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

Family Prayer for the Year of FaithMay the beauty of God surprise us.May the presence of God guide us.May the Word of God inspire us.May the dream of God enfold us.May the passion of God love us.May the wisdom of God instruct us.May the call of God invite us.May the healing of God hold us.May the tears of God console us.May the light of God lead us.May the patience of God encourage us.May the heart of God convert us.May the wonder of God humble us.May the peace of God surround us.May the gifts of God transform us.May the love of God renew us.May the compassion of God strengthen us.May the silence of God enlighten us.May the forgiveness of God reconcile us.May the mercy of God mould us.May the friendship of God bless us.May the truth of God challenge us.May we delight always in ‘GOD-WITH-US’CELEBRATING PALM SUNDAYIN A SOUTH AFRICAN TOWNSHIPPrayer by Fr. John Cullen - see his article on Page 13.

AdvocateSpring 2013 Volume 53 No. 1ST JOSEPH’S ADVOCATEPublished by:Mill Hill MissionariesEditor:Fr. Jim O’Connell.Printed in Ireland by:Modern Printers, Kilkenny.CONTENTSEditorial 2 The Story of Daisy Otieno 18Novena to St. Joseph 5 Seven New Mill Hill Missionaries 20The Serenity Centre 6 How cracked are you? 22Nine Months in the Congo Rainforest 10 As Missionaries we shared.......... 24The Year of Faith 13 St. Joseph - The One who Listened 28Full Novena to St. Joseph - 2013 16 Obituaries 31Front Cover:. Fr. Tony Chantry celebrates Palm Sunday in Capetown.Inside Front Cover: . Famiy Prayer for ‘The Year of Faith’, by Fr. John Cullen.Inside Back Cover: . Promote Our Magazine.Back Cover:. Overlooking Capetown - photo Fons EppinkPhoto Credits: . F. Eppink, D. Foley, Sr. Noreen McGrath, B. Jordan, J. Cullen.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSGrateful Thanks to all our ContributorsMISSION OFFERINGSAll Postal Orders and Cheques to be sent direct to us atMill Hill Missionaries, Waterford Road, Kilkenny.All Bank Giros to be sent direct toBank of Ireland, Parliament St., Kilkenny A/c No. 10914412. Sort Code: 906064Mill Hill MissionariesSt. Joseph’sWaterford Road, Kilkenny.Tel: (056) 7721482Office: millhillkilkenny@eircom.netEditor: jimocmhm@eircom.netMill Hill Missionaries50 Orwell ParkRathgar, Dublin 6Tel: (01) 4127700E.mail: josephmhm@eircom.netSt Mary’s Parish25 Marquis StreetBelfast BT1 1JJTel: 04890 320482

A Reflectionfor Lent(Painting: The Return of the Prodigal, by Rembrandt)In July 1986, the spiritualwriter Henri Nouwen visitedthe Hermitage Gallery in St.Petersburg to see Rembrandt’spainting: ‘The Returnof the Prodigal Son’.He was deeply moved by theexperience. He found thebeauty and colours of thepainting very striking. But most of all,he was deeply touched by: ‘the lightenvelopedembrace of father and sonsurrounded by mysterious bystanders.’He spent a number of hours meditatingon the painting and as the evening drewnear. The ‘embrace of father and sonbecame deeper and deeper, and the bystandersparticipated more directly inthe mysterious event of reconciliation,forgiveness, and inner healing’. In theyears that followed, the painting wasvery important for Henry Nouwen’sown journey and for his writings. Hecame to see it as containing ‘the heartof the story that God wants to tell, …all of the Gospel is there’.The Return of theProdigal Son - focus for LentThe painting of the Prodigal Son (inspiredby the parable Lk. 15:11-32) issomething we can reflect on as wemake our journey through Lent. In allRembrandt’s paintings, there is a wonderfulcontrast of light and darkness.You can see it in this one. The light isFROM THE EDITORFr. Jim O’Connell,mhmfocussed on the father and theson, but it also reflects on thebystanders, while there isdeep darkness in the background.When you look moreclosely at the father and son,you will see that the father,with a humble, bending gestureof love, is welcoming hisson home and holding him in a gentleembrace and the son is resting againsthis father.Bruised and broken - butwelcome homeThe son’s clothes are tattered and torn,lying in folds around his legs. Theyoung man’s head is shaven and he hasall the signs of someone who has beenliving a rough life. He is bruised andbroken. His sandals are completelyworn - the one on his right foot doesnot cover his heel and the other one hasfallen off, lying in the dust beside hisfoot. The son is not concerned aboutthe stern, resentful stare of the olderson on the right, nor does he seem to bedistracted by the other people in thebackground, who seem to curiouslycontemplate the moving encounter ofthe father and son. The son is at peaceon his father’s breast, aware only of thefather’s welcome as he holds him in agentle embrace.When I first read Henri Nouwen’scomments about the painting, I was3

