St Anthony Brief

IRISH FRANCISCAN MISSION MAGAZINE No .5 AuG/SEPT 2013 €1.00

Mercy and Courage: Francis’ Message This Was My Mission! Finding the Right Words Chapter in Spirit and Life

The Lap of God

She was shelling peas, She set down the pan

apron-covered knees and, patting her knee,

spread wide to catch said:

each pea, each pod Oh, child,

I, shaky, needy come on up here

wandered near and let me have a look at you.

Her ancient swollen hands Her voice was safe and so was I

pushed back the hair sitting in the lap of God.

that hid my face – Martha Popson

St Anthony Brief SStt AAnntthhoonnyy BBrriieeff

2 Spirit and Life. 4 From the Editor. The Light of Faith. As these extracts show, in his first encyclical 5 letter, Lumen Fidei, The Light of Faith, Pope Francis invites us to celebrate and live more deeply the joy of believing.

Mutemwa: A Holy Place. Last year the friars in Zimbabwe under- 8 took pastoral duties in the Mutemwa area which includes the settlement established by John Bradburne, martyred Secular Franciscan. Naison Manjovha, OFM, shares his reflections.

This Was My Mission! With a grateful heart and a touch of 10 nostalgia, Franciscan Sister, Agnès Somé, FMM, from Burkina Faso, writes of her 30 year mission in the jungles of Senegal. 12 Church Brief. New Churches in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean Marko Phiri looks at 13 the rapid growth of new churches in his country. Chapter in Zimbabwe. For a week in June the friars of the 14 Custody of the Good Shepherd in Zimbabwe gathered for Chapter, held every three years.

The Finding the Right Words. Our words can hurt or heal. 16 Sr Mary Burke, FMDM, admits that she experiences difficulty at times finding the right words.

Jubilee Celebration. Chris Connolly, OFM, has celebrated the 18 Golden Jubilee of his ordination in Killarney. What a Great Exchange! The feast of St is 19 celebrated on 11 August. Blessed John XXIII: A Son of Francis. Reflecting on the 20 life of Blessed Pope John, a Franciscan tertiary, Pat Conlan, OFM, recognises the spirit of St Francis.

Volume 73 No.5 News from Around the Franciscan World. Missionary Magazine of the Irish 22 . Published bi-monthly by Madagascar: An Island Nation. The Franciscan presence is the Franciscan Missionary Union, 23 growing on Madagascar. 8 Merchants Quay, Dublin 8. Editor: Fr Bernard Jones, OFM. Mercy and Courage: Pope Francis’ Message. Francis Cotter, OFM, Production: Fr Francis Cotter, OFM. 24 sees a clear pattern emerging in the teachings of Pope Francis. Subscription & Distribution Secretary: Helen Doran. Tel: (01) 6777651. The Search for Truth: Human Dignity and Freedom. 50 years Design, Layout & Printing: 27 after the beginning of the Second Vatican Council, Gearoid Ó Corcoran Print & Design. Conaire, OFM, looks at its teaching on religious liberty. Tel: (053) 9234760. Subscription including Postage: Ireland – €12.00 per annum Mission Digest. Britain – Stg£12.00 per annum 30 Overseas – €15.00 per annum 31 Letters to the Editor. Aug/Sept 2013 3 From the Editor… Clare: A Heart Free For the Lord Fr Bernard Jones Clare Offreduccio, born 1194, was the daughter of a noble, wealthy family in Assisi. When she was eighteen years old she heard a sermon by and was moved to follow the example of the Franciscan brothers and vow herself to a life of poverty. One night she slipped out of the house through the "door of the dead" (a small side door that was traditionally opened only to carry out a corpse) and went to the place where Francis and the brothers lived. Later a home was found for her at San Damiano. There she was eventually joined by two of her sisters, her widowed mother, her best friend Pacifica, and many other young women.

They adopted a rule of life of contemplation and of absolute poverty, both individually and collec - tively. They had no beds. They slept on twigs with patched hemp for blankets. They ate very little, with no meat at all. Whatever they ate was begged for.

Despite this way of life, or perhaps because of it, the followers of Clare grew in number. The com - munity of Poor Clares continues to this day with many monasteries throughout the world. We are indeed blessed to have the sisters praying for our needs.

O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we through His poverty might be rich, deliver us from an inordinate love of this world, that we, inspired by the devotion of your servant Clare, may serve you with singleness of heart, and attain to the riches of the age to come. Amen.

– Bernard Jones, OFM ([email protected] )

St Anthony Brief 4 THE LIGHT OF FAITH The True Sun The Light of Faith: this is how the As these extracts show, in his first Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift encyclical letter, Lumen Fidei, The Light of Faith, brought by Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Christ says of Himself: "I have come as Pope Francis invites us to celebrate and live light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in dark - more deeply the joy of believing. ness" (John 12:46). St Paul uses the same image: "God who said ‘Let light journey, for it comes from the risen from a more primordial source: in a word, shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our Christ, the morning star which never it must come from God. Faith is born of an hearts" (2 Corinthians 4:6). The pagan sets. encounter with the living God who calls us world, which hungered for light, had seen and reveals His love, a love which pre - the growth of the cult of the sun god, Sol Priceless Treasure cedes us and upon which we can lean for Invictus , invoked each day at sunrise. Christ, on the eve of His passion, assured security and for building our lives. Yet though the sun was born anew each Peter: "I have prayed for you that your Transformed by this love, we gain fresh morning, it was clearly incapable of cast - faith may not fail" (Luke 22:32). He then vision, new eyes to see. We realise that it ing its light on all of human existence. told him to strengthen his brothers and contains a great promise of fulfilment, and The sun does not illumine all reality; its sisters in that same faith. The Successor that a vision of the future opens up before rays cannot penetrate to the shadow of of Peter, yesterday, today and tomorrow, us. When we welcome that word, Jesus death, the place where people’s eyes are is always called to strengthen his brothers Christ the Word made flesh, the Holy closed to its light. St Justin Martyr writes: and sisters in the priceless treasure of that Spirit transforms us, lights up our way to “No one has ever been ready to die for faith which God has given as a light for the future and enables us joyfully to his faith in the sun." Conscious of the humanity’s path. advance along that way on wings of hope. immense horizon which their faith opened before them, Christians invoked New Eyes to See God or Idols! Jesus as the true sun "whose rays There is an urgent need to see once Idols exist – they are a pretext for setting bestow life". To Martha, weeping for the again that faith is a light, for once the ourselves at the centre of reality and wor - death of her brother Lazarus, Jesus said: flame of faith dies out, all other lights shiping the work of our own hands. Once "Did I not tell you that if you believed, begin to dim. The light of faith is unique, man has lost the fundamental orientation you would see the glory of God?" (John since it is capable of illuminating every which unifies his existence, he breaks 11:40). Those who believe – see! They aspect of human existence. A light this down into the multiplicity of his desires. see with a light that illumines their entire powerful cannot come from ourselves but Idolatry does not offer a journey but rather

Aug/Sept 2013 5 In the light of faith: We walk towards the fullness of love.

a plethora of paths leading nowhere and foundation on which all reality and its final God loves this world and is constantly forming a vast labyrinth. Those who destiny rest. It is precisely in contemplat - guiding it towards Himself. This leads us, choose not to put their trust in God must ing Jesus’ saving death that faith grows as Christians, to live our lives in this world hear the din of countless idols crying out: stronger and receives a dazzling light; with ever greater commitment and inten - "Put your trust in me!" Faith, tied as it is to then it is revealed as faith in Christ’s sity. conversion, is the opposite of idolatry; it steadfast love for us, a love capable of breaks with idols to turn to the living God embracing death to bring us salvation. Sincere Seekers in a personal encounter. Believing means Christ’s total self-gift overcomes every Because faith is a way, it also has to do entrusting oneself to a merciful love – a suspicion and enables me to entrust with the lives of those men and women love which always accepts and pardons, myself to Him completely. We "believe" who, though not believers, nonetheless which sustains and directs our lives, and Jesus when we accept His word, His testi - desire to believe and continue to seek. To which shows its power by its ability to mony, because He is truthful. We "believe the extent that they are sincerely open to make straight the crooked lines of our his - in" Jesus when we personally welcome love and set out with whatever light they tory. Him into our lives and journey towards can find, they are already, even without Him, clinging to Him in love and following knowing it, on the path leading to faith. A Perfect Love in His footsteps along the way. Anyone who sets off on the path of doing The word which God speaks to us in good to others is already drawing near to Jesus is not simply one word among In This World God, is already sustained by His help, for many, but His eternal Word. God can give Christian faith is faith in the incarnation of it is characteristic of the divine light to no greater guarantee of His love. Christian the Word and His bodily resurrection; it is brighten our eyes whenever we walk faith is thus faith in a perfect love, in its faith in a God who is so close to us that towards the fullness of love. decisive power, in its ability to transform He entered our human history. So, far the world and to unfold its history. "We from divorcing us from reality, our faith in Community of Faith know and believe the love that God has the Son of God made man in Jesus of It is impossible to believe on our own. for us" (1 John 4:16). In the love of God Nazareth enables us to grasp reality’s Faith is not simply an individual decision revealed in Jesus, faith perceives the deepest meaning and to see how much which takes place in the depths of the

