St Anthony Brief
IRISH FRANCISCAN MISSION MAGAZINE No .6 OCT/ NOV 2015 €2.00
✣✣ Saint Francis: Naked and Free! ✣✣ Fighting Slavery ✣✣ Belonging to Jesus Christ Spirit and Life saint francis and the sow The bud stands for all things, even for those things that don’t flower, for everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing; though sometimes it is necessary to reteach a thing its loveliness, to put a hand on its brow of the flower and retell it in words and in touch it is lovely until it flowers again from within, of self-blessing; as Saint Francis put his hand on the creased forehead of the sow, and told her in words and in touch blessings of earth on the sow, and the sow began remembering all down her thick length, from the earthen snout all the way through the fodder and slops to the spiritual curl of the tail, from the hard spininess spiked out from the spine down through the great broken heart to the sheer blue milken dreaminess spurting and shuddering from the fourteen teats into the fourteen mouths sucking and blowing beneath them: the long, perfect loveliness of sow. – Galway Kinnell
The Feast of St Francis of Assisi is celebrated on 4 October.
St Anthony Brief SStt AAnntthhoonnyy BBrriieeff
2 Spirit and Life. 4 From the Editor. A Terrible Beauty. Gerald Evans OFM, along with other Irish friars, 5 witnessed the brutality of the civil war in El Salvador. He reflects on that experience.
A Martyr for His Beliefs. Gerry O’Reilly OFM ponders the 8 lessons to be learned from the life of newly-beatified South African martyr, Benedict Daswa.
Belonging to Jesus Christ. Archbishop William Slattery OFM, 10 Pretoria, South Africa, speaks of the difference between understand - ing something about Christ and knowing him deeply in the heart. 12 Church Brief. From Old Missionaries to Young Indigenous Priests! Marko 13 Phiri ponders on the changing face of the Church in Zimbabwe. Fighting Slavery. Fr John Flynn looks at the growing evil of 14 human trafficking in our world. Saint Francis: Naked and Free! When in Assisi Pope Francis 16 made a point of visiting the place where St Francis stripped naked at a turning point in his life. The Pope wonders what stripping are we called to do in our own lives. 18 World Mission Day 2015. The Last Priest-Catchers in Ireland. Pat Conlan OFM writes of a 20 dark period in Irish history. 22 News from Around the Franciscan World. St Juniper Serra. On 23 September Pope Francis presided at the 23 Canonisation Mass of Blessed Juniper Serra OFM in Washington during his pastoral visit to the United States.
Volume 75 No.6 ‘Le Vita Continua – Life Surges Forward!’ Giacomo Bini OFM, Missionary Magazine of the Irish 1938-2014. Tom Russell OFM writes of a humble, dedicated friar, Franciscans. Published bi-monthly by 24 the Franciscan Missionary Union, afire with the Gospel. 8 Merchants Quay, Dublin 8. Editor: Br Stephen O’Kane OFM. Encountering Christ in India and at Home. Gearóid Ó Conaire Production: Fr Francis Cotter OFM. 27 OFM introduces an article by Shona Cahill who shares her experi - Subscription & Distribution Secretary: ence of introducing Irish students to the social justice dimension of Helen Doran. Tel: (01) 6777651. the Gospel. [email protected] Design, Layout & Printing: Mission Digest. The Catholic community at Nharira Township in Corcoran Print & Design. Zimbabwe rejoiced as the foundations for their new church were Tel: (053) 9234760. 30 blessed by Fr Onward Murape OFM. Subscription including Postage: Ireland – €15.00 per annum Britain – Stg£15.00 per annum Pope Francis Receives His Holy Name Tile Finally! Overseas – €18.00 per annum 31
Oct/Nov 2015 3 From the Editor… A Little More Passion!
In Pope Francis’ recent message for World Mission Day he declared, ‘Mission is a passion for Jesus and at the same time a passion for peo - ple.’ He also said, ‘Those who follow Christ cannot fail to be mission - aries...’ That makes sense; if I really believe what I say I believe, won’t I Br Stephen O’Kane OFM want others to believe the same? Why would I keep that good news to myself? On 23 September this same Pope Francis canonised a Franciscan friar, Juniper Serra, who cer - tainly was on fire with a love for Christ. Juniper, born on the island of Majorca in 1713, gave up the comfortable life of a friar teaching in a university to go to California to make Jesus and his Kingdom known to the native people of that place. With great energy, patience and a love for the local St Juniper: people of that region, Juniper preached Christ and passion his love for each one. He founded nine of the for the twenty-one mission stations up along the west Lord coast of California. It is because of the missionary and his work of Juniper Serra and his Franciscan compan - Gospel ions, that so many of the well-known cities along the west coast of North America have Franciscan names, for example, San Francisco (St Francis) and Los Angeles named after St Francis’ favourite church in Assisi – Santa Maria de los Angeles. Not everyone is happy that Juniper is to be canonised. When Pope John Paul II declared him Blessed in 1988, voices were raised in protest that someone linked with the evil of colonisation could be ‘promoted’ in the Church. Much fine historical research testifies to the fact that Juniper Serra was a man of heroic virtue and holiness who had only one burning ambition — to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the peoples of the New World. Indeed he was articulate in fighting against the Spanish civil authori - ties in defence of the humanity and rights of the indigenous peoples. Archbishop Gomez, the present Archbishop of Los Angeles, summed up Juniper’s life very well when he said, ‘Whatever human faults Juniper may have had and whatever mistakes he may have made, there is no questioning that he lived a life of sacrifice and self-denial. And he died here in California, having given his life out of love for the Gospel and the people he came to serve.’ Definitely, Juniper’s virtues outdistance his sins. Let us pray for a little more passion in our life – passion for Jesus, passion for the poor. Let us pray for more missionary vocations, lay and ordained, so that the Gospel may be preached with passion, love and respect to the ends of the earth.
– Stephen O’Kane OFM ([email protected])
St Anthony Brief 4 A Terrible Beauty
Gerald Evans OFM, along with other Irish friars, witnessed the brutality of the civil war in El Salvador. He reflects on that experience.
n the spring of 1987, the year after my that the values we are striving to defend Guatemalan friar living there at the time, ordination to the priesthood, I was living and live are true life itself. were present at the meeting. Suddenly a Iin the Franciscan Friary in Cork prior to As I left the cinema in the security of series of gunshots rang out with a corre - returning to El Salvador. One night I my own country I wondered whether I sponding reply from others. The couples decided to go to the cinema to see a film would be capable likewise of giving my life looked at one another startled. One of the which I heard had received very good in that manner. Little did I know that very women, Juanna, enquired whether the reviews called The Mission . It focused on shortly I too would live to face a similar other couples attending the meeting had the challenges faced by the Jesuit mis - experience in El Salvador with only one stored up their beans and rice. Another sions on the borderlands between exception. Unlike Fr Gabriel, I would live woman, Sara, asked Juanna very directly Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina in the mid to tell the tale. what she was talking about. To which 18th century, around 1760. Juanna replied, ‘It seems the war has The film impressed me greatly. I was The Guerrilla Offensive finally come to the city.’ Up until that point especially inspired by the role played by Saturday 11 November 1989 the civil war in El Salvador tended to be Jeremy Irons, one of the film’s protago - The circumstances surrounding the begin - confined to mainly rural areas. We hastily nists, Fr Gabriel whose faith inspired him ning of the offensive, as ever in Latin adjourned the meeting and the alarmed with great passion and conviction to America, are shrouded in mystery, fol - couples hurried on their way home amid accompany the poor indigenous people lowed by rumours embellished as they intermittent hail of gunfire. Shortly after - under his care to the point of giving his life pass from person to person. The most wards, Irish friar Peter O’Neill (now for them. It was precisely the existential common rumour doing the rounds at the deceased) arrived unexpectedly to visit us moment of decision he lived through – time was that the offensive began on the and he stayed the night. In the end, he whether to abandon the mission and save night of the 11 November under the guise remained with us during the first week of his life or to stay and accompany the peo - of a rather curious fictitious marriage cere - the offensive. ple and possibly lose it – that particularly mony in the nearby barrio of Prados de At about 8.00pm the dark night sky was inspired me most. I have always been Venezia. Apparently, it was a cover for the suddenly transformed into a sinister battle - drawn by stories where the protagonists movement of the guerrillas into the area, field of menacing, noisy, clattering airforce have faced life and death decisions and south of the capital of San Salvador, helicopters beaming their eerie search - especially the how and why of the choices where we lived. lights into every corner of the parish. An air they ultimately make. I feel we are at our In our sector of the parish the pastoral of fear pervaded the people as they gazed most human and are most humanised team was holding its weekly meeting in and wondered aloud to one another what when we decide to risk our lives believing our house. Both I and Guillermo, a was happening and about to befall them.
Oct/Nov 2015 5 Urban warfare: caught in terrible violence.
