advocate-summer-2013.. - The Mill Hill Missionaries

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Fr. Richard Njoroge, one of the next Generation of Mill Hill Missionaries, seen here centre rearin light coloured shirt, with a group of Christians in Cameroon.sick, mentally and physically challengedchildren, as well as adults, orphans, streetchildren - all in a parish environment. Iam also exposed to the latest happeningsaround the globe. Through these experiences,I learn more about God’s love,others and myself. I get a glimpse ofwhat so many people are experiencing inthe world so that I can better read thesigns of the times.Fr. Anthony Murphy, mhm,- an inspirationMy very first contact with missionarieswas when Fr William, who was thenour parish priest, baptised me. And whilein junior primary school, I rememberasking my grandfather where these whitepriests (‘Whiteman fada dem’ in pidginEnglish, which we use in the Cameroon)came from and why they were here? Hisreply was, ‘They have come from Whitemancountry to talk God palava (God’s28things) to us and help build our churchand school.’I was very impressed by thetireless efforts they put into their work ofevangelisation.Many years later, while at university Icame into contact with another Mill HillMissionary, Fr Anthony Murphy whowas parish priest of Ss Peter and PaulUniversity Parish, Buea. His constantreadiness to listen to people and his unconditionalkindness towards all whocame his way was a great inspiration tome.Observing him, I could picture theway Jesus must have treated all thosewho came His way. Fr Murphy enthusedme to become a Mill Hill missionary. Itherefore hope that through my own littleacts of unconditional kindness, I will beable to communicate God’s love, unityand hope to all I encounter in my world.Devotionto Maryby Maria ByrneMAY is a special time in theChurch year when Catholicshonour Mary, the motherof Jesus. As a young Child, Ialways remember my mothersetting up a ‘May Altar’ in aprominent position in our homeand there was a particularemphasis on the family rosaryduring the month of May...When children are very small and tooyoung to learn formal prayers, many parentstake them to church and point outthe statues of Jesus and Mary. Thefirst prayer many children learn isthe beautiful words of the ‘HailMary’ - the traditional prayerwhich calls on Mary, who was fullof grace and close to her son, to intercedefor us sinners now and atthe hour of our death...We approach Mary who, as aloving mother, understands all ourhardships and sufferings. Marybeing in the constant presence ofher son, can approach him on ourbehalf. Mary knew Jesus from themoment he was born and witnessedhis life, death and resurrection.Being so close to Jesus, she isin a unique position to guide othersin their relationship with him. “ToJesus through Mary” has been aregularly used phrase of devotionalwriters and preachers. It sums upthe understanding of how devotionto Mary will inevitably bringChrist into our lives, Mary is aperfect model of faith in God and29
acceptance of God’s will; a true exampleof how we ourselves should live.Mary as MotherIn many very practical ways we candevelop our children’s relationship withMary. Even as babies, children can betaught to speak to Mary and to see her asa mother. It’s never too early to introducethe concept of prayer – a toddler isdelighted to have a holy picture or statuebeside their bed and is very open to theimage of Mary as a caring and concernedparent. As adults, our own devotion andattention to Mary will be picked up byeven the youngest of our children. Manysimple devotions go back to our earliestyears and the love that children developfor Mary is one that will remain withthem all their lives.As children get a little older they startto pick up and learn the well knownprayers, such as the ‘Hail Mary’ and the‘Our Father’. Before children learn theseprayers, we can explain to them themeaning behind the words. For example,when teaching the ‘Hail Mary’ we couldtalk of God’s plan to help us and show ushow to live. The story of how the angelGabriel visited Mary in Nazareth andasked her to become the mother of Jesus– “Blessed art thou among women” -praises Mary’s importance to humanityand how her acceptance of God’s planenabled Jesus to come into the world.Children love their mother and theywill understand how a child wants theirmother in time of need. We can tell themhow Jesus must have turned to Marywhen he was upset or hurt, and like anyloving mother, she comforted him anddried his tears. Often, children have asimplicity that adults lack and they arequick to develop a simple childlike devotionto Mary if we just take the time,as parents, to tell them about her. In timesof trouble and strife “Holy Mary, motherof God, pray for us sinners” is a simpleline, easily remembered and capable ofbringing comfort and a sense of hope.Our children need to know that we havebeen entrusted to Mary and she will alwayslisten to us and help us, not only inPleaseRemembertheMissionsinyourwillI bequeath to St Joseph’s Society for the Missions Inc,(Mill Hill Missionaries), Waterford Road, Kilkenny, the sum of€............................................... free of dutythe present, but right up to the last momentof our lives – “now and at the hourof our death”.The ‘May Altar’As May is associated with Mary, it’san ideal time to discover the old traditionof the ‘May Altar’. This tradition can involveall age groups and is a great wayof paying tribute to Mary in a very tangibleway. All that’s needed is a smallspace in a room where a little table canbe placed to create an altar. Place a statueor picture of Mary and a little bunch offlowers upon it. Apart from the image ofMary, families can decorate the Mayaltar in their own unique style withrosary beads, candles or pictures drawnby the children...members to pause and say a few prayers.Other traditions associated with Maryinclude a visit to a Marian shrine whichinvolves recitation of the rosary. If youngchildren find the rosary a little long, theycan join in one decade or say someprayers in their own words. It’s also agood month to visit Knock, or anotherMarian Shrine. It would be a great lossto fail to recognise Mary’s enormous roleas, in the words of Pope John Paul II:“the model of perfect love”. He alsotalked of Mary as “the sure path to ourmeeting with Christ” - referring to devotionto Mary as “always an impetus to alife guided by the spirit and the valuesof the Gospel”. In May, we think ofMary in a special way, but at all times ofthe year, she should not be forgotten asthe Mother who guides our families inChristian love and in our relationshipwith Jesus, her Son.to be applied for the general purpose of the said Society,The main purpose of the May altar isand I declare that the receipt of the Rev. Directorfor the time being ofto encourage people to find a little timeStJoseph’sSociety,WaterfordRoad,Kilkenny,every day to talk to Mary. A small seat (Article: Courtesy of The Irish Catholicshall be a sufficient discharge of the same.near the altar can encourage familynewspaper www.irishcatholic.ie.)30 31
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Page 15: Mill Hill - TheNext GenerationBy Nz
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