in the College. People came from many parts, including north Antrim, west Clare, Elphin and Kilkenny.

The day was made all the more enjoyable for the Clare members when they met their heading off to Croke Park to win their fourth All Ireland Senior Hurling title. ‘Twas their prayers that done it lads, plus a bit of help from Shane O’Donnell!

Click here for more photographs (including the Clare team) from the day.

2013 St Therese Novena, Cork

October 2, 2013

The Annual SMA Novena in honour of the Little Flower, St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (also known as St Thérèse of Lisieux) was held in St Joseph’s SMA Church, Blackrock Road, Cork from 23 September to 1 October, the feast of the Patroness of the Missions. The SMA Church was designated as the National Shrine to St Thérèse many years ago.

Each evening, at 7.30pm (except Saturday 28th), Mass and Novena Prayers were recited by the large congregation who came to join with the SMA in praying for the intentions of our supporters. Below are some of the homilies / reflectinos given during the 2013 Novena.

Monday 23rd – Saint Thérèse at Prayer
Tuesday 24th – Life of Saint Thérèse – Sr Margaret Kiely
Wednesday 25th – Saint Thérèse’s Way to God – Fr Fergus Tuohy SMA
Thursday 26th – My vocation is Love – Mrs Dympna Mallon
Friday 27th – Sin and Weakness
Saturday 28th – The parents of St Thérèse
Sunday 29th – St Thérèse and Our Lady
Monday 30th – Suffering and death of St Thérèse
Tuesday, 1 October – The Adult Spirituality of St Thérèse – Fr Michael McCabe SMA, Provincial Leader

The Adult Spirituality of St Therese

October 2, 2013

The SMA Provincial Leader, Fr Michael McCabe, celebrated Mass on the 9th evening of the National Novena in honour of St Therese in Blackrock Road, Cork. Below is his homily, delivered to an overflowing congregation gathered for the final night of the Novena. After Mass everyone was invited into the community dining room for some refreshments.

The spirituality of St Thérèse has been described as a “Little Way,” or the way of “Spiritual Childhood,” and there is a great deal of evidence to support that description. Her best-selling autobiography, The Story of a Soul, abounds in the use of the word ‘little.’ She sees herself as God’s ‘little flower.’ She talks of her ‘poor little wounded soul.’ She even describes her Dad as ‘her little father.’ The Mother of Jesus is ‘the little Blessed Virgin,’ and Jesus is ‘little Jesus.’

When I first entered the Novitiate of the African Missions in Cloughballymore, Co Galway, in 1964, it was the childlike quality of Thérèse’s spirituality that first attracted me. Therese made the spiritual life, which appeared so complex and daunting when you read about it in the spiritual textbooks, seem attractive, simple and down to earth. A few years later, however, when I began to study Philosophy, I foolishly turned aside from Therese, considering her approach simplistic and childish. Like St. Paul I thought it was time for me to put away childish things and to digest more solid spiritual food (cf. 1 Cor. 3: 1-2). Then, about 20 years ago, following a visit to Lisieux with some confreres, I had an experience which let me to explore again the spirituality ofThérèse. This time I came to realise that, while her spiritual way was certainly simple and childlike, but there was nothing in the least childish or simplistic about it. Her spirituality is best described as an adult spirituality centred on loving God with all one’s heart, and shaped by the passion of Christ.

An Adult Spirituality

From the time she entered the convent, Thérèsedesired nothing more or less than the total surrender of herself to God. She had no illusions about what this would mean: the daily death to self. She knew that all real holiness is forged out of the ordinary concrete circumstances of everyday life. She was drawn to Our Lady precisely because her holiness, as she said, consisted not in raptures, miracles or ecstasies but rather in her daily living the life and responsibilities of a real mother. There are several stories which illustrate the sterling quality of Thérèse’s loving self-surrender to God. Although greatly weakened by illness, her infirmarian told her to take a daily walk. Her older sister, Marie, felt that she would be better off to rest herself. In reply Thérèse said: “Yes, it’s true, but do you know what gives me strength? When I am walking, I think that, far away, there is a missionary who is perhaps exhausted in his apostolic endeavours, and to lessen his fatigue, I offer mine to God” [from Thérèse: Her Life and Message].

Centred on Loving God

Seeking to discover the particular role God wanted her to play in the Church’s mission, Thérèse turned for spiritual guidance to chapters twelve and thirteen of Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. She found the answer to her quest in Paul’s famous passage about love being the supreme gift of the Spirit. Here is how she expresses that discovery:

Now I was at peace….If the Church was a body composed of different members, it could not lack the noblest of all; it must have a heart, and a heart burning with love….Love, in fact, is the vocation which includes all others….I had discovered where it is that I belong in the Church…. to be nothing else than love, deep down in the heart of Mother Church: that is to be everything at once [from The Story of a Soul].

Thérèsewas convinced that it was far more important to be in love with God than to be a perfect religious, free of faults. In a letter to her sister, Leonie, she says that the one thing God cannot resist is love. Since he loves us madly (a la folie), she writes, how can he resist us if we simply present ourselves to him with all the confidence of children? In doing her religious exercises, Thérèsewas, according to the standards of the times, far from perfect. She had a habit of falling off to sleep during her times of formal prayer. However, instead of giving way to guilt feelings she surrendered herself to God’s loving arms, like a bird surrenders itself to the sun. That surrender would not be complete, however, until her beloved Sun hid his smiling face and plunged her into what she terms her “night of nothingness.” Finally, the spiritual journey of Thérèse was shaped by the passion of Christ.

Shaped by the Passion of Christ

In the final phase of her life, Thérèse had to endure, in addition to her physical and mental suffering, the most severe trials of faith imaginable. Her faith in God’s love was put to the supreme test. She lost all sense of God’s presence and the very thought of heaven, which had always been such a consolation to her, became nothing but a cause of struggle and torment. This experience is best described in her own words:

My soul was invaded by the thickest darkness and my mind was filled with the thoughts of the worst atheists. If you only knew into what darkness I am plunged. A mocking voice seems to say, ‘Are you sure God loves you? Has he come to tell you so? [from The Story of a Soul].

Yet this trial, far from breaking her spirit, matured and transformed her. Like her Master and Lover, she learned to combine the cry “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me” with the prayer “Father into your hands I commend my spirit.” A few days before her death on the 30^th September 1897, still in her 24^th year, she was able to say “I go to him with confidence and love.”

Thérèse’s trials of faith brought her to realise two profound spiritual truths: first, that “love is more important than explicit faith” (Cf. Michael Paul Gallagher, Help My Unbelief), or that love is the only form faith can take when darkness invades your soul like a starless night and all understanding becomes impossible. Just a few days before she died, she wrote: “I no longer have any great desires except that of loving to the point of dying of love” [from Thérèse: Her Life and Message]. Second, in her trial of faith, Thérèse came to understand and identify herself with God’s ways of loving. This meant loving people in their sins and weaknesses not in spite of them.

Conclusion

The spirituality of St. Thérèsemay be described as a “little way” in that took completely to heart the Gospel injunction: “Unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven” (Mt. 18:30). But there was nothing easy or childish about her response to God. The intimacy of her love for God which marked her early years gave way first to spiritual dryness (when she became a nun) and later on, towards the end of her life, to “the night of nothingness.” And yet it was precisely in this way that she came to understand the reality of God’s love and to complete her apostolate of love.

At the end of her life, when there was nothing in her that was not of God, she could in truth say: “My little story, which was like a fairy tale, has suddenly turned into prayer” (from The Story of a Soul). In these words has surely voiced the deepest meaning and final purpose of all our lives. When our life itself becomes a prayer, then and only will our transformation be complete. We can find no surer guide in our own journey to God than Thérèseof Lisieux.

Climate Change – Migration and St Francis

October 2, 2013

A recent SMA Justice Briefing wrote about Climate Change and its implications for Africa. It is also an issue that has a direct bearing on refugees and asylum seekers as it will be major cause of migration.

On September 27, 2013, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (the IPCC) published its “5th Assessment” on Climate Change, which concludes that we are experiencing a major change in earth’s climate and that it is “95% sure” about the influence of human activity on altering climate, principally by the burning of fuels such as oil, gas, coal and peat. Up to now the evidence wasn’t so clear, and there were many, especially with financial interests in the fossil fuel industries, who wanted to deny what evidence there was. They will still try !

Climate change and its human causality is a reality. The world simply is not ready, nor do experts have any experience or sure knowledge for dealing with the fall-out and the epoch- changing events that are likely to emerge if our misuse of the earth and its resources continues. But we do know one thing: no country will be immune to climate change. Once again, we are issued with a “wake-up call”, this time from the IPCC. It tells us first of all that we are all members of a world-wide community, and even if we are sheltered from the worst of climate change, we have to take action.

Continue

Our Lady and St Therese

September 30, 2013

The SMA Laity Coordinator, Mrs Dympna Mallon, spoke at the 5th night of the St Therese Novena in Dromantine. Here is an edited version of her sharing.

We are sometimes told that for faith to be real it must be experienced or mediated through a human life. Our Lady has mediated the reality of the Christian faith to humanity for centuries, and is reverenced even by non-Christians. Born just 140 years ago St Therese mediates a real and human Christianity to us now in the 21st century. Both were chosen by God for greatness, one through her faithful devotion as the Mother of Jesus, the other, the Little Flower of the Child Jesus, through her childlike devotion and love.

In our Catholic faith we look on Our Lady as the spiritual mother of every home, of every human being and we are dependent on her as the Mediatrix of all the graces we receive. St Therese practiced a spiritual childhood throughout her life, embracing and advocating the “Little Way” to holiness in which she taught about the virtues of trust in God and in being small. A fundamental aspect of her life however was a deep devotion and dedication to Our Lady

St Therese knew the reality of pain and loss, with the death of her mother when she was just 4 years of age and the departure of her “second mother”, her sister Pauline to the convent, when she was less than 10. Having lost her own mother so early in life, it’s no surprise that she sought the solace of a mother figure and the devotion to Our Lady was confirmed by a Marian vision when Therese was seriously ill as a child, and experienced a miraculous recovery. From that point on Therese lived in the conviction that her Holy Mother was always with her and watching over her.

In Mary, Therese found a mother she could admire and imitate, a mother who could lead her to Jesus. She discovered not only a loving mother, but a mother who had led an ordinary life like her own. It is easy to forget that St Therese lived a very human life in a large family surrounded by loving parents and siblings. She recalls, in her autobiography, incidents where her behaviour was demanding and where she found it difficult to control her emotions. Her life and spirit tap into something universal in our human experience. We have all struggled to control our emotions, especially when those around us seem unreasonable and difficult. Few of us have always resisted the temptation to demand our share, our place, our rights. Perhaps part of the reason we are able to relate to St Therese is because she learned to accept, in her own life, the difficulties and the challenges in the common relationships she was given, and through these relationships, to grow in love for God and others.

So now we have before us images of both women; humble, chaste, virtuous. These images of virtue and humility that we associate with both Our Lady and St Therese are based on respect and devotion and this is entirely proper – but not, surely, to the exclusion of their humanity. For there is, in that humanity, the possibility of our finding courage, strength and inspiration in their lives.

Our Lady was forced to flee her own country, to become a refugee to protect the life of her infant child. She must have worried about her son’s nomadic lifestyle and open criticism of the Jewish authorities. She had to endure the heartache of watching his trial and execution as a common criminal and still try to cling onto the belief that God knew what He was doing. For Therese, her journey to God was neither straightforward or simple. Having chosen to dedicate her life to God, it was only through sheer determination, persistence and petitioning of the church hierarchy that Therese was permitted to enter the Carmelite convent at the age of 15. Once there she experienced frequent spiritual darkness, finding the formal religious structure oppressive and often feeling that God had abandoned her. She had to endure illness throughout her life and great physical suffering from the tuberculosis which led to her death at just 24 years of age. But like Our Lady she clung to the conviction that God loved her unconditionally and that her trust in Him would not be in vain.

Both Mary and Therese demonstrated courage and conviction in the face of adversity and uncertainty. They endured hardship and suffering in the course of their lives, had moments of doubt and darkness. Yet they remained faithful to the promise given to them by God and in so doing became beacons of light and hope for generations of people striving to follow their example of holiness. So how, then, would you react to the suggestion that Mary and Therese were somewhat radical in their vision of Christianity ? In the Magnificat, Mary’s hymn after the Annunciation, she proclaims a vision, which resonates with the Old Testament image of a God of judgment. This hymn of a simple, country girl, not yet left her parent’s home nonetheless echoes the forthcoming message of Jesus, a radical message of forgiveness and unconditional love. We don’t tend to think of Mary as a herald for her son, or even as a woman with a voice and yet the Magnificat is a powerful statement of vision, even pre-empting the Beatitudes,

“He has cast down the mighty from their throne, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty.”

One writer takes the view that Jesus came not only to turn the world upside down, but to put things the right way up and that the Beatitudes are the manifesto for that. Is Mary’s Magnificat, in promoting justice, peace and human dignity, a sneak preview of what her son will do? Do we limit Mary to the role of obedient, humble, virtuous servant of God because we are comfortable with that image? Are we reluctant to acknowledge her challenge of the status quo because it represents a challenge to us in the way we live our lives?

The spirituality of Therese, known as the “Little Way”, derives its message of service to God and others from Christ’s teaching – there would seem to be little that is radical in that. But imagine if we really try to promote the message of Therese here and now in the 21st century. We live in an age where success is all about gain and achievement, celebrity and status, where my interests take precedence over the interests of all others; where those who are rewarded (and sometimes respected) are those who have clamoured their way to the top of the pile, regardless of how many they have trampled on to get there. If we advocated the Little Way as a means to happiness and peace, would it be a popular message or would we be regarded as ridiculous – or even radical?

When we pray to Our Lady and St Therese we are asking them to intercede on our behalf. But are we also prepared to follow their path and take up our respective challenges as they did? Will we be prepared to stand up and advocate, with conviction, a radical new way to live as disciples in the modern world ? Will we encourage others by the example of our own lives as Mary did, as Therese did, as Pope Francis is doing? When we identify the barriers to our bearing witness through our lives, do we ever consider that the only limits on us are those we place on ourselves? That the fences holding us back are mental fences, constructed by us in our own minds? If we truly accept the vision of Mary, the vision of her son, if we hope to act justly, love kindly and walk humbly with our God, it cannot be a personal, private thing – we are called, by our Baptism, to holiness and discipleship in the world, no less than Mary or Therese or Francis and there is no “get out clause”.

Our Lady has given us the vision of how the world can be, and in the Little Way of St Therese we have been given the tools by which we can make that vision a reality. We are all called to love God without reserve or fear because He loves each one of us without reserve and in this way our lives can become a process of “transforming nothingness into fire”. Therese tells us that holiness does not consist in doing extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.

Before Therese died, one of her novices promised her that after Therese had gone to heaven the novice would herself would strive for the same level of holiness, she would aim to become a saint. Therese responded by asking what she was waiting for, advising her that the present moment is the time for action and to begin at once to pursue her goal of sainthood. Perhaps there is a message in that for us during this Novena to St Therese.

Let us ask Our Lady and St Therese for the grace to act as they did: for the courage to hear God’s voice in our hearts; to answer His call now, today, whatever the cost; and to strive for justice, peace and the dignity of all humanity by doing the ordinary things in our ordinary lives extraordinarily well.

Suffering and the Christian Life

September 30, 2013

Fr John Denvir preached on the 3rd night of the Novena in Dromantine. The following is an edited version of Fr John’s sharing.

We can see clearly that St Thérèse was very familiar with suffering in her short life.

Sickly little baby. Nursed by a lady called Rose and almost died but for the prayers to Saint Joseph.

Zelie Martin died while Thérèse was four and a half years old.

Thérèse was miserable at school. Up until eight her big sister Pauline was her teacher. Now she went to school at the convent. She could not manage to play games like the other girls. The older pupils teased her and one in particular bullied her. She wrote, “I’ve never been as melancholy as I was during those five years of school. If I had not had dear Celine (an older sister) with me there I could not have spent a month there without losing my health.”

At the beginning of her second year at school Pauline, her little mother, left her to become a Carmelite nun. She writes, “Imagine my transports of grief when I overheard my beloved Pauline, in conversation with Marie, talk about going off quite soon to Carmel. I realized that Pauline was leaving me. I was going to lose my mother all over again. I cried bitterly over it. It was the suddenness of the announcement that drove the wound so deep.” The separation of Pauline caused her intense suffering.

Five months after Pauline’s departure, Thérèse illness became alarming. At times she fell into a deep faint; at other times she became delirious. Ordinary things around her took on hideous shapes. One evening her father sat by her bedside holding his hat in his hand. Thérèse cried out in terror: “Oh! That big black beast.” (Hallucinations).

On the anniversary of her first Holy Communion she had become tormented with scruples. She, who had wanted to please the good God, imagined now that everything she did displeased God. “My lightest thoughts, my simplest actions, troubled my conscience afterwards.” Therese said, “I could only find relief in telling Marie about them.” Then, Marie her only support entered the Carmelite convent. Thérèse now had no one to help her. She begged her two little brothers (Josephs) to help her and to give her the peace of mind she need.

As an adult in the Convent, she offered all her little sacrifices to God with love (difficulties of community life). Thérèse never tried to miss little opportunities of showing her love for God. No one ever knew to what extent she suffered.

At twenty-four years of age she contracted tuberculosis. She overheard one of the nuns say, “Sister Thérèse will not live long and I ask myself what our Mother Prioress will find to write in the obituary after her death. She is very good but she has done nothing worth taking about.” Thérèse had learned that it is not “great achievement” our Lord wants. He wants our love. “It is love alone that counts.”

The first definite sign that Thérèse had tuberculosis appeared on Good Friday April 3^rd 1896. Thérèse rejoiced at these signs. They gave hope to her that she would soon see Our Lord in Heaven. Then suddenly, a tormenting thought came to her mind: “What if there is no Heaven at all? Thoughts like this stayed with her day after day. She prayed, “My God I do believe. I am ready to defend the doctrine of heaven with the last drop of my blood”. The temptations against faith never left her.

Sometime before her death she confides in her sister Pauline, “I cannot breathe and I cannot die. I think at present I cannot bear any more. But I am not afraid, for if the sufferings increase, God will at the same time increase my courage.”

“I believe the Evil one has obtained God’s permissions to tempt me by such extreme suffering to make me lose both patience and faith.”

Through all her agony Therese’s confidence in God never wavered: “God is not going to abandon me. He has never abandoned me. My God, I accept all willingly. O how good the good God must be, since he enables me to bear all I suffer. No, I would never have believed it possible to suffer so much, never, never, never; I can only explain it by my extreme desire to save souls.”

Word of God: Ezra 9: 5-9; Ps. Tob 13:2, 4 6-8; Luke 9: 1-6.

“Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases and he sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal.”

– Jesus, in giving power to the Twelve knew that diseases and devils were part of daily life. Jesus wanted healing and wholeness. This was is the Kingdom of God.
– Jesus as he anticipated being crucified he felt, deeply distressed and troubled, overwhelmed with sorrow, troubled in heart and in spirit.
– Scripture in fact, provides abundant teaching on the importance of allowing ourselves to respond with normal human emotions. These emotional responses in no way indicate a lack of spirituality.
– Many of those mentioned in the Bible experienced great suffering: Christ, Paul, Job, David, the prophets.

New Life

So, why do we have to suffer? I do not know. The only way to make sense of the Cross is to kiss it. Good Friday is not the end for the Christian. Her intense suffering and sign of tuberculoses began on a Good Friday.
Therese’s cry before her death, “I am not dying, I am entering into life”, was a cry of Hope! This is an Easter cry….
We are resurrection people. Seasons of dying and rising to new life….
Results of suffering: “Cor. 4:17 “It achieves for us an eternal glory that far outweighs all suffering.”
God’s view is absolutely essential to be able to handle suffering well. God’s Word clearly shows that suffering is a normal part of the Christian life, especially suffering for Christ. 2 Tim. 3:12 “Suffering is normal and inevitable in the Christian life.
The Lord responds to us very personally when we are suffering. Psalm 118.5 “He answers when we cry in anguish.” Psalm 34; 15 “His ears are attentive to our cry.”
His constant presence is with us in times of suffering. Psalm 46:7 -11 “He is with us.” Psalm 18 “He is at our right hand.” Psalm 37:28 “He will never forsake us.”

God never intended us to suffer alone. He designed the body of Christ in such a way that we are to minister to each other’s needs.
1Cor 12:24 – 26 says in part, “But God has combined the members of the body… so that its part have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it…”
Suffering requires the right response if it is to be successful in accomplishing God’s purposes. Suffering forces us to turn from trust in our own resources.

Conclusion

How to talk to God during times of suffering: I trust in you; You are my hiding place; I wait for you; You are my help; In you my soul takes refuge; You are my fortress…

The Lord not only teaches us how to respond, but how not to respond when we are suffering. He mentions

Do not be afraid. Is 41:10, John 14:27 1Peter 3:14.

Do not be dismayed, for he is our God. Is 41;10

Do not be fainthearted because the Lord goes with us. Deut 20:3.

Some of the ways in which we might respond to God during suffering

Acknowledge his name

Ask him to strengthen us according to his word

Be still before the Lord

Cast all our anxiety on him

Call on him

Consider all his mighty deeds

Cry out in distress to himoubled in heart and in spirit.

Justice Section Sitemap

September 27, 2013

JUSTICE SECTION SITEMAP
To navigate the Justice section of the SMA Website just click on the links below

JUSTICE ISSUES

Climate Change

Africa – Climate Change, SMA Justice Briefing No 22
Climate Change – Overview
Climate Facts
Ghana – dealing with climate c hange
Climate change a Triple Injustice for Africa and poorer nations
Factsheet

Access to Medicines in Africa

Video Presentation: An audio visual overview produced by the SMA Justice Office
Written Overview: Containing the same information as in the above Presentation
Medicines as in the Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN) website
Medicines Factsheet prepared by the AEFJN
MSF Access Campaign: Do something
Access to Medicine Index 2012 collage web

Biofuels

Biofuels: SMA Justice Briefing No 3.
Biofuels – Frequently Asked Questions
EU Biofuels policy: Fuelling food insecurity in Africa
Open Letter re Biofuels to EU Leaders
Article: Biofuels from food crops to be capped following MEPs’ vote.
Oxfam reaction: MEP’s biofuel compromise not encough to tackle hunger in poor countries
An example of biofuel land-grab intimidation
Biofuels: Fuelling Poverty and Environmental Degradation – Trocaire Briefing

Food Security

Food Security:SMA Justice Briefing No. 6
Pope Benedict XVI on Food Security
Link to the Africa, Europe Faith and Justice Network website on the topic of Food Security
Related Topic: Land-Grabbing – SMA Justice Briefingf No. 8

Arms Control

Global conflict and the arms trade – an overview
Africa – Arms Trade: SMA Justice Briefing No. 18
An Arms Trade Treaty at last
United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, April 2013
Small Arms Factsheet

Know More
http://www.aefjn.org/index.php/arms-361.html
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/
http://www.iansa.org/campaign/arms-trade-treaty
http://www.controlarms.org/news.php
http://www.amnesty.org/en/campaigns/control-arms

Justice Briefings: On issues such as – International Debt, Land Grabbing, Tax Evasion, Urbanisation/Slums, Human Trafficking, Migration, Street Children and others

JUSTICE LINKS

Social Justice Ireland
Irish Missionary Union
Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN)
Debt and Development Coalition Ireland
CIDSE an international alliance of Catholic development agencies.

WORKING FOR JUSTICE Reports on the work of SMA’s, OLA’s and other Missionaries

Working for Justice Peace and Understanding between Christians and Muslims.
Working for Justice – Homes for Street Children
Working for Justice – AEFJN, 25 Years for Justice and Peace
Working for Justice – Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (SCCRR)

ADVOCACY

Prayer for Justice and Peace
CAFOD Campaign Page
Trocaire: Get Involved Page

COIS TINE Cois Tine is a pastoral project run by the SMA Justice Office

Muslim Christian Dialogue

A Journey Together
Knocking on the Door – Ireland and Muslim Christian Dialogue
An Overview of Islam

Resources (on Cois Tine website)

Human Trafficking

RESOURCES

Prayer Guideline for the Eradication of Poverty
Prayer Service for World Day of Social Justice.
Brief Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching
Principles and values which inform the agenda of Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation (JPIC) – article by Fr Kevin O’Gorman SMA DD, Lecturer in Moral Theology at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
The Principles of Catholic Social Thought... A Chapter from CORI Justice’s Values, Catholic Social Thought and Public Policy p.11-13

A collection of Statistics
Other Articles

2013 St Therese Novena Cork – Day 3

September 26, 2013

Fr Fergus Tuohy SMA shared on ‘St Therese’s Way to God at the 3rd night of the Novena in honour of the Little Flower at Blackrock Road, Cork. This is an edited version of his homily.

Mother Theresa, of blessed memory, once said: ‘I might not be able to do great things, but I can do small things in a great way’.

We can learn so much from St Thérèse of the Child Jesus. Her way to God is so simple but also profound. St Thérèse lived her life in a very simple way and I want to share a few thoughts about her way to God.

You have already heard about the Life of Thérèse and you will be learning a lot about her during this Novena. I will mention a few facts about her family as they show us about her background and how she found her way to God. Her family were a kind and caring family. Her father Louis had a tender heart and always sympathised with people who were suffering. Both Louis and Zelie [her mother] showed great example to Thérèse. Thérèse was the youngest of 9 children and her sisters, Marie and Pauline played a big part in shaping Thérèse.

Her way to God really began when she resolved at the age of three never to refuse anything to Jesus. Her sisters Leonie also influenced her but Céline was her constant companion and confidante. There was always a great JOY when the two of them were together. Thérèse found life very difficult after the death of her mother. When she sat with her father she would say: ‘I listened to far-off sounds and the murmuring of the wind. Earth seemed a place of exile and I dreamed of Heaven”. She said “I strive to please Jesus in all my actions and I guarded with great care against ever offending him.”

Thérèse was a clever girl, highly thought of by the nuns, not good at games. Other girls were jealous of her, but she offered it up in silence. Thérèse’s way to God was not to detach herself from human love, but she was detached from the outer world. She said: “My Little Way is all Love.”

I am reminded of a story when a blind person asked St. Anthony, ‘Can there be anything worse than losing your eye sight?” He replied. “Yes, losing your vision!”

Thérèse had a vision. We see a simple girl who experienced misunderstanding and thoughtlessness from others. When her sister Pauline entered Carmel, it was a very traumatic time for Thérèse. Her ‘Little mother’ was not as easily available to her.

During her short life she experienced terrifying visions and it was through the intercession of the Virgin Mary that she was cured from sickness – both spiritual and physical. Even when she was 10 years old Thérèse experienced some of the beauty of this world. She saw how the wealthy lived and she asked questions about where the wealthy are now and what did they gain from their beautiful houses and wealth. Thérèse felt that God wanted her to know something about the world so that she might choose more deliberately the way in which she was to follow Him.

Therese made two resolutions when she was preparing for her First Communion:

1 I will never way to discouragement;
2 I will endeavour to humble my pride.

At the age of 14 she experienced a ‘conversion’ and she was given strength of mind.

Therese had a wonderful desire to save souls. She prayed for sinners, asked God to forgive them and to give them the gift of repentance. She also had a great desire to pray for priests and to sacrifice herself for the interests of the Church. Thérèse’s way to God was not easy

-She had to leave her father to go to Mount Carmel, even though her father was seriously ill

-She had to get permission to enter the Convent and she suffered rebuttal from the Bishop’s representative, and the Bishop himself. She appealed to Pope Leo XIII and he said to her ‘You will enter, if it be God’s will’. She was very disheartened yet she felt at peace, because she had done everything she could. She was given permission to enter the Convent in 1888.

Her life in the convent was not easy. Her way to God was difficult. She suffered misunderstanding. She did not seek the company of her siblings in the convent, but always talked to whoever came first, or to anyone who seemed forlorn.

She got great solace from the Divine Office of the Church – prayers, psalms and readings from Scripture. She found great inspiration in reading St. John of the Cross and also the writings of St Therese of Avila. She said:

“From the Gospels I draw everything necessary for my poor little soul. In them I discover new lights, hidden and mysterious meanings”.

This evening I am talking about Thérèse’s way to God. You have heard about her life and death in detail during this Novena. Thérèse gives us great hope. She experienced ‘dryness’ and ‘sleep’ during her prayers. She suffered family tragedy like many of you. Thérèse said:

“Everything shall be for Him, everything; and even when I have nothing to give Him, as this evening, I will offer Him that nothing!”

Even though she walked in darkness at times, she was also in profound peace.

The Little Way of St Thérèse can be described best in two passages – her little way of spirituality

She said that when she grew weary of books etc. she would turn to Holy Scripture. She said that it was sufficient for her to recognise one’s nothingness and to abandon oneself as a child in God’s arms.
She told the Mother Prioress that she found great consolation in Scripture from the mouth of Wisdom: ‘Whoever is a little one, let him come to me. I have the need of becoming greater. On the contrary, I must be LITTLE and become even SMALLER’.

‘So it was really through the Gospel itself, which preaches the way of abandonment and childlike love towards our Heavenly Father that Thérèse found her inspiration and her way to GOD.’ [Reference: Thérèse of Lisieux, CTS pages 42,43]

When we try to understand Thérèse’s Way to God we see that she gave everything a supernatural value. If people upset her, she would put up with it and offer it up to God. She took on difficult tasks, such as helping another Sister who annoyed her greatly. She never complained about food. She is a great example to us of someone who abandoned herself to God.

Thérèse did not use long prayers – apart from the Divine Office and the Liturgy. The lifting of the mind to God, a glance towards her Heavenly Father was enough. She constantly asked God to show her what He wanted her to be and to do.

Thérèse experienced great physical and mental sufferings before she died but she always trusted in God.

Her own words: ‘I WILL SPEND MY HEAVEN DOING GOOD ON EARTH.’

Her Vocation was a vocation of love.

Her way to God, the ‘Little Way’, by returning to the essentials, leads to the secret of all life.

Thérèse really is a guide and an eminent model for all Christians today.

Pope Pius X said: “St. Thérèse showed us a simple way to live our lives. We sometimes think of ourselves as great, independent, self-reliant and clever. We are complex to a degree. God cannot use us as He wishes.

It was because Thérèse was ‘little’, completely dependent on God, that God was able to use her.’

If we can humble ourselves like Thérèse we too can be great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Follow her way, the ‘LITTLE WAY’.

2013 St Therese Novena, Dromantine

September 25, 2013

The SMA community at Dromantine also organise the Novena in honour of St Therese, Patroness of the Missions. Mass is celebrated at 10am and 7.30pm each day of the Novena.

Fr Mossie Kelleher SMA has invited different speakers each day. To read their homilies / reflections click on the links below.

Monday, 23 September – Fr Joe Bermingham – Family Life & Spiritual childhood
Tuesday, 24 September – Fr Joe Bermingham – St Therese, her special way to God
Wednesday, 25 September – Fr John Denvir SMA – Suffering and the Christian Life
Thursday, 26 September – Mrs Briege O’Hare – The nearness of God
Friday, 27 September – Mrs Dympna Mallon – Our Lady and St Therese
Saturday, 28 September – Sr Treasa – St Therese, a young Saint
Sunday, 29 September – Rev Brian Fitzpatrick – Service in the Church
Monday, 30 September – Fr Michael Maginn – St Therese & Prayer
Tuesday, 1 October – Fr Paddy O’Rourke – St Therese, Patroness of the Missions

2013 St Therese Novena Dromantine – Day 1

September 25, 2013

Fr Joe Bermingham, a Carmelite priest based in Avila, Dublin preached on the first day of the Novena in Dromantine. We list here the points he highlighted in his homily at the Mass.

St Thérese of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face 1873 – 1897

FAMILY LIFE

Died at 24 years old. 9 years in Carmel of Lisieux virtually unknown. Only about 50 at funeral.

Only 28 years later half a million attended Canonization.

“Greatest Saint of modern times” – Leo XIII

Patroness of Missions. Patroness of France, of Youth. Doctor of the Church 1997.

Born to Louis and Zellie Martin recently Beatified (2008). Religious Family – great influence.

Mother died when she was four and a half. This was traumatic for her. Therese had a mysterious illness – miracle cure. Difficult school years – nervous/sensitive. Complete conversion – after midnight Mass Christmas. Entered Carmelites aged 15 years. Her father died in 1894.

In 1895 began writing story of a soul – published after death.

SPIRITUAL CHILDHOOD

Pius XIII – “St Thérese rediscovered the heart of the Gospel”. God is a God of merciful love.

Spiritual Childhood – not childishness.Thérese discovered and experienced the true nature of God in prayer and experience. The God revealed by Christ – in the parables, in ministry to poor, sick and sinners above all in suffering, death and resurrection.

Little way of spiritual childhood – approach the God of mercy and love – like a little child with full trust and confidence.

Her way – offering her littleness, her prayer, her suffering to loving Father.

Her purpose – to make God known and loved the world over, till the end of time.To be love in the heart of the Church.

Desired to be a Priest, missionary, apostle to spread the good news of who God is – mercy and love.

To pray the Lord of the harvest to send missionaries into the harvest field.

Patroness of Missions – who promised to continue her work from her place in Heaven.

2013 St Therese Novena Cork – Day 4

September 25, 2013

The SMA Laity Coordinator, Mrs Dympna Mallon, spoke at the 4th night of the St Therese Novena in Blackrock Road. Here is an edited version of her sharing.

In preparing for tonight’s Novena, it occurred to me that the life of a saint can be inspiring but it can also highlight our inadequacies and the sense that we could never be like them. We know of their virtue and we recognise their self-giving and sacrifice out of their love for Jesus and His Father. It almost goes without saying that, for these most dedicated followers and disciples of Jesus, including St Therese, their vocation is first and foremost about love.

Then I began to wonder – why do we find it so hard to accept that we too are called to be disciples of Jesus, like the great saints of the Church and those many unnamed saints who have lived among us? And how well do we respond to that vocation? Are we prepared to accept the challenge of the Gospel message, the importance of love of God and neighbour above all else and do we each recognise this as our vocation in life – or do we pass this challenge to those whose vocation has taken them to the seminary, the monastery or the convent, to the foreign missions or to Rome? Do we even consider that each of us has a vocation that no other person can fulfil precisely in the way that we can, a vocation that has been chosen for each of us by God?

We might say that the life of St Therese inevitably led her to holiness. Her parents were holy people who were themselves beatified. She had four sisters, each of whom joined religious orders in their turn. Her faith in the short 24 years she lived made such an impact, with so many miracles attributed to her intercession, that she was canonised as a saint in 1925, less than 30 years after her death. So how do we relate to this vocation of love? How can we possibly strive to reach such holiness in our own lives?

Let’s consider the reality of Therese’s life in the Martin home. Although surrounded by love, Therese knew and experienced loss and pain from very early in her life; her mother died when she was less than five years old; several of her siblings died in infancy; her older sister Pauline, her second mother, left for the Carmelite Order when Therese was just nine; Therese was of a nervous disposition which left her bedridden on more than one occasion, and finally she endured a prolonged illness and death from tuberculosis. Her autobiography speaks frequently of the “darkness” she experienced in her spiritual life after she joined the Carmelite Order at the age of fifteen and the sense that God had abandoned her, so maybe she was more human than we would like or want to believe.

It is actually the way in which Therese dealt with the various challenges in her life that offers something concrete to you and me, today, in the 21st century. As the “Little Flower of Jesus”, her “Little Way” places simplicity at the centre of her teachings. She sought to see God’s hand in all things, choosing to be like a little child in her devotion to and her trust in God.

She is quoted as saying, “What pleases the good God in my little soul is to see me love my littleness and my poverty, and the blind trust that I have in His mercy.”

She saw herself as a child before a compassionate parent whose love is so overwhelming, any offence can be forgiven and whose help and guidance is always granted once requested. So her message is one of little things, not grand gestures; simplicity not complexity; trust not fear and love not indifference.

Perhaps we struggle with the idea that our life, our everyday routine, represents a vocation like the life of a priest, a sister or a brother . Perhaps we feel that their freedom from many worldly burdens , the secular life of the laity, makes it easier for them to aspire to and achieve holiness and closeness to God. But if we really accept the message of St Therese we must value every occupation or vocation and its significance in spreading the Good News of Jesus. After all St Paul tells us,

“There are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service to be done, but always the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same Lord works all of them in all men…All then are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (1Cor12:4-11)

Therese identified her own vocation as that of love, saying simply that “the whole point of love is making yourself small”.

We make ourselves small when we help someone in a quiet, perhaps unseen way, seeking no acknowledgment; when we make a sacrifice or do without, so that someone else may have; when we decide to love and respect those whom we find difficult and tiresome; when we welcome and include those whom we dislike or who challenge us, every time our actions echo the words of Jesus in the Gospel

” love your enemies, bless those who curse you and pray for those who persecute you…for if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even the tax collectors do as much? And if you save your greeting for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Do not even the gentiles do as much? You must therefore set no bounds to your love…In so far as you did this to the least of my brothers and sisters you did it to me.” (Matt 5:43 -48, 25:40)

As patroness of the missions, Therese is the embodiment of this challenge to reach out to those around us and to bring God’s message of unconditional love to all. Her love knew no bounds – she sought to love those she didn’t know and to act as a channel of God’s love to everyone, praying for the soul of a convicted criminal and offering prayer and spiritual support to priests in the missions through her correspondence with them. She found life in the convent demanding and many of the community difficult to live with so she chose to focus her love and friendship particularly on those sisters who challenged her most. This was so effective that one of the most difficult sisters wondered why Therese loved her so much more than she did anyone else.

Much of what Therese can teach us flies in the face of modern norms, where the interests of the individual surpass all other concerns and where success is measured by what we own, where we work and who we know rather than how we live. Yet if we accept that we are called to be disciples of Jesus, that we are called to a vocation of love, we have to ask ourselves: are we committed to live by a different set of standards from those embraced by the world around us? Are we willing to risk ridicule by showing compassion and love to those rejected by society? Do we challenge injustice when we encounter it? Do we treat all people with dignity and respect regardless of their culture, ethnicity or religion? Are we prepared to be missionary to everyone we meet, acting as channels for God’s mercy and love without the need for recognition or reward?

This is a huge challenge. Huge challenges are off-putting and threaten to overwhelm us. We may try to avoid the task for fear of failure or a realisation of our own inadequacy. But the Little Way of St Therese can help . She urges us to love God without fear or reserve because God loves us without reserve and in this way our lives can become a process of “transforming nothingness into fire”. She teaches us that holiness does not consist in doing extraordinary things but in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well, doing them out of love. She is quoted,

“I understood that love comprised all vocations, that love was everything, that it embraced all times and places…in a word that it was eternal.”

The vocation to love underlies all our activities, all our occupations, whether in the workplace or at home, on or off duty, in or out of the office. It is given to us at our baptism and through it we are challenged to see the face of Jesus in every other human being. Our human instinct is to change others so that we find it easier to love them. But our divine heritage as God’s children calls us, like St Therese, to love and accept others as they are, to recognise that in spite of their differences, imperfections and flaws, they too are God’s beloved children. Therese understood that true love is not the result of personal achievement but of complete availability to God, and that demonstrations of care, compassionate service and affection, are God’s love flowing through us.

As we move through this Novena in honour of St Therese let us ask her to intercede for us, to teach us how to do ordinary things well, for a childlike trust and belief in God’s mercy and love as in a loving parent, that we may become channels of that love to everyone we meet and in so doing, that each of us may enter more fully into the discipleship of Jesus, embracing our vocation of love.

2013 St Therese Novena Cork – Day 2

September 24, 2013

Sr Margaret Kiely shared on ‘The Life of St Therese’ at the 2nd night of the Novena in honour of the Little Flower at Blackrock Road, Cork. This is an edited version of her sharing.

I made a retreat in Myross Wood recently and the priest strongly recommended that we use our imagination more in prayer, that our faith needs imagination. So with that I mind I put these few thoughts together. I had the privilege of visiting Lisieux last year. Since that visit I have read and reflected on the life of St Therese and have tried to see how her life has relevance for us today.

She was born in Alencon in France 140 yrs ago. Along side the strong faith of Therese Martin’s family, I noted that there was grief, loss, sadness, powerlessness and stress.

Loss of 4 of her siblings who died at a young age – including her only two brothers
Grief at the loss of a mother from breast cancer
Powerlessness over her mental illness – she suffered from depression
Stress of moving house
Sadness caused by being bullied at school
Powerlessness in her efforts to enter the Carmelite Convent at 14 yrs.
For her father Louis there was the Letting Go of all his daughters to the Carmelite Convent

While concentrating on Therese’s family I was reminded of the many families who are living in stressful situations today. Here in the 21^st century the circumstances are different but the human emotions are the same. As you are well aware there is immense stress for families in these times of recession. We need only tune in to the Radio to hear about the heart break associated with job losses, financial problems, negative equity, sickness, suicide and burglary.

Any one of these problems can be a source of stress and can overwhelm us. We can become paralysed by fear and anxiety which causes us not to think clearly or see the way forward.

Some people turn to using alcohol, sleeping tablets or tranquillizers in order to cope. These are not the solution to such problems. While working with recovering addicts in Tabor Lodge I have used the 12 step programme with individuals and with families. I also use it in my own life. It is a Spiritual programme, a programme for living. Some of you may be familiar with the 12 steps. I will mention the first three.

Step 1 I am powerless in this situation –

Step 2 I believe that God can help me

Step 3 If I allow Him – if I accept the help

In working the first three steps:

We name the problem. We admit our powerlessness. We pray to God.

We seek help – initially it may be by talking to a trusted friend, priest or counsellor who will point us in the direction of professional help. We accept the help offered. It is about asking God for help through prayer and then allowing God to help us through other people. I can’t, God can, If I let him.

St Therese was powerless in many situations The family turned to God in prayer and Therese sought help in her efforts to enter Carmel – even by approaching her bishop and the Pope.

10 yrs ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Having recovered from the initial shock I began to experience negative feelings – anxiety about the treatment; fear of losing my hair, the change in self image; blaming – should I have been referred earlier; anger – I did not admit that I was angry until my file went missing.

I then said to myself “practice what you preach”

Step 1 “I am powerless over breast cancer”

Step 2 I believe God can help me

Step 3 Talk about it.

I was lucky to have a hobby that I could hold on to. I found my Bridge group very supportive. I also had support of my community, friends and family. Talking to people gave me an opportunity to share what it was like to lose my hair, and to cope with the practical problems of chemotherapy. A friend advised me to get a good wig and that was practical advise which I pass on to others. In helping other women who were in the same situation I found that I was also helping myself. It also gave me an acceptance of my cancer and a trust in the treatment.

I also found healing in nature, walking around the Lough, admiring the birds and letting nature heal me. “The birds of the air, they labour not, yet your heavenly Father feeds them”.

In the time of Therese’s mother there was no recovery from breast cancer. For me having made that recovery I live with gratitude. Another chance at life.

The 12 Steps work when people share their stories and help one another in the process.

Another way of putting it: Name it (the problem), Claim it and Tame it.

A problem shared is a problem halved. In the sharing we often find that the answer is within ourselves.

Another example of somebody who worked the steps was an American woman who was presenting a seminar on Post Traumatic Stress. Her name was Johanna, a recovering alcoholic and she worked with Trans World Airways in debriefing staff and passengers after accidents! I remarked to her that she was a changed person when she got up on the podium to speak. Her reply was “When I get up there I say Johanna, get out of the way and let Him take over” For me I saw the Steps in action. Let go and Let God.

In situations of conflict we have examples from Therese’s life in Carmel where she tells us about

the sister who worked beside her in the laundry and who used to splash her with dirty water
the sister behind her who was annoying her by fingering her beads at prayer,
the sister who irritated her by rattling her loose false teeth

For us today these could be the

person who is dumping their rubbish into your garden
the person playing loud music next door,
the busybody who spreads gossip in neighbourhood

Instead of trying to change the sisters, Therese recognised that she herself had to change. She changed her attitude towards the other, did random acts of kindness for them and offered all the irritations to God out of Love.

We can’t change other people – we can only change ourselves – our attitude.

“Lord change me bless them”.

“Let go and let God”.

Therese was conscious of God in everything she did, in all the convent chores offering everything to God out of love, praying for the conversion of sinners, offering up her sufferings out of love and always wanting to do His Will.

We too can be conscious of God in our ordinary everyday life. As well as being aware of him at Mass, in the Sacraments and at prayer we can find him in one another, in creation, in our beautiful country-side, in the peace we enjoy as we walk the streets, the freedom to practice our religion, the services available to us even in the free travel !

In conclusion, may I invite you to name your concern.

As well as praying directly to God that you allow God to reach you through another person or persons, by sharing the problem.

Name it, claim it, tame it.

Finally

We ask God to grant us

the serenity to accept the things we cannot change – we cannot change the past. We cannot change the other person.
Grant us the courage to change the things we can – we can change ourselves and we can change the present.
Grant us the wisdom to know what is the will of God for us in this situation.
Grant us the Grace to carry out His will in this situation.

SMA celebrates Apostolic 90th anniversary photos

September 23, 2013

Some more photos from the Thanksgiving Mass and meal at the African Missions, Dromantine on Sunday, 22 September 2013, to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the Apostolic Work Society. Read Report.

Everyone enjoyed a beautiful meal after Mass provided by the Dromantine staff. Thanks to Edel, Breda, Connor and Jacinta as well as those who helped serve the food and keep the tea flowing.

Fr Kavanagh shows his true colours…

Fr Lee Cahill SMA poses with some Apostolic and SMA Sponsors from Coagh, Co Tyrone

Working for Justice – The Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation.

September 20, 2013

Working for Justice – The Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation P.O. Box 827-00606 Nairobi Kenya.

Aims and Objectives
To implement training workshops and social development projects to:

● Cultivate Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation.
● Provide conflicting parties with safe Forums for dialogue to ascertain their commitment to Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation.
● Carry out in-depth research of the root causes of intrastate and interstate conflict in the conflict environment and make findings available to relevant governments, ethnic representatives and Organisations.
● Engage the conflicting parties in Problem Solving Workshops oriented to permanent and positive peace.
● Train Peace Builders with the requisite skills and techniques for long term conflict resolution and management.
● Develop inter-ethnic schools and institutions with the aim of promoting “peace-education” in primary and secondary schools. A primary aim of peace education is de-legitimising the use of force in solving conflicts, and thus fostering a culture of peace.

[email protected] www.shalomconflictcenter.org

The Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (SCCRR) is based in the African city of Nairobi in Kenya. Founded in 2009, its aim is to help in resolving conflicts and to bring about reconciliation. It aims to do this by promoting non-violent social transformation, integral human development and respect for local culture, traditions and justice.

The Shalom Centre concentrates its work in the arid Northern Territories of Kenya where the nomadic pastoral communities have been engaged in conflicts with each other over many years. This area is home to seven major ethnic groups and also a disputed territory claimed by Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan. This has given rise to a situation where there is little or no official state involvement or development in the region.

sccrr group As time went by SCCRR’s remit broadened to include the eight country regional development organisation known as IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development). This region is an area characterized by long-standing episodes of violent conflict between members of different ethnic communities. As time went by SCCRR’s remit broadened to include the eight country regional development organisation known as IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development). This region is an area characterized by long-standing episodes of violent conflict between members of different ethnic communities.

The ultimate aim of the Shalom Centre’s intervention is for both sides in a conflict to participate in what is called a Problem Solving Workshop which results in a peace agreement implemented by both sides.

CAUSES OF CONFLICT
The causes of conflict in this area are complex. They include ethnicity, as well as increasing competition for scarce water and grazing resources, made even worse by climate change. This competition has exacerbated the already tense relations between the ethnic groups. The lack of border security, state investment in the region and the pervasive belief that killing or taking revenge on people, outside one’s ethnic group is legitimate are also significant causes. Finally, the presence of outsiders with their own competing interests in the pastoral borderlands gives further cause for conflict.

Add into this volatile mixture the ease with which firearms and ammunition change hands across borders ,as well as within Kenya, and it is easy to see why conflict is produced and reproduced in a cycle of violence and revenge. In the past, disputes and conflicts were settled with traditional weapons and negotiation. Today automatic weapons, especially the widely available and lethal AK47 assault rifle are used. As a result, injuries and the loss of life are much greater making the possibility of negotiation much less likely. While illicit weapons do not in themselves cause conflicts they multiply, sustain and fuel the cycle of violence. An example of this took place on May 4th 2011 when members of the Dassenach ethnic group attacked and killed thirty-eight Turkana people.

METHODOLOGY
A Border fundamental principal in the Shalom Centre’s approach is the belief that conflict cannot be resolved unless its root causes are addressed. In on-going African conflict environments people are killed, maimed, and displaced persistently. As a result,the social and religious values of truth, justice, peace and mercy cannot take deep root. It is very difficult to have sustained development as community centres, churches, schools, hospitals, become periodically inoperable. In such environments, people cannot live normal lives or experience true peace.

Based on this understanding the Shalom Centre takes a very practical dual approach to conflict resolution. Firstly; it researches the root causes of conflict. Secondly; it trains representatives from each side (initially separately) in conflict transformation and peace building techniques.

Both elements in this dual approach inform and help to facilitate a situation where the conflicted parties become open to creating the engagement and cooperation needed for peace and reconciliation. This will allow them to participate in what is called a “Problem Solving Workshop” during which conflict resolution can be agreed. The work of the Shalom Centre trained individuals is to use their skills within their own communities to prepare them for participation in the Problem Solving Workshop.

The Director of SCCRR, Fr Patrick Devine SMA described this methodology as “not being aimed at a ‘quick fix’ but rather at long-term foundational building, which will culminate with ethnic leaders, influential opinion shapers and state actors coming under the same roof of transformation and resolution.”

Research and Training
Training is tailored to each conflict situation by taking account of research data regarding its root causes.

Training modules are written by professionals with qualifications in Peace Studies from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi.

This work is undertaken with the assistance of Professor Robert Mudida (below) of Stratmore University, Nairobi. He also lectures at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa on the Theory of Conflict, Conflict Management, Diplomacy and International Economics.

robert m1

Another SCCRR initiative running in tandem with and supporting the dual process described above is focused on
education for peace in local schools – see below.

RESEARCH
Research into the causes of conflict is undertaken by qualified academics and staff. The end result is a substantial piece of academic work, the purpose of which is to facilitate and inform the processes of training and subsequent reconciliation that leaders and representatives of both communities can engage in. The research also identifies ways in which the policies, directions and priorities of government, local and national, can help or hinder reconciliation.

Research can take up to 18 months and it is not finalised until its findings are validated by participants from the communities in which the data was collected and who are in the last stage of their SCCRR training. This validated research then becomes the basis for the roadmap to conflict resolution that will be elaborated in Problem Solving Workshop.

TRAINING
SCCRR training is delivered by a team of Kenyan, and international SCCRR staff including Fathers Ollie Noonan and Patrick Devine SMA. This consists of three Modules, each lasting two or three days and spread over a period of up to 18 months (Research work into the root causes of the conflict also takes place in this period) These are also referred to as Workshops but should not be confused with the Problem Solving Workshop which is the goal of the training and research.

Training Workshop 1: Listens to the people’s own experience of conflict and then looks at different models for understanding conflict and how to manage it. The workshop then moves to conflict transformation explaining the need for personal, relational, structural and cultural transformation as well as the processes of reconciliation in divided societies.

Training Workshop 2: deals with principles of conflict analysis and conflict negotiation. It takes participants through the components of reconciliation; truth, justice, mercy and peace which help to build mechanis

Challenges
Conflict resolution is a complex and long process that must necessarily take place over a period of years.

It also takes place in a changing political and social situation that affects the process itself, especially the pace at which it takes place. In particular, there have been two factors that have had an impact of the work of SCCRR.

Kenya has recently adopted of a devolved system of governance. Time needs to be allowed for the new structures to take root and for new officials to take office. These will play an essential part in any peace initiative. While the slow implementation of the new structure has impeded progress to some extent, they will, in the end, assist the peace process by making government much more accessible than in the past.

During 2012, SCCRR was requested by state officials, religious leaders and NGOs to assist in a programme in the “Prevention of Election Violence” during the March 4th general elections. Most of the work was concentrated in areas which experienced violence during the previous elections in 2007/8. While this programme temporarily diverted attention from on-going work, SCCRR was happy to undertake this intervention which contributed to the largely peaceful nature of the election process.

These are some of the challenges of patience and cooperation which SCCRR meet as they implement the peace project in northern Kenya.ms that can engage the conflicting groups with each other, and also alter previously held negative attitudes and stereotypes.

The training delivered during the first two workshops aims at providing participants with an understanding of the particular conflict and the skills for managing it. This allows them to analyse their own situation and to come to a new perspective that offers an alternative to viole Eldoret nce. During the workshops participants can express their feelings, anger and resentment towards specific communities, issues or structures in the community which, in their view, cause or contribute to conflict. This is a positive step for the participants because reconciliation begins by talking-out the underlying issues of the conflict at hand.

Training Workshop 3 is focused on how the skills and knowledge learned in 1 & 2 can be applied to the local situation. Part of this workshop is taken up with presenting and validating the findings of the Research. Participants are consulted in order to establish whether or not findings into the root causes are accurate.

This stage was reached the first time in August 2013 when the validation of research findings from the Samburu/Turkana conflict took place. SCCRR met with the Samburu community to verify that the results from the analysis of the data collected earlier was correct. During the consultation the community listened to the findings, made clarifications and brought omissions to our attention. All this Is now in the process of being integrated into a final document which will be made available to the conflicting parties and also to state, religious and NGO groups. This then becomes the basis for the process of resolution as it identifies the root causes i.e. the issues that must be addressed if the conflict is to end. (Groups involved in another seven inter-ethnic conflicts have complete workshop 1 or 2 and will follow-on to the final training workshop in the future).

THE NEXT STAGE
The completion and validation of the research marks the beginning of the next stage in the conflict resolution process i.e. when those who have completed training begin to work within their own communities. Their role is to prepare their own community for the Problem Solving Workshop at which both sides of the conflict engage to establish a reconciliation agreement.

The timescale for this stage is indeterminate as it entails familiarising the local community with the process, raising awareness of the need for, and benefits of reconciliation as well as identifying and preparing those who will engage in the Problem Solving Workshop. This process has to take place on both sides of the conflict. In addition to the engagement of key stakeholders such as ethnic leaders and community elders from the conflicting communities, the involvement of influential opinion shapers, state officials and policy formulators, government officials, religious leaders, police, school teachers, health workers etc. is also essential. All of these have important roles in the conflict zone. Without their participation and cooperation the implementing any agreement reached will not be possible.

The Problem Solving Workshop: All of the stages described above, i.e. the research, training and preparation at local level culminate in the “Problem Solving Workshop.” The exact format and timing of this will be determined by the local situation and the preparedness of communities and representatives from both sides of the conflict. It is likely that it will take place over an extended period of time and involve many meetings and discussions not only with the parties directly involved but also with strategic people from the national and local government to ensure that policies, plans, development and use of resources support reconciliation. Eventually a road map for peace will be drawn up between both sides. This will then have to be implemented, monitored and lead not just to the absence of violence but to a situation of justice and peace.

CHILDREN AND SCHOOLS
Another element in the work of the Shalom Centre is the promotion of conflict resolution through schools. This is a long-term initiative that aims to develop inter-ethnic primary and secondary schools. Participating schools are provided with solar lighting in order to promote an environment of peace where children can learn and where historical grievances and barriers between the different groups can be broken down. The light is necessary because much of this learning takes place in the evening time when the work of the day is done.

So far over 50 schools are involved. SCCRR recognises that schools and education are important instruments for breaking the cycle of conflict and for creating an atmosphere for learning and being together. At present an Education for Peace module developed by the Shalom Centre and consisting of fourteen lessons delivered over one semester is being piloted in four schools.

Work with schools and children runs in tandem with the training of adults in conflict areas. The aim of both is to gradually build acceptance and engagement with the reconciliation process in the wider community and to prepare it for the Problem Solving Workshop stage.

CONCLUSION
Peace is not merely the absence of violence; it also entails reconciliation. In other words the bringing about of a situation where the parties in a conflict become mutually interested in creating the harmony and cooperation in which development can take place.

The 2011 church document ‘Africae Munus’, the Vatican’s response to the last African Synod of Bishops, highlights the connection between reconciliation and development. It states: “Reconciliation overcomes crises, restores the dignity of individuals and opens up the path to development and lasting peace between peoples at every level.” Par 21. The Shalom Centre’s vision of a society where peace, social justice and reconciliation prevail reflects this connection. Its work is motivated by the Gospel call to love one’s neighbour and guided by the social teaching of the Church that emanates from it.
The Northern Ireland peace process began in 1994. It is, nearly twenty years later, still on-going and still fragile. While this is the case, a remarkable change has taken place. The vast majority of people on both sides of this conflict no longer want to go back to the “bad old days” and while there are still deep-seated suspicions of the other side, there is openness to cooperation and reasonable compromise to ensure that this does not happen.

Reaching this stage has taken years of careful work and management. Much of it was about timing – introducing ideas, planting seeds and allowing time for them to take root and grow. The Shalom Centre is promoting such a process. Remarkably, it is doing it on many fronts and over a very wide area, even beyond the borders of Kenya. None of the Shalom Centre’s interventions have yet got to the level reached in Northern Ireland but it is early days. Since 2009 much has been achieved:

●   A process for reconciliation has been established.
●   It has been introduced in conflict regions.
●   Research has developed valuable resources for conflict understanding and resolution (for eight separate conflicts).
●   An extensive training programme has been developed.
●   This has, and is being delivered over a wide area (dealing both with pre-election violence and inter-ethnic conflict).
●   The Shalom Centre has built a reputational standing with local groups, the national Government and internationally in the IGAD region.

The potential for positive results makes the continuation of SCCRR’s work imperative.

sccrr dancing research Turkana 448 235

The above photos were taken fom SCCR Publications and the SCCRR Website – Click here to link to this website

Produced by the SMA Justice Office, African Missions, Cork, IRELAND 2013 – [email protected]

Professor James O’Connell

September 12, 2013

Born in Cork in 1925, James entered the SMA in 1944 and was ordained to the Priesthood in 1952. He studied Philosophy at University College, Galway where he was awarded an MA in 1948 with First Class Honours. He studied theology at the SMA seminary in Dromantine, Newry.

Following Ordination, he taught Philosophy for one year at the Society’s Novitiate and Philosophy Centre at Cloughballymore, Kilcolgan, Co Galway. From 1953 to 1957 he did Doctoral Studies at Louvain and in 1957 was awarded a PhD with highest distinction for a thesis on the philosophy of Charles S. Peirce, founder of the pragmatic school of Philosophy.

He worked as a missionary with the SMA (Irish Province) in Nigeria from 1957 until 1973. His first post was to teach Philosophy at the Ss Peter & Paul Major seminary in Ibadan (1957-1958) followed by ninie years teaching Economics at Ibadan University. In 1967 he transferred to the north of Nigeria to lecture in Political Science at Amadhu Bello University, Zaria. He left Nigeria in 1973.

He was a delegate to the Irish Provincial and General Assemblies in 1968 and 1973.

In 1974, he decided to leave the priesthood and married. His teaching career continued at Bradford University where he was Professor of Peace Studies, a position he held until his retirement in 1996.

While with the SMA he was known as a formidable scholar and he published many articles on economic and political issues and on the factors affecting the development of Africa. The SMA members whom he taught and worked with not only admired his intelligence and scholarship but loved him as a true gentleman.

He died in a hospice in London on Sunday, 8^th September. His funeral will be held at the London city Crematorium on Monday 16^th September. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary. Fr John Brown SMA, Parish Priest at the SMA parish in Walthamstowm Our Lady & St Patrick’s, will represent the Province at the funeral.

May the Lord receive him into the company of the blessed in Heaven.

For further information / Obituaries http://www.sanjida.co.uk/?page_id=168

Wilton celebrates 2013 Ordinations

September 8, 2013

More than 100 people attended the Mass in the SMA Wilton Parish Centre on Saturday, 7 September to give thanks for the Ordination of 25 new SMA priests in 2013. Fr Dominic Anthuvan SMA (from India and a missionary now in Kontagora Vicariate, Nigeria) celebrated the Mass along Fr Michael McCabe (Provincial Leader), John O’Keeffe (Wilton Community Leader) and the FVC Munster Director, Fr Fergus Tuohy. Several other SMA priests attended the Mass and met with our supporters for a cuppa and chat afterwards.

To read an article and see photos from the event click on this link: Wilton celebrates 2013 Ordinations

Here are some more photos from the evening:

A ‘cuppa’ and buns don’t appear by magic! It takes preparation and our thanks to the Midleton Ladies for their work. We enjoyed!

Some Sponsors from neighbouring Rossa Avenue and Farraneens

Maureen Doocey with Bridie and Philip O’Callaghan

Fr Eddie O’Connor SMA (from Bantry) has a chat with Maureen O’Mahony and Marian O’Sullivan

Fathers John O’Keeffe, Michael McCabe, Dominic Anthuvan and Fergus Tuohy concelebrated the Thanksgiving Mass with our Sponsors.