St Anthony Brief 6 believer’s heart, nor a completely private of the men and women of our time. Faith relationship between the "I" of the believer is truly a good for everyone; it is a com - and the divine "Thou", between an mon good. Its light does not simply The Heart autonomous person and God. By its very brighten the interior of the Church, nor "One believes with the heart" nature, faith is open to the "We" of the does it serve solely to build an eternal (Romans 10:10). In the Bible, the Church; it always takes place within her city in the hereafter; it helps us build our heart is the core of the human communion. Tertullian puts this well when societies in such a way that they can person, where all his or her dif - he describes the catechumens who, journey towards a future of hope. The ferent dimensions intersect: body "after the cleansing which gives new birth hands of faith are raised up to heaven, and spirit, interiority and open - are welcomed into the house of their even as they go about building in charity mother and, as part of a new family, pray a world based on relationships in which ness to the world and to others, the Our Father together with their broth - the love of God is laid as a foundation. intellect, will and affectivity. If ers and sisters.” Baptism makes us see, the heart is capable of holding all then, that faith is not the achievement of Integrity of Faith these dimensions together, it is isolated individuals; it is not an act which Since faith is one, it must be professed in because it is where we become someone can perform on his own, but all its purity and integrity. Precisely open to truth and love, where we rather something which must be received because all the articles of faith are inter - let them touch us and deeply by entering into the ecclesial communion connected, to deny one of them, even of which transmits God’s gift. No one bap - those that seem least important, is tanta - transform us. Faith transforms tises himself, just as no one comes into mount to distorting the whole. Each the whole person precisely to the the world by himself. Baptism is some - period of history can find this or that point extent that he or she becomes thing we receive. of faith easier or harder to accept. Hence open to love. Faith’s understand - the need for vigilance in ensuring that the ing is born when we receive the Serving the Common Good deposit of faith is passed on in its immense love of God which Precisely because it is linked to love, the entirety. Indeed, inasmuch as the unity of transforms us inwardly and light of faith is concretely placed at the faith is the unity of the Church, to sub - enables us to see reality with service of justice, law and peace. Faith tract something from the faith is to sub - does not draw us away from the world or tract something from the authenticity of new eyes. prove irrelevant to the concrete concerns communion. n

Prayer to Mary

Mother, help our faith! Open our ears to hear God’s Word and to recognise His voice and call. Awaken in us a desire to follow in His footsteps, to go forth from our own “land” like and so receive God’s promise. Help us to be touched by His love, that we may touch Him in faith. Help us to entrust ourselves fully to Him and to believe in His love, especially at times of trial, beneath the shadow of the Cross, when our faith is called to mature. Sow in our faith the joy of the Risen One. Remind us that those who believe are never alone. Teach us to see all things with the eyes of Jesus, that He may be light for our path. And may this light of faith always increase in us, until the dawn of that undying Day which is Christ Himself, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Aug/Sept 2013 7 Mutemwa: A Holy Place

Friar Patience Tigere at a gathering.

n 28 December 2012, I found Last year the friars in Zimbabwe undertook pastoral myself singing Psalm 122: “I Orejoice when I heard them say: Let duties in the Mutemwa area which includes the us go up to God’s house. And now my feet leprosy settlement established by John Bradburne, are standing within your gates,” O Mutemwa! Rarely does Scripture come so martyred Secular Franciscan. Mutemwa is now a place true, real and fulfilled. This has been partic - ularly true for me as I found myself at the of pilgrimage in Zimbabwe. Naison Manjovha, Holy Place of Mutemwa. Indeed, I rejoiced OFM, shares his reflections on living there. and was glad for it is here the Christians come, the People of God to pray and praise Covenant with God the story of leprosy in our time in the Lord’s name. When God finished His I met my God here and thus I pen my Zimbabwe and indeed the whole world great work of creation, He saw that is was experience. What happens when an indi - without John Bradburne would be incom - good, in other words holy (holiness implies vidual makes a covenant with God? He plete. He completes the story in a truly that something is as God intended). is changed and will never be the same inspiring fashion. He leaves everything Mutemwa was part of that creation which again. At this place called Mutemwa behind and entered a covenant with the was acclaimed holy (good). Yet some John was changed and was never to be abandoned, giving them dignity and pur - places are made holier than others due to the same John again. There was a pose. That is why Fr Dove, SJ, his biog - some phenomena. Mount Sinai, for exam - covenant of love and service, love that rapher, called him “The Strange ple, was made holier than others because entails the washing of feet, yet not ordi - Vagabond”, a title that could be fitting for God spoke to His people there; at Horeb, nary feet, but the worst feet of all times, Francis of Assisi and indeed Christ. God said to , “Take off your sandals, feet that were bleeding, bleeding yes but There was something strange and for the place where you are standing is holy not ordinary blood, blood with leprosy unusual about John Bradburne, strange ground.” This holy place therefore reflects infection. John Bradburne is seen as the enough to make an impact, strange the place where John Bradburne met God St Francis of our time. enough to remind us of Christ, strange and a covenant was made. Indeed, it is a The story of leprosy in the 13th cen - enough to make a difference. It is the place where thousands of Christians meet tury would not be complete without the contact between John Bradburne and God today and daily covenants are made. mention of Francis of Assisi. Likewise, God in this place that has elevated it, or

St Anthony Brief 8 rather made people realise the holiness of this place; and now my feet are stand - The chapel: ing within your gates, O Mutemwa! “My Mount Sinai.” As a priest stationed here, I am left humbled and challenged with the num - bers of pilgrims that flock here, thou - sands and thousands come and I am left with questions; what will become of this place? Yet the answer is here, this place will become a meeting place. A meeting place, yes, of people from all over the country, of all denominations, a real chance for real ecumenism. It is a meet - ing place between God and humanity. My experience here presents me with the vulnerability of humanity, the intensity of the need and hunger for a holy life in the Christian fold. It is amazing to realise that people drive from the furthest corner of the country searching for a religious experience; it shows how empty the peo - ple feel. It is breathtaking to see a man mountain is a path – an avenue of be conscious and feel alive to what you or a woman on crutches trying hard jacaranda trees with the chapel on one are doing. You cannot sleep-walk; every - against all odds to climb Chigona moun - side and the clinic on the other. You will thing, as you climb the hill, reminds you tain, that towers over Mutemwa, elderly not miss the beautiful sound from the of John Bradburne and your personal people and five-year-olds all looking for clinic of one crying or singing, not forget - intention. On top of the mountain is the this glimpse of holiness, a real need of ting the unique smell of flowers that takes giant cross dedicated to our brother John our time. your heart into another world. Bradburne. A deep pool of water cannot My final place of priceless value is be missed as you reach the top near to A Goldfield Mount Chigona. The most inspiring thing where an altar has been built to the The most interesting thing about this of the Mutemwa experience is that the KNOWN God, Yahweh. This is Mutemwa place is not what it has achieved already way you use to climb Chigona was used for me, a goldfield ready to be mined for but rather the vast potential buried in and before by John Bradburne. Exploring the betterment of our souls and for the around this place. Mutemwa is like a your way up the mountain, you need to glory of our great God. Amen. n newly discovered goldfield. Given a chance who would not want to buy an un-extracted goldfield? There are four places in Mutemwa that for me are breathtaking. First is the John Bradburne hut, a visible reflection of holiness and significance. It is as if John Bradburne still moves around the place, you can actually feel his presence somehow. It is not going to become a holy place because it is already one. The second place for me is the little leper chapel, possibly the holiest place for me. This chapel is my Mount Sinai! Celebrating Mass every day, looking into the eyes of the lepers, preaching every day to the lepers, and most of all placing the Body of Christ on their tongues because they have no hands to receive, is more than fulfilling to me as a priest. Mass in this small, simple chapel is like Mass in heaven for me, it is a dream coming true; it is the holy of holies for me. My third place is the wood path. From the John Bradburne hut to the foot of the

Aug/Sept 2013 With a grateful heart and a touch of nostalgia, Franciscan Sister, Agnès Somé, FMM, from Burkina Faso, writes of her 30 year mission in the jungles of Senegal. She is now on a well-earned sabbatical in Rome.

Companions in mission: Sr Agnès Somé (left) with Sr Marie Paule. is Was My Mission!