At about 9.00 a helicopter landed in the similar situations benefited us greatly in We friars shared our riot of feelings basketball pitch of the barrio of Los facing this one. around the breakfast table and began to Angeles out of which soldiers disem - focus our attention on what our role might barked. Little by little the whole parish Apocalyptic be in this unexpected and very confusing became militarised. By about 9.30pm the However nothing could have prepared scenario. What to do? We decided firstly whole parish became a war zone with us for the macabre scene awaiting us as each one of us should take advantage of repeated gunshots resounding every - we ventured out on that first morning the relative calm and walk around the where accompanied by the deafening and indeed for most mornings after - parish, assess the situation and bring noise of the helicopter gunships firing wards. It was truly apocalyptic. some solace to the now very bewildered rounds and rounds of ammunition seem - Dismembered, rotting, scantily-clad bod - and frightened population. Setting out we ingly indiscriminately into the population ies lay pitifully strewn everywhere filling noticed there seemed very little visible below. This scenario continued right into the air with a nauseating, putrid odour of damage apparent. The people greeted us and through the night making it impossible death accompanied by an all-pervading nervously as we passed and looked for to sleep. smell of gunpowder. The infamous death reassurance. A curfew was immediately announced squads, authors of these heinous crimes Even at this early stage, as ever it was which obliged everybody to remain house - under the cover of darkness, were not the people themselves who began to define bound from 5.00pm every evening to satisfied to brutally murder these poor our role in their midst as a presence of 6.00am the following morning until further people and strip them of their dignity calm assurance and support. I had always notice. Anybody unfortunate or foolish without pity but to dismember them with understood my presence among people to enough to be on the streets during that the intention to provoke fear and terror be about doing things for or, more impor - interval, however legitimate their reasons, in the general population. As I contem - tantly, with them. But the coming days was mercilessly shot down. plated this awful scene I was filled with proved to be a deep learning experience for The new day dawned with relative a shocking realisation of the thin veneer me on the value of accompanying people calm. We found ourselves without water which exists between civilisation and by being simply present with them calmly and electricity and during the morning the savagery. At one level I felt myself to be and quietly in moments of crisis. People telephones ceased to function. a numb spectator enmeshed in a night - repeatedly expressed their deep gratitude Communication not only between our - mare out of which I would hopefully during those faithful days greeting us with selves and the rest of the friars but with soon awake, but at another level I felt pleading eyes and words which became for the rest of the world had been abruptly however unreal all this seemed it was in me like a mantra. ‘Thank you for staying severed. Without warning we suddenly felt fact real. As the friar in charge in the with us’. As the days passed, I became the very alone and vulnerable. Each of the parish, I felt an overriding sense of beneficiary of our shared humanity by such other friars lived their own experience responsibility to be a presence of calm, gestures of kindness and courage. It con - through the offensive and perhaps one wise and prudent leadership for the peo - vinced me that the quality of solidarity, like day they too will recount their tale. I found ple as we all navigated our way through mercy, is twice blessed. myself with four Central American student this dark and treacherous scenario. I friars under my care along with Friar Peter had to pull myself together and take the Marta O’Neill. Peter was a great support to me initiative. I prayed that God would guide As the day wore on the helicopter ships and indeed to all of us friars during the me with his ‘kindly light amid the encir - once again became very active firing first days of the offensive. His clear think - cling gloom’, to quote Cardinal seemingly indiscriminately from the air ing and past experiences of living through Newman’s famous poem. around the zone of the shopping centre
St Anthony Brief 6 where the guerrillas were ensconced. intellectual arguments, that sustain and them in whatever way we felt appropriate. When the firing subsided and calm was give life to the human heart. As the We felt it important especially to collect restored, I heard a woman screaming. I Resurrection narratives remind us, true information on the people’s needs. On my followed its direction and was horrified to love and compassion casts out all fear. way to Bosques del Rio I was stopped by find Marta, a beautiful girl and member of Very carefully we lifted up the now almost one of the commanding military officers our parish choir, sprawled out on the floor unconscious Marta into the pickup. We who refused to allow me enter the barrio. I in an agony of pain. Her ankle had been later received the news that she had protested that I was the priest and had to severed by a stray bullet which passed reached hospital but her injuries obliged visit and comfort the people but my pleas through the roof of her house from one of the doctors to amputate her leg. fell on deaf ears. the helicopter gunships. It was truly a terri - It’s a strange thing but there are times ble sight. The floor was awash with blood Radio in life when somebody’s look stays with and her mother Adela, standing close by, One of the most disconcerting and shock - one all through the rest of one’s life. In this was distraught and in shock. It was my ing aspects of those early days was the case it was the look of a very young, hum - first experience during those days of feel - local radio programmes where people ble-looking soldier carrying a gun almost ing a special providential grace of calm rang in to volunteer their opinions on the size of himself who watched his com - and the presence of mind in the face of unfolding events. Passions were high and manding officer refuse me permission. He appalling circumstances. Somehow we unfettered leading to very unmeasured had a look of deep shame, sadness and found a man with a pickup truck and and irresponsible outbursts. Angry voices frustration on his face; then he looked pleaded with him to help us take Marta to conveyed, not only indignation at what directly at me with what I can only the nearest hospital. In the beginning he was happening, but outright incitement not describe as eyes pleading forgiveness. I was reluctant to take the risk but as the only to round up the guerrilla and annihi - noticed he was wearing a rosary beads implications of the tragedy before his eyes late them but likewise religious and around his neck. I looked back at him hop - entered his heart he agreed. Even in the priests. Especially targeted were foreign ing I conveyed my gratitude. All through worst of situations during this time there religious and priests perceived as accom - my life I have been inspired by unex - were kind and compassionate gestures of plices. Free reign was given to these out - pected gestures of humanity in adverse solidarity from people who recognised our bursts on the part of the presenters with situations, which confirm the innate nobil - shared humanity in spite of the utterly no attempt to responsibly question or ity of the human person, where the human inhumane reality on the part of others bring measure to people’s dangerously person refuses to be dehumanised by sur - engulfing us. Indeed as time passes I vengeful attitudes. Especially targeted for rounding inhumanity. I believe such realise I was sustained by these gestures criticism were the Jesuits. The discourses moments are when we at our most human and inspired at how we carried one directed at them were shockingly unjust as they are moments when we coura - another, often complete strangers, through and divisively irresponsible. geously choose to be human in the face of the experience. At the end of the day it is We friars decided once again to move pressure to conform. small acts of love and compassion, not among the people in the barrios and help To be continued n
Shared humanity: gestures of compassion and courage.
Oct/Nov 2015 7 A Martyr for His Beliefs
Gerry O’Reilly OFM ponders the lessons to be learned from the life of newly-beatified South African martyr, Benedict Daswa.
n a previous article I shared a little his great acts of courage and kindness are daughter was an evil spirit. The South about Benedict Daswa from South recalled. Will Benedict Daswa be recog - African Council of Churches’ provincial sec - IIAfrica. Benedict was beaten to death nised as South Africa’s first canonised retary for Limpopo, Lichipisha Mohlala, said by some members of his community on 2 martyr?’ that the council was deeply disturbed by February 1990. He had refused to take The answer is yes. Benedict was the pastor’s televised confession and the part in a witch hunt. He rejected witchcraft. declared Blessed on 13 September 2015 actions of the residents who had destroyed A lot of people were with him silently when at Tshithanine, Venda, South Africa. his property. he refused to contribute money to hire a Retired Bishop Hugh Slattery MSC (from Bishop Slattery remarked that ‘all kinds sangoma (witch) to find out who was Cork) who was the Bishop in Tzaneen dio - of misfortune feed into witchcraft, including responsible for calling down lightning to cese when Benedict was killed, and who droughts, thunderstorms and unseasonable strike huts in the village of Mbahe, in the has been promoting his cause, says the weather. It is a complex issue. Tension and diocese of Tzaneen, South Africa. beatification is an important step in stop - stress feed into it. People will try and make The local headman and his counsellors ping the spread of witchcraft. He says, an enemy into a witch. And there is much believed the lightning was the work of an ‘Daswa is an important figure. He had a dishonesty in the whole thing.’ evil person. Benedict disagreed. As a per - special grace. He rejected witchcraft. son who had benefited from a good, Daswa was prepared to stand up and be Family Man Christian education he understood that counted for his beliefs and take the conse - Since the case of the beatification of lightning was a natural phenomenon. His quences without forcing his views on peo - Benedict was introduced his character and input to the meeting was met with scepti - ple.’ personality are more clearly emerging. cism. Subsequently he suffered a brutal Witchcraft is not a thing of the past. It Daswa was a Catholic, family man, with a death that was directly linked to his opposi - thrives on ignorance and fear, on hearsay deep commitment to improving the life of tion to old, local folklore. and gossip. The Catholic weekly newspa - his community, and a dedicated school I concluded the previous article by say - per The Southern Cross reported that principal. ing: ‘The local people gather to pray at witchcraft has raised its ugly head again He held deep convictions about the Benedict’s grave. A preliminary inquiry for when a pastor, according to a police importance of being an active Catholic in the Cause of his Beatification has started. spokeswoman, had his house burned his home, in the school and in the commu - He is remembered as a courageous wit - down in the Musina and Beit Bridge area. nity. His faith in Jesus and the teaching of ness to his faith. He is revered greatly in The pastor had claimed on a TV video that the Church inspired his life. He shared his his home village of Nweli and stories about he was involved in witchcraft and his faith in action.
St Anthony Brief 8 He grew up in a rural community hard work, in planning for a better life for Benedict’s school the learners encoun - where women cooked, fetched firewood the children. tered a living follower of the Lord Jesus and water, and looked after the children. Benedict soon faced other problems. Christ. He left his mark on them for life. That is still very common in the parish in Children were coming to school hungry. He which I am now working in rural Zululand. knew that you cannot teach a child on an Example That was the Venda culture in which empty stomach. He went to Operation Teachers have great influence not only in Benedict grew. It was a male-dominated Hunger and they started a feeding scheme their schools, among their peers and in the culture. in the school. community. Old traditions, beliefs and cus - Benedict believed that it was time to But he just did not want outside help. toms die hard in rural communities. It is change those attitudes. Women were He knew that he could teach the children not easy to change attitudes. A good equal to the men in his home. His mother to grow vegetables. He started a school teacher leads by example. I heard a recalls Benedict washing his babies’ nap - vegetable garden. There the children bishop last month tell a story about a pies, preparing and cooking the food for learned to work the plots and they reaped group of seminarians, having listened to an his wife and children. He had eight chil - the rewards – fresh vegetables, and for excellent lecture on prayer, they chal - dren, so there were plenty of nappies to those who sold them in the community, lenged the lecturer, ‘Are you a pray-er?’ wash! well earned money. Some of the children’s The best way to teach is by example. Some of the local men objected and parents were not able to pay the school Benedict bought a small bakkie – a one- said, ‘Your wife has bewitched you. She fees. It is well known in the area that ton truck. He did not use it selfishly. One of has given you some muti so that you say Benedict gave the children work in his own the first things he did was to go down to yes, yes to whatever she says. She is garden at home, and paid them so that the river and collect stones and rocks to wearing the trousers! She should do those they could hold their heads high and pay build his local parish church. He helped to chores. You must show yourself to be the their fees. He was not serious all the time. build the walls. He was a doer. He is well man in the house.’ Benedict had another As a well-rounded person he loved sport, remembered in the local Catholic commu - opinion. ‘No, that is not how you should especially a good game of football. nity as a man who walked the talk. think. Think of it as the way God created Although Benedict was not teaching in Benedict Daswa stands out as a man man. He created man and woman alike.’ a formal Catholic school he had the basics of great faith and conviction. May his testi - Benedict was before his time. In his right; he communicated a Christian way of mony inspire others to stand for what is home, his mother says, he wanted his chil - life working towards liberating his students right and just. Benedict did not force his dren to know that men and women are from a limited vision of life, and opening up beliefs on people but people knew he was equal and that a marriage means you have a broader understanding of the God of life. a believer. His beatification was a great to share the responsibilities. It is a small Education is integral to the mission of the celebration of thanksgiving to God for the tribute to him that cultural ways are chang - Church to proclaim the Good News. In life and witness of Benedict Daswa, a mar - ing in today’s society, especially in urban tyr for his beliefs. n areas.
