St Anthony Brief

IRISH FRANCISCAN MISSION MAGAZINE No .5 AuG/SEPt 2014 €1.00

God’s Word: A Path from Darkness to Light ✣ Kuron Peace Village ✣ Caring for Love Within Marriage Spirit and Life

EIGHT HUNDRED From souls made one in Christ, YEARS OF A fountain flows from hearts on fire PRAYERFUL With love for the Eternal Light, PRAISE Which draws us upward by the silence Deep within the listening heart. Written by an To be a voice for all Creation Irish Poor Clare Sister A harmony of Joyful Art.

THE FEAST OF To Him who gifted us with beauty, ST CLARE OF In sight and sound, in leaf and flower, IS CELEBRATED ON That we might ever sing the Glory 11 AUGUST. Of our God’s Almighty Power.

St Anthony Brief SStt AAnntthhoonnyy BBrriieeff

2 Spirit and Life. 4 From the Editor. God’s Word: A Path from Darkness to Light. Brid Caffrey 5 shares how encountering Christ in the Scriptures was a key part of her journey to healing from sexual abuse.

Maria Telgte Mission Revisited. After many years Gerry O’Reilly 8 OFM returns to Maria Telgte Mission, South Africa, to attend the funeral of its outstanding parish priest for 54 years, John Kerr OFM.

Kuron Peace Village. Sr Cathy Arata, School Sister of Notre 10 Dame, is part of the inter-congregational missionary project, Solidarity with South Sudan. She works for peace and reconciliation. 12 Church Brief. The and the Bishops. Marko Phiri reflects on the different 13 responses to Pope Francis’ recent meeting with the Bishops of Zimbabwe.

Caring for Love Within Marriage. True love – as opposed to 14 falling in love – never ends, writes Hieronim Bartlomiej Stypa OFM. A special synod on marriage takes place in Rome this October. 15 The Order Grows in Zimbabwe. Food for Thought! Joining Slimming World to shed some pounds 16 gave Sr Mary Burke FMDM insight into deeper things. 18 A Golden Thread of Love. 19 La Verna Retreat Centre. Twelve Rays of Empowering Grace. In this Jubilee Year of the 20 Holy Name of Jesus, Pat Conlan OFM looks at how the IHS monogram was used to teach the path to Christian holiness. Volume 74 No.5 Missionary Magazine of the Irish . Published bi-monthly by News from Around the Franciscan World. the Franciscan Missionary Union, 22 8 Merchants Quay, Dublin 8. From Cash Counter to Altar for Fr David. Sarah Horgan writes Editor: Fr Bernard Jones OFM. 23 of the faith journey of David Collins OFM who was ordained priest Production: Fr Francis Cotter OFM. in Cork friary on 24 May. Subscription & Distribution Secretary: Helen Doran. Tel: (01) 6777651. A Radical Pope! Francis Cotter OFM reflects on the daring vision Design, Layout & Printing: 24 of Christian life and mission that Pope Francis is putting before us. Corcoran Print & Design. Tel: (053) 9234760. Franciscans and the Pueblo Peoples of New Mexico. Gearóid Subscription including Postage: Ó Conaire OFM recently got the opportunity to look at the ’ Ireland – €12.00 per annum 27 Britain – Stg£12.00 per annum ministry among the Pueblo Peoples of New Mexico. Overseas – €15.00 per annum Front cover : Alfigio Tunha, Michael Mission Digest. Ordinations in Harare. Perry (Minister General), and Onward 30 Murape at the Irish Provincial Chapter. Letters to the Editor. Aug/Sept 2014 31 3 From the Editor e Wisdom of Nature Nature is a great teacher and healer if we take the time to observe and allow its beauty to touch us. All is given to us by the hand of Fr Bernard Jones the Creator, the Giver of all that is good. We see in the animal world how well nature cares for her young, protecting them, feed - ing them and teaching them the knowledge they will need to grow and survive. How much more will God provide to you and me who are made in His image and likeness! As the Psalmist prays: “For it was you who created my being, Knit me together in my mother’s womb, I thank you for the wonder of my being, For the wonders of all your creation.” Soon we will be approaching autumn when nature starts to prepare for the winter. We can be assured that the God of love is watching over all of us in all the seasons of our lives. The following prayer expresses this faith vision: “God of the seasons, there is a time for everything; there is a time for dying and a time for rising. We need courage to enter into the transformation process. God of autumn, the trees are saying goodbye to their green, letting go of what has been. We too have our moments of surrender with all their insecurity and risk. Help us to let go when we need to do so. God of fallen leaves, lying in coloured patterns on the ground, our lives have their own pat - terns. As we see the patterns of our own growth, may we learn from them. God of birds, going south for another season, your wisdom enables us to know what needs to be left behind and what needs to be carried into the future. We yearn for insight and vision. God of flowers, touched with frost and windows wearing white designs, may your love keep our hearts from growing cold in the empty seasons. God of life, you believe in us, you enrich us, and entrust us with the freedom to choose life. For all this, we are grateful. Amen.” – Bernard Jones OFM ([email protected])

St Anthony Brief 4 God’s Word: A Path from Darkness to Light

Brid Caffrey shares how encountering Christ in the Scriptures was a key part of her journey to healing from sexual abuse.

y personal journey from the that the Church will listen and learn to walk I just knew I did not want to be this way trauma of abuse to healing and with people on their journey and thus heal but did not know where to start. I said to MMhope has taught me much about the whole body of the Church before more Jesus one day in a last effort of hope: “If the kind of ministry that can bring Christ to limbs fall off. you really care for me and can bring me people. And also the kind of ministry that is Most times I am like Peter in Matthew’s your peace as you promised: ‘Peace I doomed from the beginning. I wish to point Gospel, chapter 14, when he took a step leave you; my peace I give you. I do not a direction for the kind of ministry I believe out of the boat when Jesus asked him to give as the world gives. Do not let your will genuinely help people to recognise do so but when he started to walk he took hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ God in their lives. I know that, at its best, fright and began to sink crying out: “Lord Prove it and send me someone to help me pastoral ministry involves a deep human save me”. And Jesus put his hand out and to heal my life and not bring a legacy of bit - encounter in which people are willing to put helped him saying: “Man of little faith, why terness to my family and those in my life their own fear and doubt, hope and do you doubt?” In times when I fear or who are special to me.” Believe it or not, despair, light and darkness, at the disposal doubt a decision I reach out also to Jesus my cry of anguish was heard and for years of others. In this way they help others to and Jesus takes my hand and leads me on now I have had the company of a special find a way through their confusion and the right path. It is in this light that I am person, my counsellor, walking my journey reach the solid core of life. The very ele - sharing my journey of faith from forgive - with me. ment that is most personal and unique in ness to new life. He helped me to acknowledge how each one of us, if only we have the angry and hurt I was and most important courage to share it, is probably that which The Grace to Forgive that I had the right to be so and it was not can speak most deeply to others. It is the The freedom and growth comes with the my fault in anyway. I remember the day I nature of things that we heal others special gift of the ability to forgive. As forgave the priest who was the main through our own wounds. We are all someone who has realised the freedom source of my anger and hurt. I just handed “wounded healers” – as Henri Nouwen puts that comes from forgiveness I just want him over to Jesus and asked Him to help it. to share my long road to gaining this gift this person as He had helped me through By entering into communion with with people who are still in great pain my counsellor who is also a priest. I for - human suffering, by sharing with others our and anger. I realise now that for years I gave him not because he deserved it but own painful struggles, we give relief and was using almost all my energy being because I deserved to be set free from the we experience relief ourselves. We are all angry due to past hurts. I was all over power he was having over me in such feel - tempted to cling to who we are and what the place – irrationally angry with lots of ings of anger and rage. I am now open to a we have. Christian hope frees us to move people and giving off an aura of anger, new life – openness and peace of mind, away from safe but arid oases and enter sadness and really being sick in mind, soul and body. He does not affect my life unknown and fearful territory. My hope is soul and body. anymore.

Aug/Sept 2014 5 This does not mean that I have forgot - Through Lectio Divina I have experi - of water welling up to eternal life (John ten my hurts and anger but have learned to enced God at work in the world saying and 4:14). We will taste a joy that will never dry remember them in a way that does not doing what God did in the Scriptures. By up, because the grace of the Bible garden damage me. I cannot or did not choose the entering into the Gospel stories I could is inexhaustible.” events of my life but I can become aware recognise the Bible stories in my own life of my attitude to them and throw out old and see where God was at work. Through Forgiveness and Healing harmful thoughts as soon as they come meditation on this experience I often came These are some of the reasons why Lectio into my head. I no longer hold a grudge or to wisdom and in the depths of my heart I Divina has given me such joy and freedom. desire revenge against this man because I could say: “What a wise way to live.” I feel one of the reasons why I was drawn reported his actions in order to save others. Wisdom moments were often very exciting. to Lectio Divina was to help me in my Seeking justice is not the same as seeking St Bernard says of Lectio Divina: “It is search and understanding of how to deal revenge. reading that bears a love message for me, with my life, especially in regards to the from God who speaks to me.” This form of hurts and confusion arising from my abuse. Lectio Divina prayer has been practised by monks for Jesus answered my prayer again. He Through Lectio Divina I have realised that hundreds of years as shown by this quote reached out to sinners and His last words forgiveness is one of the central themes in from St John Damascine – an 8th century on the Cross were ones of forgiveness. the life of Jesus who did not just teach it monk. “The Bible is a scented garden, There are many texts in the Bible that but He also lived it. Lectio Divina – “Sacred delightful, beautiful. It enchants our ears speak of forgiveness. “But there is forgive - Reading” – is a meditative and prayerful with birdsong in a sweet, spiritual harmony; ness with you so that you may be revered” reading of the Bible. This was the way the it touches our heart, comforts us in sorrow, (Psalm 130:4). “Consider my affliction and Scriptures were used in the Christian smoothes us in a moment of anger and fills my trouble and forgive all my sins” (Psalm Church for most of the first millennium. It us with eternal joy. Let us knock at the 25:18). “Do not judge and you will not be helps us to deepen our personal relation - gate with diligence and perseverance. Let judged. Do not condemn and you will not ship with God in prayer. Lectio Divina can us not be discouraged from knocking. The be condemned. Forgive and you will be for - be practised by all irrespective of educa - latch will be opened. If we have read a given, give and it will be given to you. A tional background. It is particularly helpful page of the Bible two or three times and good measure, pressed down, shaken to those who lead busy and distracted lives not understood it, let us not become tired of together, running over, will be put into your and would find it difficult to set aside a lot re-reading it and meditating on it. Let us lap; for the measure you give will be the of time either for formal prayer or study. seek in the fountain of this garden a spring measure you get back” (Luke 6:37-38).

