St Anthony Brief IRISH FRANCISCAN MISSION MAGAZINE No.1 DEC/JAN 2019 €2.00

On the Road Towards Bethlehem with Pope Francis ✣✣ A Holy Church of Sinners Spirit and Life

FOLLOWING THE STAR

Yes, arise! It is time to awaken from sleep. If we want Advent to transform us, Then follow the star that has risen for us. Remain true to the light that has fallen into our hearts.

The mysterious men from the Orient followed their star And discovered the place where the secret of love Lay in the helplessness of a human baby. They discovered the place where God’s love came down.

Let us trust life, Since we do not have to live it alone, For God lives it with us.

The world is so full of God. From all its pores, it seems, God wells toward us.

– Alfred Delp SJ Letters and Papers from Prison

Alfred Delp, a German Jesuit priest, was hanged for his opposition to the Nazi regime in February 1945 at the age of 37.

St Anthony Brief SStt AAnthonynthony BriefBrief 2 Spirit and Life. 4 From the Editor. On the Road towards Bethlehem with Pope Francis. Pope 5 Francis offers practical guidance to prepare our hearts for the grace of Christmas.

Seeds of Life. Edward Lennon OFM writes of life-giving projects 8 in South Africa and Namibia supported by the generosity of readers of this magazine and donors in Ireland.

9 The Miracle of Small Things! The Martyrs of El Salvador. Archbishop Oscar Romero has been 10 canonised a saint. Hundreds of lay people also died for their faith during the war in El Salvador. Ciarán Ó Nuanáin OFM works to record the lives of those martyrs.

12 Church Brief. A Busy Catholic's Guide to Advent: 10 Tips for Observing 14 the Season. Mike Laskey gives us practical suggestions so that this time of grace does not just pass us by.

An Extraordinary Story of Courageous Fidelity. This year the Irish 16 Franciscans celebrate the 750th anniversary of the founding of the friary in Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath, in 1268. Pat Younge OFM walks us through the centuries.

St Francis Admonishes Us! The teachings of St Francis do not 20 make for light reading. Pat Conlan OFM reflects on some of the admonitions of St Francis.

21 The Suffering Servant. 22 News from Around the Franciscan World. 23 Brother Juniper – the Storyteller. Walter Gallahue has fond Volume 79 No.1 memories of Br Juniper and his stories. Missionary Magazine of the Irish Franciscans. Published bi-monthly by A Holy Church of Sinners! Francis Cotter OFM ponders the paradox the Franciscan Missionary Union, 24 of a holy Church made up only of sinners. 4 Merchants Quay, Dublin 8.

Editor: Br Stephen O’Kane OFM. Baffled by the Church. Carlo Carretto (1910-1988), a member of Production: Fr Francis Cotter OFM. 26 Subscription & Distribution Secretary: the Little Brothers of Jesus, wrote this powerful mediation on his Helen Doran. Tel: (01) 6777651. conflicting emotions before the mystery of the Church. [email protected] Design, Layout & Printing: Franciscans in the Peruvian Amazon. Gearóid Ó Conaire OFM Corcoran Print & Design. 27 Tel: (053) 9234760. recently met a Colombian friar whose mission led him to the Subscription including Postage: remotest parts of the Peruvian Amazon. Ireland – €15.00 per annum Britain – Stg£15.00 per annum Overseas – €18.00 per annum 30 Mission Digest. 60 Years in Zimbabwe. Dec/Jan 2019 3 From the Editor ‘Yes, Lord, but…’

As I put these few words together I am in Assisi. It is always such a privilege and pleasure for me to come back to the birthplace of the Order; visiting the home place of Francis refocuses me each time and reminds me once more of why I became a Franciscan in the first place. While here I saw that the friars were running a programme for young people over a holiday weekend and there were almost three hundred youths participating with the friars in a course to better help them understand their faith. What a joy it Br Stephen O’Kane OFM was to see so many young men and women hungering to know more about Jesus and enjoying themselves at the same time. The Assisi friars mingled among them naturally, confidently and happily. The faith is alive and well in this part of the world. And the various churches here are already preparing to put up their Christmas cribs. The Italians know how to ‘do’ cribs. Some of them are as large as a small house with intricate mechanical works, moving figures and running water. But always at the centre is the babe of Bethlehem. This focus on the incarnation, on God becoming one of us is very Franciscan. We know the story of St Francis at Greccio and how he wanted to bring home to the folks there the reality of God becoming one of us. He said he wanted to make visible “how he lay in the manger, how with an ox and an ass standing by, he lay upon the hay where he had been placed”. People from the nearby villages, as well as the shepherds on the mountain, came with burning torches and song, strug- gling up the mountain to where Francis had recreated the scene. Francis must have been delighted to have re-created the birth of Jesus for so many people that night. Little did he know that in doing so he had started a tradition that would be con- The Crib in St Peter’s Square tinued all over the Christian world for centuries to come and to this day. The story goes that Francis even wanted to ask the Emperor to pass a law forbidding any animal to be captured or killed on Christmas day and requiring that all animals, domesticated or wild, be generously fed, so that they too could celebrate the birth of the Saviour. In this issue of St Anthony Brief, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, shares with us his own profound and challenging understanding of what Christmas means. He speaks about the ‘Yes’ of Mary, which he calls ‘the most important “Yes” in history’. Without that ‘Yes,’ Jesus would not have been born. And he leaves us with a challenge, as he always does. He warns us of the ‘Yes, Lord, but…’ response common to so many of us, and he poses provocatively the question we can all ask ourselves, ‘Today what “Yes” must I say to the Lord?’ On behalf of our missionaries abroad and the people they minister to, on behalf of the FMU staff and on my own behalf, may I wish each and every one of you a blessed Christmas, and thank you most sincerely for your ongoing support. Happy Christmas! – Stephen O’Kane OFM

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St Anthony Brief 4 On the Road towards Bethlehem with Pope Francis

Pope Francis offers practical guidance to prepare our hearts for the grace of Christmas.

hristmas is not simply a memory Emmanuel, which means, God-with-us’ open the door to the Lord when I sense of something beautiful. (Matthew 1:23). We are all involved in an interior inspiration? When I hear him CCChristmas is something more. this mystery of love: the mystery of God’s ask me to do something more for others, We travel down this path to meet the closeness to humanity. when he calls me to pray? Lord. During the season of Advent, then, The Son of God ‘comes’ into Mary’s Mary introduces us to the mystery of we journey to meet him, to encounter him womb in order to become man, and she Christmas. She helps us to assume an with our hearts and our lives, to meet welcomes him. Thus, in a unique way, attitude of openness in order to welcome him, the living One, as he is; to meet him God drew near to us and took on flesh the Son of God into our concrete life, in in faith. through a woman. To us too, in a different our flesh. Throughout the Advent Season the way, God draws near with his grace in THE HALF-HEARTED ‘YES’ Church keeps watch like Mary. Watching order to enter our life and offer us the gift is the virtue, the attitude, of pilgrims. We of his Son. What do we do? Do we wel- Mary responds to God’s invitation by say- are pilgrims. Are we watching or are we come him, let him draw near, or do we ing, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the closed in on ourselves? Are we vigilant or reject him, push him away? Lord’ (Luke 1:38). She does not say, are we safe and secure in an inn, no The Church invites us to pray, ‘Come, ‘Well, this time I will do God’s will; I will longer wanting to continue on? Are we Lord Jesus!’ and to open our souls in make myself available, then I will see.’ pilgrims or are we wandering aimlessly? watchfulness. We are invited to ask if No. Her’s is a full, total ‘yes’, for her Let us begin this journey in prayer there is room for the Lord, or if there is entire life, without conditions. It is the and desire, so that the Lord might come only room for feasting, for shopping, for most important ‘yes’ in history, the hum- to meet us, but let us allow him to meet making noise. Are our souls open as ble ‘yes’ which reverses the prideful origi- us with our defences down, in openness Mary’s soul was open? Or have we nal ‘no’, the faithful ‘yes’ that heals dis- and welcome! closed our souls and put a highly erudite obedience, the willing ‘yes’ that overturns note on the door saying: please do not the vanity of sin. DO NOT DISTURB! disturb? For each of us too, there is our own ‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear Emmanuel, God-with-us, God near to history of salvation made up of ‘yeses’ a son, and his name shall be called us. And to God who draws near, do I and ‘nos’. Sometimes, though, we are

