St Anthony Brief IRISH FRANCISCAN MISSION MAGAZINE No.2 FEB/MAR 2019 €2.00

✣✣ The Spirituality of Gardening ✣✣ A Love That Endures ✣✣ Saints Are Not Born! Spirit and Life SOUL PRINT

We leave not only a carbon footprint As we journey on planet earth, But a soul print as well.

Scattered around us everywhere we go Is tangible evidence That we have been in this place.

And as a result of our presence, This place is either more or less Loving and hopeful And prone toward mercy.

The Light of the World has come And shines through us, Yes, even us!

– KAYLA McCLURG

St Anthony Brief SStt AAnthonynthony BriefBrief 2 Spirit and Life. From the Editor.

4 The Spirituality of Gardening. Christine Sine reflects on the joys and benefits of being close to the earth. 5 A Love that Endures. Gerry O’Reilly OFM writes from South Africa about the lasting impact of Marriage Encounter on a couple’s 8 relationship.

An Update from Juba. Joe Walsh OFM writes from war-torn South Sudan. 9 Why Are You Afraid? Writing from Zimbabwe, Walter Gallahue OFM reflects on the struggle to trust God in times of sickness and death. 10 12 Church Brief. 60 Years A Growing! Eugene Barrett OFM was very happy to attend 13 the celebrations in Harare of the 60th Anniversary of the Franciscan Mission to Zimbabwe.

A Day of Joyful Triumph. Brendan Butler writes of the joy of witnessing the canonisation of Oscar Romero. 14 At the US-Mexican Border. American friar David Buer OFM recently attended the School of the Americas (SOA) border watch encounter in 15 Nogales, Arizona.

Saints Are Not Born! Gerald Evans OFM reflects on the family and 16 early experiences that shaped the future saint, Francis of Assisi.

We Are Dependent on Each Other. In his Message for World Day for the Sick, Pope Francis tells us not to fear our limitations. 18 ‘See and Reverence This Goodness!’ Lomán MacAodha OFM begins a series of reflections on Pope Francis’ ground-breaking 20 encyclical Laudato Si’: Care of Our Common Home.

Volume 79 No.2 Missionary Magazine of the Irish A National Franciscan Treasure Franciscans. Published bi-monthly by the Franciscan Missionary Union, 21 News from Around the Franciscan World. 4 Merchants Quay, Dublin 8. Editor: Br Stephen O’Kane OFM. 22 The Secular Franciscan Order – Who Are You? Lorraine O’Shea Production: Fr Francis Cotter OFM. answers a frequently asked question. Subscription & Distribution Secretary: 23 Helen Doran. Tel: (01) 6777651. [email protected] ‘A Mad Thing to Do’. Tom Russell OFM celebrates the Columban Design, Layout & Printing: Missionaries and their achievements in the past century. Corcoran Print & Design. 24 Tel: (053) 9234760. Subscription including Postage: Challenges and Opportunities: News from Cuba. Gearóid Ó Conaire Ireland – €15.00 per annum OFM reports on his busy first months in Cuba. Britain – Stg£15.00 per annum 27 Overseas – €18.00 per annum Mission Digest. Central America Visit Feb/Mar 2019 30 3 From the Editor Spring is in the air – but, sadly, not everywhere There is a definite stretch in the evenings and it is great to see. And so it is right and proper that we devote the main article of this issue to the topic of the spirituality of gardening – new idea for some of us! The author boldly states, “It seems to me that gar- dening is one of the most profound acts of worship and prayer Br Stephen O’Kane OFM we can engage in.” A sense of new life and hope, however, is not a universal experience. As you may well be aware, Zimbabwe is not doing well. After the excitement and high expectations at the time of the change in leadership, the country seems to have hit rock bottom once more. In a recent email from Zimbabwe someone shared the following with me: ‘I am sitting in my office this Monday morning. It is unusually quiet this morning. The usual bustle outside on the road is missing. I went outside now to see why things are so quiet. There are few combies [minibuses], no cars. We have a terrible shortage of fuel and the government has tried to do something by declaring that fuel will be US$11 a litre. Combies are today charging $4 for the fare to town. Those depending on the com- bies (the majority) have low wages. Combies in Zimbabwe From Monday to Friday they will have to pay $40 to get to and from work. They have to buy food while at work. What do they bring home? Some need two combies to get to work. Many schoolchildren commute daily to schools in town… ‘There is a real sense of crisis. Even the Poor Clares have had to put up the price of 1,000 hosts from $15 to $50 in the course of one month just to be able to get the flour.’ Soon after I received this email the internet was ‘switched off’ in Zimbabwe for a period of time, pre- sumably to prevent messages such as these getting out to the rest of the world. A number of people have since been killed and scores have been arrested. Let us keep the people of Zimbabwe and the fri- ars who serve them there in our prayers. As always it is the poor who suffer. I recently attended the funeral of Fr Fintan Byrne. Fintan was a Kiltegan priest from Athlone who went to Mass in the friary there as a boy and had a soft spot for the Franciscans. When we withdrew from the parish in Marondera, Zimbabwe, in 1994 it was a pleasant coincidence that Fintan was the priest who took over from us. Fintan served the people of that parish faithfully and with good humour for 20 years. May Fintan’s gentle and generous soul now rest in peace.

– Stephen O’Kane OFM

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St Anthony Brief 4 The Spirituality of Gardening

Christine Sine reflects on the joys and benefits of being close to the earth.

pring is on the way – at least in Eriugena invites us to listen to the two Spirituality the northern hemisphere and it books in stereo, to listen to the strains of I often speak to groups on Spirituality and Smakes me realise how important it the human heart in Scripture and to dis- Gardening. The increasing popularity of this is to connect the rhythm of our faith to the cern within them the sound of God and to topic makes me realise how much others rhythm of God’s world. listen to the murmurings and thunders of crave the same kind of connections between As an Australian now living in Seattle, creation and to know within them the their faith and the world around them. it was only when I spent Easter in the music of God’s Being. The story of God is constantly being northern hemisphere for the first time To listen to the one without the other lived out in God’s world, affirming who God that the wonder of the resurrection burst is to only half listen. To listen to Scripture is and who God intends us to be. upon me. And even now I am awed by without creation is to lose the cosmic It seems to me that gardening is one of the blossoming of God’s world in a way vastness of the song. To listen to creation the most profound acts of worship and that assures me resurrection really has without Scripture is to lose the personal prayer we can engage in. God’s first act happened and God’s new world has intimacy of the voice. after completing creation was to plant a gar- begun. In the Celtic world, both texts are read den – the Garden of Eden. And in the first in the company of Christ. sighting of Jesus after the resurrection he is Book of Creation J Philip Newell in Christ of the Celts, mistaken by Mary Magdalene for the gar- The Bible is rich with verses that speak of writes, ‘There is within Celtic Christianity dener because that is precisely what he is – God’s love for our planet and all created a deep appreciation of the natural world the gardener of the new creation. beings. One of my favourite passages is that grew out of the belief that all creation So much of our garden activity is per- Psalm 65 which tells us that God is the was birthed not out of a void of nothing- formed kneeling, in the position of prayer hope of all creation. ness but out of the substance of God. and supplication. I kneel to weed, to plant The great Irish teacher, John Scotus Creation is translucent, the glory of God and to harvest and in this position often find Eriugena, was a Celtic monk who died in shines through it.’ myself meditating and praying. If I am trou- 877. He said that God speaks to us God indeed speaks through two bled by some seemingly insurmountable through two books. One is the little book, books – the Book of the Scripture and the problem, there is no better place to thrash it he says, the Book of Scripture, physically Book of Creation and I think it is time for out than on my knees in the garden. If I am little. The other is the big book, the Book us to rediscover and start to learn from irritable or depressed, there is no better ther- of Creation, vast as the universe. this second book. apy than weeding.

Feb/Mar 2019 5 Joy of gardening: great benefits for children.

However there is far more than this There are other wonderful and faith- gardening in the last few years, no matter that makes gardening a spiritual deed. filled lessons. I read about the faithfulness how small their plot, and in the process I often tell people that I read about the of God to Israel in the Old Testament, but have grown in their intimacy with God. life, death and resurrection of Christ in the I experience it every time I watch the rain Hopefully, they start small and then as Bible, but in the garden I experience it. fall and nourish the seeds that have been their taste buds explode with the delight Every time I plant a tiny, misshapen seed planted. In the Bible I read about the of vegetables straight from the garden and watch it burst into life from its earthy abundance of God’s provision, in the gar- something strange happens and they tomb I feel as though I have seen the den I experience. I read about the miracle become obsessive about converting their Easter story re-enacted. Life, death and of the loaves and fishes but I experience lawn into edible vegetation. resurrection is all around us. Reading the just as profound a miracle every time I am There is nothing quite like the wonder- story as it is lived out in God’s garden overwhelmed by the generosity of God’s ful, sweet flavour of tomatoes picked reaffirms our faith and teaches us enrich- harvest. straight from the vine or of cabbage that ing lessons about the God we love. The Gospel stories come alive in the has gone straight from the garden to the Early Celtic Christians were very garden, not just because we understand pot. And to experience the delight of leeks aware of this deep connection between more fully the agricultural parables which and carrots that have been dragged out of their planting and their sense of new life Jesus so often used, but also because the frosty ground is out of this world. in Christ. Three days before sowing, the garden is the place in which we can Why has it taken us so long to dis- farmers would sprinkle the seed with truly anticipate God’s promise for the cover what people in most other parts of water in the name of the Father, Son and future. In the garden, as we watch the the world have always known – store- Holy Spirit. If possible they would plant plants grow and bear fruit in their season, bought food just doesn’t taste real even on a Friday. The moistening hastened it is not hard to believe that one day all when it is organic and ‘picked from the the seed’s growth, and planting on Friday creation will indeed be made whole, vine’. Even a friend of ours who is a well- was always a reminder of Christ’s death restored and renewed to become all that known celebrity chef has just discovered and burial. Planting was always symbolic God intends it to be. in his 70s that food grown in your own of the planting of Christ, the seed of the backyard is better than any restaurant new world in which resurrection life will Many Benefits gourmet meal. come for all humankind as well as cre- Like me, many city and town dwellers Yet scientific evidence is growing to ation. have discovered the joys of vegetable support this. Living near nature dramati-