Fr Dominic explains about his life in Shafaci to some of our Sponsors.

Reception of Holy Communion: God loved us so much He sent His only Son who gave His life for us on the Cross. He asks us to make His love present in the world today. In the words of Fr Dominic about SMA missionaries and our Sponsors:

Some give, by going; others go, by giving.

Ballinascarthy Sponsors Mass

September 8, 2013

More than 260 people attended the Mass in the Community Hall in Ballianscarthy to give thanks for the Ordination of 25 new SMA priests in 2013. Fr Dominic Anthuvan SMA (from India and a missionary now in Kontagora Vicariate, Nigeria) celebrated the Mass along with several other SMA priests and the Timoleague Parish Priest, Fr Pat Hickey.

To read an article and see photos from the event click on this link: Ballinascarthy celebrates!

Here are some more photos from the evening:

Like the Parable in the Gospel: everyone was fed and there were seven baskets left over. Thanks to the local ladies for their great work.

Donal & Nora McCarthy enjoy the ‘cuppa’ along with Kathleen Crowley and Carrie Lynch.

Fr Kevin Conway SMA with John Joe Lyons

Fr Fergus poses with Margaret & Brendan Hayes from Crookstown

An Experience to remember – ASLFL Conference

September 3, 2013

Esther Ade-Adeleye is a student at the Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School, Maryland, Lagos, Nigeria. This school was founded by the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) in 1969. From 1979 – 2001 it was under State control as the government seized all religious-owned schools. However, in 2001, recognizing the problems the takeover of schools caused the various State governments offered to return schools to the different churches and other groups. In some cases this offer was declined as the schools had fallen into such a state of disrepair etc that it would prove impossible to restore them. However, Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie did agree to take back some schools, including Maryland which was now a co-educational school catering for over 600 pupils, from all denominations and religious backgrounds. The School Administrator is Sister Esther Edeko OLA. A second OLA Sister is also involved in the school.

Esther will graduate this year and hopes to study Paediatrics. At the initiative of Sister Esther, it was decided that Maryland would send a group to the Albert Schweitzer Leadership for Life Conference in Ireland. Six students, one male teacher and Sr Esther were to travel to Ireland for the event. And so a massive fundraising effort got underway. The student body fundraised to cover flight costs for their schoolmates (4 girls and 2 boys), aided by the parents of the six; the PTA sponsored the costs of the teacher and the Archbishop of Lagos and some other friends also contributed. They also had a pupil from Concord School in Ibadan, to the north of Lagos, join with them. Below is an edited account of Esther’s experience.

Introduction

On 27 July 2013 students from different parts of the world, gathered at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth to participate in the Albert Schweitzer’s Leadership for Life programme. I was privileged to be one of them, as well as five other students from my school in Nigeria.

I remember the first set of people we met on arrival at the University: the Americans, who greeted us warmly. That for me was a good start and, thankfully, most of the people we met at that conference were the friendliest we had ever met.

Albert Schweitzer’s Leadership for Life program

Esther (standing 2nd from left) with her ASLFL group

The ASLFL is committed to developing and presenting meaningful, state-of-the-art youth leadership and mentorship programs to 15-18 year-olds of good character with demonstrable leadership skills, high aspirations and an interest in community service around the globe. Named after one of the world’s greatest humanitarian, Albert Schweitzer, the ASLFL motivates young people to achieve their goals.

The ASLFL encourages young people to cultivate an understanding and appreciate multi-culturalism; teaching all students to protect the global environment without compromising the needs, wants and expectations of those who inhabit the globe; instilling a passion for community service, boosting self-confidence, improving interpersonal and group communication skills as well as developing an awareness of social needs and the issues therein.

ASLFL and I

The 2013 ASLFL brought students from different parts of the world: Canada, England, India, Ireland, Kenya, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Palestine, South Korea and the USA. We gathered at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth from 27 July to 3 August. It was an enriching encounter.

Our quest ‘to Live, to Love, to Lead and to Learn’ commenced as we arrived for the programme. Each participant was given a room and after lunch we were given a tour of the South Campus of the University.

As the Agenda for the next day, a Sunday, was ‘fully loaded’, our School Administrator, Sister Esther Edeko OLA, ensured that we attended the Saturday vigil mass in the parish Church. The celebration was solemn and we felt welcome as visitors to the parish were prayed for during the Prayers of the Faithful.

We began the next day with a tour of Dublin. We visited many places including the Phoenix Park where we had some time at the Dublin Zoo, saw Arus an Uachtaráin (residence of the Irish President, Mr Michael D Higgins) and the Duke of Wellington Monument where the 1932 Eucharistic Congress was celebrated. We also visited the Criminal Courts of Justice and St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Church of Ireland – Anglican) where we saw many statues, bought souvenirs and enjoyed the beautiful grounds. We also visited the Oscar Wilde Park and had lunch at a McDonalds restaurant. We did some window-shopping and some of us actually bought some things! Our tour also took us to Trinity College and we were shown around the library where we saw one of Ireland’s most precious and historic manuscripts – the Book of Kells.

Dinner was at the National Concert Hall after a brief history of the building was explained to us. We then attended the World Choral Festival that evening. It was an incredible experience. While some of us enjoyed most of the performance, some could hardly stay awake! I was particularly fascinated throughout the performance as I listened to ‘Leonardo dreams of his flying machine’ for the first time. It was a great piece. Other songs performed were: My dear sweetheart, Adieu; the Hallelujah Chorus and the Funk.

The conference began properly on Monday, 29 July when the Irish delegates arrived to join the International delegates. There was an opening ceremony where the ASLFL Ambassador, Mr Matt McCoy, was introduced to us.

The next five days were filled with much more fun and learning! We listened to several lectures from different personalities on various themes such as leadership, community needs analysis, values, self-awareness, communication skills, personal goals, and so on. We participated in workshops relating to good leadership skills, team building, critical thinking and communication skills. Participants did not only get the opportunity to hear inspiring talks from different successful people who are occupying leadership positions in their various career paths. We were able to interact with them, learn from them, and asked questions about the challenges they face as leaders, as well as how they overcome them.

People from the same country were put into different working groups. Personally, it took a while to know all the names of my group members, but I got it, finally. (Esther, don’t worry! Everyone in the group had the same challenge as you – Editor’s note). There were nine different nationalities in my group. After introductions we soon got busy with the activities. Our first challenge was to create a group name, banner and mascot. It took a while, a lot of team work and contribution of ideas but ‘we arrived’. Group work thus enabled us to mix with everyone and share ideas.

The whole ASLFL programme remains an experience to remember, yet several moments stand-out for me.

The Human Bingo activity got me talking and more open. We also had the Team Scavenger Hunt and I enjoyed mixing with my group members. What I recall from the Karaoke was that I was so excited before it. I wanted to sing but I was so scared. My hands shivered more each time I tried to calm down and I did not want to stand up to sing. Then came this huge conviction to do it and the only song that came to my mind was ‘Blessings’, a Christian song I like for obvious reasons. I remember walking up to the podium and taking a deep breath. The rest of the story is now history! So that was my first real personal challenge: acting even though I was so scared! That was basically what the conference was about: taking-up challenges and overcoming fears. The rousing applause that followed my performance was so encouraging and I realised that people actually appreciated virtually everything one did. There was nothing to be scared of after all. That was the beginning!

The rest of the week saw me getting better at communicating, being less timid, taking up challenges, voicing my opinions and learning about different cultures. I improved in my communication and presentation skills. I learnt how to be reflective and what I would like to do for my community. I became more aware of my personal and leadership goals.

The program was not ‘all work and no play…’ As well as the events already listed above we had many other enjoyable opportunities to show-off some of their talents as well as, a ‘Novelty Olympic Games’.

Conclusion

The Albert Schweitzer Leadership for Life Conference is one I will never forget. It had a huge impact on my life. Not only did I have fun, I also met people who made me realise that we are all unique and gifted in so many ways. I met people who told me good things about myself that I was unaware of, who cheered me on when it was time to speak and who told me, in the words of Brian (one of my group members) that “You will be a great doctor.” I met people who helped boost my confidence, engaging in activities which made me a better person all round and which taught me how to be a good leader, that I could be a good leader, I should be a good leader and that I will be a great leader.

The ASLFL program has made a positive impact on me and I am more aware that “the very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.” (Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh).

More importantly, I learnt with my peers how to Live, to Love, to Lead and to Learn.

Editor’s Note: After the Conference concluded the group visited the OLA Community at Ardfoyle Convent in Cork City where they met many Sisters, some of whom had worked in Nigeria for more than fifty years. Our picture below shows the Nigerian group with (from left) Sr Esther, Sr Columbiere and Sr Mary Crowley in the Community cemetery where many OLA missionaries are buried. Esther Ade-Adeleye, the author of the above article, is fourth from the left.

The presence of these committed students are a testimony to the hardwork and dedication of the missionaries down the years. May almighty God give success to all their endeavours in the future. Amen.

An Indian missionary in Nigeria

September 3, 2013

Fr Dominic www Fr Dominic Maria Anthuvan was born in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India in September 1980, the 2^nd of three children. Even though India still has a great need for priests, Fr Dominic wanted to be a missionary because he was moved by what he knew of the SMA and he always wanted to become one. A cousin, Fr Francis Rozario, was already an SMA priest and this too had its influence on him (Fr Rozario is now a member of the SMA General Council in Rome). For the young Dominic, Africa has a greater need of missionaries and it was a matter of “it’s now or never.”

Mangadu Chapel www He joined the SMA in 1998 doing his Philosophy studies in India, followed by an International Spiritual Year programme in the Philippines. He became an SMA member in June 1998 and was then sent to Nigeria for his pastoral training. Fr Dominic completed his theological studies in Nairobi, Kenya. He was ordained a priest on 8 August 2009, one of 5 Indian SMA priests ordained that year.

Pictured on right is the Chapel at the SMA Formation House in Mangadu, Chennai in India where Fr Dominic began studies with the SMA.

After ordination Fr Dominic was appointed to Kontagora Vicariate, Nigeria.

He spent some months learning the Hausa language with Fr John O’Keeffe (from Cork City) after which he went to Shafaci parish, where Fr Donall O’Cathain (from Cork City) was the Parish Priest, caring for 128 outstation villages. There are no tarred roads in the area and the priests use motorbikes or a 4×4 pickup to reach some outstations, some as far away as one and a half hours driving (i.e. about 50kms). They measure how long it takes to get somewhere by time rather than the length of the road. All roads in the area are laterite.

Outstation-Mass-Shafaci-par

Earlier this year Fr Dominic succeeded Fr O’Catháin as Parish Priest. Sharing the work with him now is another Indian SMA, Fr Maria Valan. Fr O’Catháin has moved further west to establish a new parish at Pissa (with 66 outstations culled from Shafaci together with 14 from the neighbouring parish of Guffanti), closer to the border with the Benin Republic.

Fr Dominic is pictured preaching during Mass at an Outstation Church. This community will not have Mass again for several months. In his absence the community will gather for a Sunday Service of the Word, led by a community member who has been trained for this ministry.

All three priests are heavily involved in the normal parish ministry (celebrating sacraments, teaching catechism etc) as well as training Catechists / Service Leaders (local villagers, women and men, who prepare children and adults for sacraments as well as lead the Sunday Prayer Service). Two of the pastoral priorities in Kontagora are the provision of clean water and the Dry Season Literacy programme. Shafaci has been involved in both since its establishment in 2001. There is a Healthcare clinic run by the OLA Sisters once a week on market day, with another clinic at Pissa also on market day.

Youth Ministry is another ministry that the priests are greatly involved in because our churches are full of youths, children and women. Courses and seminars are held in different parts of the parish to address issues identified by the people: human rights, health education, empowerment of women through literacy, environmental awareness and justice and peace are some of the topics addressed at these gatherings.

A situation of grave injustice

September 2, 2013

Reflection for September 2013
During the past six months or so various national newspapers have carried reports regarding the situation of asylum seekers in Ireland. The striking fact about some of these comments is that the conditions in which asylum seekers are obliged to live are being compared to that of the children and young women living in abusive situations in Ireland over past decades while under the care of the state or religious institutions. We are now very well aware of this scandal. Recently however, retired Supreme Court Judge Catherine McGuinness made a stark comparison between both situations. The former judge pointed out that the institutionalised accommodation provided for asylum seekers was created as a “panic reaction” to the large number arriving in Ireland during the boom, and has been allowed to drag on with no outside supervision or accountability. She said that the situation was having a bad effect on families, and particularly children, She said “I would be very concerned that in the future we find ourselves with another huge thing to apologise for, for people who have been kept in institutions for many years with very little supervision and no recourse from the Ombudsman or the Ombudsman for Children and no outside direction on what’s happening with them.” Almost one third of the 4,800 people living in direct provision accommodation are children.

Continue

A Collection of Statistics

August 22, 2013

A collection of statistics regarding the developing world.

20% of the world’s population are currently using 85% of the world’s resources.
The U.S. has 5% of the world’s population and uses 40% of the world’s resources.
The richest countries – Europe, the U.S. Canada, Australia, and Japan – use 65% of the world’s electricity.
$40 billion annually would provide social services to all people in developing countries.
Comparatively, the worldwide budget for military spending is $780 billion. (As estimated by the U.N. Development Program in 1998). More recent estimates put this as high as $1,000 billion.

Poverty

2.8 billion people—more than half the people in developing countries—live on less than $700 a year. Of these, 1.2 billion earn less than $1 a day. 2.8 billion on less than $2 a day

Mortality

33,000 children die every day in developing countries
Each minute more than one woman dies during childbirth
In many developing countries, life expectancy has declined, for example, in Botswana the average person now lives 10 years less than in 1990.

Health

Malaria, affects an estimated 300 million people and kills at least one million people each year, three-quarters of them children under five.
In all, 36.1 million individuals are estimated to be living with HIV or AIDS.
11 million children under five dying annually from preventable causes (1998)

Water and sanitation

Contaminated drinking water and an inadequate supply of water cause diseases that account for 10 percent of the total burden of disease in developing countries.
In 1997, approximately 1.5 billion people in low and middle-income economies lacked access to safe water supplies. And in Sub-Saharan Africa fewer than half the population has access.
At the present rate of progress, one-third of all low-income people—over 900 million—will still lack adequate sanitation in the year 2015.

Source: Share the Worlds Resources (STWR) – www.stwr.org

Evidence for climate change

August 21, 2013

EVIDENCE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ten-indicators-of-global-warming
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),working within the UN Framework on Climate Change, is the most widely accepted authoritative body reporting on climate-change science and politically possible responses by governments. The IPCC names humanity as the prime agent of rapid climate change, because of our use of fossil fuels, which has been constantly increasing since the industrial revolution. The panel has published four major reports, in 1990, 1995, 2001 and 2007, and specific reports on issues such as carbon capture and storage. The IPCC regularly gives three summaries,which look at the physical science, at impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, and at mitigation.

Its conclusions carry ever-increasing levels of certainty, in many cases up to 95 per cent, which is the highest that science can give. By definition, the scientific method can never offer 100 per cent certainty, which can be confusing for many commentators and readers and lead to false ideas about the need for ‘balance’ in reporting. Pursuing balance does not mean giving equal space to both authoritative bodies and fringe speculation. This false need for ‘balance’ in reporting has often hidden both the degree of certainty that exists about climate change and the urgency required in addressing it.

The IPCC reports are but the latest in a series of authoritative reviews on climate change published since the 1960s. The next IPCC Report is due for publication in September 2013.

Recent climate change debate takes place within wider frames of reference, including the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the Kyoto Protocol 1996 and a new round of IPCC negotiations scheduled for 2012. It is important to note, moreover, that in ratifying the Rio agreement in 1992 all signatories, committed themselves not to environmentally harm other nations. All governments are aware of the facts and likely outcomes of climate change on the world, its peoples and biosphere; and they recognise the urgent need to respond in substantial ways.

Unfortuntely the international political consensus to actualy address this need does not exist due to national economic and political self- interest.

(Source: Let the Son Shine – An Australian Catholic Response to Climate Change, Charles Rue)

Egypt… a ray of hope

August 19, 2013

The presence of SMA missionaries in Egypt goes back to the earliest years of our Society. Eighteen years after the foundation of the Society (in 1856) the first SMA priests were ministering in Egypt. And our presence continues, though much diminished.

OLA Novices August 2013 The OLA Sisters (Our Lady of Apostles) have a large number of Egyptian Sisters, working in several schools and clinics throughout the country as well as in Lebanon and countries south of the Sahara.

In the midst of the present turmoil in Egypt – with Christian churches (Coptic, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant…) attacked and clinics / schools destroyed, Egyptian Christians are living through an intense moment of suffering and persecution. For the most part, Christians live in peace with their Muslim sisters and brothers but, sadly, there are some who seek to destroy the Christian presence in the land where the Saviour Himself found shelter after his birth.

At least 18 Catholic churches as well as convents have been attacked, including the Jesuit Church in Minia, the church and school of the Franciscans at Assiout, the hospital of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Suez…

One of the churches under SMA care is very close to Ramses Square where hundreds of people lost their lives or were seriously injured this week. To protect our area the local people (Muslim and Christians) have set up vigilante groups to keep out ‘strangers’. Thankfully we benefit from such ‘protection’ but it is so sad to see that ordinary people are reduced to protecting themselves from all sides involved in the present political struggle.

In a recent email from one of the OLA Sisters we are asked to pray for Egypt, for all its people and particularly to remember the OLA Sisters from that country, whose families are suffering the effects of the unrest. For example, “some who went to work last week (11 August) were unable to return home in the evening as the roads were blocked and unsafe. Many had to sleep at their workplace.”

OLA celebration in Cairo

In the same email we learnt of good news:

Two young Egyptian OLA Sisters (pictured at the top of this article) took their First Vows in the Congregation at the (SMA) Basilica in Choubra.

All involved arrived at St Marc’s, Choubra at 6.30am, just one hour before the marches which have led to so much bloodshed since. This Basilica dates back to Palm Sunday, 8^th April 1894 when the first activities began at the new parish confided to the SMA. The construction of the church, as it then was, was completed in 1910. Our photos show some of the joy in the midst of the pain that is life in Egypt at this moment. May God bless these two new Sisters and may peace quickly return to their homeland.

OLA Novices 11 August 2013

The two new Novices with other OLA Sisters who attended the ceremony, including Sr Irine, the Egyptian Provincial Superior.

Irish SMA presence in Egypt

From its earliest years the Irish SMA have had a deep involvement in Egypt. Due to persecution in France the SMA authorities moved the seminary to Egypt and several Irish seminarians were ordained in the SMA Choubra seminary, including Steven Kyne in 1896 (who became the first Irish Provincial Superior), Maurice Slattery (first Irish Superior General), James O’Rafferty and Thomas Gibbons (1900).

And that tradition was revived with the Priestly Ordination of Fr Jean-Paul Silué Niénafoungognon on 10 May 2013. (More about that in a separate article).

mcneely mattie webpicture Four Irish SMA priests are buried there, the first of them – Fr Michael O’Carroll from Hospital, Co Limerick – died at the age of 29 years in 1881. The last Irish SMA priest in Egypt, Fr Martin (Mattie) McNeely from Mulrany, Co Mayo, died while on holidays in Ireland in 2010 (pictured right).

Though most of those ordained – from France, Ireland etc – were then assigned to other African countries some took up positions in Egypt, particularly in the colleges the Society established there. The work of the SMA, particularly in the first hundred years, was very much in the field of education. St George’s College, Heliopolis was one of the most important schools in the country.

Among other Irish SMA members who served for periods in Egypt we count D.J. O’Sullivan, Donal O’Carroll, Vincent Moore, Joseph Donaghy, Donal M O’Connor, Owen Maginn, Bob Hales and Gerry Forde. The latter two were responsible for the SMA Stage programme (a year of pastoral training for SMA seminarians after which they study Theology before priestly Ordination).

SMA in Egypt today

The Stage programme is continuing, with Fr Robbin Kamemba SMA (from Kenya) responsible for the different aspects of Stage (learning Arabic, working with the elderly and infirm, church duties etc).

Fr Jean-Paul Silué will be involved in pastoral work in St Marc’s and Egyptian-born Fr Farid Ibrahim SMA will continue his ministry in Alexandria.

We pray that peace may soon return to Egypt and may all its people live in harmony with their fellow citizens, no matter of which faith they are.

GLOBAL ARMS TRADE – an overview

August 14, 2013

GLOBAL CONFLICT AND THE ARMS TRADE – an overview
Worldwide, in 2016 $1,759 billion was spent on weaponry, making it by far the largest industry on the planet. The United States accounts for 33 percent of this expenditure and also for roughly one third of all arms exports. For what it pays for weaponry, the United States by itself could fund twenty United Nations every year.

IN 2016 next largest exporter of weapons is Russia (23%), with Germany, France China, and the UK being the next larges exporters. Israel, Sweden, Italy and Ukraine also have significant arms export and to a lesser extent Spain, Italy and Belgium are also arms exporters.

While it is mainly developed countries that purchase high cost weaponry such as ships, aircraft missile systems and heavy weapons developing nations are also a market for foreign arms sales. In 2016 African nations imported $19.2 billions worth of arms, Trade in conventional weapons in many countries has skyrocketed, according to the International Action Network on Small Arms. There are a 875 million small arms around the world (one for every 7 people in the world), with an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 people killed by them each year. They are also the weapon of choice for the estimated 300,000 child soldiers in the world. AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition can be be bought cheaply in many African markets. In addition to fueling the many territorial and political conflicts in Africa, small arms have exacerbated long-standing ethnic conflicts among tribal conflicts for example among ethnic and nomadic groups in Northern Kenya. In the past clashes among these groups used traditional weapons, now much more damaging and lethal automatic weapons are being used. Militias and terrorist groups in Nigeria and other countries are now equipped with machine guns and rocket propelled grenades.

It’s not just Northern hemisphere countries that are active in the arms trade. At least ninety-two nations now have the capacity to manufacture small arms or ammunition, about half in the developing world. For example, in the last two decades, according to the International Action Network on Small Arms, Vietnam sold weapons to Myanmar. Lebanon, Liberia, Burkina Faso, and Niger all sold weapons to Sierra Leone; Namibia sold arms to Congo and Angola; and Burkina Faso sold guns to Benin.

Catholic leaders have been strongly critical of the global arms trade In his 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae, Pope John Paul II referred to “the scandalous arms trade, which spawns the many armed conflicts which stain our world with blood”. Archbishop Migliore, in a 2006 speech to the United Nations, made the point equally crisply. “The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons is a threat to peace, development and security”, he said. Migliore called for “a legally binding instrument to address the illicit arms trade”. In his first message for the World Day of Peace, released in December 2005, Pope Benedict XVI expressed “dismay” at “the evidence of a continuing growth in military expenditure and the flourishing arms trade, while the political and juridical process established by the international community for promoting disarmament is bogged down in general indifference”.

Boko Haram attacks continue

August 12, 2013

The Islamic fundamentalist sect – Boko Haram – is continuing their attacks on both Christians and Muslims. Their recent attack on a Mosque in Konduga and the neighbouring village of Ngom, in the northeast of Nigeria, has left more than 50 people dead.

Boko Haram wants to establish Nigeria as an Islamic state, subject to Sharia law.

In recent months the Nigerian military authorities have encouraged the formation of ‘citizen vigilante groups’ to help defeat Boko Haram which has killed more than 2,500 people, mainly Christian but in more recent times they have also turned against fellow-Muslims they consider are not sufficiently faithful to the Koran. It is believed that some of the most recent attacks are an attempt to intimidate people from forming such ‘vigilante groups’.

The man believed to lead Boko Haram – Abubakar Shekau – has been declared a terrorist by the US Government and they have put a $7million bounty for his capture.

Recently the US Government closed several Embassies and Consulates because of an unspecified threat to their interests. It is believed that this was the result of a ‘conference call’ between leading members of al Qaeda, which included a Boko Haram representative, as well as the Taliban and al Qaeda representatives from different countries.

The Nigerian Army continues to seek out Boko Haram insurgents, the latest of which took place in Sokoto City on Saturday last, 10 August. They made several arrests and it is believed, though unconfirmed, that some people died in the military action.

As Boko Haram turns its firepower on both Muslim and Christians who are only concerned with making a living and caring for their families it is apparent that more and more people are becoming disillusioned with what they are doing. The Reuters News Agency has an interesting report on this: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/11/us-nigeria-vigilantes-analysis-idUSBRE97A04120130811

FVC – Family Vocations Community

August 12, 2013

The SMA Family Vocations Community (FVC) was established in the African Missions College, Dromantine in 1959 to support the missionary work of the SMA. FVC members commit themselves to pray for and help fund the training of SMA missionaries worldwide.

Originally formed to support the training of Irish SMA seminarians, the FVC family is now the spiritual and financial backbone of the SMA training programmes in seven African countries, India, Philippines and Poland. Its 10,000 plus members come from every county in Ireland.

The cost of educating and accommodating these young men (in 2016, 300+ seminarians) is more than €1.7 million per year. Most of them come from less affluent communities and so they are dependant on the generosity of the international SMA support base to help them to fulfil their missionary vocation. From the beginning in 1959 the FVC has been lay-based – the original instigator was Tommy McKenna from Belfast who gathered a small group to pay the £100 that would then educate one student for a year. It grew from there with the support of others such as Marie Bell and the late Johnny Lappin who were among the founding members of the FVC. They, with Fr John Joe Conlan SMA (later Dom David OSB, who died 2017, RIP) travelled all over Ulster establishing FVC groups of Sponsors to support the seminarians in Dromantine. Thank God there are still people willing to establish new FVC groups in all parts of Ireland. Details of the FVC Directors in each Province are given below.

What does an FVC group do?

Every FVC group has an organiser – a Head Sponsor. This woman (or man) will normally invite family, neighbours and friends to join them on an annual basis for a chat and the celebration of the Mass. They will have the opportunity to hear about developments in the SMA and the progress of the young missionaries in training. Normally the training and formation of an SMA priest takes 8 – 11 years. The FVC group agree to make an annual contribution (£10 or €10/15) for an eight-year period. If, at any stage, someone is unable to make their contribution that’s ok, there’s no coercion on anyone. Peoples circumstances change.

At the end of this period they are invited to attend their nearest SMA house to celebrate a Thanksgiving Mass for the ordination class of that year whom they have been supporting (8 Year Sponsors Day). One of our priests – from Africa, India, Poland or the Philippines – will attend to represent the newly-ordained. In this way the Sponsors get a real sense of their vital role in and contribution to Mission and to spreading the Good News in a practical and meaningful way, both at home and abroad.

These meetings are intended to nurture a sense of community and support among the various Head Sponsors in close proximity to each other throughout the country.

The Head Sponsor is the contact person for the group with the nearest SMA house and will often communicate special requests for prayer to their local FVC Director, as well as organising the group, collecting annual contributions and keeping in touch with the sponsors.

Sponsors who are unable to join a group may hold Individual Membership by sending an annual contribution directly to the nearest FVC Director.

FVC members undertake to do three things:

to pray for vocations daily;
to encourage vocations in their home through a positive attitude to their Christian faith;
to make a financial contribution annually to training costs of SMA priests.

FVC members often attend other events at SMA houses by virtue of their connection with the Society.

Some FVC events

Retreats for all sponsors in Dromantine;

Family Fun Days in Claregalway and Dromantine (June);

Get-togethers held in Leinster and Munster at various times and venues throughout the year.

Annual SMA / OLA Pilgrimage to Knock on the 4^th Saturday in May with buses from every corner of Ireland organised by Head Sponsors.

Dromanteens Summer Camps – children (aged 11-16) of the FVC sponsor families have the opportunity to attend the very popular “Dromanteens” Summer Camps which take place in Dromantine every July and August.

For more information on the above, on how to start a group or to become an individual sponsor please contact one of the following:

Patricia Nagle [FVC Office], African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork Tel: 021 461 6316 or [email protected]

Fr. Christopher Emokhare , African Missions, Dromantine, Newry, Co Down BT34 1RH
Tel: (+44) 028 3082 1224 or [email protected]

Fr Frank McGrath, SMA House, Cloonbigeen, Claregalway, Co Galway Tel: 091 798 880 or [email protected]

Fr Paul Monahan – Dublin & Leinster), SMA House, 81 Ranelagh Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6
Tel: 01- 496 8162 or [email protected]

To read more about the FVC click here

MAC – Missionary Association Cards

August 12, 2013

The work of SMA missionaries relies on the prayers and financial support of our supporters. From the beginning of the 20^th century the Irish Province has built up a large band of supporters throughout the country. It is because of their support that we have been able to undertake the different ministries we are engaged in throughout Africa.

One of the ways in which we are supported is through the use by our supporters of the Missionary Association Cards (MAC). The cards are an ideal way to let someone know you have remembered them in a prayerful way. The names of those who are to be remembered are placed before the Altar in the community Chapel in each of the various houses and remembered in that Community’s daily prayers and Mass.

We have cards available for many different occasions, e.g. those who are doing exams, who are unwell or in need of prayers for a special intention, for those who have died and their bereaved loved ones. We also have cards for sending greetings at Christmas, St Patrick’s Day, Easter, Birthday etc.

Our supporters and their intentions are remembered each day in the prayers, particularly at Mass, of our SMA seminarians and priests throughout the world.

The cards are available from each SMA House and through Promoters. We also have many individual families who take cards for their personal use only.

We do not allow our cards to be sold in commercial outlets / shops.

Promoters / individuals return the names and donations to the SMA House they deal with. Requests for cards are generally made by phone and posted to the person requesting a supply. We welcome those who want to visit our SMA Houses to leave in their list of names etc and collect a supply for further use.

Many of the cards available are on display in our Houses. They can also be found at the Parish Centre in Wilton, Cork and the Reception at Blackrock Road, Cork.

If you want to know more about the use of our cards please contact [email protected] and we will send you information from your nearest SMA House.

Message for the end of Ramadan 2013 – Pope Francis

August 9, 2013

Message for the end of Ramadan 2013
pope Each year, the Vatican issues a message to Muslims, to mark the end of Ramadan. This year Pope Francis has personally signed it himself “as an expression of esteem and friendship for all Muslims, especially those who are religious leaders.” In his message Pope Francis called for more education to promote mutual respect between Islam and Christianity.

He said that such dialogue must be based in teaching and promoting respect for each others religions, especially with younger generations. In his message, the Pope expressed how it pains him to see attacks on religious leaders and places of worship. Read the full text of the message here

Criticism of the Direct Provision System grows

August 6, 2013

Criticism of the Direct Provision System grows

In the last five weeks there have been at least nine separate articles in Irish Newspapers critical of the Direct Provision system in which Asylum Seekers are required to live. Some of these have been linked to on this website. (See below. Those repeating similar content have been omitted.

These articles have listed the criticism and concerns of notable individuals in Irish Society including; retired Supreme Court Judge, Catherine McGuinness, Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, Geoffery Shannon, the Government-appointed Special Rapporteur for Children and the new Child and Family Agency’s Chairwoman, Norah Gibbons. In today’s Irish Times (6 August 2013) Dr Liam Thornton is a lecturer in law and director of clinical legal education at UCD School of Law adds his voice to the discussion of the Direct Provision System.

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“Never tire” of working for solidarity and social justice”

July 29, 2013

“Never tire” of working for solidarity and social justice”.
At a time when we are bombarded with news of economic doom and gloom, conflicts and wars that world leaders seem unable to resolve and situations at which we can only look on helplessly, perhaps the words of Pope Francis spoken in a football pitch located in a Rio De Janeiro slum, can for us be a source of hope and direction.

Speaking amid cheers in the soccer field of a Rio de Janeiro shanty town, Pope Francis urged people who are more economically privileged to “never tire” of working for solidarity and social justice. “The Brazilian people, particularly the humblest among you, can offer the world a valuable lesson in solidarity, a word that is too often forgotten or silenced, because it is uncomfortable.” He continued, “I would like to make an appeal to those in possession of greater resources, to public authorities and to all people of good will who are working for social justice: never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater solidarity.”

At the close of the event the pope-favela 2627543c Pope thanked the residents for their warm welcome, and said that “to make people welcome” is a great gift, because “when we are generous in welcoming people and sharing something with them – some food, a place in our homes, our time – not only do we no longer remain poor: we are enriched.”

Pope Francis commended Brazil’s efforts to “integrate” the poorest among its people and added that “no amount of ‘peace-building’ will be able to last, nor will harmony and happiness be attained in a society that ignores, pushes to the margins or excludes a part of itself.”

“Let us always remember this: only when we are able to share do we become truly rich; everything that is shared is multiplied! The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty!”

Giving bread to the hungry is a “necessary” act of justice…… yet he added, “there is a deeper hunger, the hunger for a happiness that only God can satisfy. When so-called development ignores the “non-material goods” of a nation – its “fundamental pillars” – “there is neither real promotion of the common good nor real human development.” Francis Brazil

Pope Francis described these “fundamental pillars” as life; the family; integral education; health; and security. He concluded by saying: “I carry each of you in my heart and I make my own the intentions that you carry deep within you: thanksgiving for joys, pleas for help in times of difficulty, a desire for consolation in times of grief and suffering.”

“I entrust all this to the intercession of Our Lady of Aparecida, Mother of all the poor of Brazil, and with great affection I impart my blessing.” ( source CISA 066)

If we as individuals, if our leaders and if society in general could focus on solidarity and working for social justice then perhaps we could not only see a way through the problems of this world but also actually begin to believe that it is possible.

justice Issues Arms Treaty

July 24, 2013

An Arms Trade Treaty at last: In 2014 and after seven years of negotiations the UN General Assembly has finally agreed a binding ARMS TRADE TREATY (ATT). Although it is far from perfect the treaty is a welcome step forward and opens the way for future improvements –

In April 2013, in spite of strong opposition from arms producing countries and those with vested interests in arms manufacturing, the UN General Assembly finally agreed a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. 154 countries voted in favour, three, North Korea, Iran and Syria – voted against while 23 countries abstained, among them Russia, China and some of the world’s leading arms producers and exporters. For the first time the United States came out in favour of the Treaty although it must be said this is probably because the terms of the treaty mirror the arms export controls that the USA already uses for its own arms exports.

The Treaty will establish common standards for the import, export and transfer of most conventional arms – including warships and battle tanks, combat aircraft and attack helicopters, as well as small arms and light weapon (assault rifles, machine guns, mortars and grenades). The Treaty does not however, cover the transfer of ammunition.

As a result of the Treaty, states will be prohibited from selling arms to countries when they know those weapons will be used to carry out genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. The treaty also obliges all governments to assess the risk of transferring arms to a country where they could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

Some groups hail its very existence as a major step forward while others see many loopholes. It is however, broadly accepted that the Treaty is far from perfect. Its terms could have been more robust and inclusive. For example, in African conflicts most deaths and injuries are caused by the small arms munitions that are excluded from the treaty. In spite of inherent weaknesses the hope is that the Treaty can, in the future, be amended, made stronger and more effective.

In spite of limitations the fact that a solid foundation for controlling the transfer of arms now exists is good news. As of April 2017, 91 member states have ratified, and another 42 states have signed but not yet ratified the ATT.

Africa Land Grab

July 24, 2013

The latest SMA Justice Briefing on the topic of Land Grabbing in Africa is now available. Read more

Solidarity or Indifference

July 23, 2013

flowers

Reflection for August 2013
In July 2013 Pope Frances took off for his first visit outside the Vatican to the small island of Lampedusa, about half-way between the southern Italian coast and the Tunisian coast of North Africa. It is the place that many “boat people” crossing the dangerous waters of the Mediterranean want to reach. Many, hoping to escape their own countries in overcrowded and unsafe boats, have drowned on the way. In 2012, five hundred people were reported dead or missing by the UN. This year, forty people are known to have died

Lampedusa, with an area of less than 8 square miles and a population of about 5,000, has given these desperate people a warm welcome reacting with generosity and tolerance towards the migrants. Most protests have been directed at the authorities’ failure to provide them with sufficient resources.

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Ballygawley school reaches out to Zambia school children…

July 19, 2013

Psalm 94 admonishes the people for their hard-heartedness:

“For forty years I was wearied of these people,
And I said: ‘Their hearts are astray, These people do not know my ways.”
Then I took an oath in my anger:
Never shall they enter my rest.” (verses 10 – 11)

For forty years the Catholic people of Mulenga township longed to be a community alive to new possibilities: longing for a place to pray, a dwelling place for the Lord which would be a beacon in an area of terrible poverty. Today, we thank God that He did not turn against the people of Mulenga but listened to their heartfelt pleas, crying in the wilderness.

The congregation during the joint Church Dedication and Ordination ceremonies

In 2007 remote preparations began when an ad hoc committee purchased a plot of land from Bana Mulenga. It is on this piece of land that the Church to be dedicated today is built. Up to then, the Catholics attended the different parishes in the area – Chamboli, Wusakile, Ndeke or Luangwa. In response to the pleas of the people in Mulenga, Bishop Noel O’Regan SMA, Bishop of Ndola, invited Fr PJ Gormely SMA (Augher, Co Tyrone) to take up the challenge of establishing a parish community in this area. This missionary project was endorsed by Bishop O’Regan’s successor, Bishop Alick Banda. And so Fr Gormley began the painstaking work of identifying, with the community, what their needs were. Only when they had recognized what their true needs were could a start be made at meeting them. And so, since 2007, we have been working to become a self-ministering, self-supporting and self-propogating Catholic community in this part of Ndola diocese.

The first nine months was a period of evangelizing the community leaders into what all this would entail. It was a period of visible growth and commitment to the mission of Jesus Christ. Over a period of time, Small Christian Communities were established throughout the area. These lay leaders, women and men, identified different problems within the community. Some of them seemed to be insurmountable. However, rather than lie down in the face of such challenges, the community decided that the first step should be to establish a pre-Nursery school for 4 – 6 years old children. Our children are our hope for the future.

Fathers William & Matthias during their Ordination ceremony

After six years of planning, fundraising (within the community and abroad) the school opened in January 2013. The entire complex, school and church, were built with the physical efforts of the St Mark, St Mary, St Maximillian, St Nicholas, St Elizabeth and St Denis’ Small Christian Communities.

But let us step back a little: by January 2011 the community was ready to celebrate the presence of Christ among us in the Eucharist. And so Mass was celebrated in one of the unfinished classrooms of the school. It soon outgrew its usefullness and we had to use two classrooms. And so everything grew and developed, in God’s time and way. Today, the Holy Trinity parish community of Mulenga, Kitwe are challenged to keep this mission alive.

As we celebrate the opening of our Church we equally rejoice in the ordination of two priests who will also be missionaries – African Missionaries, members of the Society of African Missions – who will leave our country to announce to other communities the Good News of Jesus Christ. In turn they will, like Fr Gormely in Mulenga, walk with similar communities in identifying their needs and then planning how to meet them.

Fr William promises obedience and respect to his Superiors during the Ordination ceremony

May Fathers Mathias Chungu and William Sinkala do great things for God. Amen.

We take this opportunity to thank our local and overseas donors, particularly DAFA (Direct Aid for Africa) and St Ciaran’s Secondary School, Ballygawley, Co Tyrone. Without the assistance of our donors much of what we see about us today in Mulenga would still be a pipedream.

Ubwingi bwa nseba, kwimina pamo.

The above article is taken from the booklet produced by the Mulenga Catholic community for the dedication of their Church and the Priestly Ordination ceremony of Fathers Chungu and Sinkala.

Feast of the Assumption 2013 – Year C

July 19, 2013

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

15 August 2013

Revelation 11:19, 12:1- 6, 10
1 Cor 15:20-26
Luke 1.39-56

Two missionary priests made an agreement that whoever died first would contact the other about what happened. Some years later one of the priests had to go back to Ireland for medical treatment. Then one night the priest still on the missions woke up during the night convinced that there was someone in the room with him even though he couldn’t see anyone. Later he heard that that was the very time the other priest had died. One may not believe this or may dismiss it as pure coincidence. Whatever the reality we don’t have to base our trust in the resurrection on things like that.

In faith, today’s solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is telling us that God did indeed assume Mary body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life as a promise of our own resurrection from the dead after we die.

Mary’s greatness comes from her faith. Elizabeth, in today’s gospel says of Mary: ‘Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled’. Mary’s response is to give all the praise and glory to God who made it possible. Mary does not proclaim this song of thanksgiving as an isolated person but as the daughter of a people. This is clearly Luke’s intention. With her people Mary sings the greatness of God whose power is revealed through history in his people by way of his saving deed. Mary’s greatness is not based on a blood relationship with Jesus but because she was above all, the woman of faith who accepted God’s plan for her, even though it would involve a lot of suffering. She is someone very human like us experiencing many of the ups and downs of life as we do and so she knows what we go through having many of the same experiences, if not in the same detail, but certainly with the same joys and struggles of being human.

Mary is truly a model of the Christian life. Sometimes saints can be presented in such a way that we feel they are almost superhuman beings, almost angelic whom we could never imitate. This is certainly not true and especially it is not true of Mary. Mary is the greatest of all the saints because she never sinned. She was sensitive to the call of God and lived her life in total obedience to that call. Hopefully, most of us Christians try to live in obedience to God’s will in our lives but the obvious difference is that we sin from time to time, Mary never did.

Yet in many ways her life was very similar to the life of most women. She was married, gave birth to a child, and did her best to raise him as she believed. But there were times as in the case of all mothers when there were great misunderstandings between her and her son. When he was 12 years old and went missing for 3 days, she and St. Joseph must have been frantic with worry. The answer he gave was hardly satisfying on a human level. ‘Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’

At the age of about 30 when he decided to leave home to be an itinerant preacher how would his mother have reacted? She most probably questioned him about the wisdom of it – where would he sleep, eat, what would support him etc? Of course, if we don’t really accept Jesus being fully human then we can give easy answers. At the wedding feast of Cana would Mary not have been like any other woman there, out dancing, enjoying the company, delighting in the newly wed young couple until her sensitivity to the lack of wine made her approach Jesus and ask his help. It shows the power of Mary’s intercession with her son.

So Mary was no plaster saint, totally different from other humans. She never heard confessions, celebrated Mass or performed miracles in the ordinary sense of the term. But hers was the greatest miracle of all – never to have sinned, never to have resisted God’s will. And she was faithful to the very end. She followed Jesus to Calvary and saw him crucified cruelly.

Today’s solemnity then is, above all, the triumph of God’s grace over evil and sin in a human being, Mary. The first reading from revelation is simply telling us that God is victorious in the struggle with evil and sin. The Assumption is the celebration of what God can do for us humans if we allow him

For a long time this thanksgiving song of Mary was seen in terms of a spiritual hymn only. But in recent times the emphasis is also very much on God’s preferential option for the poor, the underprivileged, and the marginalised. This is a theme running right though the bible and Mary’s song highlights it. In effect it speaks of God turning the ordinary way of looking at things upside down. –‘God pulls down the mighty from their thrones and exalts the lowly; the hungry he fills with good things, the rich he sends empty away etc. This, of course, was what Jesus proclaimed and carried out during his public ministry.

St. Paul says ‘eye has not seen nor ear heard what things God has prepared for those who love him’. I wonder what it must have been like for Mary, when she was assumed into heaven by God’s choice, to have come face to face with Jesus whom she had last seen physically hanging on a cross before being put in the tomb. What an incredibly joyful encounter it must have been. (See below)

Today’s solemnity is a reminder to us that we too are called to the same destiny as Mary – to be with her Son forever in heaven. However in the meantime, we need to pray often for a great increase of faith and trust in God so that like Mary we will be faithful to the call each of us has from God. We too are called to work for justice –to let go of prejudices against any group of people, like AIDS victims, immigrants; to be those who are concerned for the underprivileged to the extent that we can be.

“Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of your mother Mary. May she continually intercede for us. Amen”

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

The feast of the Assumption is not merely about the logistics of how Mary’s body was assumed into heaven, but rather about the ultimate destiny of our humanity. Mary is an icon for the beauty that lies in the heart of humanity. There is a beauty in our humanity with which God is constantly falling in love and which God calls to himself. That is at the heart of our celebration today. Mary is called in her totality, body and soul, into the presence of God. She is an icon for our humanity. In looking at her, we see the beauty of humanity that cannot be destroyed, no matter what, and which God calls to himself.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2013 – Year C

July 19, 2013

4 August 2013

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23
Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
Luke 12.13-21

Some time ago I met a friend who works as a stockbroker. On the day I met him he was quite sad. The reason being that a couple both in their mid 80s came to him, even though quite rich, and they were very anxious to invest some money they had just inherited and wanted him to advise them where to get the most return for it. What saddened him most was the fact that the idea of sharing it with the poor and those in need never entered their minds. He felt they were so focused on themselves they had little thought for others in need.

The readings today focus on our priorities and attitudes in life. Nowhere in today’s readings or in the Bible does it say that having possessions is wrong. The question is what importance do we give them in our lives? The first reading today is from the Book of Ecclesiastes or as it is sometimes called Qoheleth, a name meaning ‘preacher’ or ‘teacher’. When he says that ‘all is vanity’ he does not use the word ‘vanity’ in exactly the same way as we do today. He uses the word in the sense of ‘illusion’ or ‘mist’, i.e. it is an illusion to think that wealth or possessions in themselves can give true happiness and especially if we put them in the place of God so that they become an idol. We then act as if we are independent of God. Many rich people have got cancer and all their money couldn’t prevent them dying from it. A question: Did you ever see a hearse with a coffin inside pulling a trailer behind it with the riches of the dead person?

In the gospel Jesus refuses to get involved in a dispute regarding an inheritance between two brothers. He takes the opportunity to warn people against avarice or greed of any kind. Greed can become an idol because it consists in putting our trust in something other than God. Jesus is not talking only about material possessions. He is talking about anything that can become an idol for us. It might be drugs, drink, sex, work etc. Today computers and modern technology may take up so much of our time that we haven’t time to pray or go to Mass as we used to.

In the parable Jesus speaks about a man who is already rich. He wants to pull down his barns and build bigger ones. It is clear that the focus is on himself. He is self-centred. He doesn’t seem to consider the needs of those less well off than he is. Jesus is saying that riches are a blessing when they are shared and in fact a deadly violation when they are stored up for personal identity or security. Gandhi, the Indian leader repeated many centuries later what the early Fathers or theologians of the Church had taught.

He said: “Even if it is not stolen, something is to be considered stolen if one keeps it without needing it. The rich possess a great abundance of superfluous things they do not really need and that therefore remain unused and are lost, whilst millions die of hunger because for them there is no food. If everyone kept no more than what is really necessary, no one would lack anything and everyone would be contented with what one has”. Even though not a Christian, Gandhi says clearly what Jesus speaks about in the gospel today. Maybe a call for each of us to examine our conscience about what place or importance our possessions have in our lives. Do they possess us in the sense that we are enslaved by them? Or do we use them for our needs but also to help others in need?

The Good News of today’s readings is a gentle reminder that we are here on earth only for a short time and that our true home is in heaven as St.Paul says in the second reading. The real riches that we take with us to heaven are those we have given to the poor or whatever we have shared with others here on earth. Jesus is reminding us of this so that we might have the freedom that gives us a deep peace and joy now. Obviously if I have many riches I may need a lot of security around my house. If I have money invested I may start getting anxious if there is a recession or a slowdown in the economy. Money can become devalued very quickly. It is the opposite with God. God never becomes devalued! In fact the opposite is true – the more we trust in him and follow his ways with the help of his Spirit the more peace and joy we will have now and later too.

I feel that many people try their best to share with others and are conscious of their call to help those less well off. Today’s readings are a gentle reminder from our loving God that if we have been blessed with more material possessions than when we began life, he is asking us if we are using them in a Christian manner. Or if they are being given more importance in our lives than is good for us and therefore for others whom we could have helped.

“Lord Jesus, we thank you for the many ways you have blessed us. Every good gift comes from our Heavenly Father. Help us to use these gifts in a Christian manner for our own good and for others less well off. Amen”.

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2013 – Year C

July 19, 2013

28 July 2013

Genesis 18: 20-32
Colossians 2:12-14
Luke 11:1-13

One day in a supermarket I witnessed a small 6-year-old boy persistently calling his father: ‘Daddy, chewing gum’. He kept on repeating just these few words. In all whilst I was there about 15 times. But as he left the place with his father he went without getting his chewing gum. Obviously his father did not think it was good for him. Refusing him didn’t mean he loved him less, in fact it was because of his love and knowing better than his son did that he refused his request when it would have been easier to give in.

Perhaps prayer is a bit like that. The readings for this Sunday invite us to reflect on the dimension of prayer in the Christian life. It is an attitude of trust in God our kind Father who is always ready to listen to his children but who like the father of the little boy doesn’t give us always what we want because it would not be best for us. Luke in his gospel delights in frequently presenting Jesus praying. In all the important moments of Jesus’ life, Luke never forgets to point this out. Jesus’ frequent prayer and his unique way of starting it with “Abba” (more like our Daddy or Papa today) is the best sign of his relationship with his Father

So Jesus always begins his prayer addressing his father as “Abba” meaning ‘Daddy’ in Aramaic the language Jesus spoke. Is this not telling us that first of all prayer is about a relationship – one between our loving heavenly Father and us his children? It is interesting to note that this model of how we ought to pray puts the focus first of all on God our Father. We start by calling God, “Father”. Of the 5 petitions in the Our Father today the first two focus on God. We are told to pray: ‘may your name be held holy’. For the Jews a name was the same as the person. Thus we are asked to adore, honour and glorify our Father in heaven. Before mentioning any of our requests, praise and adoration of God are foremost. Then, in praying ‘your kingdom come’ we are told the how this might be carried out in our lives. Working to bring his kingdom about is more than just words. It calls upon us to be peacemakers, to work against all kinds of injustice, to live the truth of God’s love and forgiveness in our lives. We are called to do this wherever we are, in our homes, with our families, in our workplaces, when we recreate etc.

Then the next three petitions allow us to pray for our own needs and those of others. They represent all time: the present (give us this day our daily bread), the past (forgive our sins, that is all we did that was contrary to God’s kingdom), and the future (do not put us to the test – that is ‘do not demand more of us than we are capable of doing). So in asking our generous Father for our daily bread we are asking him to give us what is best for us – we may not get what we think is best like the little boy in the story. Or now may not be the best time to get it as God knows we are not ready yet. Of course, God may want to give us certain gifts but others may refuse to cooperate with God’s plan. Forgiveness is mentioned quite a number of times in the gospels and it is included here. We promise God to forgive others, though this is not always easy. That is why in the second parable that follows, Jesus tells us that God’s best gift to us is the powerful Holy Spirit who enables us to do what God asks of us to bring about his kingdom and to forgive others. Our Father knows that will power is not enough, we need Spirit power to live as God’s children and to act accordingly.

The first of the little parables that follow the Lord’s prayer tells us of the need to persevere in prayer and not to give up if at first we don’t receive what we ask for. I knew a woman whose husband left her. She prayed daily for his return. Then one day he walked into her house again. This was after 19 years. She really persevered in prayer and believed God would answer her. Jesus tells us that there are 2 conditions needed to have our prayers answered by God. In John’s gospel ch.14.13 he says
1) ‘whatever you ask for in my name (that is according to my will) I will do and
2) ‘so that the Father may be glorified in the Son’ (that is that it will give glory to God).
Many times we forget this and want God to respond to our demands.

Sometimes, of course, we try to bargain with God: ‘If my sick husband lives a few year’s longer, I will go to Mass daily and pray a daily rosary’. Yet God doesn’t think this is foolish. In the first reading we heard about Abraham bargaining with God. He was saying in fact that he trusted God enough to bargain all the way. It doesn’t mean we will always get what we want but it does show a great trust in God and I feel God appreciates this bargaining as we take him seriously as he does us.

Ultimately prayer is about a relationship of trust. We trust we have a loving Father who passionately cares for us. More than anything he hopes we will develop an ever greater intimacy with him and he asks us to work to bring about his kingdom. He takes all this so seriously that the best gift he can give us now is the Holy Spirit who can empower and enable us to respond to his invitation.

“Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching us how to pray by giving us the best model in the “Our Father”. May we say not only the words but also put them into practice in our daily lives. Amen”.

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2013 – Year C

July 19, 2013

21 July 2013

Genesis 18:1-10
Colossians 1:24-28
Luke 10:38–42

One night in a big town where I worked in the North of Nigeria I decided to visit an African family who were members of our parish. I lost my way and decided to knock on a door to ask the people the way. The family were obviously Muslim and were eating their evening meal. We had never met before. Immediately they invited me to sit down with them and share the meal. Their custom was that the unexpected guest was to be treated as one of the family and even if they hadn’t enough to eat themselves they would make whatever sacrifices necessary to look after the stranger. For me it was real example of true hospitality.

In the first reading today we read about Abraham welcoming three strangers with great hospitality. He doesn’t realise it then but in welcoming them he is welcoming God himself. Later on in the gospels Jesus will say, “whoever welcomes you welcomes me and whoever welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me”

The gospel tells us of the welcome given by Martha and Mary to Jesus. Last Sunday in the story of the Good Samaritan we read about what it was to be a true neighbour – anyone who needed our help is our neighbour and this was to be shown in concrete acts of love. Today’s gospel shows us two Good Samaritans in action, Martha and Mary. Martha is the one who actually welcomes Jesus into her house and appears to be the cook and organiser. Jesus would have appreciated having a good meal after his journey. It is her way of welcoming Jesus. Mary on the other hand welcomes Jesus by sitting at his feet and listening to him. These are two different ways of welcoming someone. It is not correct to say that Mary’s way was best. What Jesus meant by saying that “Mary had chosen the better part” was that at that particular moment that was the best response for her. At another time she might need to take on the role of cook and organiser.

We must remember that at this stage of his life Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem where he would die on the cross. He was probably fearful of what was ahead of him. So when he comes to the house of Mary and Martha perhaps he just wants to relax and take a break before continuing his journey. Maybe the last thing he wanted was someone fussing over him and so he appreciates Mary’s quiet attentiveness as she listens to him speaking. It is obvious that Jesus knows the two sisters well and it would not have been his first visit. That is why Martha’s complaint about her sister would come from a relationship of trust and friendship with Jesus where she felt o.k. about complaining to him. One would not do this with strangers. Her familiarity with Jesus gave her that freedom. Jesus’ response to Martha then is that she not giving herself fully to what she is about. She wanted her sister to do the same work of cooking and organising just then.

Here we touch on a deeper meaning in the incident. At the time of Jesus only men sat at the feet of the Rabbis or Teachers of the Law. It was not the place for women. The cultural roles would have been quite rigid as regards the role and place of women in society. So Jesus is emancipating or freeing women to be equally entitled to do this. Is he not the first real feminist? He is saying that God’s love and word is addressed to everyone, men and women alike. So Jesus criticises Martha for being a prisoner of what she considers to be the proper role of women. He is inviting her to break away from the concept situating a woman as one to be confined to housework only. As a woman, each is entitled to have others interests and concerns too, if this is possible.

Mary, and in fact every woman has the right to listen to the Word of God. House tasks must not suppress that interest. This is a woman’s right which is still not recognised in many cultures even in the so-called developed countries. By his words and deeds Jesus liberates women from a concept which maintains them in a secondary role as mere housewives with no other possibilities to develop themselves.

Jesus then it teaching us that an active life which leaves no time for prayer and listening to God will soon become dry and barren. On the other hand a relationship with God that does not bother with the neighbour is nothing but cult worship that may well cut a person away from the realities of life.

Is there not a Martha and Mary in each of us? As the Book of Ecclesiastes says: “there is a time for everything under heaven”. Sometimes the call is for active service of my neighbour, at other times a time for prayer and contemplative listening to God’s word. When it is time for activity let our focus be totally on that. When it is a time to listen and pray that should be our focus. What is the Lord calling me to do at different times? If I am asked to be active and and am simply wishing I had time to be quiet or if I am called to pray and am all the time thinking about what I should do, then am I not fretting and worrying like Martha?

“Lord give us the gift to truly listen to you speaking to us and at each moment may we be guided by the Spirit to choose the better part. Amen.”

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

Working for Justice – 25 Years for Justice and Peace

July 16, 2013

AFRICA EUROPE FAITH AND JUSTICE NETWORK (AEFJN)

Motivated by Christian faith, a profound respect for human dignity and a priority concern for the poor, the AEFJN works for just relationships between African and Europe and for the global common good.

It aims to establish:
A world where all can enjoy their fair share of the gifts of creation.

Where people have the opportunity to fulfil their God-given potential.

A culture where people, especially the poor, are at the heart of economic and social policy.

An Africa that can hold its own in its relations with other world powers.

Faith justice3

Working for Justice – AEFJN, 25 Years for Justice and Peace

At the core of Christian life is justice, for we cannot love our neighbour without treating them justly. Faith and Justice cannot be separated. Faith therefore, not only implies belief but also a way of life. This is why SMA’s and other missionaries have not only preached but also dug wells, built schools and hospitals as well as Churches.

In previous editions of this magazine we highlighted the work of SMA’s such as Frs John Haverty, Donal Fennessy, Oliver Noonan, Anthony Kelly, Sr Kathleen McGarvey OLA and others. They have not only preached the Good News but also loved their neighbour by working for Justice. They have, and still are, doing this through actions that promote human development, recognise the dignity of each person and provide individuals with the opportunity to fulfil their God-given potential. Such work is an essential part of the Church’s mission.

International Work for Justice Faith justice1
Here in Ireland and in Europe, the SMA also works for justice in Africa by contributing to the work of the Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN). It was formed in 1988 following a request made by Pope John Paul II for “missionaries to be present wherever decisions are made that affect the lives of people in the developing world.” The role of the AEFJN is to highlight and challenge the unjust effects that decisions made by European Governments and Corporations may have on African peoples and countries. Trade practices, policies and legislation often maximise corporate profits and protect European interests at the expense of the African countries providing the materials and produce that generate wealth in Europe.

The AEFJN is guided by the Gospel and Church Teaching and recognises the right of every human person to enjoy their fair share of the resources of creation. Sometimes this is denied. Economic and social policies adopted by the European Union may directly affect the price an African farmer gets for his Cocoa, Ginger or Grain. In turn, this affects his children, the food they eat, whether or not they get the medicines they need or even if they can go to school.

It is a sad reality that business and economic decisions made in Europe contribute to the fact that millions of Africans do not have the basics we take for granted and which we see as fundamental human rights. The right to clean water, to adequate food and to medicines are a reality for most people in Europe; they are NOT for most people in Africa.

By working within the European Union structure in Brussels and through branches in European and African countries the AEFJN gathers information about inequalities caused by unfair trade and political relationships. This is published as widely as possible in order to raise awareness of the injustice. The AEFJN also acts by lobbying and campaigning in order to influence fair decisions at EU and Governmental level in European Countries. The SMA sees the action and advocacy of the AEFJN as an expression of the faith from which justice cannot be separated – it is a practical and necessary way of loving our African neighbour.

Together for 25 Years
This year the AEFJN celebrates its 25th year. Since 1988 it has helped to bring about positive change and succeeded in reversing unjust trade practices. Nationally and through its Brussels Office the AEFJN has worked to exert a positive influence on those who make decisions. In the photograph below we see an example of an occasion when members of the AEFJN have campaigned on the streets of Ireland against the unfair burden of illegitimate International Debt on Africa.

Efforts on this issue made by the AEFJN and other organisations have had significant success. The work of informing and lobbying has also borne fruit by influencing the terms of trade agreements, practices affecting the availability of medicines in Africa and other positive changes in policies.

Still a long way to go
While the AEFJN has much to celebrate it is acutely aware that Africans are still suffering because of problems originating in the developed world, e.g. climate change. This problem created largely by the profligate use of fossil fuels in the developed world is turning African farmland into desert. Tax Evasion by multinational companies and the leasing of huge tracts of African land (amounting to more than 16 times the landmass of Ireland) are also robbing Africans of what is rightly theirs, depriving them of the wealth and resources with which they could develop and support themselves. These are issues that the AEFJN and the SMA will continue to highlight as matters of injustice needing a fair solution.

Living our Faith and loving our neighbour is something every Christian is called to. We do this in different ways. The AEFJN and the SMA witness to this call, in Africa and where decisions affecting the lives of Africans are made. We are all called to be just and loving in our work, in family situations, in how we relate to our neighbours, friends and even to enemies. We will do well if we follow the principles and aims that have guided the AEFJN. If we respect human dignity, give preference to the poor and seek the common good, then we will be loving our neighbour as ourselves.

AEFJN Ireland has members from 33 religious congregations and societies and also lay persons. All are deeply concerned about Africa and its people and want to contribute actively to bringing about more equitable relations between Europe and Africa. The role of the AEFJN Ireland is to create awareness and to be a voice for the reform of structural injustices found within Irish and European policies that negatively affect populations in Africa.

