GLOWING EMBERS Issue No. 5

Spiritan Mission Resource & Heritage Centre August 2018 Welcoming Irish Spiritans Remembered Volume II

hese past three years spent compiling the 311 awards; training and skills new entries for Irish Spiritans Remembered development, diplomas TVolume II has been a privileged time. It has and degrees. In most been an experience of being in the presence of cases these awards wise elders who were co-creators of God’s mission; were never displayed; in their ambition to pass on the Christian faith fact you have to hunt through home, school, community and church. them out. To my mind this shows how most The reading of letters, homilies and papers from Spiritans were keen on the files of these wise elders makes you aware of Fr Brian O’Toole intellectual development their expansive vision; many were on a journey of rather than on academic seeking which led to wholeness and universality. achievement. They had the wisdom to understand Very often what is portrayed is a quality of faith that letters after names were no guarantee for which struggles towards growth and change. We healthy personal wholeness. In their later years we witness many who may have once been rigid and see many men clearing away the clutter of staid enjoy an insight and wisdom which cherished accumulated knowledge and information and flexibility and a more nuanced understanding. In returning to essentials. the mellowness of elder years they detect and seek to celebrate the abundant presence of the While these are men whose missionary work Holy Spirit in our midst; men who found God in the brought them on many travels to different peoples ordinary. and countries, they were also always still rooted in the local place of their early years. The local town These 311 profiles show men who cherished and townland; the local GAA club; the local parish. spirituality. There is a movement towards These were men who were entirely devoted to interiority and a valuing of stillness and silence. family; their own family and also the Spiritan Very often the business of active missionary life family. We see this in their lifelong interest in gave way to inner exploration. Discernment and family and local happenings. We see their love for inspiration often replaced a former reliance on the congregation in their availability to undertake dogma, moral directive and clerical management. difficult tasks and in their practice of cor unum. Irish Spiritans Remembered shows us a group of Overall, Irish Spiritans Remembered leaves the Spiritans who connected and communicated enduring impression of a band of happy and broadly; who attended workshops and contented men who realised their potential; in the conferences and who were involved in social language of the gospel, ‘by their fruits you shall activism. It shows us men who were close to know them’. It is my hope that the depictions of people; who were approachable and who followed Irish Spiritans Remembered may provide animation love itself as the seed force of new birth both in and encouragement to the present generation of their lives and in the world. Irish Spiritans. Scanning the CVs of these confrères and associates oneloses count of all the educational Brian O’Toole CSSp Spiritan Mission Resource & Heritage Centre – Glowing Embers 2 – July 2018 Irish Spiritans Remembered Introduction

he Gospel of Luke, his Good News, begins remaining close to their with a litany of the ancestors of Jesus. people in times of war, TLooking at the figures whose names are famine and adversity. given, we can see the breadth and scope of the In the lives of each genealogy that made Jesus the person he was. person remembered in Moving from generation to generation, each this book we also see period with its own dreams and challenges, its seeds sown for the hopes and disappointments transmitted present and the future. something of the human spirit to the divine Spirit We are grateful to God of Jesus. for these lives given to Fr Marc Whelan In putting together this second volume of Irish Spiritan Mission. We are Spiritans Remembered, which covers the years grateful to the families of each from June 1998 to June 2018 the Spiritan Mission of these Spiritans for their sons and brothers. Resource and Heritage Centre is continuing its Our thanks go to the editorial team who work of mapping the genealogy of the Irish researched these biographies and who, from the Province by honouring the members of the letters and holdings in the archives, bring life to Spiritan Family who have gone before us marked the stories held therein. with the sign of faith. In particular we remember with gratitude the life The few lines given to each Spiritan in this volume and work of Seán Farragher who was the can only offer a glimpse of the rich diversity of instigator of this monumental work and whose life each person’s life. But reading between the lines, was dedicated to preserving and transmitting our we hear a story of mission and faith, of people rich Spiritan heritage. who, living by the Spirit of Jesus, were attentive to the signs of their times. A story of young Marc Whelan CSSp churches growing throughout the world where Provincial the Word of God was proclaimed and the service of the poor was fostered. A story of Spiritans

We Remember Them

Merciful Father, our Creator and Redeemer, as you knit each of us together at the beginning of our life, so you also draw us together as members of the Holy Spirit Congregation. Grant us humility and gratitude as we remember those Spiritans who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith.