Lectio Divina Steps 1. Read and re-read the Gospel in question. Read it slowly. 2. Meditate. Read the Gospel as being spoken directly to you now. Search for an experience in your life that is similar to what the reading is saying. 3. Pray. Make a prayer that brings the experience you have recalled into mind. This may take the form of prayers of joy, thanksgiving, or reparation. 4. Attitude. “Speak Lord your servant is Listening” more than “Listen Lord your servant is speaking”.

St Anthony Brief 6 Freedom and peace: Our world needs forgiveness. People the divine gift. need healing. The Word invites us to be open to the possibility that God offers these gifts of forgiveness in a variety of forms as He did for me. There is a God-given wis - dom in the request to forgive those who harm us. First because we need to free ourselves from the burden of anger and hurt; secondly, because those who hurt us are still human beings in need of God’s mercy and peace. It takes energy to keep anger alive. It is actually exhausting and is not life giving. It also gives power to the one who hurt us. I gave anger a lot of space in my life. It was only when I realised how angry I was and when I let myself feel it in as much as I wanted that I realised how I had put it into a deep place for years. It came out in my body in different ways – headaches, fear, bad dreams and lack of energy. I did not realise how deep I had buried it. It pre - vented me from doing lots of things as I was afraid of what I would do or say. Being free of anger is really great. I feel now as if forgiveness and mercy and then make our Henri Nouwen wrote: “Hope pre - my blood is flowing freely through my veins decision? In the end some may never be vents us from clinging to what we have and I have a lot more energy. able to forgive. We must try to respect and frees us to move away from the In hating we continue to punish our - each other. Those who are able to forgive safe place and enter unknown and fear - selves because we are hanging on to the and move on can support each other espe - ful territory.” I am very grateful for the poison of the damage that was done to us. I cially when there is so much negative wonderful energy and life I have found did not need to be reconciled with this man energy around. They can bring along with through the understanding and belief in in order to forgive him. He is now dead but I them those who wish to come. We must try me by my husband and sons and other would like to have told him how his actions also to understand and stand by those who special people who have come into my had a negative influence on my life, in the are not ready to forgive and give them life and have given me understanding way that I find it hard to trust people espe - time. We are all at a different stage on our and support and have helped me to cially people in authority. And also I had a journey. Growth can be painful but when become the beautiful emerging butterfly. loss of belief in myself for years and years. I we travel together with people we have I feel so at home now and hope I can would have wanted to let him know that I learnt to trust, we come to appreciate the continue to bring this peace and hope forgive him and pray for him, for his peace freedom and peace that we enjoy from to people who have lost hope and belief of mind, soul and body. I also wanted to let having the divine gift of forgiveness. in themselves. n him know the power of the words: “I am sorry, forgive me.” True forgiveness is for keeps. There is no going back for I know I WE ARE LOOKING FOR PROMOTERS OF OUR MONTHLY DRAW have to keep on working on it as I recog - We are looking for supporters of our mission who will take one book of tickets a month. nise the peace of mind it brings. It allows Please help us. Buy a book yourself. Write for a book to sell to your friends. me to see people in the light, in their own Will you buy or sell for us: wounded-ness and absence of peace. Book of 20 Tickets = €16.00. Return €10.00; keep €6.00. Thank you for supporting us in all the ways you do already. Our Address is: 8 Merchants Quay, Dublin 8. Transformed My life has now been transformed through Please send me ...... Books for Next Draw the Word of God in the Bible and by learn - ing to trust in God and in people and realis - Name: ...... ing that with our gift of faith in Jesus we Address: ...... can be like the butterfly who eats nothing but drinks the nectar of Divine Love...... How can we move from “Crucify him, burn him, punish him” to helping each other Phone No: ...... to relax for a while to explore the beauty of

Aug/Sept 2014 7 Fr John at his beloved mission. Maria telgte Mission Revisited After many years Gerry O’Reilly OFM returns to Maria Telgte Mission, South Africa, to attend the funeral of its outstanding parish priest for 54 years, John Kerr OFM .

he occasion of my revisiting Franciscan novitiate in Killarney in Trappists and staffed later on by Marianhill Kokstad town and Maria Telgte September 1951, was professed in the priests, brothers and sisters. They did a TTMission was for the funeral of Fr Order the following year and was ordained magnificent job in building the church of cut John Kerr OFM. A group of friars who a priest in Rome in 1958. Two years later stone, the convent and the priests’ house. were on retreat left for the funeral early on he joined the Franciscan friars and broth - At that time the parish comprised thou - 19 June 2014. I had forgotten the beauty ers in the diocese of Kokstad. John sands of Xhosa speaking people. The of the mountains and landscape of the learned the local language of the people, chief’s surname was Makhoba and the Eastern Cape. We travelled up hills and IsiXhosa, very well. Bishop John area was called after the chief. down into beautiful valleys, through Ngele Evangelist McBride OFM, Bishop of and Weza forests before arriving at Kokstad, was very happy when John Removal Kokstad. Kokstad town has changed so accepted his appointment to go as parish Unfortunately, with the advent of Dr much in 24 years. It is now a big shopping priest to Maria Telgte Mission. Maria Verwoerd’s policy of separate development centre for the surrounding towns and vil - Telgte Mission had a long and glorious and apartheid, the local people were lages, and farms. St Patrick’s Cathedral history. It was built by the German forcibly removed and transferred to what is with its twin towers, and the now called New Makhoba, approximately Holy Sisters Convent, 50 kilometres away. Their land was given which is now the diocesan to white farmers. This was a very painful centre, still stand out as experience for the people. They left behind landmarks. But there was their homes, the graves of their families no time to stop and admire and friends, and their fields as they were and reminisce. We were transplanted into a new area. The pain was going to the funeral of one so great that the people did not want to of our outstanding build new homes. The priest assigned to Franciscan missionaries, the congregation was a German John Baptist Kerr. Franciscan, Fr Goshawk. He understood Fr John Baptist Kerr their pain and reluctance to settle down in (he was baptised Thomas) New Makhoba. In an effort to ease the pain was born in Co. Louth in and help stabilise the community he built a 1929. He entered the primary school for them. It comprised of

Maria Telgte Mission.

St Anthony Brief 8 five well-built classrooms that still stand John came into his own. He saw the injus - rooms, refectory, sleeping quarters, houses today. It doubled up as a church on tice of the situation. He did not enter the for the teachers, and a large assembly hall. Sundays. That was the situation Irish political fray directly; but indirectly he got There is nothing fancy or lavish about any Franciscans Fr Egbert O’Dea and Fr Tony involved. He saw the need for education of of the buildings. They are all basic, with Hardiman found in 1969. They continued the farm children and he opened a school water tanks attached to the gutters to col - the policy of Fr Goshawk. The government at Maria Telgte Mission, and became man - lect the rain water for cooking and wash - initially paid the teachers, but changed ager of other farm schools. At his funeral, ing. Building the assembly hall was his last their policy when the Catholic Church took many of the older people spoke of John’s major work. And it was fitting that his a very strong stance against apartheid dedication to get good teachers who would funeral Mass took place in this hall, which calling it “essentially evil”. give the children a solid education. He was was filled to capacity with colleagues, The bishops of South Africa, led by dedicated to giving these children in pri - friends, parishioners, local farmers, educa - Denis Hurley OMI, launched a mary school the best education that he tors and children. The older people remi - Lenten campaign to collect funds to pay could in the circumstances. nisced about John’s labours and achieve - the teachers and keep the schools open. Soon he saw that the children had to ments. They spoke of a very disciplined There was an overwhelming positive walk to and from school, and the idea man, a man of faith and principle, a man response from Catholics throughout South grew in his head of setting up a boarding who fulfilled his dream. He left this world, Africa. But alas it did not last. I hesitate to school for these children. Over his 54 his world, Maria Telgte Mission, a much say that it was a once-off but the succes - years at Maria Telgte he built a boarding better place than he found. Over his sive Lenten appeals for the Catholic school for the children. Every cent he decades there thousands of children were schools dwindled and the bishops had received went into the realisation of his educated at Maria Telgte Mission due to many other rods in the fire fighting dream to give the children the best oppor - the single-minded, careful and thrifty super - apartheid that needed funding. tunity to grow up proud of themselves. vision of this dedicated Irish Franciscan. The education John helped to provide for His nephew and niece from Ireland Education many of them was the stepping stone to were present as the 300 schoolchildren Back at the now abandoned Maria Telgte secondary education and a better way of formed a guard of honour to the mission Mission things had fallen into disrepair. life. He kept boarding fees to a bare mini - church built by the Trappists Monks. This was the situation Fr John found when mum. He produced as much food as pos - There he was laid to rest in the rocky he re-opened the mission in 1960. After sible on the farm to feed the children. ground, next to two of his former cate - the African people were removed to New chists, whom he had buried in 1970 and Makhoba, their land became farmland for Dedication 1972. May his dream be continued by white farmers. It was used for grazing cat - Revisiting Maria Telgte mission after all those who will try to fill his big shoes. He tle and growing maize. There were many the years I was amazed at the buildings indeed has reason to rest with the Risen labourers on the farms. This was when John had succeeded in building: class - Lord in His Kingdom. n

The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop this beautiful place during which the Charles Brown, joined a large gather - Gospel was preached by the ing on 5 July to celebrate the 600th Franciscan friars. It is a great joy to anniversary of the foundation of St have so many Franciscans with us this Francis Abbey, located by the afternoon, including the Provincial Fr Shannon at Meelick, Co. Galway. Hugh McKenna and many of the Founded in 1414, the church is now Franciscans with him, men whose pre - part of the parish of Eyrecourt. decessors came here to Meelick and Preaching the homily Archbishop brought the faith, preached the faith, Brown said: “Today we celebrate six and celebrated holy Mass in this place centuries of prayer, of holy Mass in for centuries.” n

Right: Friars Pat Conlan, Hugh McKenna (Provincial) and Brian Allen with Papal Nuncio Archbishop Brown, local clergy and some of the Pic: Gerry Stronge Photography (www.stronges.ie) organising group.