y mission was in Salimata, a vil - least three weeks before seeing the mili - suitcase and said, “I’m going back to lage in eastern Senegal near the tary jeep on four wheels – perfect joy! Burkina!” My Sister said kindly to me: MMKonakri Guinea border, some Finally we set out on a road, not knowing “Don’t be discouraged; I too, am suffering, 850km from Dakar. You reach it in the where we were going, but we became but this is really a mission for us. Wait for depths of the jungle where the Bassari stalled at nightfall. All that effort only to go a little while!” The wait lasted thirty years! people live, after two days of “normal” to procure the necessary papers so we And my departure occasioned tears on travel. The FMM mission of evangelisation would be allowed to drive! It was an epic both sides! began there in 1980 at the request of the trip, we kept stalling. In the end, we went local bishop, for, in his words, “The back to Dakar, towed by some soldiers we Gardens Franciscan Sisters go where others do not met on our way, with no hope of ever The first thing to be done was to see to want to go!” being able to use this vehicle. We made clothing and feeding our friends, with What an adventure! I had come from our real missionary journey in the middle countless packages from Caritas. The Burkina Faso, where I was born, and my of the luggage on a small military plane. people grow millet, corn and cereals, but companion, Sr Marie Paule, was from The priest came in a car to fetch us, they are obliged to sell the grain to buy Switzerland. Before leaving, I had dreamt 80kms from Salimanta and we “navigated” necessities, and after the harvest, since of a beautiful mission in Senegal. I had streams of water, holes and ravines since they have nothing to do, they go to work already made a trip by plane for a pilgrim - there was no road. At last, tired and dust- in the city. To keep busy during this “dead” age, and that was not so easy to do with a covered we arrived at our “convent,” hid - time, our three communities: the Fathers, big group of pilgrims. But now it was my den among tall grass, the former mission the Brothers, the Sisters each made a missionary trip and I was going to Dakar! house, where our two FMM Sisters were small enclosed garden, with a henhouse. When we reached there we were warmly waiting for us with joy. Our friends came to have a look, to welcomed by the Sisters in the Reception So there I was in my mission in inspect, to appreciate and to ask for some House who assured me I would do good Salimata, in a ravine surrounded by four vegetables in the desire to “do like that” work in this new foundation, Salimata. I quite high hills. The visit without delay to a also. I taught them first of all to make a knew already that the language was differ - neighbouring village was a huge surprise. fence for a real garden; when they saw ent, but later realised that everything was There was only one family present, all the that, the other villages wanted to imitate it. different: culture, climate, the sea close others were working in the fields; the cows A real course in gardening, and one that by… were the ones who welcomed us. It was yielded fine vegetables they could sell! the “wintering” season! But in every village The women, who each have their own The Journey there was a hut for the Father and another garden in a common plot, are delighted to Two days later, I had to go with my com - for the Sisters – and for the termites, too! be financially independent now. panion to fetch the car that was to bring It was only a little later that we met the We organised a group of women in us to our dear mission. At Caritas, instead people who lived there; they were fright - every village, and in the winter season all of a car, we found a huge crate that had ened of us and took time to approach us. the groups cultivate together a field held in come from Germany, with the car inside After all these adventures, and seeing the common. The amount raised by the har - it… in separate pieces! We had to wait at conditions people lived in, I picked up my vest is placed in a common fund, from St Anthony Brief 10 which they can draw when necessary, instead of asking for a contribution from each one. But since they did not keep the chickens in a closed area, the henhouse project did not succeed! On the other hand, the very first thing we did on arrival was to dig one metre holes to plant fruit trees, and they grew by themselves; a “forest” of mango trees taught the people in neighbouring villages to imitate us! Little by little, life in the village became organ - ised: there is now a dispensary, which one of our Sisters, a nurse, looks after. In the beginning the Brothers were in the schools; the Fathers replaced them.

Catechism Catechism was organised by the priest, in rounds of one week in a village, him and the catechist, and that duty fell to me! “My people”: the Bassari people of eastern Senegal. Every weekday, except Saturday when it is here at the mission, I used to go the tor to go down the other side, and whirr! Father, you have to look at the top of the rounds of the villages where catechism We went back down at full speed to the trees. When you see a big stone set in the was taught in groups. A catechist always starting point in a cloud of dust! My com - fork of the branches, there is where the road came with me because of the language panion hid her head, she was terrified. We is; that’s where you have to turn, looking for which is picked up by hearing rather than had to start over again twice, and finally the next stone!” Another time we were from any book. The priest, who is not we reached the foot of the second hill we searching in the forest at night for a man who Bassari, composed a hymn book but, had to cross over. Fortunately, the cate - had fallen from a palm tree and we heard the unfortunately, the Bassari Brother was not chumens received us with joy on the other roaring of lions. Another “pleasure” – the visit able to understand it! side! But I thanked our Heavenly Father of a huge boa that had come down from the Another adventure related to cate - for His incredible protection during these mountain and had secretly settled in the tree chism: I will never forget my first round! dangerous rounds in the land of the hills. next to our chapel. It was less menacing than When we started I was with a woman in Many other adventures added to these the lions that come and carry off the cows the convent car, a convertible but heavy rounds, such as wheels sunk in sands, but and sheep in the wintertime! vehicle, at the foot of a high, very steep we learned little by little. We, the catechist hill. The villages are perched at the top of Victor, and two Sisters, set out with the Rich Harvest these hills. How were we to climb it? With priest; we climbed one hill; at the top, the Isn’t that a stupendous mission? We do see difficulty I reached the top of the slope; in grass was taller than us. “Where is the the results of all those years of shared effort: my nervousness, I leaned on the accelera - road, Victor?” asked the Father. “Wait, after thirty years that passed very quickly, you see women happy to manage things for themselves, they even sell their tinctures abroad; women active during meetings and celebrations; the men like “gentlemen;” a swarm of children attending school; and understanding between the two ethnic groups. After a persevering preparatory effort, in which we ourselves showed no dif- ference in our treatment of the people, they now chat together and celebrate many events together. We rejoice in the Baptisms celebrated after having seriously prepared the candidates, and also in the rich harvest: two priests, two deacons, several seminari- ans and three FMM Sisters! Salimata had the reputation of being a difficult, if not impossible mission. And yet all those years of self-offering when faced with sacrifice, and of perseverance despite all tri- als, allowed the Lord to do good work among our people. The very great suffering of the beginnings has been transformed into joy and gratitude. Bassari women: growing in leadership within the community. Thank you, Lord! n

Aug/Sept 2013 11 Church Brief

Christians in Syria Zim), an ecumenical group. The pro - On Sunday, 23 June, the Syrian priest gramme aims to train about 5,000 François Murad was killed in Gassanieh, Christian leaders. "We are part of a in northern Syria, in the Franciscan friary broader group of organisations affiliated where he had taken refuge. Fr François, to the Zimbabwe Council of Churches 49, had taken the first steps in the reli - that have embarked on various strate - gious life with the Franciscan friars of the gies to minimise violence and torture as Custody of the Holy Land, but then felt part of our normal pastoral work in called to be a monk. He continued to Zimbabwe," said Rev Levee Kadenge, share close bonds of spiritual friendship President of CAT-Zim. "This programme with the friars. After being ordained a seeks to complement the efforts already priest he had started the construction of underway by three Zimbabwe main Fr François Murad. a monastery dedicated to St Simon Church organisations: the Catholic Stylites in the village of Gassanieh. After Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo Bishops Conference, Evangelical the start of the civil war, the monastery of said that "the whole story of Christians in Fellowship of Zimbabwe and the St Simon had been bombed and Fr the Middle East is marked and made Zimbabwe Council of Churches to Murad had moved to the friary for safety fruitful by the blood of the martyrs of address Zimbabwe’s perennial legacy of reasons and to give sup - many persecutions. Lately, Fr Murad violence before, during and after elec - port to the remaining few tions." President Robert friars, along with religious Mugabe has set, without Syria: a destroyed church. Sisters. consulting other political The Custos of the forces, 31 July as the Holy Land, Pierbattista date of the election. Pizzaballa, OFM, asked people to pray “so that The Smell of this absurd and shameful Sheep war ends soon and that To evangelise according the people of Syria can to Pope Francis’ words go back to living a nor - who said that: "Pastors mal life. Unfortunately must have the smell of the Syria has now become sheep" – this is the chief a battleground not only pastoral perspective of the between Syrian forces, Archbishop of Seoul, but also between Arab South Korea, Andrew countries and the inter - Yeom Soo-jung. The terri - national community. tory of the diocese, with And those paying the price are the poor, sent me some messages before his over 10 million people, includes about the young and the Christians. The inter - death that clearly showed how conscious 1.5 million Catholics, and is served by national community must put a stop to all he was of living in a dangerous situation, 930 priests, about 540 members of reli - this. The world must know that the sup - and he offered his life for peace in Syria gious orders and about 2,000 nuns. The port of gunmen by the West is helping and around the world.” Archbishop intends to put a “pastoral extremists in killing Syrians. With such army” at the service of the proclamation stances, not a single Christian will Zimbabwe Elections of the Good News. The Archbishop said: remain in the East. Fr Murad was just Over 200 Christian religious leaders, “Pope Francis said that priests should one of the many men and women reli - including priests and bishops, have been become ‘shepherds living with the smell gious putting their faith on the frontline in trained to follow the upcoming presiden - of the sheep’. We intend to bring the Syria, refusing to abandon the communi - tial election in Zimbabwe. The pro - healing power of God's grace to every - ties they serve, Christian and Muslim. gramme was sponsored by Southern one in need, and stay close to the mar - They stay because they want to be a Africa Crisis Management Agency, a ginalised. That way, we can touch the sign of hope, light and comfort to people non-government organisation, and by hearts of others and spread the Good in the midst of destruction.” Christian Action Trust Zimbabwe (CAT- News of the Lord around.” n

St Anthony Brief 12 New Churches in Zimbabwe Zimbabwean Marko Phiri looks at the rapid growth of new churches in his country.