School Principal Benedict had the firm belief that rural schools should be as good as the best. When he was promoted to be principal of Nweli Primary School towards the end of the 1970s he inherited a collection of dilap - idated mud buildings with one temporary teacher. Benedict set about changing that. He went to the Department of Education and requested them to build a proper school. The department agreed and a modern school was built. Benedict insisted on two things in his school. Firstly, the standard must be the highest. And secondly, male teachers must be dressed in collar and tie and wear a suit. He wanted no sloppiness in his school. He did not just want the teachers to be well dressed. He also wanted the pupils to be dressed in school uniforms. For those who struggled getting the uni - forms Benedict found a way to help them. He was a resourceful man. He set an example for school teachers and pupils. He believed in the power of education, in
Oct/Nov 2015 9 Archbishop William Slattery OFM , Pretoria, South Africa, speaks of the difference between understanding something about Christ and knowing him deeply in the heart. Belonging to Jesus Christ t Paul writes to the Christian com - But Bernardine invites munity in Philippi, ‘Because of us start again. You find SSChrist I have come to consider all the same scene, a young these advantages that I had as disadvan - man hanging in a middle tages. Not only that but I believe nothing of the town square, peo - can happen that will outweigh the ple around laughing and supreme advantage of knowing Jesus talking, children playing Christ my Lord. For him I have accepted games beneath his dead the loss of everything and I look on every - body. You enquire and thing as so much rubbish if I only have you are told how he has Christ and be given a place in him’ robbed and beaten (Philippians 3:6-14). someone, he has now St Paul here is telling us of the been executed and after tremendous difference that came into his enquiring you discover life when he met Jesus on the road to that this is a man from Damascus. That life-transforming, inti - your own village. You mate encounter with the Lord is what we know his family; you too are called to. knew some of his broth - ers and sisters perhaps. Knowing Deeply Now you will remain a St Bernardine of Siena was a great longer time standing and looking Hearing the Music Franciscan preacher in the 15th century. because you know something about this The aim of our Christian journey is to He tells this story. You come to a town man. Now you not only know but you move from knowing to understanding and and enter the central square of the town understand. even to feeling, as St Paul says, ‘the and find there a lot of excited people. You St Bernardine takes us back again to supreme advantage of knowing Christ notice that a young man has just been the square to find a young man exe - Jesus my Lord’. Faith is a new way of hanged by the authorities that morning. cuted. It is the same story. You ask who feeling and understanding, a new way of Many people are standing around, looking it is and you are told, ‘Don’t you see, hearing the Word of God and recognising at the dead body hanging limp on a gib - approach and look.’ And then you realise the presence of God in life. bet. You make enquiries and are told that with horror that he is your brother or your Imagine a young boy who was born this young man robbed people and he son. Now you will feel within yourself the deaf, a child of a large family. He is an had badly beaten someone. He was terrible suffering of the poor young man intelligent, bright boy but he cannot hear. caught by the police, sentenced to death who has been executed. So he learns many things by watching his and was now dead. You may ask who is St Bernardine said that there are dif - brothers and sisters in their normal lives. he? And you might discover that he is ferences in knowing. He said most peo - When he is twenty years of age his broth - from a distant city. You do not know him ple know things about Christ, some peo - ers take him to a disco. Here for the first but you know his story. You look at the ple then understand something about time he receives a great surprise. At a sad scene and then you move on about Christ and just a few people, saints, feel particular moment many young people your business. You know about what hap - something for Christ, they know him who have been sitting around suddenly pened. deeply in their hearts. start jumping up and down; he sees them
St Anthony Brief 10 dancing. After a while he is invited to join little son. He belonged to me. I felt a great Now and again a child failed. This child in. He cannot hear the music but he imi - empathy, a great pity as I held him was devastated. But if the parent was tates them and so he dances but he is out because I knew that he would not be able beside the child, if the parent embraced of step. When the music stops he contin - to live a normal life, I knew he would not the child, that child was able to endure the ues dancing because he cannot hear the share the family’s life like a normal child; failure. Through a felt belonging this child music. we would always stand around and make was healed. In a sense, faith is hearing, it’s hearing plans for him. He would always be a little The opposite of belonging is alienation the music of God’s call. Many people will child and never an adult person. which Karl Marx wrote about so eloquently. not understand our way of life because What I wish to say is that the transfor - Alienation is the root of murder and vio - they are not hearing the same tune that mation that took place in me was the lence; it is the source of vicious cruelty. It we hear. The tune we hear is that which movement from my head to my heart. In leaves people isolated and often close to directed the lives of the saints – the tune my heart this child belonged to me. I suicide. So therefore we need to become of experiencing the supreme advantage of knew, understood and felt this love and aware of our own experience of belonging knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. belonging. to people we love. Then we need to utilise We too, because of our busy lives, that sense of belonging in our own prayer can fail to hear the tune. The tune is Belonging to experience what we mean to Jesus and crowded out. There is so much noise in God is belonging. This is a very important what we mean to God. our world; there can be a lot of resent - word. We must use this word in our spiri - The Christian life has at its core – ment in our hearts. We can be very angry tuality and above all in our prayer and belonging and love and community. The people deep down. We worry about faith. Belonging helps us to understand supreme advantage of our calling is health and finance, our responsibilities. Christian vocation. Yes, God is Belonging, belonging to God, being the companions We have plans for amusements and com - for God is Trinity. Therefore God is rela - of Jesus, the very instruments of Jesus, to fort. We have to think about our families tionship. So we can say in the beginning be the very presence of Jesus’ goodness and those who come to our door. In times was belonging, in the beginning was com - and mercy in this world. When we go to of prayer we leave behind some of our munity, in the belonging was relationship. the whole Bible we see how God is anxiety and once again hear the tune. I say the word can be a great power in searching for us, longing for us, God our prayer life. For we all know belonging. expects us to respond to him. And God Head to Heart It is something in the very essence of our makes a covenant with us, his people – I came to South Africa in January 1971, soul. we belong to God. Let us start here and four years later I went on my first holiday When I was in Besters in Ladysmith try to experience this belonging, this love, to Ireland. In the meantime my brother’s the exam results were read out to all the because it is on this foundation that we third child was born. This child was three primary school children in December. can talk about all the Christian life. n years of age when I saw him for the first time. This was a fine, healthy, good-look - ing child but he was very autistic. He On-Line Shop refused to enter any relationships with Check out our online shop at franciscans.ie. Items available include a people or to recognise their presence with variety of books and music CDs produced by Irish friars. There are also any sensitivity or feeling. My brother out-of-print books of historical value. www.franciscans.ie/shop arranged to have the child taken in by the Sisters of Charity, a congregation to which my sister belongs. Here the child was cared for. When I arrived in Ireland my brother took me to see his child. I went to the door of a large hall and inside on the carpet were some 40 children playing and sleeping and fighting and doing all things that children do. As I looked at them I did not know which child was our child, and I said to myself, ‘They all look the same to me.’ Then my brother entered and he walked across the hall and picked up his little son and brought him to me and placed him into my arms. I felt a tremen - dous transformation in my own heart. I had said they all look the same to me but now this child was totally different to every other child. Why? Because this was our child, this was my nephew, this was our
Oct/Nov 2015 11 Church Brief
Pilgrimage in the Amazon catechist, an active and charitable mem - the bishops of the Democratic Republic of Sr Dorothy Stang SND, an American mis - ber of the community. He took seriously Congo (DRC) to the African youth so that sionary, was outspoken in her efforts on the call to holiness which we all have they do not seek solutions to their prob - behalf of the poor and the environment in received in Baptism. He will be a role lems outside their country but instead the Amazon region of Brazil. She model and powerful intercessor for all the struggle to build a better society. The received frequent death threats from log - Catholics of our region and in particular appeal was made at the opening cere - gers and land owners. She was murdered for young men, husbands and fathers.’ mony of a meeting of Pan-African Catholic in February 2005. Her cause for Youth and Children that was held in canonisation as a martyr is underway. Kinshasa, DRC in August. ‘Be vigilant ‘Sr Dorothy is present through the of the deceptions, the new forms of struggle of the people. These are peo - destruction of the culture of life and of ple of faith who seek to organise and moral and spiritual values. Use your live the same continuous struggle,’ talents and other resources to renew said Fr Anthony Claret, who partici - and transform our continent and for pated in a mission within the the promotion of lasting justice, Archdiocese of Mariana (Brazil), in the peace, and reconciliation in Africa. heart of the Amazon. The mission You are a treasure for Africa. The team was made up of 22 people Church relies on you, your continent including priests and lay people, and needs you.’ lasted 15 days. 120 delegates from Gabon, As part of the mission the 10th pil - Zimbabwe, Ghana, South Africa, grimage in memory of Sr Dorothy was Botswana, Swaziland, Egypt, Congo, held. It had as its theme, ‘The seed Kenya, Uganda, and Cameroon planted germinates: we are Sr Dorothy.’ attended the conference. Recalling The three words that guided the 55km that youth forms about 70% of the pilgrimage were, ‘memory, commitment population of Africa, the bishops and hope’. The pilgrimage took place stated that ‘the youth are the most during the last week of July and ended important sector of the African popu - in the place where Sr Dorothy was mur - lation on whom the Church ought to dered. The pilgrimage is organised to count, as a priority, in the Church's raise awareness on the need to pre - evangelisation efforts such as the serve the Amazon rainforest and to Sr Dorothy: a pilgrimage of promotion of justice, peace, recon - remember Sr Dorothy, who gave her life remembrance and commitment ciliation, and socio-economic development in defence of the vast forest, the lung of of our continent’. humanity. The bishops encouraged ‘all the faith - ful to imitate Benedict Daswa by living Schools for Refugee Children South African Celebration their Catholic faith with courageous and More than 4,800 South Sudanese refugee The bishops of South Africa have written humble commitment. Pray to him and children in Ethiopia will be able to receive to the Catholics in the country as the make novenas to him, asking for special education in four schools, inaugurated Church there celebrates the beatification graces and favours and even miracles. recently in Kule and Terkendi camps, of Benedict Daswa, the country’s first Display his picture in your parish about 800km west of Addis Ababa. The recognised martyr for the faith. On 13 churches and homes, in your Catholic schools were built by the Ethiopian September he was officially declared schools and other church buildings. Go as Catholic Church with the support of Blessed Benedict Daswa by Cardinal pilgrims to visit the shrine of Benedict Catholic Relief Services (CRS). ‘We thank Angelo Amato SDB, Prefect of the Daswa as it develops in the coming years God for giving us this opportunity to assist Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and also visit his tomb at the nearby the refugees by constructing these educa - during a ceremony at the Benedict Daswa church at Nweli.’ tional facilities’, said Fr Angelo Moreschi Shrine in Tshitanini in Limpopo Province. SDB, ‘but the situation remains very Cardinal Amato represented Pope ‘Stay in Africa’ severe for so many people.’ According to Francis. The bishops write, ‘Benedict ‘Do not allow false trappings of wealth data of the UN High Commissioner for Daswa was a committed lay Catholic and lure you to move out of your countries in Refugees, these camps welcomed about the loving husband and father of a large search of non-existent jobs in Europe and 276,000 registered refugees fleeing civil family; a dedicated teacher and volunteer America.’ This is the appeal launched by war in South Sudan since 2013. n
St Anthony Brief 12 From Old Missionaries to Young Indigenous Priests!