Dec/Jan 2019 5 experts in the half-hearted ‘yes’. We can waiting for you, he is close to you, he BEGINNING FROM SCRATCH be good at pretending not to understand loves you, he is merciful, he forgives you. what God wants and what our con- The Lord’s coming among us as our The Lord gives you the strength to begin science suggests. We are also crafty and Brother strengthens us, makes us stead- again from scratch! Everybody! so as not to say a true ‘no’ to God, we fast, and gives us courage. His presence Christian hope is founded on the say, ‘Sorry, I can’t’ or ‘Not today, I think makes the desert of our hearts blossom Lord’s fidelity, on the certainty that he tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll be better; tomor- when our lives become arid. And when always keeps his promises. All those who row I will pray, I will do good tomorrow.’ do our lives become arid? When they have encountered Jesus along the way And this cunning leads us away from lack the water of God’s Word and his experience a serenity and joy in their the ‘yes’. It distances us from God and Spirit of love. However great our limita- hearts which nothing and no one can leads us to ‘no’, to the sinful ‘no’, to the tions and dismay, we should not be slug- take away. gish when faced with difficulty and our ‘no’ of mediocrity. The famous ‘yes, but PAMPERED WITH CARESSES ...’; ‘yes, Lord, but ...” In this way we own weakness. On the contrary, we are close the door to goodness, and evil invited to strengthen our weak hands, to In the Scriptures, God told his people that takes advantage of these omitted ‘yeses’. make firm our feeble knees, to be strong he had chosen them not because they Every ‘yes’ to God gives rise to sto- and to fear not, because our God is with were great or powerful, but because they ries of salvation for us and for others. In us. He gives us the strength to go for- were the smallest of all, the poorest of all. this Advent journey, God wishes to visit ward. He is a God who loves us so very God is truly in love with this poverty, with us and awaits our ‘yes’. Let’s reflect: much, and that is why he is with us, to this littleness. Today, what ‘yes’ must I say to God? help us. With the coming of Jesus, God’s love Let’s think about it; it will do us good. And Courage! Thanks to his help, we can clearly emerges into the light. It is a ten- we will find the Lord’s voice who asks always begin again from scratch. He der love, a love like that of a mother something of us. A step forward, so we always shows us the greatness of his speaking to her child who wakes up dur- can say, ‘I believe in you; I hope in you. I mercy. Someone might say to me, ‘No, ing the night frightened by a dream. We love you; be it done to me according to Father, I did so many reprehensible all know the caresses of a mother, when your good will.’ With generosity and trust, things; I am a great sinner. I cannot begin children are restless with fear. ‘Don’t be like Mary, let each of us say this personal from scratch!’ You are wrong! You can afraid, I am here,’ and she pampers the ‘yes’ to God. begin from scratch! Why? Because he is child with caresses.

Wonder and tenderness: The joy of a mother looking upon her baby.

St Anthony Brief 6 Eyes opened: Seeing Jesus in the rejected, suffering child.

Coming to us as one like ourselves, us everything. He asks us only for our mission which God has entrusted to God’s nearness is so wonderful that he miseries and our littleness, to embrace them. With them, let us walk together appears like a mother chatting with her and caress us. This year let your toward Bethlehem. child: a mother when she sings a lullaby Christmas gift to him be your poverty to her child, using a childlike voice and and your need for him. THE FACE OF JESUS making herself little like the child, speak- THREE KEY WORDS Christmas invites us to focus on the sign ing with a childlike tone, to the point of of the Child and to recognise him in the acting foolish. Every nativity scene shows us Jesus faces of little children, especially those The Lord reminds each one of us, together with Our Lady and St Joseph in for whom, like Jesus, ‘there is no place tenderly, ‘I am in love with your little- the grotto of Bethlehem. God wanted to in the inn’ (Luke 2:7). ness, with your nothingness,’ and he be born into a human family; he wanted We see Jesus on the faces of chil- tells us, ‘Do not be afraid of your sins, I to have a mother and father like us. dren in the Middle East and Syria, and in love you so much, I am here to forgive As we gaze on the Holy Family let us the children of Africa. We see Jesus in you.’ This is the privileged condition of also be drawn into the life they led in the children worldwide wherever blood- humanity: small, weak, but reassured, Nazareth. It is an example that does our shed and suffering shatter lives and fam- supported and forgiven by a God who families great good, helping them ilies. loves us. increasingly to become communities of We see Jesus in the children of St Jerome was said to have been love, in which tenderness, mutual help, unemployed parents who struggle to very penitent in his life, offering sacri- and mutual forgiveness are experienced. offer their children a secure home and a fices and prayers, and yet God always Let us remember the three key peaceful future. asked more of him. Confused, the saint words for living in peace and joy within We see Jesus in the many children said, ‘But Lord, I have nothing more to our family: ‘May I’, ‘Thank you’ and forced to leave their countries to travel give you, I have given you everything.’ ‘Sorry’. Let us remember these three alone in inhuman conditions and who And the answer he received was, ‘No, words. become an easy target for human traf- one thing is missing. Give me your sins.’ Let us fervently call upon Mary Most fickers. This Christmas give Jesus your Holy, the Mother of Jesus and our Jesus knows well the pain of not Saviour the simple gift of your weak- Mother, and St Joseph her spouse. Let being welcomed and how hard it is not nesses, your sins and your weariness. us ask them to enlighten, comfort and to have a place to lay one’s head. May Come as you are and receive from his guide every family in the world, so that our hearts not be closed as they were in abundance. We are small. He has given they may fulfil with dignity and peace the the homes of Bethlehem. n

Dec/Jan 2019 7 Seeds of Life Edward Lennon OFM writes of life-giving projects in South Africa and Namibia supported by the generosity of readers of this magazine and donors in Ireland.

n August Paddy Noonan OFM and I People who come here can learn Copper Beach, and Masses were spent a day at St Francis Xavier among other things, computer skills, sec- arranged in various houses and collec- IParish, Small Farms, Evaton. For both retarial skills, sewing, knitting, embroidery. tions were held. Also donations came of us it was a great day. The first friar to There is a class offering life skills and now from the people of Cloherinka, Co. minister there was Jim O’Byrne OFM; He they intend to offer plumbing, carpentry Kildare, who held ‘card nights’ in the was succeeded by Peader Shanahan and electrical work. This place is really national school. Funding also came from OFM. Paddy and I had the privilege of alive and is responding to great needs in the Apostolic Work Branch in Edenderry, serving there at different times during the the surrounding community. from raffles in Sandy Hill, Esker, and from past 50 years. Benan Fahy OFM was my The day we visited we had not told people in Mountmellick. Family members predecessor in the parish and he is still anyone we were coming. The place was in Dublin, Collon, Reepham, Lincoln and remembered with great affection. He had full; young men and women were in high Southampton also contributed. a great memory for people and he knew spirits, talking, laughing and showing seri- Support came from many friaries in where everyone lived. ous intent. One of the events taking place Ireland and from many people who put a On the day we visited the present on this day was a series of mock job inter- note, of whatever kind, into my hand offices of the Bokamoso Skills and views; we looked, we listened, we walked when I visited while on home leave. Some Development Centre. We were warmly around, and we were very impressed. friends of the friars contributed much to welcomed by its director Elizabeth support this endeavour. Marabe and by the members of her staff. How Did It Begin? This centre in Evaton has now grown Elizabeth Marabe is a young 62-year- At present the centre is connected to the from a small mustard seed into a shining old woman – a woman of perseverance, Department of Social Services and is sup- light for many deprived areas in South wisdom, and of faith. She has overseen ported by the Gauteng provincial govern- Africa. Your generosity has contributed to the growth of this centre from very small ment. However, it began many years ago this growth. beginnings to what is a thriving and grow- with small donations from people in ing centre offering hope to many. It pro- Ireland. Those of you who buy and read Heroes vides training in a variety of different skills the St Anthony Brief are among those Elizabeth Marabe has faced many chal- to unemployed young people, to people who assisted through the various friaries lenges and many setbacks. She never with disabilities and in particular to and through the Franciscan Missionary gave up. She is a gentle woman with a women. In this context the centre empha- Union in Dublin. heart of gold and a will of steel. sises that it is there to help women Funding came from people in On one of the TV stations in South because in the wider society they are Edenderry, Co. Offaly, where many organ- Africa there is a short programme which among the most deprived. ised and assisted in concerts in the is called ‘South African Heroes’. I believe

St Anthony Brief 8 this remarkable woman deserves to be Group. These groups started off very surrounding it were very excited. The included among the South African small between 20 and 25 years ago. Not school is 63 years old and now, later this heroes. only have they shown themselves to be month, they will officially open their first It is also my firm belief that all those sustainable but they have enabled many ever sports field. Frankie Fredericks, the who contributed in whatever way, including women and men to look after their fami- former track and field athlete who won the readers of St Anthony Brief, deserve lies, to put food on the table and to allow four silver medals at the Olympic Games, great credit. Your help has turned a place their children to go to school. is a past pupil of the school. We are hop- which was considered to be one of the Great things can happen with small ing he will honour us with his presence on most deprived areas in South Africa into a seeds. the day of the official opening. place where lives are uplifted and where I mention this event because once many people are given an opportunity to Namibia again the small amounts of money from develop their God-given talents. They are I am writing these lines in Katutura in many individuals all over Ireland, and able thenceforth to earn a living and to Namibia. I was visiting South Africa for a those who read St Anthony Brief, has contribute to building up South Africa and few days in August and I was inspired by turned out to be the small seed that led making it a better place. my visit to pen these few words. the school community at St Andrew’s to I will write at a later date about a group This morning I was at one of our work hard to achieve what is for many a of women who are now incorporated into parishes in a place called Khomasdal. We dream come true. Bokamoso Skills and Development Centre have a primary school called St Andrew’s. Great things continue to happen with and are known as Bambanani Women’s The school community and all the people small seeds. n The Miracle of Small Things!

“When we eat, we don’t compliment the salt.”