Aug/Sept 2014 9 Kuron Peace Village Sr Cathy Arata, School Sister of Notre Dame, is part of the inter-congrega - tional missionary project, Solidarity with South Sudan. In a country torn apart by a terrible civil war she works for peace and reconciliation.

went to Kuron as part of a personal pil - cians and whatever/whoever is needed to report but rather a reflection on that visit. grimage to pray for peace. The longer keep all the programmes alive and mov - Human nature is made for “one-ness”; for III live in this world of ours, the more ing. Many of these people are from unity, for union. It is not made for war, divi - convinced I am that peace-building is a Kenya and Uganda. They came at the sion and violence. Kuron Peace Village is a spiritual venture more than a political one. request of Bishop Taban to share their place where the commitment to be a For true peace to come a conversion of skills with their South Sudanese friends builder of peace, a peace-maker is not an heart is needed. Prayer helps us to pre - so that one day those South Sudanese empty promise but a way of life. What do pare ourselves for this action of God in us. will be able to teach those skills in their they learn at Kuron? In the nursery school The power of prayer also enables us, in own communities. children of four to six years learn how to ways that we do not understand, to pre - plant a garden and take care if it. The pare others for that encounter with God. A Reflection young people learn how to use theatre for Holy Trinity Peace Village is a good I had the opportunity to visit Kuron in June teaching about the culture and the things in example of what comes about when 2014. What follows here is not so much a the culture that are fair and those that are someone who has a dream makes that dream a reality. The “someone” is Bishop Paride Taban, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Torit in South Sudan. His dream was a simple one: people of differ - ent backgrounds, different ethnic cultures can live together in peace and harmony when they respect each other. Bishop Taban saw the Kuron area in Eastern Equatoria as an ideal place for a peace village. The Toposa people in Eastern Equatoria are simple people who until recently did not wear clothes, did not value education and believed in witch doc - tors to cure their diseases. They have been known to be cattle raiders and revengeful toward their “enemies”. Kuron Peace Village is staffed by Children more than 50 people who serve as teach - at the ers, nurses, drivers, cooks, maintenance primary workers, catechists, agriculture techni - school

St Anthony Brief 10 The founder – Bishop Kuron Peace Village Taban.

not fair. The women learn that they have ship building. They might not have under - dignity and that no woman should accept stood the political dimensions of beating from a man. The men are learning Ambassador Paige’s visit but they did that there is more to life than cattle raiding understand that she cared enough to and that there are other ways to settle dis - make the journey, and that made all the putes. But more than this, they learn what difference in the world. it means to be human, to have a human My heart was touched those days that heart. They learn that they are all brothers I was in Kuron. I hope to return there and and sisters. They learn how to live in com - perhaps spend a longer time in praying for munity considering not only their own peace, “the peace that the world cannot needs but the needs of others. give”. Kuron Peace Village is a place Kuron Village is far from any other where “the reign of God is already break - place and in the rainy season (May- ing into the world, and it comes, not as an November) the only way to get there is by imposition from on high, but in the leaven plane. When I visited the health clinic, the slowly coming through the dough to rise” nurse told me a story. Last year there was (Walter Wink, The Powers That Be ). a woman who was pregnant and who lived have a vocation to be brother and sister to far from the clinic. She began to have An Afterthought one another. The entire Gospel perhaps problems when it was time to deliver so This is not my country. This is not my cul - could be summed up in “Love one another her husband put her in a wheelbarrow and ture. This is not my language. These are as I have loved you.” As I write, we cele - brought her to the clinic. It took three days! not my people. But somehow what binds brate the feast of Corpus Christi; a good day The baby was born alive but died within us together is stronger than blood, to reflect on the Body of Christ in our midst. three hours. There is pain and joy to be stronger than family, stronger than nation - I end this reflection with a quote from shared. Being human we learn how to ality! The Spirit of God makes us one. And Discernment for Troubled Times by Dean share that pain and love with one another. we are all called to that oneness for which Brackley: “We do not desire any more pain Jesus Christ was sent. “And all this is from in the world. We simply want and need to Positive Relationships God, who has reconciled us to Himself share the pain that is there, in order to About 40 chiefs and elders showed up on through Christ and given us the message lighten the load for all of us. We want to be the parish compound to welcome home of reconciliation, namely God was recon - more and more part of humanity’s march, Bishop Taban. He had been away for ciling the world to Himself in Christ, not with its sufferings, its hopes and its joys. quite some time negotiating with one of counting their trespasses against them” (2 For unless we share in the suffering of the the rebel commanders. They came in their Corinthians 5:18). world, its beauty cannot heal us and solidar - traditional dress with lots of beads and Indeed, we are our brother and sisters’ ity cannot fill its void.” sang and danced for him. Some had keepers, as Pope Francis reminded us in Check out: www.kuronvillage.net/ walked 45km to get there. The people his World Day of Peace Message. We and www.solidarityssudan.org n recognise what he has done to improve their lives not only in a material dimension but more so on the human/spiritual level. God’s Beauty Peace is built on relationships. Kuron is a place of building positive relationships; in Nature relationships with neighbours, family, cre - This book is a celebration ation and God, and even with oneself. It is of God’s splendour a place to learn how to mend those rela - mirrored in His creation. tionships when they are broken. It is composed of beautiful During the time that we were at Kuron, the US Ambassador to South Sudan, photos from around Susan Paige, came for a visit. She arrived Ireland, taken by Richard by helicopter, spent a few hours visiting Callanan OFM, with short the school, clinic, vocational training quotations from various school and even went to the Carter Centre sources. It is available from where they are working on eliminating the the Franciscan friaries in guinea worm. The people were delighted Ireland (€10). n with her visit, another example of relation -

Aug/Sept 2014 11 Church Brief

teaching and philosophy from the Libera Migrant children: thousands detained. Università Maria Santissima Assunta (LUMSA). She then studied theology at the Pontifical University Antonianum where she had studied from 1983 to 1987, obtaining a degree in 1996 and then a PhD with a thesis on “The Holy Spirit in Riccardo di San Vittore’s De Trinitate” pub - lished in 2001.

New Bishop: Vincent Zungu OFM Franciscan Vincent Mduduzi Zungu OFM, 48, was ordained the Bishop of Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 28 June 2014, at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University by Pope Defends Immigrants First Female Rector Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town. Pope Francis has called for the protection The Vatican has appointed Franciscan He was born in 1966 in the village of of tens of thousands of unaccompanied Sister, Sr Mary Melone, as the first ever Mbongolwane in the Diocese of Eshowe. children who have been streaming across Rector of a Pontifical University. She was He entered the Franciscan Order in1988 the Mexican border into the United States. appointed head of our Franciscan and was ordained a priest in 1995. He The Pope said in a message to a collo - University in Rome where many Irish later obtained a Licentiate in Moral quium on migration and development tak - Franciscans studied in past decades. She Theology at the Catholic University of ing place in Mexico that the humanitarian was the first woman to obtain a permanent Strasbourg, France. Since ordination he emergency requires "as a first urgent mea - position as a professor at the Faculty of has served in various roles, including sure" that these children be "welcomed Theology of the Pontifical University priest in Hardenberg Mission, Master of and protected". US authorities have Antonianum, the Roman university run by Novices, Professor of Moral Theology at detained some 57,000 unaccompanied the Franciscan Order; she was the first the St John Vianney Major Seminary, and minors since October, twice the number woman to be appointed a dean, which is Provincial of the Franciscans in South from the same period a year ago. Mexican equivalent to the position of department Africa. More recently he has been Definitor authorities have picked up 8,000 child head and now she is the first woman to General for Africa and the Middle East, migrants in the first five months of the become a rector of a pontifical university in residing in Rome at the Franciscan Curia. year, and more than half of them were the Eternal City. Sr Mary was born in La He now joins the two other Franciscan traveling by themselves. The immigrant Spezia in 1964. After finishing school with bishops in South Africa – Cardinal Wilfrid children have been fleeing strife in Central a specialisation in classics, she joined the Napier of Port Elizabeth and Archbishop America, while others are thought to be Franciscan Sisters of Blessed Angelina. In William Slattery of Pretoria. n motivated by a desire to reunite with family 1992 she graduated with a degree in in the US. The Pope said the challenge "demands the attention of the entire inter - Sr Mary national community so that new forms of Melone legal and secure migration may be adopted". He pointed out that migration is still widely seen as an emergency, but has Bishop actually now become "a hallmark of our Vincent society and a challenge". Francis repeated Zungu that attitudes towards migrants must OFM change, moving away from "defensiveness and fear, indifference and marginalisation – all typical of a throwaway culture – towards attitudes based on a culture of encounter, the only culture capable of building a better, more just and fraternal world".