St Anthony Brief 6 cally impacts our health, and interaction Children in Nature Exposure to dirt increases happi- with nature decreases the health gap Children love watching things grow and ness! There is also evidence that expo- between rich and poor. having the opportunity to eat what they sure to soil bacteria could improve our There are many other benefits to have grown is an exciting experience for health by boosting our immune system. growing your own food too. Working in them. Getting your children out into the garden gets us outside into God’s nature is of great benefit to them. In fact, From, For the Earth good creation. I don’t think that we realise there is a growing movement to take God created us from the earth and for the consequences to our health, both kindergarten outside as much as possible. the earth. physical and spiritual, of lives that are According to the American How we view God’s creation reflects spent inside under artificial light. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), our attitude towards it. If we believe this Insomnia, depression, and of course obe- indoor air pollution is the US’s number world is just a place to build our houses, sity are all linked to sedentary, indoor one environmental health concern. They drive our cars and dig for oil, we will lives. encourage children to get outside and have a very utilitarian attitude towards it, Other studies suggest that just looking play but I think that working in the garden with little respect or concern for its at nature can improve our health and can be even more beneficial. preservation. reduce the time it takes us to recover A growing number of people are talking If we believe that it was created from surgery. So imagine what a differ- about Nature Deficit Disorder. Children in from the substance of God and reflects ence a whole afternoon outside can do. particular suffer from it. Attention Deficit the glory of God, we see it as sacred, a There is also evidence that spending Disorder can be alleviated by encouraging beautiful tribute to the God who created time outside in nature stimulates our cre- children to spend more time outdoors. it and loves it. It is to be reverenced ativity and imagination. And gardening Contact with nature helps children to (not worshipped), cared for and pro- certainly adds to that creativity – because develop cognitive, emotional, and tected. once we have produced all that food we behavioural connections to their nearby No matter how small our garden plot need to work out what to do with it which social and biophysical environments. – gardening can foster a lived spirituality means that we become more creative in Nature experiences are important for that can be a source of joy and blessing our cooking and our preserving of food encouraging imagination and creativity, in our lives. too. At least that has been my experi- cognitive and intellectual development, Adapted from ence. and social relationships. www.godspace.wordpress.com ■

God bless this garden BleSSing a garden Through which your glory shines, May we see in its beauty the wonder of your love.

God bless the soil, Rich and teeming with life, May we see in its fertility the promise of new creation.

God bless our toil As we dig deep to turn the soil, May we see in our labour your call to be good stewards.

God bless each seed That takes root and grows, May we see in their flourishing the hope of transformation.

God bless the rains That water our efforts to bring forth life, May we see in their constancy your faithful care.

God bless the harvest, Abundant and bountiful in season, May we see in your generosity our need to share.

God bless this garden As you bless all creation with your love, May we see in its glory your awesome majesty.

Amen.

– ChriStine Sine

Feb/Mar 2019 7 A Love that Endures

uring the past twelve months and for a life with him, changed but not some parishioners have shared Gerry O’Reilly OFM ended. Her life is filled with gratitude for Dwith me the benefits of Marriage writes from South the blessings, the peace and tranquillity Encounter in their lives. The Marriage she is now blessed with. They had Encounter weekend is for any married Africa about the shared their reflections when they were in couple who are open to the possibility of the prime of life. Now she is reaping their growth in their marriage. It seeks to offer lasting impact of fruits. It is harvest time. couples a new and a deepened vision for She shared with me what that meant. their marriage. Marriage Encounter After one of their sharings on death her One woman, married for nearly forty husband had mentioned that, for some years, told me that she and her husband on a couple’s time, he felt happy to die. He was not attended three Marriage Encounter week- unhappy in his marriage. He believed that ends together, two in the 1980s and one relationship. heaven was going to be a continuation in 2011. She said those weekends and intensification of the happiness he together enriched their marriage by deep- years married. One of her special memo- experienced in marriage. She didn’t deny ening their relationship in many ways. ries of that weekend was their discussion that they had their difficult moments but It gave them time to reflect together of how life would be after God had called the overall picture was thankfulness for on various aspects of marriage, to experi- one of them to eternal life with him. They their marriage vocation. He did add, she ence ‘couple power’, to discern God’s shared their feelings upon death and said, that he did look forward to his chil- plan for them, and to improve their com- dying. They came to the realisation that dren getting married and experiencing munication skills with each other. The death would not end their relationship. It the joy of being called grandad. God did weekends gave them quality time would change it in a unique, spiritual way. grant him that joy. together; they were able to discuss the They discussed how they would be still He shared his anxiety over the man- kind of lives they wished to live, as indi- part of each other and become closer ner in which he would leave her. Was it to viduals and as a couple, living life more than ever before. She told me this be physically painful like that of Jesus on fully in marriage. On these weekends they brought great reassurance and comfort to the Cross? Or would it be like the peace- focused deeply on each other. both of them. ful going to God of some of their friends? Thirty-five years after that blessed CHANGED, NOT ENDED sharing her husband has gone to God. A LEGACY OF LOVE When they attended their first Marriage That sharing, made many years before, In God’s design, he spent some years in Encounter weekend they were just four prepared her for the last years of his life, a home for the elderly. He accepted this

St Anthony Brief 8 change very calmly. She had cared for had left off. His vocation had changed May the angels lead you into paradise. him at home as long as possible. When from activity to prayer. He was very close May the martyrs welcome you. she realised that he needed care and to God whom he loved and served. May Christ the Good Shepherd lead you help that she could not give the hard His legacy was one of love. God had safely home decision was made. The children sup- shared his love with him, and he in turn To be at peace with God the Father. ported her in making that decision. had shared it with others. God had The last year of his life was difficult for Fortunately, the residence was not too far helped him to communicate that love her, as he slipped in and out of recognis- from their home. He went home on generously with others. She believed that ing his family and friends. But now that he Sundays for lunch. Later he was confined these reminders helped him along the has passed on to God, she feels closer to to a wheelchair but he could still sing, last mile of the road to his true homeland. him than ever, and thanks God for those and enjoyed the visits of his family, espe- years of marriage love. cially his grandchildren. CLOSER THAN EVER Those Marriage Encounter weekends His wife accompanied him during Some years before he died, he put helped them grow in the art of communica- those last years of his life. She assured together his request for his funeral Mass. tion and appreciation of each other’s differ- him that she was with him on his last The hymns and the readings chosen ences and qualities. She is now actively journey. She told him that his time for rest were love-centred. God had loved him, encouraging others, young and old, to par- from his labours for his family, and the and he had blessed him with a loving ticipate in these weekends. What a beauti- parish community in which he had been wife, family and friends. He requested ful way of saying thanks to God! quite involved, was coming. He had that the whole congregation would recite For more information about Marriage empowered others to continue where he together the final prayer: Encounter see: www.wwme.org ■ An Update from Juba

Joe Walsh OFM writes from war-torn South Sudan where a Kenyan Jesuit, the Principal of Mazzolari Teachers above left, Juba: the postulants find a new friend! College, was killed last November. above right, growing: Fr Joe with the novices.

The killing of Fr Victor Luke Odhiambo SJ war here has lasted fifty years in which It would be all too easy to write a long came as a shock to us all. It was the life had become expendable. catalogue of atrocities, confirming the worst senselessness of the act which made it Some short time ago the Jesuits were that people are saying about South Sudan. so difficult to understand. And then you attacked by nearly 500 people in Mban, But that would be to forget the fact that recall how close people live to the edge and precious resources used for the most people here courageously get on with here and how life is literally a daily strug- development of the people of the area life and even manage to smile and laugh. It gle for survival. were wantonly destroyed by the very peo- is the innate goodness and tremendous The senselessness is almost under- ple who benefit from those resources. spirit of a people whose faith in God makes standable when you remember that a civil Thankfully in that case no life was lost. even the impossible possible. ■