❝The Lord says, ‘You are salt; you does not promote itself because it ignore the light, but we live are light.’ Salt for others; light for doesn’t serve itself. It exists to illuminated by light. This impels others. serve others, by conserving things Christians to be humble witnesses. Salt does not give flavour to itself and giving flavour. This is simple What we do can seem like such but serves others. Light does not witness. a small thing but miracles are done illuminate itself but serves others. When we eat, we don’t compli- through small things. We Christians The light shines in order that others ment the salt. No, we say the pasta are called to provide a simple, habit- see and glorify God. or meat is good. ual witness to Jesus; to show an Supermarkets sell salt in small When we go to sleep at night, everyday holiness!❞ quantities, not by the ton. And salt we don’t say the light is good. We – Pope Francis

Dec/Jan 2019 9 The Martyrs of El Salvador

he Catholic Church in El Salvador hands stained with blood. He therefore is a minority church. Archbishop Archbishop Oscar sold the cattle that were in his possession TTRivera Damas, the successor to St Romero has been and started studying as an electrician. Oscar Romero, said, ‘All Salvadorans are Inspired by his Christian faith he formed a baptised, but not all of them are evange- canonised a saint. committee to introduce electricity into the lised. I calculate that only 15% of the Hundreds of lay homes of his village. In the local chapel he Catholic population go to Sunday Mass. prepared children for their First Holy Yet it was this minority that was the most people also died for Communion and Confirmation. He also responsible for bringing about changes in gave pre-matrimonial talks and organised a country known for its many injustices. their faith during the Liturgies of the Word when the priest The government of course was aware of war in El Salvador. couldn’t come for Mass. this and as a result the Church was sub- Fifteen days before he was murdered, ject to a vicious persecution. As a result Ciarán Ó Nuanáin OFM he was told that he was on the death list 17 priests, five nuns, one seminarian and and was encouraged to flee the country. hundreds of lay people were murdered.’ works to record the His reaction was to say, ‘Well, I do not In May 2000 the Salvadoran Episcopal lives of those martyrs. owe anything to anyone; I dedicate myself Conference sent its list of martyrs to the to the things of God so I do not have to Vatican, of whom 63 were lay people. ple, 500 of whom we consider to be mar- flee. I just know that our God has counted However, as the accompanying document tyrs, although in this regard it is the even the hair of my head; I trust in God stated, ‘With all certainty an untold num- Church that has the last word. So far we and I do not have any reason to flee.’ ber of Christians will remain as “anony- have published seven books and the first The night of his murder he was read- mous witnesses” to the faith of the 20th book was dedicated to the 70 martyrs of ing the Bible when the death squad century, to them our gratitude and venera- the Department of Cuscatlan. I share a arrived at his house. When he was made tion.’ short biography of three of these martyrs. aware of this, he hid the Bible among It would be a tragedy for these other books of his nephew. While some of Christians to remain anonymous and for Eligio Diaz Beltran the men took Eligio outside, others dedi- that reason the Franciscan Province of Eligio was born into a family of five broth- cated themselves to ransacking the Central America decided to set up an ers and sisters. He never got married. He house. office to collect the testimony of these completed his primary education and was When the army left, his family went ‘anonymous witnesses’. Up to now we offered a job with the police, but would not out to see what happened. They found have recorded the lives of some 800 peo- accept it, because he did not want his that one side of his head was riddled with

St Anthony Brief 10 children on each of Maria’s outstretched characterised him, he convinced the peo- arms, making a mockery of the crucifix- ple to build a hall for the community and ion. The family weren’t able to give her a where, among other activities, religious Christian burial because the death squad services could take place. When the poured gasoline over the bodies and set Cerron Grande Dam was being built, a lot them on fire. of the area was flooded and so he organ- Sometime before her death she said, ised the community to build houses for ‘Since I have done nothing bad, then why the poor. They worked one day building should I leave my house? I know that I one house and another day another lived honestly, and I haven’t robbed any- house. So, little by little, they built a lot of thing, so why should I leave my house? houses, but the most important result was The only thing I have done is to pray the that he united the people. The words ‘I rosary and participate in the Eucharist can’t’ or ‘I don’t have time’ didn’t form part and Church activities. For that reason of his vocabulary. they are going to kill me, although I never armed myself with a gun.’

Tomas Candelario De Paz Peraza Tomas was born into a very poor family. Eligio Díaz Beltrán Since the time he was a child, he was vivacious and restless and for that reason bullets and on the other side of his body he preferred playing around and didn’t he had five stab wounds. Afterwards his pass his exams. However, as an adult he brother and sister, who were very fearful, participated in a literacy programme run brought the body inside the house and by the archdiocesan radio and after a lot the two of them held a wake. One said of effort learned how to read and write. one rosary and the other prayed the sec- He was married to Angela Rivera and ond. had thirteen children. They formed a happy, united family, where there was Maria Circuncision Mendoza mutual understanding. Such was the influ- Maria had two siblings. She never went to ence he had on his family, that his wife, school and, as a result, she was illiterate. children and grandchildren are now all However, she was noted for being intelli- active members of the Church. gent and creative. She was married to He used to hire land from the local Lorenzo Garcia Perez and had twelve hacienda and there used to cultivate children, eight of whom survived. While maize, millet, beans and rice, and was her husband worked on the farm, she thus able to support his family. When he sold the various crops in the market. Her was resting, he used to lie in a hammock children never saw them fight or argue. and read the Bible. His wife will never for- Tomás Candelario De Paz Peraza When poor people came to the house, get the time when he quoted the Gospel she shared food with them. She used to passage which said that the time will He was persecuted a lot by the army always say to her children, that, although come when people ‘will be divided, father and he was captured twice, but due to the they themselves were poor, they should against son and son against father, intervention of the parish priest he was help people who were poorer than them- mother against daughter and daughter released. After that he went into hiding selves. She used to go to the local town against mother, mother-in-law against and no longer lived with his family. For every Sunday for Mass. Although she daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law that reason, his family don’t know the was not a catechist, her husband was. He against mother-in-law.’ These words exact date he was captured for the third was also a member of the Christ the King proved to be prophetic. time. However, they presume that he Confraternity, and when a member had a On Sundays he used to celebrate the spent a few days in jail before he was difficulty, he was always willing to help Word with the people, under an almond murdered. Afterwards the corpse was with the crops or to build a house. tree. When he preached, he was clear dumped into a cotton field. The government started persecuting and convincing. He used to apply the His body was found naked, with stab the Church in 1977 and eventually in the Gospel to the people’s situation, denounc- wounds all over his body. He was also year 1980 a death squad arrived at their ing the injustice and abuse to which they castrated. house and murdered her daughter-in-law were subjected. For this reason, some Tomas would often say that if he was and her three grandchildren. They then people started calling him a communist going to die for preaching the Word of raped Maria and murdered her with and a subversive. God and if for that reason he was mur- machetes. Afterwards they put two of the With the energy and dynamism that dered, ‘let death be welcomed’. n

Dec/Jan 2019 11 Church Brief

Philippines: Friars in Extremist Territory Undaunted by the danger posed by extremists in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao, Franciscan missionaries hold Masses and other Church activities in the mountains of Basilan province, home of the Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf group. Friar Elton Viagedor OFM, pastor of San Roque parish, said they want to show that the Church is present among the people. ‘We hold Masses either in the streets or in backyards to show that the Church should not wait for people to come to the parish Franciscan Fr Elton Viagedor celebrates Mass in a village in the chapel. As Franciscans, I believe that we Philippine province of Basilan. should be willing to go to the margins, even if they are considered risky and difficult.’ have shed their blood in Iraq. More than Christians were driven out of their homes in He says, ‘Such daring is not driven by 1,224 Christians have been killed, half of one night. arrogance but by the simple fact that we them being young people. An example of As a result of all that they have been are dependent on God’s grace and by the this occurred during Sunday Mass in through, Iraqi youth are questioning the desire to encounter the people on the Baghdad’s Syriac Cathedral of Our Lady of impact on their life of being Iraqis, the role of peripheries.’ Salvation, in October of 2010, which left 58 God and of the Church, despite the Church’s The province of Basilan is the 28-year- victims, including two young priests, Frs good efforts to assist. They think the solution old missionary’s second assignment after Wassem and Thaaer. is emigration. From a total of 1.5 million Iraqi his ‘baptism of fire’ in the city of Marawi, There was also the murder of young Christians in 2003, their number has shrunk to which was torn by five months of clashes Chaldean Fr Regheed and of Bishop 400,000. And the fear is that there will come a last year between government troops and Paulus Faraj Raho, as well as the repeated day when Iraq will be devoid of Christians. Islamic State-inspired militants. The conflict bombing of a number of churches, includ- In conclusion, I would appreciate your displaced hundred of thousands of people. ing my own. I’ll never forget my friends’ prayers for Iraq and its Christians. However, Of the estimated 400,000 population of faces when, after Mass, they said, “See I would like to remind all that, in addition to Basilan, 126,000 are Catholics who are you next week,” but I never saw them prayers, special attention must be paid not being served by 20 priests, including four again. They died, burned by a car-bomb. In only to youth in Iraq but also in many other Franciscans and five Claretian missionar- addition, there are continued threats, kid- countries where Christians are a minority ies. nappings and killings, based on one’s and need support, as do their Churches. Christian identity. All this was followed, Despite everything, it’s important to Iraq: A People Still Suffering tragically, by the actions of ISIS terrorists. mention that we still have in Iraq a wonderful Mr Safa Al Abbia, a member of the During the invasion of Mosul and the group of young people who live their faith as n Chaldean Church, Iraq, served as an audi- Nineveh Plains, more than 120,000 witnesses of Jesus Christ.’ n tor in the Synod of Bishops on youth that took place during October. His words addressed to the assembly received the most applause in the whole Synod. ‘Greetings from Mesopotamia, “the wounded Iraq”. I’m a 26-year-old Iraqi den- tist and I’m a Chaldean Christian. Christians in Iraq go back to the first cen- tury. Throughout their history, they have been victims of persecution because of their faith. This happened especially after 2003. In such difficult circumstances, believ- ers, including young people, are struggling to remain steadfast in their faith, as wit- Synod of Bishops: nesses to Jesus Christ and to their tradi- Pope Francis greets tions, values and liturgy. This struggle is the Iraqi delegate. obvious given the number of martyrs who