he Catholic Archbishop of , Robert Ndlovu, was interviewed Trecently on wide ranging issues by a local, privately-owned paper. He spoke among other things about the many new churches, mostly Pentecostal, that are flourishing in Zimbabwe. These churches have sprouted virtually everywhere across the country, and “traditional” churches have woken up to the realities of their own con - gregations moving to these “fire and brim - stone” outfits, something Archbishop Ndlovu acknowledged was happening in the . From the central business district to crowded working-class townships, posters Pentecostal prayer: Members of a new church. on trees and fliers distributed by hand, advertising some miracle crusade of one ops” as doing the Devil’s bidding by asking churches appear to be seeing a boon as sort or another, have become common those questions. Therefore, anyone who pews fill up. It is curious that some who place. This brings the Christian faith right questions the practices is working to derail dabble in the sociology of religion say that into people’s faces and homes with energy the “Jesus project” and is essentially in poor communities, religion or belief in never seen before. One new pastor said against the “Kingdom.” What is interesting some esoteric being tends to thrive. It there is a growing need among about all this is that while all matters of would appear to me that so does gullibility! Zimbabweans to find meaning in their lives faith are ultimately between the Creator It is no wonder then that Zimbabwe is no and this is the need his church seeks to ful - and Man, desperate folks have invested exception as the same people who seek fil. In a country where millions have suf - the little they have in the “Jesus project” answers from religious quacks can still be fered under harsh economic conditions for with promises of abundant riches becoming found lining up outside the homes of char - the past twelve or more years, it is perhaps available. Many of these churches preach latans who predict the future and traditional understandable that the affected would turn a “prosperity Gospel” – a version of the medicine men who are able to treat every to religion to find meaning. Christianity imported from USA. ailment under the sun. It is a sad indict - The problem is that this service comes So while others say their faith is waning ment of human nature, but that’s life as we with appeals to give generously to the pas - because of the tough questions they say know it, and Zimbabweans are not alone in tors who seem to have answers for every - remain unanswered by going to their tradi - these rather unorthodox searches for thing. This phenomenon has also brought tional churches, the new Pentecostal answers. n with it a rise of pastors living “the good life”. When challenged, the pastors reply: “Jesus WE ARE LOOKING FOR PROMOTERS OF OUR MONTHLY DRAW did not say we should be poor.” Never mind the abject poverty of the people to We are looking for supporters of our mission who will take one book of tickets a month. Please help us. Buy a book yourself. Write for a book to sell to your friends. whom the Gospel is being preached! The contradictions here are many, with one Will you buy or sell for us: church asking members to make tithes in Book of 20 Tickets = €16.00. Return €10.00; keep €6.00. Thank you for supporting us the form of electronic bank transfers! The in all the ways you do already. Our Address is: 8 Merchants Quay, Dublin 8. pastor explained that this reduces the risk of carrying huge amounts of money around Please send me ...... Books for Next Draw when thieves are ever lurking in the shad - ows. Makes sense doesn’t it? Name: ...... In Zimbabwe, as “prophets” and “bish - Address: ...... ops” have sprouted across the country in the past few years, questions have been ...... asked. And not surprisingly, the people raising these questions have been simply Phone No: ...... dismissed by the “prophets” and the “bish -

Aug/Sept 2013 13 Chapter in Zimbabwe For a week in June the friars of the Custody of the Good Shepherd in Zimbabwe gathered for Chapter, held every three years. Eighteen solemnly professed friars took part, in addi - tion to Hugh McKenna, Minister Provincial from Ireland, who presided. Vincent Zungu, OFM, a South African friar who is General Counsellor for Africa, also attended.

Witnesses of Love and Mercy It is a great joy to know that the brothers are making every effort to live the Gospel life and to give witness to hope and Ne peace in a very difficult context and moment in history. May w Service: Custos Alfigio Tunha. you never lose courage or hope: may you never doubt whether God is present to you and to your people, our peo - ple, and that we your brothers are also present to you in prayer and in our hearts. The Fire of the Spirit As you evaluate your current life together, and your mission to the people of God of Zimbabwe, may God give you the The work of evangelisation is at the heart of courage to take whatever decisions necessary for the future the Custody – spreading the Good News. so that your Franciscan lives, fraternities and mission might The Franciscan message has a special be strengthened. appeal among the people – a message of peace and reconciliation. The friars work May we all seek to listen to the voice of the Lord Jesus speak - hard in their various ministries. This min - ing to us, to the Order and to each of the brothers, so that we istry can benefit very much from continual might become greater witnesses to the love and mercy of on-going formation. We need to ask our - God in our lives and in the life of the Order. selves how we can continue to develop May God bless and keep you, the Custody and the Province small Christian communities, provide the now and forever! necessary resources, foster more training for our catechists, learn perhaps from the From the Letter of the Minister General, Perry, OFM. Pentecostal churches who draw many away from Catholic practice, continue the promo - tion of our parish councils and youth out - reach, make further use of the media, develop retreat and mission ministry. Keeping in mind the words of St Francis – “Go and preach and sometimes use words!” living faithfully our Franciscan life. The words of Pope Francis challenge us: “A new evangelisation, a Church that evange - lises must always begin from prayer, from asking, as did the Apostle in the Upper Room, for the fire of the Holy Spirit. Only a faithful and intense relationship with God allows us to go out of our closures and announce the Gospel boldly.” a, Hugh McKenna and Trio: Nicholas Banhw From the Report on Evangelisation. Onward Murape.

St Anthony Brief 14 Working for Justice Authentic Disciples The work of Justice Peace and Integrity I would like to kindly remind you brothers of the great things we of Creation is every friar’s business. To have promised to the Lord through our Religious Profession in quote the former Minister General, our Order, to pass from “good to better, and better to best.” “Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Through our Franciscan vocation, for which we must continually is part of our DNA”. All of us are sup - give thanks to God the Father of all Mercy, we committed our - posed to be involved because it is part selves “to live according to the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus and parcel of our Franciscan spirituality, Christ, in obedience, without anything of our own and in it is our identity. In Zimbabwe there are chastity”… I expressed my gratitude for the amount of work you many groups involved in the area of jus - do in the work of evangelisation. Your ministry among the tice and peace and also the area of envi - People of God is highly appreciated by the local bishops, the ronment, but their message often falls on clergy, religious men and women and the laity. I invite you to deaf ears. The Minister of Environment continue to reflect upon new forms of diverse ministries and has talked about the dangers of veld presences that will respond better to the signs of times and places fires and deforestation but nothing where friars are evangelising. Your work in the areas of educa - changes. He has spoken about not build - tion, health, retreats are all important forms of apostolate and ing on wetlands. However we continue means of evangelisation. I suppose there are many other social to see veld fires and the cutting of trees challenges in your beloved country that can be turned into new by the new farmers for firewood and opportunities for evangelisation. curing their tobacco… We now have a Vincent Zungu, OFM, General Counsellor, Rome. new constitution, and we hope and pray that our leaders will continue to preach the message of peace before, during and after the elections. Above all, despite the Live Faithfully political and economic challenges Zimbabwe remains a better place to live. In building up the Church we see how the spirit of St Francis All of us who are Franciscans need to can bring peace and joy to many. For all this I thank God, and I remember always and everywhere that pray that the Good Shepherd whose title we gladly bear may Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation watch over all of us in a special way and help us to live faith - are part of our spirituality. fully our Franciscan calling. And I pray a special blessing on the new administration who will lead us all into the future. From the Report on Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. Emmanuel Musara, OFM, out-going Custos.

New Council takes oath of office: Ndabaningi Sithole, Xavier Mukupo, Fanuel Magwidi, and Naison Manjovha, with Hugh McKenna, Provincial Minister.

Aug/Sept 2013 15 Finding the Right Words

a fresh look sr mary burke, fmDm

priest friend of mine recently had Our words can hurt or heal. a small stroke. This has been a Sr Mary AAdifficult time for him and one of Burke, FMDM , admits that she experiences the greater difficulties has been the slow - ness in being able to put words together. I difficulty at times finding the right words. imagine for someone who is used to using words both to express themselves and to unexpected physical illness such as a her child to speak not even the right preach the Word of God this is not an stroke can be a reminder to us all of what words, but just any word which would allay easy place to be. Personally it also a gift it is to be able to express ourselves her fears, and give her the joy of hearing brought to mind a similar situation when freely in a way which allows us to commu - this child she loved speak his first words; my own father had a stroke many years nicate our needs, wishes and desires with words which would comfort her and tell ago. He knew what he wanted to say but others. her everything was alright. often the words did not come out as his Recently I found myself talking to a mind intended them to. And so finding the young mother whose two-year-old son Words Make A Difference right words can become a struggle had not yet begun to speak. Her concern We live in a world where words are so because of the inability of our brains to was obvious. She had already consulted important, where words can make such a function in ways which make this process her doctor and other professionals who difference to how we see and understand easy. However, for many of us this is a had advised her to wait a little longer life. We look endlessly for the right words process which is mostly unconscious and before doing further tests. Here was a real to console, to tell others of our love for which we generally take for granted. An example of a worried mother waiting for them, to speak the truth without causing