Feb/Mar 2019 9 Writing from WHY Walter Gallah on the strugg ARE in times of sick YOU AFRAID? he disciples of Jesus once said to witch. She was a devout Catholic, a won- families where the faith was lived intensely. him, ‘Increase our faith.’ We can all derful neighbour. She was the last person We had no other influences on our world T say the same! who would do evil to anyone. The case view except the Gospel. THere in Africa, nothing shows the involved the deaths of three young chil- How difficult it must be for people who strength or weakness of faith like sickness dren. They lived in the same village as grew up listening to people in their own and death. How often over the years I this lady. The families came to our clinic homes, whose greatest fear is that of have been called to bury the dead and with the children when they were already witchcraft. when I offered words of sympathy some- extremely ill. The delay was fatal and was And still the belief in Jesus is strong in one was sure to say in the local Shona caused by their going first to a traditional spite of the fear. Africa has many martyrs, language, Mwari akaita kuda kwake, healer. When they saw that things were men and women, boys and girls, who gave hapana zvokuita. This means, ‘God has only getting worse they came to the clinic. their lives in witness to the Gospel. A lady done his will – we can’t do anything about Sadly all three died. in this parish lost her husband who had it.’ The Sister at the clinic said, ‘Where been ill for some years as a result of a bad Hearing these words has always are you getting your drinking water?’ They stroke. She had very little and what she caused me great sorrow. These words replied, ‘From a dziva – a pond.’ Sister had went in trying to look after her hus- may be said by a good person, a practis- asked them to bring her some water from band. To give him a decent burial she sold ing Catholic. There is so much good and the pond. She put the water under the her fridge and some other movables. A warm humanity among the people but we microscope. She told them that the water couple of weeks later her unmarried daugh- are still a long way from seeing the Father was contaminated and that the children ter died. She had a big bill with the hospital as the One who will never give his child a did not die because of witchcraft but from which had to be paid. The people rallied stone when she asks for bread. We strug- typhoid. around and paid the bill. They also bought gle to see God as ‘the dear God who Sadly, the facts did not change atti- a coffin, paid for the grave and even hired loves the people’, in the words of the Irish tudes. The belief that the children were transport to get her to the grave. patriot, Pádraig Pearse. the victims of witchcraft was stronger than Is it any wonder that missionaries would the scientific evidence. The witchdoctor continually pray and work so that God’s Witchcraft lives among the people, one of them- people would come to a recognition of The traditional belief here is that sickness, selves. He knows that when people come Jesus as the one who liberates from all death and all manner of suffering are the to him they have already got someone in fear and gives the fullness of life? work of enemies or witches. Someone is mind to blame for the evil. He has great The fear of uroyi (witchcraft) is very sick because a person has wished evil power because he is considered to be real. Even young men and women can upon them. This will require a visit to the aided by the Ancestral Spirits. sometimes believe that they are not suc- witchdoctor to find out who is the cause of A couple of weeks later the people of ceeding very well in life because of this. The witchdoctor will help the family to that village woke up one morning to find witchcraft. There is often that niggling feel- identify the evil person. He will also pro- that the lady blamed for the deaths had ing in many that even if things are going vide some medicine to ward off the evil or left the village during the night with her well somebody may throw a spanner in the to counteract the power of this evil husband and children. We never heard of works. Some local churches draw large witchcraft. her again. As I write this I feel the pain I crowds because they appear to offer some The person identified – usually a felt then and the words of the psalm come sort of security against the sorrows and dis- woman – suffers terribly. People do not to mind, ‘Why do the innocent suffer?’ appointments of life. want to associate with her and she is shunned in the community. A Difficult Journey Frogs at the Pond I remember a case, many years ago, The journey of faith for all of us is really In spite of this there are some outstanding where a lovely lady was identified as a difficult, even if many of us grew up in examples of trust in God. An elderly

St Anthony Brief 10 Someone advised him to go and talk to m Zimbabwe, Abbot Marmion. hue OFM reflects After the meeting he came away happy and at peace. People said to him, gle to trust God ‘What did Abbot Marmion tell you about God’s love for you that other priests did kness and death. not tell you?’ ‘Nothing’, said the young man, ‘but from him I could believe it.’ Many people find it easy to accept the Good News from Pope Francis because of his own evident faith, joy and love. The question often posed to us, even if seldom put into words, is: Has the Good News you preach to us transformed your own life? Are we seeing your own faith, joy and love? woman told me once that she was a Our Mission This has been our mission, to walk woman of great sorrow. She said that she So what do we missionaries bring to with the people in the company of Jesus, had seven children – all of them married Africa? seeking and finding ‘the peace which the but now the whole seven had died. ‘I will The story of Blessed Dom Columba world cannot give’. not leave the Catholic Church’, she said, Marmion offers a great challenge to all Old Fr Roger Maloney encouraged me ‘because God who gave them to me will missionaries. A Dublin man, Dom many years ago, in a moment of doubt, give them back to me one day.’ Columba was Abbot of the monastery of when I was a young Franciscan student in Blessed Benedict Daswa of South Maredsous in Belgium. There was a Galway, with this quotation from the Africa is a wonderful model in this regard. young man who was tortured by scruples Gospel of John, ‘In the world you will have He was murdered by his own people and could find no peace. He had gone to trouble but have courage, I have over- because he refused to accept that other many priests but nothing helped. come the world.’ ■ forces are more powerful than Christ. Moving beyond this fear to an unshakable trust in Jesus’ love and power is the great challenge for the people here and maybe everywhere. Some years ago the Bishops of Africa had a synod to look at evangelisation in Africa. With a sense of humour they said that for many Christians in Africa we are like frogs at a pond. The frog has its two front legs on the dry ground and the back legs in the water. If there is a disturbance in the pond they jump onto the dry ground. If there is danger on the dry ground they jump back into the pond! More than fifty years ago I was sta- tioned in Limerick. One day I was asked to go and bless a field. The farmer had dis- covered that someone had buried eggs in Uncommitted, his field and he was really upset that like a frog: someone wished him evil. So perhaps it takes a long time to come to the confi- ready to jump dence that Jesus promised. one way or the There is a story in Ireland about the other! priest in a certain parish who noticed that Mrs Murphy bowed her head when the devil’s name was mentioned. He observed her over a few months and saw that this was her practice. When he asked her why she bowed her head at the mention of the devil she replied, ‘It costs nothing to be civil, Father, and sure you never know!’

Feb/Mar 2019 11 Church Brief but the faith of these United States: Border Crisis Friar Federico in Juba: people is certainly In the message to the nation on 8 January on care for the little ones. capable of shaking the issue of migrants at the border, President paradise. Donald Trump attacked Central American ‘Among our activ- migrants trying to enter the country. The ities we are commit- President said that the southern border is a ted to offering an road through which illegal drugs enter, which open, peaceful, non- would cause more deaths than ‘the whole violent space where Vietnam war’. As a result, he proposed creating those who come to a wall on the border with Mexico to stop drug us have the opportu- trafficking. nity to find a corner The following day, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, of serenity within Archbishop of Newark, issued a strong state- such a difficult life. ment. ‘I listened with deep disappointment to The biggest drama the dehumanising words used to describe our for these people is immigrant sisters and brothers. These men, the lack of a future. women and children are neither numbers, nor Unfortunately, there criminal statistics, but flesh and blood, people is not much hope and the situation is with their own stories and histories. Most are stopping a new generation of young fleeing human misery and brutal violence that people who would give anything to threatens their lives. False and fear-filled carica- leave the country but who are too poor tures seek to provoke a sort of amnesia that to become refugees and migrants. would have this great nation deny our roots in South Sudan: Friars in Juba Someone also asked me, “Father, why immigrants and refugees.’ ‘I arrived in South Sudan in Juba in did God allow me to be born in South The Cardinal then quoted Pope Francis January 2015, where we have the only Sudan?” This is a question which has who, last June, said in an address at a confer- ence on international migration, ‘We must move house of the Friars Minor in the country. no answer.’ from considering others as threats to our com- Together the friars manage a fairly large In their ministry to the little ones the fort to valuing them as persons whose life expe- parish that includes villages up to 75km friars also offer a first aid service. ‘The rience and values can contribute greatly to the from the capital.’ Fr Federico Gandolfi OFM children run around all day and hurt enrichment of our society.’ spoke recently of the Franciscan mission in themselves easily. Unfortunately, lack Then Cardinal Tobin continued, ‘Those com- South Sudan to Fides News Agency. of hygiene transforms small wounds in ing to our borders seeking asylum or escaping Speaking of the country's precarious- to severe cases. Once a week I also crushing poverty are not pawns in a political ness, Federico says, ‘Almost everything is assist street children to treat their debate, but rather the strangers and aliens our lacking here; there are things to do and sometimes very serious injuries that Scriptures constantly instruct us to welcome.’ people to serve everywhere. Millions of would require medical and hospital He emphasised, ‘Secure borders and humane people are trapped in refugee camps treatment, services that are not always treatment of those fleeing persecution and seek- because of the most recent civil war that there,’ concluded the missionary. ing a better life are not mutually exclusive. The has been dividing the country since 2013. United States can ensure both and must do so One of these camps, which houses more Migrant without instilling fear or sowing hatred. We will than 20,000 people, is located within the continue to advocate for immigration reform to territory of our parish. We friars go every Caravan: ‘False and fear-filled advance the common good and address these week to give every kind of support that our issues. We must look beyond rhetoric and caricatures.’ small numbers and resources allow us. remember the human dignity that God our Here the conditions of life are even worse, Father has given each of us simply because we but we find people capable of incredible are all his children.’ ■ resilience even if the effects of their serious psychological trauma are very evident. ‘We are often called to go to refugee camps for the Anointing of the Sick. I remember a nine-year-old girl. She was lying on a worn out and dirty blanket in ter- rible health conditions. Two eyes looked at me as I prayed with the catechists and the family. I hoped the Lord would call her to Synod him as soon as possible. The week after when I went to the family the girl was in great shape. If it is a miracle I do not know,

