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JBMS NEWSLETTER Published by The John Bradburne Memorial Society PO Box 32, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 0YB, UK Tel: 01568 760632 e-mail: [email protected] website www.johnbradburne.com UK Registered Charity No. 1046483

WINTER 2013

BIG THANK YOU TO FRIENDS AND BENEFACTORS

Huge gratitude goes to extend the existing one, the manpower and the skills out to all those who have which will mean a larger pro- are all there. So I think these continued their support to duction of eggs and poultry projects will be a blessing for help keep our work going this meat to provide home grown them. Since there are thou- year at Mutemwa. food with the excess sold at sands of people who visit markets nearby. It has greatly Mutemwa every year, the We would especially like helped to provide the resi- news will soon get round. to thank The Leper League in dents with new incentives, Here is a place that can run Birmingham for their wonder- and pride in what they can itself. ful support for projects at achieve at the Centre. Mutemwa, and also to the It is obvious that Africa Australian ‘ Chal- Tim and Jean Dufton sent must go solar. We have bright lenge’ team. The sustainable these photographs recently of sunshine more than 300 days way forward for Mutemwa is their visit to Mutemwa to see of the year. The problem has to strive to develop self-sus- the work in progress. been how to harness the taining and income generat- A new solar installation power. ing projects for the future. has begun to provide lighting What the Manager really Already this year there for Mutemwa which will make wants is the sort of structural have been two projects a huge difference to the way investment that would make undertaken to develop this the residents can live their the centre much more self- area. A pig rearing building lives. Also an irrigation project reliant, and the two projects has been put up in order to is being appraised to develop seem to me to fit the bill generate income from the a good area of the land at the perfectly.’ sale of piglets. Also a new site for agriculture. poultry building has been built Fr Harold-Barry fully supported the projects by saying that ‘... if they can grow their own food and sup- ply their own power they will be a long way on the road to self-sustainability. There are a number of residents who can help in the cultivation of Tim and Jean Dufton of the plot, and take pride in the ‘Zimbabwe Challenge’ admiring Jean outside the new poultry unit work they do. The motivation, the young piglets

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REFLECTIONS ON JOHN BRADBURNE By Fr David Harold-Barry SJ as a friend and carer of peo- I referred to my first ple with leprosy to Mutemwa. meeting with John. My last In these various roles one was in the month before his thing was constant; a search death in 1979. He came into for God and the way of life to my office at the mission and which God called him. This asked for some stamps. He search led him to cut down was sending out lots of post- on belongings, on clothes, on cards. Someone here today food. In the small hut, where may have received one of he spent his last years, there them. In retrospect it seemed was a two ring gas stove for like he was saying his good- boiling water and his main byes. But I remember him food seems to have been saying to me, “you are doing Lacto - a milk substance. His great work!” Jesuits are not friends would bring picnics good at saying that sort of John with Fr Dove in the and he would have a good thing to one another and so I early days in Africa meal on such occasions. Dr was struck by it. It was no Luisa, who was shot two lightly mouthed pleasantry. It My first meeting with John months before him, used to was a vocalisation of what he Bradburne was in October bring lasagne. But for the constantly did: he affirmed 1972. He was crouching on most part he fasted. people. Meeting John you the floor of a hut reading a always felt better about your- passage from St Paul in His simplicity of life is well self. He was one of those Shona to a person whose known. It was the fruit of his people who lifted you. In leprosy had not yet dried out. simplicity of purpose: his 1978 John was very sick on John was living at this time search for God. Many years the danger list in St Anne’s in the disused butchery of before, he had found in Mary, hospital. A severely physically the Mutemwa settlement for the mother of Jesus, a helper handicapped girl came to see leprosy patients 130km NE of in his search. His poems con- him and they spoke of poetry. Salisbury [now ]. From stantly recall his love for her. John asked if she had then until his violent death He always composed these ever written hers down. She seven years later I met him straight on to stencils and I said she couldn’t write. John frequently either at Mutemwa was often given the task of immediately replied, ‘never or at our mission centre, having them run off. He mind, Jesus only wrote once Silveira House, close to the would want ten or fifteen and that was in the sand.’ We capital. copies so that he could share all laughed and the girl’s face his compositions with friends. beamed with pleasure. John was in the last of the Caring for the leprosy I would like to stay with six decades of his life that patients, writing poetry, wel- this quality for a moment; had taken him from his birth- coming visitors: these were this ability to build people place in Cumbria, to Malaya the works of John that we up. Today many feel bad and India as a soldier, a could all see. But behind all about themselves. They stoker on a trawler, as a these was the inner life and are anxious: how can I be forester to the Quantocks in the inner search. Some of us acceptable to my peers? Somerset, as a monk to the knew bits of this, others other “Feel good” about myself. As at Prinknash bits. Many here have their we describe it we sense that and to the at own memories of John and it is building on sand. Parkminster, as a hermit to their own reasons for being an organ loft in a Naples here. His own concentrated After decades of search- church, as a bishop’s care- search enabled him to see ing for God, John had the taker to a country house in where others were. Like a ability to know people. He England, as a lay missionary climber he would see others revealed them to themselves to a garden shed in in the valley below making as lovable, as of great value. [now Zimbabwe] and finally their own efforts. People who came to him, Text Winter2013_Layout 1 07/11/2013 14:22 Page 3