St Anthony Brief 12 Christmas Novena/ Enrolment Cards 2018 in aid of Franciscan Friary and Franciscan Missions

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13 Mike Laskey gives us practical suggestions so that this time of grace does not just pass us by. A Busy Catholic's Guide to Advent: 10 Tips for Observing the Season

dvent is a criminally underrated ❷ Get some quiet time. music until sunset on 24 December. liturgical season. It gets swal- Advent, the liturgical season, is quiet However, there are plenty of great AAlowed up in the pre-Christmas and dark, as we await the in-breaking Advent hymns and songs that cap- rush, and it's shorter and less intense of Christ's light at Christmas. Advent, ture the beauty of this season of than Lent, but it's a beautiful, quiet period the shopping and party season, is longing; these can be downloaded worth marking. Beyond the obvious ‘get to loud and glaringly bright. Seek out and listened to. Some of my Mass on all the Advent Sundays and some quiet time. Maybe try repeating favourites: Sufjan Stevens' version of every Sunday’ exhortation, here are ten the prayer, ‘Come, Lord Jesus’ to ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’; Steve simple tips for your Advent observation, yourself, slowly as you breathe in and Angrisano's modern update of that from one busy person to another. out with your eyes closed. You can same classic; composer JJ Wright's do this in your office or kitchen. brilliant jazz/classical album ‘O ❶ Read some sort of short, daily Emmanuel’; the French hymn, ‘O devotion. ❸ It's OK to say no. Come Divine Messiah’, and Dan Just a few pages a day, max. There You don't have to go to every party Schutte's ‘Christ Circle Round Us’. are plenty of great options of small you're invited to or trudge through the booklets that are available. My wife shopping centre the Saturday before ❺ Decorate, even a little. and I decided last-minute to host three Christmas or watch the endless loop We Catholics are a sacramental peo- discussion sessions on Walter of commercials. As a mentor of mine ple: Smells, bells, stained glass, Brueggemann's book Celebrating likes to say, ‘“No” is a complete sen- beautiful music, bread and wine. God Abundance at our house last Advent. tence.’ Of course, there are certain can visit through our sensory experi- Due to the procrastination, we gave obligations this time of year, espe- ences. So put out a nativity scene. some friends just 24 hours to respond cially for parents of young kids, that Put up greenery or even fake green- if they were interested. Much to our you just cannot say ‘no’ to. So I need ery around the house. surprise, we got about ten takers. The to practise discerning which activities lesson: People are hungry for some are essential and which can be ❻ Light an Advent wreath. sort of spiritual nourishment, especially skipped. If you don't have one of these, a lot of around this time of year. I bet you parishes sell them. Google for the could find a person or two to reflect on ❹ Don't forget the Advent music. short prayers you can pray as a fam- some readings with you during the I'm not here to play liturgical police ily when you light it each Sunday. season by the first Sunday of Advent. and tell you to shelve the Christmas The family and home are what the

St Anthony Brief 14 Vatican II documents call the ‘domes- present time, and Christ's final com- Most Advents, I spend about 95 tic church’, and an Advent wreath tra- ing in glory on the last day. percent of my prayer and reflection dition is a simple, lovely way to ‘We know that there are three and energy focused on the first strengthen that smallest, essential comings of the Lord. The third lies coming only – with the manger, the community of faith. between the other two. It is invisible, shepherds, the angels, the baby. I'm while the other two are visible. In the missing those second and third ❼ Got a young kid or two? Add a first coming he was seen on earth, arrivals of Jesus. I need to focus on Christmas book to bedtime read- dwelling among men; he himself tes- the Advent story that goes beyond ing list. tifies that they saw him and hated Bethlehem. Speaking of the domestic church – if him. In the final coming all flesh will you have kids you read to at night, see the salvation of our God, and I think all ten of these practices are good add a nativity book for children to they will look on him whom they ideas, but this list is not full of silver bul- your stack. We have already started pierced. The intermediate coming is lets that will make this Advent ‘the best reading some Christmas stories to a hidden one; in it only the elect see Advent ever’ for you. Faith and joy and our two-year-old, and it's amazing the Lord within their own selves, and peace are unearned gifts only God can how she is beginning to recognise they are saved. In his first coming give. Through spiritual discipline, we can the characters of the story so fast. I'm our Lord came in our flesh and in only put ourselves in a posture of humil- reminded how vivid and awe-inspiring our weakness; in this middle coming ity and gratitude before the Lord to the nativity story is. he comes in Spirit and in power; in receive these precious graces. We invite the final coming he will be seen in the Spirit into our lives, and are ready to ❽ Support an organisation that glory and majesty.’ respond. works for social justice. In Advent, we wait and prepare n As the Magi brought whatever they for all three comings of the Lord. Adapted from www.ncronline.org n had to give the newborn King, our own gifts to organisations that further the building of the Kingdom of God on earth is one way to celebrate their legacy.

❾ Consider the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Someone I know who's familiar with Catholic internet searches tells me the ‘act of contrition’ is one of the most popular Catholic Google search terms every Advent and Lent. This isn't all that surprising, as a lot of parishes host Sacrament of Reconciliation services during both seasons. I know my mom always wanted us to make it to the sacra- ment during Advent and Lent growing up. If Advent is all about preparing, there's no better way to prepare your heart and spirit.

❿ Reflect on the ‘three comings of the Lord’. We never stop remembering that Jesus is always among us in Word and Eucharist and in the hearts of faithful believers. This paradox of Jesus Christ – who was, who is, and who is to come – is at the heart of a complete Advent spirituality. St Bernard of Clairvaux described these three comings as the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the Advent wreath: a lovely way to strengthen the coming of Jesus into our lives in the smallest community of faith.

Dec/Jan 2019 15 This year the Irish Franciscans celebrate the 750th anniversary of the founding of the friary in Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath, in 1268. Pat Younge OFM walks us through the centuries.

An Extraordinary Story of Courageous Fidelity

rancis of Assisi did not set out to Without seeking popularity, the friars among all the older Religious Orders as found a religious Order. His desire and the friary became a focal point of courageous opponents to the future FFwas to find himself! When others devotion, of instruction, of communal gath- Reformation policy of Henry VIII and his joined him he was impelled to enquire of erings of the friars and faithful, and in the successors. The Franciscan Order was Sacred Scripture what they should do to future a place of refuge in times of flight already reformed from within when Henry serve God appropriately. What Francis and struggle. decreed his reforms! founded was a Gospel-inspired fraternity. As the years unfolded the Franciscan The Order was neither clerical nor non-cler- Observantine Reform, which was initiated The Friars in Adversity ical, but an evangelical fraternity. The mis- in Italy, was first adopted in Ireland in Henry VIII was refused the dissolution of sion of the fraternity was to live and spread Multyfarnham in 1460. This reform entailed his marriage to Catherine of Aragon in his the Gospel by example and by word, if it a stricter and more literal observance of the struggle to produce a male heir to the pleased God. The year was 1209. When Rule of St Francis. What appeared to be throne. He broke with Rome in 1530 and William Delamer helped establish the an internal, spiritual disciplinary option proclaimed himself head of the Church of Abbey in Multyfarnham in 1268 it was a would later have serious political conse- England, and in 1536 head of the Church fresh, new experience of religious life flush quences. in Ireland. It was well known that the King’s with the energy of pastoral renewal. At the core of the Franciscan Rule is claim would encounter opposition from the the explicit requirement that the Minister religious orders and that their influence Spirituality and Ministry General of the Order and his successors, would be pernicious, consequently they In contrast to the monks in their monaster- promise obedience to the Pope of Rome would have to be suppressed. ies, the friars were close to the people. and that the other friars of the Order This fate befell Multyfarnham in 1540. They were entertaining and popular preach- promise to obey him and his successors. The friars made no attempt to resist the ers. They encouraged conversion by avoid- The Rule also demands that candidates for decree and departed quietly from the ing condemnation while emphasising the the Order be orthodox Catholics and Abbey. Originally it was the Delamers who futility of a worldly life, and, on the other should be examined to be so on admit- established the friars in Multyfarnham, but hand, they promoted the love of the cruci- tance to the Order. in later years it was the Nugents of Donore fied Saviour. They were much sought-after These strict requirements – of Papal and Delvin whose patronage helped the fri- confessors. Judged lax by some of the obedience and Catholic doctrinal ortho- ars survive, and who in the 1550s leased diocesan clergy, however, they were doxy – so explicitly stated and promised, the lands of the suppressed Abbey from regarded as compassionate by the penitent. ensured that the Franciscans stood out the new legal owner and allowed the friars