St Anthony Brief 12 Eugene Barrett OFM was very happy to attend the celebrations in Harare of the 60th Anniversary of the Franciscan Mission to Zimbabwe. 60 Years A Growing! n October 2018 the Irish Franciscan Celebration: alfigio tunha, Custos in Zimbabwe, Mission to Zimbabwe celebrated 60 with Bishop raymond Mupandasekwa CSsr. years with great enthusiasm. Beautiful IsingingI and a wonderful homily by Bishop Timmons, Frank O’Flynn, Jim O’Byrne, While Zimbabwe is experiencing eco- Raymond of the Chinoyi Diocese were an Richard Clancy, Hosea Musengiwa, nomic difficulties, and these difficulties have integral part of this great expression of faith Tonderai Kandimiri, Joe O’Toole (English affected the management of the missions, and community. Province) and Emmanuel Musara. Yet, they have not upset the spirit among the fri- Fr Walter Gallahue gave a brief history even with all these servants called to the ars. The joy expressed while ministering to of the mission from 1958 to the present Lord, the mission continues. the people in very impoverished situations day and highlighted the various friars who There are strong shoots in formation has not waned. I was very heartened to see served there and the influence they had, making their way upwards, due to the great the large numbers of people coming to and the respect with which they were held formation work done over the years. The church and their level of joyful participation. by the people. From small beginnings, like early local friars joined under the influence I went to Mutunha outstation in Buhera Gandachibvuva and Murambinda, the friars of the Vocations Promoter, Fr Philip on a Sunday morning to find the people had now have a good number of friars in forma- Timmons, who travelled the length and just finished their ‘service without a priest’. tion and, with the exception of Fr Walter, breadth of the country to speak to candi- On arrival the people welcomed me and they are all local Zimbabweans. The cere- dates. Hilary Steblecki (now in the Cork announced to all, ‘Come back in and Father mony began at 9.30am and, of course, with community) was our first Zimbabwean friar. will finish the Mass for us.’ So we did, and the singing and dancing, homilies and The mission has experienced some their joyful gratitude for the Sacrament was speeches and introduction of guests we fin- changes since I left Zimbabwe to return to obvious and heartening. ished the Holy Mass at 1.00pm. Believe it Ireland in 2005. Murambinda has been It is not about comparing the Church in or not the time flew! It was really a wonder- handed over to the Diocese of Mutare, as it Ireland to Zimbabwe; it is the same Church, ful celebration of faith and grace. is part of the civil district of Manicaland to but two very different experiences of it. Their Some of the men who worked in which Buhera and Murambinda belong. We social problems are more obvious that ours; Zimbabwe have been called by Sister were asked to take over Mutemwa where their faith is simpler, yet very real. In Ireland Death: Cornelius Heffernan, Samuel John Bradburne lived with the lepers. It is we may be interested in Jesus but to me it Hanley, John McClintock, Des O’Malley, now a place of pilgrimage because of John seems many don’t like the Church and don’t Kevin Kinnane, Paschal Slevin, Philip who was murdered in 1979. like the priests. The scandals have dam- aged people’s faith. Some have lost confi- dence in the Church; others use this as an excuse to opt out of Church, community, and commitment. The Church in Zimbabwe has its own problems. It is a young Church (130 years present in the country), but it is growing and like Ireland, even after centuries of pres- ence, there are difficulties in embracing the faith fully. On the 60th anniversary, while the friars there continue to celebrate their faith and share it with others, we here in Ireland are reminded of the gift God has given us of life in Christ and life to the full. May we not lose the gift of faith which so many of our ancestors held strongly, even to the point of Chorus: Young friars sing at the Mass in harare. death. ■

13 Brendan Butler writes of the joy of witnessing the canonisation of Oscar Romero. Brendan co-founded

the Irish El rome: Salvador Pope Paul Support Vi was canonised Committee along with in 1979. archbishop romero. A DAY OF JOYFUL TRIUMPH he Roman dawn had yet to break Irish Connection Chalatenango where he served during the as together with thousands of It was fitting that the Irish Franciscans war years, and Srs Anselm and Jean both Salvadoran pilgrims we queued, were well represented at the ceremony. of whom worked closely and courageously andTT then sang for three hours waiting to Monsenor Romero records in his diary with the Irish friars in the war-torn province enter Piazza San Pietro for the canoni- shortly before his death that he was vis- of Morazan. sation of Monsenor Romero and his offi- ited by an Irish Franciscan, Ciarán Ó cial recognition by the institutional Nuanáin, and a Sister of St Clare, Sr Support Committee Church as a true and faithful witness of Anselm Gunn, who expressed their soli- This was also a significant occasion for Jesus, both in his prophetic life and in darity with him and invited him to visit both Fintan O'Shea and myself; we had set his martyrdom. Ireland. up the Irish El Salvador Support Committee We had waited 38 years for this day. Gerry Moore OFM together with the in the summer of 1979 with the late Peter Only for the Argentine-born Jorge late Peter O'Neill OFM were present at the O'Neill OFM. Repression was increasing in Bergoglio becoming Pope, the canonisa- funeral Mass of Monsenor Romero when El Salvador and we felt that we should tion of Monsenor Romero would most the Salvadoran National Guard fired on organise Irish solidarity with the Irish likely still be locked away in the bottom the thousands of mourners present in the Franciscans and the Sisters of St Clare drawer of the Vatican Congregation for square outside the cathedral. Panic who were living in constant danger in what the Causes of Saints. While still Cardinal ensued as people scrambling to escape later turned out to be a major war zone. Archbishop of Buenos Aires he had the bombs and gunfire piled into the Our first public action was to write to promised that if ever he had the oppor- already crowded cathedral. Both friars Monsenor Romero expressing our support tunity he would push forward the cause helped to comfort the injured and the for his courageous stand for the of Monsenor Romero for sainthood, a dying while Monsenor Romero was hur- marginalised. The letter was published in promise he kept. riedly buried in the crypt instead of his the Archdiocesan paper. A most treasured On 14 October last Pope Francis planned grave in the nave of the cathe- possession is the letter he wrote to us only proclaimed Monsenor Romero a saint dral. So it was fitting that Gerry Moore months before his assassination in which of the Catholic Church along with five should be present at the triumph of he expressed his appreciation for our soli- others, including Pope Paul VI, who Romero's canonisation in St Peter's darity. also was a great supporter of Square 38 years after that traumatic expe- For the next 30 years we successfully Monsenor Romero. Both continue to rience in the cathedral of San Salvador. organised Irish social and political support have a major influence on Pope He, together with John Dalton OFM both for the persecuted Church and the Francis. To show these influences on and Fintan O'Shea OFM, was represent- people of El Salvador. him, Pope Francis wore the blood- ing those Irish Franciscans and Sisters of stained cincture which Monsenor St Clare who were present in El Salvador Persecuted Romero was wearing during the Mass during the life-time of Romero: Alfred Pope Francis designated Romero as a when he was assassinated in San Loughran, Pat Hudson, the late Ronan O martyr assassinated out of odium fidei Salvador in March 1980. He also car- Huallacháin and Peter O'Neill – both of (hatred of the faith). His murder was care- ried Paul VI's crozier and used his whom are buried in San Salvador, and fully pre-planned by leading military and chalice for the canonisation Mass. Brendan Forde who has returned to political forces who accused him of being a

St Anthony Brief 14 communist and a fomenter of rebellion. Most of his fellow bishops together with the Papal Nuncio highly disapproved of Romero's denunciations of the country's structural injustices and the unjust treat- ment of the poor by the 14 families who controlled and used the economic system of the country for their own aggrandise- ment. In this exploitation and repression of the majority poor, the rich and the power- Pilgrims: Fr gerry Moore OFM (centre) and Brendan Butler (on the right) ful had the full support of the police and with pilgrims from el Salvador. armed forces of the country; these groups organised death squads who kidnapped for themselves and their families in the as it showed the Church was now identified and tortured to death any campesino who Kingdom of God on earth. with the suffering people of El Salvador. tried to organise peaceful opposition to His life was threatened many times but He knew his life was in danger but he gain justice for their people. he refused any offer of security because, was not afraid of death. ‘If they kill me’, he Into this explosive situation stepped as he said, if the campesino people had said, ‘I will arise in my people.’ On 14 Oscar Arnulfo Romero as Archbishop of no security why should he have any spe- October 2018 Monsenor Romero rose in San Salvador in 1977. He listened to the cial privileges. his people, not only in the thousands of cries of the poor and oppressed and His priests were singled out, tortured Salvadorans who thronged St Peter's responded by becoming their fearless and murdered. But that didn't stop his Square, but throughout El Salvador and voice. As the oppression increased so his denunciations. Indeed Romero was heard the wider Christian world. voice grew stronger as he proclaimed the to say that he was glad that his priests Adapted from right of the majority poor to a decent life were enduring the same fate as his people www.ncronline.org ■ At the US-Mexican Border There was a civil disobedi- have I encountered human ence action on the Sunday at remains, about five years the border. After a very pow- ago. But it was shocking. erful and emotional litany of There were four of us names of those who had tired after a long day of died in the desert or had putting out gallon jugs of been tortured or killed by water. I saw the remains first, US-trained troops in Central pointed out to everyone what America, folks began to we had just found and all four cross a newly-installed of us went right to our knees fence, put there by the bor- to pray. der patrol. That scene came Very solemnly, prayer- to my mind as I knelt fully, those risking arrest there by the actual began planting marigolds. border fence. They each had a little trowel I decided I would stay to dig into the rocky soil. there until the authorities They brought bottles of water david Buer OFM takes part in a told us we had to leave. to water the plants. Then they lay down, There was a slight risk of arrest. civil disobedience action. holding a cross, each with the name of a But as it turned out, the border person who had died. And they lay still, as Pic: Sr Judy Bourg SSnd. patrol and other authorities left us if they had died. Although I've been volunteering with alone for 20 minutes until our action After about five minutes, I went to join Samaritans since 2005, putting water out was concluded. them, so I climbed the short fence and in the Arizona desert for those who are From the newsletter of the Santa knelt to pray. making the dangerous crossing, only once Barbara OFM Province, USA. ■

American friar David Buer OFM recently attended the School of the Americas (SOA) border watch encounter in Nogales, Arizona.