St Anthony Brief 16 hurt and to simply express what is deep - est in our hearts. Indeed, the deepest things of our hearts are often beyond expression in language. We remember kind words spoken to us in time of need, as we do harsh words spoken to us when what we most needed at that moment were words of kindness and compassion. Some of our cultures make it easier to express our feelings in words. Others for different reasons deem some words too emotional and not for public display. We grieve or express joy in words in public or private according to our upbringing or tem - perament. Where it may be acceptable for a woman or man to express such feelings as sadness or delight in words, in other instances it may be frowned upon or be a Heart space: Speaking from a place of stillness. topic which is silenced into the void of “wordlessness”. Our TV screens are alive with words it is true that the overuse of words without ations. There can be much agonising over and we use interactive media to communi - the deeper love of Christ behind them is words in our lives. As both Christ and cate with our families and friends in ways rather like offering words to the wind, it is Francis did, we will often need words for which would not have been possible nonetheless equally true that without those who have lost someone they love, twenty years ago. And, yet, I sometimes words the Good News cannot be spread. for those who are ill or in some kind of wonder how much consideration we give It is undeniable that words, when used in need. There will have been many times in to the words we speak regardless of the a beautiful and compassionate way, can our lives when we have been able to offer means we use to speak them. Do we con - also bring us into the mystery of God’s the right words at the right time and when sider how our words will affect the person own heart and offer us the comfort and just a simple message of “I understand who receives them? companionship of a “Godly” intimacy with how you must feel” or “I hear your pain others on the same journey. and I am here for you” can be a real bless - Hurt or Heal ing for those who turn their hearts towards In my own experience finding the right Comfort and Challenge us in a moment of suffering or need. words is not always easy. There have Francis of Assisi offered many words of been times in my life when I have said challenge, comfort, love and healing in his A Heart Word things that I have since come to regret. lifetime. His words were offered not from a Finding the right words is mostly about Such words may have been uttered in place of noise, as may be the danger for finding a “heart word”; it is about taking haste, or in passion, or because I felt I us in today’s world, but rather from a place that person and their situation into our was trying to uphold a certain value. of deep silence. As followers of Christ we own “heart space”, praying for them and These words once uttered cannot be can take comfort from the fact that Jesus desiring to understand life from their per - retrieved and sometimes the struggle to Himself needed to escape from the world spective rather than our own. This could put right what might have been avoided by of words and of encounter to be on His prove to be the most important guiding a few carefully chosen, quietly spoken own with His Father. These times of principle in our having the right word at words has been at a cost to both myself silence provided Him with strength to be the right time which can then be offered and the person to whom these words able to offer words appropriate to the real lovingly and peacefully. were spoken. Words can indeed have life situations which He encountered. reminds us that “kind words can be short powerful messages and can hurt, heal, Instances of this include His words of and easy to speak but their echoes are teach or sanctify. comfort to those bereaved such as the truly endless.” It is said that St Francis, when giving widow of Naim, His words of healing to Our desire and need to communicate advice to his brothers on how to preach, those who were ill and His words of love in words is part of who we are; its told them: “Preach and if necessary use and challenge to His followers in teaching absence a real loss and its presence a words”. This call to preaching by our them how to love one another. blessing we can share with those around actions is also a reminder by Francis to Words offered after prayer and from us. The words we speak can indeed be his followers to use words with care ensur - the heart have a way of touching our lives gift and are therefore best unwrapped ing the spreading of Good News and not at its very core. All of us know the experi - slowly and with care. Care and thoughtful - to use words indiscriminately. ence of hearing words that have behind ness in speaking can be a real help to Often this particular quote can be used them a concern for our best interests. finding the right words to affirm life and to encourage the spread of the Gospel In our desire to find the right words we bring happiness to ourselves and others in without the use of too many words. While can worry about what to say in certain situ - our daily encounters. n

Aug/Sept 2013 June/July 17 Jubilee Celebration Chris Connolly, OFM , has celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination in the Franciscan church, Killarney. Pictured with him are the friars Joe Condren and Pádraig Breheny. Chris has spent the last 20 years in Killarney. After his ordination in 1963 he served as a missionary in Zimbabwe for 20 years.

La Verna Retreat Centre

Tuesday 6th to Tuesday 13th August 2013 For more information contact: Retreat: THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER AND DEVOTION La Verna Retreat Centre, Facilitators: Fr Paschal McDonnell, OFM, and Treise O’Callaghan. Franciscan Friary, Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal. Friday 30th August to Sunday 1st September 2013 Tel: +353 (0)71 9852 572 INNER HEALING WEEKEND RETREAT Email: lavernarossnowlagh@ hotmail.com Friday 27th to Sunday 29th September 2013 Check out: Weekend Retreat: ST FRANCIS AND THE COMPASSION OF GOD www.lavernaretreat.com Facilitator: Fr Loman MacAodha, OFM.

St Anthony Brief 18 Be strengthened in the holy service you have undertaken What a Great out of an ardent desire for the Poor Crucified, who for the sake of all of us Exchange! took upon Himself the Passion of the Cross. O blessed poverty, who bestows eternal riches on those who love and embrace her!

O holy poverty, to those who possess and desire you God promises the kingdom of heaven and offers, indeed, eternal glory and blessed life!

O God-centred poverty, whom the Lord Jesus Christ who ruled and now rules heaven and earth, who spoke and things were made, condescended to embrace before all else!

What a great laudable exchange: to leave the things of time for those of eternity, to choose the things of heaven for the goods of earth, to receive the hundred-fold in place of one, and to possess a blessed and eternal life.

From the First Letter of St Clare to St Agnes of Prague.

The feast of St Clare of Assisi is celebrated on 11 August.

Aug/Sept 2013 ifty years ago good Pope John died on 3 June 1963. Angelo Roncalli was Fborn in Sotto il Monte in the diocese Blessed John XXIII: of Bergamo, northern Italy. He was the old - est boy in a family of thirteen, simple farm - ing people. Angelo lived within earshot of the bells of the Franciscan Friary of Our A Son of Saint Francis Lady of the Assumption at Baccanello. He became a lay Franciscan tertiary attached Reflecting on the life of Blessed Pope John, to the fraternity at Baccanello at the age of 14. Angelo loved the atmosphere of the fri - a Franciscan tertiary, Pat Conlan, OFM, ary church and deeply appreciated the sim - plicity and humility of the friars. The recognises the spirit of St Francis. Franciscan influence appears throughout his life. He had a Conventual friar to guide joy, acting with dignity, humility, mildness, Jews escape to Palestine. Herzog, him in his retreat in 1931 and a Capuchin in forbearance and particularly patience. Grand Rabbi of Jerusalem, former Chief 1933, in 1953 and again in the Vatican in Rabbi in Dublin, sent the blessings of 1961. He believed in the simplicity of the Different Roles Jerusalem and Sion to Roncalli for his work Gospel way-of-life and found it first of all in Having got a doctorate in theology, he was for the Jews. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis ordained in 1904. Fr Angelo studied canon By 1944 Charles de Gaul was heading but also in the Little Flowers of St Francis . law and was appointed secretary to the new a provisional government in Paris. He He considered the poverty and humility of bishop of Bergamo, James M. Radini- asked Rome to re-appoint a nuncio there. St Francis an ideal way of getting close to Tedeschi. He also began teaching at the Bishop Roncalli was chosen. The new nun - the poor Jesus. He liked to meditate on the diocesan seminary in Bergamo. His star cio slowly rebuilt Church structures. He got words of St Clare that we should pour out was rising and Fr Angelo was summoned to government agreement for the appointment our alms to the poor and then these very Rome to become Director of the Society for of a large number of bishops. He investi - alms would pray for us. the Propagation of the Faith in Italy. In 1925 gated bishops accused of working with the The curate in Sotto il Monte invited him Fr Roncalli was appointed Apostolic Visitor Nazis and found three guilty. He got proper to go to Rome for a Holy Year pilgrimage to Bulgaria, resident in Sofia. He was con - treatment for German prisoners-of-war. in 1900. They returned through Loreto and secrated as titular archbishop of Areopolis These included hundreds of theological stu - Assisi, where Angelo prayed at the tomb of in Rome on 19 March 1925. He was trans - dents who had been forced into the St Francis and furthered his devotion to ferred to Turkey and Greece in 1934 as German army. He arranged their transfer to the Saint of Assisi. As Pope John he administrator of the Vicariate Apostolic of a camp where they could resume their stud - repeated his pilgrimage to Loreto and Istanbul. World War II brought its own prob - ies before returning to minister in Germany. Assisi on the eve of the opening of the lems. He tried to persuade the Allies to Bishop Roncalli was created a cardinal Second Vatican Council in 1963. Angelo ease the food blockade that was causing in January 1953. It was anticipated that he got a scholarship to study for the priest - famine in many parts of Greece. The mili - would work in the curia in Rome. However hood at the Apollinare in Rome. In what tary situation prevented him working in the of Venice had died and may be a manifestation of his Greece after 1942. He did set up an organi - Cardinal Roncalli gladly accepted an offer Franciscanism, as a priest he would seek sation in Istanbul to locate prisoners-of-war to replace him. He won the esteem of both to deal with others in serenity, calm and or missing people. He also helped Italian people and priests. He undertook a visita -

St Anthony Brief 20 Assisi: Pilgrimage on the eve of the Council.