very struck by them, especially by theexpression: ‘the light-enveloped embraceof Father and son.’ Here we havea touching image of a loving God whowants to embrace us and bring us reconciliation,forgiveness and inner healing.The word ‘embrace’ evokes asense of warmth and protection. It suggeststhat God reaches out to us in love,as we see in the picture, and that we arenever alone or beyond God’s reach.The God we believe in is a loving andmerciful God, whose presence is an active,loving presence that is well describedby the word ‘embrace’. Thoughwe sometimes have to travel throughdark days and nights of suffering, sinand sorrow, we pray that they will notquench the hope that comes from ourbelief in this loving God who is readyto reach out and embrace us.‘ We can learn so muchabout God’We can learn so much about God fromthe parable of ‘The Prodigal Son’ (Lk.15:11-32). Rembrandt’s painting focuseson the part of the story that portraysGod’s gracious forgiveness - as amerciful Father. The sinner waswarmly welcomed, embraced and reinstatedwithout condition. The later partof the story focuses on the other son,the righteous one, who was resentfuland scandalized. But the father, wholovingly embraced the younger son, isalso gentle with the aggrieved elder4son: ‘you are always with me, and allthat is mine is yours’. What is beingemphasised in the parable is a mercifulfather and ultimately a merciful God.Pope Benedict XVI focused on thiswhen he spoke about the Sacrament ofPenance: “what is most important is thepersonal meeting with God, Father ofgoodness and mercy. The heart of thesacrament’s celebration is not in the sincommitted by the penitent, but in themercy of God that is infinitely greaterthan any of our sins. What is most importantis to make it clear that in thesacrament of penance – whatever thesin committed – if the sinner recognizesit humbly and entrust himself orherself to the priest confessor, they willalways experience the soothing joy ofGod’s forgiveness”.[I have read somewhere that there wasa story in the Early Church claimingthat it was his mother who sent a messagesecretly to the Prodigal Son andshe was mainly responsible for his return.Her message went something likethis: ‘Son, just know that if you feel likecoming home, nobody will say anythingto you. If you feel as bad as I suspectyou do, you have punishedyourself quite enough already - theolder people say that sin brings its ownpunishment? Maybe you feel you haveto earn our love. You don't; we love younot because you are good or bad, butbecause you are our son and nothingcan change that. Home is not whereyou live; it's where you are loved’.]Novena to St. JosephMonday, March 11 - Tuesday, March 19Our Novena of Masses and Prayers commenceson Monday March 11th. Please join us daily byreading the short Reflections given on pages16-17, and saying the Novena Prayer to St.Joseph. Add: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...In addition to the Novena Masses from March11-19, a Mass will be offered all the other days ofMarch for your intentions.The Feast of St. Joseph is on March 19th.People living in the Kilkenny area are invited tojoin us each evening at 8pm for the Novena at:Mill Hill Missionaries, St. Joseph’s,Waterford Road, Kilkenny.NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPHEver glorious St. Joseph, good and faithfulservant, God was pleased to place his ownfamily in your care. We thank you forbeing such a wonderful example ofhumility and faith, of prayerfulness andcourage, in your ordinary daily life.Through your intercession, may God grant usthe blessing of living continually in his presence,and responding to his love in our daily lives.When we have lived our days on earth, mayGod give us the great joy he gave you - that ofentering eternal life in the company of Jesusand Mary.Most loving St. Joseph, accept our Novenaprayers and obtain for us through yourpowerful intercession, the favours and graceswe ask for in this Novena. Amen.5