Feb/Mar 2019 15 Gerald Evans OFM reflects on the family and early experiences that shaped the future saint, Francis of Assisi.

hometown: assisi where Francis grew up Saints Are Not Born! and was formed.

n his book Civilisation, a personal view the wedding feast of Cana she gestures to The first detail of interest mentioned in of European civilisation, Kenneth the waiters with the words, ‘Do as he asks the Franciscan sources is that Francis was I Clarke dedicated almost a whole chap- you.’ born in the absence of his father who was terI to St Francis of Assisi citing him as Sainthood is about being connected to, away on a business trip. At first glance this perhaps one of the greatest religious listening and being obedient to the source detail seems of little or no significance and geniuses Europe has ever produced. of life within the deeper recesses of our could very well be passed over and receive For many, that affirmation comes as being and within the world we inhabit. ‘God no attention. However, on looking a little no surprise. However, most of us meet up within’, as the Rhineland mystics remind us. closer and deeper its mention is by no with the figure of Francis rather late, when Francis’ sainthood was forged by means an afterthought. It suggests from he is already a saint. Indeed, a common engaging with the hand of God who, akin the very beginning a conflict of interests perception prevails that saints are born as to the journey of St Augustine, reformed and priorities in his father’s life – between saints and grow up within ideal family sur- and reshaped him precisely within a similar his own lucrative business affairs over and roundings. disordered and tempestuous past, in a above the person of his son, Francis. Consequently, sainthood is erro- dynamic of call and response to grace and And this detail did not go unnoticed by neously perceived as an unattainable ideal conversion. Francis; indeed we might venture to sug- reserved for certain chosen and privileged Great saints have fought great interior gest it was the initial wound in Francis’ life. people. Such a perception is far from the and exterior battles, have made decisive From the beginning, right through his child- truth in the case of most saints. Few choices, both existential and spiritual, that hood and growing up years, Francis lived realise Francis had a very disordered and have changed the course of their lives and within a very unstable and conflictive family tempestuous past. have given shape to the historic moment in environment exasperated by this gaping, which they live according to the values of deep wound. Terrible violent clashes and Sainthood humility, justice, solidarity, mercy and for- conflict were ever present in the father-son Saints are not born rather they are born giveness. relationship along with continual efforts on into sainthood. Sainthood is not funda- the part of his mother to intervene and mentally about what I do for God, rather Father-Son Conflict support him. what I allow God to do in me. Francis was born into a Europe dawning in Again and again we see Francis beg- The words of Our Lady come to mind Renaissance. Indeed, many would con- ging the love, acceptance and approval of here as an example. In her Annunciation sider him as one of the Renaissance’s his father in a very distorted and pathetic she did not say, ‘What will I do with this humanistic and spiritual founding fathers. way by engaging in his father’s business startling news’ rather ‘Do unto me accord- He was born into one of Assisi’s emerging enterprises. ing to your will.’ Likewise, in her bourgeois families. His father was a very A child who does not feel loved and Magnificent, she did not say, ‘I have done wealthy, ambitious cloth merchant and his accepted for who he or she is will great things for the Lord’ rather ‘The Lord mother a pious woman, possibly of French inevitably seek acceptance by way of what has done great things in me.’ And finally at origin. he or she does or produces. So too we

St Anthony Brief 16 see this dynamic played out in the life of So many people miss the opportunity mented presentation of these groups in Francis. The irony in all this is that to live what providence has in store for his book, Saint Francis of Assisi, Arnoldo Francis’ father was perhaps the primary them by living the destiny of another. Fortini, the former mayor of Assisi, leaves wounded person. His disproportionate vio- This precisely was the huge dilemma us in no doubt as to the very dubious lent reactions towards his wife and Francis Francis was facing and for a long time he moral nature of the activities of these attested to just that. avoided making any decision on what to groups and their shady goings-on by night The wounded person will always do. in the city of Assisi. Indeed, he offers doc- respond by wounding the other until they umented evidence from the town hall’s seek redemption in reconciliation and The Troubadours archives of the endless complaint letters healing. In many ways that was precisely At the end of the day, a child or youth who expressing the extreme annoyance of the the journey Francis himself forged. Indeed fails to find love, acceptance and approval city’s population around the disruptive and it was the undergird of his life, making him within the home environment will inevitably disgraceful immoral behaviour at all hours the iconic wounded healer, as he seek it elsewhere. Francis did so on the of the night of these young people. embraced firstly the interior and then exte- streets. In his teenage years, indeed up rior leper throughout his life. until the age of twenty five, Francis was Thomas of Celano the leader of a troubadour group of young It is interesting to note that St Francis’ first A Name Change people from wealthy backgrounds who biographer, Thomas of Celano, a friar, The second rather curious and once again sang and feasted in the streets and hos- confirms as much in his passage on the apparently insignificant detail of interest tels of the city by night. disordered behaviour of these groups. was Francis’ name change. The name The troubadour movement had its Celano however is very measured. given to a child by their parents usually origin in France and curiously enough Although he points to the shadowy, deca- expresses their hopes for his or her future the music they sang accompanied the dent and immoral side of these groups life. At his birth his mother speedily had Islamic mystical poetry of the Islamic and makes no bones about affirming that him baptised. Being a pious woman and Francis was not hoping her son only a member, would be rowdy gang: Francis’ youthful antics angered the townspeople. but a leader, he inspired by the also points to the life and mission natural goodness, of St John the noble, gracious, Baptist, Francis’ generous and mother named respectful per- him John, or sonality of Giovanni in Francis himself. Italian. On Celano’s returning from words are worth his business quoting in full: travels in France, ‘Such are the his father miserable rudi- renamed him ments where- Francis, with that man, Francesco, or the whom today we little Frenchman revere as a in the hope that saint because the name would he truly is a inspire him to pur- saint, was sue and give con- familiar from boyhood; and almost until the tinuity to his lucrative business enterprises Sufi movement (the Sufis were the reli- twenty-fifth year of his age he miserably and contacts in France. gious mystics of Islam). This was possibly squandered and wasted his time. No, sur- What would Francis do with both of Francis’ first encounter with and attraction passing all his peers in his bad progress these names which expressed the conflict- to Islamic mysticism; it was to accompany in vanity, he proved in more abundant ing interests and hopes of his parents for him throughout his life and reached its cul- measure an instigator of evil deeds and a the future direction of his life? mination as he travelled through the near zealot in folly. He was the admiration of It is a tragic but not uncommon thing east, fascinated and inspired by the all, and in pomp of vainglory he strove to to see a confused young person abnegat- Muslims stopping at intervals during the surpass the rest in frolics, freaks, sallies of ing his or her God-given gifts and dreams day to pray; it concluded with his genial, wit and idle talk, songs, and soft and flow- to pursue the unfulfilled dreams of his or fraternal encounter with the Sultan of ing attire, for he was very rich. her parents in order to please them or, Egypt. ‘However, he was not miserly but worse still, to secure their love, accep- However, the troubadour movement prodigal, not a hoarder of money but a tance or approval. On the part of both it is which began as a healthy, poetic and cre- squanderer of his substance, not a shrewd a tragic lack of faith in the great Giver and ative movement in France had fallen into trader but a most ostentatious spender; a on the part of the parents a tragic lack of decadence by the time it reached the land man, however, very kindly in his dealings, confidence in their children. of Francis in Umbria, Italy. In a well docu- very easy and affable, though this became

Feb/Mar 2019 17 foolishness to him, for his attractive dispo- repression so often hides behind obses- So what we seem to have before us is sition was the chief cause that many went sion. What was Francis repressing in his a charming, friendly and generous twenty- after him who were promoters of evil- obsession with fine clothes? five-year-old young man with a very win- doing and inciters to crime. The body has many languages and ning but rather unstable personality, born ‘And so, compassed about with the ways of expressing itself, one of which is out of a wounded, disintegrated past, troops of the wicked, haughty and uplifted, clothes. Clothes can express many things exasperated by unresolved interior con- he strutted along amid the open places of but it can also cover and hide others. One flicts. Babylon until the Lord looked down from gets the impression from reading the He also possessed a very pronounced heaven and for his name's sake removed Franciscan sources that Francis had a ego and sought self-gratification and self- his fury far from him, and curbed his much accentuated ego hiding a very poor acceptance by persistently drawing atten- tongue with his praise, that he might not self-image which he attempted run from tion to himself by way of curious bouts of perish utterly. Therefore, the hand of the by covering it with fine clothing. It is no exhibitionism in both gesture and ostenta- Lord came upon him, and the change accident that throughout his conversion tious clothing. However, all his biogra- wrought by the right hand of the Highest, journey he regularly either changed or phers highlight an interesting and attrac- that through him assurance of restoration gifted his clothing very symbolically and tive characteristic of his personality. From to grace might be given to sinners, and with very different and significant people. his earliest years, he felt a great attraction that he might become to all a pattern of Firstly, very symbolically, he gave his to and showed a marked kindness to the conversion to God.’ expensive armour to a knight. Then he poor. exchanged his clothing with poor people In all of this, God began to work in Clothes and Stripping he met on the steps of St Peter’s in Rome Francis, and he began to respond. We will Another rather curious and telling detail in and finally, still prone to exhibitionism, he see in subsequent articles how this divine the youthful life of Francis was his almost undressed and handed over his clothing to initiative, reforming and reshaping, took obsessive attraction to fine, ostentatious the Bishop of Assisi before the gaping place and how Francis responded to it. clothing. As Freud insightfully pointed out, townspeople. To be continued… ■ We Are Dependent on Each Other ❝❝Caring for the sick requires profes- sionalism, tenderness, straightforward In his Message for World Day for and simple gestures freely given, like a caress that makes others feel loved. the Sick, celebrated on 11 February, Each of us is poor, needy and destitute. the feast of When we are born, we require the care Our Lady of our parents to survive, and at every of Lourdes, stage of life we remain in some way dependent on the help of others. We will Pope Francis always be conscious of our limitations, tells us as ‘creatures’, before other individuals not to and situations. A frank acknowledge- fear our ment of this truth keeps us humble and spurs us to practise solidarity as an limitations. essential virtue in life. Such an acknowledgement leads us to act responsibly to promote a good that is both personal and communal. We should not be afraid to regard ourselves as needy or reliant on others, because individually and by our own efforts we cannot overcome our limitations. So we should not fear, then, to acknowledge those limitations, for God himself, in Jesus, has humbly stooped down to us and continues to do so; in our poverty, he comes to our aid and grants us gifts business; they must be concerned with barometer of the health of a Christian. beyond our imagining. personal care more than profit. We know By the grace of God, may we learn to I urge everyone, at every level, to that health is relational, dependent on live as brothers and sisters attentive to promote the culture of generosity and of interaction with others, and requiring each other’s needs, to give from a gen- gift, which is indispensable for overcom- trust, friendship and solidarity. It is a erous heart, and so learn the joy of self- ing the culture of profit and waste. treasure that can be enjoyed fully only less service to others.❞❞ Catholic healthcare institutions must when it is shared. For the full message, see not fall into the trap of simply running a The joy of generous giving is a www.vatican.va ■