tion of the parishes, particularly those in edge of the Church’s doctrine and a whole - met. His quiet and gentle way of dealing with working-class areas. some increase of Christian morality. In short people enabled him to work miracles of he prayed that the Kingdom of the Divine peace in most unlikely places. Pope John Saviour be one of truth, justice, love and On 16 April 1959, as part of the 750th cel - Pope Pius XII died on 9 October 1958 and peace. This sounds Franciscan. John died ebration of the founding of the Franciscan the Patriarch of Venice left for Rome. He from cancer on 3 June 1963 before the sec - Order, the four Ministers General from the dif - waved a return ticket to show his intention ond session of the Council resumed and ferent branches of the Order renewed their to come back to his beloved Venice. The was buried in the crypt of St Peter’s vows before John XXIII at the Lateran 51 cardinals met in conclave. In three days Basilica. Pope John Paul II beatified him in Basilica. Pope John issued a letter to com - they elected Roncalli as Pope. He chose 2000. memorate the anniversary on 4 April. He the name of John. It was anticipated that he wrote of the great doings of St Francis and would be a transition pope, since he was Franciscan Spirit his Order. He encouraged the friars to follow now seventy-seven years old. Returning to our quest to find the influence the spirit of Francis in their ministry. He At a meeting of cardinals held at St of the Franciscan charism on Pope John, addressed the friars as brothers because he, Paul’s Basilica on 25 January 1959 to mark we recognise the importance of his pilgrim - from his youth, was a member of the the end of the week of prayer for Christian age to Loreto and Assisi before the opening Franciscan family. Pope John gave a longer Unity, John XXIII proposed three major of Vatican II. Commentators saw the visit to teaching at the renewal of vows on 16 April. undertakings: a synod of the diocese of Assisi in terms of Pope John’s wish that the He spoke of the relation between St Francis Rome, a new ecumenical council and a Council would focus on the church of the and the Lateran Basilica, particularly as a revision of the code of canon law. With a poor. St Francis, the poor man of Assisi, sign of his dedication to the Pope. He also smile on his face and perhaps a mischie - was an obvious patron. In preaching at mentioned that during the ceremony he sat vous chuckle, he invited people to throw Assisi, the Pope linked two interests of St under a mosaic in the apse depicting both St open the windows of the Vatican and let in Francis, poverty and peace. He claimed Francis of Assisi and St . the fresh air of the Spirit. The first synod of that only when the good and beautiful He recalled his great delight in being Rome was held in January 1960. The new things that Providence had placed in this received into the Third Order of St Francis on code of canon law finally appeared in 1983. world were equitably shared out could there 1 March 1896. After all it was the Order of the Vatican II is seen as good Pope John’s be true peace. brothers and sisters of peace. He linked this greatest achievement. He always claimed Pope John, everybody’s priest, was a with his reception of the clerical tonsure later that, out of the blue, the Holy Spirit had follower of St Francis of Assisi for six that year. He spoke warmly of the friars at inspired him to summon the council. He decades. Like Francis, he was a man of Baccanello, particularly of their simple, hum - saw its immediate aims as renewing the evangelical simplicity and deep humility. ble and quiet way of life. This made a deep spiritual life of Catholics, bringing the teach - Francis always talked of living the Gospel impression on those they met, particularly ing and organisation of the Church up to and that was what Pope John tried to do while out on the quest. When home on holi - date and working towards the unity of all during his life. He had true Franciscan days, he loved to visit the friary to find peace Christians. In his prayer for the council he humility, aware of his dependence on the and comfort. Pope John also linked these asked that the light and power of the power of the Father in all he did. He sought events with his canonisation of the Gospel be more widely defused in human peace in following the will of God. Again Franciscan friar Charles of Sezze on 12 April society. He prayed that a new vigour be Pope John had the Franciscan hunger for 1959. Today followers of the Poor Saint of imparted to the Catholic religion and its souls and for leading others into a deeper Assisi can find inspiration in the life of another missionary function. He wished that we love of God. Also in the Franciscan tradi - humble tertiary who, like Francis, changed might all acquire a more profound knowl - tion, he showed respect for all those he the Church of his time for the better. n

Aug/Sept 2013 21 News from around the . . . Franciscan World

College in Bethlehem Students and teachers at Terra Sancta College in Bethlehem cele - brated in June the completion of another school year, renewing hope for Christians in the Holy Land through the study of art and music. The college was established by the Franciscans in the 1500s as an extension of their ministry in the region and today offers an alterna - tive to traditional education. Training in the arts and music provides hope to marginalised Christians in the area, particularly in Bethlehem where unemployment among Christians exceeds 65 percent, and those who do have jobs work for subsistence-level wages. Travel for Christians in Bethlehem and other Mission: Minister General, Michael Perry, with Franciscan missionaries. parts of Israel is so highly restricted that people often cannot get to their Franciscans in Amazonia the meeting that our presence here in the jobs, to school or to medical facili - In a Franciscan retreat centre in Peru, a Amazon is like a grain of sand on the ties. The Franciscan Foundation for meeting of the missionary Franciscan fam - beach. Yes, but even a grain of sand can the Holy Land provides programmes ily in the Amazon took place in June. make a difference in the world, for every that offer education, housing and Convened by the Minister General, person who experiences the grace, love, employment opportunities for Michael Perry, OFM, the assembly was mercy, peace, and hope of God spread by Christians. Thirty-five years ago made up of about 50 friars and Sisters, the living experience of the Franciscan Christians made up 80 percent of namely, the Friars Minor, Sisters and lay missionaries and their collaborators here, the population of Bethlehem. Today people. They all came from different locali - in the Amazon. It is the quality of our pres - that number has dwindled to less ties of the boundless Amazon region: ence, our closeness to the people, espe - than two percent. Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, and cially the least and marginalised, that Check out: www.proterrasancta.org n Brazil. In addition to the missionaries, pre - makes the Franciscan difference.” n sent from these countries were the respec - tive Provincial Ministers and two Bishop Michael Franciscan bishops. Lenihan, OFM, The theme of the meeting was “The celebrates the Franciscan Presence in the Amazon, feast of St Yesterday, Today, and in the Future”, with Isidore the the subtitle a challenging question: “Where Farmer, the is the Spirit Leading our Presence in the patron saint of Amazon?” The attention was constantly the new Diocese drawn to the Amazon Project, launched by of La Ceiba, the General Chapter of the Order in 2009. Honduras. The The mandate said that the project must Vigil Mass for consider "the humanising power of the the feast took Gospel, the protection and the integrity of place on 14 May creation, and the defence and promotion of indigenous cultures." after a large The Minister General, at the concluding procession celebration, said that “it was stated during through the city. St Anthony Brief 22 Madagascar: An Island Nation adagascar, officially the Republic The Franciscan presence is growing on Madagascar of Madagascar, is an island coun - MMtry in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa. The nation com - prises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world), as well as numerous smaller peripheral islands. Since 1992 the nation has officially been governed as a constitutional democracy from its capital at Antananarivo. In 2012, the population of Madagascar was esti - mated at just over 22 million, 90 percent of whom live on less than two dollars per day. Malagasy and French are both official lan - guages of the state. The Franciscan presence in the country is growing. The Custody of the has 30 solemnly-professed fri - ars. In the post-novitiate house in Antananarivo there currently are 14 tempo - rary-professed friars who are studying phi - losophy and theology and two studying nursing. In the postulant house in Antsirabe there are eleven postulants in the second year and five who are in the first year, and in the novitiate community there are three novices. There is also a house used for aspirants who live together for six months prior to postulancy. The fri - ars are struggling financially in the con - struction of new houses to welcome the growing number of candidates and to pro - vide for the young friars engaged in various study programmes. In the houses for novices, postulants and aspirants, there are carpentry workshops and agricultural projects to help ease financial pressure. In a visit to Madagascar in June, Minister General Michael Perry, OFM, as well as spending time with the friars also went to the monasteries of the Poor Clares and participated in meetings organised by the Franciscan family, including the Capuchins, Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, several other Franciscan Sisters’ congregations, the Secular Franciscans, the JUFRA (Young Franciscans Movement) and a children’s group associated with the JUFRA. The central theme that emerged from these discussions focused on learning how to live more faithfully the Franciscan charism today. The emphasis was on the core of the Franciscan identity and in exploring the nature of the charism and relationship with the Lord Jesus in the con - text of the world in which Franciscans in Madagascar find themselves. n

Aug/Sept 2013 23 Mercy and Courage: Pope Francis’ Message

fr francis cotter, ofm

n an interview some months before he was elected Pope, Cardinal Bergoglio Francis Cotter, OFM, sees a clear pattern IIsaid that the two great needs of the emerging in the teachings of Pope Francis. Church in our time are mercy and courage. He explained that “we all need to experi - he repeated: “He always watches over us experience this divine goodness within the ence the transforming mercy of God at with mercy. Let us not be afraid of Church. “Let the Church always be a place depth, then, renewed by divine compas - approaching Him! If we show Him our inner of mercy and hope, where everyone is wel - sion, the Christian people can share, with wounds, our inner sins, He will always for - comed, loved and forgiven.” apostolic courage, the Gospel of grace.” give us. It is pure mercy.” Since becoming Pope, mercy and A favourite word, often repeated, is ten - Apostolic Courage courage have been constant themes. On derness. “How beautiful is the gaze with This experience of tender love is not his first Sunday as Pope he told us: “God which Jesus regards us – how full of ten - inward looking but leads to apostolic never tires of showing mercy but we can derness!” And again: “Closeness and ten - courage. Pope Francis speaks of two ways get weary of asking for mercy. Never tire of derness! The Lord loves us in these two we “go out, make an exodus from our - asking for His mercy, never!” Pope Francis ways, He draws near and gives all His love selves” – one to the “wounds of Jesus” to speaks of his own experience: “In my own even in the smallest things, with tender - find grace and new beginnings, the other to life, I have so often seen God’s merciful ness. And this is a powerful love, because “the wounds of our brothers and sisters.” face, His patience. The mercy of God closeness and tenderness reveal the He speaks often of “touching the flesh of changes everything. This is the best thing strength of God’s love”. Another time he Jesus” in those in physical and spiritual we can feel; it changes the world.” Again quoted St Anthony the Great: "To say that need. There is a real danger, he knows, and again he comes back to this basic God turns away from the sinful is like say - that we have all the Christian theory but lit - message: “Let us not forget that the Lord ing that the sun hides from the blind." The tle of the practice in our lives. “We cannot always watches over us with mercy.” And Pope’s great desire is that people can become starched Christians, those over-