St Anthony Brief 12 Marko Phiri reflects on the different the responses to Pope Francis’ recent meeting with the Bishops of Pope Zimbabwe. hen Pope Francis met with and the Zimbabwean Catholic bishops WWon 2 June this year during their formal ad limina visit to the , the different news organisations in Zimbabwe reported on the meeting so differently that Bishops discerning readers were left asking what exactly the Pope’s views on Zimbabwe are. The different reporting by various news outlets is an old journalistic tradition where a paper’s political agenda has over - bearing influence on framing news. Yet because this is the Pope being reported, one would have expected no ambiguity in his message to the people of Zimbabwe. A government paper for example said the Pope had “predicted prosperity for Zimbabwe” in its story, as would be expected from a news outlet controlled by Zimbabwe: for many the the government. A privately-run online hardship continues. Zimbabwean news portal ran a story with the headline “Pope on Zim: many have reached limit”. It was obvious from the A Pope’s views on Zimbabwe – and The Pope this year met with President tone of the headline that readers would indeed any country facing a crisis – would Mugabe very briefly in Rome at the canon - conclude the Pope wanted more radical be big news. Here it takes on its own par - isations of Pope John XXIII and John Paul action in Zimbabwe, the kind of action the ticular elements in a country where the II. There were all kinds of online outrage authorities would quickly call “regime same bishops who met Pope Francis about why the Vatican “keeps entertaining” change agenda”. But down a few para - have, on the one hand, been vilified by the the man accused of ruining an African graphs, the same story added: “Pope state media and, on the other hand, jewel. But if public sentiment were to be Francis said he was aware that ‘many peo - praised as human rights champions by the adopted in international diplomacy, one ple have reached their human limit’ but independent press. can only shudder to imagine the kind of urged the bishops to help promote unity This recalls the pre-independence dystopia we would live in! However and peace.” Of course the Pope would be Catholic Bishops’ Conference and its fight Zimbabweans can be left in no doubt that expected to say that, yet the kind of report - against minority rule. Then a bishop could the Pope is aware of their hardships. In his ing that local advocacy journalism churns be summarily expelled from the country for talk he made reference to the 2007 pas - out would certainly have expected harsher speaking up for the black majority. toral letter issued by the Zimbabwe words directed at Robert Mugabe! The Journalists who wrote scathingly against Catholic Bishops’ Conference: “In the exer - state press perhaps predictably looked for the then Rhodesian government were cise of your prophetic ministry, you gave a more positive spin to the Pope’s either thrown into gaol or forced into exile. dramatic voice to all the struggling people address. Yet because of the ironies of Zimbabwe’s of your country, especially to the downtrod - Reading these stories one thought post-independence narrative, the present den and the refugees. I think particularly of about the “Zimbabwean crisis” as it has authorities have not hesitated to harass your 2007 Pastoral Letter God Hears the been called for almost two decades and indigenous priests and bishops, with Cry of the Oppressed .” Then Pope Francis what religious leaders can contribute and charges that if they (the clergy) want to quoted a line from that document: “The have contributed towards its resolution and enter politics they must come out in the suffering people of Zimbabwe are groaning the betterment of the people’s lives. The open and quit the priesthood! It is strange in agony: ‘Watchman, how much longer story’s reporting showed the polarisation of in a country where the political leadership the night?’” n the Zimbabwean media that has charac - claims Christian/Catholic upbringing. But The full text of Pope Francis’ address to terised the industry since the turn of the then in making political decisions this the bishops is on the Vatican website: millennium. seems to have no bearing at all. www.vatican.va

Aug/Sept 2014 13 Caring for Love Within Marriage

hristian marriage is based on the True love - as opposed to falling in love - never ends, understanding that love is so pre - CCcious to God that Jesus instituted writes Hieronim Bartlomiej Stypa OFM, a Polish it as a sacrament. Christian marriage is who studied in Ireland this past year. He reflects therefore a living reality where God is especially present with His grace, and on how couples can sustain their love. A special synod continually supports those spouses who on marriage takes place in Rome this October. are open to His presence in their lives. The greatest guarantee for the develop - ship and put in the effort to do so each other. They will be able to overcome ment of marital love, and an increase in day will the power flowing from the sacra - weariness in their relationship. True love – mutual trust between spouses, is their ment of marriage fully transform their com - as opposed to falling in love – never ends. common prayer, which in time can be mon life. It is this which allows them to Building a relationship is sometimes a observed and passed on to their children. become a selfless gift to one other. very complex process and certainly Spouses who are united together in prayer requires mutual humility and patience in and participate together in the Eucharist Constant Process getting to know each other and respecting will be filled with mutual respect for each We know that nobody is born a perfect differences. other and will be able to talk to each other spouse or parent because people learn One can never forget that marriage with the language of love. This will help true love throughout their whole life. This often requires a daily confirmation of love them to forgive each other in times of trial. growth in faithful and irrevocable love is a by a husband and wife. A woman usually In this way their friendship with God helps constant process – first during the dating does this almost "instinctively" and in an to make these family members a true period, and later in the marriage relation - easily noticeable manner: talking, smiling, “domestic church” in which all are blessed ship. The woman and the man, who plan showing sensitivity, caring for the individ - and everyone can learn true selfless love to live together, must remember that their ual family members, etc. The wife, again from Christ. love must be jointly formed. And this love usually, takes care of her husband and However, in accordance with the state - should be based on mutual respect for the children not only when she cooks, cleans, ment of St Thomas Aquinas that “grace autonomy of the other in the areas of washes or irons (most housework is still builds on nature”, spouses must always body, feelings and spirit. done by mothers!), but even more so remember that they are responsible for In this union they will then see not only when she consoles, supports, exhorts and the continual development of this love their love increase but also their joy and prays for those she loves. The husband which needs to mature through specific tenderness. Working on their relationship usually shows his support to her through signs of mutual interest. Only if the hus - will help them during the passage of time his signs of love; not only by his presence band and wife take care of their relation - so they do not stop caring about each and diligence, but also by his sensitivity,

St Anthony Brief 14 patience and by seeking to protect her For others, some place a particular impor - Frequently wives expect from their and the family. tance on the words which they need to husbands that they should be a handy - hear: "I love you" or “you are the most man, while husbands appreciate it when Five Languages of Love precious person in the world". People like the wife is generous in taking care of Dr Gary Chapman writes of the five lan - to be praised, receive compliments and household needs. Such a person, more guages of love – touch, speech, presence, personal acceptance, and this needs to be than the sensitive word or a hug, appreci - help and the giving of gifts. Spouses can given in a caressing way. Such assur - ates actions, for example, repairing the consciously use these “languages” as ances will be received with an open heart. tap or preparing a favourite meal for your ways of expressing their love; this shapes When a spouse either does not hear the spouse. and deepens their relationship. If the words of love or receive any signs of love It is also important that there is a spouse wants the other spouse to feel and acceptance, they may feel unloved or mutuality between spouses in acknowl - really loved, they should know exactly undervalued. edging key times together – birthdays, what signs of love are the most important It is important to spend time with your anniversaries, Christmas, etc, and that for them. Honest dialogue is a key factor spouse. It doesn’t matter what you do both spouses give and receive gifts at in every relationship. To be able to share together, or how you spend your time – these times. with each other: "I feel most loved when...” the important thing is that you do it There is no set formula in how couples is a sign of a good relationship and deep - together, share your love, your interests should relate to each other, as what works ens it. and your concern. for one couple may not work for the other. Some people feel truly loved when For some couples, verbally expressing What is important is that each couple finds someone hugs them, kisses them or holds their love may be difficult, but they can a method for expressing their own particu - their hand. They can receive these ges - show it through their actions; for example, lar and individual love within their relation - tures many times during the day. When making a cup of tea, doing some work ship. In doing this, not only will it the person does not experience these around the house, helping the spouse with strengthen their relationship, but it will also signs of love, they can often feel unloved. any jobs which need to be done. help unify them in marriage. n

The Order Grows in Zimbabwe NOvIcES: Twelve novices were received into the joint novitiate by the Custos, Alfigio Tunha, at St Anthony’s Mission, Gandachibvuva, Zimbabwe on the 13 June, the feast of St Anthony of Padua. The six Zimbabwean novices are in the back row; the six novices from South Africa are in the front row. POSTULANTS: Ten new postulants began their Postulancy programme in February this year at Nharira Mission. They are pictured with Mercy Kaviza who assists with their classes.

Aug/Sept 2014 15 Food for ought!

a fresh look sr mary burke, fmDm

Joining Slimming World to shed some pounds gave Sr Mary Burke FMDM insight into deeper things.

ver six months ago, I made a The reali - decision about something I had sation that OOstruggled with for a number of the journey to join me in my efforts to lose weight was, years. I decided that I needed to lose a healthier and is, a great help to my appreciating weight and, having tried many times on body could not be anew the companions God has given me my own, I knew that I needed help from made alone (I have tried on my spiritual journey. beyond myself. So, I took a momentous before!) has made me As with my efforts to “be less” – there step and joined the local Slimming World. look at the support com - were weeks when the scales stayed the In these last six to seven months I have panions and community same and even the occasional week when learnt a lot about food and calories but I can have on my spiritual life. they crept up. Similarly, in spite of my best would also venture that the effort to exer - Progress in my spiritual life efforts, there have been times in my spiri - cise and lose weight has also had an has come through listening tual journey when I have felt stuck, unable impact on my spiritual journey. The physi - to others, gaining wisdom to find the Lord and left wondering where cal shedding of pounds, and thankfully I from them and being encour - God was. At such times it has demanded have shed quite a few, has also called me aged to see Christ through the an effort to believe that life can be differ - to look at what I might need to shed spiri - lens of their experience and ent, that I can change and be more loving, tually. And the moments life. So having someone to gentler, and more able to be “good news” of achieving my physical for others. goals, or failing to Seeking to look after the body achieve what I desire, reminded me that we are body, spirit and have parallels with my mind and it is living with a balance in all spiritual journey. these areas which helps us to find a way of life in which our spiritual and the physi - cal and mental energies are in harmony. Too much physical exercise will as we know result in strained muscles and injuries, so too at times we need to be aware that the extra spiritual or emotional energy we exert may not always bring har - mony. There are times when God invites us to be gentle with ourselves. There are also ways in which these past few months of weight-watching have helped me be aware of different situations