Grant us courage and grace to follow their path of faith and devotion. And above all, stir up our faith that we may know that our Lord Jesus Christ has conquered death and has given eternal life to all who believe. We make out prayer through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Spiritan Mission Resource & Heritage Centre – Glowing Embers July 2018 – 3 Irish Spiritans Remembered Foreward

his volume covers the overseas missions in Nigeria, We are indebted to the staff at period from 1998 to 2018. West & East Africa and Brazil. the Provincial Secretariat for TThe compilation of these The Missionary Annals their help and assistance as we 311 portraits has been a team (Outlook) from 1919 to 2010. Go are to Mark Daniel of CRM work of three years duration. It Teach All Nations – A History of Design & Print. Thanks must has been a work that engaged the Irish Province of the also be made to Dolorés many different hands coming Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Stewart who made the photos together. The Necrology of the Irish for this volume possible and to Province and the Generalate. our custodian of ‘grammar and Primary sources which we used punctuation’ Séamus Maguire. were the confrère’s individual In these 311 portraits we try to personnel file and personal present a description of the life A very special thanks to archival boxes. Also used were of each person; they include the Margaret Bluett who led the the obituary notices as written basic facts like education, team in the production of this by Brian O’Toole CSSp (2000- mission work, relationships and volume. It is Margaret’s untiring 06); Eddie O’Farrell CSSp death. We refrained from commitment that has brought (2006-12) and Peter O’Mahony including anecdotes and tales this volume to such a fine (2012-18). These were used in as we tried to describe without conclusion. conjunction with the funeral any judgement, reproach or To all who are featured in these homilies recorded in the Irish compliment. pages we wish Ar dheis Dé go Provincial Newsletter and where We offer a sincere thanks to all raibh said go léir. available in its original format. the confrères who shared their The four main secondary memories of the deceased with Brian O’Toole CSSp sources consulted were: us. This sharing helped us to Fr Henry Koran’s books on gain a fuller insight into the Spiritans who served on person in question.

We Remember Them

At the rising of the sun and at its going down. At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter. At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn At the beginning of the year and when it ends. As long as we live, they too will live; for they are now a part of us as we remember them.

When we are weary and in need of strength By Sylvan Kamens & When we are lost and sick at heart Rabbi Jack Riemer, When we have joy we crave to share from When we have decisions that are difficult to make Gates of Prayer , When we have achievements that are based on theirs. published by Central Conference of As long as we live, they too will live; American Rabbis. for they are now a part of us as we remember them.

Glowing Embers – Spiritan Mission Resource & Heritage Centre 4 – July 2018 The Irish Spiritan Bishops in the Gambia 1863-2018

Brian O’Toole

Population: Religions: 1,924,158 (2017) Islam 92% Christian 6% Life expectancy: Indigenous 2% 59 Independence: 18 February 1965 (From Britain)

he roll call of Irish Spiritans working in the TGambia between 1863 and 2018 lists the names of sixty- two priests, sixteen brothers and fourteen students. Fourteen Irish Spiritans are buried in the Holy Ghost plot in the cemetery in Banjul; seven priests, six brothers and one scholastic. Fr John Meehan CSSp , who hailed from Donegal, arrived in the Gambia in 1905. After his arrival Fr Meehan set about Bishop Michael Moloney & Fr John Meehan rebuilding the Church of the Assumption in Hagan Street. In the 1920s Fr Meehan opened opened closer to Bathurst in at the age of eighty-three. mission stations at Basse at the Bakau, Jeswang and Sabaji. Fr Shortly after his death it was head of the river 260 miles up Meehan died at the Bathurst stated in The Mission Journal country. Missions were also Mission on 15 September 1954 that: ‘We may be sure that he looks kindly and prayerfully on us where ever he is gone and continues, perhaps even better now, to help his mission and his people to the destiny God has in store’. Spiritan Michael Moloney was Bishop of Gambia for twenty three years. He was fluent in the Fula language and translated the Catechism and New Testament into Fula. Among his many achievements were the churches and missions established at Campama, Karifing, Brikama, Lamin, Farafenni, Fulabantang, Kavr, Bishop Michael Cleary alongside Pope John Paul II Kuntaur, Kartang, Kunkujang, Mensanjang and Tangon.