This information was first published in the African Missionary Magazine No.21 Spring/Summer 2013

Follow this link to the AEFJN Website

Fr Malachy Flanagan SMA

July 16, 2013

Fr Malachy Flanagan, from Tullyallen parish (Drogheda, Co Louth) is the son of the late Mary (Oliver) and the late John Flanagan. Born in 1962, he did his schooling at Tullyallen National School and Drogheda Technical School where he completed his secondary schooling in 1979.

Pictured are Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll (SMA Superior General, 2013-2019), Fr Malachy Flanagan and Mr Paul Murphy (Assistant Provincial Bursar)

A little over a year later he began his studies with the SMA and, after the Spiritual Year programme in Cork, he went to Maynooth where he completed his Philosophy and Theology studies. Speaking about why he joined the SMA, he said “I came to know of SMA from Fr Peter Devine SMA who comes from my parish. When I felt I wanted to be a priest he encouraged me to become a missionary with SMA. I felt drawn to missionary work… attracted to reach out to the most abandoned… to be a messenger and instrument of hope… to build up a local indigenous church… to help people in their struggle against illiteracy and injustice and lack of basic health facilities.”

Malachy was ordained a priest on 25 June 1989 in the church where he was baptized, the Church of the Assumption, Tullyallen, by Cardinal Tomas O’ Fiaich, Archbishop of Armagh. He was one of two SMA priests ordained that year. The other is Fr Paddy O’Rourke from Tullyco, Co Cavan.

Fr Malachy was appointed to southern Nigeria where he spent 17 years, first in the diocese of Ilorin (1989-1996) and then in the Prefecture Apostolic of Kontagora which had been created from parts of Ilorin and other neighbouring dioceses. This part of Nigeria is often referred to as an area of Primary Evangelisation – i.e. the frontline of the missionary apostolate, where the Gospel is unknown, telling people for the first time about the love of Jesus Christ.

He served as Chancellor of Kontagora for 10 years and was an essential part of the team there as the fledgling Prefecture grew, eventually becoming a Vicariate in 2002. As Chancellor he has a lot of administrative responsibilities during the week but at weekends he is fully occupied traveling to outstation churches attached to different parishes in the Vicariate. In an interview he did at that time he explained his work: “I am responsible for diocesan building projects and for many water development projects which I supervise regularly. In the dry, desert conditions around Kontagora the provision of clean drinking water is a necessity. The Vicariate makes a huge contribution to well-digging and water purification systems.” Having the skill of ‘water diviner’ he was an integral part of the well-digging programme, finding places where water could be found.

This programme provides water to hundreds of villages scattered throughout the Vicariate. It still continues as there are still many villages which don’t have a source of clean water.

Fr Malachy was a valued collaborator with Bishop Tim Carroll SMA until he was asked to return to Ireland in 2006 and work in the office of the Provincial Bursar. He succeeded Fr Jarlath Walsh as Provincial Bursar in September 2007 and held that position until his election as Irish Vice Provincial Leader in 2013. On 10 July 2019, Fr Malachy was elected to the position of Provincial Leader, succeeding Fr Michael McCabe who had completed his six-year term.

As we wish Fr Malachy wish him well in his new role we also assure him of our prayers. May the Holy Spirit guard, guide and direct him.

Working for justice, peace and understanding between Christians and Muslims

July 15, 2013

dislogue street Working for justice, peace and understanding between Christians and Muslims

Since the Second Vatican Council Dialogue with people of other religions and particularly with Muslims has become an integral part of the Church’s Mission. “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place among them are the Muslims: these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.” (Documents of the Second Vatican Council)The Church’s Mission of Dialogue with Muslims means that it wishes to promote mutual respect, understanding and cooperation between Muslims and Christians. This openness to interaction and cooperation reflects the Gospel call to “love one another as I have loved you.” In the past few decades Ireland has changed. There are now about 45,000 Muslims living here. Muslims are a permanent part of our community and are among the neighbours we are called on to love.There are many places in the world where the relationship between Christians and Muslims is marred by violence, persecution and injustice. Thankfully this is not the case in Ireland. Part of our Christian calling is to prevent this from happening by building positive relations with Muslims present here and so provide an example of tolerance and cooperation that can be followed by Muslims and Christians in other parts of the world.

Peace b dialogue pope-dome etween us …..
Below are two quotations, one from an address made by Benedict XVI in 2006 . The second is from a letter signed by 137 Muslim Scholars and Leaders which was sent to Christian leaders in 2007. Both highlight the urgency and need for Muslims and Christians to work together in order to create the conditions of trust and cooperation that will allow both communities to live in peace with each other.

“Inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue between Christians and Muslims cannot be reduced to an optional extra. It is, in fact, a vital necessity, on which in large measure our future depends” Pope Benedict XVI , 2006

“Muslims and Christians together make up over half the world’s population. Without peace and justice between these two religious communities, there can be no meaningful peace in the world. The future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians.” Muslim Leaders, 2007

The urgency implied in these statements is made clear by the growing polarisation between Muslims and Christians in many parts of the world. This has been fuelled by wars, persecution, by injustice and by individuals and groups stirring up religious divisions in order to achieve political or material gain.

Here in Ireland
Here in Ireland, over the past twenty years the Muslim population has grown. In contrast to what has happened in other countries relations between Muslims and Christians have been good, marked by cooperation and peaceful coexistence. This is good and very much in line with what the Church teaches about relations between Muslims and Christians. Yet we do not live in isolation – we are influenced by what we hear and what is happening elsewhere in the world. So for us in Ireland there is also a sense of urgency, a need to do something now, both to preserve and build upon the good relations that we have. The Papal Encyclical Redemptoris Missio points to what we all can do when it says,

“Each member of the faithful and all Christian communities are called to practise dialogue, although not always to the same degree or in the same way.” Redemptoris Missio

dialogue woman Each of us, in our own way, has a part to play in bringing about a just society in which we can, faithful to our beliefs, live as good neighbours with people of other religions. This is part of the mission we as Christians are called to. In response to this, Cois Tine set up by the SMA to provide pastoral support to immigrants, is running a project to promote Dialogue between Muslims and Christians in Ireland. This project aims to promote mutual understanding, respect and cooperation between members of these two religions who now live together as neighbours in the same towns, streets and communities.

In Africa John Onaiyekan
In the last few years Nigeria has made international news headlines because of terrorist attacks involving bombings, violence and destruction. Unfortunately, the perpetrators claim to be doing so in the name of and for the good of Islam. Although Muslim leaders have publicly condemned these actions they have polarized Muslims and Christians in Nigeria. Commenting on the violence Archbishop John Onaiyekan has said, ‘the good neighbourliness that has characterized many communities where Christians and Muslims live together has been put under serious strain. The engineers of division are almost succeeding in … making us enemies of one another.’In Nigeria informal dialogue and interaction does exist. Muslims and Christians work together, live together and engage with each other in the course of everyday life. However, openness to engaging in this this kind of dialogue is waning especially in the Northern States.

In addition to religion, ethnicity also plays a part in this division. By and large Muslims are Hausa-Fulani, while Christians are of numerous minority tribes. Different ethnic groups, have different cultures, different perspectives on history and different visions of the path to a better tomorrow. There are also formal occasions of interreligious dialogue organized by government, faith-based bodies, and NGOs. These are important as they involve individuals who are influential religious and political leaders in their own communities. While Muslims and Christians live together peacefully in some parts of the country this coexistence is becoming less evident across the Northern States. Division along religions and ethnic lines is growing and mutual fears and suspicions are multiplying. Archbishop John Onaiyekan recently said that Nigerians seem “to be getting used, more and more, to rejecting one another. Ugly rumours and hate messages fill the air and we are getting immune to the lack of compassion, solidarity and sympathy with one another. There is danger in the air”. While many are sceptical about the effectiveness of dialogue there is no doubt that, in the North of Nigeria it is the only way forward. It is only through dialogue that mutual distrust and fear can be addressed. Dialogue is necessary. There is no other way.

A Mission of Dialogue
As a response to the situation dialogue stakeholders in Northern Nigeria the Interfaith Council of Muslim and Christian Women’s Associations was established when Sr Kathleen McGarvey invited women leaders of the major faith groups to come together for a one-day seminar in May 2010. This event made it clear that women in Northern Nigeria, whether Muslim or Christian, shared many common concerns. Among these are the lack of peace, unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, domestic violence, violations of women’s rights, poor educational and health services, women’s voicelessness, and incompetent and corrupt government. The women believe that they have a role as peacemakers in society and they must do so in dialogue with one another. By being Mothers of a culture of peace, women can by example show that harmonious religious co-existence is possible.

Sr Kathleen reports that since the first meeting the Council has grown from strength to strength as more women’s faith groups joined the organisation. They have run seminars, workshops, and conferences on the subjects of conflict, peace, women, and dialogue. Political, traditional and religious leaders of both faiths have participated in these events as well as hundreds of Muslim and Christian women. Collectively the women have made Press, TV and Radio statements calling for harmonious co-existence. They have also joined together in visits to show solidarity with those displaced by the interreligious violence and conflict. The Women have also initiated an Interfaith Council of Muslim and Christian Youth Associations thus spreading their call to Dialogue. This mission for Dialogue is a mission for Peace.

This information was first published in the African Missionary Magazine, No19 Spring/Summer 2012

Working for Justice

July 15, 2013

Working for Justice

Working for Justice Peace and Understanding between Christians and Muslims.
A report on work being done both here in Ireland by the SMA’s Cois Tine project and by Sr Kathleen McGarvey OLA in Nigeria.
Read more

Working for Justice – Homes for Street Children.
A report on work by Fr Anthony Kelly SMA in Kitwe, Zambia. Read more

Faith justice4

Working for Justice – 25 Years for Justice and Peace.
Report on the work of the Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network on the occasion of their 25th Anniversary.
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Working for Justice – Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (SCCRR).
Frs Patrick Devine and Oliver Noonan SMA work to reconcile inter-ethnic conflicts in Kenya and in bordering countries. Read more

Working for Justice (2)

July 15, 2013

Working for Justice

Working for Justice Peace and Understanding between Christians and Muslims. A report on work being done both here in Ireland by the SMA’s Cois Tine project and by Sr Kathleen McGarvey OLA in Nigeria.
Read more

Working for Justice – Homes for Street Children. A report on work by Fr Anthony Kelly SMA in Kitwe, Zambia.
Read more

Faith justice4

Working for Justice – 25 Years for Justice and Peace. Report on the work of the Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network on the occasion of their 25th Anniversary.
Read More

Calavi celebrates 20 new SMA members

July 12, 2013

SMA welcomes 20 new members

The anniversary of the death of the SMA Founder, Bishop de Brésillac, was celebrated with the admission to temporary membership of twenty more seminarians at a colourful and joyful Mass on 25 June last at the end of their International Spiritual Year (ISY) programme. The ceremony took place at the Centre Brésillac, Calavi, Benin Republic.

After a short holiday each will be assigned to an experienced SMA priest who will help initiate them in the work of missionaries, a Stage experience.

They are pictured above with the Formation staff and other SMA priests who are working in Benin Republic.

The new members come from Benin, Central African Republic, DR Congo, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Poland, Tanzania and Togo. There are five SMA priests responsible for their formation: Basil Soyoye (Bight of Benin DF, Nigeria, who is the Superior); Raja Lourdusamy (Indian DF), James Shimbala (Great Lakes DF, Tanzania), Pierre Garreau (Lyons Province) and Wilfried Kouijzer (Dutch Province).

Provincial Assembly 2013 photos 2nd week

July 9, 2013

EHartnett leads Eucharist — E Hartnett leads Eucharist

A further selection of photographs, formal and informal, taken during the 16th Irish Provincial Assembly taking place at the Dromantine Retreat & Conference Centre, Newry, Co Down.

Fr Eddie Hartnett led the Eucharist on Monday assisted by Frs Colum O’Shea and Maurice Henry

With soaring temperatures in Dromantine there’s lots of opportunities to relax, read a paper, go for a walk… even read about Cork’s defeat by Kerry in the Munster Senior Football Championship

In this second week there’s a lot more work to be done in the Working groups of which there are four.

The Chairmen are John Brown, Tom McNamara, Martin O’Farrell and Kevin O’Gorman. They are ably assisted by the WG Secretaries: Vincent Brennan, Maurice Henry, Hugh Lagan and Ollie Noonan.

Overseeing all the ‘technological stuff’ is Tom Curran.

The new Provincial Leader, Fr Michael McCabe, took over from Fr John Dunne as Assembly President. The animator for the Assembly is Mr Gay Redmond who can be seen here listening to a point from Fr Vincent Brennan.

Though the day is busy with many discussions there is a spiritual hinge to it all – the day begins with Lectio Divina, we celebrate Eucharist at midday and the afternoon sessions finish with an Evening Prayer liturgy. Working Groups take it in turn to animate the Eucharist and the Liturgy Committee (Frs Damian Bresnahan, Tim Cullinane and Paddy O’Rourke with the technical help of Tom Curran) look after the other liturgical acts. Their creativity helps us to remain focused on the central reason for this Assembly: we are about the work of the Lord.

Fr John Gallagher makes his point clearly to Fr Hugh Lagan and afterwards he goes for a brisk walk…

Call for reform of Direct Provision System

July 9, 2013

Calls for Reform of the Direct Provision System

Irish Times 24 July 2013
Another call to reform Direct Provision System. In addition to the recent articles introduced and linked to below the new Child and Family Agency’s chairwoman Norah Gibbons has said she is concerned about children being brought up in the housing system for asylum seekers. Read More

Over the last week the media spotlight has turned, once again, on the deficiencies of the Direct Provision System in which asylum seekers are required to live as they await decisions. This attention is largely due to an article written by Ms Emily O’Reilly, who last week secured the role of European Ombudsman, in “Studies” the Jesuit quarterly review that examines Irish social, political, cultural and economic issues in the light of Christian values. In this article she said, “there were real fears for the safety of children living in direct provision (DP) centres” and warned conditions were not suitable. Below are links to Newspaper articles written following the Studies publication and also a link to the full text of the article itself.

Irish Times, 9 July
Treatment of asylum seekers may be ‘our next national scandal’, warns Ombudsman. Read More

RTE 9, July
Ombudsman calls for urgent reform of arrangements for asylum seekers in Ireland. Read more

Irish Examiner, 10 July
State owes apology to asylum seekers. – Read More

Studies, Summer 2013
Dealing with Asylum Seekers: Why have we gone wrong? – Emily O’Reilly – Read More

Pope Francis Prays for Asylum Seekers

July 8, 2013

Pope Francis prays for Asylum seekers
During a visit to the Island of Lampedusa in southern Italy, the place where thousands of asylum seekers arrive by boat the Pope called for a “reawakening of consciences” to counter the “indifference” shown to migrants. He said: “We have lost a sense of brotherly responsibility,” he said, and “have forgotten how to cry” for migrants lost at sea. Read more

PA2013 photos

July 6, 2013

A selection of photos from the 2013 Irish Provincial Assembly taking place in at the Dromantine Retreat & Conference Centre from 1 – 18 July 2013.

Tom Curran, Assembly Secretary, looks after the technology

Feedback from WGs during plenary sessions

Sean Healy, Joe Egan and John O’Brien taking coffee (Fairtrade)

The Assembly Candle

Joe Egan has an attentive audience in his Working Group (from left: Anthony Kelly, Hugh Lagan, Seamus Nohilly, Damian Bresnahan, Tom McNamara, Joe Egan and (with his back to the camera, Denis Ryan)

Some of the delegates at a plenary session

Des Corrigan makes a point to his Working group: Maurice Henry, Eddie Hartnett, Colum O’Shea, Martin O’Farrell, Malachy Flanagan and Sean Healy

Jean-Marie Coquard – a review

July 2, 2013

AB At Coquards grave — Memorial at the grave of Fr Coquard

Edmund M. Hogan, Cross and Scalpel: Jean-Marie Coquard among the Egba of Yorubaland (Heinemann Educational Books, Nigeria, 2013)

Reviewed by Peter Costello, for the Irish Catholic Newspaper, June 27 (Dublin, Ireland)

With Ireland now a new missionary territory in the eyes of many, Irish historians have been active in the last decade or so in exploring the nature and meaning of missionary activity in the wider modern world.

This book, by a Cork-based historian and archivist of a missionary society (the Society of African Missions), explores a fascinating aspect of the great epic.

Hero

The hero of Fr Hogan’s book, Frenchman Jean-Marie Coquard, is a larger than life character – a heroic figure in all senses of the word. He was brought up in Brittany and like so many of his contemporaries went to sea at an early age. But the sense of a religious vocation grew on him. This was frustrated at first but eventually he was sent to Africa under the auspices of the SMA Fathers based in Lyon. His destination was a place called Abeokuta, now to the north of Lagos, but then a more or less independent kingdom outside of the British protectorate along the coast of which Lagos was the capital.

What makes his career exceptional was that he threw himself into the provision of medical care, learning by himself from text books not only how to treat patients but also to undertake quite serious operations. On a visit to France he was able to have some immediate experience in a Lyon hospital but essentially he was self-taught. This seems extraordinary but then he was an extraordinary man.

Radical

He was in fact a radical practitioner. He became interested in the use of a Vietnamese herbal treatment for leprosy which had been used by St Damien on Molokai. Even today this would be still considered ‘fringe’ medicine by many. But for him it worked. However, this career was only part of the story that Fr Hogan has to tell. Through the life of Coquard he is able to relate aspects of the development of colonialism in West Africa, the rivalry not only between France and England in the region, but also the ambitions of the local kings and chieftains. This is quite fascinating, but towards the end with the arrival of Frederick, later Lord Lugard the full extent of British rule was extended over the district.

The author remarks early in the book that in Ireland the Church was originally not keen on such missionary work, preferring to use its own priests at home or among the Irish diaspora in England, Australia and the US. However, towards the end of the century, he notes the arrival of Irish missionaries in the area, whom Coquard, patriotic Frenchman though he was, welcomed because of their native command of English and their better understanding of the British imperial mind.

Also of interest is the interaction of Coquard with his own superiors in France, and later when he assumed more senior roles himself with the authorities in the Vatican.

However, nowhere does he lose sight of Coquard as a human being and a priest. Even today there are those who say the role of a missionary should be to preach the Gospel and baptise. They should leave ‘social work’ alone. But that was not Coquard’s view – as it is not the view of many today. The cure of souls goes hand in hand with the care of bodies.

I would have liked a more extended discussion of the limiting effect of neo-Thomist theology on mission work which is alluded to at one point as the more recent theological developments of the notion of ‘the anonymous Christian’ will clearly have consequences here at home.

Development

This is a richly detailed book, finding room also for the details of Coquard’s relations with his own family back in France. But, overall, it is about a hero of missionary work who deserves to be better known. Fr Hogan’s work will help his readers understand not just important aspects of the development of Nigeria -though the Muslim aspect of that country is not alluded to simply because at this date it did not impinge on Coquard’s work. He dealings with were pagans and ‘other denominations’, many of whom were among the crowd at his funeral.

Fr Hogan has added a great deal to a detailed understanding of how the individual life plays out in the larger sociopolitical scheme. This a wonderful comprehensive book which will greatly enlighten all who read it.

This book is available for 15 Euro + postage, from: Archives, Society of African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork, Ireland. On Amazon it costs 40 Euro + postage

A stubborn individualist with a contentious streak

July 2, 2013

This is one of the assessments of Rev Dr Edmund Hogan, SMA Provincial Archivist, in Cross and Scalpel – Jean-Marie Coquard among the Egba of Yorubaland, a book he has written about an extraordinary French SMA priest who spent 25 unbroken years in Nigeria at a time when most missionaries were lucky to survive half that time.

Two reviews have recently been published on this book – one by Peter Costello in the Irish Catholic (read it here) and the second, by Fr Michael McCabe of Tangaza College, Nairobi, Kenya was published in JORAS (3), 2013. We present it here to give an insight into this remarkable missionary, priest and medical practitioner.

Edmund M. Hogan, Cross and Scalpel: Jean-Marie Coquard among the Egba of Yorubaland (Ibadan: HEBN Publishers Plc), 2012.

This is a thoroughly engaging and beautifully written account of the life and ministry of a remarkable Catholic missionary who laboured among the Egba people of Southern Nigeria for almost 40 years, spanning the closing decade of the nineteenth and the early decades of the twentieth centuries. Jean-Marie Coquard, who hailed from Brittany in Northern France, began life as a sailor in the merchant navy from 1873-1882. Following rejection by the Sacred Heart missionaries of Betharram in 1885, he joined the Society of African Missions (SMA) and was ordained a priest in 1890. He immediately embarked on the Society’s mission in West Africa, taking up a medical apostolate in Abeokuta – an apostolate already initiated by both Catholic and Protestant missionaries – and opening the first Catholic hospital there. With only two trips abroad, the first in 1896, to Brazil to collect funds for a minor seminary in the Benin vicariate, and the second in 1907, to attend an SMA General Assembly in France, he was to remain in Abeokuta until his death in 1933 at the age of 74.

Without any formal training, Coquard gained an apparently well-deserved reputation as a doctor and surgeon among the local people and even among the Protestant missionaries and British representatives in the region. His medical skills, acquired mostly from personal study combined with practical experience, were honed later during a five week’s apprenticeship at the prestigious Hôtel-Dieu hospital in Lyon in 1899. The surgeons who trained him also provided him with medical equipment and funds for his hospital. Though small of stature, Coquard was a man of enormous energy, intellectual acumen, boundless self-confidence, and considerable practical and administrative skills. In addition to his prowess as doctor and surgeon, he functioned as an engineer, architect, fund-raiser, superior of the Abeokuta mission and SMA “visitor” – a position which made him responsible for the spiritual and material well-being of the SMA members in the vicariate. He was also a superb chronicler with a capacity to bring an event to life with a few telling phrases. Indeed the book contains several wonderfully illuminating passages from his letters and “Chronique d’Abeokuta”.

Coquard’s missionary career was remarkable not only because he survived 25 years in Africa without a break, but principally because of his achievements: the founding and administering of Sacred Heart Hospital, “one of the best built hospitals in West Africa” (p. 434) – a hospital with maternity and child care facilities; the establishment of a leprosarium; the promotion of education though acquiring land for the building of schools for both boys and girls; and the transformation of a precarious Catholic mission into a thriving enterprise – achieved mainly through the success of his medical apostolate.

While his portrait of Coquard is a generally sympathetic one, Hogan does not overlook his protagonist’s shortcomings. “A stubborn individualist with a contentious streak” (p. 243), Coquard’s self-belief and tendency to self-promotion bordered on arrogance at times, especially when his position in his beloved hospital was threatened. This led to frequent clashes with his superiors, both on the home front and on the mission. Lacking in diplomatic skills, he could be abrasive in his exercise of authority. He failed conspicuously to establish harmony among his confreres, many of whom were behind various unsuccessful attempts to have him removed from the Abeokuta mission. At the same time, he was capable of winning the friendship and support not only of the local people, but also of the British colonial representatives and Egba chiefs – a support and friendship which proved vital in promoting the interests of the Catholic mission. Coquard’s work was so highly regarded by the British that in 1929 “he was invested with the Order of the British Empire (OBE) at a ceremony presided over by Sir Frank Baddeley, then the officer administering the Nigerian Government” (p. 421-422). After his death, the Egba people honoured him by naming a locomotive after him in 1935 and, in 1954, erecting and a life-size bronze stature of him in front of his original hospital building.

Hogan’s lengthy – over 500 pages – biography is the fruit of meticulous research of mostly primary sources. With the professional acumen of the trained historian, he situates Coquard’s life and ministry against the background of the political (international and local) and ecclesiastical factors at play, prior to and during his long sojourn in Abeokuta. The value of the book is augmented by several brilliant pen pictures of the leading characters in the story and further enhanced by ten appendices, over thirty pages of end notes, a select bibliography, a chronological table, a list of dramatis personae, and a name index. Cross and Scalpel offers, not only an engaging account of the life and times of a remarkable missionary, but an illuminating insight into a seminal stage in the history of Catholic missionary expansion in Southern Nigeria.

This book is available for 15 Euro + postage from:
Archives, Society of African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork, Ireland.

On Amazon it costs 40 Euro + postage.

Brief Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching

July 2, 2013

Brief Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching
Source: http://homelinks.dor.org/linkservid/E8F3CBF5-9A66-E67D-4D91B01BD5EBF91B/showMeta/0/

What is Catholic Social Teaching?
Catholic Social Teaching (also known as Catholic Social Doctrine) sums up the teachings of the Church on social justice issues. It promotes a vision of a just society that is grounded in the Bible and in the wisdom gathered from experience by the Christian community as it has responded to social justice issues through history.

Methodology: See, Judge & Act
Since Vatican II the methodology that has been promoted asks us to read the ‘signs of the times’ using the ‘see’, ‘judge’, ‘act’ method that Cardjin made popular in workers’ and students’ movements. It asks us to work inductively, looking first at the social justice issues as they exist in our communities, before assessing what is happening, and what is at stake. Finally we need to discern what action to undertake in response.

Key Themes in Catholic Social Teaching
Many texts on CST move chronologically through the key documents of the social magisterium examining their content. By tracing ideas and themes through these documents we can see how this rich body of thought has developed through time. To provide a brief introduction to some of the most important principles of the social magisterium let us look at six of the key themes evident in these documents. Every commentator has their own list of key principles and documents, and there is no official ‘canon’ of principles or documents. In practice, the most important principles

and documents to draw on will be those that most directly speak to the situation in question.

Human Dignity & the Unity of the Human Family
Human dignity is the starting point and central concern of Catholic thinking about human rights. Each person is created in the image and likeness of God and so has an inalienable, transcendent God-given dignity. It follows that each member of the human family is equal in dignity and has equal rights because we are all children of the one God. We are sisters and brothers to each other.

We understand God to be a trinity of persons and so we see the image of God reflected not only in individuals, but also in communities. Together in community we bear the image of our God whose very nature is communal. The Catholic tradition is opposed to anything that is opposed to life itself, or that violates the integrity of the human person, and anything that insults human dignity. Human rights are the things due to us simply because we are human beings, they are the claims made by human dignity. From this principle we can derive the following criteria to help judge a social situation: “does this situation respect and promote human dignity?”, And, “what is happening to people, and to their human dignity?”

Solidarity
Solidarity has been described as a: “Unanimity of attitude or purpose” (Catechism of the Catholic Church no 1885) and also as “ a firm and steadfast determination to committ oneself to the common good.” (Pope John Paul II, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, No.38)

The principle of solidarity means basically that we are all really responsible for each other. It is not about a vague sort of compassion or shallow distress at others’ misfortune, but involves a determination to commit oneself to working for change so that everyone will be able to reach their potential. It is about respect for and the promotion of the dignity and rights of our sisters and brothers.

The Common Good
“The common good consists of three essential elements: respect for, and poromotion of, the fundamental rights of the person; prosperity, or the development of the spiritual and temporal goods of society; the peace and security of the group and its members” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1925)

The doctrine of the common good also emphasises that we are connected with other people. The common good is understood as the collection of social conditions that make it possible for each social group and all of their individual members to achieve their potential. It means that each social group must take account of the rights and aspirations of other groups, and of the well-being of the whole human family. The rights and duties of individuals and groups must be harmonised under the common good.Questions that flow from these principles when judging a social situation might include: “are the benefits enjoyed by some groups attained only at the cost of other groups?”, And, “what are the consequences of this policy for those living in poor countries?”.

Universal Destination of Goods
The universal destination of goods refers to the fact that God intended the goods of creation for the use of all. Everyone has the right to access the goods of creation to meet their needs. People and nations have no right to squander resources when others are in need. The key question here is: “does everyone have access to a large enough share of resources to meet their needs?”

Participation
Because of their intelligence and free will, people have both a right and a duty to participate in those decisions that most directly affect them. They are actively to shape their own destiny rather than simply accept the decisions of others.This right to participate belongs not only to individuals but also to groups and communities. One way to reflect on participation is to ask: who wins? Who loses? Who decides?

Subsidiarity
The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls us to live in solidarity with all peoples: “In the sanctorum communio, ‘None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.’ fn.487 ‘If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it’ fn. 488 (No. 953).

The principle of subsidiarity places responsibility as close as possible to the rassroots. The people or groups most directly affected by a decision or policy should have a key decision-making role. They should only be interfered with in order to support them in cases of need, and to help coordinate their activities with the activities of the rest of society with a view to the common good.

Sandie Cornish B.Ec. (Nctle), Lic. Soc. Sci. (PUG), M. Pub. Pol.(UNE)

2013 Trafficking in Persons Report

July 1, 2013

2013 Trafficking in Persons Report
Article written by David Lohan, co-author of the Cois Tine Publication: “OPEN SECRETS, an Irish perspective on Trafficking and Witchcraft.“
The annual launch of the Trafficking in Persons Report was held at the Franklin Room in the U.S. Department of State building in Washington D.C. on June 19th, evening just prior to 9pm GMT. The report was launched by Secretary for State, John Kerry. The launch was broadcast live via the U.S. Department of State website http://www.state.gov. The report evaluates the adherence of some 188 countries and territories to the minimum standards of protection, prosecution and prevention (3Ps). The report also provides insight into the contemporary situation in, through the narratives it provides on, each jurisdiction.

Continue

2013 Golden Jubilee homily

June 30, 2013

Fr Dan Cashman preached at the Thanksgiving Mass on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the 1963 Ordination class. The Mass took place on 15 June 2013 at the African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork. Fr John Dunne, SMA Provincial Leader, was the Principal Celebrant.

Fr Dan Cashman preaches as Frs Denis Collins, Maurice Kelleher, Sexton Doran and Jim Tobin listen attentively

Genesis 10:1-9
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-5, 12-15

One weekend, about 15 years ago, I was asked to help out with preaching at the Mission Appeals in the British Province. After the last Mass on Sunday evening a young boy of about nine / ten years came into the Sacristy and handed me an envelope. ‘That’s my pocket money’, he said. I opened the envelope and found a ten pound note in it. I was very reluctant to take the money but he insisted and then dropped a bombshell. ‘Take it, Father’, he said, ‘for my mother told me that you are the poorest preacher we ever had’.

Now that I have established my credentials let me say that it is a privilege to join the Jubilarians today in thanking God and congratulating the class of 1963.

It is true that all missionaries get older with the passing of years, but the priesthood never ages for each time we offer the Eucharist, Christ is made present again. Furthermore the grace of each sacrament we celebrate is created anew for the person who is looking for a closer union with God and God’s love. The priesthood is as young each day as it was on the day of ordination for the class of 1963.

Our reading from the Book of Genesis (read by Denis Collins, pictured left) speaks of the call and journey of Abraham to a distant land. He accepted the challenge and set out, with whatever he had accumulated over the years to find the fulfilment of a dream. I like to think that it was like that for the 1963 class as they gathered together all their notes on epistemology, dogmatic theology and, of course, the vademecum of every missionary: De Reaper. That book, it was said, contained all a missionary needed to know.

The young men of the ’63 class set out on a journey to a strange new land with enthusiasm and hope. No ‘Stage’ in those days; no ‘dipping a toe’ in the water to see if one could take the pressure of missionary work. It was in at the deep end to either sink or swim!

Nigeria was the destination for most of the class and it really was an exciting country in those days. The people had gained independence in 1960 and so the Nigerians themselves were searching for their own identity. That search led them down the path of Civil War and the missionary work moved in a new direction.

Many of the lay leaders in the Church at that time, mostly from the eastern states, just disappeared and so a new community emerged. This new church was slimmer but also more in touch with the customs of the local people. Like the long line of great SMA missionaries who preceded them the 1963 class were sufficiently flexible in their approach to mission that a few years after the end of the Civil War they had a truly local church with not only local lay leaders but an influx of local priests, Rev Sisters and even the beginning of Nigerian bishops.

The Civil War itself threw up a variety of other problems especially in the area of security. Expatriate missionaries were looked upon with great suspicion especially by the Nigerian Army and one had to tread very carefully indeed.

One member of this class had to lie on the floor of his Mission House for hours as the bullets whizzed above his head, hitting the walls and scattering chunks of plaster around the room.

Then, as suddenly as it started, the war ended. There was no demand for a Truth & Reconciliation Commission as happened elsewhere. The Nigerian people just got on with life.

Not everyone could relax, however, at the end of the war. Many a Schools Manager had panic attacks when his former teachers returned, besieging the Mission demanding arrears of salary for the three years of the war.

But let us return to our reading from Genesis. We see towns and settlements mentioned like Shechem, Bethel, Ai and the Negev. These give us a picture of Abraham’s journey. Uromi, Aghalokpe, Akure, Ekpoma, Uzuarwe, Ibadan, Pankshin, Ilorin, Shendam, and later Ndola and Tapita, plot the journey of our Jubilarians. The place names are different but the purpose of the journey is the same: to make known a merciful God, to unite all peoples and to open the hearts of all so that they wound understand that God is not a God of fear but of love. Just as Abraham was blessed in his journey our Jubilarians were blessed in theirs, as was the missionary tradition that they lived and the personal gifts they shared with the people. Our Jubilarians were Graced.

Grace, I believe, is a gift we recognize with hindsight. Sometimes we only see God’s intervention in our lives long after it has taken place. Grace quietly enters our spirit and smoothes over the mistakes, lapses and often sheer nonsense that is part and parcel of all our lives. It enables us to forgive ourselves for all the errors we have made in the exercise of our ministry and allows us to focus on what God can do and what God has done in spite of everything. Grace is what keeps us striving to be a sign of Christ’s concern for his people.

So how does this grace take over our lives? I believe we find the answer in the second and third readings which focus our attention on the Eucharist. The Eucharist is absolutely central to priestly life. St Paul celebrates the Eucharist in the second reading and, in one sense, St John in the Gospel reading shows us the Eucharist in action.

Pictured left: Jim Tobin, Sexton Doran, Denis Collins & Mossie Kelleher.

There have been many changes in the Church over the past 50 years as a result of the Second Vatican Council. Big changes have also taken place in the SMA.

We know that the formation the Jubilarians received was based on teachings that, remarkably, remained unaltered for the best part of a century, so it may have disturbed some to find that Noldin, Tanquery and Bouscaren did not have a monopoly on wisdom and that pastoral options were not always limited to the Pauline or Petrine Privileges and when things got out of hand or too complicated the all-embracing Sanatio! Added to that the upheaval the Society as it set out its own goals and objectives which changed many aspects of our traditional view of Mission.

The prevailing atmosphere and attitudes of the time eliminated the stability of previous years and some were left floundering. That the class of 1963 was able to rise above the uncertainties and fulfil their missionary oath is surely a miracle of grace. It may be that God first sowed the seed for that gift in the preparation they received from the Formation team in our seminary and the prayers of our supporters.

During all these changes the central role of the Eucharist never altered. The Eucharist was the one constant in their lives and through their Eucharistic prayer they reached calmer waters.

Fr Gerry Sweeney, ministered in Nigeria and Liberia, was involved in the training of Irish SMA seminarians in Cloughballymore, Wilton and Maynooth, was part of the staff of the Dromantine Conference Centre followed by pastoral work in Clonfert diocese before ill health forced his retirement to the SMA community in Claregalway.

It was the Eucharist that brought them to realize that they, with their people, are the Body of Christ and that we are all interconnected. So they celebrated the Eucharist in their churches and washed the feet of the suffering and marginalised in the streets. It was all Eucharist.

They found that they could offer up in that Eucharist their frustrations and sacrifices associated with their pastoral work and personal concerns. It was this that kept them in ministry and enriched it for as the Second Vatican Council Constitution on the Liturgy says ‘the most holy Eucharist holds within itself the whole treasure house of the Church’.

I suppose as we all look back over our lives we might easily apply the words of Padraig Pearse who wrote: ‘I have squandered the splendid years which the Lord gave to my youth, in attempting impossible things, deeming them alone worth the toil. But Lord if I had these years back, I would squander them all again’.

It is that spirit we are celebrating today.

We thank God for his faithfulness which never ends and which continues to burn in the lives of the class of 1963. So we congratulate you, our Jubilarians, and wish you many more years of fruitful and faithful service in whatever situation you may find yourselves.

2013 Silver Jubilee homily

June 29, 2013

Jubilarians P ORourke When Fr. John Dunne asked me to give the homily at the Silver Jubilee Mass this year, I was at first hesitant because I tend to shy away from formal occasions. But as time went on I began to see it as an opportunity not just to reflect on the meaning of the Silver Jubilee for the seven men involved, but also an opportunity for myself to reflect on mission and priesthood.

Fr O’Rourke preaches as Fathers Denvir, Olivoni and Faherty listen.

So I am honoured and grateful for this opportunity, firstly to be present here with our six Jubilarians: Fathers Alberto, Chris, Damian, John, Padraig and Tommy to share in the celebrations of a collective 125 years of service to mission as priests. I also am mindful of Fr Ken Cooney who is not with us today as he is still in South Africa.

That is a lot of years, a lot of days, blessing and touching the lives of numerous communities and individuals in different parts of the world. None of us will fully understand the full extent of the good work that has been done by these seven men, not even the Jubilarians themselves. The kind word, the listening ear, the compassionate presence, helping someone find a way where there seemed to be no way, these simple things will have made a world of a difference to many that each of you have met over the past twenty five years.

Sat Nav

In the past few years I am sure many of us who found ourselves travelling to place that were new or unfamiliar with the aid of that new gadget called a Sat Nav. When we take the wrong direction, immediately you hear the words “recalculating, recalculating” from that lady with the mechanical voice repeated many times. And within seconds you receive directions on the next turn you need to take to get back on track. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a Spiritual Sat Nav which would alert us when we have taken a wrong turn and then give us directions on how to get back on track. Actually we do have a guidance system which helps with directions through the journeys of life: Psalm 119 tells us that the work of God is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path.

Let Go, Let God

Jubilarians Peter Thompson Fr Peter Thompson read from the prophet Isaiah.

About twenty years ago I attended the Intercession for Priests in All Hallows College for two days. During that time, participants were asked to go in two’s on an Emmaus Walk, to share something of their faith journey together. I was coupled up with an elderly priest, whom I will call Fr. Brian. He shared with me about how he took a religion class every Friday afternoon at the local convent school with a group of girls attending a Secretarial Course. Fr. Brian often felt he was wasting his time during these Friday sessions, as the girls seemed to more preoccupied with fashion, boys and where they were going to socialise that weekend. But Fr. Brian kept going every week to the religion class as he enjoyed the girls youthful spirit and spontaneity. Some years later Fr. Brian, now working in a different parish, was walking down the street and a very good looking young woman, beautifully dressed, came up to him smiling and gave Fr. Brian a big hug and told him how happy she was to see him. Fr. Brian hadn’t a clue who this woman was. She then told him that she was one of the girls on that Friday Secretarial Course. “I am delighted to have this chance to meet you again Fr. Brian,” she said “because for a long time I have wanted to thank you for something that you said one day during RE Class, which has been of great help to me during some very difficult times in the past few years”. Fr. Brian had no recollection of the bit of wisdom he had shared all those years before, but he said that the experience of meeting that young woman thought him one very important lesson: “Say your prayers, do your work, and the Holy Spirit will work in spite of you”.

Say your prayers – Start with God, reminding yourself its Gods work, Gods call, Gods mission, Gods ministry. We are just but workers in his vineyard. By saying our prayers implies that we continue to remind ourselves daily, it is not my work, but I am called to participate in it, I am responding to an invitation. Prayer creates a space of allowing, allowing God to do Gods work, in and through me. With the right intention and listening heart, I am ready for the next stage.

Do your work – I get out of bed every morning with a thankful heart, with a sense of purpose, a mission, a task at hand. I am not afraid to pull up my sleeves and get fully involved in what that new day presents to me. I make available with a generous heart the gifts and abilities God has given to me for the service of others… Through our work, the dreams and plans and inspirations of our hearts, become manifest in reality. The word becomes flesh. We co-create something new with God grace.

The Holy Spirit will work in spite of you – being very mindful of the first reading of Isaiah chapter 61 today where we are reminded that the Spirit of the Lord has been given to us, that we are anointed and sent out in its power. It is a spirit of action, inviting us to bring Good News to the poor, healing broken hearts, announcing Liberty to captives, freedom to prisoners and comfort to all who mourn. You almost get the image of water that is ready to burst forth through a dam, wanting to bless, renew and restore.

Fr. Brian’s words “the holy spirit will work in spite of you,” reminds me in some way of the image of St. Paul in Second Corinthians 4 comparing us to Earthen Vessels, containing a treasure. We are like fragile pots, with our weaknesses and human shortcomings, but containing treasure far beyond our wildest imagining. The invitation to us is to continue to be Co–Creators in God’s work. Maybe we can sum up what our task is in the phrase, “pray as if it all depends on God, act as if it all depends on you.”

Jubilarians Mark Monaghan St Paul in the Romans 12:4-8, which Fr Mark Monaghan (pictured) just read, says, “God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well”. Paul is stating what most of us would see as an obvious fact: that we are all gifted in different ways. Among you, the 1988 class, these gifts are many and varied.

I am sure you have heard the phrase: God does not want so much your ability as your availability. Thank you for the way you used your gifts / talents at the service of the building of God’s Kingdom. Your unique contribution which is particular to each one of you, which only you could have made, has added to the rich heritage of the mission activity of the SMA. Each one of you, with your unique and varied contributions and particular personalities has made the SMA a much more interesting group to be members of, and we thank you for that.

You have spent a substantial number of years working in six countries of Africa, as well as the Philippines, England and Ireland. Your activities have been wide and varied, including such work as evangelization in urban and rural apostolate, youth work, education, formation work in Nigeria and Philippines, organising and running of project in war torn Liberia, the study and teaching of local languages in South Africa, involvement in leadership on diocesan, regional and at provincial levels, providing medical and health care facilities in Nigeria, mission promotion work in Ireland, conflict and peace work in Kenya, and much much more.

Daily Routine or Daily Renewal

Some years ago I was the main celebrant at the Eucharist of a small group of SMA at our Regional House in Mwanza, Tanzania. After Communion time we were having a quite time of reflection, during which time I could hear some low level murmuring going on. I was a little irritated with the behaviour and asked what the problem was. One of the group replied by asking me “What about us?” I suddenly realized that at Communion I had consumed everything, purified the chalice and left the other three people present with nothing. This happened at a time when I was living on my own for some months and had often celebrated Mass on my own.

How easy it is for a daily practice to become a mechanical routine during which time you can so easily leave your heart outside the door. How easy it is to miss the crucial point of what is actually taking place.

Today’s gospel from Luke 22 is a great example of how we can miss the point. At the celebration of the Passover we heard that Jesus took some bread… gave thanks… broke it… he gave it to his disciples. He did the same with the cup after supper.

Here we have Jesus offering his very self to the disciples (the same self-giving which we encounter in each celebration of the Eucharist). But the disciples attention is in a completely different place, concerned with who should be regarded as the greatest among them.

Each day as we celebrate and participate in the Eucharist, we are given afresh, an opportunity to encounter that self-giving of Jesus, and to respond in giving ourselves, our talents and energy to the service of the Gospel. Sometime our response has been lacking and may have been caught up in self interest and fear, rather than generosity and service to our brothers and sisters.

In the words of Thomas Merton’s Prayer of Abandonment, I pray that you, Chris, Damian, John, Tommy, Alberto, Padraig and Ken, and each one present here, for now and for all the years that the Lord gives us on this earth:

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will,
does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you
and I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.

And I know that if I do this,
you will lead me by the right road although I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death,
I will not fear, for you are ever with me and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Don’t go back to work, and above all, don’t go home!

June 27, 2013

Reflection for July 2013
Imagine waking up one morning, doing the usual routine, breakfast, helping to get the children out to school and setting off for work. At your lunch break a friend warns you: “Don’t go back to work, and above all, don’t go home. The military are looking for you”. Another friend, vocally critical of the regime disappeared two days ago and now you are under suspicion and could also disappear. You have to flee, but you can’t tell your family at home. You have nothing, just the clothes on your back, a small amount of money and a mobile phone – no papers, no proper identification. You have to get out you must run.

Continue

Refugees are the invisible people of our time

June 20, 2013

According to Fr Mauro Armanino, an Italian member of the Society of African Missions (SMA), “refugees are the invisible people of our time.” Fr Mauro, formerly a missionary in Ivory Coast and Liberia and now working in Niamey, Niger was speaking to FIDES, a Vatican News Agency. He was speaking as the world celebrates World Refugee Day on 20 June.

“There is much talk about them at the moment. They become visible as the result of a crisis and are put into camps which are set up not too far from the borders. But, if they are in a town, they often become invisible, invisible as the poor”, he says.

“Refugees have a history which is too heavy to carry and too complicated to tell: words fail to do so. They experience displacement and marginalization in solitude.

Theirs is often an experience of abandonment and sometimes rejection. But in some cases they do experience some sense of solidarity, in small ways. For refugees, it is above all a renewed sense of faith in God that is perceived as their only comfort in life.”

Fr. Armanino believes that “the definition of a refugee is clear but it should be updated in the light of what is happening in our globalized world. It is now difficult – he explains – to establish the difference between a refugee who has no choice but to escape from his Country to save his own life and those who leave for climatic or economic reasons.”

But beyond these differences what matters, concludes the missionary is “to ensure that what is hidden becomes visible and recognized. Sharing this experience is an important sign of civilization and openness. We can humanize ourselves only by remaining together.”

[With thanks to an Agenzia Fides article, 20/6/2013]

Ireland rejects more asylum seekers than most European Countries

June 19, 2013

Ireland rejects more asylum seekers than most European Countries
19 June 2013: This article from the Journal.ie presents the latest statistics showning the continuing decline in the number of asylum seekers coming to Ireland and also the fact thatr those who do apply for asylum here are rejected at a far higher rate than most European countries. Read more

Four churches burned in Borno State, Nigeria

June 17, 2013

According to the Vatican News Agency – Agenzia Fides – Four churches were burned in an attack probably committed by members of the jihadist group Boko Haram in Borno State, one of the three northern states of Nigeria where a state of emergency has been imposed.

According to the Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, a group of armed men with improvised explosive devices and petrol bombs attacked the Hwa’a, Kunde, Gathahure and Gjigga communities on Gwoza Hills, burning the 4 churches, raiding and looting cattle and grain reserves belonging to the population.

“Unfortunately I do not have precise information and do not know what communities the Christian churches destroyed belong to,” Archbishop Kaigama told FIDES. The Archbishop is also the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria. “All communications have been cut off with the areas affected by military operations and it is impossible to get in touch with the Bishop of Maiduguri,” he explained.

Despite this incident, the Archbishop said that “the operation of the Nigerian army and the imposition of the State of emergency has made the population feel better and safer.“

It seems certain that Boko Haram is coordinating with jihadist groups expelled from Mali and are now operating in Niger, to the north of Nigeria. The Archbishop believes that “Boko Haram is a regional issue and should be resolved with a regional approach. We are paying the price of terrible negligence on behalf of our intelligence and our police forces who did not deal with the phenomenon in time. Now we need to bring together the resources of Nigeria, Niger and Mali to address the threat of jihadist groups. I think, however, that eventually they will be defeated.” (Agenzia Fides 17/06/2013)

IRISH BISHOPS on the G8 Summit

June 17, 2013

IRISH BISHOPS on the G8 Summit – June 2013
During their recent meeting in Maynooth Irish Bishops noted that the forthcoming G8 summit will be taking place in Enniskillen on 17 – 18 June. Bishops discussed the values that inform our choices in matters of social and economic policy, and they underlined the need for the value of solidarity to be the guiding principle in decisions currently facing world leaders.

They agreed that, against the backdrop of the widespread suffering caused by poverty, inequality and social exclusion, solidarity is needed to rebuild trust, restore relationships and give hope for a real and lasting recovery. Bishops wished to add their voices to those calling for greater transparency in matters of finance and taxation and stated that the protection of the rights of the poorest and most vulnerable is not only a question of charity, but is primarily a question of justice. It is a responsibility arising from our duty to care for our neighbour. It is also an essential prerequisite for a truly prosperous society; without fairness and social cohesion we will never achieve lasting prosperity.

Bishops said: It is a scandal that, despite all the extraordinary technological advances of the present age, one in eight people throughout the world are still going to bed hungry – including millions of children, who are not getting the start in life they deserve. As has been effectively highlighted in the ‘IF’ campaign, a more just and equitable distribution of resources is both achievable and imperative.

In the context of the forthcoming G8 summit, Trócaire, the overseas development agency of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, has called for action to address structural injustices that have contributed to one billion people going hungry every day. With the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set to expire in 2015, there is a need to strengthen efforts to tackle the underlying causes of poverty post-2015.

Trócaire, along with other development agencies from Ireland and the UK, is calling on the G8 leaders to take the political decisions at their upcoming summit to ensure that G8 Erne everybody in the world has enough food. It is asking the leaders to address: tax transparency, trade reform, climate change, and the negative impact biofuels have on food production.

Recognising that many people will be taking part in public manifestations on the margins of the G8 summit to highlight these and other social justice issues, bishops said it is vital that they are able to do so safely, peacefully and respectfully.

Bishops concluded: “We pray that the forthcoming G8 summit will be a fruitful and productive experience, bringing us closer to peace and prosperity throughout the world.“

JUSTICE NEWS

June 17, 2013

JUSTICE NEWS – “In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails.” Psalm 71

This page contains links to additional justice and peace related articles not includied under other headings in the Justice section of the SMA web site.

July 2013: “Never tire of working for solidarity and justice – Pope Francis

June 2013: IRISH BISHOPS – on G8 Summit

May 2013: Women’s Interfaith Council meets

May 2013: Women’t Interfaith Council speaks on peace issues

Jan 2013: A Journey Together

Jan 2013: A Journey Together – remarks of Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll

May 2012: Open Secrets an Irish perspective on Trafficking and Witchcraft

Oct 2011: Kaduna interfaith Council

Aug 2011: Humanitarian Crisis in East Africa

Apr 2011: Water – A commodity or right

Apr 2011: Spirituality of the Plastic Bag

Auxiliary bishop of Niamey installed

June 12, 2013

Bishop Djalwana Laurent Lompo was ordained as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Niamey (Niger) on Sunday, 9 June 2013. He will assist Archbishop Michel Cartateguy SMA in administering this huge diocese which covers 200,000 sq kms (more than twice the size of Ireland). A second diocese, Maradi, is five times larger at 1 million sq kms! According to the latest statistics the two dioceses between them have just 20 parishes (and dozens of outstations) with 50 priests to cover them all.

Memebrs of the Society of African Missions from France were the founding members of the Church in Niger. The Redemptorist Congregation also work in the country. Today there are 13 SMA missionaries in the country, all working in Niamey Archdiocese.They come from Argentina, France, India, Italy and Spain.

The Coat of Arms of the new bishop features a calabash held in two hands (looks a bit like a pumpkin cut in half). It symbolises ‘welcome’ and during the ordination ceremony it was presented to the new bishop. It is filled with water and is offered to the traveler and to anyone who visits the house. The other features of his Coat of Arms are an open Bible and the yellow background of the Sahel with the words underneath: “There is more joy in giving than receiving“.

Bishop Lompo prayed for the gift of simplicity.

There was some anxiety before the celebration concerning security. But the civil authorities of this overwhelmingly Muslim country have great respect for the Catholic Church and the work it does among all the people and the security forces maintained a presence and ensured everything passed off peacefully in the Sports ground where about 3,500 people gathered.

The Archbishop of Niamey, Michel Cartatéguy SMA (from the Basque Region) presided over the ceremony which was attended by most of the bishops of Burkina Faso. The songs, the dances, the symbols and especially the atmosphere of unity turned the event into a celebration of life for all.

Bishop Lompo is from the Gourmanché people and is the first Catholic Bishop in Niger who is a native of the country. The Gurmanché people can be found in both Burkina Faso and Niger. There are Zerma / Sonhrai, Hausa and immigrants from Benin Republic, Togo, Ivory Coast, Liberia and other countries along the Atlantic coast living and working in Niger.

Niger has an approximate population of 19 million people, of which 25,000 are Catholics. Of that number only 20% are Nigeriens. The remaining 20,000 come from neighbouring countries. The presence of the Catholic Church is the “natte”, i.e. a sober, humble presence. Another way of celebrating the Gospel.

During the ceremony two white doves were released, as a symbol of peace. Establishing true peace is one of the challenges facing all in the Sahel area of Africa.

One World, One Future

June 12, 2013

Mission Today & Tomorrow was the theme of a recent conference aiming to address the reality of modern day mission, the work of missionaries and their role in Ireland’s overseas development programme.

The Minister for Trade and Development, Mr Joe Costello, paid tribute to the missionaries, hailing them as key partners of the Irish government in their continuing work across the developing world. His address to the Conference echoed some of the key ideas in the recently published Irish Aid policy document on development: One World, One Future. The Irish Aid document states that work of our missionaries remains an important aspect of Ireland’s contribution to development.

Though quite a substantial document it deserves to be read as it clearly demonstrates that, despite what is often trumpetted in various media, Irish people believe that we as a country should continue to reach out to the less well off in the world and support efforts to alleviate their poverty: “There is strong public support – including across political parties – for the aid programme. People want Irish Aid to maintain the high quality of its work, for which it has been internationally recognised, and they want us to keep them informed of progress.” (page 7 of OWOF).

Mrs Nora Owen was the Chairperson of the Expert Advisory Group who conducted the Review on which the new policy is based. A great debt of gratitude is due to her and the other members for putting so much effort and time, including travel to some mission areas for ‘in the field’ experience of how Irish Aid and particularly the millions of Euro given to projects under the care of Irish missionaires, is used to a very effective degree.

One of the key commitments – to achieve the target of 0.7% of GNI allocated to international development cooperation – was restated.

Read some extracts from Minister Costello’s address to the Mission Today & Tomorrow Conference, as released by the Irish Embassy, Abuja, Nigeria.

Social Icons

June 6, 2013

Funeral ceremonies for Fr Donal O’Connor SMA

June 4, 2013

Following his death at the SMA House, Blackrock Road, Cork, Fr Donal Michael O’Connor, was laid to rest after Concelebrated Funeral Mass at 12 noon on Monday, 3 June 2013.

Obituary Homily at Requiem Mass

The following is an account of the different ceremonies for Fr Donie before his burial in Wilton cemetery.

Fr Donal O’Connor’s remains returned to Blackrock Road on Saturday afternoon at 5.30pm. Fr Colum O’Shea and the community along with Honor O’Connor, Annette Ricketts and his cousin Sr Brenda Mary were there to receive the remains. Following the placing of the coffin before the Altar, Evening Prayer for the Dead was recited by all.

At 7pm, one of Donie’s students, Martin Kavanagh, led the Rosary. After each decade verses from Psalm 23 (The Lord’s my shepherd) were read. At the end of the Rosary prayers the community sang one verse of the hymn – Day is done, reminding ourselves that though Donie’s days on earth are complete he has now begun his eternal life with God.

Day is done, but love unfailing dwells ever here

Shadows fall, but hope, prevailing, calms every fear.

Loving Father, none forsaking, take our hearts of Love’s own making

Watch our sleeping, guard our waking, be always near.

At 7pm on Sunday evening the community gathered again for prayers and the removal of Fr Donie’s remains to St Joseph’s SMA Church, Wilton. Fr Colum O’Shea led the prayers and gave a brief reflection which is summarised here.

“Fr Martin Kavanagh, who was a student of Donie’s in Maynooth, spoke about him last night. He spoke fondly of the man that he and all his former students held in high esteem and with great respect. Others who knew him in different situations would agree.

I knew him briefly in the 80’s when he was in Maynooth and he struck me as being cool and calm.

I did not meet Donie again until a couple of months ago when he took up residence here. Those of us who have been with him during these weeks could not but have been touched by the way he accepted the inevitable. Those qualities of coolness and calmness were manifested again. They were tough weeks for him but he never complained. He was resigned to God’s will.”

For someone who gave his life in serving and caring for others here he was now dependent on others. He was well cared for by the nursing and caring staff of St Theresa’s and by Annette. They did everything possible to make his final days as comfortable as possible. He died peacefully on Friday evening, with Annette and Sharon at his side, the feast of the Visitation of Our Lady.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

Removal to Wilton

After the final prayers Fr Donie’s remains were brought across the city to St Joseph’s SMA Parish Church at Wilton where they were received by a former student, Fr Jarlath Walsh SMA. Fr Con Murphy, who was on the SMA Maynooth formation staff with Donie, read from the Book of Wisdom and Fr Jarlath read from St John 14: “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Afterwards all were invited for light refreshments in the community Dining room.

Funeral Mass and burial, Monday, 3 June @ 12 noon

Fr Donie’s sisters, Catherine and Honor, and his good friend Annette Ricketts are joined by other relatives and friends at the Requiem Mass in St Joseph’s SMA Church, Wilton.

Fr John Dunne, SMA Provincial Leader, led over 50 priests in the concelebrated Requiem Mass for Fr Donie. Principal concelebrants were Bishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA (Bishop of Killaloe, and a former student of Donie in Maynooth), Fr Patrick N McGuire SMA (British Provincial Superior, also a former student of Donie in New Barnet, London), Fr Kevin Mulhern SMA (who worked with Donie in Walthamstow) and Fr John Brown SMA (Fr Donie’s successor as PP of Walthamstow).

Among the other concelebrants were classmates Frs Michael Igoe and Richard Wall (home on holidays from his parish in Nigeria) as well as many former students, both non-ordained and ordained. Another classmate, Fr Derry O’Connell, had returned to his mission in Jos Archdiocese (Nigeria) a few hours before Fr Donie’s death.

The Bishop-emeritus of Lodwar diocese, Rt Rev Patrick J Harrington SMA, was also among the concelebrants.

Relatives and friends travelled from many parts of Ireland (including Kerry, Dublin, Kilkenny, Mayo, Wexford and Wicklow) to join Donie’s sisters Kate and Honor as they said their final farewell to their beloved brother. Fr John Brown SMA, who succeeded Donie as Parish Priest of Walthamstow came with a group of parishioners to pay their respects to a gentle and kind pastor. OLA, Presentation, Mercy and other congregations of Religious Sisters were also in the congregation for the Mass.

Bishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA, assisted by Fr John Dunne, leads some of the prayers during the burial of Fr Donie.

DOC Cemetery

After the Final Prayers and Commendation in the Church, Fr Donie was carried to his final resting place by his nephews and friends. Bishop Kieran O’Reilly blessed the new grave and Fr Tom McNamara SMA (a former student of Donie’s and who worked with him in Walthamstow) led a decade of the Rosary. Before the end of the ceremony Fr Pat O’Mahony SMA (a former student) led the mourners in singing the Salve Regina.

DOC Walthamstow

Some parishioners and Fr John Brown SMA came from Walthamstow to commend Fr Donie, their former Pastor, to the Lord.

A friend from the past…

During his illness in Cork, Fr Donie was visited by a former pupil from Egypt: Gerard Momjian and his wife, Kay. Gerard was a member of the Armenian Community in Cairo, Egypt, and he attended the St George’s College, Heliopolis, founded by the SMA. During his years there (1959-1962) the teachers (which included Fr Donie) made a big impact on him and he visited the SMA Houses in Cork recently to pay tribute. Though very ill at the time, Donie received Gerard graciously. In a moving conversation they spoke about the school and about Egypt and Fr Donie told Gerard and Kay that he would be soon going to God and would remember them and their family to Him.

After completing his education Gerard emigrated to Australia, and later, after he was married, went to live and work in Paris, France, where he now lives. His wife, Kay, is an Australian and they have two grown-up sons.

During his visit to Cork Gerard and Kay visited the SMA Motherhouse at Blackrock Road and the SMA cemetery at Wilton, where he saw the resting place of some of his former teachers, including Fr John Joseph Murtagh, who was Headmaster of St. George’s College, during his time there. He also had very fond memories of Fr. Eugene Melody, an SMA priest who was later incardinated in an Irish diocese.

Read Obituary here. Homily of Fr John Dunne SMA

Fr Donal M O’Connor SMA – funeral homily

June 4, 2013

Fr John Dunne, SMA Provincial Leader, led the concelebrated Requiem Mass for Fr Donal Michael O’Connor on Monday, 3 June 2013 at St Joseph’s SMA Church, Wilton.
The readings for the Mass were taken from Ecclesiastes 3, 1-7,11; Romans 14: 7-12 and Matthew 5: 1-12.

Pictured before the Requiem Mass were the Principal Concelebrants: Fathers Kevin Mulhern, Patrick N McGuire, John Dunne (Provincial Leader), Bishop Kieran O’Reilly and John Brown.

The following is Fr John’s homily on that occasion.

Thanksgiving is sweeter than bounty itself.
One who cherishes gratitude does not cling to the gift!
Thanksgiving is the true meat of God’s bounty; the bounty is its shell,
For thanksgiving carries you to the heart of the Beloved.
Abundance alone brings heedlessness,
Thanksgiving gives birth to alertness…
The bounty of thanksgiving will satisfy and elevate you,
And you will bestow a hundred bounties in return.
Eat your fill of God’s delicacies,
And you will be freed from hunger and begging. [Rumi]

We gather today to celebrate the life and work of Fr Donal O’Connor or Donie as many of us knew him. Over the last month or more we have been blessed to spend time with him as his life slowly drew to a close. That was not an easy time for him or for family and friends due to the nature of his illness. But now it is time to remember and celebrate his life of 80 years full of living and giving.