St Anthony Brief 16 and peoples; this meant often turning a wonderful examples of table companion - country, now has a ‘thriving’ food bank. demanding situation into prayer. For ship in the stories of the wedding feast of Many families are living in economic and example there are days when an hour in Cana, in going to Simon’s house for a emotional hardship. Feeling physically the gym seems like the ultimate penance meal and ultimately and most powerfully in hungry on occasion may be good for us all and I have had to employ all sorts of the meal of the Last Supper. in that it helps us to realise that for most of strategies to encourage myself to remain Not being constantly hungry as the the time we are in the very fortunate posi - faithful to my programme. Some such particular diet I am on allows a rather tion of being well fed. strategies have been to use the breath - lenient amount of deviation, I have been At another level my choosing to eat less, muscle-wrenching moments to pray able to appreciate that one can actually less is voluntary. There are many for for those who cannot move or walk, those lose weight and still enjoy food. whom there is no choice about what they who are in hospital or sick. Occasional pangs of hunger have eat. There are those who may be in hospi - Of course such groups as weight reminded me that I possibly consume too tal or prison or not in control of what food watchers become little communities of much of the world’s resources and placed is given to them and therefore at the friendship for many people and this aspect me in solidarity with the many millions of mercy of those responsible for their wel - of my experience reminds me of how often people in our world who live with the mini - fare. For me one striking example of those people are lonely or suffering in some way mum necessary to stay alive. The fact of not in control has been the tragedy of the and how food can become a consolation the matter is that the United Nations Food journalists incarcerated in Cairo’s prisons. for us in our sadness and isolation. and Agriculture Organisation estimates One of them is, as I write, on hunger strike one in eight people of the world’s popula - and coming up to his eightieth day. He Pangs of Hunger tion are suffering from chronic hunger. may well have given up his life for the Such groups as weight watchers are not Almost all the hungry people, 852 million, freedom of speech he believes in by the all about denial. Enjoying a meal can pro - live in developing countries. Surprisingly time you read this article. Jesus Himself vide us with a sense of togetherness, of there are also 16 million people under - fasted as we know for forty days in the closeness and the actual preparation of nourished in developed countries. The wilderness and the wilderness proved to such a meal can be a huge expression of reality of hunger once seen as a problem be a very difficult place. So there is a way love and gratitude as well as a lovely way of the developing world only is no longer in which we can unite ourselves with those of building our relationships with one so. In the south of England our once well- whose lives are lived in wilderness places, another. Jesus Himself provides us with off parish, like many others throughout the in prisons, in the loneliness of a hospital

Shedding pounds: parallels with the spiritual journeys.

Aug/Sept 2014 17 bed or in a war-torn enclave where food is Homs, Fr Lugt offered shelter to both church in Homs. His desire to stay with his scarce or not available. Muslim and Christian families. And when a people and to suffer with them makes him truce allowed 1,500 people to evacuate a man of the beatitudes – a man “who Different Hungers the city in January, he refused to budge. hungered and thirsted for what was right”, We can hunger for many things in life, He didn’t want to leave his people. a man with a deep hunger to be at one some of them worthwhile and some less “I don’t see Muslims or Christians, I with those to whom he had given his life. so. However, I would like to conclude by see, above all, human beings who hunger In other words, a perfect disciple of the offering a model of those who hunger both to lead a normal life,” Fr Lugt said in a Christ he followed – Christ who allowed physically and spiritually for the values of February interview. “How can I leave? This Himself to be broken to feed our spiritual the Kingdom of God. Fr Fran Van Der is impossible.” Fr Lugt was seen on Skype hunger on the Cross, in the Eucharist and Lugt SJ moved to Syria from the showing his meagre resources of food, a on the Emmaus road of life. Netherlands in the early 1970s. This small amount of olives, some tea and very So having lost weight I feel I have Jesuit priest — who is from the same little else. However, if this was all his peo - gained spiritually and I have been order as Pope Francis — learned Arabic ple had, then he was willing to share in reminded of the fact that God’s grace, and developed a strong connection to his that physical hunger and poverty. In April Christ’s love and the power of the Spirit adopted home. When civil war broke out Fr Lugt was killed by a single gunman who are truly to be found in all things, even and Assad’s forces started a siege on shot him in the grounds of his own small weight watchers! n A Golden Thread of Love “The outpouring of love is what leads to experience darkness in their lives. It is inner transformation and this is meant a book that brings us all to realise that to be poured out on others – it is in this we are the recipients of the compas - context that I see Clare as a model and sionate love of God, of a “God with a inspiration,” writes John O’Brien OFM maternal heart”. This love, poured into in his latest book : A our hearts, should make us in turn Living Flame of Love . The author channels of compassionate love traces the golden thread of compas - towards others. Here lies our chal - sionate love and shows that it is the lenge – to bring much healing. The great source of healing. While the book crowning of God’s love for us is the is not a biography of Clare – there is a sending of the Spirit of love. The pres - good outline of her life in chapter two – ence of the Spirit of love is powerfully it looks at the life of Clare and Francis brought out in chapter five entitled Do as a journey of healing love. In follow - Not Extinguish the Spirit. As you read ing this golden thread there are inter - this book, with its stories of those who esting supportive examples of this journeyed through the “valley of dark - same love in the lives of others. Among ness”, you realise that prayer in the life those of special interest is the theolo - of Clare of Assisi was a journey of love gian Hans Urs von Balthasar. experienced and shared. It becomes The golden thread of compassionate clear why the author entitled the book love weaves its way through the deep Clare of Assisi: A Living Flame of meaning of prayer as an I-thou rela - Clare and Francis – drawing on Clare’s Love. This book deserves reflective tionship with the God of love. The letters to Agnes of Prague – showing reading. It is a meditative journey from experience of this love leads on to that the revelation of God’s love is to be isolation to an experience of the radiat - mysticism, which in turn should lead to found in Jesus. Here we are led into ing love of God that brings healing and a radical surrender of self to God. the deep mystery of Jesus’ passion, in turn reaches out with healing. This While this surrender is the way forward death and resurrection. There is a deep book must be read slowly – allowing out of darkness, the author empha - reflection on the time between Good time for the theological and spiritual sises the difficulty and challenges here. Friday and Easter Sunday – a time insights to be savoured. – Liam McCarthy OFM He writes: “There are many people when Jesus in his dead humanity who are broken... many have been descended into Sheol (the place of the John O’Brien OFM, Clare of Assisi: broken by life and lost the ability to dead), into the ultimate darkness, iden - A Living Flame of Love . 91 pages. trust... when they hear ‘God is love’ tifying with those in that darkness. €10. Available in Veritas, the they feel far removed from the experi - This is a profound book. It is written Franciscan friaries in Ireland, ence.” The author constantly returns to with a deep compassion for those who also available on Kindle.

St Anthony Brief 18 La Verna Retreat Centre Jesus said to them: “Come away and rest awhile.”

10 – 17 August: 18 -19 November: Preached Retreat: Spirituality & Sport. Men and Women before God. Thady O’Connor. Fr Paschal McDonnell OFM and Sr Perpetua McNulty. 28 – 30 November: Advent Retreat. 29 – 31 August: Fr Paschal McDonnell OFM. Inner Healing Retreat. Sr Josephine Walsh DHS. Private stays for personal retreats and times of rest also available. 19 – 21 September: AA Members Open Retreat. For more details on these and Fr Paschal McDonnell OFM. other retreats, and many one-day events, check out: 17 – 19 October: www.lavernaretreat.com Open our Hearts Retreat. Tel: +353 (0)71 985 2572 St Teresa Healy LSU. Email: [email protected]

16 – 21 November: Free to be me: What stops me from being the person God created me to be? Thady O’Connor.

Aug/Sept 2014 19 twelve Rays of Empowering n this series of articles about devotion turn to the power of the Name of Jesus to the Holy Name, we have looked in particularly if there is no natural cure. As IIdetail at the central symbol, the mono - Grace we read in the Gospel of St Mark, in His gram of the short version of the Name of Name demons will be thrown out and the Jesus. Around that name we see the sun faithful receive the gift of tongues. It can be with twelve main rays emanating from it. hard to realise that we are sick in spirit and These rays are considered as symbols need the healing hand of God. He can of the twelve virtues of the Name of be very near to us and we do not Jesus. St Bernardine of Siena sense His presence. He will come took this idea from an earlier to raise our spirit once we turn friar, Ubertino of Casale, but to Him. adapted it according to his The Holy Name is the tri - own ideas. The word virtue umph of the devout, our comes from the Latin strength and our enabler in word virtus meaning fighting evil. Yes, even in power or energy. This the 21st century the devil power coming from is our enemy. He will fight Jesus produces certain any effort we make to turn capabilities, virtuous from sin and evil ways as qualities, in people who we try to return to the true are devoted to the Holy path to God through Christ. Name. We know that the Jesus told us that demons rays of the sun bring us would be thrown out in His health, although overuse may Name. Remember when Jesus produce illness. Similarly those was asleep in the stern of the who pray to the Holy Name are boat with the apostles when a storm strengthened, cured of illness and blew up and it had begun to sink. He come closer to that invaluable love which awoke, rebuked the wind and there was is God. We must also remember that the calm. Yes, He can bring us calm and wrong use of the Holy Name can drive us peace when we feel our life is wrecked and further from God and His love. In this Jubilee Year of we are sinking. As was quite common with medieval Finally, in this first section, the Holy authors on spirituality, the rays are divided the Holy Name of Jesus, Name is the support of those in trouble. In into three groups of four. Each group cor - the Gospel of St Matthew Jesus tells us responds to a different level of the devout Pat Conlan OFM that we are blessed when men speak evil Christian’s growth into that love which is looks at how the IHS about us and persecute us for His sake. God. There are beginners, those who are We should rejoice because our reward will well on the way and the perfect who have monogram was used be great in heaven. Did not St Paul say attained a close loving relationship with to teach the path to that he was ready to die for the Name of God. It is worth remembering that this Jesus? If we are deeply troubled, then we close relationship is the target of every Christian holiness. can call on the Name of Jesus. He is near Christian and is within the capacity of to us and will come to our aid but perhaps every genuine person of prayer. It is a gift from afar, blazing in anger, his lips brim - not quite in the way that we expect. that God will give willingly to those who ming with fury, his tongue a devouring fire. make the effort. That fount of mercy and piety, Jesus, who The Devout loves us so much, can temper that anger. For those who are making progress on The Beginners His Holy Name is the source of generous their journey to God, the Holy Name is The Holy Name is first of all the refuge of love. We read in Psalm 34 that if we seek firstly the consolation of believers. We can sinners, for those beginning their journey God He will answer us and free us from all feel dry and exhausted in our journey into God. We are all aware of the gap that my fears. across the desert of life. Turning to Jesus exists between God and us. We are Then the Holy Name is the health of and praying His Name brings refreshment unable to cross it by our own efforts but the sick. It is by the power of His Name and the courage to keep going. After all, God will stretch out a hand to help us on that the blind can see, the deaf hear, the when Martha and Mary were inconsolable the way. As sinners we fear the power of dumb speak, the dead are returned to life because their brother Lazarus was dead, God and are afraid of his divine anger. and the powers of evil are put to flight. No Jesus brought them consolation and happi - The prophet Isaiah talks of God coming matter what your illness, we are asked to ness by bring him back to life. He is there