ecently, here in Bulawayo – priest? But then that’s a question that Zimbabwe’s second city, I visited Marko Phiri was never posed to the old-school RRone of its relatively new parishes ponders on the Catholics! and had a few moments to reflect about Recently I was stunned when I was the future of the Church, vocations and changing face of the informed that at one of the minor semi - the laity’s commitment to small Christian naries here, there was not even a single communities. One of the things that I Church in Zimbabwe. schoolboy when only a few years earlier, immediately took notice of was the formators had to youthfulness of the turn away many parish priest and his boys because concelebrant who of the big num - was introduced to the bers applying to congregation as be accepted recently ordained and and hopefully visiting from his rural proceed to parish. train towards It recalled a time the priesthood. when the missionary So, when there priests who came to is little or no these shores were interest in the equally young men, if priesthood, the not younger. They much encour - came, saw and stayed aged diocesan for the rest of their priesthood, lives serving the peo - what then ple with great dedica - becomes of tion. Back then, the the long-term evangelisation of the evangelisa - people was accepted tion expecta - by a much older faith - Among the people: Friar Onward Murape leading prayer in Zimbabwe. tions of the ful, without questioning Church when the youthfulness of the priest. It was the man? We built this church (parish) long it is already known that the movement of most normal of things to see a white before you were born!’ Therefore imply - priests from the Global North to the priest riding his bike down dusty rural ing he knew everything Catholic. It was Global South is effectively a thing of the paths on his way to outstations dotted a clash of generations of sorts. But it past? across large swathes of land. was a sentiment heard even in refer - A few years ago, there was talk that Seeing the young priests evoked ence to young priests by the older folk missionaries would be coming from memories about the debate concerning who still find it out of place for a young, Africa to the developed countries the dearth of priests, not only in Europe indigenous priest to be ‘lecturing’ them because of low vocations to the priest - and elsewhere in the developed world, about marriage! hood over there. I am not aware if this but also in Africa where good old mis - They seemed not to accept young has happened and at what scale, but sionaries have mostly come and gone. priests despite being the same old folk what we now see in Zimbabwe are a few Once when we were young and who did not hesitate to walk down nos - young priests being ordained having to voraciously reading all things Catholic, I talgia’s highways and relate how they take charge of more than one parish. remember a friend who took up worked with such and such a missionary The workload and expectations they Confirmation classes. He had constant priest when the ‘white man’ first came to carry are obviously huge, that coupled disagreements with an old-school cate - Zimbabwe as a smooth-faced lad! with the cynicism of old-school lay chist who was in the habit of admonish - Did they have issues then with being Catholics means these young priests do ing him. ‘What can you tell me young ministered to by a much younger white not have an easy task ahead. n
Oct/Nov 2015 13 Fighting Slavery
Fr John Flynn looks at the growing evil of human trafficking in our world
ow to deal with the problem of Christian representatives, as well as have a signed contract they are not ade - human trafficking is receiving Jewish and Muslim leaders signed a joint quately protected as they may be illiterate HHample attention both from the declaration condemning modern slavery. or the contract may be in a language they Church and civil leaders in recent times. ‘Modern slavery, in terms of human traf - do not understand. In July the Pontifical Academies of ficking, forced labour and prostitution, Governments have a crucial role in Science and Social Sciences held a two- organised trafficking, and any relationship eliminating human trafficking and in recent day workshop in the Vatican on ‘Modern that fails to respect the fundamental con - years many states have pledged to Slavery and Climate Change’. Attended viction that all people are equal and have improve their efforts in this area. by mayors of major cities around the the same freedom and dignity, is a crime Governments also need to build partner - world the closing statement called for against humanity,’ it said. ships with civil society and the public sec - greater cooperation to end human traffick - tor. Companies should do their part by ing and all forms of human slavery. Coerced responsibly sourcing goods and services Addressing the participants on 21 July The scale of the problem is evident from and by implementing anti-trafficking poli - Pope Francis spoke of the problems estimates provided by the International cies. related to a lack of care for the environ - Labour Organisation that put at $150bn A U.N. report divided nations into vari - ment and the exploitation of people in the profits made from forced labor. About ous tiers, according to their compliance human trafficking. ‘Human trafficking is an two-thirds of the profits come from sexual with international agreements on human open wound on the body of contemporary exploitation. trafficking and their efforts to implement society, a scourge upon the body of Human trafficking occurs in a wide them. The worst offenders were contained Christ. It is a crime against humanity,’ variety of circumstances, including extrac - in the “Tier 3” group. These countries Pope Francis said in his address to the tion of raw materials, manufacturing and included offenders in Africa, the Middle participants. the service industry. It is more common in East, Asia and South America. Russia was ‘To enslave any person – for their sectors that rely on unskilled or low- one of only two European nations in this labour value, abuse of their bodies, har - skilled workers. A variety of practices are category, along with Belarus. Russia is a vesting of their organs and as babies for used to coerce people into forced labour. source, transit, and destination country for sale – nullifies their human dignity by The confiscation of identity documents, human trafficking, the report maintained. reducing subjects to objects,’ wrote the imposition of recruitment fees, isola - Estimates of foreign workers in Russia Margaret Archer, President of the acad - tion and violence are some of the meth - range from five to twelve million and many emy. ods. Sometimes wages are withheld until of these migrant workers are exploited. Last December a group of world lead - the job is finished or employees are dri - Even worse was the situation ers, ranging from Pope Francis to other ven further into debt. Even when workers described in North Korea where the report
St Anthony Brief 14 accused the government of using forced Human Dignity to the theme of human trafficking. The title labour as a method of political repression. A number of bishops’ conferences around was based on St Paul’s letter to Philemon, In Venezuela there were reports of the world are working toward overcoming in which he urged that his co-worker, women subjected to forced prostitution this evil. The Catholic bishops in England Onesimus, once Philemon’s slave, be and children being exploited in domestic and Wales have established what they accepted no longer as a slave, but as a servitude. call the Bakhita Initiative, which will be brother. overseen by the Bakhita Foundation. ‘As brothers and sisters, therefore, all Day of Prayer There will also be an institute for research people are in relation with others, from Sunday 8 February was the first into human slavery that will help to raise whom they differ, but with whom they International Day of Prayer and awareness of the problem at the parish share the same origin, nature and dignity,” Awareness Against Human Trafficking. and community level. In the United States the Pope said. ‘In this way, fraternity con - The day coincided with the feast day of the bishops have also established a pro - stitutes the network of relations essential freed Sudanese slave St Josephine gramme, ‘Become a Shepherd,’ to raise for the building of the human family cre - Bakhita. The Vatican cited statistics that awareness of the problem of human traf - ated by God,’ he continued. estimate around 21 million poor and vul - ficking. ‘Today, as in the past, slavery is rooted nerable people are victims of trafficking In his message for the international in a notion of the human person which for sexual exploitation, forced labour, day of prayer Archbishop Paul-André allows him or her to be treated as an begging, organ trafficking, domestic Durocher, President of the Canadian object. Whenever sin corrupts the human servitude, forced marriages, illegal adop - Conference of Catholic Bishops, pointed heart and distances us from our Creator tion and other forms of exploitation. It is out that the efforts to put an end to and our neighbours, the latter are no estimated that human trafficking is the human trafficking are not just about elimi - longer regarded as beings of equal dignity, third most lucrative activity in the world, nating the criminal activity, but also about as brothers or sisters sharing a common after drugs and arms trafficking. dealing with the patterns of exclusion that humanity, but rather as objects,’ Pope The day of prayer was given the title, make people vulnerable. ‘People become Francis observed. ‘A light against human trafficking’, and vulnerable to being trafficked through Helping others requires us to over - was sponsored by the Pontifical Council social and economic exclusion. Many come the ‘globalisation of indifference’ for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and people experience exclusion because of towards the plight of others and instead ‘to Itinerant Peoples, the Pontifical Council barriers such as poverty, gender bias, forge a new worldwide solidarity and fra - of Justice and Peace and the racism, lack of education and lack of ternity capable of giving them new hope International Union of Superiors opportunity; others become excluded as a and helping them to advance with courage General. At the international level there result of mental illness, addiction, family amid the problems of our time’, he said. is also The Coalition of Catholic disconnection or social isolation,’ he said. ‘We know that God will ask each of us: Organisations Against Human What did you do for your brother?’ (see Trafficking, made up of a number of Brothers and Sisters Genesis 4:9-10), he commented. national and international Catholic agen - Pope Francis dedicated his World Day of A question that all of us will have to cies that are striving to combat human Peace Message for this year, titled ‘No answer one day. trafficking. Longer Slaves, but Brothers and Sisters’, From zenit.org n
Sexual exploitation: vast profits from human misery.