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Feb/Mar 2019 19 n his own spiritual path, Pope Francis has been guided by the OSpiritual Exercises written by St Ignatius. St Ignatius writes, at the start of ‘See and Reverence the Exercises, ‘Human beings are created to praise, reverence, and serve God, our Lord, and by means of this, to save their souls.’ Tis Goodness!’ This is the opening line of the section, did not worship creation as divine but saw The things of this world find their end, Principle and Foundation, that deals with it ‘as a window to the divine’ (Zachary not in human use, but in God as Creator our return to God. Ignatius goes on to say, Hayes OFM). St Francis is a prime and Redeemer through the risen Christ in ‘The other things on the face of the earth Christian exemplar of the human-in-con- the Spirit. ‘There is a common point of are created for human beings, to help version, living the Good News in the midst arrival, which is God, in that transcendent them in working toward the end for which of a world in travail. fullness where the Risen Christ embraces they were created.’ These lines would When we can see God ‘reflected in all and illuminates all things’ (No. 83). reveal an instrumental view of creation, it that exists, our hearts are moved to praise would appear. The language of the salva- the Lord, for all his creatures, and to wor- tion of the soul can suggest a world view ship God in union with them’ (No. 87). We that seems to indicate an escape from the are mindful that St Francis’ vision of cre- created order of ‘our earthly home’. ated goodness emerged in the midst of In Laudato Si’ we will see that Pope suffering and struggle he endured through- Francis enlarges on and widens this vision out his life. to say clearly that we cannot serve God if we do not serve the ‘garden of the world’ Genesis (No. 67). How to serve God truly is outlined in Pope Francis’ reflections on Genesis (chapters In Love with Creation 1-4). Early on in Laudato Si’, Pope Francis God calls the human person to love points to St Francis of Assisi (No. 11) who God and the human neighbour, however ‘takes us to the heart of what it is to be much it challenges our self-centredness. human’. St Francis, in gazing on the world Pope Francis insists that our call is to (as he also ‘gazed’ on the Crucified and serve God, our neighbour, and non-human Risen One in San Damiano), ‘burst into creation, the very earth itself (No. 66). song, drawing all creatures into his There is a kinship between humans and praise’. He ‘fell in love with creation’, the the earth. We are formed out of the fertile Pope says, and praised and thanked God, soil of the garden. ‘Adam’ – the name the Creator and Saviour of the whole derives from the Hebrew word for soil, world, in response to the perceived good- adama. When the earth is ‘disfigured’, we ness and fruitfulness of God’s world. are too (No. 89). In the opening lines of the document, Pope Francis will not accept that the Pope Francis quotes his patron’s Canticle human was called ‘to subdue’ and have of the Creatures (No. 1): ‘Praised be you, dominion over the land (Genesis 1:29) as a my Lord, through our Sister Mother Earth, licence to dominate. We are not called and who sustains us and governs us, and who created in God’s image to exercise an produces various fruits with coloured flow- absolute domination over other creatures ers and herbs.’ The Pope enlarges later, but ‘to till and keep the garden of the world’ ‘St Francis communed with all creation … (Genesis 2:15). ‘Tilling means cultivating, each and every creature was a sister or protecting, overseeing, and preserving. brother united to him by bonds of affec- This implies a relationship of mutual tion. That is why he felt called to care for responsibility between human all that exists.’ beings and nature’ (No. 67). The little poor one, who was ‘mercied’ by God, overflowed with compassion for all that exists. ‘My God and all things’, he Lomán MacAodha OFM begins a series of prayed, even at the early stage of his con- version, according to the Fioretti. reflections on Pope Francis’ ground-breaking St Francis was captivated by the beauty and goodness of this encyclical Laudato Si’: Care of Our Common Home, down-to-earth, yet universe- the most ‘Franciscan’ of papal teachings. wide, world. The saint

St Anthony Brief 20 Jesus did not want us to ‘lord it over’ Responding appropriately, to be co-creative with anyone or anything, as the pagans do Our response to God’s call to care for and God. (see Matt 20:25-26). serve the other, God, neighbour, and non- The earth is in crisis. As we contem- Falling away from being God-centred, human creation, is first by way of contem- plate the world now, we must not fail to humanity breaks the true communion of all plation, i.e. attention to the real presence confront the reality of sin and conse- things ‘by presuming to take the place of around and in us. This is clear from the quently take responsibility for our own God and refusing to acknowledge our life and experience of St Francis, an actions. It is not enough to contemplate human limitations’ (No. 66). In referencing exemplar of the new humanity in Christ the beauty or even the wounds of the the murder of Abel by Cain (Genesis 4:9- and the Spirit. world. God calls us to respond to these 11), the Pope stresses how the love of Such contemplation leads to appropri- wounds so as to heal them to the best of God, of neighbour, and of creation, are ate action of ‘tilling and keeping the gar- our ability; to become healers, even if we tightly interwoven. The cry of Abel’s blood den: ploughing or working while caring, are wounded, or because we are emanates from the soil itself and even the protecting, overseeing, and protecting wounded ourselves. ground is cursed or blighted as a result. God’s creation’ (No. 67). Cultivating is not We bear witness to the salvation of our The cry of the earth cannot be sepa- dominating; it means finding goodness in human ‘soul’ through caring for the earthly rated from the cry of the poor. The world is creation and enhancing it as far as possi- ‘soil’ and all that comes from the soil. always ‘faced, not with two separate ble. God labours all through the history of crises, one environmental and the other ‘By failing to see and reverence this creation to care for all things for he ‘loves social, but rather with one complex crisis goodness, nature becomes a problem to all things that are’ (Wisdom 11:23). which is social and environmental’ (No. be solved’ so as to facilitate its maximal The earth groans, even cries, so do 139). exploitation (No. 12). the poor! We respond by caring in com- Everything in creation is intercon- The human person must ‘see’ the passion because we all are ‘mercied’ by nected. earth properly in order to act upon it the same Good God. ■ A National Franciscan Treasure During 2018, much was written about Despite all this turbulence it has people. However, what is definite beyond Multyfarnham Friary and its long-standing emerged from the darkness into God’s measure is its longevity as a house of importance historically as the 750th anniver- wonderful light. Like Christ, this friary suf- God. Gifted by St Francis through the ser- sary of its founding was remembered. fered, died and was thought by many to be vice of generations of friars, it is a spiritual However, to experience the spirituality of buried only to be resurrected radiantly. tapestry rich in colour and visually soul- this sacred place one has to visit and avail The footprints of generations echo in warming woven with God’s hand on the oneself of its treasured atmosphere. silence from its stone floors. The rising creative loom. Franciscan it truly is, gloriously located in the walls and roof contain the prayers and Over the centuries many changes Gaine river valley. It is steeped with nature’s wishes of a people who have prayed and have occurred but what remains through bounty exuding tranquillity unequalled. continue to pray here. Its spiritual heartbeat all time are the spiritual needs of people. It is a place that for centuries has radiates far beyond its geographical loca- Multyfarnham Friary has survived to pro- accommodated and provided for the needs tion. It serves, supports and comforts the vide for these needs not by accident but of the community. It has suffered because of wider Christian community in the midlands. by God’s reasoning, not ours. this and of its influence during times of sup- There is no way of measuring the vital ■ pression. importance of Multyfarnham Friary to its – Paschal Sweeney ■

leFt: Spiritual heartbeat: the lady Chapel. right: 750 Years: Friars diarmuid Ó riain and lomán Macaodha enjoy one of the anniversary celebrations.

Feb/Mar 2019 21 News from around the . . . Franciscan World

LUKE WADDING IN ROME On 17 November 2018, a simple cele- bration in memory of friar Luke Wadding was held at St Isidore’s College, Rome. The event marked 400 years since Wadding first came to Rome. In 1618, he was chosen as peri- tus (expert) on a theological commis- sion funded by Philip III of Spain; its purpose was to persuade Paul V to make a speedy definition of the doctrine of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. It took the Church a little longer than Wadding and his patrons might have liked to define the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, but 400 years later Wadding’s legacy endures in St Isidore’s and in all the important work done there over the centuries. Luke Wadding was born in Waterford city 430 years ago and he died at St Isidore’s on 18 November new Beginning: a friar at Our lady of Walsingham priory.