St Anthony Brief 20 to give us fresh life when we feel spiritu - the Name of Jesus gives focus to all other Jesus. Like any true parent God is sensitive ally dead. themes. Despite his initial vicious persecu - to the needs and requests of His children. Then the Name of Jesus can bring tion of the followers of Christ, Paul lis - He listens and looks after our needs. courage to the tepid and wavering. St tened, heard the Word and became God’s Next, the Holy Name is the final end of Paul reminds us that no one speaking chosen instrument to bring His name contemplation. Jesus is the member of the under the influence of the Holy Spirit can before the pagans. Holy Trinity that we feel closest to us. After curse Jesus just as no one can say that all He became man for our sake and lived Jesus is Lord unless he is under the influ - The Perfect among us to bring us back to the right path ence of that same Spirit. If we begin to The last group is the perfect, who have to the Father of love. Again, St Paul doubt our faith and the value of our com - achieved intimate contact with God in their reminds us that the Saviour that we are mitment, then the Holy Name can bring prayers. They can still call on the Holy waiting for comes from heaven. He is the fresh warmth to our heart and new energy Name. For them the Name is initially the Lord Jesus Christ who will transfigure these to our muscles. sweetness of the devout in prayer. By wretched bodies of ours into copies of His The Holy Name is the support of those savouring the Holy Name they can feel the own glorious body. He brings the ultimate who call on the name of the Lord. As we close warmth and consolation of the divine reward of eternity, that close, intimate life read in the Gospel of St John, Jesus gave presence around them. This is reflected in with the Trinity that comes after death. This power to all who believe in His name to a hymn that talks of remembering that closeness is the final end of all contempla - become children of God. According to St Jesus is sweet above all things and brings tion. Paul, if we are children of God, we are true joy to the heart. His presence is Finally, the Holy Name is the glory of heirs as well, heirs of God and co-heirs sweeter than honey and all other things. those in heaven. The fifth psalm reminds us with Christ, sharing His sufferings so as to The prophet Isaiah recalls God’s Word that the Lord protects those who love His share His glory. Obviously having the that He would give us the hidden trea - Name and they will rejoice in Him. St John courage to remind our Father that we are sures, the secret hoards that we may in the Book of Revelation writes of seeing His children through Christ will bring God know that He is God. This is a promise in Mount Zion and standing on it a Lamb who back into our lives. which we can take pleasure. had with Him a hundred and forty-four thou - Finally, in this section, the Holy Name Then the Holy Name is the reward of sand with His name and the Father’s name is the strength of those listening to the those who ask. Jesus listens to their sup - written on their foreheads. This is the ulti - Word of God. St Paul has reminded us plications and will reply in due time and in mate goal of all Christian living, being with that we were in darkness once but that His own way. St John reminds us in his Jesus, the Lamb of God, with the Father of now we are in the light of the Lord and Gospel that anything that we ask for from love and the Spirit of wisdom in peace should be like children of light. Preaching the Father he will grant in the Name of beyond the grave. n Cork – 100 Years This year the Poor Clares in Cork are celebrating the 100th Anniversary since the founding of their monastery. Pat Conlan OFM has written a history of the monastery containing many interesting photos from down the years. Writing in the Preface, Bishop John Buckley of Cork spoke of how the sisters have been “living witnesses to the civilisation of love”. The eight nuns that form the present community are a vibrant presence in the heart of the city. The bishop prays that the monastery on College Road “will always remain, as it is now, a powerhouse of prayer and a place of refuge for those in need”.

Some of the Sisters with recently ordained David Collins OFM.

Aug/Sept 2014 21 News from around the . . . Franciscan World

Our Provincial Chapter Some 90 friars, including our two brothers from Zimbabwe, gathered at Provincial Chapter in Gormanston College to reflect on their call to be “missionary disciples”. Our Minister General, Michael Perry OFM, joined the friars for a time during their Chapter. He inspired the brothers with his words on the Order's call to mission, to reach out to the world with courage – sharing the Gospel of Joy.

Trio: Alfigio Tunha (Custos), Michael Perry and Onward Murape.

The Irish Franciscans at our recent Provincial Chapter A cuppa: Friars Art McCoy and elected four members of the Provincial Council. David Connolly take a break from L-R: Friars Pat Younge, Pádraig Breheny, Kieran Cronin (Vicar Provincial), the Chapter sessions. Hugh McKenna (Minister Provincial), Liam Kelly, and Pat Lynch.

Visit: After his time with the friars the Minister General visited Galway and the Poor Clare monastery there. He is The Minister General and Hugh McKenna (Minister Provincial) with pictured with the , Sr Paul, Joe Condren (left) and Mícheál MacCraith (right) on 30 June, the 40th holding the IHS tile commissioned for the anniversary of their ordination to the priesthood. Jubilee Year of the Holy Name of Jesus. St Anthony Brief 22 From Cash Counter to Altar for Fr David

Sarah Horgan writes of the faith journey of David Collins OFM who was ordained priest in Cork friary on 24 May.

Above left: Bishop John Buckley with David. Above right: The celebration at St Francis Church, Cork. Knocknaheeny man has begun his attending Mass every week as I don’t ment to people’s goodwill.” He highlighted new life as a priest after his ordi - believe it’s indicative of how much some - the challenges presented by life in the AAnation at St Francis Church on one loves God or their neighbour. It is just priesthood. “As a priest, I work a lot with Cork’s Liberty Street. Franciscan priest, Fr one aspect of connecting with the Lord. people who have addictions and finding David Collins who was recently ordained So many people are getting involved in ways of making religion more relevant to by Bishop John Buckley, said he satisfied community work and promoting social jus - them can be challenging.” Fr Collins said he his yearning to become a priest after quit - tice which is to be celebrated.” enjoyed his training but was looking forward ting his job at Gurranabraher Credit Union He emphasised that people find God in to a future beyond his years of learning. more than eight years ago. different places. “Everybody is searching “In all, my training lasted eight years but He is now serving with the Franciscan for purpose and meaning in life and we all I learned so much that the time absolutely Order in Merchants’ Quay in Dublin. “I find those things in different places. The flew. My ordination was a very proud day really liked working in the credit union but priesthood just happened to be where I for my friends and family who have always felt that the priesthood was something I found mine. The number of volunteers with been very supportive,” he said. really wanted to pursue,” he explained. “I charities like Cork Penny Dinners are testa - – Evening Echo, 29 May 2014 decided when I reached my 30s that this was the path I wanted to follow and if I did - n’t take the plunge now, then it might be too late. The more I explored this path, the more in love with it I fell and I knew it was something I had to do. Even in primary school, I knew that this was my calling but I just got on with things, like everybody else.” Fr Collins, who has three brothers, said he was keen to fulfil his duties quietly and without gratification. “A lot of people want to do good in the world but it’s important to do this quietly and without seeking approval. Religious philosopher Leo Tolstoy once said that everyone thinks of changing the world but no one thinks of changing himself.” He spoke of his feelings on the rapid decline of people attending Mass. “Society at large is becoming far more secular than it was and people are rightly questioning things more. I don’t lose First Blessing: heart at the declining numbers of people David blesses his parents. Aug/Sept 2014 23 A Radical Pope!

fr francis cotter, ofm

Francis Cotter OFM reflects on the daring vision of Christian life and mission that Pope Francis is putting before us.

ope Francis is getting world atten - gestures is a clear vision of the Church and A Radical Discipleship tion for the spirit of humility and of Christian living – a radical vision. This The Pope quotes the words of the Risen PPlove he emanates, and for his pow - Pope is a radical! This is not to say that Lord: “Behold, I make all things new” erful gestures that convey the merciful Francis seeks to overturn traditional (Revelations 21:5). Francis believes pro - goodness of God towards all. The image of Church teachings. Instead he seeks to foundly that now is a time when the Lord is his unexpected stop at the dividing wall at overturn the way that we have done things seeking to renew at depth the Church and Bethlehem – praying for peace and heal - if they do not serve the very reason for the its mission. The message at the core of The ing, his bowed head touching the wall – Church’s existence, and to be fearless in Joy of the Gospel is not so much “making swept around the world, touched hearts doing so. The adjective “radical” comes all things new” in the sense of originality or and spoke volumes. from the Latin word radix meaning root. So creating novel enterprises, policies and doc - Recently he went to visit the inmates at to say that the Pope is radical is to say that trines. Instead, it is perhaps better under - the detention centre of Isernia, Italy. He told he seeks to go back to the origin of our stood as “making all Christians renewed”. the detainees that every fifteen days he Christian discipleship, and to uncover the The newness brought about by the Holy makes a telephone call to a prison in root, what is essential for the life of the Spirit is meant to be in our hearts, outlook Buenos Aires to speak to the young Church. and way of being in relationship with others. inmates, and said: “When I meet one of It is in particular in the papal exhorta - The Pope is adamant – this call is for all you, who is in a detention centre, who is on tion, The Joy of the Gospel, issued late last the baptised, not just the “professionals” in the path to rehabilitation, but who is in cus - year, that we find Francis setting out his religion. We are all “missionary disciples”. tody, sincerely I ask myself this question: message most clearly and with daring bold - He writes: “Every Christian is a missionary why him and not me? This is what I feel. It ness. Its theme is evangelisation, the wit - to the extent that he or she has encoun - is a mystery. But from this sentiment, with nessing to the Good News of Jesus Christ tered the love of God in Christ Jesus: we no this feeling, I accompany you." One feels it to all men and women. Pope Francis makes longer say that we are ‘disciples’ and ‘mis - could be speaking these it clear that this is not just one among many sionaries’, but rather that we are always words. things the Church does, but is the very ‘missionary disciples’. So what are we wait - Behind the Pope’s beautiful words and heart of the Church’s identity and mission. ing for?”