The Serenity PrayerThe Serenity Prayer is a prayer attributed to the twentiethcentury American theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr. It is aprayer that is used by many people in daily life. AlcoholicsAnnonomous and other groups providing help for those inneed have adopted it.e best-known version is:God, grant me the serenity to accept the thingsI cannot change,The courage to change the things I can,And the wisdom to know the difference.The ‘Serenity Centre’ Director (on the left) together with the staff of the Centre.■ From the present capacity offering 25 clients full residential treatment we hope tomove and expand in stages to accommodate 80 clients.■ We plan to turn Serenity Centre into a research facility and offer a trainingprogramme for interns from various universities, and eventually expanding to aproperly recognized and affiliated institution for training and research in alcoholismand addictive therapy and skills.■ We will need to continue to work with and lobby the Government and Parliamentthrough the Health and Education ministries, in particular, to get Alcoholismrecognized as a disease that needs special treatment and support.■ We also need to increase our cooperation and dialogue with police and the ministryof Internal Affairs to see that alcoholism is not just a crime - drunk and disorderly -but a disease that needs treatment and not just imprisonment; stricter laws are stillneeded for the prevention of alcholism and to deal with the criminal fallout.■ Alchoholism is a disease and addiction that leads to crime and therefore we need towork for prevention and be more proactive. But as a Rehabilitation Centre we believethere is hope for ‘a journey into new life’.8************************************************The original version by Niebuhr is much longer than the onewe are familiar with – given above:God, give me grace to accept with serenitythe things that cannot be changed,Courage to change the thingswhich should be changed,and the Wisdom to distinguishthe one from the other.Living one day at a time,Enjoying one moment at a time,Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,Taking, as Jesus did,This sinful world as it is,Not as I would have it,Trusting that You will make all things right,If I surrender to Your will,So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,And supremely happy with You forever in the next.Amen.

By:Fr. Jim Fanning, mhm(Fr. Jim started his missionary life in the Congo (known asZaire then), and now, after many years in Kenya/Uganda, hehas been back in the Congo for nine months in 2012. His articlegives a good insight into life in that part of the world).NINE MONTHS inthe Congo - Forsome this is agestation period beforebeing really born. Aseach month goes by Inotice the waxing andwaning of the moons. Ihave never been so close tonature before. I am also quitesensitive to the weather thesedays as my solar panels onlyfunction well when we have plentyof sunshine - And then my fridgecan work! Although I live alongthe equator the skies in the rainforest are often filled with rainclouds! -- surprise! surprise!The Congo is more like a continent thana country. There is a war going on in theEast in Goma, but it is so far away that itseems as though it is not really happening.The bishops have given us a prayer to sayfor the unity of the country. There is somuch mineral wealth here but the exploitationof it seems to escape all the governmentcontrols.“The bishops have givenus a prayer to say for theunity of the country”Fr. Jim Fanning, mhmThe destabilisation of the great lakes regionafter the Rwandan genocide is stillhaving atrocious consequences – rape,looting, wholesale killing of innocent civilians,child soldiers, and blood diamonds– horrible…horrible!The ordinary people get little ifany benefit from the Congo’sfabulous riches. Here in theEquator province the countrycontinues to move more backwardsthan forwards.‘Testing every fibre of my body’I am just pulling out of my third dose ofmalaria. I have always been careful to sleepunder a treated mosquito net to protect myselfagainst the insects of the night but Iwill now have to watch out during the twilighthours before I nestle under the safetyof the net at night or emerge in the earlymorning. Long sleeve cotton shirts, despitethe humidity, are very helpful in the morningsand evenings. Besides the mosquito,there is another very tiny insect that lovesto bite at that time called the maraguin andafter it has done its work, my arm looks asthough it has touched a stinging nettle. Themosquitoes seem to be less obtrusive.Settling into the Congo seems to be testingevery fibre of my body. I am gettingused to a completely different diet. Also Iam not used to changing my clothes threetimes a day. Air conditioning is somethingwe left behind in Kinshasa. Anyway, thereis no power here to make it work! Butsomehow I feel really privileged to be here.We seem to be flying below the radar ofall the brainwashing of the western world.We cannot pick up TV (unless you haveelectricity and a satellite dish) nor do wehave newspapers. People rely on their radioswhen they can get batteries. Peoplestill want and have large families despitethe immense poverty around and the ap-11