Spiritan Mission Resource & Heritage Centre – Glowing Embers July 2018 – 5

Bishop R Ellison Bishop Gabriel Mendy CSSp 2018

Besides the many primary and Fr Michael Cleary CSSp arrived superior of the Spiritans. In 1992 catechetical schools, the most in the Gambia in 1953. He he took over as director of the notable secondary schools that taught at St Augustine’s High Gambia Pastoral Institute. he built were St Augustine’s School and became principal in In his address on the occasion and St Joseph’s Banjul, St 1960. He became vicar-general of his episcopal ordination on 14 Peter’s Lamin, St George’s in 1975 and diocesan education May 2006 Bishop Robert Basse, St Edward’s Bwiam and secretary in 1978. He was Ellison made known to the St Therese’s Kanifing. consecrated bishop of the public the motto he had chosen: Gambia in 1981. He also established the Lamin NaSa Ngur Dika, Adveniat Vocational Centre. One of his During Bishop Michael Cleary’s Regnum Tuum, Your Kingdom proudest achievements was the tenure of twenty-five years Come. setting up of St Michael’s Junior (1981-2006) he presided over a His message ended with a Seminary at Fajora. The steadily growing flock and statement that humbly and formation of the first five local furthered considerably the role clearly specified what his own priests represented a of the laity in parish activities, role would be. ‘I see the chief vindication of Bishop Maloney’s particularly fostering the work task of any bishop…to identify, endeavours. of catechists. His priority was co-ordinate and encourage He established the Gambian the promotion of respect and these gifts and talents that the Pastoral Institute for the co-operation between Spirit has bestowed on our local formation and education of lay Christians and Muslims. He Church. Ndanka, ndanka, japa leaders. He also established often spoke of the ‘lasting gole – Lord Jesus, may your Catholic Relief Services and values of peace and justice, of kingdom come among us’. Caritas Gambia. Bishop unity and love, of co-operation In 2006 Bishop Ellison hosted Moloney attended the Second and friendship’. Under his the meeting of the Association Vatican Council from 1962 to leadership the first pastoral of Episcopal Conferences of 1965. assembly for the clergy and religious took place in 1986. Anglophone West Africa As a sign of their deep Bishop Cleary hosted Pope attended by 120 delegates. In appreciation of his work, the John Paul II in The Gambia in 2008 a full diocesan assembly people of Basse, where Bishop 1992. was held under his leadership. Moloney ministered for thirteen In 2014 he presided at the years named a street in his Fr Robert Ellison CSSp studied solemn blessing of the diocesan honour. The street is now theology, law and the history of building, Centenary House. known as Bishop Moloney Islam in Rome in 1973. He The episcopal consecration of Avenue. The British Colonial became administrator of the Bishop Gabriel Mendy CSSp Government also conferred on cathedral and vicar-general in took place in Banjul on 3 him the decoration of CBE, 1981. He also took charge of the February 2018. Commander of the British junior seminary in Lamin. In Empire in 1959. 1985 he became district

Glowing Embers – Spiritan Mission Resource & Heritage Centre 6–July 2018 Fiftieth Anniversary of Concern Worldwide

Séamus Maguire

Bishop Joseph Whelan thanks the Irish people Left to Right: Katherine Loughlin-Kennedy, Fr Raymond Kennedy CSSp, & John O’Loughlin-Kennedy Founders of Concern

his year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation Tof Concern Worldwide. It was formed during the Nigerian / Biafran War, 1967-70. On the 12 December 1967 a press conference was organised in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin by John O’Loughlin Kennedy in response to the message from the bishops of Biafra seeking food and medical supplies. This had been, conveyed to him by his brother Fr Raymond Kennedy , who had only just returned from The first ship bought by Concern 'The Columcille' that country the previous day. This initial appeal was met with a positive response, which 19 March 1968 John and Kay Kiltegan and Vincentian orders, culminated in a Christmas mercy O’Loughlin Kennedy decided to members of Viatores Christi , the flight being dispatched from make another attempt at setting Overseas Students Relief Fund Ireland with the requested up an appeal fund and called a Committee and the Knights of St provisions. However the following meeting at their apartment on Columbanus. Chief Jerune Udoji year the crisis had deepened with Northumberland Road, Ballsbridge, and Chief Robert Olisa addressed the establishment of hundreds of Dublin. Over forty people attended the meeting giving eyewitness refugee camps and feeding stations this meeting including the wives of accounts of conditions in the to cater for the victims of the those who had worked in Biafra, refugee camps. famine caused by the war. On the representatives of the Holy Ghost,

Relief supplies being loaded RTE Radharc Team interview onto a Concern ship Bishop Whelan