Fr Donal O’Connor will be remembered by many in different ways today and hereafter. One of the things I’m conscious of is that he did not use two words where one would suffice; he could sit in silence in your presence. I think he would not like me or anyone else using too many words about him on this occasion. However, I have no doubt he would like to be remembered quietly. The Scripture passage chosen for the first reading today speaks eloquently about life and its hidden mystery; and it also reminds us about the life of Donal. There is a time for every purpose under heaven. Too often perhaps we rush to fix the time and to manage it in our way and this in turn prevents us from grasping and appreciating the grace of the present moment:

“… Life is not hurrying on to a receding future,

nor hankering after an imagined past.

It is the turning aside like Moses

to the miracle of the lit bush, to a brightness
that seemed as transitory as your youth
once, but is the eternity that awaits you.” [The Bright Field, RS Thomas]

If we do not see the beauty of the truth that for everything there is a time and a season, then at a time of mourning or loss we may want to rush ahead or to hold back. But there is a time to be born and a time to die; a time to hold on and a time to let go.

Looking now at how Donal lived the years of his long life we can see that there were many different seasons or invitations to do different things right from the beginning in Tralee where he was born on 28 April 1933. Then there were the years of family life with his parents, the late Catherine and Michael, RIP, his sisters, Kate and Honor. Good, happy years I believe! Then there followed his school years at CBS and his interest and involvement in local activities and sport. With his decision to enter the SMA – he became a member on 2 July 1952 – and the subsequent years of formation in preparation for ordination on 13 June 1956, a whole new range of seasons opened up for him bringing new challenges, opportunities and graces. Throughout these years and seasons he gradually learned that there was a time for every purpose under heaven. He was a man who was conscious of the need to live in the present while also acknowledging the stories of the past in order to better live in each new phase in preparation for the next season. He knew there was a time to seek, a time to let go and a time to find.

Some of the concelebrating priests and congregation during the distribution of Holy Communion

We all search for something important, a pearl in our lives. The poet RS Thomas reminds us of an important truth for living and dying:

“I have seen the sun break through
to illuminate a small field
for a while, and gone my way
and forgotten it. But that was the pearl
of great price, the one field that had
treasure in it. I realize now
that I must give all that I have
to possess it.”

The treasure for Donie was his call to missionary priesthood. Once he found it he gave it all he had through his commitment to different ministries. His early assignments were for relatively short 4-year periods in Cambridge, Egypt and Ibadan, Nigeria. The range and scope of the challenges provided by each of these different ministries were invitations to Donie to respond to the challenge of embracing and letting go, of planting and uprooting, of weeping and laughing.

Our second reading reminds us of how our lives are connected to others and how what we do and say has an influence far beyond what is merely visible. Like Christ we are each invited to give our lives in love for the service of the other. Donie did this in many ways, but particularly during the eighteen years of ministry in formation work with young men who wished to join the SMA and many of who became SMA missionaries. There are over eighty of our priests, many of whom are here present today, who met him and knew Donie in this ministry either in Ireland or England. He endeavoured to challenge people to see what was the priority or the treasure in their lives and to choose that way of life and then take responsibility for their choice. He did not answer questions they could, and should, respond to themselves. He had a great respect for the person and he knew and understood the human capacity both to escape and to respond to what was central. He sought to help people to discover the dream of God for them through their vocational choices.

Yet another new season presented itself through his ministry in parish and pastoral settings over 16 years. He was dedicated and committed to helping people find shared faith answers to questions that were important. In the SMA parish in Walthamstow, Donie was central to creating a faith community that was inclusive and open to all people irrespective of class or origin. His dream and that of the SMA for Walthamstow was not just to run a typical parish of the time, but rather to attempt to build community by acknowledging the gifts and the differences of people and from this to grow something new and life-giving. Again a season emerged for doing a new thing and this offered a treasure to be sought after in collaboration with others.

The Gospel chosen for his funeral Mass is the familiar passage of the Beatitudes. These were the same Gospel principles or virtues that guided his ministry in the pastoral commitments he was assigned to and especially in Walthamstow. He was conscious that in life, “things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” [Goethe]

The journey continued for Fr Donal and he arrived at the season of retirement. Whatever his dream might have been we know that retirement was a short season as illness came as a new and unexpected guest. Aware that even the unexpected guest in life is sent for a purpose as a guide from beyond; sent to clear us out for some new delight, Donie accepted his illness and eventually welcomed death.

In all the seasons of his life Donal learned about change and grew towards an awareness of the mystery of God and the presence of person of Jesus in his life and work. Ever conscious of the truth:

“With the drawing of this love and the voice of this calling

we shall not cease from your exploration

and the end of all our exploring

will be to arrive at where we started

and know that place for the first time.” [T S Elliot]

When life’s journey draws to a close there is the harvest time, a time of reaping and blessings. For the fullness of time, which encompasses all seasons, we depend ultimately on the mercy of God from whom our salvation comes.

Rising from the dead, Christ became the light that illuminates all peoples, that lightens and saves the path of humanity and allows us to catch a glimpse of the face of God beyond the tunnel of death. Christians, who have been marked by the seal of the Holy Spirit, are the enlightened ones. Dying with Christ they rise again with Him in the dazzling light of the Lord’s Day and the new creation. They are new creatures, they are like the stars and they have a mission to illuminate the dark and sometimes tragic path of history.

Fr Donal has now joined them and he shared in that new mission so we pray:

May the road rise to meet you, Donie.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand. [Celtic blessing]

The procession of priests and people to the grave was led by the MC for the celebration, Fr Kevin Conway SMA.

Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Account of the funeral ceremonies

Silver Jubilees 2013 Cork – homily

June 1, 2013

Fr Malachy Flanagan SMA (pictured below) preached at the Mass to celebrate the Silver Jubilees of Ordination of Fathers Chris Brennan, Damian Bresnahan, Tommy Faherty and Alberto Olivoni. Three of the Jubilarians live in Blackrock Road and the fourth, Fr Alberto Olivoni, was home from his mission in Nigeria. It was an opportunity for the community to celebrate with them. The official Provincial celebration for the entire class will take place in Dromantine in June. The following is the text of Fr Malachy’s homily on the occasion.

25 years ago brings us back to 1988. A special year in the life of our jubilarians – the year of their ordination. Let us jog our memories to a few events that took place that year – to put things in context. It was the year Ireland beat England 1-0 in the European Cup. It was the year Dublin celebrated its official 1,000 birthday and in that same year, Nelson Mandela was awarded the freedom of the city of Dublin.

I would like to pull together a number of themes that are important to bear in mind as we gather to mark the silver jubilees of our (four) brothers. The themes are interwoven through that of Calling, Service, Witness and Gratitude.

Just like the young Samuel in the first reading, our Jubilarians answered their own divine call many years ago. And I’m sure that each one of them would explain it as coming in a unique and very personal way.

“Speak Lord, your servant is listening” is something each one of these men felt in their heart as they responded to that calling. And the call didn’t end there but continues right up to today. It’s a daily call from the Lord to serve him.

Just as the divine call is very personal and unique so too are the gifts that each one of these men brought to his vocation. Just as there are many gifts in the body of Christ, as St Paul speaks of in his letter to the Colossians, so too are found many gifts in our jubilarians: all are pastors and missionaries, but one was involved in medicine, one in formation and also proficient in Irish Dancing, one in diocesan administration and one in secretarial and promotion work. Each one brought his own different gifts and talents and applied them to his ministry.

There’s a story told of a monk who had prayed all his life that he might be blessed by seeing a vision. At last, one day, his prayers were answered. Just as he was beginning to absorb the full impact of the vision, the monastery bell rang. It was the bell which notified that there were beggars at the monastery gate waiting to be fed. On this day, it was the monk’s turn to attend to the beggars. For a second, he hesitated, (Will I or Will I not go?) and despite the attractiveness of the vision, he turned his back on it, and went to feed the beggars.

There were more beggars than usual and it was well over an hour before he returned to his place of prayer. To his surprise and delight, the vision was still there. Then Jesus in the vision spoke to him and said: “had you not gone to feed the beggars, I would not have stayed”.

Jesus can come at the most awkward of moments. Service is about putting oneself out. Putting the other first. It would have been so easy for the monk to remain at his place of prayer and forget about the beggars. Our 4 jubilarians have given 100 years of missionary service. In each of their missionary journeys the call to service was uppermost and we commend them for their service.

A quick look at Damian’s missionary journey, we’ll see he spent many years in Ibadan, Nigeria in parish ministry and I remember visiting him in the parishes of Moorplantation and Oke-Bola. He spent some time then in the formation house, Bodija and finishing up his time in Nigeria as the vice regional superior in Nigeria South. Back in Ireland he was the Superior of Blackrock Road House and then for the past 6 years as Provincial Councillor.

For Alberto, we know he spent many years in Ondo, Nigeria as a medical doctor before ordination. And after ordination, he returned to Nigeria as doctor and priest and preformed both roles throughout his entire ministry – From Ondo to Ilorin Diocese working in Bacita Hospital and generously helping out in the parish at weekends alongside Paddy McGovern who was in charge of the parish. And then to Kontagora and his work at Kwimo and from there on to Bauchi. I worked alongside him in Ilorin and Kontagora and was very happy to benefit from his medical expertise when sickness came calling.

Three people were discussing some recent translations of the Bible. One said: “I like the New American Version. It is so much clearer than the older version and is much easier to read”. The second said: “I like the Jerusalem Bible. It’s not only clearer, but its more poetic which makes it more suitable for us in prayer”.

The third said: “I like my mother’s translation best of all. She translated the Bible into actions – which makes it so much easier to apply to daily life”.

As Christians, it is what we are that is our message, rather than anything we may say. Witnessing is central to being a Christian.

As witnesses to Jesus, we have a responsibility to make him present among our people.

We have often heard it said and we have first hand experience that while on mission, we receive more than what we give. The poor which we work with actually evangelise us.

Alan Paton in his book: “Cry the Beloved Country” says: “Do not look for me just in the sanctuaries, or in the precise words of theologians, or in the calm of the countryside: Look for me in the place where people are struggling for their very survival as human beings“.

Our photo shows Frs Damian, Alberto and Tommy cutting the Jubilee cake at the lunch after Mass.

For ourselves, this means, that when we are ready, when we are willing, when we appreciate the great privilege of ministering to Jesus in his poor, then we will find him in the poor. In our recent General Assembly, we re-affirmed that as SMA missionaries, a vital part of our mission is to the poor and most abandoned.

The Gospel today reminds us of detachment – freeing ourselves from the things of this world in order to be free for the Lord. It speaks too that With the Lord, all things are possible. I am sure that our jubilarians can think of many things and events that happened over the past 25 years – that if it were not for the Lord’s help – they would not have been possible.

A quick look at Tommy – and we see that he spent a number of years after ordination in the pastoral ministry in Ndola in Zambia. Then he was recalled and spent some years as the Anglophone secretary in the Generalate in Rome. Then back home in Ireland he spent a number of years on promotion work with the Mission Boxes in Northern Ireland. Then some years on promotion work with FVC in Munster and now presently working in the Archives. In all the different works that Tommy was involved in – he was able to apply his secretarial skills in recording with great detail very important information related to that particular work.

And then Chris (in abstentia) – practically all of his time since ordination was spent in Liberia, in Gbarnga Diocese. First in the pastoral ministry, then during the civil war in that country. He worked with the Liberian Refugees along the Ivorian – Guinea borders. Then with the transfer of the Bishop of Gbarnga Diocese to Monrovia – Chris was appointed as Apostolic Administrator of that Diocese. A position he held for a number of years until last year when a local Bishop was appointed. Just recently he was appointed as a member of Staff in this house and already his handiwork is evident.

From all the jubilarians – we can see the richness and variety of their ministries. Ministries of Service and Witness together which makes a very substantial contribution to SMA Mission over the past 25 years.

– A Jubilee always calls for a celebration. Celebrating the fact of having reached a certain milestone on the journey. (which is what we’re doing today)

– A Jubilee calls us to look back over what has been, all that has happened – be it good times and for those not so good times and which often brought pain or misunderstanding or hurts.

– A Jubilee calls us to learn from the past and move on.

– A Jubilee calls us to look to the future with a renewed vision.

So as I’ve just said that while we look over the past, Jubilees also face us towards the future and this is an opportunity to re-focus ourselves, re-commit ourselves to the task ahead. God will never abandon us – He is with us every step of the way. He who calls us will never leave us. Like Mary in the Magnificat, we must renew our “Yes” to God. Place the future, the unknown into His hands trusting that He will lead and guide us all the way.

The African People have taught us many things about the importance of celebrating life, being grateful and thankful for life’s blessings.

As we remember and reflect with Damian, Chris, Tommy and Alberto on the past 25 years of priesthood – it is really something to thank God for.

To God be the all the glory and gratitude for what He has done through these 4 men – our brothers and confreres. May the Lord continue to bless you and be with you and supply you with all the power and graces you need as you face into the next 25 years of ministry.

Body & Blood of Christ 2013

June 1, 2013

2 June 2013

Genesis 14:8-20
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Luke 9: 11-17

One time I remember visiting a bush village in Africa. It was a very poor area. It was the dry season so there was little water around. The farmers were waiting for the arrival of the rains to plant their seeds. The previous farming season had been a poor one because of the small amount of rain that fell. The amount of grain still left wasn’t much so they could only eat once daily. On the day I was there a son of one of the farmer’s arrived from the city far away where he worked and he brought with him some sacks of grain. His family was delighted. What really touched me was that the father immediately called all the other families together and he sat down and divided all the contents of the three sacks of grain equally among all of them. He did not keep them for his own family only. He shared because he cared.

It seems that the gospel story is precisely about that. We see Jesus sharing on a number of different levels because he cared for the people. He had hoped to be alone with his disciples but the crowd got to know where he was and went after him. So Jesus, instead of being annoyed and resentful, shares with them.

First of all he shared his time and himself. We are told that ‘he made the people welcome’. Then he shared with them his vision of the ’kingdom of God’. It involved caring for people on all levels of their being. Next Jesus cures those who were present and in need of healing. Then there is a sharing of food.

Jesus does all in his power to meet the basic human needs of those present. The people are touched by a wave of compassion and sharing. What results are waves of compassion and sharing among themselves. It is not farfetched that many others, in turn, must have been moved to share what food they brought for themselves.

Indeed if we fully understand the Eucharist, the celebration of it challenges us to share and care for others, for together we form the one Body of Christ. At one stage St. Paul had to remind the early Christians of the proper attitude they should have when they came together for the celebration of the Eucharist. (read 1 Cor. 17-22).

For St. Paul, the Eucharist will only be a real ‘remembrance’ of the Lord Jesus when those who partake of it are moved to share with others less fortunate. When there is enough generosity to share and care for all then the Eucharist becomes a real “memorial” of Christ whose love and compassion for the crowd make miracles of a change of heart and a transformation of the whole person possible.

Just as bread and wine which are parts of creation are transformed into the Body of Christ during the Eucharist, why cannot God change others parts of creation, you and me who are present at the celebration, into what he wants us to be? What does He want us to be? To be people more and more formed into the likeness of his Son who care and share for others once we leave the celebration of the Eucharist and go out into a world so much in need of caring and compassion.

So we go to the Eucharist to adore, praise and thank God for all his love and goodness towards ourselves. But we also go in order to be nourished from the table of the Eucharist. Having received freely from a God of sharing and caring, we are then empowered to go forth to do the same for others. Jesus took the loaves and fishes, blessed them, broke them and gave them to the disciples to distribute. He invites us to continue the work of distribution in our world today by whatever talents and gifts he has blessed us with.

Jesus was given a small amount of bread and some fish. These he took, blessed and multiplied and gave out for distribution. We may not feel that we have much to give God at the Eucharist. But whatever little we think we have but seems so small, why not offer this to God to multiply and allow him to use us to distribute to others who are more in need? When we shake ourselves out of our own self-centredness and start sharing our lives (with all our limitations) with others we will be amazed at how much we are blessed with in return.

When I first went to Nigeria I went to work with one of our SMA priests. In a rather backward area he had a cooperative organised as well as a Credit Union. He also had a clinic with some nurses from overseas who came for a few years to help the people. He also had different prayer groups etc. When I asked him what he saw his vocation as being he replied immediately. “I see myself as a sign of God’s concern for his people”. That has always remained with me. This priest, now dead, not only celebrated Eucharist daily for the people but he became, he lived Eucharist in his daily life. He shared all he could because he cared greatly. What about us who go to the Eucharist? How is it being lived out in our lives? Do we live a Eucharistic lifestyle?

“Lord Jesus, thank you for gifting us with the sacrament of your body and blood. You first of all lived it out in your daily life even to shedding the last drop of your blood. Thank you for so much love. Help us too to live Eucharist in our daily lives for the good of those you give us to share with. Amen.”

Fr Jim Kirstein SMA

For an interesting article about a Corpus Christi tradition in the Canary Islands click here.

Fr Donal O’Connor SMA

May 31, 2013

The SMA regrets to announce the death of Fr Donal Michael O’Connor which took place at the St Theresa’s Nursing Unit at the SMA House on Blackrock Road, Cork. Fr Donie, as he was known among his confreres, who died at 5.40pm on Friday, 31 May 2013, had been battling cancer for some time.

One confrere described Donie as ‘a man of courage and independence’. In his last months, he demonstrated that, quietly resigned to the terminal nature of his illness and reconciled to his impending death. And why not, for Donie was a man who walked with God everyday. And as he faced his death, Donie knew he was returning to the House of the Father. May he now rest in peace.

Fr Donie was born at 22 Castelcountess, Tralee on 28 April 1933, to Michael O’Connor and Catherine (née Ryle). He was the only boy in a family of three children. His sister, Honor O’Connor, lives in Tralee and his other sister, Catherine (Maguire) lives in Co Wicklow. He was baptised two days after his birth and made his confirmation on 15 May 1944. His early schooling was at the local Primary school and he did his Leaving Cert at the CBS Tralee (The Green).

Donie had two cousins in the SMA, Fathers Tom and Micheál Kennedy. Perhaps that influenced him to join the SMA, which he did by entering the SMA Novitiate at Cloughballymore, Kilcolgan, Co Galway. He became a member of the Society on 2 July 1952 and, after completing his theology studies in Dromantine, Newry, Co Down, he was ordained in St Colman’s Cathedral, Newry on 13 June 1956.

Academically gifted it was decided that the newly-ordained priest should pursue Further Studies at Cambridge from 1956 to 1960 and he graduated with an MA Degree. The SMA has always seen education as a means of escaping from poverty and Fr Donie was thus sent to teach at St George’s College in Cairo, Egypt (1960-1964). That year he was transferred across the continent to the teaching staff at St Patrick’s College, Bashorun, Ibadan in western Nigeria. His cousin, Fr Micheál, was Principal of the other Catholic College in Ibadan: Loyola College. Four years later Fr Donie was recalled to Ireland to assist in the training of SMA seminarians at the Novitiate at Wilton, Cork as Director and Acting Superior.

Recognizing the need to have suitably qualified formators to ensure a holistic training for SMA seminarians Fr Donie was then sent to Boston College to undertake studies in Counselling (1969-1971). On his return he was appointed to the teaching staff at the SMA Major seminary at Dromantine. When the Society decided to transfer all its students to study at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Fr Donie was asked to be part of the reduced formation staff there.

From 1972 to 1983 he served in different roles, as Dean of Students, Spiritual Director and Rector at the SMA House in Maynooth. After a Sabbatical Year in Berkeley, California where he deepened his understanding of Spirituality and Counselling, Fr Donie was seconded to the SMA British Province initially as a member of the Formation staff and later as Superior of the SMA House in Lyonsdown Road, New Barnet, London.

From 1990 to 2006 Fr Donie was the Parish Priest at the SMA parish in Walthamstow: Our Lady and St Patrick’s. Those SMA priests and deacons who served with him there found him to be a gentle and deeply spiritual man. But he was also determined in anything he felt needed to be done. His quiet-spoken voice belied a man of steel when such was needed. At the same time, Fr Donie inspired many people in the parish and he was surrounded during his years there by devoted friends and parishioners.

Fr Donie retired in 2006, initially in London and, since 2010, in Tralee. In recent months, following hospitalisation in Tralee and Cork, Fr Donie came to Blackrock Road where, with the devoted care of his friends and Nursing staff, he died peacefully. He is deeply regretted by his two sisters, nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends as well as his confreres in the Society of African Missions.

His funeral Mass and burial will take place on Monday, 3 June 2013, at St Joseph’s SMA Church, Wilton, Cork.

Requiescat in pace.

Reflection June

May 30, 2013

REFLECTION FOR JUNE 2013
Recently it was discovered that, due to human activity, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere was 2% higher than it has been since well before humans lived on earth. No one knows for sure what the exact long term consequences of this may be however, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said; “Climate change poses an immediate and far-reaching threat to people and communities around the world.” It is certain that the high CO2 level is due to the pollution that we in the developed world cause. We pollute while others pay the price for our modern energy consuming lifestyle.

It is a fact there are now more climate refugees than political refugees worldwide. These now include victims of the recent tornado in Oklahoma. In spite of their misfortune they will not have to flee to another country as the United States has enough resources to rehouse and care for these citizens. There are many places that do not enjoy this luxury.

Continue

Justice Issues Arms Control

May 30, 2013

ARMS CONTROL

Arms proliferation in Africa has happened for three reasons:

because weapons and ammunition are illegally imported.

because weapons imported legally are then illicitly diverted either within countries or across borders to neighbouring states.

because exporting countries have irresponsibly exported arms into areas where there is a high risk that they will be misused.

In Africa this illicit trade is mainly limited to light weapons such as assault rifles, machine guns, mortars and grenades. These have caused an alarming increase in casualties and helped to sustain and fuel conflicts across the Continent.

Read more on this issue via the links below.

Global Conflict and the Arms Trade Read More
For an overview of this topic as it affects Africa click on this link to the SMA Justice Briefing – AFRICA – Arms Trade

An Arms Trade Treaty at last: After seven years of negotiations the UN General Assembly has finally agreed a binding Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Although it is far from perfect the treaty is a welcome step forward, it opens the way for future improvements and hopefully will have a positive effect in reducing arms proliferation in Africa. – Read More

Small Arms Factsheet: (prepared by AEFJN)

KNOW MORE

http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/

http://www.iansa.org/home

http://www.controlarms.org/news.php

https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/arms-control/

JUSTICE ISSUES

May 29, 2013

CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ISSUES THAT EFFECT THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF AFRICANS

Climate Change: Africans are already feeling the effects of the climate change caused largely by the carbon emissions of the western and industiralised world. Read more

Access to Medicines in Africa: In Europe we take access to the medicines we need for granted. In Africa it is not so easy, very often medicines are either not available or else are not effective. Read more

Biofuels: Also called Agri‐fuels they are liquid fuels made from plant material, mostly food crops at present. They are used to power transport vehicles. Biofuels burn with lower emissions of carbon monoxide. There are different forms of Biofuel. The production of crops for biofuels (e.g. Maize, Sugar Cane, Palm Oil and Jathropa) has a negative effect on food production, access to water and human habitation Read more

Food Security: Is the situation in which all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for a healthy life. In Africa this is threatened by reasons ranging through climate change, land lease by foreigners, wars, etc. Read More

Arms Control: In mother child Africa the consequence of a poorly regulated arms trade has been the proliferation of weapons across Africa. In monetary terms it is estimated that armed conflicts cost Africa €18 billion a year. The human cost in terms of lives lost or destroyed is incalculable. Read More

To view other Justice and Peace related articles published on this web site click here

See also the SMA Justice Briefings section for concise information on other issues affecting
Africa such as, International Debt, Land Grabbing, Tax Evasion, Urbanisation/Slums,
Human Trafficking, Migration, Street Children and others Click here

RESOURCES

May 29, 2013

JUSTICE RESOURCES

Sunset Prayer Guideline for the Eradication of Poverty can be used by Schools, Parishes or concerned Groups based on the theme the Eradication of Poverty in the light of the Millenium Development Goals,
Prayer Service for World Day of Social Justice. The prayer is developed using the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. This prayer is suitable for us in parishes, schools, colleges, universities and other ministerial realities.

Catholic Social Teaching
Brief Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching
Principles and values which inform the agenda of Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation (JPIC) – article by Fr Kevin O’Gorman SMA DD, Lecturer in Moral Theology at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
The Principles of Catholic Social Thought... A Chapter from CORI Justice’s Values, Catholic Social Thought and Public Policy p.11-13

Resources from the Cois Tine Website: Cois Tine is a project run by the SMA Justice Office: Cois Tine has, in addition to providing support services for immigrants, researched and published material on the the issues of Muslim Christian Dialogue and also Human Trafficking.

Muslim Christian Dialogue
Human Trafficking
OPEN SECRETS an Irish perspective on Trafficking and Witchcraft: Free Kindle download
Pastoral and Liturgical Resources

PRAYER FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE

May 29, 2013

PRAYER FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE

“Here is my servant, the one I uphold; my chosen, who brings me delight.
I’ve put my spirit upon him; he will bring justice to the nations.” Is. 42: 1

Servant: Lord, you call us to serve you by recognising the image of Jesus, God made man, in every human being. May we be instruments of your peace through work for Justice. Bless all who work for what is right and who seek to heal the wounds of bigotry and religious division.

Uphold: Lord, you speak to us through Scripture, the Church and the Holy Spirit. May we listen and so be more effective in doing your will. We pray for all who uphold truth and defend the rights and dignity of those who are abused.

Chosen: Lord, you have chosen us to know, love and serve you. May we take delight in doing your will by recognising the inestimable value of every human being. May we see the face of Jesus in all who are distressed, maimed or diseased. Strengthen all who care for the sick and comfort those who suffer.

Spirit: Lord, through the power of your Sprit strengthen us so that we may be instruments witnessing to faith, giving hope to those who despair and showing love to those who have been rejected. Protect all refugees and those who work to care for them.

Justice: Lord, may we not fear seeking the justice without which peace cannot exist. Where there is hatred may we sow love and forgiveness. We pray for the most abandoned, the homeless, those forced to flee and those who suffer as a result of armed conflict. We pray for those who are enslaved and used to satisfy the greed of others. Sustain and guide all who promote human rights and who work to ensure that every person has a fair share of the world’s goods and resources.

Nations: We pray that the nations of the earth recognise a common humanity and the equal rights of people of every tribe and tongue. We pray that leaders may overcome selfishness and vested interest. Bless all who work for equality and inclusion, who seek to protect migrants and who welcome the stranger.

Lord make us instruments of Justice and Peace AMEN

Knock Pilgrimage 2013 photos

May 27, 2013

We are happy to publish more photos from the 2013 Annual SMA / OLA Pilgrimage to Knock which took place on Saturday, 25 May 2013.

On left are some pilgrims from Toomebridge and Randalstown, who have come faithfully every year by bus, for nearly 20 years.

Despite an overcast day, with some light rain in the afternoon, it was a great opportunity for our supporters to gather with us, OLA Sisters and SMA priests and brothers, to pray for particular intentions of the Novena. The Rosary procession was able to take place before the rain began to fall. It was as one lady put it, “a soft rain” to keep us cool!

Our pilgrimage was also an opportunity for us to meet up with some of our supporters and to thank them personally for their prayers and support down the years.

An important part of our Pilgrimage is the celebration of the Sacrament of Anointing, praying God’s healing touch on those pilgrims who are in particular need of this sacrament at this time.

After the prayers of invocation etc the priests moved through the congregation anointing those who sought the sacrament.

Fr Reginald Nwachukwu SMA (from Nigeria) and Bishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA of Killaloe anoint some of the pilgrims.

Bishop O’Reilly also preached the homily. Read it here.

When all those who sought the sacrament had been anointed the Mass continued with the Prayers of the Faithful which were led by representatives of the different FVC areas in Ireland.

The Offertory Procession was enlivened by the beautiful music and dancing of the Mary Baxter School of Irish Dancing from Omagh, Co Tyrone. The young girls and boys danced in groups and the gifts for the Mass – bread and wine – were carried by some of them to the Altar while eight of the boys danced in praise of God. It was a moment much appreciated, and remarked on positively later, by the entire congregation. Our photo below shows one of the groups from the School who participated in the celebration.

The various parts of the Mass – Alleluia, Sanctus, Lamb of God – as well as the different hymns were sung by the multicultural choir under the guidance of Sr Marie Dunne.

OLA Sisters Eileen Cummins and Martha Ahern were among the pilgrims.

Brian Devenney (from Castlederg, Co Tyrone) and Bridget McAleer (Sion Mills, Co Tyrone) have been Head Sponsors for too many years to mention…. Many thanks for your continued support.

The Irish branch of the SMA was founded in Cork so it was to be expected that many of our pilgrims would come from the Rebel County! Mrs Judy O’Leary (on left) came from Cork City with her two sisters, Frances and Nuala.

We also met Marion O’Mahony with her friend, Marie Tobin, all five of them coming on the buses organised from the SMA parish in Blackrock Road, Cork.

Other pilgrims used the SMA Wilton bus and buses from other parts of the county. Some of the OLA Sisters and SMA priests accompanied the pilgrims on several of the buses, coming from Cork and Dromantine particularly.

As has been the tradition for Dromantine pilgrims, the Vigil Mass for Sunday was celebrated in Dromantine upon their return, about 11.15pm, followed by some tea and sandwiches, before the weary pilgrims got in their cars to drive the final lap to their homes all over counties Down and Armagh.

Many of the pilgrims asked after Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll SMA who has led our pilgrimage for the last eleven years and who would have led this one had he not been elected to the Office of SMA Superior General last month. Fr Fachtna is now based at our Generalate in Rome. He and the new SMA General Council were prayed for during the Mass.

In his closing remarks at the Mass, Fr Dunne thanked Fr Gibbons and all the staff at Knock Shrine for their warm and ever-courteous welcome.

We look forward to the 34th SMA Pilgrimage in 2014.

For other photos and report click here.

Lively multicultural liturgy closes SMA Pilgrimage to Knock

May 27, 2013

The annual SMA Novena in honour of Our Lady closed with SMA and OLA members along with supporters, family and friends gathering at Our Lady’s Shrine at Knock, Co Mayo for the ninth and final day of the Novena. Though overcast, the rain stayed away until all were gathered into the Basilica for the 3pm Mass.

The SMA Provincial Leader, Fr John Dunne, along with more than 50 SMA priests celebrated the Mass in the Basilica at 3pm on Saturday, 25 May. Among them were Fr Reginald Nwachukwu, the SMA Superior for the Bight of Benin District-in-formation, Fr Richard Wall who was home on leave from Nigeria and who has completed 57 years in that country, Fathers Pauric Kelly and Michael O’Shea who were home on leave from their work in St Augustine’s Major seminary in Zambia.

Among the Principal concelebrants was the emeritus Bishop of Paisley (Scotland), Rt Rev John Mone who leads a group from Scotland to Our Lady’s Shrine at this time every year.

The Bishop of Killaloe, Rt Rev Kieran O’Reilly SMA, preached the homily.

A multicultural choir, under the care of Sr Marie Dunne CHF, led the singing of the revised Mass for the Spread of the Gospel which Sr Marie composed for the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the foundation of the SMA in 2006.

Members of the FVC and other SMA supporters participated in the Mass and the earlier Pilgrimage ceremonies (Rosary Procession, Stations of the Cross and Benediction).

Students at the International Religious Formation Ministry programme at Loreto House, Dublin animated the Alleluia and Gospel Procession while members from the Mary Baxter School of Irish Dancing in Omagh participated in a lively, and much appreciated way, in the Offertory procession.

Fr John Dunne concluded the Mass with expressions of gratitude to all our supporters, those gathered in Knock and those who participated in the Novena from their homes, as well as all who helped to make the closing Mass such a lively and joyful celebration.

The OLA Sisters were also involved in the Pilgrimage, with Sisters from their different communities in Ireland as well as Sisters home on holidays or visiting from Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania. Sr Patricia McMenamin and Sr Theresa Kusi (from Ghana) carried their banner in the Rosary procession.

After Mass the pilgrims headed back to their buses or cars for the long drive home to all parts of the country: Maghera, Lurgan, Toomebridge, Achill, Claregalway, Tarmonbarry, Dublin, Neilstown, Wexford, Drumcollogher, Cork, Skibbereen and Waterfall to name a few.

In his remarks at the Mass, Fr Richard Gibbons, Parish Priest of Knock and Rector of the Shrine, said that the SMA Pilgrimage was among the most colourful and ‘lively’ of the annual pilgrimages. We are grateful to all those who helped to make this, the 33rd pilgrimage, live up to that billing!

God grant we meet again on the 4th Saturday of May 2014.

More pictures and report here.

Bishop Kieran O’Reilly – Knock 2013 homily

May 26, 2013

Bishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA, Bishop of Killaloe and former SMA Superior General, preached at the Closing Mass of the SMA National Novena in honour of Our Lady which took place at Knock Shrine on Saturday, 25 May 2013. The following is an edited version of the homily the Bishop delivered to the pilgrims, both from the SMA Pilgrimage and other groups who joined with the SMA and OLA Sisters in the Mass.

Knock 2013 homily www I join with Fr John Dunne in welcoming all of you – SMA and Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles – supporters and friends, all of us pilgrims to Our Lady’s Shrine here in Knock. Also members of other Religious congregations, individual pilgrims and a pilgrim group from the Diocese of Paisley led by retired Bishop John Mone.

This is the 33^rd SMA Pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Shrine here at Knock and is celebrated at the close of the SMA Novena in honour of Our Lady.

Around the Basilica today we hear the different accents of the pilgrims from the four corners of Ireland and further afield. Fr Damian Bresnahan of the Provincial Council and the five FVC Directors – Frs John Bowe, Lee Cahill, Brendan Dunning, Fergus Tuohy and John O’Brien – have put a lot of effort into organising our pilgrimage here today. As, indeed, the many people who have helped with the music and liturgy preparations for the Pilgrimage – it is wonderful to see so many of our FVC members arriving in Coaches, Minibuses and cars.

I welcome all who are on pilgrimage here in the basilica this afternoon and I invite you to travel with us during this liturgy to the great continent of Africa where many of our missionaries – priests, religious and lay missionaries have worked to spread the Gospel over many years. We invite you to join with us in this celebration of joy.

I hope your visit to this sacred place will give you an insight and a deeper understanding of your faith in this Year of Faith together with a joyful sharing of your faith with family, friends and indeed strangers who become our faith partners in this Eucharistic celebration. In the words of today’s second reading from the 1^st letter of St Paul to the Corinthians “though there are many of us, we form a single body, because we all share in this one loaf” (10:16-17)

Pilgrims have journeyed here to Knock for over one hundred years since the first apparition in August 1879. Over the decades, many have sought help for physical and spiritual ailments and found it here in the company of pilgrims. Our celebration of Mission and of each person’s commitment to the spread of the Gospel is what draws us here today, especially in this Year of Faith of which Pope Benedict said:

“The “door of faith” (Acts14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church. It is possible to cross that threshold when the word of God is proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by transforming grace. To enter through that door is to set out on a journey that lasts a lifetime” #1

Today’s readings from Scripture – from Isaiah 9 and the Gospel from Luke’s Infancy narrative – are normally heard at Christmas when we are in the time of the shortest days of the year. We now read these texts when we are at the moment of the longest and brightest time of the year. It is good to bring these readings into the light of the brightest time of the year.

Two interesting actions in today’s Gospel (Luke 2:15-19), the first is the phrase to describe the Shepherds reaction to hearing the news of the birth of Jesus: Let us Go……

Missionaries have continually answered that call to go… it is re-echoed in other passages in the Gospel of Luke – in a key passage is to be found in Chapter 9 when Jesus sets his sights on Jerusalem, “he resolutely turned his face to Jerusalem”. St Luke’s Gospel is a Gospel of movement with the disciples invited to participate and partake in the Life and mission of Jesus as he journeys to Jerusalem.

The phrase “Set out into the deep” comes from Luke 5 and is the opening theme of Blessed Pope John Paul II’s invitation as we embarked on a new millennium.

“At the beginning of the new millennium, and at the close of the Great Jubilee during which we celebrated the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of Jesus and a new stage of the Church’s journey begins, our hearts ring out with the words of Jesus when one day, after speaking to the crowds from Simon’s boat, he invited the Apostle to “put out into the deep” for a catch: “Duc in altum” (Lk 5:4).

“Peter and his first companions trusted Christ’s words, and cast the nets. When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish” (Lk 5:6). Duc in altum! These words ring out for us today, and they invite us to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm and to look forward to the future with confidence: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb 13:8).

Our missionary task is about being about the work that the Lord has called us to engage in. Let’s Go – Up into action, it is not about hiding or being afraid, it is about being missionary in every corner of the life of the church we are called to participate in. It is an invitation to engage in a New Evangelization. Last year, a Synod of Bishops was held in Rome on the theme of New Evangelization and the transmission of the Catholic Faith. The Synod described three forms of evangelization and all three are present here today:

Primary Evangelization… our Missionaries from many countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in countries preparing missionaries to work in Africa they are the ones who GO, leave their own country to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Ordinary Evangelization undertaken by all who engage with the passing on of the faith, in the home, in school in our daily lives in the manner in which we witness to the Risen Lord.

New Evangelization and now all together we are asked / invited to seek out new ways and means of understanding how we can bring the gospel into our world.

We are pilgrims and disciples of a pilgrim Church, each one called to engage in mission as the Lord has called us. The major factor that is changed is now the context into which we bring the Gospel message. We bring the Gospel to our world in a context that is often unfriendly, but yet, not to be feared, hostile but this hostility does not become an insurmountable obstacle.

Coming here to Knock we are all Pilgrims, all missionaries are pilgrims. Pope John Paul II wrote about the Pilgrims who were coming to observe the Holy Year of 2000. The same words could be attached to this holy place of Knock:

“As I observed the continuous flow of pilgrims, I saw them as a kind of concrete image of the pilgrim Church, the Church placed, as Saint Augustine says, “amid the persecutions of the world and the consolations of God”.⁵ We have only been able to observe the outer face of this unique event. Who can measure the marvels of grace wrought in human hearts? It is better to be silent and to adore, trusting humbly in the mysterious workings of God and singing his love without end: “Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo!” (“I will sing the mercies of the Lord for ever”)

We return to the person who draws us to this sacred place – Our Lady. The Synod on the New Evangelisation entrusted the work of the New Evangelisation to Mary as follows:

“As Mother of the Redeemer, Mary becomes a witness of God’s love. She freely fulfils God’s will. She is the strong woman, who along with John, remains at the foot of the Cross. She always intercedes for us and accompanies the faithful in their journey as far as the cross of the Lord.

As Mother and Queen she is a sign of hope for suffering and needy peoples. Today she is the “Missionary” who will aid us in the difficulties of our time and with her nearness open the hearts of men and women to the faith. We fix our gaze on Mary. She will help us to proclaim the message of salvation to all men and women, so that they, too, may become agents of Evangelization. Mary is the Mother of the Church. Through her presence, may the Church become a home for many and Mother of all peoples.” Proposition #58

Earlier, I mentioned two actions, the second action I take from the passage of the Gospel read today: “(MARY) TREASURED ALL THESE THINGS AND PONDERED THEM IN HER HEART.”

We leave this sacred place pondering how we may best participate in the New Evangelisation to which we are all called at this time in the life of our Church. With the Shepherds in Luke’s Gospel we say… Let us Go and turn our sights towards Jerusalem and the fulfilment of the promises of Jesus.

+ Kieran O’Reilly, SMA

Funeral of Archbishop Michael Francis

May 20, 2013

The funeral of the late Archbishop Emeritus of Monrovia, Most Rev Michael Francis, took place in Monrovia, Liberia on Saturday, 1 June. The Archbishop, who died peacefully in his sleep on Pentecost Sunday morning, was 77 years of age. Fr Tom Ryan, Vice Provincial of the British Province and who worked in Liberia for some years attended. The Irish Province was represented by Fr Lee Cahill who worked in Liberia for many years and served as SMA Regional Superior in the country during part of the Civil War.

Archbishop Michael Francis was born on 12 February 1936 in Kakata, Liberia. His early education was undertaken with the FMM Sisters there and, later, with the SMA missionaries in Sanniquellie. After studies for the priesthood he was ordained a priest for the then Vicariate Apostolic of Monrovia on 4 August 1963. He was to succeed the bishop who ordained him, Rt Rev Francis Carroll SMA (who was also the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Liberia) on 28 October 1976. Five years later, 19 December 1981, Monrovia was raised to the status of an Archdiocese with Archbishop Michael Francis as its first Pastor.

From then until 2004, when he suffered a serious Stroke which left him seriously incapacitated and unable to discharge his duties as Archbishop, he built up a vibrant Church in Liberia and was an internationally recognised, and honoured, voice for the protection of human rights, particularly in Liberia which was enduring a long and vicious civil war. Despite the many threats to his life, Archbishop Francis never wavered in speaking the truth and demanding accountability from those responsible for so many attrocities against the Liberian people.

Reacting to the news of the death of his predecessor, the present Archbishop, Most Reverend Lewis Zeigler, said that Archbishop Francis stood for justice because he strongly believed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“My reaction is that of sadness, and then coupled with that, I would like to give thanks to God for his many blessings. Nine years have gone by and he has been suffering. While I grieve, I also thank God that He has called him to go home and rest. He was a firm believer in the Gospel of Christ and, because of his faith, he stood for justice.”

Read more about Archbishop Francis and his ministry here.

It was fitting that a man who was so full of God’s Spirit and preached fearlessly should die on the Feast of the Holy Spirit. May he now enjoy eternal life with the Lord.

The changing face of the SMA

May 20, 2013

On Saturday 11^th of May, nine deacons were ordained for the SMA at the SMA Formation House, Bodija, Ibadan by Bishop Emmanuel Badejo, Bishop of Oyo. From a Report prepared by Fr Tim Cullinane, a long-time missionary in Nigeria, we give an edited account of this important event and also on the return to Ireland of several other SMA members.

Ibadan-Diaconate-2013

The deacons left to right in the picture with Bishop Badejo are Revs Pierre-Paul Dossekpli (from Togo), Walter Woamede (Togo), Ouensavi Eleuthere (Benin Republic), Raymond Koffi (Ivory Coast), Bonaventure Kone (Ivory Coast), John Amuda (Nigeria), Raphael Tchassiwa (Togo), Victor Azibli (Togo) and Patrick Machayi (Solwezi, Zambia).

It was fitting that the deacons should be ordained by Bishop Badejo of Oyo diocese for this year his diocese is celebrating its Golden Jubilee. The seeds of faith in Oyo were planted by SMA missionaries who arrived there in 1886. Four of the early missionaries are buried beside the Cathedral in Oyo, all of them dying at an early age including Fr Benoit Venessy who died in 1886 after only two months in Nigeria.

In the course of his homily the Bishop spoke about the fact that we live in an age in which the Church is betrayed and brutalized not just by enemies from outside but by friends from within. Speaking directly to the deacons to be ordained he said, “I urge that your diaconate be a mission, not a career. It must begin at the altar of the Lord and in prayer but must not stop there. Look around and you discover too easily that far too many of us clergy today get it all wrong giving too much attention to ‘gains’ rather than ‘gifts’, to power rather than love… .Earlier this week, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, told the International Union of Superiors, ‘The men and women of the Church who are careerists and social climbers, who use people, the Church their brothers and sisters – whom they should be serving – as springboards for their own personal interests and ambitions are doing great harm to the Church. He had earlier in April told some newly ordained priests to remember that they are ordained for the things that pertain to God. Be pastors not functionaries, said the Pope. These are words which you need to remember as you begin your ministry. In the same vein I say to you brothers: stay focused. Stay with the great legacy and tradition of the Society of the African Missions. Be faithful to your charism and live like your founder.”

A large congregation gathered for the occasion, priests, sisters, family and friends and SMA supporters, some of them coming from as far away as Kano, Asaba, Lagos and the Republic of Benin. In Nigeria alone, there are now 37 Nigerian SMA priests with three more to be ordained this July, most of them working in different parts of Africa. More and more the SMA is taking on an African face with up to 236 seminarians in different SMA Formation House across Africa.

Adieu to Nigeria…

The changing face of the SMA was evidenced in a dinner organized by the Irish Embassy for departing Irish SMA missionaries in Lagos, just two days after the ordinations in Ibadan. The dinner took place in the home of the Irish Consul, Mr Connie Guilfoyle and was attended by the Irish ambassador, His Excellency Paddy Fay and the SMA Regional Superior for Nigeria, Fr Maurice Henry.

Our picture shows the four departing missionaries who are leaving the Archdiocese of Lagos. From left Fr Noel O’Leary, Ambassador Fay, Consul Guilfoyle, Frs Eamonn Finnegan, Val Hynes and Andy O’Sullivan. Between them they have served Africa for over 150 years in total.

The Ambassador spoke in glowing terms of the contribution of the Irish missionaries. They give a very positive image of Ireland and also give the Embassy staff easier access to important Nigerian personalities, many of whom attended schools staffed by Irish SMA missionaries. The Consul spoke of the great possibilities for Irish investment in Nigeria, the fastest growing economy in Africa. Soon Nigeria will outstrip South Africa as the economic engine of Africa just as Africa is surpassing Europe as the missionary engine of the SMA.

Reading Michael McCabe in a go-slow in Lagos, as I returned from the Embassy dinner, I was struck in the light of my weekend experience in Ibadan and Lagos how apt was what he wrote in the Special Bulletin, Preparing for the Provincial Assembly 2013, “Today, 80% of our vocations come from Africa. In a decade or two the western (white) dimension of SMA will disappear as we will not have members from the traditional provinces working in Africa. The working force (excluding retired) of the SMA will be entirely in the hands of the new units of the Society. The vast majority of these will be from the 14 countries of Africa from which we are now receiving nearly all our vocations. We will be not just a Society of Missionaries to Africa but will in truth be the Society of Missionaries of Africa (although with a significant number of Indian members)” and I add for SMA Europe, a Society of missionaries after Africa.

Fr Tim Cullinane SMA

Fr Hugh McLaughlin SMA Funeral homily

May 16, 2013

Fr Damian Bresnahan SMA preached the homily at the Concelebrated Requiem Mass for Fr Hugh McLaughlin which took place at St Joseph’s SMA Church, Wilton on Wednesday, 15 May 2013.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-7,11 2 Corinthians 4:14 – 5:1 Matthew 5:1 – 12a

“A few weeks ago in the library in our SMA House at Blackrock Road one of the priests, Fr Con O’Leary, said to me ‘you know Damian I have come to appreciate more and more that the two things most important in life are ‘’to say your prayers and to be nice to people’’ ‘.

We have gathered here today to celebrate and give thanks for the life of Fr Hugh McLaughlin who tried his best to do these two things and we have gathered to pray him home to the God he journeyed with in faith.

For every child born in to our world there is a story of joy and excitement surrounding the experience of the first breath of new life – so too there is awe and wonder in the experience surrounding a person’s last breath.

We are reminded in today’s first reading from Ecclesiastes (3:1-7, 11) that there is a time for everything, a time for every purpose under heaven. Hugh McLaughlin’s time for death seemed to come rather unexpectedly – on Friday 10^th as he celebrated his 82^nd birthday it was probably the last thought in anyone’s mind – quite a sobering thought really and a reminder to us all that we never know the time that God will call us home to Himself and so we are invited to be ready – ‘to say our prayers and be nice to people at all times’.

The Psalmist reminds us that ‘the love of the Lord is everlasting’. Our journey of faith is to grow in the awareness of that love that God has for each one of us – to nourish ourselves but also so that we have plenty to share with the people we meet on the road of life – which is really the core of the call to mission.

For Hugh McLaughlin – coming in touch with God’s love was made easier because he was surrounded by love and a living faith in his family home at Barrington’s Avenue – with his father and mother (Charles and Mary) and his younger sister Mary and brother Arthur – he grew up in a happy home where love and life and prayer went hand-in-hand. Of course living in the shadows of the OLA Sisters in Ardfoyle and the African Missions further up the Blackrock Road it was probably hard enough for a young fella not to be involved in Church activities and the active practice of the faith.

It was nice last night at the Removal to see so many fellow altar servers who had served Mass with Hugh as boys at the SMA Church, Blackrock Road many years ago.

The secure and happy environment of Hugh’s early years all helped to form a good self-image – in many ways he was ‘special’ and had a lasting sense of that throughout his life – even after his parents death Mary and Arthur continued to nurture that special family bond – in fact last Thursday when the three of you were out for lunch little did you think it was your last outing together – you last meal as a family.

In today’s world and in religious congregations we talk about giving time and attention for wellness and well-being – Hugh’s good self-image made it easier for him to allow his person to be nourished and cared for in love.

Hugh was a happy man – he was happy with his life as a member of the Society of African Missions and he was happy wherever he served on mission.

His arrival in Nigeria, West Africa coincided with a time of great development in education and so it was somewhat inevitable that a lot of his missionary life would be spent teaching and in the field of education. His mission appointments brought him to Annunciation College, Ikere-Ekiti where he would have taught with another Cork City man Fr Sean MacCarthy, Stella-Maris College, Okitipupa, St Patrick’s Secondary School, Oka, Sacred Heart Seminary, Akure – later when he went full time in to pastoral work he ministered at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Akure and then at St. Matthew’s Parish in Ondo Town. All his thirty-one years in Nigeria were spent in the diocese of Ondo.

During his time on mission in Nigeria, Hugh was known to be very conscientious and very hard working. As a highly organized person he always applied himself to any task on hand and carried things out with great efficiency. As a teacher and principal he was approachable and understanding to teachers and students alike and as a SMA confrere he was kind, generous and humorous.

Some would describe Hugh, or Lockie as he was affectionately known, as a character. Lockie had a way of saying things that people remembered – like at breakfast this morning I heard someone remember how he used to talk of porridge as a great start to the day but that about 11.00am it would let you down with a bang. And of course his infectious, hearty laugh was enjoyed by all.

Wherever Hugh lived or worked he endeared himself to people. It continued when he came to Cork diocese – to Passage, Ballydehob and Goleen and then to retire in the SMA Community, Blackrock road. His positive and happy disposition made it easy to be with him and then his gracious and appreciative nature enabled him to both reach out to people and also to receive from people.

In the Yoruba language from Nigeria – people would say he liked a bit of ‘Fari’ – which meant he liked a bit of attention – that readiness to celebrate life and show forth the positive side. So often we stay with the negative but Fr Hugh had no problem letting the positive aspects of his life be seen in a simple almost child-like way. It was acknowledged when he was honoured with three Chieftaincy titles by the Obas (Kings) of Ondo and Akureland for his contribution to the socio-educational development of the area where he worked. His nature attracted the little bit of attention and public acknowledgement. I suppose we all like a bit of acknowledgement in one way or another. Here in Cork over the last few years of retirement a group of 12 – 15 women would travel from Goleen to Blackrock Road to celebrate Christmas with Fr Hugh and they’d bring with them all that was needed for the party. It was a great tribute to the esteem they held Fr Hugh in and I know that many are here today from Goleen and Ballydehob and Passage.

Hugh always liked the sunshine – the only request he made when he retired to SMA House, Blackrock road was to have a room with sunshine – it didn’t matter that it was the smallest room in the house. Probably because he took in the sunshine he had plenty of sunshine to share with others.

The second reading of scripture from Paul to the Corinthians (4:14-5:1) speaks ‘our outer body may be falling into decay, the inner person is renewed day by day’. Hugh lived life to the full – we may all know some people who die at 60 and aren’t buried until they’re 80 but not Hugh McLaughlin – he lived life to the very end. Day by day his person was renewed in faith and in love. Hugh was so faithful to his prayer life and then he was never adverse to a bit of female attention – he always had a Mary in his life to care for him whether it was the women of Ballydehob or Goleen, or the nurses and carers of SMA House, Blackrock Road and of course his mother was called Mary and his sister Mary – how appropriate then for him to bow out on a Feast of Mary – Our Lady of Fatima.

There might have been disappointment that Fr Hugh did not make the Diamond Jubilee of his ordination to priesthood in the SMA next year with his classmates (some who are here today: Michael Evans, Frank Meehan, John Clancy and Paddy McGovern) but his journey in faith continues with God in heaven – no doubt when his classmates are celebrating in Wilton or Blackrock Road Hugh will be celebrating in heaven with his father and mother, with Arthur’s wife Peggy and with all those whose paths he crossed and shared life with and blessed.

May he rest in peace.”

After the Mass, Fr Hugh was laid to rest in the adjoining SMA community cemetery with his sister Mary, brother Arthur, other family and relatives and a large gathering of SMA and diocesan priests, led by Bishop John Buckley of Cork & Ross.

Read an Obituary of Fr Hugh here. Read a Report of Fr Hugh’s Funeral Rites here.

Fr Michael Darcy Funeral homily

May 14, 2013

Darcy Fr Michael 2 www The funeral Mass for Fr Michael Darcy SMA took place in St Mary’s Catholic Church, Swanlinbar, Co Cavan at 11am on Monday, 13 May 2013.

Fr John Dunne, SMA Provincial Leader, was the Principal Celebrant and preached the homily for the Mass, drawing on readings from Isaiah 25: 6-9; Romans 14: 7-12 and John 14: 1-6.

Since Fr Michael died in Cork on Friday last many people who knew him spoke about him and how they remembered him. I am sure it was the same for you, his family and friends. Everybody loves to be remembered. But if we want to be remembered we have a duty to remember. Memory is a powerful gift and rightly used it is a form of immortality. It keeps the past alive. Those we remember never die; they continue to walk and talk with us. Their influence can still be felt among us. There is nothing better or more helpful than a good remembrance. Jesus asked his disciples to remember when at the Last Supper he said “do this in memory of me”. Our Mass today is our response to this invitation; it is one key way of remembering Jesus who is our Saviour.

Death is inevitable; it is the gateway to our true home. However, to face our own death is not an easy thing. When a loved one died we are left with a real emptiness and the pain of loss and loneliness. So we need a context or a way of remembering those who pass from our sight to a new way of being. As Christians we are blessed to have the Word of God to guide our remembering. With the readings chosen for our Mass today we can put the life and death of Fr Michael – and our own too – into context and this then allows us to mourn, to remember and to give thanks.

The first reading is from the ancient prophet Isaiah. It speaks to us of a promise which was made to our people thousands of years ago. It is message of hope which uses the image of a banquet; it is inclusive as it speaks of all people; it tells of God doing something for us – removing the mourning veil – and not us trying to win something or achieve the impossible. This allows us to accept our failings and weaknesses in the context of a belief that God will destroy death; he will wipe away tears and take away our shame. Those who die in faith will say, “see this is our God in whom we hoped for salvation”. Fr Michael together with all our deceased will say, “we exult and rejoice that God has saved us”.

Our second reading is a wonderful reminder. It grounds us very quickly as it highlights the importance of our lives, no matter who we are or what we do. Sometimes people live thinking they are not important or saying to themselves ‘sure I don’t make any difference to places or people’. Sometimes we defer to those we consider powerful or important and thereby deny our own unique importance. St Paul was not slow to point out time and time again that the life of each one of us has its influence on others. He wants us to live with this awareness. If we choose to do this we will make a difference to our world. The issues of the day are ours and must not be left to the few to decide. We must take responsibility for our world and how it is; all of us – yes, you and I – are the ones who make it as it is. We can choose to engage or not to get involved. But either way our choice makes a difference. We choose to have a good or a negative influence. And it is to God that each of us will have to give account when life’s journey is over.

The Gospel for today’s Mass is the lovely story of Jesus inviting people like us who may be worried, broken hearted or burdened in any way, to trust in God and in himself. He wraps this invitation in the story of the Father’s house; in My Father’s House… there are many rooms and among them a place for you and for each one of us. This image is similar to the one of the banquet of rich food in the first reading. Not only does He invite us to trust but He gives us good reason for doing so when He announces, “I am going now to prepare a place for you and then when I have gone and prepared you a place I will return to take you with me so that where I am you may be too”. Then He goes on to say “I am the way, the truth and the life”. He assures us that we don’t have to find our way alone; it is not a question of us struggling to find the way through some obscure, well-hidden path at the risk of getting lost and frustrated in our efforts. No, it is much more like a gift; it is something offered to us by the One who claims to know the way because he made the journey himself and who now wants to be our companion and guide on the journey.

Michael Darcy was born nearby on 2^nd October 1933. He was ordained a priest in the Society of African Missions on 21^st December 1960. He ministered in Nigeria and in Ireland for over 48 years. He was retired for the last 4 years in Cork. And he died there on 10^th May 2013. This is Michael’s life in summary.

But for us and those who knew him well there is a much larger story, which is made up of the events of his early life at home in Dromconra with his parents Con and Celia and his two brothers, Con and Philip. Then there is the period of his adolescence and secondary education at Ballinafad College, Co Mayo, followed by his entry into the SMA and his studies in preparation for ordination to priesthood. This is followed by the story or stories of his life in Nigeria where he served for 27 years working as a missionary priest in the Diocese of Jos, northern Nigeria and finally his years of ministry and retirement in Ireland.

In Africa he ministered in parishes like Jos, Shendam, Pankshin, Kwa and Bukuru. When Fr Michael arrived in Nigeria the church was still in its infancy in the north of Nigeria. This brought its own challenges; life was not so easy for the early missionaries as they coped with the issues associated with developing structures and programmes for the formation of new and young Christians. But the work was blessed and so the church grew and began to flourish. Churches, schools and medical facilities were built. Missionaries worked with the local people and their catechists to spread the Good News and so today the fruits of their labours can be seen in a strong vibrant self-supporting church. The former diocese of Jos is now an Archdiocese and four other dioceses have been established from and through it.

Politically, Nigeria had its own share of struggles which resulted in the 1960s in a civil war. The impact of this was acutely felt in the north and especially in the Diocese where Fr Michael worked with other missionaries. He was then working in a parish in Bukuru where many lives were lost. He stood firmly by those who were threatened and saved the lives of many as he put his own life at risk by ferrying them to train, bus and lorry stations to get transport so that they could return to their own home towns. It was a difficult time for the people and for the missionaries. The church suffered many casualties; some communities were almost wiped out. But it was also the beginning of another era in the growth of the local church.

The growth of the local church means missionaries work to replace themselves. In Jos and the surrounding areas the local clergy began to grow as it was blessed with new members and with vocations to priesthood and religious life. Communities grew gradually but steadily. In this process there is call for the missionary to let go and make place for local people. This is always a delicate challenge; it is about knowing the right time and the best way to make the transition. Fr Michael was part of this process in Jos when it had its own Bishop and growing numbers of local vocations. He loved his work there and was rightly sad when the time came for him to move on having handed over the others.

Each person is called to use one’s personal gifts for the good of all. Michael had his own unique gifts which he put at the service of others during the 53 years of his priesthood, 48 of which were spent in active ministry in Nigeria, in the Diocese of Cork & Ross and in the Archdiocese of Tuam. He loved his years in Louisburg. Michael was a quiet man and not always full of confidence. Being a missionary quickly identifies one’s Achilles heel and so one is called to face the shadow side of life. While blessed with good health Fr Michael who had his own gifts for ministry also had to deal with a personal problem around alcohol. When he accepted this and got professional help he spent a good number of years enjoying sobriety. He wrote that this was a grace and a blessing that came from the higher power. He was ever grateful for the gift and thankful to those who supported him in his struggle to find the right path. This was one of the last things he wrote. We can now see the importance of the Word of God which tells us that with God all things are possible, that our lives do have an impact on others and that our shame will be wiped away.

When all is said and done, when life’s journey comes to an end we depend ultimately on the mercy of God from whom our salvation comes. Rising from the dead, Christ became the light that illuminates all peoples, that lightens and saves the path of humanity and allows us to catch a glimpse of God’s eternal kingdom beyond the tunnel of death. Christians, who have been marked by the seal of the Holy Spirit, are the enlightened ones. Dying with Christ they rise again with Him in the dazzling light of the Lord’s Day, of the new creation. They are new creatures, they are like the stars and they have a mission to illuminate the dark and often tragic path of history. Fr Michael has now joined them and he shared in that new mission.

So we say eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him.

Ar dheis lamh De to raibh a anam dílis.

Read an Obituary of Fr Michael Darcy here.

Fr Hugh McLaughlin SMA

May 14, 2013

Fr Hugh McLaughlin died peacefully at the Cork University Hospital on 13 May 2013, after a brief illness. He had celebrated his 81st birthday just three days before his death. Fr Hugh had been admitted to the hospital on Sunday evening and died there early the following morning, at 00.15am, with his sister Mary and Fr Eddie O’Connor SMA at his side. He is survived by his sister Mary and brother Arthur. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Fr Hugh had great devotion to Our Lady – he was ordained in the Marian Year (1954), set up a Legion of Mary Praesidium during his studies in UCC (1954-1958) and died on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.

