Gratitude ~ Passion Hope PATRICIAN INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER Number 40 DECEMBER 2020 The Christ is With Us! Let us Rejoice and be Glad! PATRICIAN INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2020 Dear Brothers and friends, This year were find ourselves experiencing the mystery of Christ’s birth against the threatening backdrop of a pandemic, the likes of which humanity has not witnessed in over a century. Four Patricians – three in India, one in Kenya - contracted Co- vid-19 but thankfully recovered. I am immensely grateful to Community Leaders who keep our most vulnerable Brothers safe and immensely proud of Brothers in various administrative roles who try their utmost to protect the livelihoods of our employees and organise food relief. They are potent signs of solidarity within and beyond ourselves. A very much prized value within in our Patrician family is capacity for cultivating a global outlook. Our cultural diversity and geographic spread are graces for being ‘Brothers without borders’. In his October 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis urges nations to be ‘Neighbours without borders’, so as to dispel “The dark clouds over a closed world’ and nurture hearts ‘Open to the whole world’. Our Pope unashamedly pro- vokes humanity with the example of the Good Samaritan. It was a ‘stranger and nobody’, who freely, gener- ously and at considerable personal cost, unhesitatingly suspended his personal journey and agenda. These days vigilance is required of us, lest the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our respective nations erodes our commitment or narrows our perspective. For millions of people around the world, Christmas 2020 and New Year 2021 will difficult, if not altogether bleak due to the separations, suffering, death and economic loss caused by the Corona virus. No continent has been spared and complete release from the scourge is a long way off. Overcoming its social, economic and spiritual effects is slow, uneven and unfair for many nations. Perhaps because of this, our experience of 2020 Advent ‘waiting’ may include a simmering, underlying impatience with God’s ways even as we sing with customary fervour the traditional carol ‘O come, O come Emmanuel’. Tracey Horan, a Sister of Providence who works among asylum seekers wrote compellingly: Often in religious contexts we romanticise waiting and paint it as a saint-making practice in patience and virtue. We imagine Mary the mother of Jesus sitting quietly in her house, rubbing her pregnant belly and pondering God’s plan for her, with a shiny ring of light around her head. We don’t think about the morning sickness, the swollen ankles or the fatigue. Those images don’t look quite as nice on Christmas cards. And yet for most of us, the waiting for post-COVID-19 life and a new start in 2021 feels much more like the latter. (Global Sisters’ Report, December 2020) Sister’s striking images led me to consider afresh the next line in the above much loved Advent carol: ‘And ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here’. How seldom have I previously registered the gravitas of the words ‘ransom, mourn, captive and exile’! It is unreasonable to expect people who experience captiv- ity or exile to calmly sit and await ransom. The responses of captives trapped by the effects of the pandemic – fear, illness, death, insecurity, hunger, abuse or condemned to mournful exile by stigma, unemployment, eviction or isolation will range from visceral anger to unrelenting despair. These will be realities of the ‘new normal’ for many months to come. To what extent are we ready to see ‘Christ in all Hearts’ and engage with anyone diminished by the pandemic? Moreover, since each of us is a ‘work in progress’, it is worthwhile ask- ing ‘What holds us individually captive and despite technological connectivity, condemns us to lonely exile from one another? The Good Samaritan chose to sideline the potent, restrictive boundaries of culture, ethnicity, status, blood relationship, religious divide and individualism. He saw only his neighbour’s need and without delay, crossed over those borders in solidarity. We aspire to live as Brothers without borders precisely because God is dwell- ing among us (Emmanuel) and longs for us to know it, feel it and share that Good News. May Christmas recharge our joy, resilience and union of Hearts and Minds. Be well and safe throughout the coming year. In brotherhood, Cover photo from https://pixabay.com - 2 - DECEMBER 2020 PATRICIAN INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER Brother Cormac Commins R.I.P. It was with a terrible Leader (1992 - 1998). sense of shock and Of course this is hardly scratching the surface in loss that we heard the relation to the contribution Cormac has made to the news of