Spiritan Mission Resource & Heritage Centre – Glowing Embers July 2018 – 7

Fr Michael Doheny & Fr Aengus Finucane

were most needed. Key members of the Spiritan Community who shared in the work of Concern since its inception were Frs Jack and Aengus Finucane Fr Raymond A Concern School in Bangladesh Kennedy became Concern’s field director in Bangladesh in 1972 and Following the meeting John and subsequently executive director of Kay decided to form an its Dublin HQ in 1973. He was organisation dedicated to raising responsible for their entry into funds to assist the cause of peace Yemen and Ethiopia and and development, hence ‘Africa established new offices in Britain Concern’ was born. It and the U.S. as Concern Universal subsequently, organised publicity and Concern U.S. In Ethiopia and fund raising campaigns in Fr Kevin Doheny achieved a order to purchase, transport and significant ecumenical distribute food and medicine by breakthrough by mobilising all sea and air to both sides during the twenty churches to help famine conflict. Following the conclusion victims and in the process met of the war the organisation Mother Theresa who became an The Dohney Brothers, inspiration. His older brother consolidated and expanded its Kevin and Mike operations to face new and Fr Michael Doheny , a founding emerging natural and man-made member of Concern, had already disasters around the world. It disasters before they became fully developed a close relationship with subsequently changed its name to manifest. It took a studied and her in his capacity as the director Concern (Worldwide) and made scientific approach to the problems Concern in Calcutta. Both brothers the transition from being an faced by the developing world and were celebrated on the T.V show organisation which had at first recruited and deployed trained This is Your Life in 1984 which merely reacted to events as they personnel such as engineers, resulted in massive publicity for the unfolded into one which technicians, teachers and medical work of Concern. Today Concern anticipated and remedied human professionals to areas where they Worldwide works in approximately twenty four countries around the globe catering for the medical, nutritional, educational and other requirements of those most in need.

Concern training war victims in Fr Ray Kennedy training Concern Volunteers in 1974 Bamgladesh

Glowing Embers – Spiritan Mission Resource & Heritage Centre 8 – July 2018 Spiritan students’ youth work in Keogh Square, Inchicore

Brian O’Toole

Gerry Jeffers - Kimmage Connection Fr Joe Kelly Fr Joe Sheahan

n 2017 Gerry Jeffers of The first [boy’s club] holiday, in friends like that, he adds (p.97) Kimmage Connection 1961, was to Clonakilty, Jerry Fr Tony Sheridan , a Spiritan Iauthored: CLEAR VISION: O’Sullivan’s home town… Father missionary working in Brazil The Life and Legacy of Noel Joseph Sheehan CSSp, a since the 1970s… Seeing Noel in Clear, Social Justice Champion, recently ordained missionary action. I learned that you didn’t 1937-2003 (Veritas). Noel is about to travel to Nigeria, acted have to do anything, just be described as an indefatigable as chaplain to the group (p.53) yourself and be present. When champion of the marginalised In 1967, Tom [Gilmore] , became that penny dropped, I felt at and dispossessed. He was an active member of the ease in the Keogh Square life. I national president of the conference and a voluntary am forever grateful for those Society of St Vincent de Paul youth leader. Following Tom’s lessons in how to care (p.103) from 1996 until 2002. initiative, numerous other The long-term solidarity of Irish Throughout the pages of the Spiritan seminarians became priests, nuns, brothers and lay book we meet a number of involved…they saw engagement people with poor and Kimmage students who were with the young people of Keogh oppressed people is a strong volunteer youth leaders in Square [as being] closely tradition. Perhaps Inchicore working under the related to the Spiritan mission unsurprisingly, the parish priest direction of Fr Peter Lemass, Fr to ‘the poor and most in the Ndirande township in Brian Power and Noel Clear. abandoned’ (p. 83) Malawi’s capital Blantyre was What follows are all direct John O’Flaherty , one of the Fr Seamus Foley , from quotes with page numbers: Kimmage students who Ballinakill Co Laois… As a young volunteered in the club recalls Spiritan priest Fr Seamus had One of Noel’s first cousins, how, having departed the been chaplain to the Legion of Joe Kelly …. entered the Spiritan seminary but still attending Mary branch in Inchicore when (Holy Ghost Fathers) novitiate university, he required Noel was a member. They in Kilshane. Six years later Joe accommodation…They [Noel quickly bridged the forty-year Kelly CSSp was ordained a and others] organised digs for gap, swapping stories about priest in Kimmage Manor me out beyond Inchicore. I was SVP, Inchicore and Spiritans (p. 36) very grateful. You never forget they both knew… (p.234)

John O'Flaherty - Kimmage Connection Fr Tony Sheridan Fr Shay Foley

Spiritan Mission Resource & Heritage Centre – Glowing Embers July 2018 – 9 Years of Blessing 1981-1996