St Anthony Brief 16 to resume their former, quiet lives for the next 40 years. Although restored to the dispossessed Abbey by the Nugents, the community was about to feel the brutal nature of Henry’s suppression in a series of violent onslaughts. It started with Captain Dudley Loftus who in 1590 raided the friary and captured five of the community. All five were destined for jail in Dublin. Because of their frailty two of the friars, Fr Manus and Fr Lochlann, were thrown into jail in Athboy where they died, and a third, Fr Terence, died in Dublin due to the deprivation meted out to him in his confinement. We rever- ently recall their names and acknowledge their sacrifice, the first martyrs of Multyfarnham Abbey. A decade would pass before another attempt was made to expel the community. This attack was led by Sir Francis Shane, a government agent whose dislike of the fri- ars was intense. He saw the Abbey as ‘the Ruins: drawing by R.O. Neweham, early 1800s. nursery of all mischievous practices’. He proposed ‘to raze to the ground that den of Franciscan friars in his diocese in teach- night, lest the smoke should betray them. scorpions’. He did so on 1 October 1601 ing, instructing and educating the people They hurry through the country like scouts setting fire to the Abbey, the church and fri- and in improving morals. to report the state of the other missionaries ary buildings. Nothing remained but the and Catholics. They are hunted on every roofless walls, bleak and charred. ‘All, who Hunted on Every Side side with squadrons on foot and horse but heard of the destruction of this hallowed Despite efforts at normality, the politically escape in time because of the vigilance of pile, and all who saw it, were filled with oppressive conditions that constantly pre- the people.’ intense grief. It seemed that the very mem- vailed ensured that rebellion was never far In these dreadful conditions, the friars ory of it must forever perish,’ wrote the from the surface. In fact the authorities came closest to living the Franciscan ideal Franciscan historian, Fr Donagh Mooney, claimed that such sentiments were con- in its total simplicity: proclaiming the who was a novice there at the time. The fri- stantly hatched in Multyfarnham – probably Gospel by word and example, being pil- ars returned towards the end of 1601 and because of the regular gatherings of the fri- grims and strangers, living in poor and built a small dwelling place within the ruins, ars, the nobility who were benefactors, and simple places, depending on the provi- preferring to live there in straightened cir- the devoted people of the region. dence of God, and being humble and sub- cumstances than elsewhere. A violent clamp-down came with the ject to all! It was what St Francis would A further onslaught was carried out by arrival of Oliver Cromwell who landed at term ‘perfect joy!’ Francis Rush who in 1604 burnt the par- Ringsend on 15 August 1649. Here was a After the death of Oliver Cromwell on tially restored Abbey church and friary. man who never had the slightest doubt as 9 October 1658, the friars did not return Such harassment continued throughout to the methods he would adopt in bringing to the old Abbey, but, it would seem, the early years of the 1600s. Donagh Ireland under his rule. His policy was took up residence near Multyfarnham in Mooney OFM described this time in revealed in all its brutality in Drogheda and Knightswood, on a parcel of land belong- Multyfarnham as a ‘theatre of persecution, Wexford. Early in 1651 the friars were ing to Sir Thomas Nugent. and of the steadfast and unflinching resis- again expelled from the Abbey of After his victory at the Battle of the tance of innocent and defenceless men’. Multyfarnham, which according to a con- Boyne in 1690, William of Orange began a Paradoxically, it was a blessing that the temporary account ‘was demolished and violent campaign, where the Cromwellians Abbey was in such an isolated place, ruinous’. had left off. According to William of because, even though a ruin, it could be Laws enacted decreed that all priests Orange, religious orders were regarded as rebuilt. A friary in a city was in grave dan- and religious were to depart the country ‘working night and day against the govern- ger of being incorporated into the urban under threat of high treason, and a terrible ment’, and were not to ‘be tolerated’. A landscape and lost forever; Galway death. Instead of fleeing, the friars great effort was made to enforce the penal Abbey was turned into a courthouse! remained locally. In a letter of 4 September legislation so that all were to vacate the Multyfarnham, a burnt-out shell, was 1656, the Provincial Minister, Fr O’Farrell country by 1 May 1698. completely restored by 1623. OFM, described the situation of the friars. It would seem that after the first fierce Steadfast in faith and firm in their con- ‘The missionaries live on bread and milk, tempest of persecution which broke out in victions, the friars continued their quiet never remaining more than 24 hours in the 1698, and which drove the friars from ministry. Writing in 1636, Dr Dease, same locality, carrying like soldiers their Knightswood, a certain wariness with Bishop of Meath, pays tribute in a general lodging places with them from station to enforcing oppressive measures gradually way to the excellent work done by the station; nor dare they light a fire, except at seemed to set in. Law enforcers found it

Dec/Jan 2019 17 An oasis: Guardian Florian Farrelly OFM more difficult to recruit people to enforce the writ of the authorities. Consequently, leads the people in prayer. they deemed it more opportune to turn a blind eye to the presence of clergy and reli- gious in order to avoid alienating the peo- ple who remained loyal to their priests and faith.

The 1700s When the campaign that drove the friars from Knightswood subsided, the friars of Multyfarnham were able to quietly settle down in their old habitat of Multyfarnham. The new friary was situated on the west bank of the Gayne, near the village of Multyfarnham, about a hundred yards from the old Abbey. It housed the friars from about 1713 until the middle 1800s. Typical of such a friary in a rural area would be: ‘A was wounded and taken captive to the vil- Begley OFM with the purpose of providing stone house, roofed with thatch, and a lage of Multyfarnham. He was released on vocations to the Order; which it did before chapel; and there by means of catechetical the mediation of the parish priest, Fr its re-location to Gormanston in 1956. teaching and sermons they instructed the Moran. The following year the Bishop of The beginning of the reconstruction of local people.’ Meath, Dr Plunkett, on his parish visitation the original choir of the Abbey church, Fr Thomas Moran was appointed records that at the table with the friars was which lay in ruins since 1651, was begun parish priest of the united parishes of Lord Granard and his son and General by Br Francis Hession OFM in 1974. Leney and Multyfarnham in 1782; he held Barnett – a strange reversal of history! When the outline of the foundations were that position for the next 34 years. He Probably the result of Fr Moran’s good revealed, Fr Patrick Giblin OFM and Fr helped build bridges between the divided deed regarding the Rev Radcliff! John Kealy OFM felt inspired to restore the communities by his pragmatism and good entire choir to its original form. After much will in times of difficulty. Judging it oppor- Rebuilding planning and procuring of appropriate tune, both he and his companion friar of Despite the meagre financial resources of materials the structure was completed. Multyfarnham, Fr John McCormick OFM, the time, it was due to the persevering The Minister General of the Order, took the Oath of Allegiance to the House of efforts of Fr Thomas Conway OFM that the Constantine Koser OFM, dedicated the Hanover, as it did not do violence to restoration of the original Abbey church, newly-constructed choir as the Blessed Catholic teaching, in order to establish dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St Sacrament Chapel of the friary church on some semblance of normality in everyday Francis, took place in 1827. Twelve years 11 May 1977 during the Guardianship of Fr life. later Fr Conway built a three-storey friary Ulic Troy OFM. In 1798 the Warden of Wilson’s on the site of the reception rooms of the After the painful years of enmity and Hospital, a Protestant charitable institution old Abbey. The re-establishment of the distrust, a very generous gift to the Abbey for men and boys, the Rev Mr Radcliff, was community on the site of the old Abbey church renovation was made by the besieged by a violent contingent of ‘United buildings was complete, at last. Church of Ireland and the Presbyterian Irishmen of Westmeath’ demanding the As vocations to the Franciscan commu- community. The beautiful stone mullions of weapons stored in that charitable institu- nity are the life-blood of its survival, a sec- the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and the tion. On putting up a spirited resistance he ondary college was built in 1897 by Fr Peter Lady Chapel came from the Coolarty Presbyterian church in Tully, near Granard, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Mullingar: Co. Longford, and from the Church of Ireland church in Rathconnell near Delvin, A concert in the Abbey, one of several locally known as the Beehive. These events celebrating the anniversary. instruments of light and agents of beauty are a much appreciated gift and an expression of solidarity and good will from those communities, and for which we are deeply grateful. So after its long and turbulent history, the Franciscan presence in this sacred place continues. In our world of disillusion- ment and division how can Multyfarnham be a balm for the wounds of the world? Surely, by being what it always has been: a quiet oasis of prayer and worship, an open door for the seeker, a listening ear for the troubled heart, and missionary out- reach to the sheep without a shepherd. n

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19 St Francis Admonishes Us!