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spent some time with him and Rhodesia. In one sense he listened to him with their ears wasn’t very good at it: he and hearts, went away up- could put diesel into a petrol lifted. They found new tank and he could feed chick- courage. I have always found ens with fertilizer pellets and this with what we call ‘holy’ wonder why they lost their people. They give me heart. feathers. Their greatness of spirit does not make me feel small. On But at the other level, the contrary their greatness which I have already draws me on. indicated, he was magnifi- cent. When Jesus gave us The second, and only the sermon on the Mount, other point I want to make is and especially the Beati- that John Bradburne showed tudes, he was not thinking of that we are all called to people who were specially holiness. The second Vatican religious. He was addressing John with Simba Council opened the gates “the crowds.” It is surely clear that bit wider to a fuller that he was calling everyone sense they are the only following of Jesus. John was who wanted to be his calling in the gospel. John is fundamentally a lay person disciples to be “poor in spirit”. someone who lights up this who cared for others. Three This blessing describes all call in big letters, in bright or four times he tried religious those whose eyes are on colours. He reminds us that life in different ways. But he others and not on them- we are all called in this way eventually realized that he selves. They leave the ‘what and he makes us feel good was called as a lay person. At do I get out of it’ to God. This about the efforts we make the very time the Council was remains as crazy to a person along the way. preparing beautiful docu- in the twenty first century as ments on the Church and the it did to someone in the first. This was the homily given offer of the fullness of life to Yet John lived it. The beati- at on all, John was trying to adjust tudes remain the invitation the 25th Anniversary of John to the life of a layman in S of Jesus to his followers. In a Bradburne’s death. John and St. Damien of Molokai by Didier Rance 1945. John Bradburne, worthwhile to look for the under his religious name flown back for health sources of such heroism.”1 of (his reasons to India from the remains were returned from Burmese front, struggles to 1951. John, now a Molokai to Belgium at the regain health in hospitals Catholic, sought his way. request of King Leopold III and rest places. The same Back from the Holy Land, in May 1936). On April 3rd, year - but how could he entered the Fathers of he wrote a few words to his he know it, Gandhi Sion novitiate in Louvain. mother about this discovery, declares: “The political and During one of his first walks which is an echo of those of journalistic world can boast in the Belgian town, he Gandhi about Father of very few heroes who found, right at the corner of Damien as a hero (which of compare with Father the street where he lived, course he never read): “In Damien of Molokai. The the small St Anthony church that same little church is the , on the of the Picpusian Fathers. tomb of Father Damien, contrary, counts by the When he entered, he who died a martyr to leprosy thousands those who after noticed the mortal remains as you know. He was a hero the example of Fr Damien of Jozef De Veuster, the and a to have done have devoted themselves to Apostle of Molokai lepers in what he did. I remember the victims of leprosy. It is the Pacific, better known hearing about him ages ago Text Winter2013_Layout 1 07/11/2013 14:22 Page 4