Brian O’Toole

In 2018 the parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Rialto, Dub“lin celebrates its golden jubilee and for fifteen of those years (1981-96) the Spiritans were a special part of its story Fr Michael Murray Fr Niall Colgan Fr Paddy Cully

n 2018 the parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Rialto, Dublin celebrates its golden jubilee and for fifteen of those years (1981-96) the Spiritans were a special part of Iits story ” Kimmage Manor had a long association with the parish as fourth year theologians were assigned to it for Sunday ministry. In the register of priests in the parish we find Fr Florrie Lynch CSSp (1970-71) and Fr Frank Leahy CSSp (1971-72). The Spiritans went to live in Fatima Mansions in October 1981. The Fatima Mansions complex was comprised of fifteen blocks of four storey flats and had become synonymous with poor maintenance, poverty and neglect. Responding to a situation of social breakdown the Spiritan group formed a close relationship with the people and learned to see the social reality of their situation, and thus became more aware of the institutional injustices which were prevalent in Irish society. Fr Peter Suttle Spiritans who served in Fatima Mansions were: Bro Liam Sheridan, Frs: Ray Maher, Brian Murtagh, Michael Murray, John O’Brien and Pete Suttle. Fr Brian Murtagh was the parish chaplain. Flat 24G was a religious community and also served as a sort of alternative seminary. Members of the Spiritan Community who resided in flat 24G and who were ordained in the parish included: Paddy Cully who was ordained as a deacon in December 1983; Niall Colgan who was ordained a priest on 16 June 1985 and Dave Donnellan who was also ordained as a deacon on 10 December 1988. Spiritans who formed part of the community in those years subsequently worked in Brazil, Gambia, Pakistan, Rostock and Kenya. In this way the people of Fatima Mansions were linked with the missionary work of the church and the work for justice in many parts of the world. Fr John O'Brien

Fr Ray Maher Br Liam Sheridan Dave Donnellan Fr Brian Murtagh

Spiritan Mission Resource & Heritage Centre Newsletter – Embers 10 – July 2018 The use of the Archives for schools: teachers and pupils

Séamus Maguire

The contents of the archives: l Personnel records and histories of Irish Spiritans members l Some records of Spiritan schools (but we need much more) Blackrock Holy Family Rockwell l Records of missionary history College Community School College l Records of other organisations that they became associated with l A large body of personal and business correspondence l Accounts history of the order l Books, theses, periodicals l Memoirs, memorabilia and personal St. Michael’s St. Mary’s Templeogue effects of Spiritan members College College College Newspaper clippings of associated events etc l l A large stock of photographs, slides and some films

But what does all this How Schools etc can use the tell us? ARCH I’VE archives as a resource: It tells us the story of the EXPLORED The story of the Irish province of the Irish branch of the Spiritan Spiritans which our archives contain order, their historic role DISCOVERED can be used by students and schools and purpose: FOUND for educational and human interest projects. l In education DETECTED l In evangelisation CONNECTED Projects such as: This led to the ENGAGED 1. How fund raising drives were co- establishment of missions, UNEARTHED ordinated nationally in response to schools and churches at specific international crises by home and abroad. But it LEARNT raising awareness through media also led to practical IMAGINED campaigns etc. material assistance been given to people in need CREATED 2. The day to day work and life in a and the establishment of UNLOCKED refugee camp. NGOs. OPENED 3. The airlift of food aid into Biafra REVEALED during the Nigerian Civil War. CELEBRATED 4. How Spiritan mission overseas and in Ireland are connected in the You’l l be amazed w hat you might response to the ‘migrant crisis’ uncov er. Explore y our ARCHIVE. today. Mission Resource and Heritage Centre, Tel: 406 4355

Spiritan Mission Resource & Heritage Centre Newsletter – Embers July 2018 – 11

H&A Staff visit the Marian Shrine ‘Quenn of Peace’ in Ballinalacan, Ballinakill, Co Laois. This shrine was erected to the memory of Fr Mike Doheny and Fr Kevin Doheny. The Mass of dedication on 1st July 2001 was celebrated by Frs Michael Reynolds, John Browne, Alo Dempsey and Jack Fallon.

Tanzania Banner History – clarification.

The impression was given that Kilema and Kibosho are one and the same place. They are in fact over 30 miles apart.

Kilema was the cathedral for the vicariate of Kilimanjaro and later for Moshi diocese until 1967.

It was replaced by the Moshi cathedral in Moshi town. The Moshi cathedral was built by Bishop Joseph Kilasara CSSp. The architect and engineer was Bro Bernhard Bauer, CSSp.

Spiritan Mission Resource & Heritage Centre Newsletter – Embers Stewardship includes all aspects of the Province’s heritage. Special attention will be given to libraries, archives and our spiritual patrimony. Irish Chapter 2012, No. 52