Hugh McLaughlin, the eldest of three children born to Charles and Mary (née O’Leary), was born in Cork on 10 May 1931. The family lived at St Anne’s, Barringtons Avenue, Ballintemple. He was baptised in St Finbarr’s (South Chapel) on 12 May 1931 and confirmed in St Patrick’s on 26 May 1942.

His Primary education was in Ballintemple Primary School and he attended CBS Cork for his secondary schooling, completing the Leaving Cert in 1948. With the African Missions, Blackrock Road so close to him, and where he regularly attended Mass, it was no surprise when Hugh decided to respond to a call to be a missionary priest. In September 1948, he entered the two-year Novitiate / Philosophy programme at St Columba’s College, Cloughballymore, Kilcolgan, Co Galway, becoming a member of the Society on 29 June 1950.

Fr Hugh with parishioners of his last parish in Nigeria: Owo.

Hugh studied theology at the African Missions Major seminary in Dromantine, Newry, Co Down. He became a permanent member of the Society on 15 June 1953 and was ordained a priest exactly one year later along with eleven classmates, on 15 June 1954, at St Colman’s Cathedral, Newry. Gifted academically, the newly-ordained Fr Hugh was sent to do a BA and HDip at the University College Cork, graduating with Honours in 1958. He arrived in western Nigeria in September 1958 and was to spend the next thirty-three years in Ondo diocese. He returned to Ireland in 1991 and served in the diocese of Cork & Ross for fifteen years.

The education apostolate and the formation of clergy were two key elements of the Society’s missionary work. Upon his arrival in September 1958, Fr Hugh was appointed as Vice Principal of Annunciation College, Ikere. From 1960-1961 he was the Principal of Stella Maris College, Okitipupa and for the following four years he was Principal of St Patrick’s College, Oka.

In 1960, Bishop William Field SMA had commissioned Br Tom Fitzgerald to build a Minor seminary in Akure. It opened in January 1960 with Fr Michael Igoe its first Principal (1960-65). In 1965 Fr Hugh was appointed to succeed Fr Igoe, serving there until 1972 when he became Diocesan Secretary to Bishop Field.

He moved into fulltime pastoral work in 1974, serving as Administrator of the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Akure, until 1982. He was appointed as Vicar General of the diocese on 31 May 1977.

In 1979, his Silver Jubilee Year, as a result of his education work, he was conferred with a Chieftaincy title – Akuwajo of Akure – from the Deji (King) of Akureland, Oba Adelegan Adesina III. He was the first European to be conferred with an honorary chieftaincy in the history of Akure. At the conferring in the Oba’s Palace, His Highness spoke of Fr Hugh’s contribution to Akure over the past twenty-five years. On the occasion, Bishop Alonge paid tribute to Fr Hugh and all missionaries when he said: “Father McLaughlin is typical of many expatriate missionaries, both men and women, who have selflessly dedicated their entire lives to the establishment of the Christian Faith in this country through educational, medical and social institutions. We can never be sufficiently grateful to them.“

In 1982, Fr Hugh was transferred to St Matthew’s parish, Ondo. He took a six months Sabbatical / Holiday in 1989 and, on his return in January 1990, he was appointed as Parish Priest of Owo.

During his years in St Matthew’s Fr Hugh was conferred with three further titles: Obayegha of Ondo (1984), Oyejunwa of Igbindo (1988), both conferred by the Osemaywe (King) of Ondo. His fourth title was conferred by the Chief of the Ibo community in Ondo in 1989.

He returned finally to Ireland in 1991 and was to serve as Curate in Ballydehob (1991-94), Passage West (1994-1999) and Goleen (1999-2006). In May 2006, Fr Hugh retired to the African Missions, Blackrock Road.

Funeral homily of Fr Damian Bresnahan

Report on the funeral rites of Fr Hugh.

May his soul now enjoy everlasting peace.

SMA Bight of Benin District-in-formation 2013

May 11, 2013

The Bight of Benin District-in-formation covers the territory of Bénin Republic, Niger, Nigeria and the Central African Republic.

Bight of Benin DF
Superior

Fr Reginald Nwachukwu (Nigeria)

Vice-Superior Fr Barka-Nado Fr Francis Barka-Nado
(Central African Republic)

Secretary & Bursar Zinsu-Fr-Emmanuel Fr Emmanuel Zinsu (Nigeria)

Bight of Benin District-in-formation,
Aboderin Street,
Orita-Challenge,
GPO Box 1298, IBADAN,
Oyo State, Nigeria.

Mob. +234 803 3652249

Missionary Priorities
The missionary priorities of the District-in-formation can be summed up as “a commitment to mission ‘ad gentes’ and ‘ad vitam’, particularly in areas of Primary Evangelization”.

Members
The BBDF has 69 permanent members who come from Bénin, Central African Republic and Nigeria. The 62 priests are working in 12 different African countries as well as doing Further Studies in Italy or the USA. The 7 deacons will be ordained in 2013.

As of 1 May 2013, the breakdown of the above is as follows:

Benin / Niger has 16 priests and 3 deacons;
Central African Republic has 1 bishop, 8 priests and 1 deacon;
Nigeria has 37 priests and 3 deacons

The BBDF also has seconded members, SMA priests on loan from other SMA units. They are working full-time for the BBDF in the Formation Houses, in Administration or in Fundraising.

Ministries
Missionaries from the DF are engaged in

pastoral (parish) work, particularly in areas of Primary Evangelization,
administering programmes for those suffering from HIV/Aids,
ministering to marginalised groups in some countries, running literacy programmes
searching for sources of clean water,
developing relations with Islam,
building and administering schools etc.

Formation in the DF

As of 1 May 2013 there were 7 Deacons, 28 temporary members (19 in Theology and 9 on Stage) and 51 other seminarians in the DF initial formation process. Those seeking to be an SMA missionary have to become fluent in both English and French, the two languages of the Society. As most of our seminarians are already fluent in one or the other language he will learn the second language during his formation, especially in the early years of studies.

Those seeking to be an SMA priest undertake the following studies:
An Introductory Programme (usually in their country of origin);
Philosophy studies (a 3 or 4 year programme, at a diocesan or inter-congregational seminary in Africa);
International Spiritual Year (ISY) programme (at one of our ISY Centres, in either Calavi [Benin Republic] or Silang [Philippines]. At the end of this nine-month programme the seminarian formally asks for admission to the SMA. If accepted he takes a one year Oath of Temporary membership in the SMA. He then goes for his Stage programme.
Stage (a supervised Pastoral Year with an experienced SMA priest) in some mission outside his country of origin. In some cases, the seminarian will do his Stage in the ‘other language’ of the Society (e.g. a student from Nigeria may be sent for Stage to Togo);
On completion of Stage, the seminarian is assigned to theological studies. This takes place at one of the three SMA Houses of Theology in Africa – in Kenya, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast. Towards the end of these studies the seminarian may seek admission to Permanent membership and ordination to the Diaconate.

Initial formation concludes with Ordination to the Priesthood.

Would you like to know more about life as an African Missionary?

If so, contact Fr John Suakor SMA at [email protected] or SMA Director of Vocations, P O Box 7414, SHOMOLU, Lagos State

Further information on the BBDF (NOT Vocations) can be got by contacting the DF Secretary, Fr Emmanuel Zinsu, at [email protected] or by phone +234 806 364 7840 or +234 818 281 4565

Funeral Mass for Fr Michael Darcy SMA

May 11, 2013

The funeral Mass for Fr Michael Darcy SMA took place in St Mary’s Catholic Church, Swanlinbar, Co Cavan at 11am on Monday, 13 May 2013.

Fr John Dunne, SMA Provincial Leader, was the Principal Celebrant, assisted by V Rev Fr Donald Hannon, PP of Killesher & Kinawley parish. Bishop Leo O’Reilly of Kilmore presided.

Seventeen other priests concelebrated.
Priests of Kilmore diocese: Fathers Gerry Comiskey (PP Staghall), Fintan McKiernan (PP Derrylin), Tomas McManus (PP Corlough), John Murphy (PP Bailieboro) and Thomas Woods (Swanlinbar).
Fr John McGovern (a relative of Fr Michael, from Killaloe diocese) and two priests from the Archdiocese of Tuam: Fathers Paddy Mooney (PP Glenamaddy) and Mattie Long (PP, Louisburgh) where Fr Michael ministered for several years also concelebrated.
Three of his SMA classmates were also there: Fathers Eddie Deeney, Bill Ghent and Sean Kilbane. The remaining SMA priests were: Fathers Malachy Flanagan, Martin Kavanagh, Daniel McCauley, Seamus Nohilly, Colum O’Shea and Gerry Sweeney.

Mrs Annie Darcy, a sister-in-law of Fr Michael was the chief mourner along with her children and grandchildren. Different members of the family participated in the Mass in various ways: reading, prayers of the faithful, offertory procession.

Before the removal of Fr Michael’s body from the Church, Bishop O’Reilly spoke to the congregation and gave thanks for the dedication and example of Fr Michael as a missionary. The Bishop hoped that such an example would encourage young people of the parish to consider giving their lives to God as a priest or in religious life.

Fr Dunne preached the homily for the Mass, drawing on the three readings from Isaiah 25: 6-9; Romans 14: 7-12 and John 14: 1-6.

Read the homily here.

Fr Michael Darcy SMA

May 8, 2013

The Society of African Missions is mourning the death of Fr Michael Darcy on Friday, 10 May 2013, which took place at 2am in St Theresa’s Nursing unit in the African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork. Fr Michael was 79 years old.

Funeral arrangements

Michael Darcy was born on 2 October 1933 in Drumconra (Kinawley parish) near Swanlinbar in the diocese of Kilmore, the second of three sons born to Cornelius and Cecilia (McGovern). His two brothers, Con and Philip, predeceased him. He was baptised in St Mary’s, Kinawley the day of his birth. After completing his Primary education at Uragh Boy’s National School, Michael went to the Sacred Heart College at Ballinafad, Belcarra, Co Mayo for his secondary education.

Ballinafad was the equivalent of a minor seminary for the Society of African Missions and Michael was there from 1949-1954. After completing his Leaving Certificate, Michael went to the Society’s Novitiate – St Columba’s College – at Cloughballymore, Kilcolgan, Co Galway where he completed the one year Novitiate programme, becoming a temporary member of the Society on 26 June 1955.

The 1960 Ordination class. Fr Michael is 2nd from the left in the middle row.

In September 1955, he began his Philosophy studies at the African Missions College at Wilton, Cork. Due to a change in the SMA formation programme, Michael did his second year Philosophy studies at the African Missions College, Dromantine, Newry. This was the location for the Society’s Major seminary since 1926 and Michael was to complete his Philosophy and Theology studies there, becoming a permanent member of the Society on 14 June 1960.

He was ordained a priest on 21 December 1960, one of a class of 24 who were ordained in that class. Fr Michael was to serve nearly 27 years in the diocese of Jos, Nigeria. When he arrived there in 1961 the diocese was under the leadership of Bishop John Reddington SMA and when he left it, in 1989, Jos was an Archdiocese with Archbishop Gabriel Ganaka as Pastor of a growing and vibrant church.

During his years in Jos, Fr Michael served in St Theresa’s (Jos), Shendam, Pankshin, Kwa and Bukuru. Fr Jeremiah O’Connell recalls that in 1966, just after the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War (when Biafra seceeded from the Federation), Michael saved dozens of Ibo parishioners from Bukuru. Many people were being attacked, from different ethnic groups, and Fr Michael used his car to bring many Ibos to the safety of the Police Headquarters in Jos Town. Despite several warnings that his life was in danger as he passed through different road blocks Michael brooked no opposition as he continued his trips in and out of Jos.

Our 1964 picture shows some SMA priests who were working in the north of Nigeria. Fr Michael is in the front row, extreme right.

In 1974, Fr Michael was involved in promotion work in Cork for the African Missionary magazine but returned to Jos in 1975 and left finally in 1979.

The original diocese of Jos has given birth to several new dioceses, surely a sign of God’s blessing on the work of the missionaries and a huge band of dedicated Nigerian laity and clergy.

On his return to Ireland, Fr Michael served in the SMA parish, Wilton for some months. In 1991, he was on loan to the diocese of Cork & Ross where he ministered in Tracton parish. From 1994 to 2009, Fr Michael served in different parishes in the Archdiocese of Tuam.

Increasing ill health forced his retirement to the SMA House in Blackrock Road in 2009. Along with 13 of his classmates, Fr Michael celebrated his Golden Jubilee in 2010. Fr Michael had health problems for many years and in recent weeks his health deteriorated but it was only in the final week of his life that he was confined to bed. Two of his nieces, Bernadette and Fionnuala, visited him the day before his death and visits by his nieces and other family members, both to Dromantine and Blackrock Road, were always a source of great joy to him.

Our picture shows 12 of the class on the occasion of their Golden Jubilee Mass with the Provincial Leader, Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll. Fr Michael is third from the left in the back row.

Fr Michael’s passing is deeply regretted by his sisters-in-law, Annie and Anne, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends as well as his confreres in the Society of African Missions. At his request he will be buried in Killaduff cemetery, Swanlinbar, Co Cavan.

Funeral homily of Fr John Dunne SMA.

May he rest in peace.

Women’s Interfaith Council speaks on peace issues

May 6, 2013

Interfaith Council of Muslim and Christian Women’s Association (a.k.a. Women’s Interfaith Council – WIC)

Seminar on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325

held in Kaduna, Nigeria on 16 April 2013

Communiqué

Introduction

The need for women’s participation in peacemaking and peacekeeping has been recognized by the international community through United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325. This Resolution calls on U.N. member states, all parties to armed conflict and other civil society actors to ensure a gender perspective in conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peace building. Among other priorities, it seeks to ensure the equal and full participation of women in all peace processes, and attention to the special needs of women and girls in post-conflict recovery.

The Interfaith Forum of Muslim and Christian Women’s Associations (a.k.a. Women’s Interfaith Council) is very much aware of the urgent need to find ways to better implement this Resolution in Nigeria. To this effect, on Tuesday the 16^th April 2013, the Women’s Interfaith Council hosted a seminar on the theme: UN Security Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The Seminar was held in the Women’s Multipurpose Centre, Kaduna.

The Seminar provided an opportunity for the voice of women and the voice of the top security agencies to meet, as they seldom do, and to share ideas and perspectives on how women of faith in Kaduna might be more involved in security measures (planning and implementation) in line with UNSCR 1325.

The following Observations and Recommendations were made:

OBSERVATIONS

Nigeria is a very diverse country and is not exempt from conflicts and these conflicts always manifest along sectarian lines such as religion and ethnicity;
Globally, the nature of conflicts has fast changed into a very complicated trajectory with civilians now being more primarily targeted, leaving women and children more highly and devastatingly impacted;
The north of Nigeria is presently bedevilled by a very dangerous level of insecurity that has threatened almost all aspects of its socio-political and economic life, thus deepening the cycle of violence and its impact especially on women and children;
World over, all people suffer vulnerability as a result of all manner of violence. Women, and children are always the most hard hit, but they can be, and very often are, agents of security and instruments of peace in many different ways, not least by influencing their children and people around them positively;
Nigeria is a signatory to UNSCR1325 and, therefore, is obligated to abide by the Resolution, which underscores the need for all Nigerians, especially women, to know its cardinal principles and for Nigeria to operationalize same;
Nigeria, regrettably, is only now working on her National Action Plan, thirteen years after the adoption of the Resolution – better late than never! The states, as it were, are yet to start work on their respective State Action Plans;
In Nigeria, women are very much marginalized from matters of peace building, security and conflict prevention in spite of their demonstrated ability to manage crisis in the home and the immediate society. Where they are even considered, their contributions are undervalued and underutilized. This may be due to a poor understanding of the concept of conflict prevention, peace building and security;
Women are capable of playing critical and pivotal roles, as underscored in UNSCR1325, in conflict prevention, peace building and security;
While women seek more representation in the process, they also realize the critical difference between representation and effective participation; they therefore note, with a high degree of concern, the poor lot of women educationally, economically, and socio-politically in Nigeria, especially the north;
There is a critical lack of sufficient and effective structures to address issues of violence against women (VAW) and other gender based violence (GBV) such as the right laws, courts, rehabilitation facilities and well trained personnel to assist in coping with attendant traumas;
Relief interventions, whether in internally displaced persons’ camp or otherwise, do not yet adequately cater for the special concerns of women and children, and also Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs);
Abuse of drugs and the lack of good structures to productively engage youth and also provide employment in the Nigerian society contribute greatly in the participation of youth in violence and other vices;
Failure of the Nigerian state to live by the rule of law has engendered the conflicts and insecurity experienced in the country today;
The problem of insecurity of Nigeria will only be solved by dialogue and negotiation; no problem is unsolvable. There is the ever-increasing need to know each other better and to work together and more closely;
Nigeria’s borders are mortally porous and immigration measures are next to non-existent, thereby allowing persons of questionable character and motives go about without due check.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Compliance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be the basic precondition that provides the right framework for the operationalisation of UNSCR1325. Thus, rule of law must be seen to be vigorously pursued;
All states of the federation should respectively develop their State Action Plans, adapting from the National Action Plan, to reflect their realities and peculiarities. This should be done with the full representation and participation of women;
Drug abuse is a critical factor in violent conflicts; therefore, drug programs should be mainstreamed in the Action Plans at national and state levels;
Sexually Transmitted Infections programming should be mainstreamed in the National/State Actions Plans being developed;

Justice and Healing

Stringent laws should be enacted to cover gender based offenses within and outside the context of crises situations;
Perpetrators of gender based violence (GBV) must be prosecuted according to the laws of the land;
A robust transitional justice program should be developed in Nigeria and special courts for the prosecution of violence against women (VAW) during and after conflicts should be established;
Collaboration between CSOs, security and law enforcement agencies should be fostered in the prosecution of VAW;
Justice and truth commissions are needed to help in the process of healing and reintegration after the violent conflicts that have ridden the nation;
There is need also to explore our traditional African alternatives to justice and conflict resolution;

Women in the Security Process

Women should be better represented in the security and law enforcement agencies in Nigeria so as to better mainstream gender thereby responding more effectively to such concerns should they arise;
On a constant and continuous basis, early warning and early response (EWER) mechanisms should be installed and appropriate trainings be carried out for citizens, especially women and youth;
Women must be allowed at all times to speak for themselves particularly on issues that affect them;
Girl-child education must be vigorously pursued if women are to engage more effectively in security matters as captured in the UNSCR 1325;
Women must be ICT savvy not just so as to cope with the demands of the 21^st century, but also to be able to access relevant resource material to be able to participate effectively in matters that affect them, especially, in this case, security and peace building;
Early marriage is a factor that has to be addressed for women, especially in northern Nigeria, to be able to attain a sufficient level of education so as to participate effectively. This must be pursued with sensitivity to and within the context of diversities such as religion and culture;
Because women need to participate in policy making, they necessarily must also occupy such position. Therefore women must work to contest and win elections. They must also work to achieve a reasonable degree of economic power;
Women must work, even at the family level, to fight against corruption and injustice which have been identified as major factors that lead to conflict in Nigeria. This intervention, though remote, is critical to conflict prevention and peace building;
Effective border policing and immigration laws and policies should be pursued, so as to keep tab of immigrants and their activities in the country, as a means to strategy insecurity in the country.

CONCLUSION

The UNSCR 1325 is a comprehensive political framework within which women’s protection and their role in peace processes can be addressed. This Resolution deserves to be known and implemented in Nigeria at large and in Kaduna state in particular, so that the security of women and girls is ensured during conflicts and so that women more actively and directly participate in conflict prevention and peacebuilding as well as in post-conflict efforts.

Women’s faith groups appreciate the opportunity provided by this Seminar to grow in awareness of the issues involved and to dialogue with the Security Agencies on these very pertinent issues. Our faiths, Islam and Christianity, impel us to be committed as instruments of reconciliation, peace, and security in our land and today we renew our commitment to this responsibility. The observations and recommendations expressed in this communiqué will be our guide as we collaborate with the Security Agencies and other leaders in our society to build a better Nigeria for our children, as Women of Faith, Working together as Mothers of a Culture of Peace.

Signed on behalf of the participants:

Rev. Sr. Kathleen McGarvey OLA

General Coordinator

Mrs. Comfort Fearon

Christian Coordinator

Hajiya Amina Kazaure

Muslim Coordinator

Mary helps us to grow, to face life, and to be free

May 6, 2013

On Saturday, 4 May 2013, Pope Francis returned to take possession of the Basilica of St. Mary Major with the traditional kiss of the crucifix. The day after his election the Pope visited St Mary Major to place the ministry he had just received under Mary’s protection.

According to the Vatican Information Service (VIS), in his homily, the Pope highlighted three aspects of Mary’s maternity: she helps us to grow, to face life, and to be free. Their edited version of the Pope’s comments are reproduced here:

“With his Passion, Death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ brings us salvation. He gives us the grace and the joy of being God’s children, of calling him truly BY the name of Father. Mary is a mother and a mother worries above all about the health of her children … What does this mean that the Madonna safeguards our health? I am thinking mainly of three aspects: … she helps us to grow, she helps us to face life, and she helps us to be free.”

Mary helps us to grow

A mother helps her children to grow and wants them to grow well. This is why she teaches them not to give in to laziness—which is something that also arises from a certain well-being—not to not to slip into a life of ease that desires nothing beyond material possessions. A mother takes care that her children grow always more, that they grow strong and capable of taking on responsibility, of committing themselves in their lives, and of holding high ideals. … This is exactly what the Madonna does in us. She helps us to grow humanely and in faith, to be strong and not to yield to the temptation of being superficial persons and Christians, but to live responsibly, always reaching higher.”

Mary helps us to face life

Then a mother thinks of her children’s health, also teaching them to face life’s difficulties. You can’t teach, can’t care for one’s health by avoiding problems as if life were a highway without obstacles. A mother helps her children to look realistically at life’s problems and to not get lost in them but to tackle them with courage; not to be weak and to know how to overcome them with the healthy balance that a mother “feels” between the limits of safety and the areas of risk. … A life without challenges doesn’t exists and a boy or a girl who doesn’t know how to face them, putting themselves on the line, is a boy or a girl without a backbone! … Mary lived many difficult times in her life, from the birth of Jesus … until Calvary. And like a good mother she is close to us so that we never lose courage in the face of life’s adversities, in the face of our own weakness, in the face of our sins. She gives us strength, pointing us to the path of her Son. From the cross, indicating John, Jesus tells Mary: ‘Woman, here is your son’, and to John: ‘Here is your mother!’ We are all represented in that disciple.”

Mary helps us to be free

One last aspect … a good mother also helps to make important decisions with freedom. … But what does freedom mean? Certainly not doing whatever you want … Freedom does not mean, so to say, throwing whatever we don’t like out the window. No, that isn’t freedom! Freedom is given to us so that we might know how to make good choices in life! Like a good mother, Mary teaches us to be, like her, capable of making … important decisions at this time when, so to speak, the ‘philosophy of the temporary’ rules. It is so difficult to commit ourselves definitively. And she helps us to make definitive choices with that full freedom with which she answered ‘yes’ to God’s plan for her life.”

“How difficult it is, in our times, to take make definitive decisions! The temporary seduces us. We are victims of a tendency that pushes us towards the ephemeral… Part of it is the fascination of remaining adolescents our entire lives! We must not be afraid of definitive commitments, of commitments that involve and affect our whole lives. In this way life becomes fruitful! And this is freedom: having the courage to make these decisions with greatness.”

“Mary’s whole existence is a hymn to life, a love song to life … The ‘Salus Populi Romani’ is the mother who gives us health in our growth, gives us health to face and overcome problems, gives us health in making us free to make definitive choices. She is the mother who teaches us to be fruitful, to be open to life … to never lose hope, to give life to others—both physical and spiritual life. This is what we ask of you this evening, O Mary, ‘Salus Populi Romani’, … give us the health that only you can give, so that we may always be signs and instruments of life.”

2013 Holy Communions photos

May 4, 2013

We present a selection of photos taken at the Thanksgiving Procession & Mass on the parish feastday, 1 May, commemorating our patron, St Joseph. The children who had made their First Holy Communion a few days before were the centre-piece of our celebration and they participated actively in both Procession and Mass.

Our First Holy Communion banner…. and the names of the children are at the bottom of this page…

Some of the parents and parishioners walking in the Rosary Procession

Before the Mass everyone gathers at the front of the Church

Everyone listens attentively as two of the children proclaim the Word of God

Fr Kevin gets the help of some of the young ones (and one or two not so young!) to help make the puzzle!

The congregation during the Offertory of the Mass

Fr Kevin and Fr Tommy praying the Eucharistic Prayer

Well done to all 26 children who received their First Holy Communion in 2013.

Thanks to their parents and teachers who helped prepare them for their special day.

May all of us be ever faithful to following Jesus and making His love present in the world.

BARGAINS COST MORE THAN WE PAY

May 2, 2013

The labourer is worthy of his reward. 1 Tim.5:18

We all get a thrill when we find a good bargain, whether it’s clothes, fruit and veg, a PC, or whatever. But we rarely ask why so cheap or dig deeper to discover who is paying the real price. Where do our bananas, coffee, tea come from? Many plantations are owned by very large multinational companies where profit is king. Plantation workers are often exposed to dangerous chemicals, must work long hours for little money and are prevented from joining together to demand better working conditions.

The garment industry is notorious here. The appalling loss of life in the Bangladesh factory complex cannot be described as an accident – it was a tragic incident just waiting to happen. When factory owners can ignore building regulations, pack machinery and hundreds of workers in unsafe conditions, they will, blinded by greed, ignore risks and safety in order to make profits from “High Street chains” in Europe. Demand for cheap clothes exists – it must be supplied. We, shoppers just want a good bargain; we don’t consider the labour, conditions or the human cost.

As a little personal exercise in awareness raising try this some morning when eating your breakfast: First look to see where your coffee or tea has originated. Then take your cereal or fruit. Where have they come from? How many miles has your food travelled? How many workers do you need to thank for providing you with your breakfast? How much have they been paid? What are their working conditions? Of course we can’t answer all these questions, but it’s useful for us to formulate the question, and maybe do a little research.

We live in an interconnected world. Our relative comfort depends on manual industrial and agricultural workers in the poorer continents and countries. The harsh truth is that this comfort and the accessibility of goods we enjoy also depend on unjust working conditions and sometimes virtual slavery of workers elsewhere.

If some of these workers come here looking for a better life have we the right to say no to them? As one African woman said at a Conference in Paris many years ago: “we welcomed you to our countries (which you then exploited for your own use), but when we come to your countries you want to send us away”.

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Heb.6:10

Fr Porcellato elected as Vicar General

April 30, 2013

Fr Toni Porcellato April 2013 Delegates to the 20th SMA General Assembly, meeting in Rome, elected Fr Antonio Porcellato as Vicar General of the Society, to assist the recently-elected Superior General, Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll. They will serve for a six-year mandate, up to the 2019 SMA General Assembly

Fr Antonio was, up to now, Vice Provincial Superior of the Italian Province. As part of his formation he spent one year in the African Missions, Wilton doing his Spiritual Year programme.

Fr Antonio was born on 28 March 1955 in the diocese of Treviso in Italy and joined the SMA in 1974. After his ordination in 1980, he was appointed to the Ivory Coast. During his time there he obtained a Master’s degree in Pastoral Theology at the Catholic Institute of West Africa (ICAO). He also served in San Pedro diocese.

Recalled to Italy he served as Vocations Director and was part of the Italian Formation team. He was also a member of the Italian Provincial Council.

In 1995 he was appointed a staff member of the International Spiritual Year programme in Calavi, Benin Republic. He then served on the formation staff of the SMA House of Studies in Ibadan, Nigeria. In 2001 he was appointed by the Superior General as the Vice-Superior of the African District-in-formation (ADF) in 2001. Conscious of his many talents and sound spirituality and judgement his own Italian confreres elected him as the Italian Vice-Provincial in 2007. In that role he has been responsible for vocations and mission animation in Italy. He was living at the SMA / OLA community in Feriole, near Padua in Italy.

As Vicar General, Fr Antonio will take responsibility if, for some reason, the Superior General is unable to discharge his office. This was the case a little less than three years ago when the then Superior General, Fr Kieran O’Reilly, was appointed as the Bishop of Killaloe. His Vicar General, Fr Jean-Marie Guillaume, took over and led the Society until the election of Fr O’Driscoll on 20 April last.

After Fr Antonio formally accepted his election as Vicar General, the delegates then elected the two remaining members of the General Council. They are Fr Francois Gnonhossou, from Benin Republic and Fr Francis Rozario from the Indian District-in-formation.

SMA General Council 2013

April 30, 2013

The 40 delegates attending the SMA General Assembly have elected the Leadership team who will guide the Society for the coming six years, up to the next General Assembly, scheduled for 2019. The 2013 Assembly is drawing to a close and is scheduled to conclude its work this week when delegates will vote on the Action Plan 2013-2019.

Superior General – Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll, up to now the Irish Provincial Leader, pictured left;

Vicar General – Fr Antonio Porcellato, since 2007 the Italian Vice Provincial Superior. To read a biography on Fr Antonio, pictured on right, click on his name.

There are two other members of the SMA General Council:

General Councillor – Fr Francis Rozario, born in 1975, is from the diocese of Salem, Tamil Nadu in India and is a member of the Indian District-in-formation.

Fr Francis began studies with the Society in 1992 at the SMA House in Mangadu, near Chennai. He completed his Philosophy studies at Arulanandar College, Madurai which is under the care of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). For his Stage (Pastoral Year) in Africa he was assigned to the SMA team in Egypt. Following this he was assigned to the SMA Formation House in Cote d’Ivoire where he took his permanent oath of membership in 2002, followed by ordination as a priest in 2003. He is the 19th Indian SMA priest and was ordained by Bishop Singarayan in Salem, his home town.

After ordination his first appointment as a priest was to the Apostolic Vicariate of Kontagora in Nigeria where he worked with Fr. Patrikson Francis in New Bussa parish and then alone in Agwara parish.

In 2006, recognized for his intellectual capacities, he undertook Further Studies in Scripture at the Pontifical Bibilical Institute in Rome from where he graduated in 2010 with an LSS (Licence in Sacred Scriptures).

Fr Rozario returned to Nigeria to join the Formation team at the SMA House of Studies in Ibadan, where seminarians seeking to be SMA missionary priests are trained. He is also a member of the teaching staff at the Ss Peter & Paul Major Seminary where about 700 seminarians from various dioceses and congregations study.

Rozario-Fr-Francis--studen

Fr Francis, pictured above 3rd from right with SMA seminarians, has several books to his name. His latest work, Nigerian Christianity and the Society of African Missions, was published earlier this year.

General Councillor – Fr Francois Gnonhossou, born in 1961, is originally from the Archdiocese of Cotonou, Benin Republic. He is a member of the Bight of Benin District-in-formation.

After third-level studies at the University of Cotonou, Francois joined the SMA and was ordained a priest on 26 July 1997. He was appointed to the then Prefecture of Kontagora (it became a Vicariate in 2002) and ministered in Guffanti and New Bussa parishes.

After studies in Formation in Paris Fr Francois was appointed Vice Superior of the then African District-in-formation and after three years in that position he was, in 2007, appointed as its Superior. In 2009 he was asked to establish an SMA parish in Quebec, Canada. Up to his election he was still involved in pastoral work in Canada.

Seventh Report – 27 April

April 30, 2013

To see me is to see the Father

Saturday, 27 April, was the anniversary of the independence of Togo and we had a special thought for the Togolese people and for all SMA members working in Togo. Today our reflections on the formation, spirituality and lifestyle, administration and finance continued.

The meditation below was given by Father Malachy Flanagan, from the Irish Province.

I begin with a story. A man was at an airport waiting for a flight. He feels hungry and so goes to the kiosk to buy a packet of biscuits. He buys them and puts them into his travelling bag and sits down in the only available seat next to a lady. When seated, he reaches down into his travelling bag and pulls out the packet of biscuits. As he does so, he notices the lady beside him watching him closely. As he eats the first biscuit, the lady reaches over and takes one of the biscuits and eats it.

The man is amazed at this but he says nothing. However, not only did she take one biscuit – she alternates with the man. For every biscuit he took, the lady would take one.

This continued till there was only one biscuit remaining and the lady reaches over and takes it, breaks it in half, and gives half to the man. Then she gets up and without a word, she leaves.

The man is dumbfounded and not very happy. He thinks to himself, who does this lady think she is?

So he goes back to the kiosk and buys another packet of biscuits. He was just about to open the new packet when he notices the original packet of biscuits in his bag still unopened. Only then does he realise that when he reached for his packet of biscuits earlier – he reached into the lady’s bag and grabbed her packet by mistake.

Up to now he was looking at the lady very negatively. But now to his own embarrassment, he sees things from a new point of view. Can we imagine ourselves doing something like that man? Many a times we are clouded by our own instincts and notions. Unfortunately, these do hamper our relationship with others. It’s so important to be non-judgemental and to look beyond the obvious.

The Jews in the 1st Reading were blind and unable to see beyond themselves when they rejected Paul’s teaching. Paul responds and tells them that since they have rejected this message, then he has no choice but to turn to the pagans. He quotes Jesus by saying: “I have made you a light to the nations – that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”. The first reading is another case of “God writing straight with crooked lines”. A God of surprises – using what seemed like a failure into something wonderful. (the Jews’ rejection is turned into the wonderful opportunity of salvation for the pagans).

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that “to see me is to see the Father”. To see Jesus is to see God. Jesus is the invisible God made visible. When people look at us – what do they see? What image or aspect of Jesus do we show?

We have been spending these days of Assembly looking at ourselves again; Looking at our SMA Mission; Looking towards our future. What did we see there? What is our vision for the future?

“Have I been with you all this time and you still do not know me”?

To be a more effective missionary – we must first know him.

To be a light to the nations – we must first have that light within us.

A torch without batteries gives no light. At the Easter Vigil, we sang and proclaimed: “Lumen Christi”. “The Light of Christ”. Christ’s light must shine in and through us. For we must be empowered by Jesus.

In these days of Eastertide and of our planning, may we continue to be guided by the Spirit and be enlightened by Jesus to see the way He wants us to go.

Eight Report – 29 April 2013

April 30, 2013

Bethany, A place of rest and meeting

After a Sunday of rest with good weather in the spring sunshine, the delegates of the 20th SMA General Assembly continued the third phase reflections on formation, spirituality & lifestyle, administration and finance.

Today journalists from Vatican Radio came to conduct interviews relating to the SMA General Assembly and our missionary work in Africa.

The Superior General, Fachtna O’Driscoll presented the Society and our work in Africa today; Jean-Marie Guillaume, former Superior General presented the topic of SMA and its mission today and vision for the future; Augustin Houessinon, a missionary in Abomey-Calavi (Benin Republic) spoke of SMA pastoral work among the street children of Cotonou, and Maurice Henry, the SMA Regional Superior of Nigeria spoke of the SMA mission amidst the security challenges that Nigeria is facing in light of Islamic extremism.

The celebration of the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church, co-patron of Europe and Patron Saint of the media coincided with the birthday of Gabriel Noury (Vice-Provincial, Lyons Province) and the 40^th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Lionello Melchiori (Provincial Superior of Italy). They presided at the Eucharistic celebration

Here is Fr Noury’s homily at that Mass, based on Luke 10: 38-42.

“The Gospel has become so sacred for us that we sometimes refuse to taste some passages so human and so close to us. The passage that we have just heard is one such example. Like us, Jesus needs a place of rest where he can relax and meet friends, away from his usual work. Bethany is the resting place for him where he likes to come to meet his friend Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary. But during his stay we have a scene of jealousy between an active Martha and the contemplative Mary. Even though Jesus supports Mary for listening, he does not disapprove of Martha for her willingness to serve.

This scene is closely connected with what Jesus tells us elsewhere in the Gospel: there are several places in the house of my Father. Each of us has received talents, qualities that we need to improve on. We tend to compare ourselves and of course think that we do better than others. Oh we’re not going to do like the Pharisee who prayed, “I thank you Lord that I am not like this publican
…” We have enough sense not to exaggerate. Yet our attitudes, words show that we often compare ourselves to others, instead of putting ourselves in front of God, to see what we have done with what we have received. I remember the words of a confrere who said, “others have flaws … fortunately not the same as mine, otherwise life would be difficult.”

I invite you to look at yourself as you are, not comparing with others, but in front of God listening again to this passage from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians Chapter 2, “be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than you.”

On Tuesday, 30 April 2013, the 40 delegates of the Assembly will elect the Vicar General and General Councillors from a list of names submitted by the Superior General, following his consultation with delegates. We request your prayers that the Lord inspires us to choose the correct persons who, together with Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll, the Superior General of the SMA will lead us for the following six years!

Sixth Report XX SMA General Assembly

April 28, 2013

Our ministry is a gift from God

This Friday, 26 April 2013, the 18^th day of the SMA General Assembly, we continued the reflections on Formation, Spirituality & Lifestyle, Administration and Finance.

The homily for the Mass of that day was given by Father José Ramón Carballada SMA, Superior of the Spanish District. It is based on John 14: 1-6.

The disciples were worried

This scene shows Jesus telling his disciples of his departure, back to the Father. This announcement creates uncertainty and anxiety among them. They are worried. They ask questions, questions that the Johannine community asked at the end of the first century, the questions we ask today.

Their questions:

Thomas said he did not know the way;

Philip wanting to clear up all uncertainties asked Jesus, “Show us the Father, that is enough.”

Then Jude expresses another aspect of uncertainty of disciples, saying to him, “why are you showing yourself to us alone and not to the world?

Our questions:

Like the three disciples, three important questions. Let us imagine ourselves around Jesus, the SMA Assembly delegates and this SMA community in Rome. Our questions and our worries. Let us think of all our challenges and priorities, of our feared or desired changes. Behind every challenge there are concerns, uncertainties, fears and weaknesses which show that the SMA mission is not simple. Think about your own mission and of the SMA unit you represent.

When an elderly Province or District says that it can no longer bear the burden of SMA mission alone at home and the Society says that it will help the unit to maintain its presence, the feelings of each other are found in this scene from the Gospel: we must provide security and support, as Jesus prepared his disciples to change, “do not be worried.” He shows his affection for them, “you believe in God, believe also in me.” Maybe the older units would like to hear younger ones say, “We are reliable, and you are precious to us.” They can live without this affection and find it elsewhere, among them, their families and their communities. But the one who left everything and risked everything to follow Jesus in the SMA in Africa needs love with the happiness of old age in the same SMA.

Let us avoid exclusion

In my father’s house many will find their abode. We SMA like to build houses but the text talks of divisions in the community. Everyone thinks they are right, just like us “salvation or the solution to this or that problem is to do as we do or to do as we say.

Jesus said that there are differences that are compatible because “in my Father’s house there are many rooms.” It is not necessary that all the disciples think alike. But we have a common reference: Jesus is the revelation of the Father and love and service are the link that binds communities. This applies to our SMA communities.

Jesus goes and will come again

Jesus bids farewell, he says he will make us a place and will come back to take us with him. He wants us to be with him forever. The return that Jesus speaks is the coming of the Spirit whom Jesus will send to help us live as Jesus lived.

– “It’s not complicated, he told them, you know the way.”

– “How can you say this is not complicated, said Thomas, when we do not even know where you’re going!

– “But Thomas, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”

Yes, it is clear that to go to the Father we must go through Jesus. We find the image of the lost sheep. I think of the houses in Republic of Benin, always surrounded by a fence. Sometimes the fence is broken down, in ruins, but one does not step over; one has to go through the gate. We also, as a structure, have certain norms that define the space in which we live our vocation which we must respect. This fence is our land, our heritage, an area of the church and the world our Founder, Bishop de Brésillac, gave us. This is the path that our fathers have gone, this is our path, the “Way of Jesus.

In the SMA we feel loved

SMA is not only a structure in which we live our vocation; in our Society we have many witnesses of God who have shaped our lives and have made us identify strongly with this missionary family. Why in the SMA? Because in SMA we feel loved and whenever we are loved we are also illuminated. Without it we would not be here today.

Think of our ministry, what a gift from God!

Think of our ministry: What a huge responsibility when we look at men, women, children who, inspired by the Spirit, not by us, hear our words and interpret our actions as the way, the truth and the light and the warmth of God in their lives.

Let us give thanks to God around Eucharistic table for all these graces!

Fifth Report XX SMA General Assembly

April 28, 2013

25 April 2013 – Italian Liberation Day

No report was sent for Wednesday, 24 April.

On 25^th, Thursday, we sent you the Newsletter from the SMA International website (Media Centre in Lyon). This Newsletter is devoted essentially to the General Assembly which is in its 16th day. The highlight of the day was the adoption in plenary session of the text on the challenges and priorities for formation, spirituality & lifestyle, finance and administration. These preliminary texts will serve as basis for the development of the Action Plan (AP) for the next six years. Discussions on the AP began this morning.

Let us leave an instant via della Nocetta to let you know that today Italy celebrates its liberation by the Americans. On this occasion, the Italian Provincial Superior, Father Lionnelo Melchiori, offered a bouquet of flowers to the USA Provincial Superior, Father Mike Moran as a sign of gratitude. It was a public holiday in Italy, in the whole territory of the Republic, except at 111 Via della Nocetta where the General Assembly delegates worked the whole day and were satisfied with a coffee break.

Italy has elected its President a few days ago, and finally they have chosen a prime minister to form a new government, but Pope Francis remains the most popular man in Italy. In Rome, the new Pope, friend of the poor, attracts pilgrims, curious simple people who find in him the image of the true pastor. A confrere who was at St. Peter’s Square said that he met a man who told him, “This is the first time I meet a Pope who speaks simple language that I can understand”

On this day when we celebrate the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, it was an opportunity for Father Nelson Adjei-Bediako, Superior of Gulf of Guinea District-in-formation (GGDF) to remind us of the importance of humility to serve the Lord, the desire to participate in the construction and development of Christian communities. St. Mark, the disciple of Peter, cousin of Barnabas, Paul’s companion and founder of the Church of Alexandria is for us the example of dedicated missionary who does not hesitate to take every opportunity to proclaim the Good News.

Trinity Sunday 2013 – Year C

April 27, 2013

The HOLY TRINITY
26 May 2013

Proverbs 8.22-31
Romans 5.1-5
John 16.12-15

Recently I was at a meeting during which one woman said to another, ‘After all these years of marriage I think I will never fully understand my husband. What he did recently really surprised me. I never knew he could be so creative’. No doubt men say similar things about their wives. I remember my good father shaking his head from time to time as he saw some aspect of my mother’s personality that was new to him.

Isn’t this really the experience of each of us? No matter how long we live with another in a family or in a community, people will continue to surprise us by new ‘revelations’ of their personality. If this is so true for us on the human level should we be surprised if God is like that, continually revealing himself to us in new ways. My father would have said to me more than once: ‘you know your mother is a great mystery to me at times’. If that is true of us humans how much more true is it of God?

Mystery in the religious sense means that we cannot know everything about God. But we can know more and more about God than we did at an earlier stage as he progressively reveals himself to us. Our God is a revealing God. There are many things that parents cannot tell a 6-year-old child. Yet 10 years later they know he is now ready to hear them. The parents are not being difficult. They are being wise. Is it not even more true of God who is Wisdom itself?

We can tie ourselves into all kind of knots if we try to give a mathematical explanation of how there are Three Persons in the One God. Various examples were given to help us explain this. Like in a catechism class the teacher would light three matches at the one time and say: ‘Look, only one flame etc” – meaning three persons in the one nature of God. Personally I think it is much better to show from Scripture what God has already revealed to us about himself.

So in the gospel today Jesus says to the disciples: ‘I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. When the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth’.

Now that Jesus has gone back to his Father he has given us the powerful Holy Spirit who will make known to us and to successive generations the meaning of what he revealed when on earth to his apostles. There would have been little point in Jesus speaking about ‘cloning or genetic engineering’ to his disciples. But now the Spirit is with us to help us give a Christian response to this reality of the 21^st century.

What then are some of the things we can say about the Blessed Trinity that have been revealed to us already? God is not a loner, someone so far away in the heavens that we cannot dialogue with him. Also, using human language, God is a community of love, totally focused outwards toward the other and towards all others. In the gospels, Jesus does not focus on himself. He tells us a number of times in the gospels – ‘I have come not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me’. He also says that the Holy Spirit will reveal all things to you. Thus Jesus focuses on the Father and the Holy Spirit. When the Father’s voice is heard on the mountain and at the baptism of Jesus at the river Jordan he refers to the Son: “This is my beloved Son, listen to him”. So the focus of the Father is the Son. Jesus himself tells us that the Spirit will not focus on himself but will reveal to us more and more who the Father and Jesus are. God therefore is always concerned for the other. When Jesus came he lived out the same dynamic. He never worked a miracle for himself. He was concerned only to show God’s loving concern for us by healing, forgiving, feeding the crowds etc. Jesus’ focus was on others and their greatest needs.

In the gospel Jesus has announced the kingdom and love of the Father. Jesus came as a life-giver, his message is life-giving. Its demands, which the Spirit will make known to us, are always new and surprising. The Spirit is always at work in us to develop our potential and he invites us to work to make the world a better place to live in by having the attitudes of Jesus. This is the work of the Trinity inviting us.

Jesus shows us the way to the Father, and says the Spirit will be with us on our journey. The Spirit will sometimes lead us in ways we have not foreseen. I know a Frenchwoman who after the death of her husband decided to work as a lay in missionary in Africa etc. So the Spirit blows where it wills. The Spirit may lead us paths we have not foreseen. This can make us afraid and distrustful. We would prefer to be settled, to live with the security of the known, of the tried and trusted. But the same Spirit empowers us with courage and hope. If we cling to our own paltry security how will we be in solidarity with all those in need: the poor and needy, prisoners, those with AIDS, unemployed etc. Convinced that the Most Holy Trinity wants us to participate in its life of love and service let us be people of hope in our world today. Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

“Lord Jesus, help us return to the source of hope – You, the Father and the Holy Spirit. Help us to believe the words of St.Paul that hope in you will not disappoint us because ‘your love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit that you have given to us. Amen”

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

XX General Assembly – 22 April 2013 homily

April 24, 2013

This is the account of the 14^th day of our SMA General Assembly – Monday, 22 April 2013.

We continued Working group reflections on formation, spirituality and lifestyle, structures and administration, finance.

Fr Paul Quillet SMA, a missionary in northern Benin Republic, gave the following homily at our Eucharist:

“St John 10 speaks of the Good Shepherd (the true shepherd). Yesterday we heard the verses 27-30: “I am the good shepherd (the true shepherd). Today we take from the beginning, verses 1-10 that speak of Jesus the Pastor of his sheep.

For a few years I had a hut in a Fulani village, going there regularly for a few days. I remember how the camp leader, early each morning before the household woke circled the herd, approaching each sheep, caressed, calling each one by name. Only after doing that did he go around each house to greet all members of the camp, his wives, his children, his shepherds.

When the animals make a cry, the shepherd knows it is time to move to other pastures, towards salty land. He went out with his flock for days with a very small bag, a mat, a water bottle, hat, his stick, and a big knife, living only on milk and sleeping on the ground. There is nothing he would not do for his animals. He does not think of himself but of the good of his flock.

No wonder that God chose to reveal himself through this parable, so oft repeated in the Bible. Through this beautiful parable God tells us who he is, he reveals to us how he sees us.

Psalm 22 (23) is one of my first translations in Fulani language. It is immediately understandable for the Fulani people. If God is my shepherd, I lack nothing, I fear nothing … Moreover, God (shepherd) prepares the table for me, and he invites me to eat, to be in communion with him. This gives meaning to our lives. It is of this shepherd that Jesus speaks in the Gospel. Jesus takes this parable to talk about himself. “I am the good shepherd”, “I am the gate” for the sheep.

This “I am” has a particular resonance, in that it is the name that God revealed to Moses in the burning bush. The biblical scholars tell us that in the Hebrew the verb ‘to be’ there is no notion of being in itself, but of ‘being in relationship’: ‘I am for you, I’m with you …’. Jesus calls himself the ‘Good Shepherd’. It is not a title; it is a life, a life is given, life-giving. “The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep” (v.11)

The sheep know his voice, he knows each one by name, and they follow him. He brings them out. The sheep, no more than the pastor, are not made to stay trapped within the sheepfold. If they do, they will get sick, they will of hunger.

Pope Francis said that pastors must be impregnated with the smell of the sheep. In his Letter to the Argentine bishops he recalls the need of missionary commitment in the light of the Gospel: “We need to go out ourselves to all peoples … A church that does not go out will become sick sooner or later … He said the sickness of a closed Church will occur if it is confined to being self-referential, self-contemplating, closed in on itself.

Jesus brought out his sheep through the door, “I am the door.” He brought out Peter from his Jewish world to go to the uncircumcised pagans, the unclean. Jesus the Good Shepherd calls us out of ourselves. Is that not what we want? Is that not what lies behind all the work we are doing here, our Action Plan, the work that we will continue to do? It remains for us to live what we say and what we write then we will be good shepherds with Jesus.

May the Lord bless the pastors that he has already given, and may he continue to give us good shepherds to lead the Society of African Missions.

May each of us be a Good Shepherd for those who are entrusted to us, able to go to the farthest, most abandoned and the poor. Amen. “

Fr Richard Wall 80th birthday celebration

April 20, 2013

Monsignor Joseph P Omesa delivered the homily on the occasion of the 80th Birthday celebration for Father Richard Wall by the Catholic diocese of Uromi, Nigeria at St Anthony’s Cathedral, Uromi on 3 April 2013.

Happy Easter, my brothers and sisters in Christ.

First of all, I wish to thank the Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Uromi, Very Rev. Father John Akhidue and the Administrator of this Cathedral, Very Rev. Father Peter Egbe, for the kind invitation to be with you and say a few words to mark the 80^th birthday of Very Rev. Father Richard Augustine Wall, SMA. Still in the mood of the Easter season, today’s readings tell us in one case of the man (at the Beautiful Gate) who struggled to be set free to be like others. He was as enthusiastic as a little baby who wants to lift himself up to hold the bars of the cot and rattle them as if to demand release into the wider world. This man was put down beside the temple to ask for alms. His plea for help is answered, in a way he could never have expected; healed in the name of Jesus, the Nazarene, he is given the power to walk and he went into the temple jumping with joy. In the second case, two disciples, (on the road to Emmaus) walking down the road in sorrow, are transformed through their meeting the Risen Christ. Their hearts burn with enthusiasm for life again, and their returning steps to Jerusalem are much quicker than those of the outward journey.

The Lord who has caused these transformations is a Lord who had to suffer, and so enter into his glory. The joys of life do not come without some sorrows, and for many people it is the sorrows that seem to ultimately bring triumph. The early missionaries accepted these sorrows with joy. They faced each day with enthusiasm, and with hearts that burned within them.

Very Reverend Father Richard Augustine Wall was born in 1932 in Shandangan, Co. Cork, Ireland. He is the sixth child in a family of five girls and two boys. His priesthood owes much to the influence of his sister Eileen and some priests he met in his early years. He was ordained a priest on the 13^th day of June, 1956.

After ordination to the priesthood Father Richard came to Nigeria as a missionary in 1956 to the Diocese of Benin City. When he arrived there were 80 SMA and six Nigerian priests. Today this figure has been reversed, an indication of the growth of the Church in this region. He was appointed that year as assistant priest to Sapele in Benin Diocese where he worked for a short time under Fr. Joseph Conboy until he was appointed as Secretary to Bishop Joseph Patrick Kelly. On his return from leave in 1961, he was posted to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Asaba and three years later, to Ogwashi-Uku where he remained until 1968. Father Wall in obedience saw himself back to Bishop Kelly’s Secretary’s desk for the second time. While in this position, he was elected as deputy Regional Superior to Fr. Mick Drew in 1969 and had to go to Uromi, doubling as Parish Priest of this Church. When Fr. Drew died while on leave in 1973, Father Richard Wall was elected Regional Superior , a post which he occupied with distinction for ten years. He relinquished this position to become the Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Eme-Ora for five years. In 1989, he was appointed to Irrua and in 1993, he established a Parish at Eidenu an outstation of Irrua. Five years later he moved to Iruekpen. In 2001, he was appointed to St. Patrick’s Church, Ebhoiyi to assist Fr. Festus Omede. In 2001 he moved to his present residence at the SMA House, Uromi where he has been exercising pastoral ministry in a variety of places. It is a well known fact that Father Wall in his pastoral zeal helped towards the building of Churches in sixteen outstations in the present Uromi Diocese.

Father Richard has been exemplary in the rural outreach programme of the Church. What I have mentioned here is a rather conservative listing of his activities in this area. You may wish to know that this great missionary served at Iruekpen, Eme-Ora for several years without complain or grumbling.

While many shy away from rural assignments, Father Wall has always been ready to work anywhere. He has always been pastoral in his approach. His life of perseverance and dedication to his priestly call, one can say makes him takes his assignments seriously. Father Wall came with a missionary heart and his task has been to find the Catholics scattered across the then Diocese of Benin, often in the face of hostility and skepticism by the people.

He is a member of the greatest generation, a generation of men and women who during the most difficult period of the growth of the Church here in Nigeria were never deterred at encountering difficulties but performed great acts of courage and selflessly shaped the Church after the Second World War and during and after the Nigerian Civil War. When Reverend Father Wall came to Benin Diocese, there were about 80 SMA priests. He has remained in the then Benin Diocese to witness the tremendous growth of the Church, from Warri Diocese, to Issele-Uku, to Auchi, Bomadi and Uromi, dioceses and to the transformation of the then Benin Diocese to an Archdiocese in 1994.

Today as the living archive (he has an encyclopaedic knowledge of priests, parishes and parishioners in the entire region) of this Province, Father Wall dared to bring values of the beatitudes to the people he served, values that continue to confound people.

I thank all those who have arranged this Mass of Thanksgiving in his honour to mark the occasion of his 80^th birthday which was actually nearly a year ago. We extend to him our hearty congratulations. It is right that we should assemble like this and recognise his worth and service while we can still see one another’s eyes. May God bless you all. Amen.

Rev Msgr Joseph P Omesa

Corkman elected to lead SMA worldwide

April 20, 2013

Delegates attending the XX SMA General Assembly in Rome have elected Fr. Fachtna O’Driscoll to lead the Society as Superior General for the coming six years.

Fr. O’Driscoll, a native of Rathcormac, Co Cork, is the 13th successor to the SMA Founder, Bishop Melchior de Marion Brésillac. He is also the 5th Irishman to hold the Office. Former Irish Superiors General include Bishop Patrick J Harrington of Lodwar, Kenya and Bishop Kieran O’Reilly of Killaloe, Ireland.

Fachtna O’Driscoll, son of the late Jerome and Bridget (née O’Connor), was born on 10 February 1954, has two sisters (Kathleen and Noreen [Hogan]) and two brothers (Gus and Brendan). His senior brother, Gus, is also an SMA priest and is Parish Priest of the Good Shepherd Parish in Manila, Philippines.

After primary schooling in Rathcormac National School he did his secondary education at St Colman’s College, Fermoy. He began his training with the SMA at Wilton, Cork in September 1971. After taking his first oath of membership in June 1972 he went to the SMA House of Studies at Maynooth where he studied for a BA and later a Bachelor of Divinity. He became a permanent member of the Society in 1978 and was ordained a priest in 1979.

During his time in Maynooth he won medals with the College Fitzgibbon Cup team (hurling) and in the Devine Cup competition (soccer) with the SMA team.

From 1979 to 1986, Fr. Fachtna served in Ekiti diocese, Nigeria where he was noted for his fluency in the Yoruba language. He was recalled from Nigeria by his Superiors and sent to undertake studies in Counselling in Boston College, USA.

Having completed his Masters he was appointed as the Rector of the SMA House in Maynooth, a post he held until elected to the Irish Provincial Council in 1995. As a member of that Council he had particular responsibility for Justice & Peace matters. After his six year term of office Fr. Fachtna looked forward to a return to Africa but his confreres elected him as Provincial Leader at the 2001 Provincial Assembly and reelected him in 2007. His second mandate was due to expire in July this year.

Fr. Fachtna is a committed GAA fan, keenly keeping an eye on his local Bride Rovers team as well as following the ups and downs of the Cork hurling and football teams. From his time in the US he is a keen supporter of American football. Other interests include walking and reading as well as, on occasion, a game of golf.

As Provincial Leader, he participated in many international meetings of the Society and impressed many by his experience and balanced assessments. He has now been entrusted with leading the Society, with more than 800 priests and brothers from Africa, the Americas, Europe, India and the Philippines. Many of them are working in 16 African countries, from Egypt in the north to South Africa, from Morocco in the west to Kenya and Tanzania in the east.

In the coming days Fr. Fachtna will present a list of candidates for his Council and the Assembly delegates will elect from that list those who will serve as Vicar General and Councillors. May God bless Fr. Fachtna and those who will be chosen to serve for the coming six years on the General Council and give them the wisdom they need in their new tasks.

As a consequence of Fr. Fachtna’s election as Superior General the Irish Province will now be led by Fr. John Dunne, from Mitchelstown until the Irish Provincial Assembly in July. An election will take place to fill the vacancy on the Provincial Council. The electors will be the members of the Stream 2 Leadership stream. The new Councillor and Fr. Damian Bresnahan (from Omagh) will assist Fr John until that time. All of them are commended to your prayers.

Martin Kavanagh, SMA Communications Director

Fourth Report XX SMA General Assembly

April 18, 2013

17 April 2013 – 9^th day of the XX SMA General Assembly

Meeting with San Egidio community

We continued our reflection on mission in today’s world.

Today was marked with a visit to the San Egidio community in Trastevere. Its aim was to listen to the witness from some of the San Egidio community who are involved with Africa, with a view that the SMA would establish some means of collaborating with them.

The San Egidio community, founded in Rome in 1968 by Andrea Ricardi, gathers Catholic clergy and laity together. It objectives are to pray, witness to the Gospel, show concern and help to the poor and engage in the service of peace.

Prayer is the fundamental work of the community. Meditating on the Word of God, the community members, sisters and brothers, engage in an authentic conversion which leads to a greater love for all. Prayer is the source of their communion and fraternity. During our visit we had time to pray with the community in the basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere with the intention of remembering the mission of the SMA.

Living and spreading the Word of God are one and the same. Spreading the Word necessitates concrete action: befriending the poor and at the service of peace.

San Egidio’s BRAVO Project (Birth Registration for All Versus Oblivion) seeks to ensure the civil registration of all children. They work to make civil authorities and people of good will aware of the consequences of the non-registration of children and the effects this can have on countries in terms of their stability and development, notably in Africa. Burkina Faso, Rwanda and Burundi have already benefitted from this project and which needs to extend to other countries. The SMA has also, for several years, been involved in a similar initiative among the Pygmy peoples of Central Africa.

Another aspect of San Egidio’s work relates to HIV/Aids. The community provides care and assistance to those with the infection or are affected by HIV, particularly women. They seek to reduce the maternal mortality rate and help bring about an HIV-free generation in Africa.

Particular attention is given to elderly people, especially those suffering as a result of the Rwanda genocide.

In the service of peace in the world, particularly in Africa, San Egidio was deeply involved in the peace process which came about in Mozambique with the signing of a peace accord on 4 October 1992, bringing an end to that civil war. They have also been involved in the conflicts in Algeria, Central African Republic and Guinea Conakry.

San Egidio works strongly to counteract an « Afro-pessimism » and seeks to present a positive image of the continent, convinced that Africa is the hope of the world and of the Church of the future. Certain SMA units already collaborate with San Egidio, for example the Italian Province.

SMA confreres are involved with San Egidio in their parishes in Africa, especially in the Ivory Coast.

We concluded our meeting with a time of prayer and a meal provided by the community to us.

– An edited translation by the SMA Communications Director from the original French text of Fr André N’koy Odimba

Cause of the Founder – XX SMA General Assembly Report

April 17, 2013

Father Bruno Semplicio SMA, Postulator, presented his Report to the General Assembly on the Cause for the canonization of our Founder, Bishop Melchior de Marion Brésillac.

The context of the Cause

The rather complex procedure needs to be studied to understand the necessary procedures. There are also a large number of Causes under consideration and the examination of each takes time. When the particular Servant of God has a great reputation of holiness among the faithful, is the subject of great devotion, accompanied by numerous graces obtained through his intercession, the Cause moves easier and quicker.

And if there is such an extraordinary grace which can be submitted as a possible miracle, this makes the procedure move in the quickest way possible. This needs faith: the simple and humble faith of God’s people who pray to the Lord. And it also requires the cooperation of our SMA confreres.

The current situation of the Cause of the Founder In our case, the time we are spending is not wasted when we take account of the following points and the present state of the process because:

1) Due to several circumstances, we waited for more than a century before the introduction of the Cause. Normally it should be done in less than thirty years.

2) Bishop de Brésillac was little known in the SMA and outside, sometimes even ignored.

Today our Founder is much better known not only by us but also by lay people who are close to us as friends and benefactors. Various publications have made him known. Different celebrations we had in recent times and also the commitment of many confreres, particularly young confreres, have made him better known.