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from one of your maga- heroic virtues for Father till its sunset zines”. John often went Damien, opening the road He toiled and toiled and back to this church to pray to his .3 On never respite craved; and meditate near the tomb, December 31st of the same Excuses are bad reasons until July 1952 when he left year, John is preparing the for wrong-doing Louvain (the same year New Year with his dear But he was made of sterner incidentally that the drug lepers, in the middle of the stuff than this dapsone was discovered turmoil of the war (a week Bottom of all the class! alas to stop the progression of before, 134 villagers have for wooing leprosy). been killed, caught between Continually temporary bliss! the Rhodesian army and “Nevertheless, I’ve not re- 1969. Father Damien guerillas, not far from moved the top entered Washington ... as Mutemwa). But he found a “And thus tis proved I one of the one hundred few minutes to write a letter haven’t drunk a drop! statues of the National to his friend John Dove, in Statuary Hall in the US The following year, John order to thank him for capital. The same year, would know (what he wrote having come to Mutemwa John arrived at Mutemwa about Fr Damien some 27 for a visit some time before. on August 1st. The poem he years before) martyrdom, And he adds this: “Your wrote when he decided to giving his life for the lepers. Mother’s kind package go and stay with the lepers was a booklet with photos Parallel Lives is worth remembering: about Father Damien. What St Damien and John In that I’ve always loved to a wonderful man and Bradburne both gave their be alone what tremendous work of lives for the poor I’ve treated human beings dedication. It is of no use to lepers of Mokolai and much as lepers. shudder at the contrast of Mutemwa, but we could For this poetic justice may his life and mine, but only to write, as Plutarch did for atone say and to mean Gloria in famous men of Antiquity, a My way with God’s, whose excelsis Deo. If you had kind of Parallel Lives of ways are always helpers; been here in my place these two witnesses of God’s love and compassion I did not ever dream that I you would have been a for the poor: might go close runner-up to Father And dwell amidst a flock of Damien.” Six weeks later, - Both spent many years of eighty such he wrote a poem which their life with lepers (16 Nor did I scheme towards it showed the depth at which years for St Damien, 10 ever, No. he has been moved by Fr years for John). The prospect looms not to Damien, and once more his - Both treated, fed, and my liking much; own humility and humour: cared for them, built houses Lepers warmly to treat as I know it’s Lent, but I have for them, prayed and sang human beings bathed this morning with them (St Damien Is easy to the theorist afar, Blind Peter and blind Simon created a band, John a Near to my heart from in succession choir), and even made bondage be their freeings, And then this afternoon coffins to bury the dead. May it be flesh not stone, O when all were yawning - Both defended the lepers Morning Star! I paced the compound in a against discrimination or Miriam, shine, sweet Mis- sole procession; violence. tress, in thy name I’ve hardly glanced this Salvation wake, lepers - Both quickly gave joy and evening at a booklet make leap, unlame!2 hope to the poor lepers who Which tells how Father were living Hell on earth 1977. Paul VI Damien behaved, before their arrival. Both promulgates a decree of How from the island-sunrise Molokai and Mutemwa Text Winter2013_Layout 1 07/11/2013 14:22 Page 5