Fr. John Cullen, author of the article on the ‘Year of Faith’, is pictured here (2nd fromright) with Bishop Christopher Jones (2nd from left) and the members of the ElphinPastoral Planning Group - gathered for a meeting.tragedies, debt, recession, job losses, redundancies,enforced emigration, evictions,broken relationships, breakdowns,and unbearable sadness and sorrow. Theyhold together in a bond of faith and love.The ‘Year of Faith’ invites us to be inspiredby the great examples of living faith allaround us, in our parishes, communities,convents, hospitals, nursing homes, hospices,factories, schools, offices and shops.In all these varied situations many peoplereveal a deep desire for God in their lives.The absence of GodBut there are also people who articulatetheir alienation from God. And here lies agreat challenge for us today: to address thereality of the absence of God in some people'slives - and explore why this absenceis no longer seen as a lack, and that thereis something missing in their lives due tothis absence. One possible path that isworth exploring is for us all to look againat our heritage of unique faith, prayer, beliefas embodied in our monastic ruins,shrines, holy wells, Mass rocks, as well asour local saints and places of pilgrimage.In 1979, Blessed John Paul said in Clon-14macnoise: 'These walls are charged with agreat mission’.The ‘gift of presence’Gregory Collins, OSB, in his book'Meeting Christ in His Mysteries’, refers tohis Confirmation at the age of 11 in 1971.He recalls that after he was anointed by thebishop with chrism and returned to hisplace in the church, 'without any trumpetsor fanfares or loud announcements, I waswakened up. A presence moved gently intomy life and has resolutely refused to goaway ever since, notwithstanding my manyinfidelities, frequent wrong turnings andnumerous obstacles with which I haveblocked its light.' He goes on to share howas a youth he would drop into darkchurches in Belfast, then caught up in theterrible sectarian convulsions, and becomeaware of that presence radiating from thetabernacle or hovering around a statue oran icon. Gregory says that in this presence'a light gentle and benevolent was shiningthrough.'The ‘Year of Faith’ is an opportunity forall of us to build on the memory of the re-cent Eucharistic Congress to celebrate thisgift of presence, which cannot be earned,but only acknowledged, proclaimed,loved, adored, shared, praised, contemplated,and continuously returned to insilent, wordless prayer of wonder and awe.It is only in this Presence that we will experiencethe lovely Gospel image of lightnessand release that can take place in the'interior desert' within us: 'The water that Iwill give will turn into a spring, welling upto eternal life'. (Jn 4:14)To see in our world themystery of GodThe ‘Year of Faith’ invites us to see inour world the mystery and glory of God,not as an experience of the past, but in aparticular time and place, which includesthe culture, diversity and all the intricateways of being in which and through whichGod is met, disclosed, revealed, denied, rejected,reveered, feared, doubted, worshippedand glorified – all of thishappens in an endless variety of ways.The opening ceremony for the Paralympicsfeatured the blind sopranoElin Manahan Thomas singing Handle's:'Eternal Source of Light Divine'.It was a real prayer of beautyand blessing. Stephen Hawkings exhortedus to look at the stars andwonder in silence. Here you did notsee a man in a wheelchair, but a geniusin awe of creation and eager toinclude us in the experience.The National Directory for Catechesisin Ireland: 'Share The Good News'reminds us: 'We are obliged to address theentire panorama of faith situations andtheir interrelationships'. This is our challengeand hope for the ‘Year of Faith’.Pope Benedict XVI in his First EncyclicalLetter called 'God is Love' has this profoundsentence: ‘Our faith is an encounterwith an event, a person who gives life anew horizon and a decisive direction'.While there is a pervading sense of gloomand unease in so many people's lives, maythe verse of the hymn ‘Transcendent Godin whom we live’ bring us to that newhorizon of hope: ‘While out of darknesscolour breaks’.What better way to celebrate the ‘Yearof Faith’ than to follow the Gospel patternof discipleship of Mary: Blessed is shewho believed’ - despite her questions andfears. Like her, may we all 'proclaim thegreatness of God' in our time, especiallyin this ‘Year ofFaith’.‘Rediscovering the heritage of faith’ atthe ‘Cross of the Scriptures’ in Clonmacnoise.