On the usefulness or necessity of the Cause, let me say that I consider it especially a means to engage in how we respond to God’s call to holiness and our call to a fruitful missionary life. The life and teaching of Bishop Brésillac and his intercession can help us.

In this context, we have the document entitled “Our Founder today”, sent three times a year (to commemorate the beginning of Lent, 25 June and 8 December). They are texts written by different confreres.

There is also the recently published book in French “Spirituality for the mission” which a number of confreres have already received. I wrote this book with the collaboration of thirteen members. It can be a practical tool for our spiritual and missionary formation and at the same time it is an answer to one of the questions that justifies a Cause.

The question we ask witnesses is: “Do you believe that the Servant of God still has a message to communicate to the world in which we live?”

To date, the answer we have is ‘yes’, especially in terms of a missionary’s personal spirituality and the involvement of his community in the mission in the name of Jesus Christ, and that of His Church.

The progress of a cause like ours depends largely in making him known, the constant interest, the firm commitment of all SMA confreres and especially those who are engaged in formation, mission animation and pastoral work. Contact with them is very useful to me.

Fr Bruno Semplicio SMA , Postulator – Rome 11th April 2013

Third Report XX SMA General Assembly

April 17, 2013

The SMA, for what mission ?

A week after the start of the General Assembly this is the question which the delegates are now trying to define.

The title echoes the Questionnaire which all SMA members received several months ago in preparation for GA13).

Our mission will address the challenges, priorities and plans for SMA mission for the coming six years.

Our work, in groups and plenary sessions, was guided by the following priorities :

– An insistence on the traditional mission of the SMA which comes from the Founder, Bishop de Brésillac : Primary Evangelization and a presence with the most abandoned. At the same time as we seek a consensus on what these terms mean we also take note that they have a geographic and sociological understanding.

– In dealing with the above we need to be attentive to the following :

armed conflicts;

religious extremism (especially in the Muslim areas);

the need to protect children and vulnerable adults;

involvement in Justice & Peace and Environmental issues;

promoting greater solidarity among peoples and ourselves;

our need to be more transparent in the use of resources (material and personnel) and our interpersonal relationships.

– The necessity today to work with the local Churches, and not for them. In collaboration with other religious institutes, the SMA will seek ways to respond to the pastoral needs of these Churches through the formation of clergy and lay persons, and through new methods of evangelization, particularly media, psychological accompaniment, inter-cultural dialogue…

This work of the Groups will finish on Wednesday, 17 April. It will help us in formulating a detailed text in relation to Challenges and Priorities, and help us define an Action Plan to be put into practice over the coming six years.

The above report is an edited translation from the original French text by Fr André N’koy Odimba

Second Report XX General Assembly

April 16, 2013

We began the second day of the General Assembly (GA) with Morning Prayer of the Church.

It was a day for Reports: the Financial Report from the Bursar General and presentation of the different Society units (Generalate, Provinces, Districts and Districts-in-formation) and the GA participants. We also had to adopt the Methodology to be used at the GA.

There are delegates from six Provinces (Lyon, Ireland, Great Britain, Holland, USA and Italy), three Districts (Spain, Canada, Strasbourg), 6 Districts-in-formation (Bight of Benin, Great Lakes, Gulf of Guinea, India, Philippines and Poland). A Lay missionary from the United States represents all SMA Lay missionaries.

From the presentation the following points are worth highlighting:

– The ever present desire on the part of our members to continue the missionary work begun 156 years ago by Bishop Marion Brésillac

– The desire to provide young people with the right qualities needed for the mission, the necessity for good academic training, a simple lifestyle and spirituality rooted in Christ.

– The desire to increase collaboration between units, particularly in the areas of personnel management, in initial and ongoing formation work, in mission animation and challenges of mission in Africa and beyond Africa.

– Concern of the young units regarding financial self-sufficiency, their efforts to reach the level recommended by the 2007 General Assembly: i.e. that each unit must source 50% of its budget locally.

– The ageing of members in the older units is compensated by the abundance of vocations in the Districts-in-formation. It was noted that 2/3 of our membership is from the northern hemisphere.

A friendly and fraternal environment is present during our sessions. Your prayers support the common will of the whole Society to always go forward.

XX SMA General Assembly Reports

April 11, 2013

The XX SMA General Assembly is into its final week of deliberations. This week the delegates will elect the Vicar General and Councillors to assist Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll in his leadership of the Society throughout the world. Let us pray the guidance of the Holy Spirit on the delegates that they will elect the best possible team for the coming six years.

They must also finalise the Action Plan for the 2013-2019 period.

Read below the different reports we’ve received from Fr Andre Nkoy Odimba SMA about the deliberations and other activities during the General Assembly. Click on the following links to read his reports…

First Report. Second Report. Third Report Report on the Cause of the Founder Fourth Report Monday 22 April homily Fifth Report – 25 April Sixth Report – 26 April Seventh Report – 27 April Eight Report – 29 April

If God calls you to be a missionary don’t stoop to be a King

March 31, 2013

On Saturday, the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Lagos remembered the celebration of the first Mass in modern times in Nigeria. The celebrant was Fr Francesco Borghero, a member of the Society of African Missions (SMA). It took place in the home of an Italian trader in the city. At the close of the 150^th Anniversary Year, His Grace Archbishop Alfred Martins celebrated Mass in St Leo’s Catholic Church in Ikeja (itself built by SMA priests in the 1980’s). A veteran of 46 years in the Archdiocese of Lagos, Fr Eddie Hartnett (from Cork City) was given the task of preaching on the occasion.

Herewith is a shortened edition of his 45 minute homily, (part of which he sang).

Greetings!

Your Grace, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos, Your Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie (in absentia), Bishop Albert Fasina, the Bishop of Ijebu Ode Diocese, Monsignor Christopher Ajala, the Vicar General and Administrator of Abeokuta Diocese, Rt. Rev. Monsignor John Aniagwu, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Lagos, Episcopal Vicars, Major Religious Superiors, Very Rev Fr Maurice Henry SMA and Very Rev Fr Reginald Nwachukwu SMA, Rev. Monsignori, Brother Priests, Religious Sisters, Catechists, Family Vocation Members of the SMA, Friends of the SMA, and all you people of God.

Welcome! E kaa bo! Sannu De Zua! Nno o! Mi ku tho zonlin! Bienvenue! You are all welcome o!

The 150^th Anniversary celebration is really three celebrations-in-one:

The 1^st Holy Mass in Lagos on the 9 March 1862;
The celebrant of that 1^st Mass, Fr Francesco Borghero SMA, was the first SMA Missionary to arrive in Nigeria;
The coming of the Catholic Church to Nigeria in the Modern Era.

We are familiar with the Words of Jesus in Luke 9:12 “If you put your hand to the plough … do not look back”. I am sure we will be forgiven if we look back a little after 150 years! We also hope to talk about “the present” – today and tomorrow!

I am very conscious of the part played by many missionary societies, the Religious Orders and the diocesan clergy, in the evangelization of the peoples of Nigeria. They are part of the History of the Catholic Church in Nigeria.

For the duration of today’s celebration, the SMA Religious Superiors have given me the authority to make everyone present here today honorary members of the SMA. So I salute you one and all. Congratulations and Celebrations. E ku odun ojo oni o!

These celebrations started one year ago today in the SMA Apostolic Communities throughout Nigeria, and many Diocesan ceremonies have also taken place. These ceremonies marking the 150^th Anniversary of the First Holy Mass by the First SMA Missionary Priest in Nigeria, are not only for the SMA Fathers, but they are for the Catholic Church throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria.

The first Catholic Bishop ever in Nigeria was Bishop Jean Baptiste Chausse SMA, who was consecrated Bishop on 12 July 1891; the first indigenous Nigerian Priest, Rev Fr Paul O. Emechete, was ordained on 6 January 1920, by Bishop Broderick, SMA. Today we have over 20 million Catholics in Nigeria. These events all look back to the beginnings of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, in the Modern Era, and especially to the 1^st Holy Mass ever celebrated in Lagos. To God be the Glory! Amen!

The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, His Grace Most Reverend Ignatius Kaigama sent a Letter to every Bishop in Nigeria, informing them of the 150^th Anniversary Celebrations. We are happy today to have with us as the Chief celebrant, His Grace Alfred Adewale Martins, the Archbishop of Lagos. We are grateful. E pe fun wa o!

We begin now in the ancient Kingdom of Badagry, where they pride themselves in saying that Christianity first came to Nigeria through the Atlantic Sea Front at Badagry. This town, on the south west corner of Nigeria, was one of the Slave ports in history and the descendants of the slaves began returning to where the slaves left Nigeria “on the road of no return.”

A young Baptist Minister came to see me one day in the Parish House at Badagry. He told me that they were taught in Theological College that the Catholic Church was the First Church to bring Christianity to Nigeria in the 15^th to the 18^th Centuries: to Warri, Benin, Borno, and Katsina! Is the story from Badagry a correct one? I answered that he was right as regards the beginnings of Christianity in Nigeria in the early centuries; but Badagry were right in saying that Christianity first came to Nigeria in the “Modern Era” when the Methodist Church first arrived there in September 1842. Then the CMS Church – the Anglican Church – came in December 1842; the Baptists in 1850 and the Catholic Church in 1862.

The Methodist Church and the Baptist Church were here in Nigeria twenty years before the Catholic Church in the “Modern Era”

The late Fr. Joe Kenny, OP, a great Arabic scholar and historian, wrote a book on “The Catholic Church in Tropical West Africa”, which dealt with the arrival of the Catholic Church in Nigeria in the early Centuries. Another great Dominican, Fr. Joe Kenny, died recently. May His soul Rest in Perfect Peace! I went to see him early last year, and in our discussion on the History of the Catholic Church in the early centuries in Nigeria and again in the “Modern Era” Fr. Kenny OP remarked that the ‘mandate’ to bring the Catholic Church to Nigeria and establish it after fading out for many years before that, was given to the SMA Fathers. Sure, there were some Catholics in Nigeria, but no one was given the ‘mandate’ to re-establish the Church, except the SMA Fathers. When they came and celebrate the Eucharist in the area that was entrusted to the care of the SMA Fathers, which was the “Vicariate Apostolic of Dahomey” and later called the “Vicariate Apostolic of Benin Coast” then that date in History was taken as the beginning of the Catholic Church in Nigeria in the “Modern Era.” Fr Francesco Borghero SMA arrived in Lagos on 8 March 1862 and celebrated the First Mass in Lagos the following day. “He was the first SMA Missionary to arrive in Nigeria although Rev. Fr. Irenee Laffitte SMA, made a stopover in Lagos as a visitor on his way to Ouidah in September 1861. The visit of Fr. Borghero SMA was a planned Missionary Breakthrough.”

Fr. Francesco Borghero SMA celebrated the 1^st Holy Mass in Lagos Island on 9 March 1862 in a house belonging to the Carrena family, who were Italian like Fr. Borghero. A journalist captain, Richard Burton writing in the 19^th century says that the “the Carrena House was one of the Finest in Lagos, fronting the water, near the Wesleyan Mission House, then the Wesleyan Chapel … … then the Church Mission House”

This description locates the place of the 1^st Mass on Lagos Island, where the Cathedral Parish of Holy Cross stands today. The First Mass was not celebrated in the area of Elegbata as some people mentioned. Elegbata did not feature for a number of years later.

Fr. Borghero said of Lagos: “This City is the most important on the Coast and the natural centre for a mission.”

It is worth noting that Fr. Borghero never met the Catechist and Prayer leader, Pa Antonio or Padre Antonio as he was fondly called. The story of Pa Antonio asking Fr. Borghero to recite the Rosary in the Portuguese language, and then recognizing him as a Catholic Priest and then welcoming him to Lagos is not recounted in Fr Borghero’s Diary. It is a “Lagos Story” made up from some “gossip” or other. Even then Lagos was a well known place for ‘isokuso’ or ‘gossip!’ Fr. Bouche SMA was the first Priest to meet Padre Antonio in 1868, and he went to his house, and he was surprised that the gossip that people were saying about Pa Antonio was untrue. He did not celebrate the Mass in his house or keep a tabernacle there! He only baptized people when necessary, and celebrated the funerals of the Catholic members.

In a letter to Fr Augustin Planque SMA, the SMA Superior General, Fr Bouche praised Pa Antonio for his prayer leadership and devotion to the Catholics.

Fr Borghero celebrated the first Mass in Badagry on 2 October 1863 and first Mass in Epe on 17 April 1864. The first Mass in Abeokuta was celebrated on 15 May 1864. We hope that celebrations will be held in Badagry and Epe to honour the 150^th Celebrations in these towns.

We often say that Nigeria is for Nigerians and Lagos is for Lagosians! Lagos Na wa o! If you are born in Lagos or grow up there, it confers on you a lifelong capability for “Survival” from which one always benefits! Fr Borghero was a ‘survivor’ having been to Lagos in those years.

Lagos has its own Oriki or Praise name:

Eko Akete,                  –           Lagos
Ilu Ogbon,                   –           Capsule of wisdom
A Ro’mi sa,                 –           Bedecked with unending stretches of water
Legbe legbe,                –           swinging precariously,
A ro de de,                  –           from side to side
Ti ko le ja,                   –           never to crash
Oba ma pa ’lu Eko re o!          –         May the good Lord never destroy Lagos
Eko o ni baje o!                       –         Lagos will never spoil (never be destroyed)

Lagos was a Station Church of Porto Novo in 1862 and remained so for some years. Fr Noche SMA who came to relieve Fr Borghero in Lagos died suddenly and there were difficulties in establishing an SMA team in Lagos in the early years. In the first 50 years of Mission, we know of at least 49 SMA Priests who died after one year on Mission, and 83 SMA Priests died before they reached 30 years of age.

Chief Harrison, the Secretary to the Akran of Badagry queried me one day, and asked if the Missionaries who came after the early Missionaries had heard the stories of what happened to their predecessors? ‘The First Missionaries came and they died after a year or two. More came and they died, still more came and they died too. Did they not hear the story of those who came before them, and yet more came again and again! I can never understand this!’ I told him that I find it very it hard to understand too! If I knew the story of the early SMA missionaries before I went to the Seminary, I am not sure that I would have come here too.

Today, there are 37 Nigerian SMA Priests and 3 Deacons, and we have 236 SMA Seminarians from all over Africa and beyond. In Nigeria today we have 60 SMA Missionaries on mission all over the country, coming from different African and European lands, including my own country.

Bishop Marion de Brésillac founded the SMA Fathers on 8 December 1856. Less than three years later, June 1859, he and all his companions died in Freetown, Sierra Leone, after spending just six weeks in the country. They died from Yellow Fever.

Originally a diocesan priest he worked for two years in his home town before he got the call to go on Mission in India. He joined the Paris Foreign Missionaries (MEP). Before he went to India, he wrote these resolutions, which still come back to inspire every SMA over the years:

“To be a Missionary with all my heart
To neglect nothing for the advancement of God’s work
To seize every opportunity for preaching God’s Word
To use every means I have – to contribute towards the formation of a native clergy – and it is there that I implore your blessing, o my God”

The SMA Fathers now work in seventeen African countries, often teaching in Minor Seminaries and Major Seminaries where diocesan Priests are trained for the priesthood. The Founder of the SMA from the beginning associated the SMA with the promotion and training of the indigenous clergy where ever the SMA go and work in Africa.

There are other SMA members besides Fr Francesco Borghero SMA in the challenge to establish the Catholic Church in Nigeria in the Modern Era:

Fr Jean Marie Coquard SMA in Abeokuta;
Monsignor Carlos Zappa SMA and Fr (later Bishop) Thomas Broderick SMA in Asaba and the Upper Niger;
Fr Cermenati SMA in Okenne and Kaduna;
Bishop Jean Baptiste Chausse SMA in Lagos;
Bishop P J Kelly SMA in Benin City;
Fr Julius Poirier SMA, Prefect Apostolic of the Upper Niger;
Fr Theodore Holley SMA in Oyo, Ibadan, and Abeokuta;
Fr Kevin Carroll SMA in Lagos, Borgu, Gitata, and Ilorin to name but a few!

I must also mention Monsignor Stephen Adewuyi in Yewa Land. The older SMA missionaries often spoke of Monsignor Adewuyi in the same way as they spoke about the first SMA missionaries in Nigeria. Monsignor Adewuyi was a real missionary, always reaching out to new areas of evangelization, gifted with languages and a humble touch with the people he loved so well. He was often seen as a match-maker for young people! His name and fame have been passed on from one generation to another. He was at one stage asked to be the Bishop of Porto Novo and even forty years after his death, some Catechumens mentioned his name as the Archbishop of Lagos!

After Lagos, the Church opened up new Missions in Abeokuta, Lokoja, Asaba, and Ibadan before the year 1900. After 1900, Shendam, Ubiaja, Ondo, Ekiti, Ilorin and Ijebu-Ode. And in 1920 in Kano, Kaduna and Jos.

The success of the first thirty years of Mission was the ordination of the first ever Bishop in Nigeria, (1891) in the person of Bishop Jean Baptiste Chausse SMA of the Apostolic Vicariate of Benin Coast which included Lagos. The success of the next twenty years of Mission in Nigeria in Modern Era, produced the first ever Nigerian Priest in the person of Rev Fr Paul O. Omechete from Benin, ordained in January 1920 by Bishop Broderick SMA.

The first coming of the Catholic Church to Nigeria in the early 15^th to 18^th centuries were never established enough to produce a Bishop or an indigenous Nigerian Priest! These sign-posts on the road to establish the Catholic Church in Nigeria, came in the Modern Era of Evangelization, that began with the First Mass in Lagos 150 years ago!

At a recent marriage in Lagos I expressed the wish, at the end of the Wedding Mass, to get to know the family of the groom of the day, as we socialized afterwards; the Bride and her family were well known to me for years. When I met the father of the groom, who was a professor in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, he said “I know you”. I asked where had we met? I don’t seem to remember now. He replied, “I know you, when you said you are SMA, I know you well he said; when I went to school at Loyola College in Ibadan I was taught by SMA Fathers”, and he began to name some of the SMA Priests for me. Then he said that when he went to the University of Ibadan, one of his professors was an SMA Father, the late Fr Jim Foley SMA. “I know you well Father!” We shook hands as if we knew each other for years.

So many people in Nigeria know the SMA Fathers through Schools, Colleges of Education, and Institutions of Higher learning, either founded by the SMA Fathers or staffed by the SMA Fathers. One member in Holy Cross Cathedral, the Late Pa George often used to say, when we knew the SMA Fathers, the SMA meant “Senior MA!”

In the town of Badagry where I live, the first Grammar School there was founded by the SMA Fathers in partnership with the government, and all the first principals of Badagry Grammar School were SMA Fathers, and their names are still remembered up to the present day.

Other places I could mention are St Gregory’s College and St Finbarr’s College in Lagos, up to St John’s College in Kaduna, over to Immaculate Conception College in Benin City, to St Patrick’s in Asaba, St Thomas Teachers Training College, Ibusa, and St Leo’s Teachers Training College, Abeokuta, to mention but a few.

The SMA Fathers invested heavily in education whenever they went throughout Nigeria. The Topic: “The SMA Fathers and Education in Nigeria” would need another forum, and hopefully that history will be written one day soon.

We thank the people of Nigeria who welcomed the missionaries down the years, and accepted them as messengers sent by God. The missionaries also learnt a lot from the people about God, and for this we are always grateful.

I had just arrived in Ebute Metta in 1970, and was in the Parish office one day, when a young girl (17 years old) came and greeted me. She then sat down and asked to book the Sunday Mass for a “Thanksgiving.” I said that it is always great to thank God. I asked her why she is thanking God today? She mentioned that she had just finished secondary school and done her WAEC Examination. I asked her how was the result in the examination, thinking she might have done very well to come and thank God! She said that she failed; she did as well as she could and she was thanking God because “God had helped her to do her best!” Since then, over the years, I have never seen anyone else to come and thank God ‘because you fail’ in something or to thank God because he helped them to do their best! Sure, God will help you to do your best but no more! Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said: “Do your best, it may not be enough for some people, never the less, do your best!” Anyway, what is “failure” and what is “success?” Someone who is a failure today can become a success tomorrow! And someone who is a success today can become a failure tomorrow. Who can measure failure or success?

When we were in the language school shortly after coming to Nigeria, we were given the wisdom of the elders, when they said; ‘if you want to learn a new language, start by learning one or two songs in that language, to get the rhythms and the tune of the words in the language.’ Shortly after I arrived in Lagos, one of the popular musicians, known as the ‘Miliki King’ – Ebenezer Obey – brought out this song and after learning a great lesson in life from the girl who thanked God for helping her to do the best, I decided to learn the song:

“Ko so’gbon to le da
Ko si’wa to le hu
Ko so’na to le gba
T’o le fi te aye lo’run o
Ile aye fun igba die ni o
Omo araye, e se rere o
Do your best and leave the rest.”

I now want to return to the Kingdom of Badagry, to Topo Island in fact, to the place where the First experimental agricultural Farm was established by the SMA Fathers in July 1876 when Fathers Poirier and Baudin with Brother Elias started the Farm with coconut trees, cattle, sheep and goats. The Topo Experimental Farm was a great help to the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Lagos and helped to fund many Church projects: the Badagry Grammar School; the Minor Seminary at Oke Are in Ibadan; Mount Carmel School in Ebute Metta and the Boys School and Girls’ Teacher Training College on Topo Island.

On Topo Island, there is a cemetery and Church building. Many of the early missionary and first Catholics of Badagry are buried in that Island cemetery, overlooking the lagoon on one side, and the Atlantic ocean on the other side. A few years back, the OLA Sisters from Southern Nigeria came to spend one day on Topo Island and celebrate the Holy Mass especially for all the OLA Sisters who are buried there. Towards the end of the ceremonies, an elderly Sister came forward to address everyone present and took out of her pocket, what seemed an old letter, and she began to read from the paper:

Sr Monique OLA, died 25 years ago, buried here on Topo Island; Sr Jean Marie, OLA died 23 years ago buried here on Topo Island; Sr Marie Terese OLA died 27 years ago buried here on Topo Island and on and on, she read out names and the ages of the Sisters who were buried on Topo Island. Nearly all of these Sisters died when they were 20 years or 30 years of age. (Editors note: this letter goes back to the early 1900’s)

Then the Sister put the paper back in her pocket and spoke to all the Sisters present: These Sisters who are buried here on Topo Island had a ‘Dream’, and they were ready to pay the price to make their ‘Dream’ come true. Sisters of today, do you have a ‘Dream?’ What is your ‘Dream’, and if you have a ‘Dream’ are you ready to pay the price to make the ‘Dream’ come true? All eyes were down cast in case the old Sister might ask any of us to speak!

I don’t tell my Dreams to others, but I will make an exception today:

I have a dream that

Catholics everywhere in Nigeria will use this Year of Faith to deepen their friendship with Christ and find it a great joy to tell others about their friendship with Him;
The Priests and Religious will go out every week to teach the Faith and the new Catechism of the Catholic Church – having learnt so much for so many years, the time has come for us to pass on our knowledge of the faith to others;
The Church in Lagos will send a team of Priests on Mission to another African country and we will see the Archbishop of Lagos blessing them as they bring the story of the Church in Lagos, after 150 years, to another lands and bring back the story of Catholic Church in another lands and enrich the Catholic eye in Lagos;
Being blessed for over 150 years, receiving missionaries, priests, religious, the time has come to receive the blessing of Giving, because “it is blessed to give than receive”;
The SMA Fathers when they look into the future of the Society of African Missions will take up a new Apostolate for all the children and youth caught up in “Human Trafficking” Today, after the drug trafficking, the next worst crime in our world today is “Human Trafficking” where very small children are trafficked for their organs and so many of our youths are sent off into slavery and prostitution.

We often say in Lagos, when you cannot find the word or the way to say something, the best way is to use a proverb: “ti oro ba sonu, owe ni a fi n wa”. All that I have been saying can be summed up in this proverb “If God calls you to be a Missionary, don’t stoop to be a king!”

My final words in song, are a salute to Fr Francesco Borghero SMA and Monsignor Stephen Adewuyi, both of whom worked with the Ogu people in the Kingdom of Badagry, and appreciated the language and the culture of the people:
Leblanu no we Oto, Jehova sie                                } 2ce
A whlen mi je egbe, gigo n kpa                                } 2ce
Me kpo kpo ni wa sen Oto, Gbigbo Wiwe              } 2ce
Me da’yihon me lekpo
we miule to kpe do na
Mi na kpa gigo na ’to
Ho do e na se                                                              } 2ce
A whlen mi je egbe, gigo n kpa

God our Father is a merciful God
To have kept us till this day
We glorify you
All Nations come to worship God
In the Spirit and truth
The Creator of the Universe is the one we appreciate
We glorify the Father and say amen
To have kept us till this day
We glorify you!

Fr Billy O’Sullivan SMA Funeral Prayers

March 29, 2013

Prayers for the Dead and Rosary for the late Fr Billy O’Sullivan SMA were recited at the community Oratory in Blackrock Road on the evening of Tuesday, 26 March 2013. There was an overflow congregation. One person remarked afterwards that Fr Billy was always good to draw a crowd.

The prayers were led by the Community Leader, Fr Colum O’Shea.

Usually on occasions like this Fr. Billy would be in the thick of things, meeting people, making sure everyone is comfortable, offering people tea and ‘currantie cake,’ leading the rosary.

He was so full of life and energy it makes it all the harder to accept his death.

We all have our own memories of Fr. Billy.

My first contact with him was way back in 1961. I was a Mass server here in Blackrock Road and Fr. Billy appeared on the scene – a fine young man, tall dark and handsome.

He retained his youthful looks and youthfulness throughout his life. That might have had something to do with his long association with the Boy Scouts.

1961 was the beginning of his years as SMA Vocations Director. While he will be remembered far and wide for the great success he enjoyed in this ministry, he also ministered in other capacities in Nigeria, in England as well as in Ireland.

Our paths crossed again in the SMA seminary in Ibadan where we soldiered together for a number of years.

Fr. Billy was good company, a great man to tell a story and he had plenty of them. This ability to tell a good story seems to be a family trait.

He also had a great memory, he could recall incidents that happened years ago, and not only that but could put a date and a time on them.

He was a dedicated priest, a great missionary. One lady remarked earlier today that “Fr. Billy was a great priest and a good tonic.”

He was a man of faith. He was a man who cherished his faith above everything else. He had great devotion to Divine Mercy, Padre Pio, Our Lady.

He was very much a family man. He took great interest in his family and extended family. During recent weeks, when Fr. Billy was in hospital his family turned out in numbers to show their love and affection for him. He was never on his own. I’d imagine he never felt alone. If he had been able to communicate he would probable have asked ‘do ye have any homes to go to.’

He was a proud Blackpool and Glen Rovers man.

For the past seven years he was on the staff of this house. He was ever ready to drive people to the hospital or station or airport at any time of the day or night. He was most generous and obliging.

He will be sadly missed by the community here and by his family and friends. We offer our sympathy to his sisters, Eileen, Kathleen, Noreen; his brothers Michael and Jerry, to their respective spouses and families.

May he rest in peace.

Fr Billy O’Sullivan SMA Funeral homily

March 29, 2013

Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll, SMA Provincial Leader, was the Chief Celebrant at the concelebrated Funeral Mass for Fr Billy O’Sullivan SMA at St Joseph’s SMA Church, Wilton, Cork on Wednesday, 27 March 2013.

The Readings for the Mass were taken from Job 19:1, 23-25; Hebrews 4:1-5, 11 and Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Fr Fachtna preached the following homily at the Mass

All things are born and die in time, but only in the case of human beings is an awareness of temporality constitutive of their identity. Without remembrance, we know not who we are, can make no plans and have no hope. We learn, or fail to learn, to live and speak the truth – and truthfulness takes time. This quotation from the theologian, Nicholas Lash, contains two elements that were central to Billy O’Sullivan’s life: the importance of remembering and the commitment to truthfulness. It is through remembering we know who we are. Billy O’Sullivan had an extraordinary capacity for remembering. He could describe an event that happened decades ago, sometimes an event that might appear to others to be rather inconsequential, in the most precise detail to the last hour and minute of the day. We often smiled at the precision of recall; this was vintage Billy.

I think Billy would enjoy the fact that we present his body back to the dust from which it came, as his spirit continues on in God, during Holy Week, the most sacred week of the year. We are about to embark on the re-enactment of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the central dramatic expression of our whole faith, a faith that Billy lived for eighty years and one to which he dedicated his life as a missionary priest for just short of 56 years. More than once have I shared in Billy’s telling of the precise place he was prostrated in the Dromantine chapel at the precise hour on April 7^th, 1957, the day of his ordination to SMA priesthood. It was a proud and happy day for Billy and his entire family. Billy always saw priesthood as a wonderful gift. That day he made a lifetime commitment to this gift, a commitment he was blessed to live with fidelity for the next 56 years.

We gather here this afternoon to pray Billy home to the God he strove to love. Our faith tells us that today his life is changed, not ended. In the Office of the Church yesterday, the reading of which I would be fairly sure Billy rarely missed, there was a beautiful passage from St Basil that captures our faith very well: “Before beginning this second life, we must bring the first to an end. As in the double course (where the competitors must run to the turning point and back to the start again) a halt, a brief respite separates the outward run and the return, so also for a change of life it seemed necessary that death intervene between the two lives, to make an end of all that went before and a beginning of all that follows.”

Our prayer is that Billy will be resurrected again on the last day and that we too will one day join him in paradise. This is the promise held out to us in our readings today. In the Book of Job we read: “after my awaking, he will set me close to him, and from my flesh I shall look on God”. The figure of Job in the Scriptures may well have been referring to mortal existence but with the development of faith, we believe that promise is held out into eternity.

The Hebrews reading is unequivocal in its testimony of faith. “The promise of reaching the place of rest God [has prepared] still holds good, and none [should] think they have come too late for it…. We who have faith shall find a place of rest”. Billy O’Sullivan believed that with utter conviction. He imbibed such faith from his parents and in the loving home environment around Madden’s Buildings where he grew up as the eldest child of Jeremiah and Catherine. Being born on the feast of SS Peter and Paul, it was perhaps no surprise that Billy pursued a vocation to missionary priesthood.

His vocation developed in a somewhat unconventional way. Schooled at the North Pres and then the North Mon, he then was to spend four years working in the local brewery. Billy and breweries were never bosom pals: a life-long pioneer with a certain proselytising bent, he attributed his choice to having seen too much alcohol in those years at the brewery. When the notion of missionary priesthood came into his mind he was to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to its pursuit. Having followed the traditional formation route through Clough and Dromantine he was first appointed to Kaduna in Northern Nigeria. The greater part of Billy’s time in Nigeria was given to spiritual direction of students preparing for priesthood. He was involved in this first in Jos with diocesan seminarians and later worked in the newly opened SMA Formation house in Ibadan. And he was to spend some years too in this ministry in SMA House, Maynooth. While in Nigeria he also dedicated many tireless hours caring for prisoners. His care and concern extended far beyond the normal chaplaincy service: he was present with and blessed prisoners as they walked towards execution; he organised cleaning parties for prisoner cells; along with the OLA Sisters he did countless other tasks to help prisoners live their lives with some degree of dignity.

Billy had a varied missionary career between Nigeria, Ireland and a short stint with the British Province, but there is no doubt that Billy will always be mostly identified with his eighteen years in Vocations ministry for the Province. In this work Billy – or Liam, as he was perhaps better known in the early years – is legendary. Billy could regale you with stories of those he succeeding in persuading to become SMAs and those who slipped the net. Other vocation directors were of the view that once Billy was in touch with a young man he either joined the SMA or no one at all. I think his dedication and tenacity is well captured by something his sister Kathleen said to me last week: if a young man told Billy he’d meet him at the top of Croagh Patrick at 6.30 in the morning, Billy would be there before him at six o’clock. His method was simple and straight forward – “do you want to be a missionary? If so, contact Fr Liam O’Sullivan at SMA, Blackrock Road.” He believed in sowing the seed and it was up to the Holy Spirit after that. His sowing was fruitful; a sizeable proportion of today’s concelebrants, owe our presence in SMA to Billy’s power’s of persuasion. More than one third of the membership of the Province were recruited by Billy.

Jesus says in the gospel passage of today: “It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord”, who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven”. For Billy O’Sullivan doing the will of God was intimately bound up with doing the will of his superiors, i.e. true obedience best understood as deep listening. Some of the tasks given to Billy were ones he would not have chosen for himself. His call home to Maynooth in 1992 was not what he would have chosen for himself. Having stated his own preference to remain in the Nigerian assignment he graciously undertook the role offered. Such was to be his way in subsequent appointments also.

Such a dedication was born out of a huge spirit of generosity. Colum spoke about it last night at the Rosary. Billy was a kind of unique mix: a team player who played with a very individual style. He was an SMA first and last. He nourished his priesthood in daily prayer and especially his devotion to Our Lady and in latter years to Divine Mercy. It was significant that he died half ways through Mercy hour, at 3.30pm on Monday afternoon. His last public ministry was spent at the Divine Mercy conference in Dublin; how he would have wished to celebrate again Divine Mercy Sunday in two weeks time. He will celebrate it now in the presence of Sr Faustina. He will be missed by companions and friends on the pilgrimages to Paray Le Monial and other Marian shrines.

Billy was a holy priest but he was not a ‘holy joe’. There was a spirit of wit and fun about him and a great affability. He found it easy to relate to people. He had a tendency to use wise sayings, a habit that could either irritate or amuse you depending on one’s own disposition at the time. Some of the most memorable are “wonders never cease for those who never cease to wonder” and “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.” When Billy is recalled, as he is being recalled these days in Nigeria and elsewhere, many of these saying will be recalled with joy and laughter.

His generosity of spirit was lived out too in the Boy Scout movement. It is so good to see so many of his Scout colleagues here today, and they will commemorate him with a small ceremony at the grave side. I suspect there were very few scouts that escaped the invitation to join the SMA; that fact that some did is probably a testimony to the grace of God.

This lifestyle that I have described did not happen by sheer accident. It was built on a very obvious devotion to a life of prayer. Prayer was the rock on which this sensible man built his house. Over the years rains came, floods rose and gales blew, but his house was never in fear of collapsing. It was too firmly founded on the rock of prayer.

There is one danger in all of this, of course, that one might get the impression that it was his goodness than won him salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Billy, like all people, will be saved by the free gift of God. He has not earned it; he has simply responded to it. Today we celebrate in thanksgiving that his response was faithful.

His joyous outgoing and affable presence will be sorely missed. By his blood family for whom he was always present at the key moments and was always ‘The Boss’, by his confreres in the SMA and by his wide circle of friends. The Hebrews text today told us: “God’s work was undoubtedly all finished at the beginning of the world”. Billy’s participation in God’s work in this life is now finished. It may be finished but its effects will be long-lasting. He has fought the good fight, he has run the race. May he now enjoy the rewards of his labours.

Ar dheis lamh De to raibh a anam dilis.

New Life – Alleluia Alleluia

March 28, 2013

The hours of daylight are at last getting longer. The return of light and of sun was anxiously awaited in early human society and we see signs of this in various ancient pre-historic sites of worship in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe. In fact the name Easter derived from Oestre. The ancient Saxon goddess who represented the sunrise, spring-time and fertility and the renewal of life ..

This Spring- time season also marks the great Christian feast of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The great reality of the Christian Easter is that death is more a passage than an end, because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who suffered an ignominious death rose to an altogether new life.

The journey of life through death to a new and better life, is a familiar pattern in all our lives, but perhaps particularly marked in those who for one reason or another have to flee their homes and countries, leaving all that is loved and familiar behind. Here is one of these stories:

In a forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Aimee and her baby son were held captive with 25 others. After seven days, 13 were taken to be shot – with Aimee last in the line. With her son Daniel in her arms, she saw the terrified men and women killed one by one.

But when it came to her turn, the soldiers lowered their guns. Aimee said: “I was crying. I thought I was going to die with my child. Then I heard them argue about what they would do with my child. For some reason they changed their minds. I don’t know why, only that I am alive today.” Aimee escaped from the Congo, fled to the UK.

A local voluntary service helped her adjust to life in her new home. She also regained contact with her family through the Red Cross international tracing and message services. Finally she was reunited with her children – Daniel, then eight, Rodrigue,15, and 16-year-old Nelly. Aimee said: “When I saw them at the airport it was like being transported to a fantasy world. “I dropped my bag and threw my arms around them. Even then I couldn’t believe it. To see them again was the best thing that has ever happened.”

Aimee knew the terror of facing almost certain death, and finally, the joy of receiving her life back again at a wholly new level. She had (almost) died, and now has truly experienced a Resurrection. Refugees, who have finally found safety, know the meaning of Easter from the inside.

“The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again: ‘Peace be with you.” Jn 20:20

(Story taken from internet site of the British Red Cross).

Fr Billy O’Sullivan SMA – Funeral homily

March 26, 2013

The family and many friends of the late Fr Billy O’Sullivan SMA gathered with his SMA confreres for his concelebrated Funeral Mass on Wednesday, 27 March at 2pm.

The Principal Celebrant was Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll, SMA Provincial Leader, assisted by Fathers Tomás Walsh, Eddie O’Connor, Tom Ryan (Vice Provincial of the British Province) and Vincent Lawless. There were also more than 50 other priests (from several congregations and the diocese of Cork & Ross).

Read Fr Fachtna’s homily here.

After the Mass Fr Billy’s mortal remains were laid to rest in the adjacent community cemetery. The Scouting movement, which Fr Billy was associated with for all his life, also played a part in the final obsequies at the grave. It was a fitting tribute to a man who was always ready (Bí ullamh)… and he was certainly ready when the Lord called him on 25 March 2013.

On the evening of 26 March the SMA community and others gathered in Blackrock Road for Prayers and Rosary. Fr Colum O’Shea shared some thoughts with the congregation on Fr Billy’s life. Read them here.

To read the Obituary of Fr O’Sullivan click here.

The Flower of Friendship

March 24, 2013

The Flower of Friendship

There is a flower that blossoms
In the meadows of the heart.
I met this flower out in a field
Out standing in crowds of grass.
‘Twas waiting in a January field
for the Sun’s autograph.

In Summer fields of plenty
It stood among the trees
From the palm of its opened heart
Gave perfume to ther breeze
And the nectar of its goodness
To passing honey bees.

Some flowers will wave
On sunny days
But will not last the year.
When the winds of life
Cut to the bone
They fold and won’t appear.

I saw my flower in winter fields
When other flowers had fled,
It stood among the failing grass,
Held high its petalled head.

But every flower will wilt and fade
In the meadows of the heart,
When the winds of death come up the road
Then all flowers must depart.

But the seeds have all been blown
Across the streams of death,
And in the Spring time fields of heaven
Have raised their flowering heads.

The above poem, written by Bishop Tim Carroll SMA, won Second place in a competition organised by Caring for Carers on the theme of Friendship.

Fr William (Billy) O’Sullivan SMA

March 22, 2013

The death has taken place on Monday, 25 March 2013 of Fr William (Billy) O’Sullivan at the Bon Secours Hospital, Cork. Fr Billy had been hospitalised for several weeks. Earlier today we and his family were informed that he was dying. His family were with him at 3.25pm when he died.

Billy O’Sullivan was the eldest son born to Jeremiah & Catherine O’Sullivan (née Crowley) on the Feast of Ss Peter & Paul, 29 June, 1933 at 21 Maddens’ Buildings on the northside of Cork City. He was baptised the following morning in the nearby Parish Church.

His early schooling took place at the nearby North Presentation Convent. He then went to the North Monastery but soon left to work, for four years, as an Office Boy in the local brewery. A lifelong Pioneer, when asked how he could work in the brewery and not take a drink, his response was: I saw enough of it there to last me a lifetime. During his time there, with the idea of priesthood in his mind, he went to Night classes to do his Leaving Certificate.

Armed with the necessary educational qualification, Billy responded to a call from God and entered the SMA Novitiate at Cloughballymore, Kilcolgan, Co Galway where he became a member of the Society on 2 July 1953. He undertook his theological studies at the SMA Major seminary at Dromantine, Newry. Due to his young age Billy was not ordained with his classmates (December 1956) but had to wait until 7 April 1957 for priestly ordination.

The next three years were spent in the diocese of Kaduna, Nigeria. From 1961 to 1965 he was the SMA Vocations Director in Ireland where he travelled the country seeking vocations to the missionary priesthood. And God certainly blessed his efforts. Between 1961 and 2000, Billy spent 18 of those years in this ministry.

At present the Irish Province has 191 members; and at least 70 of them were ‘recruited’ during the years when Billy O’Sullivan was on the Vocations team! It was said by the Vocations Director of another missionary Society: ‘If Billy O’Sullivan was in touch with you, you either joined the SMA or you decided not to join anyone at all’.

Billy had a simple approach to ‘recruitment’: pose the specific question to a young lad: ‘do you want to be a missionary?‘ His ad in the Christian Brothers schools magazine – Our Boys – back in the 1970’s was typical of this view. The half-page ad had the following: ‘Do you want to be a missionary? If so, contact Fr Liam O’Sullivan SMA, African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork’. No pictures, no gimmicky images. Just a simple straight question. In this age of advertising campaigns, Billy was direct and to the point. And he was like that to the end – direct in all his dealings with others.

Fr Billy was seconded to the British Province (1981-1982) as Rector of the SMA Formation House in New Barnet. After one year there he returned to Nigeria to act as Spiritual Director, first at St Augustine’s Major seminary in Jos and, in 1989, at the new fledgling SMA African Foundation Formation House in Ibadan. He continued this ministry when appointed to the SMA House in Maynooth from 1992 – 1999. From 1995 he, once again, took on the additional work of Vocations animation and, after 1999, lived at the SMA House in Ranelagh, Dublin. 2001 – 2002 was given to Mission Animation, travelling around parishes speaking about the work of mission.

The following three years were spent back in the SMA Formation House in Ibadan, built by Fr Des Corrigan SMA, as Spiritual Director. After a Sabbatical break, during which he did the three-month Spirituality programme at St Beuno’s in Wales, Fr Billy was appointed (2006) to a completely new type of work: Local Bursar at Blackrock Road. After handing on that work to Fr Eddie O’Connor he remained a member of the House staff until his retirement earlier this year.

In his remarks on the occasion of Fr Billy’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll, Provincial Leader, said that Billy’s forte was working with young people, particularly in the Scouting movement and his Vocations animation for the Irish Province. “Billy has a great generosity of spirit” was one of the phrases Fr Fachtna used about him.

Fr Billy is deeply regretted by his sisters and brothers (to whom he was always lovingly ‘the Boss’) – Eileen, Noreen, Michael, Gerry and Kathleen – as well as their families, other relatives and friends as well as his confreres in the Society of African Missions.

May he rest in peace.

Philippines District-in-formation 2013

March 18, 2013

The Philippines

The Philippines District-in-formation (DF) was formally erected in May 2001. The number of Philipino members of the Society was judged sufficient to be able to function as an independent unit of the Society, though still needing financial support, especially for its missionaries working in Ghana and Tanzania.

The SMA presence in the Philippines began in 1985. Two Irish SMA priests – Frs John McCormack SMA and Pat Kelly SMA arrived to work in a parish and seek young men who wanted to dedicate their lives to the service of Africa as SMA priests.

The Philippines, with the largest Catholic population in Asia, was chosen as the place to develop an Asian branch of the Society and could be a good source of priestly vocations.

At the same time the SMA was also considering “returning to its roots” in south India.

The Society has two Formation houses in the Philippines and has also responsibility for a parish in Las Pinas City, Metro Manila.

Parish
Good Shepherd Parish, Sanggumay Street,
Manuela Subd.
1742 Las Piñas City, M.M.

There are three priests assigned to the parish:
Fr Augustine O’Driscoll SMA (Irish Province)
Fr Tony Gelaga SMA (Philippines DF)
Fr German Patiga SMA (Philippines DF)

SMA Administration centre, Cubao

Fr Alan de Guzman SMA (DF Superior)
Fr Alan Canoneo SMA (DF Bursar)

House of Studies
SMA House of Studies, 7 Bouganvilla Street, New Manila, 1112 Quezon City.

The House is the Formation House and also the Vocations Department. As of December 2012 we have four students there – two studying Theology and two undertaking studies in Philosophy.

The formation staff:
Fr Jerson Pineda SMA
Fr Francois de Paul Houngue SMA

International Spiritual Year (ISY)
This is the location for the Spiritual Year which is an essential part of the Formation programme for all SMA students. At the end of the ISY the students are admitted to temporary membership of SMA. For the present 2012/2013 academic year there are five students – 1 each from the Philippines, Kenya and India and 2 from Togo.

There are two priests on the formation staff:
Fr Robert Sagayam (Indian DF) – Superior
Email: robertsagayam @ gmail.com

Fr Joseph Tile Nomhwange (from Nigeria, a member of the Bight of Benin DF).

Republic of the Philippines

Area: 298,100 sq. km.
Population: 84.6 million.
Population Growth Rate: 1.9%
Capital: Manila
Head of State:
President Benigno Aquino
Independence:
12 June 1898 (from Spain)
Ethnic Groups: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%
Religion: Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%

SMA involvement in the Philippines
Currently there are 10 SMA missionaries working there: 6 Filipino and 1 each from India, Ireland, Nigeria and Togo.
The DF Superior is Fr Alan de Guzman SMA who was ordained in 2003 and until his appointment in 2010 was working in Ghana.
He is assisted, as Vice Superior, by Fr Jerson Pineda SMA and Fr German Patiga SMA as DF Councillor.

The DF Bursar is Fr Alan Canoneo SMA

Contact Fr de Guzman at:
@ [email protected]

Tel: +63 2 5845162

Filipino SMA missionaries minister in Ghana and Tanzania:

– Fr Roy Marana is on the Formation House staff at Sowutuom in Ghana.

– Fathers Raulyn dela Pena Estalane and Julieto de Casapao are in pastoral work in Tanzania.

First Mass of Fr Borghero in Lagos celebrated

March 14, 2013

The Church in Lagos came out in style on Saturday 9 March 2013, at St Leo’s Ikeja, to commemorate with the SMA the first Mass celebrated in Nigeria in modern times. On 9 March 1862, Fr Francesco Borghero SMA celebrated Mass in the home of an Italian trader, Mr Carena near the present Holy Cross Cathedral, 151 years ago to the day. This first Mass was also the birth of the Church in Nigeria.

ABp-Alfred-Martins The principal celebrant of the Mass was the Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev Dr Alfred Martins, assisted by Bishop Albert Fasina of Ijebu-Ode and up to eighty priests. Among the concelebrating priests were Monsignors Aniagwu, Okodua, Hoteyin, Ogunmodede, Boyo and, at the age of 102, Monsignor Pedro Martins.

Many other congregations sent representatives including the St Patrick’s (Kiltegan) Fathers who were represented by Frs Pat Murphy and Tommy Hayden. Most SMA’s who could be there were present. The SMA Regional Superior, Fr Maurice Henry, from Abuja, and Fr Tom Treacy from Kano travelled long distances to honour the occasion.

Sisters even surpassed the priests in numbers with OLA Sisters led by their Provincial Sr Assumpta Mordi as well as Sisters from the following Congregations: Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, St Louis, Holy Child, Franciscans of the Immacualte Conception, Paulines and Carmelites. At least 600 others attended, which was much less than expected.

Borghero-sculpture-carried- A very moving part of the ceremony was the offertory procession when a beautifully-sculpted image of Fr Francesco Borghero SMA ‘appeared’ in a boat holding an open bible in his hands, borne aloft by six SMA seminarians accompanied by a troupe of young Nigerians in traditional dress dancing their way to the altar to the thunderous applause of the congregation. As the boat came up the Church the commentator used the words of Pope-Emeritus Benedict in his last general audience and applied them to the continuing journey of the SMA and the Church in Lagos:

“...I can say that the Lord has truly guided me, He has been close to me, and I could feel His presence every day. It has been a stretch of the Church’s journey, which has had moments of joy and light, but also difficult moments; I felt like St. Peter and the Apostles in the boat on the Sea of Galilee: the Lord has given us many days of sunshine and gentle breezes, days when the fishing has been plentiful, and there were also times when the water was rough and the wind against us, as in the whole history of the Church, and the Lord seemed to sleep. But I always knew that the Lord is in the boat, and I always knew that the boat of the Church is not mine, not ours, but it is His. And He will not let her sink. It is He who leads it, certainly also through the men he has chosen, because so He has willed it. This was and is a certainty that nothing can obscure. And that is why today my heart is filled with gratitude to God because He has never left me or the Church without His consolation, His light, His love.”

Reflecting on the journey, Archbishop Martins said that when Fr. Borghero SMA said the first Mass there was only one priest and no religious in Lagos but that now there were 120 local clergy, 78 from other dioceses and 100 religious and Society priests.

In his 45 minute homily, which deserves to be read in its entirety, Fr. Eddie Hartnett SMA gave an historical overview of the growth of the Church and the work of the SMA, not only in Lagos, but throughout Nigeria. Much to the delight of the congregation he moved effortlessly from English to Yoruba, to singing in Ogun and back again. It was a time for once, he said, to blow the SMA trumpet and he did it well but gently. An interesting point that he made was that before the SMA came on the scene there very many efforts to establish the Church which did not bear fruit as they were more or less freelance efforts. What made the SMA different was that they came with a mandate and set up structures leading to the first bishop in Lagos, Bishop Jean-Baptiste Chausse SMA in 1891 and the first Nigerian priest, Fr Paul Emechete in 1920.

He also pointed to the great contribution of the SMA to education. The letters SMA, he said, act as a kind of passport. When you tell people that you are an SMA some who are not Catholics will say, “You are an SMA, I was educated by the SMA, I am an SMA too. What can we do for you?”

Towards the end of the Mass Fr. Reginald Nwachukwu SMA, Superior of the Bight of Benin, announced that the Archbishop-emeritus of Lagos, His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie, had been admitted to Honorary membership in the SMA by the SMA Superior General and Council. Archbishop Martins accepted this honour on behalf of the Cardinal, who is in Rome for the Papal Conclave. Much to the delight of all present Archbishop Martins announced that henceforth the Cardinal will be addressed as His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie, SMA.

In the very colourful brochure produced for the occasion, the Cardinal himself spoke of his connection with the SMA and paid tribute to the work of our missionaries: “My association with the SMA began in 1936… The association continues even in retirement and I believe it is going to be a lifelong affair, call it a romance, if you will. It is stating that much of what has happened to me over the past 76 years plus, I owe to priests of the Society of African Missions. We have journeyed together and it has been an eventful and highly rewarding journey indeed…What the SMA has achieved in Lagos and Nigeria in the past 150 years is the stuff of legend.”

The Mass lasted just over three hours and was followed by a reception in the parish hall, not a “chicken and jollof rice affair” but a full sit down meal with a variety of dishes: European, Nigerian and Chinese and different types of drinks. At the meal each guest was presented with a Borghero SMA 150 Jubilee bag filled with SMA mementos. When I asked Fr Val Hynes SMA, who was sitting beside me at the meal, “who paid for all this?” His reply was “The generosity of the people, money just kept pouring in.”

Great credit is due to the organizers of the celebration, Fr. Debres Trinkson SMA (India) assisted by Fr John Suakor SMA and Fr Henry Obiora SMA from Nigeria. As the SMA moves forward it seems that there is a change of crew and if the organization of this celebration is anything to go by, the SMA can sail into the future with confidence.

With the celebration taking place in St. Leo’s at Ikeja it was also a time for older people in the parish to ask about former crew members who in the past piloted the boat through Ikeja waters: Dan Murphy, who got the land for the Church, Jimmy Morrison, Hugh Ford who built the Church, Martin Kavanagh who wrote his most powerful letters from here, Willie Cusack, John Hannon, Mick Ryan and Jimmy Friel to name a few.

The day was a day of memories but, a day of celebration, a celebration of the SMA, a celebration of the Archdiocese of Lagos, but most of all a celebration of Faith, the Faith preached by Fr. Borghero SMA and those who came after him. It was, therefore, very appropriate that during the Mass the well-trained St. Leo’s choir should lead the congregation in singing with gusto the ancient Hymn “Faith of our Fathers” which the Archdiocese has adopted as its “Year of Faith Anthem”

Faith of our fathers, living still
In spite of dungeon fire and sword:
Oh, how our hearts beat high with joy,
Whenever we hear that glorious word!
Faith of our Fathers! Holy Faith!
We will be true to thee till death.

“The weak can never forgive.

February 28, 2013

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong”, Mahatma Gandhi.

We are often amazed and moved by stories about forgiveness. It is deeply moving to read individual stories of how people came to forgive those who wronged them grievously, for example during strife and wars such as those in Liberia, Rwanda and Northern Ireland, etc.

Joedafi is a Liberian who was caught up in the terrible war in is own country. He was taken prisoner, he witnessed violence, atrocities and the soldiers disregard for life – “They made us drink from human skulls, bury dead bodies, and live on leaves. Yet Psalm 23 was giving me the feeling that out of this valley of the shadow of death, God would deliver me.. I took faith in the teaching I heard, that the Lord delivers those who trust Him, and commit their ways to Him. Truly Jesus saves! While laying down one evening, as I was dozing off to sleep, I heard a silent voice call my name, commanding me to rise up and walk away from my captors. It was so commanding, I obeyed instantly, and walked past sleeping guards out onto the main road and to freedom. ….I have found new life in Jesus and have forgiven those soldiers. Though it was not easy, but I understand from the Bible that I should forgive and let go of bitterness.” Jodafi found his way to Ghana where he lives as a refugee.

This story has many similarities with that of St Patrick whose Feast Day we celebrate on March 17^th. He was captured as a young boy and brought across the sea from England to Ireland. There he was sold as a slave and spent his days and nights on the bleak hills, in harsh weather, minding sheep. But what is really remarkable about Patrick is that after he escaped and had become adult, he answered a call to return to this inhospitable land as a Christian bishop, to bring to the people the love of God. His experience had not made him bitter, but gave him a capacity to grow in understanding and compassion for those who had caused his suffering. He forgave and this forgiveness led him to greatness.

Jodafi, now a refugee, also had the strength to forgive. How many of the refugees in Ireland have experienced suffering like Jodafi? How many of them have been able to forgive? In the future how many of them will achieve greatness? We do not know – we cannot answer these questions. But, what we do know is that they left their own lands to get away from something bad, their leaving was not a choice freely made but one forced upon them. Let us not put further obstacles in their way but let us nurture the hope that they will be able to forgive and that they will achieve greatness. Let us be strong in resisting the temptation to judge or to reject – may we hear the Gospel call to welcome the stranger.

SMA in South Africa – 1870’s and 1980’s

February 25, 2013

The Society of African Missions has very deep roots in South Africa. The first SMA priests (from France) went on mission there in 1873, just seventeen years after the foundation of the Society. The following year they were entrusted with the Prefecture of Central Cape. They established five mission stations: Mossel Bay, Georgetown, Oudtshoorn, Pella and Jamestown (in St Helena). However, after some years the mission failed and the priests were reassigned to other parts of the continent.

When the French missionaries first arrived they were received by an Irish-born priest, Fr James O’Haire, acting on behalf of Bishop John Leonard. Fr O’Haire, educated at All Hallows College in Dublin, was impressed by these young enthusiastic missionaries. “A good relationship was established, and in discussions during the next few years O’Haire suggested to the French that they would best meet the demands of their English-speaking missions by recruiting Irish students for the society.” (The Irish Missionary Movement, Dr Edmund Hogan SMA, Dublin, 1990, page 78)

In general, the “Irish priests who went abroad did not go to preach the Good News to the pagans of Africa or Asia, but to minister to their emigrant compatriots. To say that they were not missionaries is not to belittle their vocation or their pastoral achievements. It can scarcely be doubted that many of these Irish priests did have the capacity to be missionaries to the pagans.” (page 284, Mission to West Africa, volume 1, Patrick Gantly SMA, Rome, 1991)

Little did the first SMA missionaries TO Africa (in the 1870’s) realise that a little over 100 years later the SMA would have missionaries FROM Africa going to all parts of the continent. Our map shows the three SMA African Districts-in-formation: Gulf of Guinea, Bight of Benin and Great Lakes.

When O’Haire first went to South Africa, in 1868, he ministered to the Hottentot (Khoikhoi) community so he was open to reach out to the local people and preach the Good News. He saw the need “to start the movement in favour of the pagan mission, to battle against the strong tide that was running against any mission other than the quasi-chaplaincy ministry to Irish settlers in Britain, the United States and elsewhere” (ibid). This was not shared by many others in the clergy there, including the bishops. He returned to Ireland and began ‘recruiting’ for the SMA to provide such missionaries. It was not easy to recruit candidates in Ireland either as the French origin of the SMA made them ‘suspect’ among many of the Irish clergy. However, O’Haire persevered in his efforts. Those he recruited went to Lyons to be trained and thus began the extension of the SMA beyond its French roots.

In 1882 the SMA handed over their missions to the Holy Ghost Congregation (CSSp) and left South Africa. It brought to a close a short chapter in the life of the Society. Or did it?

One hundred and two years later Fathers Colum McKeogh and Vincent Brennan re-established the SMA presence in South Africa. They came to staff St Clement’s parish, Modimong in the diocese of Rustenburg, in response to an invitation from Bishop Hallett CSsR. Many more SMA’s (from Ireland, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Togo) were to follow them. Today, the SMA team in the country numbers 16. Fr McKeogh has since gone to his eternal reward and Fr Brennan, thank God, is still working in Rustenburg diocese. Though most of our missionaries are still working in Rustenburg, we also have missionaries in Pretoria and Johannesburg.

The SMA presence in Pretoria Archdiocese began with the appointments of Fr Con Murphy and Fr Kevin O’Gorman to teach at the two seminaries then in existence in the Archdiocese of Pretoria. After some language preparation, Fr Murphy went to St. John Vianney’s Major Seminary in Pretoria in January 1991 until June 1996 when he was asked to join the SMA staff at the SMA House of Studies in Nairobi, Kenya where he served until 2005. From 2005 until 2012 he was in fulltime pastoral work at Our Lady Queen of Peace parish in Embulbul, in the diocese of Ngong. After a Sabbatical programme, he is now Curate at St Joseph’s SMA Parish, Wilton, Cork.

In 1991, Fr O’Gorman began teaching at the Philosophy seminaries at Hammenskraal and Garsfontein. In 1996, when all seminary training was moved to St John Vianney’s, Fr O’Gorman joined the staff there. That same year, he was elected as SMA Regional Superior for South Africa. He continued to teach at St John Vianney’s until 1999.

In 1993/4 Archbishop George Daniel and Fr John McGuinness (Belfast) paid a visit to the SMA Provincial House in Cork and requested priests for the Archdiocese. In response to this request Fr Michael Nohilly and Fr Eddie Deeney were appointed in October 1994 and, after language learning in Rustenburg, they were assigned to the parish of Marapyane about 150 kms north of Pretoria at Easter 1995. A little over two years later the Archbishop, anxious to develop an additional parish in the Montana area of the city, asked the SMA to look at possibilities for such a development.

Fr Eddie Deeney and Fr. Kevin O’Gorman and some local Catholics in the area were given the task of finding a suitable place. Eventually the site of the present Church of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple was purchased, with the help of the Archdiocese. The final deeds came through on 2 February, the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple. Hence, it was fitting that the parish should be called the Parish of the Presentation.

The first Mass was said on the verandah of the house by Archbishop Daniels with Fr. Eddie and Fr. Kevin concelebrating for a congregation of about one hundred. When the winter set in a garage at the back of the house was turned into a temporary church. The man who owned the plot left behind a large number of a rare breed of chickens. Children had great fun chasing them after Mass. One little girl was heard to say to her friend “I go to the chicken church”. One of the first achievements of the new parish was the completion of a substantial Hall for parish use.

Our photo shows the congregation at one of the two Sunday Masses.

In 2000, Fr Deeney handed over to the present Parish Priest, Fr Michael O’Leary. He is now based at the African Missions in Dromantine, Co Down. Fr O’Gorman continued in his role as Regional Superior and in November 2001 he completed his term of office and left Montana parish. He is now Lecturer in Moral Theology at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.

Over the years it has grown into a vibrant multicultural parish with increasing numbers. One of the challenges the parishioners have taken up is to reach out to others in need. The donation to MSF is just one example of same.

There are at least twelve different cultures represented in the parish and, in April 2013, an International Fun Day will help raise funds for the International Red Cross. Each group will share their particular cultural traditions and food.

In recent years Fr. Michael has transformed the parish hall into a beautiful church and has put his expertise in the area of catechetics to good use in the parish.

Check out the parish on their website: www.montanacatholicchurch.com

There are three other SMAs in Pretoria Archdiocese: Fr Evantus Kene SMA (from Nigeria) works in Sunnyside parish and Fr Michael Flattery (Clara, Co Offaly) is in Meerhof parish. The SMA involvement in seminary formation continues through Fr Hugh Lagan SMA (Maghera, Co Derry).