1657; his bones rest there in the crypt. shrine became one of the most signifi- His edition of the writings of Francis of cant pilgrimage sites in Europe, but in Assisi was the definitive text until the 1538 it was dissolved under Henry VIII. early 20th century, and his history of The Holy House was burned to the the Order, spanning the period from St ground and the priory attached to it was Francis to the evangelisation of the left in ruins. The site has never been New World, is still a key source. In restored and the present-day Catholic 1632, he also ensured St Patrick’s shrine is at the 14th-century Slipper place in the universal Church calendar. Chapel, the final ‘station’ chapel for medieval pilgrims a mile away from the FRANCISCANS RETURN TO priory ruins. WALSINGHAM Fr James Mary said he and other fri- Franciscan friars have returned to ars had been moved by their visits to England’s national Marian Shrine for Walsingham in recent years and had the first time in 480 years, since the longed to return. ‘People would see us Reformation. Three Conventual and say, “When you are coming back?” Franciscans arrived at the Shrine of You can imagine what went through our Our Lady of Walsingham in June 2018. hearts when we saw the ruins. We Fr James Mary McInerney OFM Conv, prayed about returning and we longed the Guardian of the community, said, for it.’ When the request came, the ‘It’s a great joy for us. We feel we’ve Chapter of the Conventual Franciscans come home.’ He and two other in Britain and Ireland met and voted Franciscan priests welcome pilgrims, almost unanimously to start a new foun- hear Confessions and oversee a daily dation at Walsingham. Holy Hour, as well as assist in the work The first Franciscans came to of the shrine in whatever way is England in September 1224. St Francis needed. himself ordered the mission and Franciscans first came to appointed the friar to lead it, Blessed Walsingham in the 14th century. They Agnellus of Pisa. Nine men disem- ministered there for 201 years, looking barked on the coast of Kent and within luke Wadding: statue at the after lepers and giving poor pilgrims a weeks had set up friaries in Canterbury, old friary, Waterford. place to stay. During that time the London and Oxford. ■

St Anthony Brief 22 The Secular Franciscan Order – Who Are You? Lorraine O’Shea, a member of the SFO Fraternity in Wexford town, answers a frequently asked question. ho are Secular Franciscans and St Francis, and I am (hopefully!) a better love for, and commitment to, Jesus and Wwhat do they do? person as a result, and, in addition, I have his values, so clearly revealed to us in the That’s the question I asked on first made some wonderful friends in the Gospels. being approached to join the Order. When Order. The Secular Franciscan Order is an I was told that it was about following St Francis set up the Third Order for international organisation with fraternities Christ in the footsteps of St Francis of the many people who wanted to follow all over the world; in Ireland there are fra- Assisi and learning about his life, with a him but, because they had homes and ternities in many regions around the view to becoming more like him, I said I’d families, couldn’t become Franciscan fri- country. Every year we join together for go to one meeting and see what I ars (the First Order) or members of the the Franciscan Day at Knock and we also thought. My grandmother had been a Poor Clares (the Second Order). The aim have an annual National Assembly in member of the Third Order, as the of our Order is to pattern our lives after Dublin where we have the opportunity to Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) was Jesus in the spirit of St Francis and St meet members from all the other fraterni- known previously, but other than that I Clare. ties. had no idea what to expect. At the heart of our Order is St Francis On a local level we hold monthly It’s now 15 years later and I’m very himself, whose life was, and still is, an meeting where we study and discuss the much involved and committed to the inspiration to millions of people around life of St Francis, St Clare and many other Order. I have indeed learned a lot about the world. His message is one of total saints too. At this time also, we pray for those who need healing and we also a happy group: Secular Franciscans in Wexford fundraise for good causes. We Secular Franciscans are called to be bearers of with Fr aquino OFM Conv (far left). peace in our families and in society so we support, or oppose, important national issues in a peaceful manner. On a personal level, the one quality of St Francis that inspires me most is his unbridled joy in knowing that he was loved by God. Some think of ‘holy’ people as perhaps a little dry and serious but if we follow Francis’ example, we too can be full of bliss; this is very much the coun- tenance of any of the Secular Franciscans I have met. The world has become increasingly materialistic and unbelieving and Franciscans are needed to spread the joy of the love of Christ to others. The mes- sage is still of total love of God, our fellow man and indeed all of creation. St Francis preached a simple mes- sage that calls for a simple life and a reassessment of our values. In this way, although the Order is 800 years old, the message is modern and very much for today. If you are interested in finding out more about the Secular Franciscan Order I would be delighted to help. My tele- phone number is 087-7697965 or please email: [email protected] ■

Feb/Mar 2019 23 ‘A Mad Ting to Do’

FR TOM RUSSELL OFM

On board ship: Columban priests and Sisters head to mission lands in 1920s.

Tom Russell OFM celebrates the Columban Missionaries and their achievements in the past century.

dward Galvin was ordained a he had become quite determined to act on It is so true that great doors on tiny priest in 1910. Bishop O’Callaghan Jesus’ command to go out to the whole hinges swing. E suggested that he have some world. Some dates can be noted: Vatican overseasE work experience prior to coming Fr Galvin found that priests and bish- approval in 1917; training beginnings in home to minister in his home diocese, ops, especially Fr John Blowick, were 1918, the Far East magazine 1918; the first Cork. enthusiastic about his dream and so the group of 17 men going to China in 1920, He was working in Brooklyn, New York, seed of the Maynooth Mission to China and the Columban Sisters founded in 1926. when one day he met up with a missionary (later to become the Missionary Society of The Chinese hierarchy was established in active in China, John M. Fraser. He was St Columban) was planted. A vast enter- 1947 and Edward Galvin, now Bishop of captivated, so much so that he went to prise would unfold in time and the entire Hanyang, was among the group. Fr Dan China ‘with the hope of saving souls for story is ably told by Columban Fr Neil Fitzgerald went to China in 1946 and which Christ died’. He went in 1912 and Collins in his superb book “A Mad Thing to worked with Bishop Galvin. Years later, in returned to Ireland just prior to the Rising Do”: A Century of Columban Missions his nineties, he would recall how the in 1916. It was not quite yet a century 1916-2016 (Dalgan Press, Navan, 445pp, Bishop would regale him with stories about since Catholic Emancipation in Ireland and 2017). All quotations come from this book. the early days of mission. One day he said:

St Anthony Brief 24 ‘It was a mad thing to do’, hence the title of Fr Collins’ book. The Irish proverbs Tús maith, leath na h-oibre (well begun is half done) and Bíonn gach tús lag (beginnings are fragile) apply.

Outreach The founders quickly reached out to America and to Australia for support, help and possibly missionary vocations. Two priests, Edward Maguire and James Galvin, went fundraising to Australia in 1919. The great Archbishop Daniel Mannix welcomed them to Melbourne. Maguire commented later, ‘Many have been prompted to help us out of sheer admiration of Ireland’s pluck. The specta- cle of a little nation, battling for its very life and bleeding from a thousand cruel wounds, undertaking the spiritual con- quest of a country which contains half the pagans in the whole world has made China: the Columban Sisters were founded in 1926. many an Australian heart beat fast…’ Indeed the old truism tells us that it is not The Coalface Sister have died violent deaths while on the size of the dog in the fight that counts As regards the missionaries and their mission,’ all of them just early middle-aged. but rather the size of the fight in the dog. work, we read, ‘From the beginning, it has The first to die was Fr Timothy Leonard It is of interest to name some of the been marked by certain constraints – a in 1929, then Fr Cornelius Tierney in 1931. countries to which the Holy Spirit directed commitment to work with the poorest, the It is good even to name some more – from the Columbans – three areas in China most needy and oppressed, and fidelity to the USA: Monsignor Patrick Brennan, (before they were expelled), Philippines, the people, characterised by a willingness Chicago; James Maginn, Montana; and Korea, Burma (Myanmar), Japan, Fiji, to stay with them through wars, revolu- from Ireland: Thomas Cusack, Liscannor; Peru, Chile, Pakistan, Taiwan, Brazil and tions and natural disasters. As a result 23 John O’Brien, Roscommon; Frank China again today. Columban priests and one Columban Canavan, Headford; Sr Mary Clare Witty, Wicklow.

Vision: Bishop edward Expansion galvin baptises a child Bishop Galvin once joked that, ‘We need in China in the 1940s. priests in bundles and sisters galore,’ yet in a more reflective tone, ‘We are here not to convert China but to do God’s will and we don’t know 24 hours ahead what that is.’ Neil Collins devotes a full chapter to each of the countries where the Columbans work. It is fair to say that each mission out- reach had its teething problems, growing pains and finally bright successes as the flame of faith rooted in such diverse lan- guages and cultures. Each country faced natural disasters, banditry and social upheaval. China in particular was invaded by the Japanese in 1937 and the Communists took over in 1949. They placed Bishop Galvin under house arrest, expelled him and he went to his reward in 1956. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal (may his soul be seated at God's right hand).

Collaboration As the decades rolled by, the Columbans went along with developments initiated by

Feb/Mar 2019 25 the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). They worked well with lay organisations such as the Legion of Mary, and tried to follow the revised Rite of Adult Catechumenate. They worked both in Catholic parishes or in total virgin territo- ries, trying to adopt strategies, methods and means of having Jesus, the light of the world, shine into the hearts of diverse peoples that they in turn might become light to the world. Never ever easy; emi- nently worthwhile. Take a big event that took place on 23 November 1993. ‘Staff, friends and alumni joined the Columban Sisters in Immaculate Conception College, Uzamiz, Philippines, to celebrate their last feast day in charge of the college. After 52 years, they were about to hand over to the De La Salle Brothers. For half a cen- tury, they had trained teachers for schools all over Northern Mindanao. In more recent years, the Spirit had called them to dialogue with the local Subaanen people, train future priests, work with people with disabilities, clinical pastoral education and facilitating lay missionar- ies. It was a day of sadness and of grati- tude.’ The Columbans themselves began to invite vocations from within the various peoples in 1982. They had always worked with lay volunteers and again developed this into having Lay Associates of the group. Far east magazine: Fr Willie lee, a Columban from Fiji. ‘When Jim O’Brien arrived in Korea in 1957 he thought that he had the keys of the people were already part of the king- Philippines.’ Responding to new realities, the the kingdom and could open the gates to dom and held keys rooted in their ancient Society’s Central Council moved to Hong many. Over time he came to realise that cultures.’ Kong in 2007. The Columban Lay Columbans in Korea gathered with Missionaries are autonomous since 2005. their friends in 2003 to commemorate the The 2012 General Assembly wrote, ‘We are arrival of the first priests seventy years small inter-cultural groups centred on the earlier. Donal O'Keeffe said that the work Eucharist, called to participate in God’s mis- of the Society had dramatically changed. sion.’ The traditional parish work had all but dis- The Columbans today work in parishes appeared; the composition of the group or in special ministries in this pain-wracked was radically different; there were min- world, responding to various needs. Fr istries to migrants, to people with special Seán McDonagh warned of Climate needs, to prostitutes, and to the formation Change already back in 2006. of Korean Columbans. O’Keeffe noted that Missionaries are like scaffolding to a 35 Korean missionaries worked abroad as new building, when the resplendent new Columban lay missionaries, priests, stu- building is finished, the scaffolding is taken dents, associates or Sisters.’ down. But it won’t be long until it is needed elsewhere. Present Reality We can only thank God for 100 plucky, There were 316 priests, 39 students and 14 fruitful years of Columban mission. Their Co-founder: Fr John Bowick co- priest associates in the Columbans in 2016. future is bright. Our sincere congratulations founded the Missionary Society of ‘Our new members are being called by God to one and all concerned as ‘God gives the St Columban with Fr edward galvin. from Peru, Chile, Fiji, Tonga, Korea and the increase’. ■