St Anthony Brief 24 In the very first paragraph Francis sounds the theme that will re-echo through multiple variations: “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept His offer of salvation are set free from sin, sor - row, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew.” And, towards the end of the lengthy document, he recapitulates the leitmotif of the whole reflection: “The primary reason for evangelising is the love of Jesus which we have received, the experience of salvation which urges us to ever greater love of Him. What kind of love would not feel the need to speak of the beloved, to point Him out, to make Him known? If we do not feel an intense desire to share this love, we need to pray insistently that He will once more touch our hearts. We need to implore His grace daily, asking Him to open our A Radical Church cold hearts and shake up our lukewarm In his teaching on the Church Francis sees and superficial existence.” the need for a more diverse and less cen - In ancient Christian iconography the tralised and clericalised Church. He anchor figured as a symbol of the dreams of a poor Church living a funda - Christian’s hope in Christ. Without the mental option for the poor. Being Church aim against such longstanding blocks to anchor who is Jesus Christ, would-be dis - means we are to be God’s leaven in the true renewal as “complacency”, “excessive ciples and evangelisers quickly become midst of humanity. It means proclaiming clericalism”, and even Catholics who act unmoored and begin to drift. The joy of the and bringing “God’s salvation into our like “sourpusses”. He writes: “There are Gospel can only be found in renewed faith world, which often goes astray and needs Christians whose lives are like ‘Lent without in the centrality of Jesus, and our ever- to be encouraged, given hope and Easter’.” He speaks of “many pastoral new relationship with Him. Francis affirms strengthened on the way. The Church must workers, although they pray, develop a sort with true pastoral wisdom: “A true mission - be a place of mercy freely given, where of inferiority complex which leads them to ary, who never ceases to be a disciple, everyone can feel welcomed, loved, for - relativise or conceal their Christian identity knows that Jesus walks with him, speaks given and encouraged to live the good life and convictions.” One sees with sorrow to him, breathes with him, and works with of the Gospel.” Catholics, including priests and religious, him. He senses Jesus alive with him in the The Church is to be a joyful community who display a “practical relativism” which midst of the missionary enterprise. Unless of believers unafraid of the modern world “consists in acting as if God did not exist, we see Him present at the heart of our and unafraid of change. There is no doubt - making decisions as if the poor did not missionary commitment, our enthusiasm ing that Francis poses a fierce challenge to exist, setting goals as if others did not soon wanes and we are no longer sure of the status quo. “Pastoral ministry in a mis - exist, working as if people who have not what it is that we are handing on; we lack sionary key seeks to abandon the compla - received the Gospel did not exist”. Francis vigour and passion. A person, who is not cent attitude that says: ‘We have always is nothing if not blunt! convinced, enthusiastic, certain and in done it this way.’” The Pope is not afraid of Nor does Pope Francis have patience love, will convince nobody.” questioning certain structures and institu - for people who are “tempted to find He is very aware the Jesus can get tions of the Church. He readily admits that, excuses and complain”. Essentially, he “lost” again in the temple of the Church’s “There are ecclesial structures which can contrasts this dourness and pessimism with teachings, structures and rituals. Therefore hamper efforts at evangelisation, yet even the joy of living a life centred in Christ and the Church's message "has to concentrate good structures are only helpful when there focused on the hope of the Resurrection. In on the essentials, on what is most beauti - is a life constantly driving, sustaining and response to the challenges facing the ful, most grand, most appealing and at the assessing them.” world, Francis calls upon pastoral workers same time most necessary," he writes. "In The document’s overall message is that and the Church as a whole, to evangelise this basic core, what shines forth is the Catholics should be unafraid of new ways with hope and not to give into burn-out, beauty of the saving love of God made of proclaiming the Gospel and new ways of pessimism, isolation and warring between manifest in Jesus Christ who died and thinking about the Church. In fact, such members of the Church. He points out the rose from the dead." Therefore we must new ways are essential if we are to spread dangers of a “spiritual worldliness” which seek a “constantly renewed experience of the Gospel at all in today’s world. Francis “hides behind the appearance of piety and savouring Christ’s friendship and His mes - identifies areas where he wants to see real even love for the Church” but which sage.” change. Over and over, Pope Francis takes ignores the radical demands of the Gospel.

Aug/Sept 2014 25 Thus we can end up “seeking not the poor, Francis writes with his typical humble Begin Again Lord's glory but human glory and personal and positive style: “If anyone feels offended Pope Francis’ wonderful exhortation, The well-being", either through embrace of a by my words, I would respond that I speak Joy of the Gospel , is not simply a call for "purely subjective faith" or a "narcissistic them with affection and with the best of others to live a new way, but a call for even and authoritarian elitism" that overempha - intentions, quite apart from any personal himself to be more open to change, to con - sises certain rules or a "particular Catholic interest or political ideology. My words are version: “Since I am called to put into prac - style from the past". not those of a foe or an opponent. I am tice what I ask of others, I too must think interested only in helping those who are in about a conversion of the papacy. It is my A Radical Social Vision thrall to an individualistic, indifferent and duty, as the Bishop of Rome, to be open to Pope Francis very definitely ties the life of self-centred mentality to be freed from suggestions which can make the exercise of the Gospel to the challenges of today’s those unworthy chains and to attain a way my ministry more faithful to the meaning world. When it comes to identifying whom of living and thinking which is more which Jesus Christ wished to give it and to we should seek to encounter in the spirit of humane, noble and fruitful, and which will the present needs of evangelisation.” the Gospel, Pope Francis explains that the bring dignity to their presence on this Francis concludes his apostolic exhorta - Church “has to go forth to everyone without earth.” tion: “It is the Risen Christ who tells us, with exception”. He asks: “To whom should we He writes: "The dignity of the human a power that fills us with confidence and go first?” He responds: “When we read the person and the common good rank higher unshakeable hope: ‘Behold, I make all Gospel we find a clear indication: not so than the comfort of those who refuse to things new’.” Pope Francis’ bold message much our friends and wealthy neighbours, renounce their privileges." In a simple sen - for change is pervaded with a spirit of hope but above all the poor and the sick, those tence, Francis summarises the bedrock of and courage precisely because the victori - who are usually despised and overlooked.” Catholic social doctrine: human dignity, the ous Lord is very much present and active in He states starkly: “There is an inseparable common good and the preferential option our Church and world in the power of His bond between our faith and the poor.” for the poor and vulnerable. Spirit. n He strongly critiques an economic sys - tem in which profit prevails over persons, violating their dignity and legitimate aspira - tions. “God’s heart has a special place for the poor”, the Pope says. But it is not enough simply to say that God loves the poor in a special way, and leave it at that. We must be also vigilant in our care and advocacy for and with them. Everyone must do this, says the Pope. “None of us can think we are exempt from concern for the poor and for social justice.” He deplores the ravages of an unbri - dled capitalism blind to the common good. Francis asks: “How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly, homeless per - son dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points? This is a case of exclusion. Can we continue to stand by when food is thrown away while people are starving? This is a case of inequality.” And in case anyone misses the point, after a critique of the “idolatry of money” and an “economy of exclusion”, he writes: “The Pope loves everyone, rich and poor alike, but he is obliged in the name of Christ to remind all that the rich must help, respect and promote the poor. I exhort you to generous solidarity and a return of eco - nomics and finance to an ethical approach which favours human beings.” What’s more, this does not mean simply caring for the poor, it means addressing the struc - tures that keep them poor: “The need to resolve the structural causes of poverty cannot be delayed.” Anticipating the criticisms that are sure to come, especially on his emphasis on the St Anthony Brief Franciscans and the Pueblo Peoples of New Mexico

faith in action fr gearóiD ó conaire, ofm

Gearóid Ó Conaire OFM recently got the opportunity to look at the friars’ ministry among the Pueblo Peoples of New Mexico

s part of an official visit I was communities near Santa Fe. A funeral was application was turned down. He does not asked to make to the Province of finishing up in the small graveyard in front appear to hold any resentment and contin - AASt John the Baptist, Cincinnati, of San Ildefonso church. This Pueblo is ues to be one of the leaders of this local USA, I travelled to New Mexico and one of eight Northern Pueblos of the Tewa church. He spoke very openly, to the extent Arizona, in particular to Albuquerque, ethnic group. The graves were very sim - that Ricardo was surprised at his openness. Santa Fe and Phoenix to visit friars of the ple; most of them just had a wooden cross Franciscans have been pastors here and in Province who were stationed there. Every with some native decorations attached. I other Pueblo communities for over 100 six years or so, a Franciscan Province met an older man who, as it turned out, years and only recently had to pull out due elects a Provincial. As part of that process had studied to be a . He seemed to falling numbers. A young African priest someone is appointed to visit every friar by willing to chat, especially after discovering comes to celebrate Mass. Our friend the Minister General of the Order, to over - both of us were Franciscans. He shared lamented that the friars were no longer able see the electoral process of the new how at one stage of his life he was part of to provide this service. In recent years the Provincial and to support the reassignment a deaconate programme. He pulled out friars have had to pull out of seven other of friars. As I was finishing six years work when his wife became seriously ill. She Pueblos. for the JPIC inter-congregational commis - eventually died and he remarried. He I had no intention of writing this article sion in Rome, I was invited to visit the fri - made no comment, but I suspect he was until I met Fr Hilaire Valiquette OFM who ars of this Province. aware that if he was ordained and his wife was passing through Cincinnati. Hilaire has While in Santa Fe, Ricardo Russo had died, he would not be able to remarry! spent the last two years working in the OFM invited me for a walk. He brought me Several years later, after remarrying, he Philippines teaching Latin, Greek and to visit one of the twenty or so Pueblo reapplied to continue the training, but his Hebrew to young Franciscans, as well as