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became an oasis of peace was John himself): St heroism, love of God and of and love after being places Marianne Cope - canonized the neighbour? And, more of despair. October 21st, 2012 - and importantly, aren’t they a - Both were deeply happy the Luisa testimony of God’s compas- with their beloved lepers, Guidotti. sion lavished towards the in spite of a lot of - Both had to bear their smaller brothers of Jesus? daily problems, challenges, Cross, both were misunder- The Church has already oppositions, threats and stood, not only by hostile recognized in Father setbacks. people, but also by those Damien of Molokai one of - Both gave Christ to who should have supported the of compassion.5 the lepers (Fr Damien them: St Damien had to What for John? bear defamation by jealous celebrating Eucharist, John 1 ministering for Holy Protestant missionaries This 1945 declaration Communion distribution). who insinuated he had has been published in T. N. Both promoted adoration caught syphilis when he Jagadisan’s booklet, Ma- of Christ in the Holy became a leper himself, hatma Gandhi Answers Sacrament. and went on with this the Challenge of Leprosy, calumny even after his Madras, 1965. - Both served Catholics and 4 death ; and he was misun- 2 non-Catholics without This poem, as the follow- derstood by his superiors discrimination. ing one, may be found on most of his life in Molokai. - Both organized solidarity the Web site dedicated to John also suffered calumny John ‘s poems: for medicines and other from both sides of the Civil needs - with an ecumenical War; and he was expelled http://www.johnbradburne dimension (an Anglican from Mutemwa by the poems.cm/ Parish supported St Leprosy Association. 3 Fr Damien was beatified Damien, Anglican friends by John Paul II in 2005 and John). - And if St Damien died from leprosy, and John from canonized by Benedict XVI - Both worked with being killed, we know that on October 11th, 2009. dedicated consecrated when the latter started living 4 Robert L. Stevenson wrote women who also served in Mutemwa he prayed to a magnificent Open letter to and gave their life for the catch the disease. His lepers and the poor (the the Times, defending the friends told John if he memory of Father Damien. second one being killed, as contracted leprosy he would 5 be immediately be sent to a In May 1984, Blessed hospital for Europeans and of Calcutta so would have to leave wrote to John Paul II: ‘We Mutemwa and his dear need a saint to lead and lepers. John had to agree, protect us. Father Damien and waived the idea, though can be this saint. Holy he hardly changed his Father, our lepers and contact without precaution- everyone on earth beg you ary measures. to give us a saint, a martyr Let us remember Gandhi’s to love, an example of sentence quoted above: “It obedience to our religion.’ And she added that the An image of Christ healing a leper is worthwhile to look for the which used to decorate the sources of such heroism”. miracle for the beatification Chapel of a Leprosy Hospital in Are not the lives of St so needed was already Malawi at Mua Mission. Damien of Molokai and of there, in the heart of the It is the work of Fr Claude John Bradburne an answer lepers, who are no longer Boucher and Tambala Mponyani at the Kungoni Centre of Culture to his request about the fearing of the disease, but and art in Malawi sources of Christian hoping to be cured. Text Winter2013_Layout 1 07/11/2013 14:22 Page 6

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RESIDENTS’ PROFILES

SANTE AZATI admitted to live at Mutemwa with the hospitality and because she was homeless. treatment given to her. She was married to the late Timothy Nhembereni, and Challenges: - Emelda says they lived in Makumbe. She that she does not now have has two children and has any problems in terms of suffered many miscarriages. getting food or clothing now Her two children, a boy and a she is at Mutemwa, and she girl, died at the age of two still likes to cook for herself. and ten years respectively. Her husband also died IRENE MAPURANGA mysteriously due to conflicts at work, and she had problems with her in-laws Born in Tete in Mozam- because she had refused to bique, 90 years old. He was be inherited by her husband’s admitted to Mutemwa in 2000 brother. Her in-laws then sent as a destitute patient. Once her back to her family where married with three children, she stayed for a while. She all girls and now separated. started gardening and made He never went to school, but hats and mats which helped worked in a Hotel in Harare to sustain her livelihood for a for about ten years. while. Challenges: His back gives him pain. He is also hard of hearing and does not have good Born in 1930, her hus- sight. band is a leprosy patient while she was born blind. Likes: He says he loves the food and shelter and care Married with four children, given to him at Mutemwa, three boys and a girl. She and gives thanks to those never went to school. looking after him. Mutemwa Despite being blind she is now his permanent home. does all domestic work in her home. She is a devoted wife EMELDA CHIDHAKWA and likes the simple things in Born in Domboshava on life. 15th April 1922. Emelda is a In 2005 Emelda devel- Likes: Loving God and loving destitute patient. She was oped a problem with her eyes one another as husband and born into a family of nine and went blind. wife. children and is the first born. All her family members have In 2007 she was admitted Challenges: She has prob- passed away. She was to Mutemwa and is so happy lems with her legs and arms.