Oct/Nov 2015 15 Saint Francis: Naked and Free! When in Assisi Pope Francis made a point of visiting the place where St Francis stripped naked at a turning point in his life. The Pope wonders what stripping are we called to do in our own lives.
his place is a special place, and, sociological, ideological choice; it’s the strip ourselves of the many things we because of this I wished to pause choice of being like Jesus, of imitating have that suffocate our heart, to renounce There, even if my time in Assisi is him, of following him to the end. Jesus is ourselves, to take up the cross and carry very full. This place witnessed a turning God who stripped himself of his glory. it with Jesus. To strip ourselves of the point in the life of the young man We read this in St Paul, Christ Jesus, pride-filled ‘I’ and detach ourselves from Francis. When forced by his father to who was God, despoiled himself, emp - the desire to have, and from money, choose between his old life and the life tied himself, and made himself like us, which is an idol that possesses. God was calling him to, Francis made a and in this abasement he arrived at the We are all called to live simply and definite, public decision. In a radical ges - death of the cross (see Philippians 2:6- with contentedness, to free ourselves of ture he handed back his clothes to his 8). Jesus is God, but he was born naked, ourselves; and for this we must learn to father, and cried out, ‘Up to now I have he was placed in a manger, and died be with the poor, to share with those who called Pietro Bernadone my father. naked and crucified. are deprived of what is necessary, to Henceforth I can truly say, Our Father Francis stripped himself of every - touch the flesh of Christ! The Christian is who art in heaven.’ thing of his worldly life and of himself to not one who fills his mouth with the poor, Here, in the piazza before the follow his Lord, Jesus, to be like him. talking about poverty, no! He is one who bishop’s residence, Francis stripped him - Bishop Guido understood that gesture encounters the poor, who looks in their self of everything, and stood naked and rose immediately, embracing Francis eyes, who touches them. I am here to before his father, the bishop, the people and covering him with his cloak, and was point out that this is the Christian way, the of Assisi and indeed God. It was a always his aid and protector. one that St Francis followed. prophetic gesture, and it was also an act Speaking of St Francis’ nakedness, of prayer, an act of love and of entrust - To Free Ourselves St Bonaventure wrote, ‘So, then, the ser - ment to the Father who is in Heaven. St Francis’ action tells us simply what the vant of the Most High King was left With that gesture, Francis made his Gospel teaches us: to follow Jesus naked, so that he would follow his naked, choice, the choice to be poor. It’s not a means to put him in the first place, to crucified Lord, the object of his love.’ And
St Anthony Brief 16 he adds that, in this way, Francis was saved from the ‘shipwreck of the world’.
What of the Church? However, as Pastor, I would like to ask myself, of what must the Church strip herself? She must free herself of all spiritual worldliness, which is a temptation for all; rid herself of all action that is not for God, that is not of God; of the fear of opening the doors and of going out to meet all especially the poorest, neediest, the most distant, without waiting; certainly not to be lost in the shipwreck of the world, but to take with courage the light of Christ, the light of the Gospel, also in the darkness, where one cannot see, where one can stumble; to strip herself of the apparent calm that the structures give, which are certainly necessary and important, but which must never darken the only true strength she bears in her - self: that of God. He is our strength! To rid herself of what isn’t essential, because the reference is Christ; the Church is Christ’s! So many steps have been taken on this path, especially in recent decades. Let us continue on this path which is that of Christ, that of the saints. For all, also for our society which gives signs of exhaustion, if we want to be saved from shipwreck, it’s necessary Family: Statue of Francis’ parents in Assisi to follow the way of poverty, which is not misery – misery must be combated – but this stripping? In this way we will become cannot work on both sides. The Church – it is knowing how to share, living in soli - pastry Christians, like beautiful cakes, all of us – must rid herself of worldliness, darity with the needy, trusting more in like beautiful sweet things. Very lovely, which leads her to vanity, pride, which is God and less in our own human but not Christians really! Someone might idolatry. strengths. We recall the work of solidarity say, but of what must we, the Church, of Bishop Nicolini, Bishop of Assisi dur - strip ourselves? We must strip ourselves Two Masters ing World War II, who helped hundreds today of a very grave danger, which Jesus himself said to us: “You cannot of Jews, hiding them in convents, and threatens every person in the Church, serve two masters: either you serve God the centre of that secret action was in which threatens all: the danger of worldli - or you serve mammon” (Matthew 6:24). fact here, in the bishop’s residence. This ness. A Christian cannot co-exist with the In money there is all this worldly spirit; also is a letting go, which always stems spirit of the world; worldliness that leads false independence, vanity, pride; we can - from love, from the mercy of God! us to vanity, to arrogance, to pride. And not take that way. It is sad to cancel with this is an idol, it’s not God. It’s an idol! one hand what we write with the other. All of Us And idolatry is the strongest sin! The Gospel is the Gospel! God is one! This is a good occasion to invite the When the media speaks of the And Jesus made himself servant for us Church to free herself. But all of us are Church, they believe that the Church is and the spirit of the world doesn’t come in the Church! All! From the first one bap - the priests, the sisters, the bishops, the here. Today I am here with you. So many tised, we are all the Church, and we cardinals and the Pope. But the Church of you have been stripped by this savage must all go on the path of Jesus, who, is all of us, as I said. And all of us must world, which doesn’t give work, which himself, followed the way of letting go of strip ourselves of this worldliness: the doesn’t help, which is not concerned that everything. He became a slave, a ser - contrary spirit to the spirit of the there are children who die of hunger in vant; he willed to be humiliated unto the Beatitudes, the spirit contrary to the spirit the world; it doesn’t matter that so many Cross. And if we want to be Christians, of Jesus. Worldliness does evil to us. It’s families have nothing to eat, do not have there is no other way. so sad to meet a worldly Christian, cer - the dignity to bring bread home. But can we not make a Christianity tain – according to him – of that security It doesn’t matter that so many people that is a bit more human – they say – that gives him faith and certain of the must flee from slavery, from hunger, seek - without the cross, without Jesus, without security that the world gives him. One ing freedom. How often with so much
Oct/Nov 2015 17 grief we see that they meet with death, as happens to so many as they try to cross the Mediterranean – so many deaths – these are days of lamentation! These things are done by the spirit of the world. It is in fact ridiculous that a Christian – a true Christian – that a priest, that a sister, that a bishop, that a cardinal, that a Pope want to go on the path of this worldliness, which is a homi - cidal attitude. Spiritual worldliness kills! It kills the soul! It kills persons! It kills the Church! When Francis made the gesture here of stripping himself naked he was a young boy, he didn’t have the strength to make that decision, for all that lay ahead. Home town: It was the strength of God that pushed a street in him to do it, the force of God that wishes Assisi to remind us what Jesus said to us about the spirit of the world, what Jesus prayed to the Father about – that the Father to rid ourselves of the spirit of the world, that every Christian, the Church, every would save us from the spirit of the which is leprosy; it is the cancer of soci - man and woman will be able to rid them - world. ety! It is the cancer of God’s revelation! selves of what is not essential and go to Today, we ask grace for all Christians The spirit of the world is Jesus’ enemy! meet those who are poor and ask to be that the Lord will give all of us the In this place which invites us to ques - loved. I ask the Lord to give all of us this courage to strip ourselves; not of €20 but tion ourselves, I would like to pray so grace of truly freeing ourselves. n World Mission Day 2015 Pope Francis reflects on the link between the consecrated Life and mission: life and mission. Sr Margherita Floris, a The World Mission Sunday 2015 takes Spanish missionary sister, place on 18 October and in the context of with a rescued child in the the Year of Consecrated Life. For if every war-torn city of Bangui, baptised person is called to bear witness to the Lord Jesus by proclaiming the faith Central African Republic. received as a gift, this is especially so for each consecrated man and woman. There is a clear connection between consecrated life and mission. Since Christ’s entire exis - tence had a missionary character, so too, all those who follow him closely must pos - sess this missionary quality. We ask ourselves: Who are the first to whom the Gospel message must be pro - claimed? The answer, found so often throughout the Gospel, is clear: it is the poor, the little ones and the sick, those who are often looked down upon or forgot - ten, those who cannot repay us. Evangelisation directed preferentially to This must be clear above all to those ing like them amid the uncertainties of the least among us is a sign of the who embrace the consecrated missionary everyday life and renouncing all claims to Kingdom that Jesus came to bring. There life: by the vow of poverty, they choose to power, and in this way to become brothers is an inseparable bond between our faith follow Christ in his preference for the poor, and sisters of the poor, bringing them the and the poor. May we never abandon not ideologically, but in the same way that witness of the joy of the Gospel and a sign them. he identified himself with the poor: by liv - of God’s love. n
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Oct/Nov 2015 19 Pat Conlan OFM writes The Last of a dark period in Irish history.