Pandipieri CatholicCentre, Kisumu, KenyabySr. Bernadette Nealon, FMSJ.IWORK in the informalsettlements (slums)in Kisumu town in anorganization founded bythe Mill Hill Missionaries in1979: Kisumu UrbanApostolate Programme -Pandipieri). We have threemajor programmes: Children’sServices; Community Health;and Education.18In these Programmes we have variousactivities to meet the needs ofthe community.One of the projects within theCommunity Health Programme is askin clinic that deals with severe skinproblems. Many of the skin conditionsare very severe, causing greatsuffering and distress. The treatmentgiven to the patients has excellent results.Children, youth and adultswith excruciating pain are now freeof skin disease that isolated themfrom society.Daisy Atieno is four and a half yearsold. She came to the Centre with hermother on the 1st of March, 2012.Whilst the mother attended theNutrition Prevention and Care Clinic withDaisy’s younger brother, Daisy was foundby one of the nurses hunched by a wall inpain, crying softly. Daisy’s hands were onemass of sores and her head was full of opensores. She could not hold a spoon or anyother small item. The nurse sought out themother and then enrolled Daisy fortreatment.The pharmacist shaved Daisy’s headand together with a clinical officer, a nurse,a community health worker and a projectofficer began the most painful process oftrying to soften her crusted bleeding hands.It took weeks of treatment to get Daisy’shands clear of the infection.Yesterday, an elderly man came to thecentre and his skin was just unbelievable. Hehas now started the treatment process. Histreatment will take approximately six weeks.The skin clinic is supported by donationsfrom well wishers at home, so we can offerthe treatment free of charge; this is very important,because most of the youth and adultpatients are unable to work due to the skinconditions – even if they could find work.The children are very vulnerable to infectionsand it is wonderful to be able to offerthe free treatment to these little ones.(If you want to know more about Sr.Bernadette’s work and her Congregationplease contact: Sr. Peggy Lonergan,FMSJ, Prague House, Freshford, Co.Kilkenny.)19

Seven New Mill HillON 17TH MARCH 2012 inNairobi, Kenya, sevenstudents of the Mill HillMissionaries publicly committedthemselves to serveChrist as missionaries; theceremony was presided overby the General Superior, FrAnthony Chantry.The length of training for Mill Hill Missionariesis ten years and involves a twoyearsupervised experience of living andworking in a mission area. Of the sevenwho became perpetual members, two are20Missionariesfrom Kenya, two from India, one fromCameroon, one from Nigeria and one fromthe Philippines.In his homily Fr Anthony reminded themthat they were committing themselves to alife of service of those who are abandonedand in most need: ‘Sharing the Good Newsof Jesus Christ can only be effective whenit is accompanied by a deep respect for theculture and beliefs of others, and rooted inthe gentle power of God’s love for all’, hesaid.In the ceremony each of them publiclydeclared that they will try to be like Christ,messengers of the Good News, and tospread the kindness and love of Godthroughout the world. Each new memberwas presented with his ‘Mission Cross’ andwith the traditional ‘Red Sash’ which is asign of his readiness to shed his blood, likeChrist, for the sake of God’s Kingdom.Deaconate OrdinationsOn the 25th August 2012, Bishop MauriceMuhatia Makumba, of Nakuru Diocese,Kenya, ordained the seven newmembers deacons. The ordinations tookplace in Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish inNairobi. During his homily the bishop encouragedthe deacons to live fully theirministry in service of the church and allpeople.The seven new Mill Hill Missionarieswho were ordained deacons are:Francis Makuba, Kenya; Sleevaraj Manchanapally,India; Frederick Yangnyi,Cameroon; Philip Odhiambo, Kenya; AnthonyEmeka, Nigeria; Reynel Tanalgo,The Philippines; Thomas Yellavula, India.When these deacons will be ordainedpriests, they will be sent to Mill Hill Missionsin Kenya, Uganda, Malaysia, India,the Philippines and Pakistan.Mill Hill Missionaries inToday’s World(From the Preface to the MillHill Chapter 2010 Documents,by Anthony Chantry).