St Anthony Brief 24 educated Christians who speak of theologi - are not sure of their faith, not sure of Jesus He refers to a line from the Scriptures, cal matters as they calmly sip their tea. No! Christ. When the Church loses this apos - Revelation 3:20. “Jesus stands at the door We must become courageous Christians tolic courage, she becomes a stalled and knocks, knocks to be let into our heart. and go in search of the people who are the Church, a tidy Church, a Church that is But ask yourselves this question: how often flesh of Christ, those who are the very flesh nice to look at, but that is without fertility, is Jesus inside and knocking at the door to of Christ!” because she has lost the courage to go to be let out, to come out? And we do not let Such was Pope Francis’ own outreach the outskirts, where there are many people Him out because of our own need for secu - on 8 July when his first papal visit outside who are victims of idolatry, of worldliness, rity, because so often we are locked into Rome was to the small Italian island of of weak thought, of so many things.” ephemeral structures that serve solely to Lampadusa. In June African refugees had He realises that “going out” in loving make us slaves and not free children of drowned trying to cross to Europe in small action can be risky but it is a risk we must God.” boats, just the latest in some 20,000 take. “A Church that does not go out, And what of the timid, those fearful of drowned since 1998. After meeting the sur - sooner or later gets sick. The self-referen - making mistakes – they are told bluntly: vivors, Francis explained why he had tial Church falls victim to a kind of narcis - “But you might say: ‘But Father, we might come: “When I first heard of this tragedy a sism that leads to spiritual worldliness and make mistakes.’ Well, get on with you: if few weeks ago, and realised that it hap - to sophisticated clericalism – great obsta - you make a mistake, you get up and go pens all too frequently, it has constantly cles to the sweet and comforting joy of forward: that is the way. Those who do not come back to me like a painful thorn in my evangelising. It is true that something can walk in order not to err make the more seri - heart. So I felt that I had to come here happen to a Church that ‘goes out,’ just as ous mistake.” So, it’s official – from the today, to pray and to offer a sign of my things can happen to someone who leaves Pope himself – it’s OK to make mistakes! closeness, but also to challenge our con - the safety of home; accidents can happen. sciences lest this tragedy be repeated.” But I wish to say to you frankly that I prefer Obstacles to Mission This apostolic outreach has its origin in a thousand times an injured Church than a Pope Francis is not naïve about hindrances God’s unceasing, self-giving love. Indeed, sick Church.” within the Church and within each heart to we are all part of a great love story. “The On the vigil of Pentecost, speaking to a this sharing of divine compassion with gen - Church begins there in the heart of the great gathering of the members of the vari - erosity. One issue can simply be people’s Father – so this love story began – a story ous ecclesial movements, he used the desire for comfort, an easy life. “The Lord that has gone on for so long, and is not yet image of a stuffy room: “Please do not always wants us to move forward, forward, ended. We, the women and men of the withdraw into yourselves! This is a danger: forward, not to take refuge in a quiet life or Church, we are in the middle of a love we shut ourselves up in the parish, with our in cosy structures.” The Pope tells us to story: each of us is a link in this chain of friends, within the movement, with the like- ask for the grace to be annoying! “We can love. And if we do not understand this, we minded. But do you know what happens? ask the Holy Spirit to give us the grace to have understood nothing of what the When the Church is closed, she falls sick. be annoying when things are too quiet in Church is." Therefore “apostolic courage Think of a room that has been closed for a the Church. This threatens our comfort and zeal is not a drive for power but some - year. When you go into it there is a smell of zones, even Christian comfort zones, right? thing that comes from inside, that the Lord damp, many things are wrong with it. A It irritates us. The Church doesn't need wants from us.” Church closed in on herself is the same, a couch-potato Catholics; it needs believers Pope Francis believes that “a timid sick Church.” with apostolic zeal, willing to preach the Christian is incomprehensible: courage and magnanimity are part of the Christian voca - tion. Nothing is more opposed to the Spirit than settling down, shutting oneself in.” Therefore he prays that the Holy Spirit might “give all of us apostolic fervour; may He also give us the grace to feel uncom - fortable about certain aspects of the Church which are too relaxed, the grace to go forward to the existential outskirts. The Church is in great need of this!”

Open Doors Pope Francis, especially in his unscripted homilies at the daily Mass in the Vatican residence, Casa Santa Marta, constantly presents, often in forceful words, a vision of a Church with open doors, a Church that “moves out” in humble service. He speaks frequently of the dangers of the Church being, what he calls, “self-referential”, that is inward looking, caught up in itself. “Christians who are afraid to build bridges and prefer to build walls are Christians who Refugees on Lampadusa: “A sign of my closeness.”

Aug/Sept 2013 25 uncomfortable words of Christ.” You might sations and structures, than about the true actions what they hear from our lips, and well ask: what if this causes tensions? good of the People of God.” so give glory to God! Inconsistency on the Francis answers: “If we annoy people, Speaking to priests on Holy Thursday part of pastors and the faithful between blessed be the Lord!” Francis did not mince his words. He spoke what they say and what they do, between Another temptation is the desire to of priests “who do not go out of them - word and manner of life, is undermining the “take possession of the Lord” – to control selves, instead of being mediators, gradu - Church’s credibility.” Lack of joy also who has access to Him! Francis gives a ally become intermediaries, managers… he lessens credibility. Francis speaks of “those concrete example. “Think about a single doesn’t put his own skin and his own heart melancholy Christian faces that have more mother who goes to parish church and to on the line.” And the end result, they “end in common with pickled peppers than the the secretary she says: 'I want my child up sad – sad priests – in some sense joy of having a beautiful life.” Another time baptised'. And then this Christian, this becoming collectors of antiques or novel - he said: “Long faces cannot proclaim Christian says: 'No, you cannot because ties.” Instead, using a powerful image, he Jesus. Joy alone and praise of God are the you're not married!’ But look, this girl who asked priests to live in such loving service only way to advance the Gospel You can - had the courage to carry her pregnancy of God’s children that they have “the smell not advance the Gospel with sad, hope - and not to return her son to the sender, of the sheep” on them. “This I ask you: be less, discouraged Christians. You cannot – what is it? A closed door! This is not zeal! It shepherds, with the smell of the sheep, not with a funeral face.” is far from the Lord! It does not open doors! And so when we have this attitude, we do not do good to the People of God.” In this context Francis speak of an “eight sacra - ment”. He goes on: “Jesus instituted the seven sacraments but with this attitude we are establishing the eighth: the sacrament of pastoral customs! We think today of Jesus, who always wants us all to be closer to Him, we think of the holy People of God, a simple people, who want to get closer to Jesus and we also think of so many sincere Christians who are wrong. Why? Because instead of opening a door they close the door of goodwill. So we ask the Lord that all those who come to the Church find the doors open, open to meet this love of Jesus.”

Worldliness Another obstacle can be the different forms of what Francis calls “the spirit of worldli - ness.” “When a priest, a bishop goes after money, the people do not love him – and Wedding blessing: Irish couple Sean and Áine Ascough. that's a sign. St Paul did not have a bank account, he worked, and when a bishop, a make it real, as shepherds among your Mercy and courage – the core of priest goes on the road to vanity, he enters flock.” He tells the Italian bishops they are Francis’ Gospel message to us. Meeting into the spirit of careerism – and this hurts not just to go ahead of “the flock, without with the pastoral workers of the diocese of the Church very much – and he ends up hesitation in leading” but also to stay close Rome, he reminded them that sharing our being ridiculous: he boasts, he is pleased to those who find it hard to keep up. faith in Christ is something every Christian to be seen, to be all powerful – and the “Therefore, being pastors also means to be should do. “Being with Jesus demands that people do not like that! Pray for us that we ready to walk in the midst of and behind we go out from ourselves, that we move on might be poor, that we might be humble, the flock: capable of listening to the silent from living a tired and habitual faith.” meek, in the service of the people.” story of the suffering and bearing up the Francis concluded that talk with an impas - The problem of careerism within the steps of those who are afraid of not suc - sioned plea: “Dear, dear brothers and sis - Church is a frequent theme. He warns: ceeding; be careful to raise up, to reassure, ters, let us be not afraid! We must go out to “The lack of spiritual vigilance – we know – and inspire hope.” reach the flesh of the Lord who suffers makes the pastor lukewarm; he becomes wherever and in whatever circumstances distracted, forgetful and even impatient; it Witness of Life the suffering one happens to be. Let us go seduces him with the prospect of a career, In all this words alone are not enough. “Let forth to tell our brothers and our sisters that the lure of money, and he compromises us all remember this: one cannot proclaim we are under grace, that Jesus gives us with the spirit of the world; it makes him the Gospel of Jesus without the tangible grace and that it costs us nothing: only we lazy, turning him into a functionary, a cleric witness of one’s life. Those who listen to us must receive it.” And Francis concluded worried more about himself, about organi - and observe us must be able to see in our with one Italian word: Avanti! “Forward!” n

St Anthony Brief 26 The Search for Truth: Human Dignity and Freedom

faith in action fr gearóiD ó conaire, ofm

50 years after the beginning of the Second Vatican Council, Gearoid Ó Conaire, OFM, looks at its teaching on religious liberty.

ased on reflections given by the Gregorian University in Rome. As a the - Vatican II. The more he learns, the more American Jesuit theologian ologian, canon lawyer, a Church histo - he realises how much he doesn’t know. BBLadislas Orsy in Rome in rian, he is now in a privileged position to The Council was a quest for reason and January this year, I wish to reflect on the give an authoritative reflection of the sig - truth seeking understanding. It opens Second Vatican Council in the light of nificance of this major event in the his - into mystery, with an unfolding of knowl - one of its declarations, entitled Dignitatis tory of the Church and salvation, during edge of the Kingdom on earth. Humanae (DH), on the theme of which 16 documents were promulgated. On the final working day of the Religious Liberty. The 91-year-old Fr Orsy admitted that Council, 7 December 1965, the last doc - When Vatican II began Fr Orsy was a even after 50 years he is only beginning ument of Vatican II on religious liberty young priest teaching theology at the to better understand some aspects of was promulgated by Pope Paul VI. It