Priest- A Penal Cross: wooden and decorated, dated 1750. Catchers Stuart kings in exile and recognised the authority of William III and his rightful successor, Queen Anne. The next problem was locating the in Ireland bishops and illegal priests so that they could be sent into exile. The civil authori - ties in each county were generally willing dward Tyrrell, the most infamous to co-operate as well as some of the priest-catcher of his time, was Protestant clergy. Queen Anne was EEexecuted in Dublin just over three becoming a little worried about the expul - hundred years ago on 23 May 1713. He sion of priests. She was coming under was not condemned to death for his anti- pressure from authorities on the conti - Catholic activities but for bigamy. The nent to limit the expulsions. Several main witness for the prosecution was Anglican bishops in Ireland were not Mary Moore of Bridge Street in Dublin, happy with the way in which some arti - mother of Jane Moore, Tyrrell’s victim in cles of the Treaty of Limerick had been his bigamous marriage. He had used the broken. These circumstances gave an name of Edward Moore to hide his true opening into which stepped the priest- identity during the marriage to Jane the catchers who would earn their keep by previous December. discovering and bringing to the authori - Priest-catchers were notorious then ties Catholic bishops, now usually called and since. There is ample evidence that titular bishops, and religious priests. they had to hide their identity and place of residence. Otherwise the crowd, whom Edward Tyrrell they described as the mob, would attack An attempted Stuart uprising in Scotland Edward Tyrrell was among the first. From them. They lived in constant fear of seri - took place in 1715. Park in Co. Galway, he found it difficult to ous injury or even death. In the case of English authorities wanted to elimi - get a proper appointment despite the one in Limerick the following was cut into nate Catholicism in Ireland. They realised efforts of his father-in-law, the scholar the back of his tombstone: that this was not possible. The next best Roderick O’Flaherty. In 1709 Tyrrell God is pleased when man doth cease to sin, thing was to strictly control it. Catholic offered his services as a priest-catcher to The devil is pleased when he a soul doth win, leaders would be rendered impotent by the Privy Council in Ireland. He got some Mankind are pleased whene’er a villain dies, destroying their financial power under the support and, disguised as a woman, he Now all are pleased for here Jack Cusack lies. Penal Laws. Religious authorities would sailed for north Wales. He went on to be controlled under the Banishment of London to present interesting information Obnoxious Trade Religious Act of 1697. The bishops would at the highest level. He received approval Even Protestants came to resent the be expelled from Ireland as well as the and encouragement. Tyrrell made his implications of this title. The origins of religious who did much work in building way to the Irish Franciscan College of St this obnoxious trade lie in Protestant wor - up Catholic morale. The Act used termi - Anthony in Leuven in 1710. There he col - ries about attempts to defeat the victory nology from church law requiring the lected intelligence about young priests of William III and restore Catholic power expulsion of religious, Jesuits and bish - who would soon return home. He also in England. This was a time of tremen - ops. Registered diocesan priests in their got plenty of information about Irish bish - dous flux in British affairs. King Billy had parishes would provide control over the ops who reportedly supported the defeated James II. He and his followers local situation. If there was trouble, the Pretender (James III known as the Young had gone into exile and might invade authorities would know who to blame. Pretender). Back in Ireland by 1712 he England. The parliaments of Scotland Clergy for parishes were registered in reported the return to Ireland of the and England had been amalgamated in 1704. Registered clergy were obliged to Titular Bishop of Clogher, Brian 1707. Queen Anne died in 1714 and take an Oath of Abjuration in 1709 by Fitzgerald (wrong), the Titular Bishop of George I of Hanover came to the throne. which they renounced all rights of the Elphin, Owen McDermott (right) and the
St Anthony Brief 20 Titular Archbishop of Dublin, Edmund Catholic from Spain who may have fallen Street. The nuns were taken away in Byrne (right). foul of the Spanish Inquisition. He three carriages to appear before a judge. The authorities noted that Tyrrell was claimed that he had been ordained a A legal problem arose when it was discov - giving information that did not yield priest before he came to Ireland in 1717. ered in that there was no law against results and that he had no authority to Protestants were still anxious after the nuns! They had to be released. An effort engage in the activities that he was accession of George I and the Stuart to change the law in 1719 so that nuns undertaking. By now he was in Cork could be whipped never got reporting on the presence of through parliament! Apparently igned Archbishop Butler. Once more Monarch: George I of England re the very thought of whipping nothing was found when the from 1714-1727. ladies was repulsive. An effort authorities arrived at the in that same year to have scene. priests branded on their Tyrrell was soon in cheeks or castrated also fell Newgate jail in Dublin for a by the wayside. second time over his marital Life had become hot for problems. There are indica - priest-catchers. Garzia man - tions that Jane Moore was in aged to escape with his life fact his fifth if not sixth wife. when he was recognised on The authorities in Dublin Castle James’s Street and attacked had come to the conclusion by a mob. Perhaps the build - that he had passed his sell-by ing of the new workhouse at date. His evidence had pro - the end of James’s Street duced no prisoners. His meant that he was in the appeals against his conviction wrong place at the wrong were gently but firmly rejected. time. He was given accom - It would appear that there was a modation in Dublin Castle for widespread sense of relief that his own safety. Despite many he was finally out of the way. demands, he never received Minor priest-catchers such the full amount that was due as Dr John Molloy operated in for the information that he Dublin. Not very successful as a provided and he was never medical doctor, he went looking rich. He conformed to the for priests. He was not very suc - Church of Ireland in 1718 cessful either and both Catholics and sought an appointment and Protestants set on him. He in a parish. Garzia claimed petitioned Archbishop William that Irish priests had sent King, Anglican Archbishop of information on his activities to Spain as a Dublin, for help and protection. King gave uprising in Scotland. Garzia was suffi - result of which his family was suffering him a letter of recommendation to the ciently credible to be accepted by various under the Spanish Inquisition. While Lords Justice. The Archbishop was sym - Catholic parties in Dublin. He may have Archbishop King was willing to write let - pathetic to the activities of the priest- lived in the Franciscan friary of Adam and ters about the service that Garzia had catchers and was a member of the Privy Eve’s for a few months. Unlike Tyrrell, given to the Protestant cause, he drew Council responsible for implementing the Garzia provided very accurate informa - the line at ordaining him as an Anglican law against bishops and priests. He was tion to the authorities. As a result, a num - minister. Apparently Garzia, his wife and very annoyed by the way the mob ber of raids were carried out early in the two children were in severe financial diffi - roughed up priest-catchers. He wrote to morning of Sunday 1 June 1718. Seven culties. As a last effort he submitted a list the Archbishop of Canterbury as late as priests were discovered. in February 1722 of all Catholic priests liv - 1727 complaining that someone had only Those arrested were Archbishop ing and ministering in Dublin. Times had to call out priest-catcher on the streets of Edward Byrne of Dublin, James Dillon, changed and George I was showing the Dublin and immediately a mob of five or parish priest of Garristown, Francis same level of toleration of Catholics in six hundred would appear to attack the Moore or Murray OFM, Francis Jones or Britain and Ireland as he gave to those in individual who would be lucky to escape White OFM, Anthony Bryan OFM, his possessions in Hanover. As for with a severe beating. Michael Murphy SJ, and John Browne Garzia, the Irish authorities wanted him O.S.A. Because of the rule of habeas out of their way and willingly paid his John Garzia corpus, they were released on bail the travel expenses to London and on to While Tyrrell had been in Flanders in following day. Minorca. It seems that he quietly left 1710-11 another would-be priest-catcher An early morning raid took place on Ireland early in 1723. Unlike Tyrrell, was in Rome. John Garzia was a the Poor Clares’ house in North King Garzia was alive and able to travel.
Oct/Nov 2015 21 News from around the . . . Franciscan World
Commitment: Br Denis Aherne makes his Profession of Vows into Special visitor: Abbess Sr Paul the hands of Hugh McKenna, his Provincial Minister. with Cardinal O’Malley.
First Profession Cardinal in Galway After completing his year as a novice, Irish friar Denis Aherne celebrated The Poor Clare Sisters in Galway had the great joy of his First Profession along with eight other novices on Sunday 2 August, the welcoming Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, Archbishop of Feast of Our Lady of the Angels, at the Inter-Provincial Novitiate in Boston, who was in Galway in August to participate in teh Burlington, Wisconsin, USA. Br Denis now will continue his Franciscan for - celebration of the 50th anniversary of Galway Cathedral. mation, spending the next year at the Franciscan Study Centre in Cardinal O’Malley, a Capuchin Franciscan, expressed his Canterbury, England. n joy at having the opportunity to visit with the Sisters and he recalled celebrating his first Mass with a Poor Clare Rose Community in his native Ohio. Afterwards, he and his pil - Elysha Brennan, who was grim group from Boston met briefly with the Sisters. Sr crowned Rose of Tralee at Paul, the Abbess of the community, presented the cardi - the international festival in nal with a Holy Name plaque for the Holy Cross August, is a former student Cathedral in Boston. The cardinal explained to the pil - of Franciscan College in grims the significance of the Holy Name plaques, which Gormanston, Co. Meath. originated with the Franciscan saint, Bernardine of Siena, From Bettystown, Co. and are commonly to be seen over the doors of houses Meath, she was diagnosed in Galway city. n with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a form of leukemia, in 2012, while re-sitting her Leaving Certificate. The 22-year-old has conquered cancer, and is now a medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin. Speaking after becoming the 57th Rose of Tralee, she said, ‘I’m here for a reason. I know that the Rose of Tralee has been brought into my life for a reason. I never imagined that this would be even a possi - bility. I’ve been surrounded by an avalanche of love for the last 22 years.’ Laughter: Br Denis Aherne with his former She described her win as the ‘highest of highs’, and her cancer diagnosis Postulant Director, Hilary Steblecki. Denis did when she was 19 as the ‘lowest of lows ’. n his postulancy in Killarney friary.
St Anthony Brief 22 St Juniper Serra On 23 September Pope Francis presided at the Canonisation Mass of Blessed Juniper Serra OFM at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington during his pastoral visit to the United States.
uniper Serra (1713-1784) was a reached the North Atlantic coast. Mission San Spanish Franciscan friar who He then went on to discuss three key JJfounded a mission in Baja aspects of the life and example of Friar Buenaventura, California (in present day Mexico) and the Juniper: his missionary zeal, Marian devo - California, first nine of the 21 Franciscan missions in tion and witness of holiness. founded California stretching from San Diego to First of all, Francis said, Juniper was a in 1782. San Francisco – cities that grew up tireless missionary who had that ‘heartfelt around the missions. At the time this terri - impulse which seeks to share with those tory was part of the Province of Las farthest away the gift of encountering Californias in New Spain, now Mexico. Christ’. Like the early disciples in The missions were primarily designed Jerusalem, Francis said, Serra was filled to bring the Christian faith to the indige - with joy and the Holy Spirit in spreading nous peoples. Other aims were to train the word of the Lord. ‘Such zeal’, the first them to take over ownership and man - Pope of the Americas said, ‘excites us, it agement of the land. As head of the challenges us! Missionary disciples, so Order in California, Serra not only dealt moved by the Holy Spirit, went out to all with church officials, but also with Spanish geographical, social and existential officials in Mexico City and with the local peripheries – they challenge us!’ military officers who commanded the ‘I wonder if today we are able to nearby presidio (garrison). Serra was respond with the same generosity and beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988. courage to the call of God, who invites us There has been some controversy about to leave everything in order to worship the new saint with some Native him, to follow him, to rediscover him in the Americans criticising Serra's treatment of face of the poor, to proclaim him to those Friar Juniper founded along the coast of their ancestors. However documents who have not known Christ and, there - California. Since then, he noted, ‘Our Lady show the saint worked constantly to pro - fore, have not experienced the embrace of Guadalupe has become, in fact, the tect the people from harsh colonial poli - of his mercy.’ Friar Juniper’s witness, the Patroness of the whole American conti - cies. Pope noted, calls upon us to get involved, nent.’ Serra's work of evangelisation, the personally, in the mission to the whole The third aspect, he invited those gath - Pope said, ‘reminds us of the first “Twelve continent. ered to contemplate, was the witness of Franciscan Apostles" who were pioneers Secondly, the Pope said, St Juniper holiness given by Friar Juniper, ‘one of the of the Christian faith in Mexico.’ Juniper entrusted his missionary activity to the founding fathers of the United States, a Serra, Francis said, ‘ushered in a new Blessed Virgin Mary, noting how, before saintly example of the Church’s universal - springtime of evangelisation in those leaving for California, he wanted to conse - ity and special patron of the Hispanic peo - immense territories, extending from crate his life to Our Lady of Guadalupe ple of the country. In this way, may all Florida to California, which, in the previ - and ask her for the grace to open the Americans rediscover their own dignity, ous two hundred years, had been hearts of the colonisers and indigenous and unite themselves ever more closely to reached by missionaries from Spain.’ peoples. Pope Francis noted how the Christ and his Church. There has been so This, the Argentine Pope pointed out, was image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was and much holiness in America – so much holi - long before the pilgrims of the Mayflower has been present in the missions that ness sown!’ n
Oct/Nov 2015 23 ‘Le Vita Continua – Life Surges Forward!’ Giacomo Bini OFM, 1938-2014
Fr tom russell oFm
Tom Russell OFM writes of a humble, dedicated friar, afire with the Gospel.