Cross and Scalpel now available online

February 19, 2013

Copies of Dr Edmund Hogan’s book on Fr Jean-Marie Coquard are now available for sale through the African Book Collective and Amazon.com. This most informative book traces the life of this French-born missionary among the Egba of Yorubaland. The book was officially launched at a ceremony in the Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Nigeria.

Before the official launching Fr. Hogan sketched the career of Fr. Coquard and the significant role he played in the life of Abeokuta, in particular his single-minded commitment to the planning and construction of the Sacred Heart hospital. Fr. Hogan succeeded in capturing and retaining the attention of his audience by blending scholarly research with occasional quirky asides, thanking the people for being considerate in naming a State after him (Abeokuta is in Ogun State) and forgiving them for omitting the H at the beginning, plus light-hearted references to his lack of fluency in the Yoruba language.

Fr Jean-Marie Coquard: a brief biography can be read here.

Fr. Hogan also referred to the prominent role played in Sacred Heart Hospital by the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) who first came to Abeokuta in 1886. The Sisters have been associated with Sacred Heart Hospital since 1936.

AB Sisters Nurses SMA Coquard

OLA Sisters and Nurses from the Sacred Heart Hospital are pictured with SMA members at Fr Coquard’s grave.

Sr. Consolata, OLA (Sr. Bridget Murphy from Co. Cork) arrived in Abeokuta in November 1936 and she was to be the first in a long line (which continues to the present day) of professionally-trained OLA Sisters, Irish and Nigerian, who worked in the hospital in both the clinical and administrative capacities.

Louisa Rodriguez: Fr. Hogan also paid tribute to the monumental role played by Louisa Rodriguez, a Catholic of Brazilian extraction, who had been raised with the OLAs in Porto-Novo. She had expressed a desire to become a Sister but got no encouragement. Despairing of ever becoming a Sister she expressed a wish to work without payment for the rest of her life in Abeokuta hospital. She did so with amazing ‘devotedness and self-sacrifice’ (Fr Hogan refers to Luisa in the book as Fr. Coquard’s ‘right arm’). This incredible lay woman later took private vows as a consecrated laywoman. Fr. Hogan unreservedly referred to her several times as ‘a saint’ and insisted that she deserves a special mention in the history of the Church in Abeokuta.

Mrs Katie Oruwariye laid to rest

February 13, 2013

SMA priests and seminarians gathered on 1 February last to say a final farewell to a greatly beloved member of the wider SMA family, Mrs Katie Oruwariye, who died on 10 January 2013.

Daughter of an English mother and Ghanaian father, Katie Efua Smith-Kaye was born in London on 6 October 1916. Her father died while Katie was still a young girl. Her mother, despite all the odds, raised her and her siblings on her own. After completing her secondary education Katie went to work with a German Jewish family who were preparing to go to Palestine. A chance meeting with a west African student helped turn Katie’s life away from Palestine and towards west Africa where she came in 1939.

Popularly known as Auntie Katie this remarkable Christian lady was to spend the rest of her life in Nigeria, first near the Cameroon border with her Nigerian husband and then for the rest of her life in Ibadan where she became a valued and greatly esteemed and loved member of the wider SMA family.

Read Just a little about her – a Tribute from the Nigerian Wives Association, Ibadan Branch.

Click on the following links for further information: Report on the Funeral Mass. Homily of Fr Tim Cullinane SMA.

Interview – Cork City Community Radio

February 12, 2013

Interview on Cork City
Community Radio
Following the publication of the new Muslim Christian Dialogue Resource “A Journey Together” Nura Haji and Gerry Forde, who researched and compiled the Resource, took part in an interview on Cork Community Radio discussing the publication and what it aims to achieve.

The Interview is the second part of the stations “Le Cheile” Programme. To hear the interview click on the link below. The interview begins 27 minutes into the podcast – click the play button and then move the slider to about the middle of the time track Click here

6th Sunday of Easter 2013 – Year C

February 10, 2013

5 May 2013

Acts 15.1-2, 22-29
Revelation 21.10-14, 22-23
John 14.23-29

A certain couple had 5 children and the dream of the parents for them was to show them as much love as possible, give them a good education which hopefully would lead to a good job and that whatever choice they made in life would leave each of them satisfied and happy. Obviously, this would be the dream of other parents too. But no matter how much the parents did to make their children happy it also depended on the desire of the children to be open to receive such love and help. In fact, one of the children, a boy did not respond positively and getting involved in drugs and drink as well as moving about with bad companions he was a very unhappy person and was even put in prison for awhile for stealing. The parents never gave up on him and were always there for him should he turn to them. They were wise enough to know they couldn’t force their love on him. The choice was his.

In the gospel today we have something similar. Jesus knows that he will die soon and that his disciples will need support after he has gone. He offers them some marvelous gifts that they will need when he goes – that the Father and Jesus will make their home in them; the Father will give them another Advocate who will teach them everything and remind them of all Jesus said; that Jesus will give them his peace which is not the peace the world offers. He will have to go away but shall return. But Jesus knows he cannot force his love, his gifts on them. Like the boy in the story they have to be open enough to receive the gifts Jesus is offering them. So in this passage he consoles them for the difficult times ahead. In promising the Advocate which is the Holy Spirit Jesus gives them/us the very best. We all know that in a court of law it is very important to have a good advocate or lawyer to plead our case so as to obtain justice.

Jesus assures us that this Spirit will teach us everything that we will need in difficult times. Even more, he will remind the disciples of all that Jesus had been teaching them. The Spirit is the interpreter of what Jesus is about. In going back to his Father Jesus did not leave them/us alone. The Spirit takes the place of Jesus, not in a physical sense but by a divine indwelling. With the Spirit’s help we will be able to discern in each subsequent age what God wants of us so as to be courageous in following Jesus and having the gift of knowing the way forward depending on the challenges of the time.

We see a practical application of this in the first reading. There was disagreement among the early disciples about what the Gentiles wishing to become Christians should be asked to do. It is a measure of the extraordinary openness of the leaders of the Jerusalem Church that what has been called the First General Council of the Church came out with a very liberal decision. These church leaders, Peter and the other apostles, were living in Jerusalem. Despite the Jewish faith and practice which they themselves had grown up with and which they still revered they decided it was not necessary for converts to the Way of Jesus to follow all the Jewish Mosaic Laws, especially all the ritual aspects of it. So pagan converts didn’t have to follow all the laws about the washing of hands, eating pork etc.

What they were asked to follow as regards the Jewish Law was kept to a minimum: ‘to abstain from anything polluted by idols, from blood, from fornication and from the meat of strangled animals’. That was all, no dietary regulations, no obligatory circumcision etc. In the situation of the time this was a revolutionary decision. When it was proclaimed, the elders of the Church used a very significant phrase: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us”. They didn’t appeal to tradition alone to justify their decision but to the Spirit. They trusted the Spirit would guide them to make the correct decision.

Today’s gospel is a gospel of consolation, a gospel of encouragement. But like the boy in the story will we be open to receive all the gifts God wants to give us especially those mentioned above? Just as a container cannot be filled up with pure clean water if there are many dirty leaves, bits of wood etc in it neither can we benefit from all the gifts God wishes for us if parts of our hearts are closed off from God. For example, my heart may be partly occupied with selfishness, unforgiveness, anger, fear, undue anxiety, infidelities regarding my primary relationship, my vocation etc. It is not that God will not give us all that is possible but we can reduce our capacity to receive the Spirit by whatever in our lives is contrary to God’s will. This can fill up the space in our hearts that the Holy Spirit wants to occupy.

Let us pray often for the gift of the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts, to open our minds, to convert where necessary so God can lavish us with his love and other gifts as he so desires. Like the parents above he has even a more marvelous dream for each of us. Will we allow him to realise it in us?

“Lord Jesus, thank you for the free gift of the Holy Spirit. Help us to call often on this Holy Spirit and to trust more and more his guidance in our daily lives. Amen.”

Fr. Jim Kirstein SMA

5th Sunday of Easter 2013 – Year C

February 10, 2013

28 April 2013

Acts 14.21- 27
Revelation 21.1-5
John 13.31-35

Mark was a young man of 25 who had been working in an office for 4 years when he contracted a blood disease. He was told by his doctors that he would have to get a complete change of blood which would probably clear up the problem for him. He had an unusual blood type but amazingly two coworkers had the same blood type. In spite of the amount of blood involved they were able to give the necessary quantity of blood. What surprised Mark most was the fact that he didn’t know the donors very well at that time.

These blood donors put into practice what Jesus commands us all to do in today’s gospel: ‘I give you a new commandment: ‘Love one another just as I have loved you’. What is really new in this commandment? Already in the Old Testament, God’s chosen people were given the commandment to love – ‘you must love your neighbour as yourself’. So is there any difference? Yes, there is – it is the measuring standard of love. Jesus’ love is the model and the measure of how we should love our neighbour. This is what he asks of each of us who claim to be disciples of his.

What is typical of this love of Jesus?

It is a serving love. Jesus himself said ‘I came not to be served but to serve and give my life as a ransom for many’. Jesus summed up his whole life’s attitude in the humble act of washing his disciples’ feet, in serving, in stooping down. He stoops down to all who are weak especially the poor, the hungry, the sick, the pagans, the non-Jews of his time. Above all, he cared for those whom society marginalised. He showed what attitude a true disciple of his must have in relation to women, to different ethnic or religious groups or to those whose skin colour is different etc. Jesus’ command to love is quite simple but very demanding.

It may be easy to love our families, our friends, those we like. But he commands us to love those we do not like, people who may have hurt us, people we have prejudices against, other ethnic groups etc. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus is realistic enough to know that we cannot love all others with the same affection as we love family and friends. Love at its very least means not to wish or do any harm.

Jesus’ love is a merciful, forgiving love. He is not someone who came to seek revenge: ‘Father, forgive them they do not know what they are doing’, he said on the cross as he prayed for his enemies. He came to witness to us who our Heavenly Father really is. He is not a God who seeks revenge when we sin, not a God who wants to punish us or send us to hell. Our own choices decide that – not God’s desire. God asks us to respond to his incredible love for us, not out of fear but because of gratitude by loving others.
The love of Jesus is a constant, dedicated love. He is not a moody God, who one day is in good form and at another time is in bad humour, seeking to chastise us for our wrongdoing. Jesus’ love was a total lifelong commitment to love, service and forgiveness even when the going got very difficult.

I know a man whose wife has Alzheimer’s disease. He gave up his job and is constantly there at the service of his wife’s needs. It is a very demanding life for him now. But it reveals the true love that Jesus himself lived out in practice. This man, in fact, does not believe in God but he is living a life of service and love. Going to Church, to Mass, praying rosaries, attending novenas are no guarantee of being a true disciple of Jesus unless they lead us to practise the kind of love Jesus himself lived whilst on earth.

Hopefully most of us do this daily in our family lives, in our homes even if we fail from time to time. Or do my actions witness to a lack of love, with a focus on my own selfishness etc. Jesus is not trying to frighten us or threaten us with punishment but he is saying that we and those we relate to will only have real peace and joy here and now by living his command to love. Putting it as simply as possible: ‘If you want to be truly happy here and now, seek and work for the happiness and the peace of others. If you want to be unhappy, seek your own happiness and peace only’.

In the second reading today we heard how Paul and Barnabas were faithful to their mission in spite of much persecution and suffering. Theirs was a costly love. The writer of the second reading today speaks of his vision of a new heaven and a new earth, something not yet achieved. Will you and I respond to the invitation of Jesus in bringing it about by cooperating with him in loving our brothers and sisters in our daily lives?

“Lord Jesus, it is not easy to love always as you did. It is hard to forgive those who hurt us. It is easier to be selfish at the expense of others. Help us to realise that we cannot do it alone. Give us your Holy Spirit to help us bring about your kingdom here on earth. Amen”.

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

4th Sunday of Easter 2013 – Year C

February 10, 2013

21 April 2013

Acts 13:14, 43-52
Revelation 7:9, 14-17
John 10. 27- 30

A certain young man was studying at the university as he had a great desire to become a teacher. After he qualified he had great joy in working as a teacher. It gave him a lot of satisfaction. What saddened him was that he met some of the others who had been at university with him who were also teachers. But they told him they had no great love of teaching. They did it because it was a well paid job. Obviously their hearts were not in it.

Today is traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday when the Church asks us to pray especially for vocations to the priesthood. Perhaps the need to do this has never been greater. We need priests whose hearts are in it, who are truly good shepherds to the people God has entrusted to them. I feel that I am particularly blessed by God because I really enjoy being a priest and all that this involves.

As parents you are asked to be shepherds of the family God has given you. It is the same for teachers, farmers, fishermen, doctors, lawyers, etc. Is our primary concern to care for and help others to a better quality of life? If we are in it just for our own good then no matter what title one has one is not a shepherd with the heart of Jesus. Don’t we all have a great responsibility?

Sometimes it may cost a great amount if we try to listen to what we believe we are called to do and put it into practice. In the gospel today Jesus is speaking to the Jews and he says ‘the sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me’. This does not just apply to priests but to all who would like to be real disciples of Jesus. The theme of the Good Shepherd unfolds against a background of conflict and the threat of death as is more clear in the verses in John that follow today’s passage.

Down through the ages up to our own time anyone trying to really listen to the voice of God and put it into practice will suffer in one way or another. It will make demands on us. We see people who try to be faithful in marriage despite difficult relationships, others who withstand the pressure to have an abortion, others again who refuse to give or take bribes etc. This is in no way a condemnation of anyone who may have given into temptation on any level. In fact, haven’t we all at some stage or other?

In our world today there are many voices calling out to be heard. Either on television or radio, by advertising, on the Internet, pressure from well meaning friends, peer pressure etc. There is also the voice of God calling us. Which voices will we listen to? ‘My sheep hear my voice’, says Jesus. Many religious leaders of his time refused to listen to Jesus. They thought they were honouring God by killing Jesus and that they were saving religion by multiplying sacrifices, commandments, prohibitions etc. Isn’t it much safer and more secure to follow the law and tradition slavishly instead of risking to follow Jesus, who spoke about love, service, forgiveness, compassion etc being the core of true religion?

A friend of mine has a fish tank in which he has some small fish. He also keeps some canaries in a big cage. The fish and the birds belong to him. But in a sense he belongs to the fish and birds. If he doesn’t care for them they die. But I know he takes great care to feed them daily and clean their tank and cage from time to time. So they live longer and he gets great pleasure from them as Jesus does from us. Jesus says in the gospel that the sheep that belong to him listen to his voice. So in belonging to Jesus, he belongs to us and we know from experience that our belonging to him means that he does all he can to care and love us if we allow him. Very often we don’t. We stray away to follow other voices. Yet he keeps inviting us back to the true path that alone gives real peace and joy. This is the Good News.

To whom do we as Christians belong? It is not enough simply to say that we belong to Jesus. What we do and think will give us a good idea. Are we regular in going to Sunday Mass, to some daily prayer? Are we forgiving to those who may have hurt us or to those who think differently to us? Do we pray to put our trust in him and allow ourselves to be guided by his will?

He says also in this very short gospel: ‘I give them eternal life’, which for John the Evangelist does not just mean just life after death. Rather it involves the beginning of eternal life now – that is, a quality of life which gives peace, freedom, joy, but will also involve suffering and trial if we follow the Good Shepherd. It is especially about our relationship with God which begins here and continues into eternity.

In spite of your and my weaknesses Jesus gives us the great promise that as his brothers and sisters no one can steal us from him because the Father who is greater than anyone will not allow this.

Like any true shepherd Jesus will pull put all the stops to love and care for us. He does this especially through the friends and other disciples he gives us to care for us now.

‘Lord Jesus, true Shepherd of your flock, thank you for sharing this vocation with each of us. May your Spirit enable us to be true life givers and carers of your flock, those you have entrusted especially to us. Amen’.

Fr. Jim Kirstein SMA

3rd Sunday of Easter 2013 – Year C

February 10, 2013

14 April 2013

Acts 5.27- 32, 40- 41
Revelation 5.11-14
John 21.1-19

A certain businessman would travel abroad from time to time on company business and on his return would take a taxi from the airport to his home so as not to disturb his wife who otherwise would have had to collect him. Then one day she decided to surprise him by going to the airport to welcome him home. Imagine her horror when she saw her husband with his arm around another woman and also kissing her. She was devastated as she felt totally betrayed. She found out that the husband had been having an affair with this woman for quite some time. She felt she could not forgive him and now they are separated.

In the gospel today we hear about the forgiveness of Jesus in relation to Peter and the other disciples despite their betrayal of him and their infidelity. In fact, he calls them ‘friends’.

The disciples had been out fishing all night and caught nothing. It was obviously dark. Now Jesus the Light of the world appears on the shore and having been told they had caught nothing suggested they cast their nets again and they catch a huge number of fish. Obviously he did not withhold his forgiveness and compassion from them despite their infidelity and betrayal of him. We see that Jesus was concerned to save them from the embarrassment of returning home to tell their families they had failed to catch anything. Also it was during their normal work that he appeared to them. This is important for us to know. Jesus does not try to embarrass us when we betray him by our sins and he is concerned and cares for us that our daily tasks would go well. He is with us if only we are aware of this. We also see the concern of Jesus in providing a meal or them. They had worked hard all night without success and were probably cold and tired so he calls to them and says ‘Come and have breakfast’.

When the disciples came ashore after the miraculous catch of fish they found a charcoal fire ready with fish cooking on it. You may remember that it was around a charcoal fire when Peter was warming himself that he betrayed Jesus 3 times. Now Jesus is telling Peter that he is fully forgiven for his betrayals but before Jesus can allow him to shepherd the flock he wants to hear directly from Peter if he loves him.

Jesus asks Peter three times ‘Do you love me?’ This question, asked three times, and answer do not imply that Jesus has doubts about Peter but that Peter’s love for Jesus is sincere and that he has the devoted love for Jesus, which is at the heart of all true discipleship. Jesus wants to hear the reply from Peter himself. Jesus then tells Peter to feed his lambs (the weaker members of the community), to feed his sheep (the stronger ones) and to care for all of them. This is the role of the shepherd.

This is a very important exchange because it reveals to us what the essence of Christianity is. Is it not true to say that Christianity is a person, Jesus Christ and so it is about our relationship with him and all that involves? So why do I go to Mass on Sunday or why do I try and keep the commandments? Is it because I think I may go hell or that God will punish me, which is untrue? Or is it because of my relationship with Jesus? If so who is the Jesus I relate to? Who really is Jesus for me? How well do I know him? Can I have a deep relationship with someone if I do not know him/her very well? How do I deepen any relationship? Is it not by spending time with the person and getting to know him/her?

That is why Jesus came – to offer us a deep personal relationship with him. He wants us to be his friends as he says in John’s gospel. Firstly he reveals himself to the 7 disciples. He is constantly trying to reveal himself to us in the ordinary events of each day, through our friends, in prayer etc

If we can see Jesus in this light as someone doing all he can to invite us into his friendship then we might want to be his disciples not because of any law but simply because we would like to. Christianity was never meant to be a religion of fear and threats of punishment if we didn’t measure up. It was meant to be a relationship between Jesus and us and, between God whom Jesus revealed and us. The Laws and Commandments were given to help us avoid trouble. So if I kill and get caught I may be hanged or electrocuted so God says – Don’t kill. If I steal and am caught I may end up in prison, etc.

It is by living according to the value system of Jesus, attending Mass, by personal prayer, celebrating the sacraments and reading scripture that we deepen our relationship with Jesus. If we could only understand and accept how passionately and unconditionally Jesus loves us then the more we would respond out of love and not fear. His death on the cross sums up this love. But it isn’t easy. Peter was told by Jesus at the end of today’s gospel that he would suffer if he tried to be faithful to him.

‘Lord Jesus, thank you for your invitation to us to a deep, personal friendship with you. With the help of your Holy Spirit, help us to be more aware of this and to respond generously. Help us to forgive others as you forgive us always if we ask you. Amen’.

Fr. Jim Kirstein SMA

2nd Sunday of Easter 2013 – Year C

February 10, 2013

7 April 2013

Acts 5:12-16
Revelation 1: 9-13, 17-19
John 20.19- 31

A certain man in his late thirties had had many girlfriends but he never met anyone he felt he could marry. He wanted to be very sure before committing his life to someone he believed was the right person for him. But there were always doubts in his mind when he met a woman he felt might be the one. His family and friends told him that he could never have the certitude he wanted before marrying. In fact, the man never married as he always felt the risk was too great.

The end of the gospel passage today states: ‘There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life through his name’.

Faith or belief is not just about believing in things we do not see. Faith is about taking a risk and making commitments, even if what lies ahead is unclear, even if we are not sure. The man in the story above could not take this risk. This is what Jesus was challenging Thomas about. He was inviting Thomas to believe him even though he did not see him. Moreover, he is inviting Thomas to commit his life to him and this will involve risk.

The gospel is telling us that the name Thomas means Twin. It seems that John the Evangelist is very subtly telling us that Thomas is really our Twin. In our following of Jesus as his disciples we often find ourselves doubting, questioning, hesitating, even challenging. John is expressing an insight about our very basic human nature. Most of us, at least a lot of the time, have to see and to touch in order to believe. Not that this is actually sinful in itself – it is just who we are as human beings.

But our faith calls us to go deeper. Before the death of Jesus most of his followers stopped following him. Whilst he was performing miracles and signs they had what they needed as proof but as he nears his Passion and death on the cross nearly everyone abandons him. Their conditions for following Jesus, the signs were no longer evident. So they simply stopped following him.

In the gospel of John the word faith or belief occurs about 98 times and it is never a static noun but always an active verb. It means a close following of Jesus, a commitment of our lives to him even when the signs are not too clear. Basically it is about trust – will we trust Jesus, will we be faithful in following him when our conditions are not met but allow him to act as he knows best, not always understanding why he acts this way?

This was basically the problem of Thomas. We read that he set up his own conditions for believing in Jesus. “Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands, and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe”. Then when the compassionate, understanding Risen Jesus Christ appears again, we see his sensitivity to the doubts of Thomas. There is no actual condemnation on the part of Jesus, simply kindness and gentleness.

This is our God – he knows that in life difficulties will come our way, sometimes causing us to doubt God’s love and care for us. But today’s gospel is a litany of God’s incredible understanding and sensitivity to where we are at. First, he appears to the disciples locked in a room for fear of the Jews. His first words are not those of condemnation but of consolation – he offers them Peace and this fills them with joy. In fact, three times in this gospel passage he says ‘Peace be with you’. Not only are they locked in a room but also they are locked into their fears. They are in a sense paralyzed by fear. Jesus becomes a life-giver to them. Joy replaces fear.

In what way do we allow our fears to dominate our lives? I suppose each of us is in a different space but I know many people who are locked into situations they feel imprisoned in – it may be a non life-giving relationship, a drink problem, fear of people, fear of the future, fear of dying etc. etc. Jesus came to free each of us. He may not always come directly but if we ask him in faith and trust, he will help us by using others to have the freedom and peace these frightened disciples of his had after he appeared to them.

Jesus appeared to the disciples and firstly showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. He is telling us that it is alright to go to God in our woundedness, ours sins and shortcomings – that we are assured of a total welcome. We don’t have to pretend that we are otherwise; we can go as we are. Jesus appreciates honesty.

He also breathes on them and gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit for their life’s work, not only to them but to us as well. We each have a call from God to be bringers of joy and peace as well as being channels of God’s forgiveness to others. Knowing how difficult it is to do this always, we each are given the Holy Spirit also. But do we pray as often as we might for the gift of this Spirit – to allow the Spirit to energise and empower us daily?

Jesus was truly a life-giver to his disciples in this gospel passage. So where do we go for life? Who or what is life-giving for me? I know that the reason I believe in the Risen Jesus is that I have experienced a great amount of freedom in my life through my faith in the Risen Jesus – a gift I ask for daily.

“Lord Jesus, give us a monumental increase of faith, trust and love in you. Help us to be a bringer of joy, peace and forgiveness to others with the powerful help of the Holy Spirit. Amen”.

Fr. Jim Kirstein SMA

Ascension of the Lord 2013 – Year C

February 10, 2013

12 May 2013

Acts 1.1-11
Ephesians 1.17-23
Luke 24. 46-53

A certain man was telling his friend that his wife whom he loved had many marvelous qualities but one thing she did which really frustrated him was that she could not throw out anything from the house even if it were of no further use. ‘She just keeps clinging on to everything we have, unable to let go’, he said.

The Ascension is the feast of letting go.

After he appeared to Mary Magdalene she clung to his feet so that he had to say to her: ‘Do not cling to me’ (John 20.18). The amazing fact in today’s gospel is that the apostles, after seeing Jesus ascending to his Father, went back to Jerusalem full of joy and were continually in the temple praising God. One would have thought that they would have been quite depressed and sad having seen Jesus departing. But no, they now fully accept that it was necessary for him to go, so that the Holy Spirit would be given to them. They did not cling to Jesus but accepted their call to be witnesses relying on the powerful Holy Spirit.

Neither did they feel themselves orphaned or abandoned by Jesus when he ascended to heaven. For the apostles the Ascension was an ending. One stage was over and another had begun. Formerly Jesus was with them physically. It was also a beginning. They were to take the place of Jesus and continue his work. The Ascension gives the disciples the certainty that they had a friend not only on earth but also in heaven. That same Jesus who on earth was so marvelously kind, compassionate and forgiving, awaits them and us. To die is not to go out into the dark. It is to go to him.

The Ascension does not lament the absence of Jesus. Rather it celebrates the new way Christ becomes present to his people through the gift of his Spirit. He is closer to us now than he ever was before. When Jesus was on earth he was limited like us in space and time. This is no longer true of him. He is, so to speak, out and about. He is present to us in an equally powerful but different manner. We can turn to him in any place, in any situation knowing he is there for us. It is important to realise that the apostles and disciples never regretted the departure of Jesus after his Resurrection and Ascension.

In Acts 1.8 we heard: ‘you will be my witnesses …even to the ends of the earth’. So today’s Solemnity, like that of Pentecost is a feast of Christian maturity. It is a call to each of us to continue Jesus’ mission in today’s world amid the difficulties we face there. The power of the Spirit is with us. In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus warned his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on high, the promise of the Father. It is as if Jesus were saying to the disciples: ‘please don’t claim to be working on my behalf as my witnesses unless you wait for, receive and live out of the power of the Spirit. If not, you will fail’.

So we should pray often, even daily: ‘Come Holy Spirit’.

We must not keep looking up to heaven lamenting the absence of the Lord like the disciples did in the first reading. Of course, heaven is our goal eventually. We must face here on earth what God asks us to do and keep our feet firmly on the ground. We must set out to bring his gospel, his Good News to the ends of the earth. This is why any attempt to keep Christians in an attitude of dependency and immaturity without real responsibilities and voice in the Church is contrary to the meaning of the feast we are celebrating today. The Second Vatican Council strongly emphasized this.

And it is happening. In comparison to when I was growing up when the priest did everything, now in very many countries we have Permanent Deacons, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Parish Pastoral Councils etc. In some countries because of the absence of priests, the laity do even more, like acting as Catechists (preparing peoples for sacraments, pre-Baptism programmes for parents who want to have their children baptised…) conducting Sunday and funeral services… But we need to pray more and more to the Spirit to lead us into the way of all truth and to have the courage to let go of traditional practices which no longer are meaningful today. Will we have the courage to follow the lead of the Spirit, painful as this may be if it is not what we would like to see happening ourselves?

Rather then than seeing the Ascension just as the departure of Jesus, we should see it as the sending of the Church on mission (in place of Jesus). Rather than seeing the Church as an orphan as a result of the Ascension of Jesus it needs to be seen as being given adult status by God, as being given responsibility to witness to Jesus Christ through the power of his Spirit.

And as St. Paul tells us there is a variety of gifts, that is, a variety of ways of being Church be it as laity, priests or religious. No one group is called to dominate the others since we are all brothers and sisters of our one heavenly Father who uses each of us in different ways. If we want to compete with each other let it be in the area of service to the poor, forgiveness of our enemies, love of all God’s children no matter what unfortunate labels they are given such as – those with AIDS, immigrants, prostitutes, homosexuals, alcoholics, drug addicts, divorced people etc.

‘Lord Jesus, Give us your Holy Spirit to be real witnesses of your loving concern in our world. Amen.’

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

Pentecost Sunday 2013 – Year C

February 10, 2013

19 May 2013 – Pentecost Sunday

Acts 2:1-11
1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13
John 20:19-23

Some years ago I met a doctor friend of mine. He told me he had received a phone call from the Social Services in a part of England where his brother had worked as a lawyer. The message to the doctor was simple. Come immediately because your brother has no money, he is living in very poor conditions and has no one to take care of him. We have done our best but he is your responsibility. Even though he hadn’t heard from his brother for years the doctor went and was appalled to find the terrible conditions in which his brother was living. He decided to take him home to Ireland. Before leaving he started to gather the few belongings of his brother. He was amazed to find stuffed in an old dirty bag, a great amount of money, more than 300,000 Euro. This man who lived like an animal could have had a very comfortable, enjoyable life if he had used the money he had accumulated over the years. But he did not and suffered greatly as a result.

At times I wonder if we Christians are not like that. We have a great treasure, the Holy Spirit and yet do we use and live out of the power of this Spirit? How often do you and I call on the Spirit in our daily lives? He is the life-giving Spirit of God. Yet where do you and I go for life? The Spirit is the giver of peace and joy. Where do you and I seek for these? We could call today the Feast of the Holy Spirit.

The death of Jesus, his execution on the cross, produced terror and fear in those who had followed him. All the gospels speak of the fear that these events caused. The same gospels, especially that of John, tell us that the opposite of faith is fear. Having faith means trusting. So instead of announcing the message of Jesus, the disciples had gone into a house and locked the doors because of fear. They were closed in on themselves. You can imagine their amazement and delight when Jesus comes and empowers them to leave their locked room, the room of their fears behind them and go forth into freedom with the encouragement, the power, peace and joy the Spirit gives. The presence of the Spirit in the Church, in each one of us, must lead us to defend the dignity of God’s children wherever their rights to life and truth are being violated. Becoming paralysed with fear of the powerful or of losing our comfort and privileges in society means that we refuse to receive the Spirit of love and instead allow the spirit of fear and terror to dominate us like the disciples were when locked behind the closed doors. Do we pray for an ever-greater trust in the Holy Spirit?

There is a priest who works with us and many people visit him. Why? Because he has the great gift of restoring confidence in people. He is so positive that no matter what people have done, no matter how discouraged or downhearted they are, they seem to be able to go away from him greatly encouraged and empowered to face their difficulties without feeling overwhelmed by them. It is as if a certain power emanates or goes forth from him, just like the fearful disciples of Jesus in today’s gospel account whose fear was replaced by trust. Not only does Jesus replace their fear and terror with peace and joy but also he empowers them to go forth and do likewise for others. This is their mission. It is the mission of the Christian Church. Is this what we have experienced from our Church. Have we experienced freedom, peace, joy and encouragement or more fear and guilt? If so, what spirit is guiding the church in the area where we live? We might want to call more often on the Holy Spirit to empower us to go forth on the mission Jesus sends us on with his life-giving, encouraging attitudes.

In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit inspires the disciples to find suitable language for the proclamation of the Good News. The text provides us with an important detail which contradicts a superficial, though frequent interpretation. It is not a matter of using only one language but rather of being able to understand one another. All those present from the different nationalities understood in their own language the message of the disciples, empowered by the Spirit. Cultural differences did not impede the message of Jesus being understood by all. The message of Jesus was a cause of unity, not disunity. We all know that people who speak the same language can be bitterly divided because of ethnic differences or prejudices. The Spirit comes to unite and bring peoples together.

Thus evangelisation does not mean a superimposed uniformity but rather fidelity to the message and to understanding in diversity. That is, the Church is a communion of peoples from different cultures and languages in which every member has a function. So writes St.Paul in the second reading today from First Corinthians. All members count and must, therefore, be respected in their own charisms and talents.

“Lord Jesus, you went to the disciples showing them your wounds. Are you not telling each of us that despite our wounds, our failings, our weaknesses, that you wish to send us forth too as your disciples, to be givers of peace and joy to others. Just you yourself replaced fear and terror in the disciples with trust and encouragement, you ask us to do the same for others. In order to be better able to do this, you ask us to rely as fully as possible on the power and the life-giving energy of the Spirit. Empower us to do this more and more. Amen”

Fr. Jim Kirstein SMA

Easter Sunday 2013 – Year C

February 10, 2013

31 March 2013 – Easter Sunday

Acts 10:34, 37-43
Colossians 3:1-4
John 20:1-9

resurrection3 Many years ago I knew a young married couple, very happily married. Then after 15 years of marriage the husband died suddenly. Sadly they had had no children. For the woman life all but ended with her husband’s unexpected death. She said to me once at that time that the sun would never shine again for her in her life. She didn’t see any point in living. She was totally devastated. This went on for about 4 years. Being the quiet retiring person she was, she had depended very much on her husband and after his death, she felt totally alone. Others helped her for awhile but then they had to look after their own families. With the help of a few close friends and her faith in God, she gradually started to live again. In fact, because her husband was no longer there to depend on, she had to develop talents she never knew she had. Bit by bit she grew in self-confidence and now this woman thinks nothing of travelling to the far end of the world alone where before she would hardly go a 100 kilometers. She had matured out of all recognition and the sun certainly shines again for her in her life. I know that it was her faith in God and the support of a few friends, which made all the difference. But it took time.

Perhaps Easter Sunday is something like that. Up to the moment of the Resurrection, after the terrible death of Jesus on Good Friday, the disciples of Jesus were devastated. The one they had leaned on was gone. They never imagined Jesus would be taken prisoner and crucified. In that instant their dreams evaporated like that of the woman when her husband died suddenly. The disciples experienced a dreadful loss and no doubt were shattered, their hopes taken away in those short few days. They were also afraid for their lives and half expected to be caught and punished by the religious leaders who plotted the death of Jesus and had him crucified. For them too at that terrible time, they never expected the sun to shine for them again in their lives.

Now in today’s gospel, a woman no less, Mary of Magdala reports to Peter and John that the tomb is empty. In nearly all the Resurrection accounts, it is the women who first experience the Risen Jesus. Women at that time as in many places still today were looked down upon. This may be why the disciples did not believe them. It seems that the proclamation of life of the Risen Jesus starts with the very people who were marginalised and who count for little in society. In any case the curiosity of the 2 is awakened and they run to the tomb. Peter sees the linen cloths on the ground in an empty tomb. He did no more than merely ascertain the facts. However, it is said of John that he ‘saw and he believed’ even though his own faith was not yet perfect because the full impact of the vision of faith of the Scriptures had not yet dawned on him. It took Thomas even some days to surrender and accept – very consoling for us. To discover fully how rich faith is, takes time and growth and God in incredibly understanding and patient.

Maybe we all stand condemned in some way by the woman interviewed on an international radio programme. Because of modern technology, after an operation she was able to see for the first time in her life at the age of 54 and her comments in that radio interview were. “I cannot understand how all of you who were born with the gift of sight can be so unmoved by the beauty of life. You seem to take it all for granted – the beauty of a flower, so many marvelous colours, the dimples on the hands of a new born baby, the serenity in the faces of old people who are content with life, etc. etc. I feel she is correct – faith is like a new way of seeing. The resurrection does make a difference. If we believe, our eyes are opened to enormous possibilities. Jesus was in a tomb for 3 days and then burst free from its darkness and the stone that imprisoned him.

For me, that is my experience of resurrection. Whilst the empty tomb has its importance I know that I have experienced much freedom because of the gift of faith in the resurrection of Jesus God gives me. So anywhere I see love in action in life I see the power of the Risen Jesus at work. Mary Magdalene went in the dark and found an empty tomb. Since Jesus was not there it was indeed darkness, but later in meeting Jesus a new light dawned for her and all other believers.

The resurrection doesn’t mean that we gloss over pain, suffering and difficult daily life situations, but it does give us a new vista or outlook on life. It gives us the freedom to face the dark side of life, and even death with confidence knowing that Jesus broke the bonds of human limitation and slavery in our lives. Jesus is alive and if we really have experienced the joy of the Risen Jesus in our daily lives we don’t have to wait until we die to experience resurrection now – deep joy, peace and serenity because of Jesus, now alive and out and about. In the first reading today Peter says that he and the disciples are now witnesses of all they saw Jesus doing even if for a few days they were paralysed by his death and seeming failure. If you and I have experienced the Risen Jesus at work in our lives we are like the woman who lost her husband suddenly. If we are faithful despite the great difficulty of these times of loss, Jesus is there with us then and he will surely help us experience the sun shining again. Not only that we will begin to develop talents and gifts we never knew we had because fear gives way to trust. This empowers us to break free of former limitations.

“Thank you Lord Jesus for the gift of our faith in your resurrection. May we be witnesses of gospel joy and peace to others still searching and doubting. Amen”.

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

Palm Sunday 2013 – Year C

February 10, 2013

24 March – Palm Sunday – 2013

Isaiah 50:4-7
Philippians 2;6-11
Luke 22:14–23, 56

When I worked in Nigeria many years ago several times each week I crossed over a bridge near where I lived. Both cars and pedestrians used the bridge. At each end of the bridge were a number of beggars looking for help from the passers-by. One such beggar was a man of about 45 years old. He looked very dirty and badly fed. Someone told me that at one stage that he was a very famous footballer and had played for the Nigerian football team. He was very well-known and at that time the crowds at football matches would chant his name and praise him for his many skills. How life had changed for him now. No one recognised or praised him in later years.

He reminded me of today’s reading and indeed of the readings for this Holy Week. On Palm Sunday, Jesus riding on a donkey, is proclaimed by the crowds as ‘the king who comes in the name of the Lord’. Yet five days later he is being mocked, scourged and crucified. Probably some in the crowd on Palm Sunday were shouting for his death only a number of days later. It raises the question for each of us – are we as faithful in following Jesus in time of trial, temptation and suffering as we are when life is going well for us? Do we pray to thank God as much in good times as we do when we ask for help when life is difficult and painful? So the readings today invite us to be faithful on our journey as Jesus was.

The focus of today’s celebration and indeed for all the readings of Holy Week is on Jesus, the faithful one. During all this week we are celebrating his fidelity not only when he was being praised and honoured as a king but also during the terrible times of suffering and crucifixion. The first reading today is from the prophet Isaiah. He foretells the mysterious One who is to come whom we know now as Jesus, by saying ‘I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked at my beard, my face I did not shield from blows and spitting. The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced. I have set my face like steel knowing that I shall not be put to shame’. This was exactly what Jesus did. He trusted that his father would strengthen him to be faithful to the end especially when suffering. The Good News is that God our Father will strengthen us also.

The liturgy of Holy Week is telling us of the incredible love of a God who will never give up on us no matter if having praised him in good times we will turn around and forget his love in hard times. It is very important to note that nowhere in any of the gospel readings today or of this week does Jesus condemn anyone. Neither does he condemn you and me. The ultimate proof of this is that whilst hanging, in terrible agony on the cross, Jesus prays: ‘Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing’. To the so-called Good Thief he promises immediate paradise, so the thief cannot ever claim to have been gifted with heaven because of any novenas or rosaries he made at that time. The gift of heaven is Jesus giving his total love unconditionally.

For years we are seeing on TV the never-ending cycle of violence between the Palestinians and Jews in Israel. It seems to get worse and worse. Jewish soldiers kill some Palestinian youths. The Palestinians then send in suicide bombers and kill 2 Jewish boys. The Jews reply with more killings of Palestinians – mostly teenagers. It can only get worse unless they follow the example of Jesus and this is far from easy. On the cross Jesus broke the cycle of violence. Instead of taking vengeance on those killing him and returning hatred for hatred he returned forgiveness and love. Jesus, the totally disarmed one, as the Letter to the Philippians says ‘did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped”. He actually emptied himself and took on the condition of a slave, humbling himself even unto death on the cross. Jesus did not act out of a power stance or with any superior force but met bitterness with gentleness, hatred with love, rejection by accepting the others in their anger.

Jesus on the cross is telling us what the real meaning of glory is in the Christian sense. It does not first of all mean having people putting their clothes or palm branches in our paths and praising us with words and songs. It does not mean receiving titles and honours only, neither does it mean being famous or popular. No, Jesus tells us that the real meaning of glory for a Christian is being faithful to God’s ways in humility and love especially in times of trial, temptation and suffering. People may mock or judge us as being foolish for following Jesus and accepting his way as being the true way. His way is the way of humility, of forgiveness, of love, of service.

For me, to follow Jesus faithfully is not easy. It is much easier to go to Mass, pray the rosary or say novenas. All these indeed help us. But Jesus asks us to follow his example by living daily with the same attitudes that he lived by. Yet this is the way that leads to real peace and joy.

“Lord Jesus, thank you for breaking the cycle of violence that you were confronted with. The Good News is that you invite us to do the same because you trust we can do it too in our world today by relying on help of the powerful Holy Spirit which you give us freely. Amen”.

Fr.Jim Kirstein, SMA

5th Sunday of Lent 2013 – St Patrick’s Day

February 10, 2013

17 March 2013 – St Patrick’s Day

Isaiah 43.16-21

Philippians 3.8-14

John 8.1-11

Once I met a woman who told me that the biggest crisis in her married life was the time she found out that her husband was unfaithful to her. He was having an affair with another woman for over a year. She was shattered and consulted a close friend who asked her one question: “Do you really love your husband still in spite of this?” When she answered that she did, her friend said she should confront her husband and tell him she was prepared to accept him back. She did and now many years later the marriage is working well. But at that time it wasn’t easy and many would not have been surprised if she had refused to forgive her husband and not had given him another chance.

She reminds me of today’s gospel that is primarily about who God is and how he treats us. Like the woman in the story Jesus gives the woman caught in adultery another chance. Instead of sending her to her death, Jesus sends her to life. Jesus is telling us as clearly as he can who God is and how he acts towards each one of us. We feel that if we do good we will earn or merit a heavenly reward and if we consistently do bad God will punish us. What Jesus is saying is ‘If I look on you with God’s gaze of love, with God’s forgiving attitude then you are totally and freely loved and forgiven’.

It is God who decides all this. We cannot make God’s love and forgiveness depend on our worthiness or goodness. What a misunderstanding of how God relates to us. Unfortunately it is not our human experience. We often want to exact revenge or punish those who hurt or wrong us. Not so God – it is so far from the God Jesus is witnessing to. Of course that does not mean if God loves me like that I can sin merrily. In fact it is the very opposite – realising how very much God loves me so unconditionally I will try to respond by trying to please him. I will pray to be able to do the same to others as God does to me. Just as the woman in the story who forgave her husband. He later told a friend that having been forgiven by his wife he would spend the rest of his life responding to her marvelous love for him even though he didn’t deserve this because of his actions.

The first reading from Isaiah briefly recalls Israel’s past and tells them that ‘God is doing a new deed’. Our God is not a God who keeps reminding us of our past sins. His focus is much more on what he can still accomplish in our lives from now on no matter what our past has been. It is as if he is saying to us – ‘you haven’t seen anything yet!’

So a group of Scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman who had been caught committing adultery. It is interesting to note that the man had not been brought along and obviously Jesus immediately sees the double standards here. Jesus’ gesture is one of forgiveness of the sinner but also a rejection of the cruelty toward the woman and the double standards towards women and men. The woman because she is a woman sins seriously, while the man’s sin is seen as less serious. Jesus sees the inconsistency and tenderly tells the woman who has sinned to ‘go away and don’t sin any more’. The other double standard and inconsistency that Jesus is condemning is also our own constant practice. Don’t we often criticise others whilst ignoring our own sinful behavior; sometimes the very thing we condemn in others? Jesus here rejects the practice of all of us who say one thing and do another. If we are very honest with ourselves we all know that inside each of us are many thoughts and desires that we would not want others to know about. We don’t necessarily put them all into practice but we could. And do we not in some areas of our lives?

When the Scribes and Pharisees persisted with their question to Jesus trying to trap him, he refuses to get involved in a debate about what the law allowed or not. He knew what the Law of Moses taught just as they did, so he refused to play word games with them. Instead he simply tells them that those without sin should cast the first stone. Immediately the accusers become excusers. They were very quick to accuse the woman as well as humiliating her, but now they are equally as quick to excuse themselves when they hear the words of Jesus. In fact the only person in the scene who had a right to condemn her, Jesus, had not the slightest interest in doing so. And when all had left Jesus is left alone with the woman. As St. Augustine puts it, only misery and mercy remained.

Jesus does something for the woman that goes beyond the law.

The law condemns, Jesus forgives.

He shows how God deals with sinful people, that is, with each of us. He changes our view of God. At the same time he asks us to change our view of sinful people. Each one of us, no matter what our sins are, has the capacity to change. Our sins are not the sum total of who we are. They are parts of who we are, for sure. But God can do a new deed for and in all of us if we allow him.

“Lord Jesus, thank you for showing to us again in this gospel that you have no interest in condemning us. You do not deny that we sin but you constantly give us new opportunities to change. Help us by your Holy Spirit to be ever ready to excuse others for their failings as you do ours. Amen”.

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA.

4th Sunday of Lent 2013 – Year C

February 10, 2013

10 March 2013

Joshua 5:9-12
2 Cor 5:17-21
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

There is a widow, who lives not too far from us who has two sons. One is hardworking and obedient, the other has been causing her great problems for years. He is an alcoholic, has been in and out of prison a number of times for stealing. He continually promises his mother that he will change but so far has not. Her relatives and friends tell her to throw him out of the house and have nothing more to do with him. But she says she cannot do this as he is her son and she loves and forgives him despite the great shame and suffering he causes her.

She reminds me very much of the father in today’s story. We are told a man had two sons. Evidently, the younger brother is a scoundrel. Even his decision to return home is based on self-interest. There are three people in this story. Let us turn our attention away from the prodigal son, so-called, because the parable is mainly interested in the father.

Isn’t it hard to believe fully the parable of Jesus? What human father would have acted in that way? We would call him a crazy father since he knew what type of character his son was and yet he gives him half the share of his inheritance. The son is true to form and spends it wastefully on a life of debauchery. What is unexpected is not so much that the father welcomed him back but that he holds a great feast for him.

To accept the son back, to forget everything, to begin things again as they were before may be acceptable. But to organise a feast, to kill the animal that was being kept for the big occasion, to give the son, a cloak, a ring and sandals as if for a sumptuous marriage celebration – that is impossible to imagine.

But the parable does not speak in a way we human beings do things or are accustomed to act. Our parable is speaking of God exactly as he is. God is the prodigal father who runs towards the lost son, clasps him in his arms, without asking for any explanation, without giving him a scolding or criticising him.

To tell us who God really is, Jesus tells us this story and invites to be a participant in the telling. God is so different from what we expect God to be. It is so different from our experience that it is hard to imagine that this is who God really is. Usually we say to ourselves ‘if I were God this is what I would do, especially in the case of someone convicted of a very serious crime’. But I am not God and my ways are not God’s ways which is exactly what Jesus is trying to get us to accept.

God is extravagant. He is extravagant in his love and mercy towards us. He comes to meet us as we are, sinners, often so undeserving of his love. Yet he comes to us to lead us to a terrific feast in heaven, the foretaste of which is the Eucharist. Jesus is trying to help us to a different way of looking at God. Because for the most part we have been brought up with the idea of a profit and loss God. That is if we are good we will be rewarded and if we do bad we will be punished. This is difficult to reconcile with today’s parable.

Look at the experience of Jesus. He spoke to sinners who listened to him – Matthew and Zaccheus the tax collectors who defrauded others; prostitutes, people caught in adultery, social and religious outcasts, like the 10 lepers. He broke the Sabbath when the higher law of love for another human being demanded this. No wonder all these people flocked to Jesus to hear his liberating message. Yet he still challenged them as he does us to turn away from attitudes and behaviours that are not life-giving or life-empowering for others.

Jesus met the elder son in the Pharisees and lawgivers of his day, many of whom were locked into their own conviction that they were right and knew the way to earn God’s acceptance and a place in his kingdom. They thought they had rights over God and guarded him jealously. Jesus understands these people too and tried his very best to get them to come to know God as he really is but they were too engrained in their ways and finally got rid of him because he was too subversive, according to their way of thinking.

Basically Jesus came to teach us who God really is. He came to bring the Good News of freedom, to invite us all, sinners and virtuous alike to the banquet. We may not want to accept this, we may not want to sit down with those we consider unworthy.

Which of the two sons in the parable do I identify most with, the younger son or the older one? Maybe there is part of each in me?

The most important question of all is this: Who is the God I believe in?

Is it the prodigal father Jesus describes for us today?

Do we fail to see the sheer gratuitousness of God’s love and so fail to understand the gospel message? Do we convert the Good News of Jesus into a mere set of obligations or laws sometimes empty of moral worth because they no longer serve their original purpose?

St. Paul invites us to be ambassadors of the newness of the message of Jesus, of a God who has a feast prepared for us.Will we be ambassadors of this good news or ambassadors of a God of fear and sanctions?

“Lord Jesus, help us to accept fully the great Good News that God is exactly as you describe him in the parable of the Prodigal Son. Help us to spread this message by the way we live our lives as Christians”

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

3rd Sunday of Lent 2013 – Year C

February 10, 2013

3 March 2013

Exodus 3.1-8,13-15
1 Cor 10.1-6,10-12
Luke 13.1-9

Some time ago a woman said to her friend that she felt God was punishing her for some sins of the past. It seems she had had an abortion and also an extra-marital affair as well as having stolen some money. Six months earlier her husband was tragically killed in a car accident and a few months previous to that her only son died after a short illness due to cancer. She was convinced now that God was taking revenge by punishing her for her past sins.

Sad to say there are many Christians as well as people of other religions who also believe that God does this. It is certainly a very false understanding of who God is.

We usually see Lent as a time of penance, with the focus on fasting, which can indeed be helpful. But it is better to view it as a call to repentance as Jesus does in today’s gospel. The real meaning of this word ‘repentance’ is not so much a turning away from sin to virtue or going from bad to good. It is much more correct to see it, as the gospels tell us today, as a ‘new way of looking at who God is, at life, at reality’. The gospels, that is the Good News of Jesus, were given to us to free us from a narrow and oppressive view of sin and its consequences. And especially to come to know God as Jesus revealed him, not a false idea of God as the woman in the story had.

The two events that Jesus uses in today’s gospel underline an important aspect of his message: there are no connections between sin and the misfortunes that may happen to us, whether their cause is human (Pilate, Luke 13.1) or accidental (verse 4).

By this statement Jesus goes against a very common concept of his time and perhaps ours also according to which diseases, misfortune and poverty are the consequences of sins committed by people in those situations. Thus, in addition to their harsh lives, the poor and sick are burdened by a painful sense of guilt. Sin carries its own inbuilt punishment, it is not of God’s doing.

The Good News is that Jesus came to free us from all the things that enslave us, like concepts such as this. Thinking like this can prevent us from facing the real causes of poverty and other evils by attributing them to some type of fatalism – that we are totally at the mercy of events and cannot do anything to overcome our situation. This is like the statement ones hears from some fundamentalist groups: ‘the devil caused me to steal or commit adultery etc. What a wonderful escape route for me instead of accepting my responsibility for my sin!! These attitudes also present erroneous images of the God of love and life.

Putting it very clearly, sinning is a failure to bear fruit according to our talents and possibilities, as Jesus states in the short parable that follows (v. 6-9). God is waiting for our good deeds and is very patient. Jesus in fact turns the question around by asking another of his hearers: “Is the real miracle not so much about those who have been struck down but rather that you have escaped?” So he follows this by the parable describing God’s incredible patience which passes all understanding. God keeps on coming into our lives looking for fruit and when he doesn’t find any he keeps on giving us more opportunities and time. As St.Peter says “Think of God’s patience as your opportunity to be saved

In the second reading St. Paul gives us an important principle for interpreting the Old Testament: what is narrated here is not merely something belonging to the past: instead it conveys a message for us now. The first reading from the Book of Exodus describes the moment when God entrusts Moses with the liberation of his people. God gives him that mission because he heard the cry of his oppressed people enslaved in Egypt and he wants to lead them into the freedom of the Promised Land where they can build a just society.

This is the immediate context of the revelation of Yahweh’s name, which is often translated as ‘I AM WHO AM’. Nowadays scripture scholars tell us that a better translation is ‘I AM THE ONE WHO IS FOR YOU, WHO IS WITH YOU”. God is revealing himself as being with us in our struggles, in our pain. He is not the God who punishes, rather he does everything to help us to be free, most especially in using humans like Moses, like you and me to bring about his reign here on earth, a reign of justice, love and peace.

If then we see repentance as a call to look at life and others as God, as Jesus does will we not be amazed that God is totally on our side, especially in times of tragedy and suffering? He asks us to bear fruit by focusing ourselves on how best to help others to have a better life, a life unburdened from guilt and whatever materially, spiritually or psychologically still keeps us enslaved, keeps us unfree.

“Lord Jesus, help us repent in the sense you ask us to. Open our eyes to come to know God, your Father and ours too, as God really is – a God whose last desire is to punish us. Rather help us accept him totally as a father who seeks, by using others and us to free people from all that enslaves them. Jesus, Emmanuel, the God who is always with us and for us, increase our faith, our trust in this total reality. Amen.”

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA.

2nd Sunday of Lent 2013 – Year C

February 10, 2013

24 February 2013

Genesis 15. 5-12, 17-18
Philippians 3.17 – 4.1
Luke 9.28-36

Some time ago an elderly man was telling me that when he was 22 years old he was attending university. He had been born and raised a Catholic. However, at that time he had lost interest in going to Church. He still prayed a bit but not much. He felt that religion had little to offer him.

One night on his way home in a bus from the university he had a vision. It came totally unexpectedly, out of the blue. He felt he was surrounded by God’s love. As he looked around him at the other passengers in the bus he felt convinced that they were truly his brothers and sisters and felt totally at one with them. On leaving the bus this incredible experience vanished never to return. But it had a profound effect on his life. He started to attend Mass regularly, prayed daily and got involved in charitable activities. He said he often wished the experience would return as it was so powerful and life transforming for him but it never did.

He reminds me very much of the experience of the three disciples on the mountaintop with Jesus in today’s gospel.

When Jesus took the three disciples with him as he went up the mountain to pray he was transformed or transfigured. It is important to note that it was while he was at prayer that this happened. If we commit ourselves to pray often to know and do God’s will, little by little we will find ourselves being transformed too. It seems that Jesus is saying that everyone has this potential in his or her lives of being transfigured too, provided we pray and seek to work for God’s kingdom here on earth.

The three disciples saw that Jesus was speaking with Moses and Elijah. It is important to realise that they were talking to Jesus about his exodus or passing which would involve great suffering and finally his death on the cross. St.Paul reminds us in the second reading that our homeland is in heaven, that here we have no lasting city. Whilst Moses, Elijah and Jesus were talking about his exodus or passing, it also implies an exodus for us, a letting go or departure from everything which prevents us from living in full communion with God and with all others. This exodus is going to involve painful and unavoidable aspects of suffering and struggles for us in life as it did for Peter, aspects which we would like to avoid at all costs. Peter wanted to escape. Peter is mistaken. We cannot stop on the way as we follow Jesus. We cannot put down roots or seek refuge in a tent. Peter wanted to stay on the mountaintop with that incredible experience of seeing Jesus transfigured. Like the young man in the story at the start who had a somewhat similar experience and wished it to return again and again. It is the same for Abraham in the first reading.

God is asking Abraham to leave the safe world he knows. The faith rooted in Abraham’s heart makes him accept the adventure or challenge. He leaves where he was in order to enter a far better inheritance not only for himself but also for his descendents – the Promised Land that God would give them. But they did not see it then. They had to trust God would be faithful and would fulfill his promise fully later.

When Jesus went down the mountain with the three disciples they immediately faced the ups and downs of ordinary life. This is what Peter wished to avoid by staying on the mountaintop. The episode of the Transfiguration reminds us that our being Christians has to be lived in the midst of the ups and downs of daily life. We all have our own personal experiences of how difficult life can be. We know that we may have to face sickness, unemployment, being misunderstood, the sudden death of a loved one etc. God is no less with us at these times though it is harder to see and be aware of this. However, even if we are promised the fullness of the kingdom after we die, it has already here if we respond to God’s call.

We need to remember that Jesus fully entered into our human experience. Like us he experienced joy and good times with his family and friends. But he also suffered greatly, experienced rejection, betrayal by those whom he chose, the disciples. Yet he did not run up the mountain again or use his divinity to avoid any of this. He knows us fully from the inside. He shared our human struggles to the very last. He was not doing this just to give example. He was fully human and lived his humanity fully and all it involved.

How did he survive? How did he get through all these trials? Though he was in the world, he was not of the world insofar that he did not take on the values of the world which he knew would not lead to lasting peace and joy. He was faithful to his father’s promise. This meant that he repeatedly disengaged himself from the noise of the crowd to be alone in prayer with his Father. The disciples realised the importance of prayer for Jesus because he often went apart to pray. Can it be any different for us if we want to follow Jesus closely and deepen our relationship with Him, the Father and Holy Spirit?

‘Heavenly Father, give us the powerful Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray and to give time to prayer often. Help us to really listen to Jesus as you commanded the disciples when you spoke to them in the cloud on the mountaintop. Amen’

Fr. Jim Kirstein, SMA

1st Sunday of Lent 2013 – Year C

February 10, 2013

17 February 2013

Deuteronomy 26.4-10
Romans 10.8-13
Luke 4.1-13

A young Irishwoman I know had a very good job with a large company. She decided to leave the company and go to Ethiopia, a country suffering from severe famine. She said she felt the call of God to work with these unfortunate people. She wanted to be in solidarity with them. It meant leaving her home, family, country to risk all to be with these people. Of course her family and friends thought she was crazy and tried to get her to change her mind but she was determined to go. When she got there she had to live a very difficult lifestyle. Little clean water, at times not enough to eat. Several times she was tempted to return home and live the much easier and enjoyable life she was used to. But she stayed and was faithful to her commitment despite all the hardships involved.

This young woman reminds me very much of the gospel today. Jesus too left heaven and all that involved to be with us. He decided to enter into solidarity with us. He chose to take on a very difficult lifestyle. It meant depriving himself of all the comforts and happiness he could have had whilst on earth if he acted out of his power as God. But as St. Paul says in the letter to the Philippians ‘Jesus emptied himself to take on the condition of a servant and being as all humans are, he emptied himself even more, even accepting death on a cross’

So in the gospel today Jesus is tempted just as we are, even though he was filled with the Spirit. The devil comes and tempts him in three ways; the same ways men and women are always tempted. First, the devil tempted Jesus and us too to quench our senses and be filled sensually as if this will make us happy – the temptation to drugs, sex, drink, pornography etc.

Secondly the devil tries to seduce Jesus and us by the idea of having power over others. Here it can be political power, ecclesiastical power, employer power, parent power, teacher power etc.

Thirdly, the devil entices us to take God’s love and faithfulness for granted and to test his merciful love and protection.

Ultimately the devil is trying to make Jesus forget he is, as a human being like us, totally dependent on his father to care for him. He is tempted to act from a power stance and not from the will of God. The devil tries to tempt Jesus to cheat on his humanity and satisfy his hunger and to use his power to deny his Incarnation – that he really human and will not call on God power when the going gets tough. Just as the young woman in the story was tempted to go back to an easier way of life when life in Ethiopia was very tough, Jesus is being tempted not to accept fully his human condition and all the limitation that that involves. He wants to be in total solidarity with us, allowing himself to be tempted as we are and struggling to overcome the temptation, not to seek a quick fix. This was especially so in the Garden of Gethsemene when he was tempted not to go though with his Passion and death because he foresaw the terrible suffering and rejection it would involve.

I suppose what the devil is tempting Jesus to do is to take the road of instant gratification, a short-cut to immediate satisfaction. Jesus knew that this does not usually lead to long term peace and joy.

We must remember too that Jesus never worked a miracle for himself. It was always for the sake of others. Jesus is tempted to go beyond human limitation and use his divinity to make life easier.

In the first reading the Israelites are encouraged to remember how God brought them out of Egypt and freed them from oppression. But it took time and they had much suffering before they eventually escaped. The gospel tells us that it is a great temptation to forget we are God’s children, that he cares for us. We can be tempted especially in time of prosperity to forget God and act as if we don’t need God. Jesus was always very much aware of being a child of his heavenly Father and it was his constant awareness of that reality that determined how he would live his life.

The example of the gospel is clear: in his life Jesus proclaimed the primacy of God and his kingdom. We cannot use our gifts and talents for our own personal prestige or to dominate others politically, materially or spiritually. The attitude of Jesus must be our own and that of the Church. Its message and its power are not to serve itself but to serve God and his chosen ones, the poor.

As we begin our Lenten pilgrimage let us remember that Lent is not an end in itself, it leads by way of the cross to the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus and to his sending us the Holy Spirit. Rather than asking what we should give up for Lent maybe better ask what temptation we should not give into. The Good News is that Jesus knows from his own personal experience what it is to be tempted and the struggle to overcome temptation. He will not abandon us no matter how often we fail as long as we keep on trying relying on his Holy Spirit for help.