TALKS ON JOHN BRADBURNE AND THE WORK AT MUTEMWA LEPROSY AND CARE CENTRE

A talk with visual aids can be given on request. If you are interested in having one, either in your parish or elsewhere please contact us by email: [email protected] or leave a message on 01568 760 632. Text Winter2013_Layout 1 07/11/2013 14:22 Page 7

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YOUR LETTERS

Dear Friends, Finances have been so are profuse in my garden. I I have been praying to worrying for me for a long feel John is near. John Bradburne for some while and I have been years since re-reading his life praying to John Bradburne Jack Howarth - Lancs after a long time. I had asking for his intercession. I have been a long decided that I would pray to Today a cheque arrived out of standing supporter of the him for various family and the blue. I am so thankful JBMS. I wanted to thank you personal needs. to him for helping me and for the work you are doing to promised him if he heard my help support Mutemwa I want to say that prayers I would send you a everything I have asked Leprosy and Care Centre, donation. Please could you east of Harare in Zimbabwe, through his intercession has send me a few prayer leaflets been granted. Most recently, and for spreading word of so I can spread devotion to John Bradburne’s life. one of my brothers had him, and please continue to treatment for prostate cancer. send me the newsletter. After reading an article The first two blood tests after in one of the Sunday radium treatment showed God bless you and colour supplements, I was small but definite increases in my sincere thanks to John immediately inspired by PSA levels. Most recently, Bradburne, I hope he will be John’s remarkable and against all the odds, the declared ‘blessed’ by Pope saintly journey - a true hero increase was “negligible”. It Francis soon. for our times today. His seemed miraculous, and I do Mrs. W. - Essex example of simple living and attribute it to John’s prayers. huge loving is a beautiful gift Other intentions were: a to us in our secularised and nephew who after a lot of materialistic world. There is effort passed all his exams, Many thanks to John for no doubt in my mind that got a masters degree and his ever ready help to my John will be recognised in the finally, after a long wait, a many intercessions, too Catholic Church some day good in London. A cousin numerous to mention. I can soon. I do hope so. of his who also, after a only repay in a very small number of temporary jobs got way, but it is nice to know I I have many experiences her first ‘real’ job in London. have a friend who is always of his power in Heaven Another brother, diagnosed there to help. before God. As John himself said in his deprecating way with colon cancer made a T. Lobo complete recovery. A friend about himself, that if he is got the ‘all clear’ after cancer brought to the altars of the treatment, and so on ... I have Church it will give so much the name of someone who is Please find a donation for hope to so many people, a very powerful advocate to the centre at Mutemwa. It is especially the young people. pray to! uplifting to read of the older May his case be soon patients profiles at the brought to fruition in Rome. At present I have given Leprosy and Care Centre. John more intentions, but May the work there go from A. Hempley - Yorkshire praying to him with great strength to strength. trust, and also with his example of his life and death, Since knowing of John Bradburne, I have found him Dear JBMS may somehow rub off on my Please would you send own. a great source of healing, he me some leaflets with the is always a good friend to Thank you for your work prayer for the beatification of appeal to in times of need. As John Bradburne. I have a lot in making him known far and I write I can hear through my wide. of ill-health and I always ask Carol - Ireland open window the humming for John’s help and he never of hundreds of bees busy fails me. Thank you for sending me feasting on the nectar-filled the newsletter. wild blue geraniums which A. Pope - Manchester Text Winter2013_Layout 1 07/11/2013 14:22 Page 8

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JOHN BRADBURNE’S CAUSE

You will probably have read recently in the press about an investigation into the Cause of G.K Chesterton being considered for Beatification.

John’s Cause continues, but on rather a stop/start basis. The Archbishop of Harare asked Fr Liam McCarthy OFM to prepare a Cause dossier. There are already a num- ber of earlier files safely stored in the Archbishop’s Office in Harare. Due to retirement because of ill- John Bradburne Archive at Archbishop's House, Harare, Zimbabwe health Fr Liam has now returned to Ireland, and another Franciscan, Fr Elfigio OFM has taken on the role of looking after John’s Cause. In the meantime if anyone has any testimony to tell of John Bradburne’s intercession please do put this in writing to us. We are already building up a substantial dossier in England.

We wish Fr Liam a very happy retirement and thank him for all his work promoting the life and work of John Bradburne at Mutemwa.

SPREADING THE WORD IN THE UK

Do please ask if you would like a pack of 33 free booklets (1 kg) on the life of John Bradburne for your parish or friends. It is all part of our work in order to help make John Bradburne’s life better known in England. Ås we approach this 35th anniversary in 2014 we hope to promote knowledge of his life and work more widely to enhance his case for a Cause for Beatification. Please send an email to [email protected] or call or leave a message on 01568 760632.

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