the death of Patrician Congregation and to Catholic education in Br Cormac Commins Ireland. A comprehensive account of his life, ministry, some time over the and legacies, is sure to follow in due course. night of the 21st/22nd May this exemplary Patrician reap the rewards of a life of December at New- lived for others, a life which has been a blessing for so bridge. His 81st birth- many. Rest in peace, Cormac, in the arms of our loving day would have been God. And, thank you. on the 23rd. Video Tribute: https://youtu.be/R3jHaqN58Vc p Cormac’s recent health seems to have been strong enough to cope with the purchasing of a new Patrician house in Newbridge with the sale of the old monastery and with the necessary transferring of belongings from one house to the other. At the time of writing the cause of death is unknown. Martin Noel Commins was born on the 23rd December, 1939, to Margaret and Martin Commins of Galway. He made his First Profession as a Patrician on the 15th August, 1956. Cormac has done it all within the Patrician Congregation: teacher, Junior Assistant Master, pioneer Headmaster (Finglas), twice Provincial of the Irish-Kenyan Prov- Br Cormac (right) with Brothers Fidelis and Angelus in ince, Deputy Congregation Leader, and Congregation 1969 at Finglas. Cormac was 30 and pioneer Headmaster. Our Jubilarians for 2021 God is not unjust; he BERCHMANS will not forget your ATHAKKAD work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to 60 help them. 23rd Dec., 1961 - Hebrews 6:10 PHILIP PETER SHEPLER RYAN 50 50 5th Sept., 1971 21st Feb., 1971 - 3 - PATRICIAN INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2020 First Professions in Kenya Justine Mochache Onsare fsp, Thomas Marumbu Manali fsp, Joseph Muendo Jome fsp Brother Placido Kaburu, Kenyan Region Leader, wrote you very much for your support which has enabled to Br Peter Ryan: these young men to reach this far. We ask you to put Greetings from Eldoret. Today [8th December] is a them in your prays during this auspicious occasion of big day for us here in Kenya as we welcome three professing their first vows. young men: Br. Thomas Aquinas Marumbi Manali Unfortunately, due to Corona Pandemic, this occasion from Kimatuni Parish Bungoma Diocese, Br. Justine is only for Patrician Brothers. No invited guests except Mochache Onsare from Queen of Apostlas Nyakegogi the Mass celebrant. We also had our men who are in Parish, Kisii Diocese and Br. Joseph Muendo James their Temporary Vows renewing their commitment with from Our Lady of Cana Utangwe Parish, Machakos us yesterday; 4 in Meru and 8 in Eldoret. Keep them Diocese in our Patrician family. We would like to thank also in your prayers. p Congregation Leadership Team (CLT) Activity - by Br Peter Ryan The plan formed at the 2019 Ghana meeting of the agree with me that Novitiate is like a place under permanent Extended Council for Congregation Leader (CL) and the locked down. The staff and the Novices are always indoors Deputy Congregation Leader (DCL) to spend several without much interaction with the outside world. Though months in Kenya was scuppered by Covid-19. Br Peter life is not online in the Novitiate, it is a life of silence, Ryan arrived in Nairobi from India on December 12, intend- prayer, work and learning. The only person who saw the ing to join the Formation Team until July 16. Br George outside world was the Socius who procured food for hungry Xavier was due to arrive in May to also assist in formation Novices and staff. I was busy with two classes per day. One and be joined later by the other members of the CLT for for the novices and the other for the Postulants. Since lock- our annual in-person meeting. However, all were forced to down has lowered the shutters of many ecclesiastical insti- remain at home. tutions in Bengaluru, I stayed indoors preparing for more The 2020 silver lining was that Peter was able to work classes and future topics. Lockdown time also was good alongside Novitiate Formators Brs Felim Ryan and John for doing physical exercise which kept the unwanted fat and Mwangi until September. The extra time also gave oppor- weight under check. tunity to participate in meetings of the Region Leadership CLT member Nicholas Harsas is Principal of Holy Spirit Team and the Formation Committee. Fortunately too, Br Primary School, Carnes Hill, Sydney. About 2020 he says John Mwangi was able to commence his Formation studies “Education continued throughout the pandemic, providing at the Chemchemi Centre, Nairobi – albeit online so far. continuity of learning for the students as best we can. Even The rigorous year-long course incorporates several features when most people had the opportunity to work from home of the renowned St Anselm’s Leadership Programme in during the intense weeks of remote learning, my colleagues Rome.