St Anthony Brief 26 Challenges and opportunities: News from Cuba

FAITH IN ACTION FR GEARÓID Ó CONAIRE, OFM

Baptism in a mission chapel in Baracoa, guantanamo, Cuba.

y the time you read this article, I become aware of the needs of the people will have lived in Cuba for seven Gearóid Ó Conaire and the Church and, if the Lord sends B months. Although I lived in El OFM reports on his more missionaries, to be able to suggest SalvadorB for eleven years, as well as in possible locations and ministries to our other countries for shorter periods of time, busy first months leadership. We began this process in the moving to Cuba is like beginning all over east of Cuba in October by visiting four again. So much is similar to Central in Cuba. dioceses – Holguin, Santiago de Cuba, America, and yet it feels so totally differ- Guantanamo and Bayamo. ent. Cuban friar, one of three solemnly-pro- Two travelled and one stayed at home Two friars, a Guatemalan and a fessed living in Cuba. in the parish. We were hosted by the local Brazilian, arrived in Cuba in May 2018 to Our objective for the first year is to lis- bishop, in co-ordination with the President begin an international presence of OFM ten a lot in the hope of getting to know what of the Episcopal Conference, Bishop Franciscans in Cuba. I arrived in July is really happening in Cuba at as many lev- Emilio Aranguren Echeverria. His uncle and a Mexican friar arrived in els as possible. We had to hit the ground was a Basque Franciscan missionary in September. The Brazilian decided to running after our initial efforts to enter Cuba Cuba. He has a great love for the return home after three months. So, for were delayed for several months, and the Franciscan charism and would like to see now, we are three friars living in a house orientation course prepared had to be post- a presence of the Order in his diocese at in the parish of Santa Cruz de Jerusalén poned and then cancelled. some stage, but recognises greater needs in Playa, a district of the capital Havana. As part of our fraternal project to get to in other places. There are two Secular It is a parish established by Franciscans know Cuba, especially outside the capital, Franciscan Fraternities relatively recently in the 1930s. It has had its up and we organised to visit as many of the constituted. In fact, one of them is co-ordi- downs since then. We assumed respon- eleven dioceses as possible. The visits nated by a full-time permanent deacon, sibility for the parish from an older also have a secondary objective to married with two children.

Feb/Mar 2019 27 Christian Communities also the way forward, for different reasons, culties in transportation, there is only one During the visits we spoke with three of for the Church in Ireland. full-time priest, assisted by a few religious the four bishops. In each of the dioceses The parishes are now able to pur- women and lay workers. we visited parishes and other pastoral ini- chase houses when finances permit, tiatives, as well as speaking with clergy, which until recently was not possible. The Eastern Cuba religious men and women and committed houses are acquired in the name of com- During our two weeks of visits we were laity. Very few churches have been built mitted people, as the Church is not recog- able to experience a range of needs, chal- since the revolution in 1957. However, nised as a legal entity in Cuba. Where this lenges and opportunities for evangelisa- although a big inconvenience, it has not is not possible, families or those interested tion in the Church of eastern Cuba, stopped evangelisation initiatives. The in forming small Christian communities 900kms from the capital. Whereas partici- pastoral plan of the Church is based on offer their homes for Bible and prayer pants in the Church in Havana tend to be building up small Christian communities, meetings, as well as Eucharistic celebra- older, it was refreshing to witness the or house-based churches. tions. In Guantanamo we accompanied presence of young people and children in Providentially, as I write I am also the first, recently-appointed, black Cuban the east. People there tend to be more preparing a homily for Sunday, with the bishop, Silvano Pedroso Montalvo, to cel- religious, more open to participate, are Gospel speaking about the end times. I ebrate a Mass on the porch of a small friendlier and more generous with their was struck by this reference to the early family house, not far from the infamous time and resources. Christian communities in a commentary by US navy base. There are many commonalities in all the Jesuits in Ireland. It suggests that ‘in We spent a night at the Cuban equiva- the dioceses as well as many unique the early Church, Christians assembled in lent of Ireland’s Knock, the national shrine aspects. For example, the work done by private homes. Churches, as we know dedicated to our Lady of Charity (or popu- four Italian diocesan priests from the birth- them, only came into existence when, larly known as La Virgen del Cobre). I can place of Pope Saint John XXIII in because of the rapid growth of Christianity, write about the origins of this devotion on Bergamo, Italy, is worth a mention. They homes were too small. Assembly halls another occasion, as it is a popular pil- have four parishes on the most easterly (‘basilicas’ from the Greek basileus for grimage destination not only for Catholics, coast of Cuba in the diocese of king) had to be used which, in the course but also for practitioners of a religion with Guantanamo. We arrived on a Sunday of time, were exclusively used for religious its origins in Africa. Over the centuries this morning after crossing a mountain range worship.’ The Church in Cuba in many religion has blended in with Christianity as the Mass in Baracoa was finishing. It ways is now reflecting this ancient tradi- and uses its symbols and images for their was full of worshippers which included tion which calls for a lot of creativity and devotions. Incredibly, although thousands people of all ages. The Mass was followed missionary effort to build up small of people visit every week, coming from all by catechism for children with over a hun- Christian communities. Perhaps, this is over Cuba, despite the distances and diffi- dred participants. We noticed many young

St Francis Friary: Gearóid with Jesus Aguirre Garza OFM and the gardener (on the right) in the grounds of St Francis Friary, the first presence of the Franciscans in the Americas.

St Anthony Brief 28 people, young couples with children and ness for the Church to support an increas- east people walk, use bicycles, horse and generally felt a very positive vibe. The ingly older population, especially those liv- ox-drawn carriages and motorbikes. There Italians have been doing very systematic ing alone, with visits and common meals, are relatively few cars, which are mostly evangelisation for the last twenty years, pre-school formation for young children, old and in constant need of repair, with dif- building up small communities in the town work with families of prisoners, grinds, lan- ficulty in accessing spare parts. Public and surrounding countryside. The results guage courses, artisanal and technical for- transport tends to be packed, infrequent of their efforts are easy to see. mation for people of all ages, as long as it and unreliable. One of the important aspects for evan- is free! First impressions from Cuba – chal- gelisation is continuity, which Bergamo Transportation is a challenge for mis- lenges and opportunities! has provided by replacing priests, at least sionaries, as access to and purchase of for now, when they return to Italy. And vehicles is very restricted. All over the [email protected] ■ there is a strong, ongoing religious forma- tion process for lay people of all ages. Another reality is worth a mention; it has probably been influenced by Pope Francis and his appeal for the Church to move out to the peripheries, especially sending the most energetic and best of its pastoral agents. So we encountered the presence of two young recently-ordained Cuban priests in Maisi, one of the poorest parts of this province, which until recently was neglected by the Church. We heard stories of visits by a Cuban priest who was the pastor of what is now six or seven parishes, alone and with very few resources. He made Trojan efforts to visit very remote places. He is still remem- bered and the seeds he sowed are now bearing some fruit. These young men, blessed with energy and health, are in a privileged place to learn the ropes of how to be good pastors, living close to the people and feeling with their struggles.

Present Reality From a Church point of view, we would like to highlight some aspects we noticed. Parishes in cities are huge with one priest and many areas of the countryside are practically unevangelised. Economically, the Church is very dependent on outside financial aid. Salaries are low and despite many free services by the State, family economies are stretched. There are more children and young people involved. As there are fewer priests and religious, most of whom are foreign, relationships among them are strong, which allows for more united and co-ordinated pastoral approaches. Speaking of Cuban clergy, there are over 100 Cuban-born priests living in the USA. Before the Revolution there were 700 priests in Cuba. Of the sixteen priests in the diocese of Bayamo only three are Cuban. Despite restrictions by the State on guantanamo: Bishop Silvano, the first black bishop in Cuba, Church involvement in formal education celebrates Mass on the porch of a family home, close to the US and health, there is more and more open- military base.

Feb/Mar 2019 29 MISSION DIGEST

CENTRAL AMERICA

VISIT

In December, the Minister General, Michael Perry, visited the friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe present in Central America, Panama and Haiti. Several Irish friars are members of this Province, having served as missionaries in Central America for many decades. In the various places the Minister General visited and dialogued with the friars. He also met with the Poor Clares, the Brothers and Sisters of the Secular Franciscan Order and the other members of the Franciscan Family. ■

St Anthony Brief 30 HOLY LAND

National Franciscan Pilgrimage 30th September – 8th October, 2019 Led by Fr Bernard Jones OFM Commissary of the Holy Land 4 Nights in Bethlehem (St Gabriel’s Hotel) 4 Nights in Tiberias (Caesar Hotel) A unique opportunity to join the Franciscan Pilgrimage There is limited availability on this special pilgrimage so early booking is essential

For further information contact: Premier Travel Tel: 021-4277700 - Email: [email protected]

TA 0367 Living the Joy of the Gospel as a Franciscan

Join us in a life of… Prayer, Brotherhood, and Loving Service Contact: Brother Pat Lynch OFM, Director of Pastoral Care of Vocations Franciscan Vocations Office, Franciscan Friary, Athlone, Co. Westmeath Mobile: 087 1346267 Email: [email protected] Web: www.franciscans.ie