Aug/Sept 2014 27 helping correct dissertations. He is 77 then able to access some privileged ser - the daughter of a very wealthy business - years old. Previously, he spent most of his vices, based on treaty agreements, such man. She inherited a fortune when he died life working with the Pueblo Indians. as support for housing, healthcare, etc. and used it to organise a new congregation. Hilaire was back on holidays when I Fortunately the Pueblo Indians were She established a missionary presence in caught up with him. spared some of the more extreme treat - the south of the USA, building schools and ment at the hands of successive US gov - organising other outreach programmes for Franciscans in New Mexico ernments. the people. The friars arrived in New Mexico in 1590 Even though the friars have ministered with the Spanish and began to work with in recent history in these lands for over a Languages the Pueblo people. In 1680, the only suc - hundred years, apart from a few indige - There are four types of Pueblo peoples liv - cessful Indian revolt took place and the nous vocations there are relatively few ing in 20 locations, mostly in New Mexico. Spanish were sent packing. Twenty friars native clergy. This is due to a variety of Some live in Arizona. There are eleven were martyred in various Pueblos. A hill in factors, including the inability of the friars Kiowa-tanonan Pueblos, speaking three dif - Santa Fe is dedicated to these friars. to enculturate, to the vow of celibacy – a ferent languages, seven Keresan Pueblos Tourists come to visit, to spend time and totally foreign concept to Indians, who with one language, one Zuni and one Hopi. to experience the beautiful view overlook - unless they marry and have children are Some of them have already lost their spo - ing the city and surrounding countryside. not considered men, nor taken seriously – ken language, such as those in Laguna. The friars were identified with the Spanish. and the inability of the friars to adapt their The more traditional Pueblos, such as The dissatisfaction of the people with the fraternal life and way of doing ministry to Santo Domingo, have managed to preserve Spanish spilled over into violent protest accommodate native vocations. their spoken language. They are experienc - and bloodshed. I suppose one of the In 1850 the first friars of the future ing similar pressures as the Irish to pre - lessons learned was not to interfere with Province of St John the Baptist came to serve their languages. Intermarriage cre - the traditional activities of the indigenous Cincinnati, Ohio, from South Tyrol, present ates some difficulties, as well as the influ - peoples. In 1696 the Spanish returned day Italy, but part of Austria before the ence of TV and the general culture of the and made a treaty with the Pueblos. First World War. They were invited by US on their doorsteps. Eventually, with time, Mexico became an Bishop Purcell to minister to German- Fr Hilaire did his doctoral dissertation independent country and New Mexico was speaking immigrants. As an aside, no on one of the dialects of the Keresan part of the new State. In fact, as well as such mission was undertaken by Irish fri - Pueblos, and developed a grammar sketch. present day Mexico, Arizona, Texas and ars to the USA because there were hardly This work laid the foundation for the subse - California formed part of Mexico, albeit on any friars in Ireland at that time. Shortly quent development of a dictionary. He tells the periphery of that country. It was only after arriving, Mother Katharine Drexel, me that some verbs, such as “to see”, can after the American-Mexican wars in 1848 now a canonised saint, invited the friars to have 50,000 forms. In English there are that these lands became part of the USA. come to New Mexico to minister to Native only five forms to any verb! Franciscans The fact that the Pueblo Indians were Americans, and to Louisiana to minister to have been involved in developing gram - under the Mexicans and, mostly ignored, African Americans. It is hard to believe mars, dictionaries and preserving the oral helped preserve much of their culture, tra - that something similar would happen history of many peoples around the world. ditions and languages, more so than any today. Even though there were very few However, it is also true that we have regret - other native indigenous group in the USA. friars, they decided to branch out their fully neglected promoting the cultural, reli - The Pueblo people were only considered missionary endeavors and send a few gious and social traditions of many peoples Native Americans after 1913 and were men to both places. Mother Drexel was in favour of foreign ones. It continues to be

St Francis Mission: Taos, New Mexico.

St Anthony Brief 28 a challenge for missionaries today to learn patron saint is a Spanish influence. The home and develop professional careers the language of the people to whom they patron, as we know in Ireland from devo - locally. Another big employer is the Los are called to minister, as well as entering tion to St Anthony, is important to many. Alamos, a top secret US military complex. into and respecting their cultures. He or she is considered an important It is infamous for building the atomic mediator between them and God. The bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Patron Saint tradition of a patron reflects dynamics of Hiroshima in 1945. They say that the sci - The Pueblo people are very loyal previous societies where a poor person entist who figured out how to split the Catholics. The leadership of the Church could not hope to make contact with one atom and developed the technology that is lay and the priest mostly comes from of the lords, unless through a trusted led to the bomb died regretting his involve - the outside to celebrate the sacraments. mediator. ment in the whole project. The native leadership can sometimes The people make their living in a vari - have a love/hate relationship with the ety of ways. Many are involved in the arti - The Future Church. Groups such as the Mormons or san home industry. They make jewellery There are only about 50 Franciscans now Jehovah Witnesses are not allowed into and pottery at home and sell it to tourists living and working in the South West. With the Pueblos, even by those who don’t in places such as the square of Santa Fe. a growing, new immigrant population of regularly practise their faith. The people You will see them sitting along the wall of Mexicans, the friars are also reaching out express their faith in traditional Catholic an open-roofed corridor around the square to minister to them. Not all of the younger ways, by attending Mass, receiving the of this town displaying their products on friars are interested in ministering to the Sacraments and celebrating the impor - the ground. Like any market one is Native Americans. Some prefer to work tant liturgical times of the year, including expected to haggle for the best price. with the new immigrants. The dynamic of Christmas and Easter. However, there is Many young people are now going to uni - mission here is changing. With dwindling one very important moment – that is the versity, supported by funds raised from number of friars, securing continued com - celebration of their “Santo Patron”, the casinos. In the past, as part of the agree - mitment to minister to Native Americans is patron saint of the town. Fr Hilaire shared ments between the USA government and becoming increasingly difficult. In fact, in how the people celebrate the feast in the leadership of the Indians, the title recent times two friars from the Philippines three of the towns where he was pastor. deeds to 40,000 square miles of land were have come to support this ministry. They Santo Domingo is one of the most tradi - handed over. The leadership of the people are learning the language and doing an tional of the towns. Not all Pueblos have governs these lands and can promote tax- excellent job of inserting themselves managed to hold on to their culture and free activities. Many big centres for gam - among the people. I hear that some languages. After the celebration of the bling have been developed and tourists Vietnamese, recent arrivals from another Mass in the morning, they bring the from all over the USA and further afield religious congregation, seem to be really statute of St Dominic to the square of the come here for entertainment. One of the connecting with the people. Missionaries town and spend the day performing tradi - positive aspects is that some of the profit coming from outside cannot provide a tional dance and song to the beat of a is made available for the education of long-term solution. Hopefully, the Church, drum. The choir consists of men. Over young indigenous men and women. Many guided by the Holy Spirit, can raise up 1,000 people of all ages, men and pursue higher degrees at university, local men and women, like the man I met women, dressed in traditional costume, including to the doctorate level. Unlike in the graveyard, to accompany their peo - express their thanks to God and to their what happens in the dominant culture, ple on the journey to God. n patron in dance. The tradition of the many of these young people stay close to [email protected] Celebrating the Holy Name Year A special Diocesan Triduum of Prayer, organised by the Kilmore Diocesan Pastoral Centre to mark the Year of the Holy Name of Jesus, took place in St Mary’s Church, Staghall, in the Parish of Drumlane, Co. Cavan, 11-13 July. People from across the dio - cese as well as adjoining dioceses came to St Mary’s and listened to Fr Liam McCarthy OFM who was the guest preacher for the three days. Bishop Leo O’Reilly, Bishop of Kilmore, was the principal celebrant at the Sunday morning Mass during which he blessed a commemorative Holy Name Tile which will be erected in St Mary’s Church as a permanent reminder of the Diocesan Triduum and the special Year of the Holy Name of Jesus. He also blessed The IHS Tile: Seán Coll, the Director of the Kilmore Diocesan tiles which people had obtained for placing in their Pastoral Centre, Liam McCarthy OFM, Bishop Leo O’Reilly, Fr homes, during the Triduum. Gerry Comiskey PP and Fr Enda Murphy. Photo: Lorraine Teevan.

Aug/Sept 2014 29 Mission Digest

ORDINAtIONS IN HARARE On 12 July Franciscans Albert Mhari and Patience Tigere (pictured above) were ordained priests by the Archbishop of Harare at St Francis Church. Right: Walter Gallahue OFM greets Fr Patience.

30 Dear Fr Jones, e Dear Fr Jones, erest the article on Healing th I read with great int ave been a long L in m a great admirer and h y by Sister Yulita Chirawu LCB I a Natural Wa truly excellent publica- to get a copy of the book. If time reader of your Zimbabwe. And I would like hly of it. I te it. eed I cannot speak too hig e a copy I would really apprecia tion. Ind you could send m ut more informa- am interested in finding o nation enclosed. n article that Many thanks. Do tion about a reference in a time ago. This mentioned Sincerely, appeared some ines it is custom- the fact that in the Philipp Mrs. D. Hayes, not to be baptised. ary for new-born babies Co. Limerick. f indifference on I wonder is this because o lack of belief, the part of parents due to e to a faith reason. Or it is du Dear Fr Jones, therefore erefore a fiscal unavailability of funds, th I en close postal/money ord of the monetary outlay er for subscription to the reason, because Brief and a donation f ony because of or St Anthony’s Bread. associated with the cerem er- I look forward to ectations. I am simply int receiving the Brief as it cultural exp a w covers such t this custom. ide range of subjects a in finding out more abou nd is very informative ested interesting. I and read it from cover to cove in r and then dip Yours Sincerely, again from time to time to re-read any favourite articles. When I Kelly, have accumulated a dec Maurice give ent amount I them to a friend who re Derry City. ads them herself and she then sends them to Eng land where they are very pleased to receive them. Thank you for your kind attention. Yours sincerely, Alice Finn (Mrs), Co. Cork. Letters to the Editor

Dear Fr Bernard, Please write your letters, Enclosed is my subscription for the St Anthony Brief. I always enjoy reading comments and it – in particular the recent articles on suggestions, to: the Holy Name. I also like your choice the editor, of poetry you always put on the inside st anthony brief, cover. Thank you. Please pray for me. franciscan Yours sincerely, missionary union, Maureen Boothman, merchants’ Quay, Dublin. Dublin 8.

Aug/Sept 2014     

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Friar Pat Lynch OFM – Director of Pastoral Care of Vocations Franciscan Vocations Office, The Abbey, 8 St Francis Street, Galway Tel: 091 562518 Mobile: 087 1346267 Email: [email protected] Web: www.franciscans.ie