he Admonitions are a group of 28 short, deeply spiritual exhortations The teachings of St Francis do not make for light Tgiven by Francis to the friars, reading. Pat Conlan OFM reflects on some probably during the celebration of the first General Chapters of the Order. Let’s of the Admonitions of St Francis. look closely at two of these Admonitions. appropriation of the gift of liberty by pride goes before a fall. How true! Admonition II which God created and through which Overestimating our ability we can Admonition II reads, ‘The Lord said to we have received so much. rush into things without stopping to Adam, “Eat of every tree, do not eat of This action of appropriation is an appreciate possible, alternative results. the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” exaltation of ourselves over the divine The good results that we think are there He was able to eat of every tree of par- goodness that surrounds us. Thus the can become an obstacle to seeing or adise since he did not sin as long as he origin of sin lies in our ingratitude even considering other results. If we did not go against obedience. For the towards God for his many gifts in cre- carry a burden that is too heavy we can person who eats of the tree of knowl- ation, as well as creating us. Lacking break it when we drop it or give our- edge of good who appropriates to him- true humility, and thus perspective, we selves a heart attack by too much effort. self his own will and thus exalts himself overestimate our capacity and ability. over the good things which the Lord says Note that the tree is of knowledge of Human Condition and does in him, and thus through the good AND evil – the two go together. We are wonderful beings precisely suggestion of the devil and the trans- Knowledge of good is worthwhile, pro- because we have been created by gression of the command, what he eats vided that we keep it in perspective. Goodness itself. We carry the marks of becomes for him the fruit of the knowl- Those who live in the mind are always that goodness as listed by Paul – above edge of evil. Therefore it is necessary tempted to presume that they know all, genuine love and peace, kindness that he bear the punishment.’ everything. In trying to apply knowledge and generosity, forbearance and to life they fall short because they are patience, gentleness and courtesy, The Origins of Sin often unaware of the practicalities, com- insight and wisdom. We have the capac- Francis teaches that our heavenly Father plications and limitations of human exis- ity to create and bring fresh good into is a God who says and does good tence. our world and that of those around us. things. We have been created and Note also that the devil is there as a After all, the challenge that the Creator formed in God’s own image and likeness. source of temptation, may we even say left us is to make our world a place of We are called to acknowledge, to recog- of termination! He is something that has ever increasing love, reflecting his divine nise our dependence on God’s limitless vanished out of Christian conversation. love in more places and people. We are and creative goodness. We concentrate on the positive and our wonderful beings with an amazing Francis sees the foundation of peace own capacity. We tend to forget that capacity to bring forth beauty and har- and harmony in God’s overwhelming there is a force within and around us that mony. Francis urges us to chose life and generosity and benevolence. It is vital is trying to bring us along a path that love constantly. that we do not cease to respect the gen- does not lead to the ultimate pure love erosity of our divine benefactor. Rather that is the God who wants to be our inti- Admonition V than just simple disobedience, sin is the mate friend. There is an old saying that The text of Admonition V goes, ‘Be con-

St Anthony Brief 20 scious, O man, of the wondrous state in obstacle to you and none of them would the present by the sacrifice of the Mass. which the Lord God has placed you, for belong to you nor could you glory in any In some mysterious fashion he comes he created you and formed you to the of these things. But in this we can glory: again on to our altars, both as nourish- image of his beloved Son according to in our infirmities and bearing daily the ment for our bodies and as a source of the body, and to his likeness according holy Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ revitalisation for our spirits. He is there, to the spirit. Yet all the creatures under We are very worthwhile (worthy) peo- always accessible in prayer. He listens heaven, each according to its nature, ple – created by the Father in the image and we can hear him in moments of serve, know and obey their Creator bet- of the Son – firstly in body and then, quiet and contemplation. ter than you. Even the demons did not much more importantly, in the spirit. The Yet by our sinful ways we turn from crucify him, but you together with them Creator witnesses the quality of all that him. The creature is not afraid to try to have crucified him even now by delight- he has created: the beauty of heaven impose his will on the Creator. We are ing in vices and sins. and earth, the God-given likeness that short-sighted beings with a vision too ‘In what can you glory? For if you humans have to their Creator. small and narrow for our own good. We were so subtle and wise that you had all By definition all of creation must tend to exaggerate our own powers, for- knowledge and knew how to interpret all acknowledge their Creator – thus we getting that they are first of all a gift. tongues and minutely investigate the must serve him by trying to discover his These gifts, no matter how wonderful course of the heavenly bodies, in all love and reflect it in our own lives. To call they are, are also limited – both in body these things you could not glory. For one someone a Holy Joe is considered a (what we can do) as well as in spirit demon knew more about the things of joke. But being called holy is really an (what we can dream, or make part of our the earth than all men together, even if honour because it means that in some vision of life). there may have been someone who way or another we have managed to Francis teaches us that, in the end, received from the Lord a special knowl- become like our Creator, the God of we can glory in our infirmities – all that edge of the highest wisdom. Likewise, good, kindness, love and life. makes us aware of our need of God – even if you were more handsome and We turn from him, the source of all and in bearing daily the holy Cross of our richer than everyone else, and even if goodness, by sinful action. The Lord was Lord Jesus Christ. you performed wonders such as driving crucified for our sakes in the distant past. Love, especially of our Creator, can out demons, all these things would be an But it is something that we recall daily in overcome all. n The Suffering Servant ‘You’re blessed when your commitment to Richard Rohr OFM reflects that says: Thou shalt not kill. No soldier is God provokes persecution. The persecu- obliged to obey an order against the law tion drives you even deeper into God’s on the life of the recently of God. No one has to obey an immoral kingdom. And know that you are in good canonised Archbishop law. And it is time that you recover your company. My prophets and witnesses consciences. In the name of God, then, have always gotten into this kind of trou- Oscar Romero. and in the name of this suffering people ble’ (Matthew 5:10,12, The Message brother and sister peasants and when you whose laments rise up to heaven each Translation). are faced with an order to kill given by a day more tumultuously, I plead with you, I Archbishop Oscar Romero (1917– man, the law of God must prevail; the law pray you, I order you, in the name of God: 1980) has been proclaimed a saint by the Stop the repression!’ Catholic Church. As The next day, following Archbishop of San St Oscar Romero: his sermon, a government hit Salvador for the last four He is pictured with squad shot him through his years of his life, Romero Pope St Paul VI, heart as he stood at the was a courageous voice who was altar. for the voiceless, suffer- canonised on Only a few weeks earlier, ing poor during a terrible the same day, Romero had said, ‘I have war in El Salvador. ‘The 14 October 2018. often been threatened with shepherd must be where death. I must tell you, as a the suffering is.’ Christian, I do not believe in In his homily on 23 death without resurrection. March 1980, the day If I am killed, I shall arise in before he was murdered, the Salvadoran people. I Romero addressed the say so without boasting, Salvadoran military with the greatest humility. directly, ‘Brothers, we are A bishop will die, but God’s part of the same people. Church, which is the peo- You are killing your own ple, will never perish.’ n

Dec/Jan 2019 21 News from around the . . . Franciscan World

JERUSALEM MUSIC AT MUCKROSS As part of his celebration of his Diamond Jubilee of Franciscan Novices from the Interprovincial Novitiate in Killarney, Profession, Fr Gerry O’Reilly OFM, a missionary in South Africa, Theodore Splinter (Canadian Province), Benedetto Ressa joined the National Franciscan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in (Dutch Province) are assisted by fellow novice, Joel October. In Jerusalem he visited with Brs Ysepoand and Karlsson (TOR, Sweden), as they play in the old Khanyisani of the Province of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Franciscan Abbey of Muckross. n South Africa. They are studying theology there with the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land. n

‘WRITING’ AN ICON Br Denis Aherne, who lives in Athlone friary, is a gifted iconographer. The pictures show him ‘writing’ an icon of St Francis and the beautiful finished work.

Traditionally icons are said to be ‘written’, not painted. The making of icons is considered more a form of prayer than art, and the iconographer’s hand is guided by God. n

St Anthony Brief 22 Brother Juniper – the Storyteller Walter Gallahue OFM has fond memories of Br Juniper and his stories. r Juniper O’Brien died about five roared, ‘What the hell are years ago in Zimbabwe. He had you at now?’ ‘I’m looking for Bbeen a missionary there for about me glasses,’ said Juno! fifty years and is also buried there. Juno, ‘And wouldn’t you need as we called him, was a great Franciscan, them’, said the man, ‘if you prayerful and hard working. couldn’t see a f***ing horse.’ He was a Dublin man and, like many Juniper joined the Dubliners, he had a great sense of humour. Franciscans and went to the Harare: Br Juniper and Fr Walter in 2007 The following stories will bring a smile to Postulancy in Killarney about 1947. Juniper began to chat with him and those who knew him and others too. Another lad from Dublin also went. This said, ‘Would you not need someone with When he was a lad of about seven- lad had never been out of Dublin. The fol- you to help you to get on and off the teen years, one day he cycled out to lowing day was one of the best of the bus?’ The old man, who didn’t suffer Skerries, north of Dublin, to visit his aunt. year, glorious sun and the Kerry fools gladly, said, ‘No, I’m well able to Skerries, in the 1940s, was only a small Mountains looked magnificent. manage.’ village. Juniper had miscalculated the The Dub said, ‘This is a lovely place; I Juniper sat beside him in the bus and time needed to get to his aunt’s house. think I’m really going to like it here.’ The was determined to make conversation. He still had a distance to go when it got next day the rain poured down and for a He said to the old man, ‘You’re a fine dark. Up the road in front of him he heard whole month it rained most days and age, sir. Do you mind me asking what the clop, clop of a horse but was not sure there was lots of fog and mist. age you are?’ The old man said, ‘I’m 84’ how close he was to the animal. By then the Dub was totally – a wonderful age then. ‘And now’, said Next thing he ran into the horse, and depressed and tearfully observed, ‘This Juniper, ‘to what do you attribute your himself and the bike hit the ground. place reminds me of Madam Butterfly – fine age?’ ‘It’s the weather’, says the old The man leading the horse expressed one fine day!’ man, ‘it would put years on you!’ himself in unprintable language and made A few days later he escaped back to The last of Juniper’s stories that a few vulgar suggestions as to what Dublin. comes to mind is about Br Sebastian who Juniper might do with himself. Poor After making his First Profession, had a wonderful ministry with the altar Juniper was very frightened and feared Juniper was stationed in the friary in boys in Merchants’ Quay. Sebastian’s for a few moments that the man was Merchants’ Quay, Dublin. One day he was hair was getting a little thin. One day an going to assault him. outside the friary waiting for a bus. There altar boy told him, ‘Brother! your hair is Then the man saw that Juniper was was an old man there with a cane, waiting waving – good bye!’ down on the road on his knees and for the same bus. Is it any wonder we miss him! n

Mutemwa: Patience Tigere OFM thanks the members of Nomads Charities and Harare Dawn Rotary for the ten wheelchairs and three commodes donated to the Mutemwa Leprosy and Care Centre in Zimbabwe. The friars are chaplains at the Centre.