Aug/Sept 2013 27 nearly didn’t make it out of the Council, ficult. However it reveals a clear vision, The Greatest is Love as a sizable minority of Council mem - simple, not simplistic, and for this reason This is not a paradigm change, but a bers were uncomfortable with its content is beautiful. DH is rooted in ancient tradi - completion of the paradigm. To affirm and hotly contested it up to the very end. tion. It sweeps away the old and opens truth alone led to the Inquisition, when In fact, as we will see from this article, to new vistas. It contains the whole the Church could oppress or even kill the document radically changes Church range of theologies and experiences of somebody who did not accept the norm thinking and practical responses in the Church, from classical, to scholastic, of objective truth. Vatican Council II regard to the freedom of conscience of to recent Biblical scholarship. Fr Orsy affirms that truth with love will lead to the each person to freely choose his or her mused about writing an article, which he embracing of the person in error. There religion. never got around to doing. The insight is a respect for the dignity of the person would have been how Vatican II cor - over sweeping and hurtful declarations Freedom rected some earlier magisterial declara - of the truth. The conclusion is not to Writing in 2010, Pope Benedict, com - tions! impose truth, but to embrace the person. menting on the Council, following on There is a respect for truth, but Vatican II objectively changed the from a reflection on Gaudium et Spes recognition that charity has a priority way of thinking in the Church. It helps (The Church in the Modern World), beyond truth. The development of doc - the Church move to a higher level of shared that in his opinion the encounter trine depends on the development of truth, already present in St Paul’s teach - with the great themes of the modern minds. As a teacher, he believes that the ings. It gives instruction on how to build epoch did not happen in the great biggest obstacle to change is mentality. God’s Kingdom and, like Jesus, does Pastoral Constitution, but instead in two Mentalities determine structures. not impose. St Paul writes: “If I speak in minor documents, the Declaration on Structures won’t change unless people the tongues of men and of women or of Religious Liberty and the Declaration are open to having their ideas chal - angels, but do not have love, I am only a Nostra Aetate on the Relation of the lenged and are willing to make the nec - resounding gong or a clanging cymbal… Church to Non-Christian Religions. For essary adjustments in their ideas. Love never fails… And now these three Pope Benedict, what was at stake was Vatican Council II says truth is a remain: faith, hope and love. But the “the freedom to choose and practise reli - supreme value in its own realm. greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians gion and the freedom to change it, as However, giving priority to charity over 13). Behind every wholesome human fundamental human rights and free - truth is a new attitude in the Church. It operation is the operation of the Spirit. doms.” He went on to say that “the combines the paradigm of truth with the God establishes a divine covenant to Christian faith demanded freedom of paradigm of charity. It was the first time help the human family build the religious belief and freedom of religious in history that this happened. Kingdom. A Divine Energy sweeps practice in worship, without thereby vio - lating the law of the State in its internal ordering; Christians prayed for the Fundamental emperor, but did not worship him. To this right: Freedom extent, it can be said that Christianity, at to choose and its birth, brought the principle of religious practise one’s freedom into the world.” religion. It was providential, the Pope added, that a few years after the conclusion of the Council, Pope John Paul II arrived from a country in which freedom of reli - gion had been denied by Marxism, a particular form of modern philosophy of the State. The Pope had come, to an extent, from a situation similar to the early Church, so that “the inner orienta - tion of the faith towards the theme of freedom, and especially freedom of reli - gion and worship, became visible once more.”

Truth and Charity The Declaration on Religious Freedom contained the fruit of four years’ work. It may be the most mature product of the Council. Other documents emerged out of the reflection on this theme, as did orientations for practical application. DH is full of complexities and paradoxes. It is not an easy read. The language is dif -

St Anthony Brief 28 New era: the Spirit will prevail.

through the Church, liberating and humble community that seeks no tempo - same substance as the Father, led to redeeming those who live in the valley of ral privileges. It uses instead the Word of deep divisions. St recognised in death. DH is a transition from abstract God alone to spread the Good News. 359 that most Christians had rejected truth to charity in which the dignity of the So, DH proposes no secular privileges the Council teaching. The Council teach - person is respected. for the Church, a real turning point in the ings were kept alive mainly by the laity, life of the Church. With time we will dis - not by the hierarchy. Now what is hap - Some Key Elements cover what this implies. We are called to pening 50 years after Vatican II? The A Fresh View of the Person: In honour - be a humble Church, announcing the same Spirit of God that was present in ing the human, God is honoured. Kingdom, without force and allowing the Nicea is present at Vatican II and contin - Humans are “replicas” (images) of His Spirit to do her work. ues to sweep through the Church and being. For this reason they are entitled to Freedom of Religion inside the the world today. The Spirit led the freedom and respect. By acknowledging Church: The person through baptism is Church to eventually embrace the the freedom of a human person we hon - committed to a community. The commu - Nicean Creed. It is interesting that all our a divine quality in them. We are nity has its understanding of the Word. Christian Churches accept the Nicean invited to assume responsibility for our What happens when a person of good Creed and it is a point of unity. There is internal and external development. There faith does not see as the community a lot of confusion, even denial today as is a duty to use intelligence and creativity sees which subsequently provokes a some try to explain away the Council. so we can be true “replicas” of God. conflict? It is a situation where two con - But this has no long-term power over the sciences compete: the conscience of the Spirit that guided the Council. The Spirit Conscience: It is not dictatorial, which will prevail and Vatican II will be imple - obliges one to be followed blindly. It is not person and the conscience of the com - munity. Fr Orsy’s conclusion is that he mented. It may take 100 years for peo - an external regulator. Conscience is part ple to recognise that indeed we have of who I am and is accessible. It is like a has not found a general rule to cover these situations of conflict between the entered a new era, the era of Vatican II. light, an internal capacity, a spirit order If readers of St Anthony Brief wish inside to guide one to perfection, to individual and the community. In such circumstances wise people are needed to deepen their understanding of the his - knowledge of “the good” at an increas - tory of Vatican II, as well as the theologi - ingly higher level, an unfolding light. who understand both sides, the individ - ual and the community. Every case is cal insights which emerged, and the Perception of the Church: DH provides unique. There is also a need to avoid subsequent conflicts arising from the a fresh vision of the Church. It is based strict judicial procedures and to develop Council, I recommend two books: on Chapter 2 of The Letter to the institutional models of reconciliation Ladislas Orsy, Receiving the Council: Philippians, which has kenosis , Christ’s within the Church. Theological and Canonical Insights and self-emptying, as its central message. Debates, (Liturgical Press, Minnesota, The Church has received God’s revela - The Spirit Will Prevail 2009) and John W. O'Malley, What tion and therefore, somehow, has a privi - The Council of Nicea (325) and Vatican Happened at Vatican II, (Harvard leged position. But it should not grasp II are similar in authority. What Nicea University Press, Boston, 2010). n this privilege, but empty itself to be a proclaimed, that Jesus Christ was the [email protected]

Aug/Sept 2013 29 Mission diGest

Br Juniper O’Brien, aged 88, greets his new Custos.

iam McCarthy. Patience Tigere and L

A time of Eucharistic Adoration. Fan uel Magwidi plays for the Lord.

Gathered in Chapter

Brothers in the Lord: Fanuel Magwidi, Alfigio Tunha (Custos), Xavier Mukupo, Nicholas Banwha and Thomas Makamure (front).

30 Letters to the Editor

Dear Fr Editor, Dear Fr Bernard, As a membe r of the Third Orde y subscription r and a “client” of stal order to renew m Anthony for ma St I enclose a po ny years I was both al d surprised and ions and an addition elighted when I re s a lile for the miss ad the article “St plu for Anthony: Guide k St Anthony for the Spiritual Journ my daughter to than ey”, taken from th amount from recent e words of our Holy Father, Pope B quest granted. enedict. a re I wa s surprised because ur excellent I was never told in y much to receiving yo many ye all my I look forward ver ars going to the no vena on Tuesdays and most informative books of serm that cation and the varied ons written by St A publi nthony existed, let shed by the alone heard quot tains. When I feel cru es from them. At th articles it con no e recent annual ing at vena I attended in depressing news com my local friary – er-ending stream of where I will not say nev – I once again ha helpful to sit d to listen to the l ections I find it most Anthony ife story of St us from all dir (spread over nine rly days!) – something and “The Brief”. I nea heard so oft I had wn with a cup of tea en before. I was al do so delighted with t article that is of article because he that I come across an the quotes given b always find y the Holy Father w beautiful – practic ere me. al Franciscan wisd articular interest to tak om about how we p e the path to God. hildren like to d that my grown-up c Co I am also please uld I humbly sugg of a est that the friars w heir favourite article Antho ho preach on St it and comment on t ny make use of thi read s obvious rich resou that this s rce? I hope ue. uggestion from a m particular iss ember of the “Fam be received in ily” will the spirit in which ellent magazine. it is made. St Anth thank you for an exc is “our saint” – let ony Again us hear his voice!! May God b Yours sincerely, less all your work. Yours since lice Flinn (Mrs), rely, A Anonymous. Co. Cork.

Dear Father, A few lines to say how pleased I was to see that advertisement for the Rossnowlagh retreat centre in the last issue. I did not know that it was open again and hope, God g, to spend some time there this year. I willin Please write had a wonderful retreat there some years your letters, ago and was sad when I heard La Verna had comments and closed. I remember in particular a sunny suggestions, to: morning spent looking out at the beautiful the editor, beach fromC alvary hill and feeling very st anthony brief, close to heaven! franciscan ish, With every good w missionary union, Bosco, Sr Mary merchants’ Quay, Co. Mayo. Dublin 8.

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