Mission to Africa: Giacomo helped to plant the Franciscan Order in African soil.
e live in the wake of the great birth in the burning, radiating fire of Ostra Vetere near Ancona. The family had 1962-1965 gathering of the Pentecost. ‘Go into the whole world’ a hard time surviving the war and indeed WWworld’s Catholic bishops called (Matthew 28:19). The Spirit helped us face his parents moved near Rome in 1950 the Second Vatican Council. Pope St John our mission – this world of our times. We seeking a better life. Little Giacomo Paul II said it was his duty to call it ‘the might then face the future without fear and entered the Seraphic College of the supreme grace’ granted by the Holy Spirit speak a language of mercy. Franciscan Province of St James of the to the Church in the 20th century. It was Marches. There then followed the long convoked by Pope St John XXIII who lived 1938-1982 years of formation and training. He finally through the searing effects of two world I have begun this way – the Council ended made Solemn Profession in 1963 and, as wars and just then the cold war period with 50 years ago this very month – so as to we said, was ordained a priest in 1964. His the threat of godless communism. He had introduce you to a child of the Council, superiors respected the giftedness of this prayed that the Council would be a ‘spiri - Italian Franciscan friar Giacomo (James) young friar and sent him to study liturgy at tual renewal for the Church and for the Bini. The first of the 16 Council documents the Institut Catholique de Paris, 1965- world’, a new Pentecostal experience. It discussed worship, public prayer or liturgy, 1967. He later won his doctorate at would be the healing of a troubled if won - and it was passed by 97% of the bishops Strasburg in 1971. Back in Italy again he derful past to set us free to face an in November 1963. Giacomo was ordained was employed in teaching theology, pas - uncharted future. a priest in March 1964. So we can only toral work, and over time was involved in Television, computers, space explo - imagine how this young, talented friar formation ministry with the young friars. ration, Hubble telescope, the waning of embraced all this great reality buzzing Just then, and responding to the spirit old-style colonialism, soaring world popula - about him and let his Franciscan calling – of Vatican II, a new awakening was being tion – all this was about to explode in ‘Go, repair my Church’ – flow into the felt, the possibilities of ‘small communi - 1965, and today we are in the digital age, exciting, encouraging times he lived in. He ties’ – friars living closer to the people, the upsurge of Islam, China, India and so began to dream and, a word dear to him in inserted in their daily joys and sorrows, much more. The Holy Spirit called the later life, to dare. working with their hands and so forth. Council as these new times dawned and Who was this gifted friar? Giacomo Giacomo volunteered to be part of such a recalled the Church to its deep identity, its was born in Italy, in a family of six boys, at small community. He was made Guardian
St Anthony Brief 24 in Urbino and the friars were involved in various ways of being present among the Giacomo Bini OFM: people, including in third-level education. Giacomo helped the Poor Clares there fraternal in his also. They experienced all his enthusiasm very being for liturgical and Franciscan renewal. He was Vatican II in person. We read that he was most attentive to the ‘signs of the times’. He saw the Franciscan identity as an ongoing search to be credible and authentic Gospel people. He saw that Franciscans require great openness and a truly worldwide vision. He was elected Vicar Provincial of his Province in 1981.
African Project Strangely enough, that ‘openness’ was about to knock yet again that year. 1981 marked the eight centenary of the birth of St Francis of Assisi. American Minister General John Vaughan and his General Council were listening to many ‘voices’ – training, and so forth. Both approaches are cese of Bukoba. He and another two friars the centenary, the teachings of the win-win and complementary. accompanied the postulants. Again he Council, the requests of many bishops in lived a simple lifestyle close to the people Africa. They agreed on the African Project Rwanda, Tanzania 1983-1989 in every way. However life is what happens vision and the Minister General sent out a The Africa Project set up five fraternities in while we are making other plans. So it letter to all the friars in the world in 1982, the five countries and Giacomo was in came about that he was elected Minister ‘Africa calls us: a new presence of the charge at Kivumu in Rwanda. He was also Provincial of the Project – now known as Order in Africa.’ This was meant to signal on the leadership team. He began in a the Province of St Francis – at the 1992 continuity with the very first friars who went simple way and was joined by Fr Vijeko Chapter in Nairobi. to Africa; St Bernard and his companions Curic OFM from Bosnia in August 1983. were martyred in Morocco in 1219. Indeed Vijeko was still there when he was mar - Nairobi 1982-1994 many friars have been working all over tyred on 31 January 1998. Giacomo set out to unite the diverse ideas Africa ever since – including Irish friars in Giacomo came as a visionary intend - of being Franciscan in the five countries. South Africa and Zimbabwe. However this ing to live the Gospel in a radical way. He He published formation guidelines in 1992. new project would focus on Malawi, shared the life of the people, learnt their A Chapter of Mats (a meeting of all the fri - Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya. language, ate their food, and worked with ars) was then held in Nairobi to mark the Many friars from around the globe volun - them in the fields. He would live out his first ten years of the Project. Time had teered to serve, for example, five Franciscan values being poor, humble, and flown. I quote from his address to the Canadian friars headed for the great conti - fraternal with his new people. Later on a Chapter, ‘Experience teaches us that we nent. So did Giacomo Bini himself and he local Poor Clare remarked that the people ourselves must personally become the went to Rwanda in February 1983. said of the friars, ‘They were content with good news of salvation. We should Rwanda is less than half the size of Ireland little and helped everyone’. There must become evangelisers who are always men and half of its ten million people are have been a fair amount of song, dance, of prayer, of deep contemplation, in inti - Catholic. It borders Burundi, Tanzania and and sitting around the fire in all that. mate union with God – at all stages, the the great Congo river itself – it is in the Giacomo removed ‘distance’ and won purpose of formation is to build or rebuild Great Lakes area. trust. The witness of these European friars in the life of each friar a solid unity within a The new mission came under the hit home and some one hundred requests human maturity, a religious life rooted in Minister General and the hope was that it to join the Order came in the first three God, and a profound knowledge of the would help establish the Franciscan Order years. But when the postulancy began in requirements of our vocation.’ in those five countries. Much missionary 1985 it received just five postulants – the This joyful friar was then suddenly work had resulted in strong Catholic popu - selection process was thorough. caught up in the awful massacres of April lations in these countries. The goal of Giacomo was a serene, joyful man 1994 in Rwanda. The first Rwandan friar to beginning the religious life would best be who never shirked washing the feet of the prepare for Solemn Profession was Friar seen as a new colour or means to the brothers. He would be at prayer one hour George Gashugi. He was brutally killed on deep goal of a vibrant Catholic community. before the usual Morning Prayer started. It 18 April 1994. Giacomo had much to do What means would be employed? One then happened that the growing Africa dealing with the dispersed friars, and the could call it the ‘values approach’ to mis - Project needed to rationalise their forma - unsettling power of such iniquities. sion. Other missionaries would feel called tion programme and Giacomo was moved Incidentally, figures for 2015 show that to respond to the glaring needs of the poor to Tanzania in 1989. He set up at the Province of St Francis now has 71 and begin to provide schools, hospitals, Kamondo Bay on Lake Victoria in the dio - priests, 12 brothers, 66 in formation and
Oct/Nov 2015 25 Palestrina: the Italian town where Giacomo led a new missionary fraternity.
15 novices. The Province now includes seemed to catch his deepest vision in an a humble, contemplative, missionary frater - Burundi, Zambia, Madagascar and oft-quoted line from his Pentecost 2000 let - nity. The idea was to be open, mobile, and Mauritius. It sounds like a dream come ter, ‘If we could but dare entrust ourselves ready for new initiatives. All based on nor - true, thank God. to the Holy Spirit as did Francis!’ The mal day-to-day fraternal living. Their work in reader will appreciate that it would take a Palestrina radiated outwards and many Minister General 1997-2003 book to recount all that took place during were attracted inwards towards them Giacomo went as a delegate to the his six-year term as Minister General. Just besides. Invitations to work abounded. General Chapter of the entire Franciscan to say that he did not put himself forward During these years Giacomo celebrated the Order in 1997. The delegates elected this for re-election at the next General Chapter golden jubilee of his profession and ordina - man from a far country to be their Minister in 2003 – he wished to return to Africa. tion. General. All his life experiences now came Giacomo prepared a major paper to be to bear on the world stage. He relaunched 2003-2014 given at the Congress for Mission and the Franciscan mission in Morocco in He was only 65 when he resigned and Evangelisation on 19 May 2014. Illness pre - 1999. He and his Council tried to hear took some time out living in the friary in vented him doing so in person. He had what the Spirit is saying to us and to move Frascati. He became a precious ‘resource given an inspiring talk to the friars of the accordingly. He began the training centre person’ for many groups, much in demand. Roman Province of Lazio on 7 May. Now for new Franciscan missionaries in But he wanted to go back to his Province leukaemia overtook him and he went into Brussels in 2000. He visited the friars all in Africa and to work in Madagascar. The hospital. Many went to visit him only to be over the world including those friars caught new Minister General, José Rodriguez consoled, reminded of the essentials and up in the siege in Bethlehem in 2002. He Carballo, requested him to stay back in encouraged by him. Friars James and Paul had a passion for the Gospel and was a Europe and to help invigorate the entire from his own community heard him insist simple, approachable friar among the fri - Franciscan family. He wrote, ‘Fr Giacomo that ‘fraternity is possible’. He spoke to ars. His personal notes show that he was has been my mentor, my brother, my them of the future and of God’s dream for aware of the great growth in freedom, trust friend.’ the world, and ‘he did so holding up his and simplicity in himself through all his A seminar on ‘New Forms of right arm towards the ceiling, towards par - life’s experiences. His Vicar General, Evangelisation in Europe’ was held in adise, “Life surges forward”.’ Stefano Ottenbreit wrote, ‘Giacomo, Friar Assisi in 2007. Acting on this the Minister Giacomo rested in the Lord the next Minor, on fire with the Gospel, close to the General asked Giacomo to be the day, 9 May 2014. Our present Minister people, fraternal in his very being and Guardian of a new missionary fraternity to General Michael Perry, who has himself actions – surely St Francis would point to be set up in the town of Palestrina – think spent ten years in the Republic of Congo in such a man to describe the perfect friar.’ of the composer – in the hills close to Africa, preached a memorable sermon at Irish friar, Gerry Moore, a missionary in Rome. Six friars from various countries his funeral Mass in Grottaferrata. But we Central America, was on his Council and assembled and were linked in with a frater - must leave it at that. Giacomo, living his life wrote, ‘When visiting the Provinces the fri - nity already formed in Istanbul. Giacomo scattering ‘seeds of eternity’ went to take ars experienced the radical nature of his was the leader of this new initiative, the his place with Maxamillian Kolbe, Gabriele lifestyle, the prophetic tone of his words, Blessed Giles Fraternity. The buzz words Allegric, Slavko Barberic and many such the simplicity of his actions, and the frater - would be openness, welcome and hospi - Franciscan giants of our times. May he rest nal closeness of his look.’ Giacomo tality. This Franciscan community would be in peace. n
St Anthony Brief 26 Encountering Christ in India and at Home Faith in action Fr gearóid ó conaire, oFm
Gearóid Ó Conaire OFM introduces an article by Shona Cahill who shares her experience of introducing Irish students to the social justice dimension of the Gospel.