Dec/Jan 2019 23 A Holy Church of Sinners! FR FRANCIS COTTER OFM

Francis Cotter OFM ponders the paradox of a holy Church made up only of sinners.

handi famously once said of the sinful women, sinful priests, sinful sisters, the grace of God that makes the Church, Church, ‘I like your Christ. I do sinful bishops, sinful cardinals, a sinful the body of Christ, holy. GGnot like your Christians. Your Pope? Everyone. How can such a Church The apostle Paul goes to the root of the Christians are so unlike your Christ.’ He be holy?’ mystery of the Church’s holiness. ‘Christ heard one thing, the beautiful teaching of loved the Church and gave himself up for Christ, but yet frequently he saw some- The Paradox her, that he might sanctify her’ (Ephesians thing very different – the behaviour of the This paradox of a Church that is simulta- 5:25). Christ loved the Church, by giving members of the Church. So often both neously holy and sinful has been there himself on the Cross. And this means that simply did not match up! And what Ghandi from the beginning – from the experience the Church is holy because it comes from saw is very obviously and painfully true. of Peter, especially called and commis- God who is holy; he is faithful to his people Yet, every time we say the Creed we sioned, yet the one who denied and and does not abandon the Church to the profess, ‘I believe in one, holy, Catholic deserted his Lord. Paul in his letters to the power of death and of evil. The Church is and apostolic Church’ – we affirm sanctity young churches could readily address the holy because Jesus Christ, the Holy One of as one of the ‘marks’ of the Church of believers as ‘saints’ and as a ‘holy people’ God, is indissolubly united to it. It is holy God. and yet in the same letters confront their because it is guided by the Holy Spirit who Pope Francis himself bluntly addressed sinful way of living. purifies, transforms and renews. It is not this question in a recent General Audience The claim of the Church to be holy holy by its own merits, but because God given in St Peter’s Square. He asked, ‘In may seem false taken at face value. But makes it holy; it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit what sense is the Church holy if we see we have to consider the source to appreci- and of his gifts. The Church’s holiness is that the historical Church, on her long jour- ate how the Church is holy. The Church is rooted in God, not man. ney through the centuries, has had so indeed made up of members who are frail, many difficulties, problems, dark moments? fragile and failing, but it is not man-made. Scandals How can a Church consisting of human The Church is composed not only of flesh, From the beginning and throughout history, beings, of sinners, be holy? Sinful men, but also of Spirit. It is not us humans, but Peter has often been a wobbly rock.

St Anthony Brief 24 Nowadays it is common for people to be Bread of Life from our priests and down the most difficult moments in the Church’s embarrassed to admit that they are prac- through the ages there is that continuity.’ history.’ When the Church faced the great- tising Catholics, but Jesus kept shameful No matter how wretched the priest who est crises, God always sent the greatest company from the beginning. presides at the Mass – it is still the saints to restore it. Franciscans understand Reflecting on some of the scandalous Eucharist. Christ himself continues to this only too clearly. It was in a time of des- Popes who occupied the Chair of Peter nourish his people even through the most perate need of renewal that God raised up (however, it should be pointed out that 81 unworthy servant. Francis and commissioned him, ‘Go, Popes have been canonised) the Catholic The sins of the Church’s members do rebuild my house which in falling into ruin.’ writer Hilaire Belloc put it very strongly, ‘A indeed mar the beauty of the Church’s Francis was neither blind nor stupid. proof of the Church’s divinity might be human face. At times woefully scandalous, He saw the sin and corruption all around found in the fact that no merely human they can seriously hinder the Church’s him. His response was not bitter condem- institution conducted with such knavish mission in the world. But they can never nation but rather to plunge himself into the imbecility would have lasted a fortnight.’ If undermine the Church’s inherent holiness. grace of Christ and to dedicate himself to the Church’s holiness depended on its How true are the words of Scripture! seeking holiness of heart and life. The human members, then it would have suc- ‘We hold this treasure in earthenware pots change would begin with him! cumbed to evil, indeed disappeared, long so that it may be clear that the immensity In that same General Audience, Pope ago. Our sin may disfigure the Church but of the power is God’s and not our own’ (2 Francis challenged all of us to take the it cannot expel the Lord from his temple. Corinthians 4:7). This paradox will be with same path. Of course, the Church needs In the mystery of the Church, we can us until the very end. On the next page I radical reform and things need to change. rightly dare to profess that yes, the Church quote in length the wise Carlo Carretto But here and now today we are called, not is holy even while we acknowledge that all who struggled painfully with this reality. to desert the community of faith, but to the members of the pilgrim Church here drink deeply of the divine life still available on earth are imperfect sinners. Our Response to us even in a battered Church, and to In a letter written in 1968 to a man In her members and human structures the give ourselves over to the work of the who was struggling with the reality of Church is always in need of reform – Spirit in us and through us. The Pope said, human weakness and brokenness in the Ecclesia semper reformanda. And always ‘The Church offers all the possibility of fol- Church, Dorothy Day said, ‘As a convert, I in need of the holiness of Christ to be lowing a path of holiness; that is the path never expected too much of the bishops revealed in the lives of its members. Pope of the Christian. She brings us to and clergy in general. It is the saints that John Paul II, himself now a canonised encounter Jesus Christ in the sacraments, keep appearing all through history who saint, reminds us, ‘The saints have always especially in Confession and in the keep things going. What I do expect is the been the source and origin of renewal in Eucharist; she communicates the Word of God to us, she lets us live in charity, in the A wobbly rock: love of God for all. What can I, a weak fragile sinner, do? God says to you: Do not Peter denied and be afraid of holiness, do not be afraid to deserted his Lord. aim high, to let yourself be loved and puri- fied by God, do not be afraid to let yourself be guided by the Holy Spirit. Let us be infected by the holiness of God.’ Fr Matt Malone SJ is the editor of the prestigious Jesuit weekly, America. In a powerful piece written this September he attempted to answer the question he is sometimes asked by hurt and angry peo- ple, ‘Why do you stay in the Church?’ At the conclusion of his editorial he writes, ‘In the end, despite my anger, my sorrow, my sinfulness and the sins of oth- ers, I stay because I do care. Why do I remain a priest? This summer of scandals reminded me of something my father, a retired firefighter, said to me after the 9/11 attacks. “Those firefighters who died in New York”, Dad said, “they died running into the building. When there’s a fire, Matty, and lives are at stake, somebody has to run into the building.” I stay because the Church, in all its glory and misery, is the building God has made our home on earth. I remain a priest because somebody has to run into the building.’

Dec/Jan 2019 25

Baffled by the Church

Carlo Carretto (1910-1988), a member of the Little Brothers of Jesus, wrote this powerful meditation on his conflicting emotions before the mystery of the Church.

How baffling you are, oh Church, and yet how I love you! How you have made me suffer, and yet how much I owe you! At times, I have felt I would like to see you ruined, and yet I know I need your presence. You have given me so much scandal and yet you have made me understand what holiness is. I have seen nothing in the world more devoted to obscurity, more compromised, more false, and yet I have touched nothing more pure, more generous, more beautiful. How often I have wanted to shut the doors of my soul in your face, and how often I have prayed to die in the safety of your arms. No, I cannot free myself from you, because I am you, though not completely. And besides, where would I go? Would I establish another? I would not be able to establish it without the same faults, for they are the same faults I carry in me. And if I did establish another, it would be my church, not the Church of Christ. I am old enough to know that I am no better than anyone else. The Church has the power to make me holy but it is made up, from the first to the last, only of sinners. And what sinners! It has the omnipotent and invincible power to renew the Miracle of the Eucharist, but is made up of those who are stumbling in the dark, who must fight every day against the temptation of losing their faith. It brings a message of pure transparency but it is incarnated in mud, for such is the substance of the world. It speaks of the sweetness of its Master, of non-violence, but there was a time in history when it sent out its armies to disembowel the infidels and torture the heretics. It proclaims the message of evangelical poverty, and yet how often has it looked for money and alliances with the powerful. Those who dream of something different from this are wasting their time and have to rethink it all. And this proves that they do not understand humanity. Because this is humanity, made visible by the Church, with all its flaws and its invincible courage, with the faith that Christ has given it and with the love that Christ showers on it. When I was young, I did not understand why Jesus chose Peter as his successor, the first Pope, even though he abandoned him. Now I am no longer surprised and I understand that by founding his Church on the tomb of a traitor Jesus was warning each of us to remain humble, by making us aware of our fragility. And what are bricks worth anyway? What matters is the promise of Christ, what matters is the cement that unites the bricks, which is the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit is capable of building the Church with such poorly-moulded bricks as are we. And that is where the mystery lies. This mixture of good and bad, of greatness and misery, of holiness and sin that makes up the Church – this in reality I am. In all this, God is truly God, the only one who can ‘make everything new again’. It is not so important that he will renew heaven and earth. What is most important is that he will renew our hearts. This is Christ’s work. This is the divine Spirit of the Church. n