“Lord Jesus, it is never easy to overcome temptation. Help us not to rely on ourselves but to pray often for the gift of the Holy Spirit to be with us. Amen”

Fr. Jim Kirstein SMA

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2013 – Year C

February 9, 2013

10 February 2013

Isaiah 6.1-2, 3-8
1 Cor 15.1-11
Luke 5.1-11

A certain man was told by the General Manager of a big company that he was to be appointed assistant general manager. However, instead of being delighted with this good news, he said that he did not consider himself worthy of this, as he had not continued his education after high school. Besides, he had to be honest and say he had spent a month in prison when younger for drunk and disorderly conduct. The General Manager assured him that the company had examined his educational background and also knew about his prison experience. Still the Board of Directors considered him capable of this new job.

We could call today “Good Excuse” Sunday. In each of the three readings – Isaiah, Paul and Peter feel they have very good excuses for not accepting God’s call. None of them feels worthy or capable enough.

Isaiah’s reply is “What a wretched state I am in, I am a man of unclean lips”.

Paul says that he hardly deserves the name of apostle, being the least of the apostles because of his persecution of Christians.

Peter tells Jesus after the miraculous catch of fish: “Leave me Lord, I am a sinful man”.

Each of the three knows that he is in the presence of the Holy One and they believe that they are totally unworthy of God’s choice of them. They experience what we might call ‘Spiritual Inferiority’.

This, of course, is whole point of today’s readings. God chooses us because he is good not because we are worthy. Jesus does not deny what Peter says about being a sinful man but he calls him in the hope that Peter will realise that the work Jesus is entrusting to him could never be accomplished by man or woman without the powerful help of God’s Spirit. It will take Peter, as it does all of us, a whole lifetime to realise how totally we need God’s help. So here Simon as he was then called gets a new name, Peter, a new job and a new image. All three take time to complete their transformation.

This is indeed Good News for each of us this Sunday. In that we are baptized, we too like Peter, are called to witness to God in the world. We may immediately reply that we are not worthy and that we are sinners, maybe even great ones – another case of spiritual inferiority!! But God considers us worthy and that is all that counts. It is not Isaiah, Paul and Peter who choose God. It is the very opposite and that is what matters. Maybe we don’t want to be called. Perhaps we can see the demands involved. We might prefer to opt out. If that is our choice then God will leave us free to do so if we wish. But we will never have the deep peace and joy we seek if we search for it in other places apart from God.

God sees the marvelous potential in each of us. Some of the great saints, like Teresa of Avila, Charles de Foucauld etc lived mediocre or in the case of the latter very sinful lives early on. But God then touched them and they responded. Do we not pray in the part of Eucharistic Prayer ll after the consecration ‘giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you’. If God considers us worthy who are we to object? We each have different roles to play in God’s plan to bring about his kingdom of truth, justice and forgiveness here on earth, be it as parents, priests, religious etc.

Peter had worked hard all night and caught nothing. Jesus asked him to try again. He could have objected saying he was exhausted or that there were no fish where they had failed to catch any. However, he responded to Jesus and tried again. Look at the result. Sometimes we too may get tired of trying to be good Christians. We may get bored, disillusioned with what we sometimes see going on in the church. We may want to give up on ourselves or on others who disappoint or even betray us. To all of us Jesus says, ‘try again’. I am with you. I count you worthy. You have great potential. But we must, like Isaiah, Paul and Peter, realise deeply that we cannot succeed alone. Like Peter we may fish all night in darkness, but Jesus invites us to call on his help. He will make our efforts fruitful in his own way and in his own time. When Jesus was not with them, they caught nothing. But when he was with them, what a difference? Not only a catch of fish but a great abundance. Their obedience was rewarded.

Ultimately of course it is only out of our own personal understanding of who God is that we will witness to others here and now. If we think God is out to punish us and send us to hell which is totally false then that is the God we will reveal to others. If my experience of God is of someone who loves me passionately and unconditionally, chooses me to work for him despite my failings and sins, knowing that I am forgiven, a loved saved sinner, then that is the God I will witness to.

“Lord Jesus, we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence to serve you and others. Amen”.

Fr. Jim Kirstein SMA

Mrs Katie Oruwariye – funeral homily

February 5, 2013

Mrs Katie Oruwariye was a lifelong friend of SMA priests and brothers and, since the 1990’s, the SMA seminarians training in Ibadan. At her request the funeral Mass was celebrated in the SMA Formation House Chapel at Bodija with His Grace, Most Rev Dr Felix Alaba Adeosin Job as Principal Celebrant. Fr Tim Cullinane SMA preached the following homily.

Let us lift up our hearts to the Lord… Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Your Grace, Rev Fathers, Sisters, Family and friends of Auntie Katie

As a young missionary priest I was very moved at the funeral of an uncle of mine who died in Lagos at an advanced age. Before that I thought of a funeral whether it is of a young or old person as a very sad occasion but what touched me at that funeral in Lagos was the way Nigerians celebrated the death of an old person. Instead of the sadness, I expected there was singing and dancing and a band playing. It was real celebration of life, a time of joy not sadness. Today too, though we are sad to see Auntie Katie leaving us, our strongest feeling should be one of thanksgiving joy and celebration.

Mrs-Katie-Oruwariye-2012 In this Mass we celebrate her life. We thank God that He has blessed her with a long life. The Bible says our length of days in 70 or 80 for those who are strong but Auntie Katie has gone far beyond this and was in her 97^th year when she died. God has also blessed her with 4 children of her own, two adopted children and many grandchildren, living as she did to see her children’s children.

Our 2012 picture is of Mrs Uruwariye at an SMA celebration.

St Paul says, “The life and death of each of us has an influence on others.” Not only was Auntie Katie’s life, long but it was also very fruitful for her family and the community. She had a passion for charity work and really lived out today’s gospel so I have no doubt the Lord will say to her, “come ye blessed of my father… With her gentle and charming presence she had a gift of getting money out of people who might otherwise be reluctant to give. She was involved in supporting the St Joseph’s Motherless Babies home and many other charities. In last week’s Independent Dr Ajayi mentions how after attending a lecture of his in which he said that there were over a million people in the Nigeria with visual impairment due to cataracts, she was so moved that she came to him later and said that her 90th birthday was coming up shortly and that she would like to tell her friends that instead of giving her gifts for her birthday they should donate the money to Dr Ajayi’s clinic for cataract operations. As a result sight was restored to 60 poor people who otherwise could not afford cataract operations

She was also very concerned about the material and spiritual welfare of her children and grandchildren and was so happy when did well in life. A woman of deep faith herself, with a great love for the Mass she did her best to pass on here deep faith to them. I remember last year when one of her grandchildren was getting confirmation in New York all the trouble she went to get information about the child’s baptism in Nigeria so that the confirmation could go ahead and how happy she was to tell me that her grandchild had been confirmed.

She was a real mother to all of us here in SMA Bodija and was a great supporter of the work of the house. She took a special interest in the students and even in her late 80s made the long journey to Korogho in North Ivory Coast for the Priestly ordination of Jean Baptiste Traoré SMA. On a personal note, this year I do not know how I will celebrate St Patrick’s Day without her chocolate cake. No one could bake chocolate cake like Auntie Katie

She was a very good teacher of English and took a special interest in her students. She taught in the Nigerian College of Arts and Technology, St Anne’s School, Ibadan, St Theresa’s School Ibadan and SS Peter and Paul. It is good to see so many of her former pupils here today many of them ordained priests and even a bishop, Bishop Badejo of Oyo.

I am told her grandchildren call her BLG …What does it mean? “Be like Grandma.” Not only her grandchildren but all of us have a lot to learn from her especially from her positive outlook to life. Though in her life she had sorrowful mysteries as well as joyful mysteries, she always looked at the positive side of life, seeing the glass half full and not half empty. As she saw it life is good, God is good, the world is good and there is good in everyone. Shortly before she died she said to one of our priests, “Africa has been good to me. I have no regrets.”

In giving a funeral homily the Church advises us that we should not go overboard in praising the person who has died. Even a Saint like Saint Thérèse of Liseux said at the end of her life, “I come before the Lord with empty hands. Rather we should, today, praise the God who has worked should great thinks in the life of Auntie Katie. What was great about Auntie Katie was the way she responded to God’s grace in her.

A funeral Mass is as much about ourselves as it is about the person who has died. The death of anyone, and today the death of Auntie Katie, makes us pause from our work and think about our own life. She was a great lover of English literature and one of his poems talking about death John Donne says, “never seek to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for you.” And the novelist Saul Bellow says “death is the dark backing that a mirror needs if we are to see anything.”

As followers of Christ, it is our faith that can give us hope in the face of death. St Paul says, “No eye has seen or heard what God has prepared for those who, love him” (1 Cor 2:9). St Cyprian (d 258) wrote: ‘Let us shut out the fear of death, and keep our mind on the immortality that follows death…what man who lives in a foreign country would not hurry to return home?’ We reckon paradise to be our home. A great throng awaits us there of those dear to us, parents, brothers, sons, daughters. A packed and numerous throng longs for us, of those free from anxiety for their own salvation, who are still concerned for our salvation. What joy they share with us when we come into their sight and embrace them… What pleasure there is there in the heavenly kingdom, with no fear of death, and what supreme happiness with enjoyment of eternal life.

Jesus himself said, at the Last Supper when the apostles were saddened by his impending departure “Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God still and trust in me… there are many rooms in my Father’s house… I am going now to prepare a place for you. I shall return to take you with me so that where I am you may be too” (John 14:1-4).

Our belief is that Jesus has come and taken Auntie Katie home to himself. At the funeral of Pope John Paul II the present Pope in his homily used a very moving image. In Rome every Sunday at midday the Pope comes to the window of his apartment in the Vatican and blesses the people in St Peter’s Square. Pope Benedict said that he saw the late Pope looking down from his window in heaven and blessing the crowd assembled for the funeral.

This morning I get a sense that though Auntie Katie may have left us in body this she is looking down on us from the window of her room in her Father’s house and still praying for us as we continue to pray for her in this Mass. For us who are left behind and who mourn for I offer these words:

“We can shed tears that she has gone or we can smile that she lived.

We can close our eyes and pray that she’ll come back or we can open our eyes and see all that she has left.

Our hearts can be empty because we can’t see her or we can be full of the love she shared with us.

We can turn our back on tomorrow and live yesterday or we can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

We can remember her and only that she has gone or we can cherish her memory and live on.

We can close our minds, be empty and turn back or we can do what she would want: smile, open our eyes, love and go on.”

Mrs Katie Oruwariye laid to rest

February 5, 2013

Mrs Katie Oruwariye was born in London in 1916. She died in Ibadan, Nigeria on 10 January 2013, aged 97 years.

Mrs-Katie-Oruwariye-coffin- At the age of 23 years she first set foot on African soil when she came to Nigeria. Fourteen years later she married Dr Ona Oruwriye and they had four children and adopted two others. Her husband had a hospital at Oke-Ado.

Mrs Oruwariye, or Auntie Katie as she was known to everyone in the SMA, was a wonderful woman, full of faith. She was a gifted teacher of English – her students at the Nigerian College of Arts, St Anne’s College, St Theresa’s College and at the Ss Peter & Paul Major seminary, all attest to her teaching skills and kindness. Her Christianity was not mere words but also action. In 1962 she was the driving force behind a Home for Motherless babies, next door to the OLA Hospital in Ibadan. Mrs Oruwariye was also involved in several other charitable organisations in Ibadan. On the occasion of her 90^th birthday she used it as an opportunity to raise funds for cataract operations for the poor.

At her request, her Funeral Mass was celebrated at the SMA Chapel in Bodija, Ibadan on Friday, 1 February, attended by large numbers from all walks of life: politicians, doctors, those from the legal profession, businessmen, former ‘motherless babies’ whom she assisted and were now university graduates. Up to a short time before her death she attended Mass in the seminary chapel and was a familiar sight to all and sundry saying her private prayers and devotions.

His Grace the Archbishop of Ibadan, Most Rev Felix Alaba Job was the Principal Celebrant, assisted by the Bishop of Oyo, Rt Rev Badejo. Also concelebrating the funeral Mass were many SMA and diocesan clergy whose lives Mrs Oruwariye had touched in so many different ways. Among the SMA priests present were Frs Edward Muge (Rector of the SMA House of Formation), Francis Rozario (staff member), Noel O’Leary (former Rector of the SMA House of Formation), Fr Francis Barka-Nado (Vice Superior of the Bight of Benin District-in-formation), Fr Trinkson Debres, John Suakor, Benjamin Ubi, Emmanuel Zinsu and Tim Cullinane who preached the homily. Read Fr Tim’s homily here.

Among the OLA Sisters present were Sr Mary Anthony, Sr Agnes Hassan, Sr Victoria (Maryhill School), Sr Josephine (Matron of Oloyuro Hospital) and Sr Bridget from the OLA Novitiate at Maryhill.

Mrs-K-Oruwariye-coffin-2-

After the funeral Mass Mrs Oruwariye was buried in the beautiful garden of her house at Oruwariye Close near Challenge, Ibadan, where she often used to entertain visitors, among them many SMAs who are no longer in Nigeria. One of her great friends, Fr Damian Bresnahan, was one those no longer in Nigeria who enjoyed Auntie Katie’s legendary Lemon cake in the same garden where she now rests until the Resurrection on the Last Day.

Auntie Katie, from your place with God, continue to pray for all of us who continue our earthly pilgrimage.

A Saint for Our Time and a Saint of Sudan

February 5, 2013

A Saint for Our Time and a Saint of Sudan
One of the shocking realities of our age is the fact that today more people are enslaved through human trafficking than there were during the entire 400 years of the transatlantic slave trade. Worldwide it is estimated that twenty seven million people are enslaved through trafficking. Their freedom has been taken away and their inherent human dignity denied.

St Bakhita is an example of endurance, determination and hope against adversity – an example of true freedom for those enslaved through trafficking or abusive relationships. She is a sign that trauma and the scars of abuse caused by enslavement can be healed and that a the dignity of a fully human life can be regained.

Pope John Paul II referred to her as “Our Universal Sister” – an example of faith and forgiveness to us all and a source of hope for those who are in any form of slavery or who need to find peace, forgiveness and reconciliation in their lives. A missionary described St Bakhita’s relevance today by saying – “Bakhita taught us the path of liberation. The path she followed and that lead her from slavery to freedom still has to be walked by so many people that are subject to a variety of forms of slavery.”

Bakhita is also the patron saint of her homeland Sudan and has become a symbol of faith and unity for Sudanese Christians. On the occasion of her beatification, Pope John Paul II praised her for “leaving us a message of reconciliation and evangelic forgiveness in a world so much divided and hurt by hatred and violence. She, that was the victim of the worst injuries of all times, namely slavery, herself declared:

‘If I was to meet those slave raiders that abducted me and those who tortured me, I’d kneel down to them to kiss their hands, because, if it had not been for them, I would not have become a Christian and religious woman’.”

Reconciliation and forgiveness are essential to the future of both Sudan and Southern Sudan. The divisions, mistrust and animosities that caused the South to become an independent state remain and, even within the new State of South Sudan ethnic and political differences are a cause of division. Many fear that these divisions may lead to a civil war. St Bakhita’s example of reconciliation and forgiveness was never more relevant. We hope and pray that her example may lead all Sudanese to peace and reconciliation .

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Your Son Jesus Christ, through His suffering and death on the cross,
gave Himself as a gift of love for the reconciliation and salvation of all peoples.
He continues to express this love by giving us St. Josephine Bakhita.
She too offered herself through her suffering in slavery.
We humbly pray that through her intercession
You may save her brothers and sisters in Sudan from slavery and persecution.
May she obtain for her people and for the whole world the gift of justice and peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Rt. Rev. Macram Max Gassis
Bishop of El-Obeid Diocese, Sudan

A Life Transformed

February 5, 2013

A Life Transformed
As a slave Bakhita endured a saga of trauma, abuse and torture. She had many masters and suffered much. Yet, as a Sister in the Convent at Schio she was renowned for her calmness and good humour – a profound transformation had taken place. In His Encyclical Spe Salvi, Pope Benedict XVI explains the reason for this transformation:

“Bakhita came to know a totally different kind of “master… the living God, Jesus Christ… she had known only masters who despised and maltreated her, or at best considered her a useful slave. Now, however, she heard that there is a ‘master’ above all masters, the Lord of all lords, and that this Lord is good, goodness in person…..Now she had “hope” —no longer simply the modest hope of finding masters who would be less cruel, but the great hope: “I am definitively loved and whatever happens to me—I am awaited by this Love. And so my life is good.” Through the knowledge of this hope she was “redeemed”, no longer a slave, but a free child of God.” Spe Salvi 3

bak prayer

From Slavery to Freedom

February 5, 2013

From Slavery to Freedom

Josephine Bakhita was born in Darfur, Sudan in 1869. Kidnapped at the age of seven, she was sold and resold five times in the markets of El Obeid and Khartoum. She experienced all the humiliations, sufferings and deprivations of slavery.

In 1883, she was bought by Callisto Legnani, Italian consul in Khartoum. For the first time she was treated with care, rather than being beaten. Two years later he took Bakhita to Italy and gave her to his friend Augusto Michieli. She became Nanny to Augusto’s daughter. While preparing to go to Sudan to run a Hotel on the Red Sea coast the Micheili’s left their daighter and Bakhita in the care of the Canossian Sisters at a convent in Venice. When the time came to travel Bakhita refused to go. During the ensuing court case, the judge concluded that since slavery was illegal in Italy, she had actually been free since 1885. Bakhita, now twenty years old, found herself in control of her own destiny. She chose to remain with the Canossian Sisters. She was baptized and confirmed in 1890, taking the name Josephine.

She became a Novice in 1893 and made her profession as a Sister three years later. In 1902, she was transferred to the city of Schio, where she lived until her death. Her gentleness, calmness, and good humoured nature earned her the affectionate title of Nostra Madre Moretta (“Our Black Mother”) among the local people.

Following a long illness Bakhita died on February 8, 1947. She was named a saint of the Church on October 1st 2000. During her canonization Mass in St. Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul drew out the full meaning of her life in the following words: “The law of the Lord is perfect, .. it gives wisdom to the simple. (Ps 19: 8) These words from today’s Responsorial Psalm resound powerfully in the life of Sr Josephine Bakhita. Abducted and sold into slavery she suffered much at the hands of cruel masters. But she came to understand the profound truth that God, and not man, is the true Master of every human being, of every human life. This experience became a source of great wisdom for this humble daughter of Africa. In today’s world, countless women continue to be victimised, even in developed modern societies. We find a shining advocate of genuine emancipation. The history of her life inspires not passive acceptance but the firm resolve to work effectively to free girls and women from oppression and violence, and to return them to their dignity in the full exercise of their rights.”

Dromantine Retreats programme 2013

February 3, 2013

The Dromantine Conference & Retreat Centre is offering a variety of Retreats (Preached and Directed), Workshops and Recollection Days in 2013.

There are 5 Directed retreats (of various lengths) and the Preached retreats last 5 or 6 days. This variation is in response to your requests and to the needs of the preachers.

As well as our retreats we have 2 workshops – one for priests in June and the other a weekend for all with Fr. Daniel O’Leary in September.

Lenten Recollection Days – 10am to 5pm – 16 February, 9 and 23 March

Advent Recollection Days – further details from Conference Centre

Spirituality of the Venerable Catherine McAuley

This year the Sisters of Mercy are organising their own retreat here in Dromantine on the above theme. Those interested will find information on the Dromantine website. We welcome other congregations who wish to do something similar. .

We look forward to welcoming you to Dromantine for your Annual Retreat.

Many congregations use Dromantine for their Chapters and Assemblies. Get in touch with us if you would like to know more about using Dromantine for your meetings. We are fully-equipped for all types of meetings: WiFi, en-suite rooms, several meeting rooms of various sizes… as well as our beautiful grounds which are an important element when a group come for an extended period. Some details here.

We are happy to hear from you at any time and you are most welcome to come and view Dromantine if interested.

Fr Martin Nolan SMA – Funeral homily

February 1, 2013

The SMA Provincial Leader, Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll, was the Principal Celebrant and homilist at the Funeral Mass for Fr Martin Nolan SMA at St Joseph’s SMA Church, Wilton, Cork at 12 noon on 1 February 2013. His remains arrived in Wilton on Thursday evening. See Report on the Reception of the remains here.

Concelebrants

The Readings for the Mass were: Isaiah 40: 1-3, 7-11, Titus 2: 11-14, 3:4-7 and Luke 12: 35-40.

Fr O’Driscoll delivered homily. He is pictured above with the principal concelebrants, from left: Fr Paddy O’Rourke, Fr Martin Costello, Fr O’Driscoll, Fr Tom Curran and Fr Robert Nolan.

“Death is not the cursing of the dark because the light has gone out, but the extinguishing of the lamp because the dawn has come”.

The dawn of transformed life opened for Martin Nolan at c. 9.15pm on Tuesday night last. It was in the end a very gentle passing over after days and even weeks of fairly acute unsettlement. It was the mercy of God that granted him the final hours of serene peace. For that we give thanks to God.

“Anois teacht an Earraigh beidh an lá dúl chun shíneadh,
Is tar eis na féil Bríde ardóigh mé mo sheol.
Go Coillte Mach rachad ní stopfaidh me choíche
Go seasfaidh mé síos i lár Chondae Mhaigh Eo.”

I quoted these very lines, that we all learned at school, from the poet Raftery, on this very day last year when we buried here our much loved honorary member, Sadie McDonagh. Apart from the Easter Octave itself, it is hard to imagine a more ‘resurrection-tinged’ day to be buried than the first day of Spring. La Fheile Bride, St Brigid’s Day – secondary patron of Ireland. Signs of new life are budding up all over nature. Such signs support a faith position that attests that in human life, too, death signifies a change rather than an end. On this day we gather to pay our final respects and bid a fond farewell to a gentle and much loved confrere, Martin Nolan. His family, his friends and his companion brothers and priests gather round his mortal remains today to pray him home to God. Funeral-Procession

And we give thanks this morning for a long life well lived. A life of persevering commitment to the call to missionary priesthood. And as we give thanks we also pray to the God we know only as merciful that he will receive Martin home into the bosom of the Father, the Son and the Spirit. There he will be able to perform two tasks for us: continue to walk with us as a companion, albeit now on the spiritual plane; and be our advocate, our patron, the one who can intercede for us all as he lies close to the breast of the Lord.

Our gospel reading today is that familiar passage where the Lord reminds his disciples that they must be dressed and ready for action. This referred most probably to the necessity to be always ready to advance the kingdom; but it can equally be interpreted, as the Church has done so down the ages, as a reminder that we are not in control of life. It is in God’s hands to give and to receive. And, so, it is necessary to be prepared when the Lord sends that invitation. My sense is that Martin was ready for this call. Martin prepared with meticulous attention to detail for every event in life. He certainly would not have taken the chance of appearing before the Lord ill-prepared.

Born into a family of seven children, four boys and three girls on May 8, 1934, Martin grew up in that famed hurling country around Oylegate and Glenbrien. He went first to the local school, before tuning in to a possible call to be missionary and so headed off to the SMA minor seminary at Ballinafad. From there he proceeded on the SMA formation road, taking a BA degree in UCC along the way, before ordination at Lurgan on 10 December 1961, in that unique televised ordination ceremony. Assigned to the diocese of Jos in Nigeria, he was to spend the next twenty two years in loyal service to the people of the Plateau. Ten years in teaching posts in St Murumba’s, Barakin Ladi minor seminary and Kafanchan Teacher Training College were followed by twelve years in parish ministry at Pankshin, Akwanga and Langtang. Ill health dictated that he could no longer live in the Coffin tropics, so he spent a pleasant two and a half year spell as curate in Castlehaven parish in West Cork. Since 1987 he has been ministering at various tasks for the SMA community in Dromantine.

The opening reading this afternoon from the prophet Isaiah paints a beautiful pastoral scene where the Lord is depicted as a shepherd gently caring for his flock. “He is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering lambs in his arms, holding them against his breast and leading to their rest the mother ewes”. For me this reading captures some of the gentleness that Martin displayed. This reading also carries that beautiful message of consolation. The promise is that the time of service will be ended and sin atoned for. That promise from the Old Testament was fulfilled through the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He took upon himself the sin of all humanity and redeemed it. That is the promise that sustained Martin Nolan into his 79^th year. It was the promise that inspired him to commit over fifty years of his life to missionary priesthood in the SMA.

Universally regarded as a ‘gentle’ gentleman, Martin displayed this gentleness of the shepherd in different dimensions of his life: on the hurling field, where the skills which enabled two sibling’s to collect All Ireland medals were also visible in Martin’s play; he displayed it in his teaching profession and later as a parish curate or when dealing with his confreres, lay staff and mission supporters at Dromantine.

The passage also suggests a softer image of God than what we often see. In fact, many scholars suggest this is a clear expression of the feminine dimension of God, which offsets the often harsher, judgemental, more masculine image presented. And, in a way, that too is fitting to Martin’s character. There was in Martin a kindness and a decency, a gentleness and a courtesy that belied an exterior that sometimes suggested discomfort with physical closeness. His was a personality that attracted the affection of many.

However, before we get carried away in extolling Martin’s virtues the second reading reminds us that it is not really who we are or what we do that saves us but simply the sheer compassion of God. It is worth listening to Paul again as he writes to Titus: .. it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our saviour. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life.” Cemetery-2 Martin, like all of us, will be saved through the mercy and compassion of God but his life response to the graces received was generous and sincere.

Aligned to Martin’s gentleness was a quality of steel. He was conscientious, compassionate, committed, courteous and tremendously loyal, but he was no push over. Martin held firmly to strong views on all matters sporting and ecclesiastic. He was the loyal servant of the gospel who in his thinking did not move far outside the box, to use the latest jargon. But within that box he was utterly trustworthy. His attention to detail was legendary, whether it be the counting of the pennies in the Treasury, the security of doors and windows at night, the perusal of car number plates to ascertain their provenance and possible purpose, or the celebration of liturgy. In all things he was nothing but meticulous.

So, as we say our final farewell to Martin this afternoon we know we will miss him dearly. Now we will look for him in the very presence of God himself. Because God has told us that it is so. It is Jesus’ wish that we be with him, as our gospel proclaimed to us today. God has desired Martin since his very conception to be with him for all eternity. We trust that he is already on the way.

Ar dheis lamh De go raibh a anam dilis.

Read Obituary of Fr Nolan here.

Fr Martin Nolan SMA – Wilton ceremonies

February 1, 2013

Fr John O’Keeffe, SMA Community Leader in Wilton, received the remains of his former colleague at St Joseph’s SMA Church, Wilton at 7pm after its arrival from the African Missions House, Dromantine where Fr Martin had lived for the last 25 years.

After blessing the remains and placing the Book of the Gospels, the Crucifix and a Stole (symbol of priesthood) on the coffin, Fr Tom Harlow read from the Letter of St Paul to the Philippians (4:4-9) and Fr John then read from Matthew 5: the Beatitudes.

After the Gospel reading Fr John shared the following:

On behalf of the Wilton SMA Community I offer sincere condolences to Annie, Pat, Jimmy, Eileen and Mary, their families, Martin’s nephews and nieces, grand-nephews and nieces, other relatives and friends. We in the SMA share your grief in the passing of our brother in the priesthood, Martin.

I welcome you all here this evening recognizing particularly the OLA Sisters, Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll, our Provincial Leader, my brothers in the SMA and others who have come to share in our moment of prayer for Fr Martin. I particularly welcome those who have travelled from Wexford and other counties to pay your respects, and to honour the life of our departed brother, missionary and priest.

“Christ has given us our true meaning and identity. He tells us who we are” (Joseph Pollard). For Martin to live without Christ would be to live a meaningless life. His priesthood enveloped him. He strove every day to serve Jesus and to live through Him, with Him, and in Him. Fr Martin found happiness in his work – he was never half-hearted in his priestly duties nor in his daily tasks. He lived his vocation to the full, accepting his different appointments and applying himself meticulously to the spiritual and mundane duties of each day. He was indeed happy in his vocation and shared his happiness with his communities in Nigeria and Ireland.

We pray for the repose of his soul and that he is now united eternally with his dear parents and his brother John. May they rest in peace.

Funeral Mass – 12 noon – 1 February

A large gathering of family and friends from Co Wexford gathered with the Wilton SMA community to ‘pray Fr Martin home to God’ as the SMA Provincial Leader, Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll reminded us in his introduction to the Mass. The principal concelebrants were, from left: Fr Paddy O’Rourke (Co-Leader, SMA Dromantine), Fr Martin Costello (a classmate of Fr Martin), Fr O’Driscoll, Fr Tom Curran (SMA General Councillor in Rome) and Fr Robert Nolan (a cousin on Fr Martin and Parish Priest in Adamstown, Co Wexford).

Fr John O’Keeffe was the MC and Fr Angelo Lafferty led the singing.

Aileen Nolan (pictured) and Paul Fortune read from the Prophet Isaiah (40: 1-3, 7-11) and the Letter of St Paul to Titus (2: 11-14, 3:4-7) respectively. Fr Angelo sang the Responsorial Psalm with the sung response: My soul is longing for your peace, near to you, my God which was something Fr Martin looked forward to throughout his priestly life, in Nigeria and Ireland.

Fr O’Driscoll read from the Gospel of St Luke (12: 35-40). Read Fr O’Driscoll’s homily here.

Fr Martin Nolan – Dromantine ceremonies

February 1, 2013

Funeral Rites for Fr Martin Nolan SMA in Dromantine

The remains of Fr Martin Nolan returned to Dromantine from Craigavon Area Hospital on the afternoon of 30 January and for several hours family members and SMA confreres received many of our neighbours and friends who came to pay their last respects. At 9.45pm we gathered to recite the Rosary around Fr Martin’s coffin.

The following morning the community gathered for Morning Prayer of the Church.

Go dtuga Dia na Flaithis dó.

At 11am on 31 January Concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving in the community Chapel brought nearly 100 people to pray for the happy repose of his soul. Fr Paddy O’Rourke SMA was the Principal Celebrant, assisted by the Dromantine community: Frs John Denvir, Peter Thompson, Kevin Mulhern (who led the singing), Maurice Kelleher (who acted as MC), John Travers, Sean Ryan, Eddie Deeney and Des Corrigan. Also concelebrating was a cousin of Fr Martin: Fr Pat Mernagh (Chaplain to the Forces, McKee Barracks, Dublin) and Fr Martin Kavanagh SMA.

Paul-Fortune Paul Fortune (pictured) read from the Book of Wisdom (3:1-6, 9) and Aileen Nolan read from St Paul’s Letter to the Romans (8:28-30). The Gospel, from the 17th Chapter of St John, was read by the Dromantine Co-Leader, Fr John Denvir.

Fr Peter Thompson delivered the following homily:

One of the nicest pieces in the Gospels is chapter 17 of St John’s Gospel. In it we have a scene vividly described for us – Jesus is sitting with his followers for the last time. Very soon he himself would begin His final journey that would lead to the Cross and Death and Resurrection.

In this Gospel story we see Jesus speaking with His friends about many things. He prays to His Heavenly Father too and this prayer goes like this “I have glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to do”. His life was drawing to an end. He was accepting the reality, accepting the will of His Father.

To-day we gather to celebrate the life of Fr. Martin. He had a relatively long life, a busy and very fulfilled life. We are told that the Hindu people refer to death as the quenching of a lamp because the dawn has come. It’s a nice homely image and one that fits very well, I think, in the case of Fr. Martin.

His death when it came on Tuesday night was quiet and not entirely unexpected. It was, we could say, the silent quenching of the candle flame – the fading out of life, the gentle withdrawing of a gentle soul to the shores of eternity, to the source of all life and energy.

Our Mass here in Dromantine today is essentially one of thanksgiving for Martin’s life – for the person he was. We celebrate a life of goodness and kindness, of love given and love received in return.

Born on 8^th May 1934, Martin was baptised in the Church of Glenbrien, Co Wexford the following day. He attended Glenbrien National School and then moved to CBS, Enniscorthy before deciding that he wanted to begin his studies for the Priesthood with the S.M.A. Fathers in Ballinafad, Co Mayo. After completing his Leaving Certificate in 1954 Martin entered the SMA Novitiate, in Co Galway. From there he moved on to study at UCC and later came here to Dromantine to study theology. He was ordained in St. Peter’s Church in Lurgan in December 1961 by the late Bishop Eugene Doherty.

Those of us who were contemporaries of Martin here in the Seminary would agree that he was nothing if he wasn’t entirely consistent in what he did and said right through his life. What you saw was what you got at all times. The virtues of uprightness, honesty, integrity and justice shone through every fibre of his being. He had no time for what he would term nonsense in any shape or form. His great love was sport, hurling being his priority but he was also keenly interested in Gaelic Football, Soccer, Golf and Rugby. He was blessed with a phenomenal memory and was often called on by his community members to recall the name of a sports star or a significant historical event.

Dampar-1984 After his ordination, Martin was appointed to Northern Nigeria and soon found himself on the staff of St. Murumba’s College in Jos. Later on he taught in the minor seminary in the Diocese of Jos and also in the teacher training college at Kafanchan where he was much loved, respected and appreciated as an English teacher. Having spent another 12 years in the pastoral ministry in Jos, he worked in several parishes: Pankshin, Akwanga, Langtang and Shendam, names that regularly fell from his lips as he loved to recall various incidents of note that made a lasting impression in his life in Nigeria.

Our picture shows Fr Martin from a 1984 photo taken at Damapr, near Shendam, Nigeria with Sr Mary Magdalen OLA and ‘friend’!

Tall and very athletic though Martin was, his health always tended to be somewhat frail and so it was that in 1984, he was told by his doctors that his days in Africa had come to an end. After some months recuperating, he took up an appointment in the diocese of Cork and Ross. At that time the Society Superiors were looking for more personnel for the staff of Dromantine and after 2 years in Cork Diocese, Martin joined the staff of this house. That was just over 25 years ago. It is no exaggeration to say that Martin has made a huge contribution to Dromantine over the years. Five years ago he had a hip operation from which he made a great recovery and continued to be responsible for the Treasury office – a work that entailed responsibility for travelling to banks North and South of the border often in difficult weather conditions and sometimes over rough roads – a work that involved reading all the many letters that come here each day, often telling of personal problems and making special requests. Martin always ensured that those letters were acknowledged and in so far as possible all requests were followed up.

We can truthfully say of Martin that his entire life was spent in the spreading of God’s word. He was truly remarkable for the great witness he gave. Witness has many qualities. In Martin’s case his witness was his example of total dedication. No doubt he was mindful of the words of Christ when he said to his apostles “you will be my witness until the end of time”. Martin’s witness was given in the school, the parish and the office. His witness was always public faithful and courageous. It was clear and truthful and it reflected the values of the Gospel.

Martin’s death, like every death tells us many things. It reminds us that, whether a life is long or short death always comes. It comes as the great proof of our human situation. It is a reminder that we don’t have all the answers that the last word is always with God. Death always spells loss as well.

Dampar-1984-Mass Our picture shows Fathers Frank Meehan, Martin Nolan and Leo Silke celebrating Mass in an outstation of Langtang.

Saying goodbye to a much loved priest, confrere and friend is not easy. It is often said that in the world of nature, the two high points of the day are the sunrise and sunset. These are very special moments. Birth and death, we can say are special moments too in the life of every human being. At these times especially, we realise that every person is unique. People seem larger to us when they are born and when they die – more especially when they die. It is only then that we get a glimpse of their worth. We get an overview of their contribution to life. At death we regard a person not just as unique and precious but also as sacred. With death we are in the presence of a mystery. Each and every death is a mystery. Just as each and every person is a unique gift from God. Just as Martin came into being 78 years ago he went back again to the creator of all life. His pain and discomfort is now finished and we are all left with a lot of very good memories – memories of someone always ready and willing to help out in situations where help was needed – always willing to do duty on phones and doors in times of staff shortages. Up to the very last weeks, Martin would check to ensure that windows and doors were securely locked at night time. He was indeed Dromantine’s ‘minister for security’. These are memories to cherish – memories of someone who cared deeply about other people someone who was a good brother, a good friend and above all a good priest.

To-day we pray for Martin, conscious that prayer for the dead is very deeply ingrained in our Catholic tradition. It expresses some of the deepest truths of our faith. It helps us in our belief that those who live well and die well are gone to God.

Martin had a great awareness of God’s presence. A very private person, his prayers too were said in private for the most part. What we knew was that he usually walked the corridor as he said his Rosary to which he was very faithful – together with faithfully praying all the Hours of the Breviary.

In conclusion we can say that death came to Martin as the harvest time of the spirit. It came as the logical conclusion based on the natural order of all created things. As we read in the Book of Ecclesiastes “there is a time to be born and a time to die”

Martin has left us with many memories and memory is a great gift. It helps us to recall incidents and events and it makes us realise just how precious and how unique love is. Martin’s wit and sense of humour, his ability to make and hold friends make up the legacy that he has left behind.

When loved ones die they leave us a parting gift – the gift of spirit. That spirit comforts us and maintains the link between us and them. But the spirit also summons us to life. We are challenged to grow – to shine in our own right and we are often led to discover within our selves sources that we never knew existed. So we can feel that, though we lose something in death, we gain something too. We are helped to see life and death bathed in a new light. We believe that beyond death there is a life where broken things are mended and lost things are found – where there is rest for the weary and joy for the sad.

Today the story of Martin’s life is complete. It is all over now – the hustle and the bustle and the worry of life. Like very person who lives and dies, Martin made his own very definite contribution to life. His loved ones can now be at ease and reconciled to his death. Death and life as we know come from the same hand – the hand of God.

All Martin wants now is to be remembered at the Altar of God. We gladly do that for him as we pray that his soul will rest in perfect peace for all time.

Beefburgers? – Who Pays

January 30, 2013

Beefburgers? – Who Pays

The recent discovery of horse DNA in some beef burgers produced in Ireland raise questions way beyond finding the source of this DNA. Beef burgers are usually a cheap food option, and naturally very popular. We all want cheap food – we crave a bargain – the special offer – the buy one get one free. Cheap food however, also means cheap ingredients and, in making them cheap inevitably someone else pays.

Perhaps it is a farmer in Westmeath who, in order to maintain the profit margins of the Supermarket chain, is forced by them to sell his produce for a price that barely covers production costs. This is what is happening on a local level – this time he pays.

On the global level this injustice is multiplied a hundredfold and is costing lives and livelihoods. Global politics, multinationals and corporate greed have been involved in food production for decades. It’s one of the causes behind food shortages in developing countries. Far too much control over food growth and production is given to huge multinational companies. The cheap “cash crops” they produce in the developing world end up on supermarket shelves in attractive packaging. They give us a cheap product and still generate huge profits for western shareholders and corporations. In this case the poor of the developing world pay.

Beef is a typical example: massive tracts of land are changed from food crops to cattle grazing; or to grow grain for cattle feed. Scarce water has to be diverted, again for cattle rearing to produce cheap, processed meat, but not for the local market. It’s a complex story, but when rural people lose the ownership and control over their land in the interests of big multinationals engaged in mass production of cheap food products the shareholders gain – the poor pay.

While rightly concerned about global warming, increasing deserts, destructive flooding in Africa and elsewhere pushing people to migrate and emigrate for a better life, let’s also remember that the drive for mass produced cheap food is equally destructive of people’s ability to survive and thrive when their land has been taken over for cash crops, whether it’s cattle, genetically modified soya, rice or some other commodity…Cheap food begs some questions: Who pays? Who is losing? Do we care?

You must love your neighbour as yourself Matt 22.39

Boko Haram ceasefire?

January 29, 2013

FIDES, the News Agency for the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, quoting an article on the Nigerian Tribune website, is reporting that part of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, which operates in northern Nigeria, has agreed to a ceasefire. According to the website, a group suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect claimed to have held a closed-door meeting with the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, and other top government officials and religious leaders from the state.

Briefing journalists Sheikh Abu Mohammad Abdulazeez Ibn Idris, commander of Boko Haram in Northern and Central Borno, said that after due consultation with the leader of the sect, Shiekh Abubakar Shekau, have all come to terms and agreed to lay down their arms. Sheikh Abdulazeez added, however, that the government should immediately release all their members of Boko Haram in detention unconditionally. The leader of Boko Haram has recognized that because of their attacks, large numbers of Muslim women and children have suffered, and that they have decided to lay down their arms to avoid further suffering to civilians. Boko Haram has carried out several attacks on churches and other Christian places of worship, but has also hit Islamic leaders, considered “moderate.”

There is no confirmation that the information supplied by the Nigerian Tribune is correct though all peace-loving Nigerians and those beyond the country will pray earnestly that it is so.

SMA presence in the west of Ireland

January 25, 2013

The presence of the SMA in Ireland goes back to 1876 when the then SMA Superior General, Fr Augustin Planque, sent Fr James O’Haire (a priest working with Irish immigrants in South Africa) to recruit English-speaking priests from Ireland to join the Society. In 1878 Fr Francis Devoucoux SMA came to Mayfield, Cork to take charge of the Apostolic school founded by Fr O’Haire.

SMA presence in the west of Ireland

In 1883 he was replaced by Fr Joseph Zimmerman SMA “who may rightfully be hailed as the father of the Irish Province of the SMA.” (AM, Autumn 1978). But Fr Zimmerman needed willing and able supporters and, in the early years, few were as devoted as Llewellyn Joseph Blake of Cloughballymore, Co Galway who later inherited his father’s estate at Ballinafad, Belcarra, Co Mayo. The Blake family were one of the most prominent Catholic families in Mayo and Galway since the time they arrived from Wales in the twelfth century. Count Blake (the title was a Papal one which was bestowed on him at the request of the SMA in 1907) was impressed by Fr Zimmerman’s zeal and sincerity and when the time came for him to settle his affairs (his marriage not having produced any children) it was the young Society of African Missions that appealed most to him. What impressed him most was Fr Zimmerman’s concept of an independent Irish missionary force. And so the SMA received the gifts of his estates at Cloughballymore and Ballinafad and numerous financial donations for the education of students for the missionary priesthood. Count Llewellyn Blake died on 8 September 1916 and is buried beside the SMA Church, Wilton, Cork. The SMA owes an immesurable debt of gratitude to this promoter of the missions.

The Ballinafad property was turned into an Apostolic school for young men who needed their secondary education before going on for seminary studies. It closed as a Secondary School in 1975 and the property was sold. Cloughballymore was used as the SMA Novitiate.

A property at Kinury, near Westport, Co Mayo was given to the SMA in 1914 by Miss Sofia Crotty. It was used as a Novititate for Brothers and closed in 1924.

When the SMA left Ballinafad they maintained their ‘Connacht’ presence with a House near Knock, Co Mayo (1983 – 1994).

And now, with the opening of the SMA House in Claregalway a new chapter has opened in the rich tradition of the SMA presence in the west of Ireland. Long may it bear fruit!

Formation of SMA students

January 25, 2013

SMA seminary, Bodija — Chapel and Library at the SMA seminary, Ibadan, Nigeria

… the Missionaries of Tomorrow

The Programme is based on the SMA Charter of Formation. Those who seek to be members of the Society must have, at least, completed their secondary education. There are various phases:-

An Orientation Programme where the student reflects on what is a ‘vocation’ and on the mission of the SMA with a view to entering the formal training programme.
Philosophy studies and a University Degree may take 4-6 years depending on the Institute or University course being followed. Philosophy studies may be undertaken in Ireland or in an SMA House of Studies elsewhere.
The Spiritual Year is a 1-year course in spirituality and SMA mission and work. It is done in an international setting in one of two locations – in Silang, Philippines or the Centre Brésillac in the Republic of Benin. At the end of this year students take temporary membership in the Society.
In-the-field Training called “Stage” is for 1-year when students live with experienced SMA missionaries in Africa.
Theology studies is the final phase and take 3 or 4 years. We have three Formation Houses – in Africa – where a seminarian can study theology: Nairobi (Kenya), Ibadan (Nigeria), Anyama (Cote d’Ivoire). There are also Houses of Theology in India, Philippines and Poland.

At the end of the course the student becomes a permanent member of the Society and is ordained to priesthood.

A Journey Together – remarks of Fr Fachta O’Driscoll

January 17, 2013

fachtna3 I am very happy to be here this evening and to be part of this unique event. To the best of my knowledge this is the first time ever in Ireland that a resource which is the fruit of communication, cooperation and consultation between Muslims and Christians has been produced.

So often what we hear about relations between Muslims and Christians is negative and concerns violence and intolerance. Yet here tonight the focus is very much on the cooperation, mutual understanding and respect things that are at the core of interfaith dialogue. The process that led to the existence of this resource is testament to the fact that this cooperation and respect is possible.

Cois Tine’s involvement in promoting interfaith dialogue formally began early in 2009 when a presentation on Islam and Muslim Christian Dialogue was prepared and delivered in a number of locations around the country. But prior to this Cois Tine was in a very practical way and on a daily basis engaging in dialogue with those who were Muslims among the immigrants who came to and were welcomed at Cois Tine – this work continues today.

Since 2009 Cois Tine’s work in the area of dialogue has become more formal through the work of Gerry Forde and through involvement in the Cork Integration Project that is co-financed through the European Integration Fund. Over a more than two year period this project took up a lot of time and effort and resulted in a series of Workshops, meetings and the many hours of work spent in preparing for them and in following up on the tasks generated by them. The SMA has been happy to commit resources to this project and we feel it is time well spent. Why?

Because we know from experience of working in countries where Muslim and Christian populations mix that Dialogue between Muslims and Christians is a must – it is the only way that can allow Muslims and Christians to live together.

One sentence in the resource that the Lord Mayor has just launched stood out for me – it encapsulates my hopes and provides an aspiration that we can all work towards – this sentence reads “Therefore, there is a sense of urgency, a need to build upon the good relations that we have, and to provide an example of understanding, trust and cooperation that can be followed by Muslims and Christians in other parts of the world.”

It is my hope that the involvement of Cois Tine in the area of dialogue will lead to better relations between Muslims and Christians here in Ireland and that the example we give here in Ireland can influence in a positive way what happens elsewhere in the world.

A Journey Together

January 17, 2013

Cois Tine, part of the SMA Justice Office, launched A Journey Together, a unique resource to assist Muslim-Christian cooperation on 16 January 2013. There was a capacity attendance at the launch, by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Emmet O’Halloran, in the City Council Chamber of the Cork City Hall.

Addressing several Muslim and Christian leaders as well as the general public, Councillor O’Halloran reminded us that Ireland, with 199 different nationalities living in the country, is now clearly a multicultural society, representing a broad diversity of cultures, ethnicities and religions. Engaging positively with this diversity is a crucial and ongoing task for government, both local and national. Playingf its part, the City Council is in the process of drawing up a Cork City Integration Strategy.

A production of the SMA Justice Office, it is the fruit of more than two years of research, meetings and workshops and was compiled by Mr Gerry Forde, who has extensive expertise in this field, having worked for many years in the north of Nigeria and Egypt.

Gerry has academic qualifications in the area of Islamic Studies from the Pontifical Institute for Arabic & Islamic Studies [PISAI] in Rome, Dar-Comboni Institute in Cairo and has an MA in Islamic Studies from the School of African and Oriental Studies in London.

Addressing the guests at the launch, the Provincial Leader of the Society of African Missions, Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll said “So often what we hear about relations between Muslims and Christians is negative and concerns violence and intolerance. Yet here tonight the focus is very much on the cooperation, mutual understanding and respect things that are at the core of interfaith dialogue. The process that led to the existence of this resource is testament to the fact that this cooperation and respect is possible.” Read Fr O’Driscoll’s text here.

Sheikh Umar Al-Qadri of the Al-Mustafa Islamic Educational Cultural Centre in Ireland, who was very involved in the preparation of A Journey Together told us that there are now more than 50,000 Muslims living in Ireland. An Islamic scholar, the Sheikh, pictured with Fr Angelo Lafferty SMA [Director of the SMA Justice Office], has lived in Ireland for the last 10 years. Paying tribute to this production of Cois Tine, the Sheikh said that many government bodies and local organisations, some of which he has been part of, acknowledge the need for inter-faith dialogue and religious pluralism but none of them has produced a resource like A Journey Together. “This is unique and I cannot tell you how important it is for me as an Imam because many times Christians come to the Mosque to know more about Islam. They don’t come to convert; they just want to know more about what is Islam.”

He further explained that if people are looking for more information about Islam or Christianity, very often the books available denigrate the other faith. But A Journey Together does not do this.

“This is unique. If someone comes to the Mosque now in Dublin I can give him this resource and I will be 100% confident that this book will not convert the person, is not going to be a way of converting him to be a Muslim. It’s going to be genuinely giving him information about what is Islam, genuinely telling what Islam and Christianity have in common.”

Following the addresses there was a common prayer moment at which different guests prayed and spoke on different aspects of the Prayer of St Francis – Lord, make me an instrument of your Peace.

Bishops John Buckley and Bishop Paul Colton led some of the prayers along with some members of the Islamic faith.

Afterwards refreshments and vegetarian food was able for all.

Click here to enter resource

January 17, 2013

This resource is aimed at both Muslims and Christians in Ireland. It promotes the development of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation between them, especially on the level of everyday life in local communities

Click here
to enter Resource

Conflict intensifies in the Central African Republic

January 14, 2013

Central African Republic conflict widens

FIDES, the News Agency of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples reports that “South Africa has sent about 200 soldiers to support the security of the capital of the Central African Republic, Bangui, under threat from Seleka rebels. Despite the peace talks that open on 8 January in Libreville, the capital of Gabon, the rebels captured Alindao and Kouango on 5 January, two cities near Bambari, the main town in the centre of the country.”

The Seleka rebels are near Damara, about 90kms from Bangui. Both sides see this as an ‘unsurpassed red line’. There are nearly 800 foreign soldiers in the Multinational Force of Central Africa (FOMAC), supporting the government side: 400 from Chad and 360 soldiers from Gabon, Cameroon and Congo.

South African President Jacob Zuma said that this South African military group were sent to the CAR in accordance with the agreements previously signed by the two countries. France and US Special Forces are also present in the country. South Africa already has a group of soldiers (whose mission will end March 31), helping to train the local army and start the process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of the rebels.

“Representatives of Seleka have criticized the South African decision, saying that mercenaries and South African arms have already been sent to the Country (see Fides 03/01/2013), suspecting the existence of agreements for the exploitation of mineral resources by local South African corporations.”

The Society of African Missions has a significant presence in CAR for many decades, working in several dioceses. The dioceses of Bossangoa and Berberati have SMA bishops leading them. We also have SMA priests from the country working as missionaries in other parts of Africa. Our Formation House in Bangui hosts SMA seminarians who are studying Philosophy at the nearby diocesan seminary. If you want to help support their training you can Donate Online here – Training of SMA seminarians.

Fr John O’Hea Golden Jubilee homily

January 14, 2013

John O'Hea in his Oke Ado office 2 — Fr John O'Hea at his Mission in Oke Ado

Fr Fintan Daly preached the following homily at the Mass celebrated at the SMA House of Studies, Bodija, Ibadan, Nigeria on Friday, 4 March 2010 to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Priestly Ordination of Fr John O’Hea SMA.

The first aim of every prayer and every religious celebration should be to give thanks and praise to God. And this evening we thank and praise God for many things.

First we thank God for life and health and for the gift of faith. And this evening we thank God for you seminarians, for your vocation and for the wonderful gifts and talents that God has given you.

Second, we thank God especially this evening for the life of Fr. John O’Hea who is a man of sincere faith and who is devoting all his energy now to handing on the faith to others. Since some of you may not know Fr. O’Hea very well I think I should say a few words about his life.

John was born in Co. Cork, Ireland 78 years ago. He was born into a very special house, because 15 priests were born in that house. Yes – 15 priests. That must surely be a record. These 15 were not all brothers. They belonged to several generations. He has one senior brother Fr. James, who is an SMA priest and who only retired from Ibadan in 2007 after 55 years of faithful service in Ibadan. The other priests were uncles, grant uncles and great grand uncles. One of his uncles was also an SMA priest who worked in Liberia for many years. He also had an uncle who was bishop of their home Diocese.

Some of the other uncles worked in Dioceses in Ireland and in America.

So John grew up in a house where there was a tradition of vocations to the Priesthood and to the Missions, but when John finished his secondary school, he did not think of the priesthood. Instead he studied at a College of Agriculture and there he learned a lot about machinery and technology which he was already interested in. Then he worked for a while with a Telephone Company where he became more interested in technology but eventually the call to the Missionary life came to him and he joined the SMA.

He studied at the SMA seminary and the University of Cork and was ordained on 21st. December 1960.

One interesting thing about that ordination was that it was the first ordination ever to be televised by the BBC. Many people expected to see the ordination during the TV News programme that evening, but only a few seconds of the celebration was shown and it came after the price of turkeys! That was a lesson to the newly ordained priests. For them the ordination was the most important thing that could happen, but for some people, the price of turkeys before Christmas was more newsworthy than an ordination.

In 1961 Fr. O’ Hea was appointed to Ibadan, and he has given dedicated service during the past 50 years. His first appointment in Ibadan was to teach in Fatima College, Ikire.

Then he taught at Oke-Are Seminary.

After Oke-Are he served in the parishes of Iwo, Ikire, Oke Offa, the Cathedral and Apata.

I must mention a few interesting things about him during these years:

1 In 1966 he went to the small village of Lashegba to spend school holiday time working in the farm of a Yoruba family, hoping in that way to learn the Yoruba language. The farmer rejoiced to have a European working as a labourer in his farm.

2 Later when he was in Iwo he built mud houses for lepers. And he built the parish house and church on a refuse dump. When I saw the refuse dump I thought it was a crazy place to think of building anything. But John was able to see beyond the smoke and the smell and a fine church and parish house were built there.

3 Many parishes and religious houses have called on John when they had problems with engines or electricity or plumbing. Indeed he is a jack of all trades and a master of them as well.

4 He also has done many things to help people in ways that we would never think of. For example a few years ago a tailor had a serious accident on a motor cycle. The fingers on his right hand were severely damaged and he feared he would not be able to do tailoring again. But John bought a left-handed scissors and encouraged him to use it. The tailor is continuing his tailoring as well as ever.

And there are many others that he has helped in many different ways. He hardly spends any money on himself but he provides a lot for others. It was due to his initiative when he was in the Cathedral that Ile Alafia – Home for the Needy – was started and that home now feeds about 300 poor people every day.

5 John has also a great sense of humour. I will tell you about one funny incident that happened in 1970. At that time John was returning from leave. He brought back some apples for his brother Fr. Jim. It was the time of the civil war and soldiers were at the customs and they were very strict in examining every bit of luggage. When the soldier saw the apples he said ‘This is illegal, you cannot bring these into the country.”

John said, ‘Sorry, but what will happen to them now”? The soldier said, ‘They have to be destroyed –and you must pay to have them destroyed”.

John said, “I will destroy them myself” and he started to eat one of the apples. The soldier joined in and the two of them ate all the apples and they parted as the best of friends…

That tells you a lot about John, how he can make the best of a difficult situation.

But John is above all a dedicated priest and a very zealous missionary. We thank God that there is a great friendship and respect for priests and religious in Nigeria, and in many other African countries also. Sadly in some parts of the world, scandals have caused many people to lose their respect for priests. I pray that will never happen here in Nigeria or in Africa.

In the 50 years since Fr. O’Hea was ordained there have been many changes in the church and in the world. But we have seen nothing yet. The changes in the future will be much greater than anything we ever dreamt of. How can you young people prepare for the future?

Well there may be many things we can do, but the most important thing for us is to focus our attention on Christ.

Thank God we know something about Christ, but we are only beginners. Christ is so wonderful in every way that we can always learn more about him. Pope Paul VI certainly knew a lot about Christ, yet when he was in Nazareth he said he would like to go to school once more so as to be close to Mary in the sublime school of Nazareth and learn more about Jesus.

Another time Paul VI gave a long sermon on Christ, he said, Christ is the secret of history and the key to our destiny. He is the mediator, the bridge between heaven and earth” and he ended by saying, “I could never finish speaking about him”. And we can never finish learning about Christ and we should try to learn more about Christ because St. Paul said in his letter to the Philippians, “Nothing is more important than to know Jesus Christ.”

The motto of the Jubilee Year 2000 was “Christ the same yesterday, today and forever”. The point being made was that is the key to every age and to every place. So if we focus on Christ it will help us to cope with the changes that we will meet in the years to come.

At the beginning of this Millennium John Paul II wrote a beautiful Letter in which he told us to “Launch out into the deep“. Here the Pope was appealing to people to move out and be involved in

evangelisation. All of us here are missionaries. Let us hope that we will always be zealous missionaries. Fr. O’Hea has certainly given us an example in this regard. I know that Fr. John’s sincere wish is that each one of us would hand on the faith. We must be missionaries not only by word, but also by example. It is interesting that in that same letter Pope John Paul II quoted the words of the Greeks to Philip, “We want to see Jesus”. The Pope said that people still want to see Jesus and they expect to see Jesus in us.

In 1972 there was a big Congress for the Laity in Rome. During the Congress a lady from India said for the past five days many things had been discussed, but nothing had been said about Christ. Her question then was: “Why do you send us missionaries who are interested in many things but who do not show us the face of Christ?”

I hope that will never be said about the SMAs or the OLA Sisters.

But it does remind us that people expect to see the face of Christ in us, and they will only see the face of Christ in us if we see the face of Christ in the many ways he is present in the world around us. John Paul II told us to contemplate the face of Jesus with the eyes of Mary. Think of the love with which Mary looked on the baby Jesus as she held him in her arms in Bethlehem, and think of how sorrowfully she looked on him as he hung on the cross. In order to contemplate the face of Jesus with the eyes of Mary we need to purify our vision. If we purify our vision we will see the innocent face of Jesus in the innocent face of a child. And we will see the loving face of Jesus in the loving care of a mother for her children, or in the loving care of a nurse for the sick.

And we will see the sorrowful face of Jesus in the face of those who suffer. But Jesus also has a glorious face and we see the glorious face of Jesus in those who joyfully serve the Lord in spite of difficulties and doubts and confusion around them. We also see the glorious face of Jesus in the face of those who rise up from failures and from disgrace and sins.

If we purify our vision we may even see the face of Jesus in the world around us. Like the poet we may be able to say, “I see his blood upon the rose… I see his face in every flower“.

Above all we see Jesus in the Eucharist and we hear his voice in the Scriptures.

And if we attentively listen to His word every day and reverently receive Him in the Eucharist, this will help us to see the face of Jesus in the many ways he is present in the world. If we try to contemplate the face of Jesus with the eyes of Mary, we will learn a lot about him, but we will never exhaust the wonder and the mystery of Christ. That is why heaven will not be boring. Each new day in heaven will be like a new adventure, a new opportunity to explore the wonder and the beauty of Christ, and of the Father and Holy Spirit – and the beauty of the Lord far surpasses all the beauty that we ever dreamt of.

So let us launch out into the deep, let us enter into the mystery of Christ and let us hand on this wonderful gift to others. Let us with all our zeal join with Fr. O’Hea in handing on the faith. The faith is needed now more than ever before. The world is a troubled place at the present time. So many countries in Africa and the Arab world are in trouble. We pray for the many people who are in danger and we pray that the Lord may touch the hearts of those leaders who are oppressing their people. But in spite of everything we must be people of hope.

And it is interesting that Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have written about the importance of hope.

And the Second Vatican Council said “The future belongs to those who are strong enough to give succeeding generations reasons for living and hoping”.

We have reasons for living, we have reasons for hoping. So as well as handing of the faith, let us also hand on hope because you cannot have one without the other and of course love joins faith and hope together. So let us keep in mind the dying words of our Founder, which were Faith, Hope and Love.

May we have a living faith to inspire us to launch out into the deep,

may we have hope that is strong enough to survive every storm and every temptation

And may we have love that is pure and enables us to see the face of Christ in the people we meet so that we will treat everyone with respect.

Finally we end as we began, with a word of thanksgiving. We thank the Lord for all his blessings. We thank Him for the life of Fr. John – and John we thank you yourself for your dedication and faithful service and for the many ways.

My advice to you now that you are a Golden Jubilarian and aged 78: I say don’t begin to feel you are old.

When Pope Leo XIII was celebrating his 93^rd birthday someone shouted “May you live to be 100”. He replied, “Why set limits to God’s providence?”

So do not set limits to God’s providence. St. John Vianney said, “It is always springtime in the heart of those who love God”. We know you John love God so we hope your heart will always have the freshness of Springtime.

The very last words of our Founder were “Thank you”. So we conclude by saying Thank You Lord, Thank you John and thank you all.

SMA GOLF CLASSIC 2014

Some give, by going; others go, by giving.

Irish SMA presence in Egypt

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Pictured are Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll (SMA Superior General, 2013-2019), Fr Malachy Flanagan and Mr Paul Murphy (Assistant Provincial Bursar)

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