met Shona Cahill ten years ago. and for many years brought up to 15 in schools in Ireland and I am delighted to Providentially we reconnected about young people to Calcutta for several hear that you are working in this area. So I IItwo years ago. She is now a novice in weeks every summer. I was intrigued suppose I will just tell you what I did, how England with the Franciscan Missionaries when I heard about the experience and felt and why. And I imagine it will give you some of Mary. I was asked to give some input on the teachers might also be interested in answers and an essence of what I was try - justice, peace and integration to teachers hearing about this experience. ing to achieve. responsible for catechesis and religious I approached my school principal in The following article is an edited version studies in schools associated with an 2005 and told him I wanted to start a of what Shona wrote to me last March. organisation called Le Chéile: a group of Development Education programme in the secondary schools run or managed by dif - Passion school with the students which would ferent religious congregations in Ireland. I am massively passionate about involve, as part of the programme, taking Shona taught religious education in Ennis Development Education and Social Justice kids overseas to India for at least two
Oct/Nov 2015 27 Prayer: the group joined Mother Teresa’s Sisters for daily Mass.
weeks. He was hugely supportive and first programme I took twelve students and unjust and unfair society and God's place in encouraging. The first bit of advice I will on the final programme, there were 18. The it all. The meetings were all about lighting a give is that these projects have to be utterly project ran for ten months. In this time, we fire within them, an unquenchable fire for supported by staff and management if they met every Thursday evening after school for justice. are going to work well. an hour and a half. Students had to attend I chose fourth and fifth year students to ALL meetings and illness or unavoidable Outreach take part in the project as they are old family circumstances were the only excuses Our weekends were taken up giving talks. enough to become engaged, have time to allowed for missing meetings. Several peo- We talked in a lot of churches and did give and are at an impressionable age, but ple made huge sacrifices, including one fundraising. We raised €75,000 in 2007, but not yet in Leaving Cert year. I presented the person who walked away from the Clare I scaled down after that and capped our project to the entire year group in assembly hurling team for that year. fundraising at €50,000. We talked a lot and gave out application forms. From the Meetings are crucial, firstly to allow the about foreign aid and giving money to the beginning, I made it very clear that while group to bond deeply with each other and 'poor' but my argument was always that giv- this is deeply linked with international devel- with me, but also so they learn about ing money, firstly, does not make you supe- opment issues and a social justice project, poverty, development, Christ and the dire rior and, secondly, solves very little. at its very core it is a spiritual journey. Faith situation they were going into in Calcutta. At However, I knew there were small projects is what inspired it and faith is what will drive meetings, we began with prayer. Scripture that students would visit and could support it. Students must be willing and open to par- passages, reflections, silence, prayers of economically with good possibilities of fol- ticipate in prayer and the Gospel will be our intercession and personal sharing were part low-up. rule book. Atheists and non-Christians are of the meetings. The students eventually We went on two weekend retreats welcome to apply but they must be willing became responsible for leading the prayer throughout the programme, visited many to participate in this core faith experience. I sessions. After this we had a discussion primary school classes preparing for never made any apology for this, or about a particular theme; it included types Confirmation and Holy Communion to tell accepted views that I was being exclusive. I of poverty, causes of poverty, impact of them about the programme. We visited the was not, I was merely running a project education, impact of globalisation, interna- Poor Clares in Ennis. The students also had from my own personal journey and was not tional trading laws, agricultural develop- to participate in a social justice project willing to compromise on that. People of all ment, democratisation, tropical diseases, locally as well, such as visiting the elderly, faiths and none applied and I chose them travel safety, culture and cultural differ- volunteering in a charity shop or volunteer- on their application and interview perfor- ences, Hinduism, patriarchal societies, etc. ing with St Vincent de Paul. This was to mance and not on their beliefs. I took We looked at a huge range of topics. remind them that social justice begins at Muslims and atheists onto the programme We looked deeply at the context of home. and it made it all the more powerful. Jesus' life, the political system of injustice I met the parents formally on two occa- he was born into and the implications of his sions throughout the programme. At the ini- Meetings teachings at the time. I linked Jesus to Old tial stages I explained the programme, dis- After applications and interviews were Testament writings, mainly using Amos and cussed health concerns and encouraged done, I chose the students I wanted. On the what that prophet had to say about an them to support their children. Later I met St Anthony Brief 28 them prior to departure to give an update student buy an item in these Western careers. They had counselling available if and give them contact details in case of stores. They were sickened by the poverty they needed it. They were kids before we left emergency while in India. I did not allow the gap. After the second shift we came back for India but came back as adults. The students to bring mobile phones and did not home for supper, followed by evening majority have gone on to study medicine, allow use of internet except they could prayer in the house chapel and sharing of nursing, teaching, politics and law, interna - email parents every three days, if they the day. After prayer and reflection, we had tional development and social work. wanted. The restrictions on communication recreation, followed by journal writing (they Generally, religion in schools in Ireland were to ensure students were not distracted all kept a daily journal) and then it was is taught in a very drab way. It’s not mas - by trivial stuff with friends at home and to lights out by 10.30pm to start again at sively inspiring. Jesus was a phenomenal keep them focused on where they were. 5.00am next morning. character and I wanted to show them that. I We were lucky to be there for Easter wanted to show them who he really was India and so we celebrated the Triduum with the and let them develop their faith out of the We spent 17 days in India. We went during Missionaries of Charity. On Good Friday, I Gospels, so as to come to understand the our Easter holidays. Our day there started had a private service with them where they Catholic faith more. The overseas experi - at 5am when I hauled them out of bed and spent much of the day in silence reflecting ence was to allow them the opportunity to we went to Mother House (the Missionaries on questions I gave them. They had to write really see what it is to live your Christian of Charity, Mother Teresa) for 6.00am Mass about topics like where they recognised the faith and the challenge is to continue to do every morning. After Mass, we had break - crucified Christ in Calcutta, what it means to that at home. fast with the Sisters and other volunteers be a Christian for a young person today, Being Christian in India is pretty easy. and split into two groups for work. Half the etc. Some of the feedback was inspiring. Being Christian in Ireland is a bigger chal - group worked in an orphanage for physi - lenge. The experience opened their minds cally and mentally disabled kids and the Back Home to our world and opened their hearts to God. other half worked in a hospice for adults After the trip, we came back to Ireland and After the programme, I introduced the kids who were severely ill. The morning shift meetings and debriefing continued into the to Taize, France. In 2014, after our 2013 was from 8.00am to 1.00pm. After work we summer holidays. In June we had our final India trip, eight out of 18 that travelled with came home for lunch. We stayed in a Mass and each young person had to find me went to Taize and three others went to Christian Brothers’ school. It is a large com - an audience with which they could share Lourdes as helpers. Ten took part in the pound and walled so it was very safe. The their experience. Most chose churches but John Paul II awards and got their medals. boys were on one floor and the girls on some chose their local GAA club and others As a young, wild teenager, I was another. They had common areas where organised music nights where they dis - exposed to God in a very real way by my they hung out and I never had problems. played photos and spoke in between songs school chaplain who was a priest. We have They were too dirty, sweaty and tired to feel about their experiences. They also visited to make their faith experience deeply per - even remotely attracted to each other. schools again. Before we left, we had a sonal and very real. Otherwise it just After lunch they rested for half an hour Mass of commissioning with the bishop and becomes a faith handed down by their par - and we headed out again. Half the group another on their return. ents. went to teach English in a very poor area They then faced their final year of – Shona Cahill called Howrah and the other half came out school and making decisions around [email protected] n into the city with me. We visited local sights, slums, temples, and market places. And I brought them to the railway sta - tions to meet my beloved homeless railway kids to play football and just chat with young kids their own age who had no education, no home, no parents, no nothing! The next day, the group who came out with me would go teaching and the other half did the sights and so on. We visited rural villages also to see rural poverty and its impli - cations and visited many small local charities to see the work that was being done. We took in a couple of cricket matches and visited a very Western, huge shopping cen - tre to show wealth contrasts. Funnily enough, I never had a Life-changing: a group from Ireland in Calcutta with street children.
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The present Mass Centre
Joe Condren OFM (centre) with two parishioners ® Turning the sod e Catholic for the new church community at Nharira Township in Zimbabwe rejoiced as the foundations for their new church were blessed by Fr Onward Murape OFM.
The choir in full voice
Blessing the ground
30 Pope Francis Receives His Holy Name Tile Finally! he Poor Clare Sisters in Galway rejoiced on Sunday TT30 August when they learned that Pope Francis had finally received the Holy Name Tile which they had wanted to give him for some time. Last year they planned to have the beautiful, hand-painted tile pre - sented personally to the Pope in gratitude for his support and appro - bation of the Year of the Holy Name of Jesus which he declared a Jubilee Year. The Year was cele - brated in Ireland throughout 2014. However the opportunity to give the gift, via an intermediary, into the Pope’s hands did not arise. Then at an audience this local Galway politician, Noel Grealish would pray for them. August with Catholic politicians TD, to deliver. The Sisters believe it is no small from around Europe, Pope Francis Pope Francis said he was coincidence that the opening prayer was presented with the Holy Name delighted to receive it and asked Noel for that Sunday’s Mass, includes tile. The Sisters had given it to to thank the Sisters and he said he this petition: ‘God of might, giver of every good gift, put into our hearts the love of your Name.’ The Year of the Holy Name of Jesus commemorated the cente - nary of the beginning of a new wave of devotion to the Holy Name, which began at the Poor Clare Monastery in Galway in January 1914 and was carried through by the Irish Franciscans. The tiles, bearing the IHS monogram, are a common sight over the front doors of older houses in Galway city. On how to order a Holy Name tile and for further information on the devotion check out: www.holy - name.ie
ABOVE: The Sisters prepare the special gift. LEFT: Audience – Mr Noel Grealish TD gives the Holy Name Tile to Pope Francis .
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Friar 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