St Anthony Brief 26 Franciscans in the Peruvian Amazon

FAITH IN ACTION FR GEARÓID Ó CONAIRE, OFM

attended an international meeting of A Missionary Vocation the Franciscan Order held in Nairobi, Gearóid Ó Conaire José asked permission to go to Peru on a IIKenya, in June. Among the friars there OFM recently met a few occasions for short periods of time to from around the world was José de Jesus experience life in the Amazon before Caro OFM. He is a Colombian friar who is Colombian friar whose eventually deciding to commit several a missionary in the Peruvian Amazon. He years of his life to working there. He kindly agreed to share with me some mission led him to the wanted to discover what life and work experiences of missionary life for the read- there was really like. He had heard many ers of St Anthony Brief. remotest parts of the accounts, some of which weren’t convinc- José is a member of the St Paul ing, but he wanted to check them out for Province of Colombia, one of two Peruvian Amazon. himself, as well as discovering whether he Franciscan Provinces in that country. He would be able to adapt. became a Franciscan 40 years ago and Amazon, something similar to the appeal The Amazon has three different kinds for 20 of those years accompanied young made for Cuba more recently. In the past, of forest – low, medium and high. The Franciscans in different stages of their for- individual Franciscan Provinces organised Franciscans have worked there since the mative years. Then he worked in mission their own missions, like the Irish Provincial 1500s. The Amazon is located in nine of territories of Colombia, both on the out- missions to Australia, China, Africa and the twelve South American countries. 13% skirts of cities among the poor, as well as Central and South America. In more of Peru and 67% of Brazil forms part of in the countryside with indigenous peo- recent years, due to decrease in numbers, the Amazon. ples. especially in western countries, friars José was based in the city of He then responded to an appeal by inspired by God’s Spirit to participate in Requena, on the main river and tributaries the Order for friars to volunteer to form evangelisation projects abroad usually do of the Tapiche River. With a Brazilian friar part of an international fraternity in the so with Franciscans from other countries. he visited all the towns on this river. The

Dec/Jan 2019 27 levels of poverty and marginalisation he Gaining the People’s Trust experienced had a big impact on him. The He focused on working with one particular Peruvian state’s presence is minimal. ethnic group of indigenous people called Most of the services we take for granted in the Yagua, who lived in nine villages. the West, such as electricity, running These villages can take up to three days water, plumbing, health clinics, schools to reach from the town where he was and employment, etc, are absent. Looked based. Again, he encountered a reality of down upon for so long, many people are extreme misery. No pastoral agent, priest, ashamed to speak their own language. In religious or lay catechist had visited these this part of the world malaria is endemic. villages in 40 years. He visited 20 villages with an average He began to make friends with some of 20 families in each village. Families people who came to Caballo Cocha to sell generally have no official deeds for their fruit and, they in turn, introduced him to homes and property. The Church commu- others. They invited him to visit their vil- nity is very involved in helping people rec- lages. He visited every house in each of tify this situation. the villages, listening to the people, eating Slowly José began to get to know this whatever they offered – and often lived to complex reality. After a while he acquired regret it – and stayed with a different fam- some very practical knowledge in relation ily every night. He brought his mosquito Friar José: a dedicated net and sleeping bag. to the flora, fauna and species that inhabit missionary the Amazon. José is an agricultural engi- At the end of each day he used to neer by profession. invite the families to meet with him at topics, such as the life of Jesus, etc. After returning to Colombia for a night. He carried a computer, projector Children were the biggest fans of the pro- break, he eventually decided to commit and a small, solar-powered electricity gen- jected materials. In their lives, most people himself to work in the Vicariate of San erator. He would show films or documen- had never seen a film projected onto a José Amazonas, in a town called Caballo taries about different aspects of life, such screen. Cocha. The bishop is a Franciscan. From as on health (a balanced diet, the dangers Over weeks and months, he got to Iquitos, the main town, on a normal boat, of processed foods with excess sugar and know each one personally. Slowly but it takes two and a half days travelling day salt, the damage caused by alcohol), ecol- surely, he won over their trust and confi- and night by river to get there. On a more ogy (damage done by burning land before dence. He never entered into discussions. powerful boat it can take up to nine hours. sowing crops, the use of pesticides, the This preparatory work of building solid Twenty thousand people live in this city. use of plastic), on well-being, on religious relationships laid the ground to develop a plan of work to unite the villages between themselves. Although they were from the same tribe, each village was autonomous and did not communicate much. José spent four years visiting every village for two weeks, three or four times a year.

Becoming a Friend He eventually convoked the leaders of each village. The objective was to listen to them, to help them to get to know one another. Over the years the people went from calling him Father to Brother to José, one of the signs of the growing trust and confidence the people had in him. He also used to go with them to work in the fields or to fish alongside them. He listened to their stories, shared about himself and their mutually shared knowledge and skills. He learned about the fruit, medicines, animals, flowers and particu- larly about the dangerous snakes. He became their friend; he showed interest in what they shared. He became like a member of their families. However, these efforts came at a cost. He contracted many illnesses, rashes and regularly had intestinal infections. After Gaining trust: children of the Yagua people. building trust, he could then confidently

St Anthony Brief 28 refuse food by demonstrating theatrically women can have several men as partners. mining companies. In the case of how some varieties of food adversely Many men leave and the children are left Peru, in his part of the Amazon, the affect him. In other words, he could with the grandparents. state has given over large tracts of humorously refuse their offers without land to Chinese companies. This phe- them feeling belittled. Advice to Other Missionaries nomenon is repeated all over the José told me that he spent three years Coming close to the end of the conversa- Amazonian territory. One is constantly getting to know the people and the fourth tion I asked José to summarise what he trying to clarify one’s role in the region, year becoming their friend. had learned. so there is a dynamic process going As a friar he would only organise reli- 1. For him a missionary vocation is a way on which makes it difficult for the mis- gious celebrations when the people asked of life. It involves a lot of listening to sionary to stay in his or her comfort for them, such as baptisms, prayer meet- and sharing with people. One has to zone or bunker. One is constantly ask- ings and the Eucharist. He avoided impos- look for creative ways to present the ing: What is good for the people and ing anything. Good News of Jesus Christ. For the environment? Then, in dialogue example, as an artist and agricultural with others, this can lead to new ven- Every Tribe is Different engineer, he was able to use these tures or adaptations of older initia- He also worked with another tribe consist- mediums and skills to present Gospel tives? Over the years, he has come to ing of six villages. It was a very different values. The missionary must dedicate accept that no missionary is indispens- experience and, indeed, very difficult. It time to and focus on finding ways of able. was almost impossible to gain their trust. gaining people’s confidence. 4. The missionary needs the support of The main reason was due to the influence 2. For a Franciscan friar on mission, his others, both at home and abroad. He of drugs and trafficking of people. It is far lifestyle can be very different to living or she needs to build up a network of more economically beneficial to deal in in more traditional friaries. He must connections with NGOs, other religious drugs than in traditional methods of mak- assume the conditions of the people and Church organisations. The ing a living. By planting and selling fruit and deal with the vagaries of climate, Catholic Church in recent years has and vegetables a person could earn $3 of food, of cultural nuances and lan- developed an organisation that unites US dollars a day. By producing and selling guage etc. He must be patient and all the dioceses in the nine countries cocaine it was possible to earn $300 or learn to go with the rhythm of the peo- where the Amazon forest is present. It more per day. ple. He must assume the physical, is known as REPAM. In fact, Cardinal Most men dress in shorts, with no shirt emotional, psychological and spiritual Claudio Humes OFM, the retired and no shoes. Some of the villagers don’t consequences that arise as a result of Archbishop of San Pablo, in Brazil, is wear clothes. Like everywhere else a missionary insertion. the President and one of the co- involved in the drug trade, violence and 3. The missionary life involves itinerancy. founders of the organisation, along other kinds of disordered human One must get to know the reality of the with the recently named Cardinal behaviour follow closely behind. Family people and culture to whom one is Baretto SJ, from Peru. Pope Francis disintegration is normal. The traditional sent. For example, in the Amazon, has endorsed and is as strong sup- family unit of a man and woman with chil- there are a variety of tribes and socio- porter of this organization. dren has all but broken down. A man can economic and political challenges, have children with several women and the including the presence of multinational [email protected] n

Remote villages: Jose’s mission brings him to very isolated places.

Dec/Jan 2019 29 MISSION DIGEST

6O YEARS IN ZIMBABWE! On 6 October joyful celebrations took place at St Francis Church, Harare, Zimbabwe, to mark the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the first Irish friars in the country in 1958. A large assembly gathered with Bishop Raymond Mupandasekwa CSsR at the Mass where thanksgiving was offered for God’s blessings during the past decades, and petitions made for grace and guidance in the years ahead. n

St Anthony Brief 30 HOLY LAND

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

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

TA 0367 Living the Joy of the Gospel as a Franciscan

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