“We are people of faith andvision, committed to proclaimingand witnessing to the RisenChrist, in lives given over toloving service. Our ultimateaim is to make God's Kingdompresent by proclaiming its pres-ence among us, and thus promoting theongoing action of Jesus in the world… Weas Church are therefore called to live togetherin such a way that speaks powerfullyto the world of how God wants us tobe. Much of the world values efficiency,success, image, profitability, expediencyand realism; we are called to witness tocompassion, holiness, wholeness, justice,integrity and vision….We are full of hope that, with the Spiritof God in our sails, our small and vulnerableboat will travel to the ends of theearth, through tempest, storm and violentwind, on its journey of proclamation andwitness, renewed in dedication to its missionarycalling. The journey is fraughtwith danger and charged with excitement,and it is a journey we cannot undertakewithout the blessing of the one who sendsus. It is Jesus who promises us this blessing:and he will not fail us”.(Each new member received a ‘MissionCross’ and a ‘Red Sash’ (both picturedbelow) as signs of his readiness to shed hisblood, like Christ, for the sake of God’sKingdom’)

AWATER-BEARER in India had twolarge pots hung on the ends ofa pole which he carried acrosshis shoulders. One of the pots had acrack in it: the other pot wasperfect. The unbroken potalways delivered a full portionof water, while the cracked potarrived half full.The perfect pot was proud of itsachievement, while the cracked pot wasashamed of its imperfection. After yearsof what seemed like bitter failure, thecracked pot spoke to the water-bearer oneday: "I am ashamed of myself and I want toapologise to you. I have only been able to deliverhalf of my load because the crack in myside causes water to leak out all the way from thestream to your house". The bearer smiled and saidto the cracked pot, "Did you notice that there wereflowers on your side of the path and not on theBy: Fr. Pat Murray, mhm other side? I have always known about your flaw,so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path.Every day, as we walk back, you water them. Foryears I have been able to pick beautiful flowers todecorate my house. Without you being the way youare, this would not have been possible."----------------------------------------------"We are only the earthenware jarsthat hold this treasure." (2 Cor. 4:7)-----------------------------------------------A few years ago Bruce Springsteen sang:“When I look at myself I don't see the man Iwanted to be.... I'm caught movin' one step upand two steps back". Even our best efforts sooften leave us feeling the same way. Andit's discouraging. The temptation, the immediatereaction, is to grit the teeth,harden the jaw, and determine that I amgoing to do differently. And undoubtedlythere is a time and place for all that, atleast for some of it.There's also a more radically Christianapproach, one that leaves less space forself-satisfaction but allows real peace.Possibly, after years of battling the sameold bad habit or personal stupidity, it'stime to say: "Lord, you know and seehow little I live up to my ideal, how Ikeep falling back from my best efforts.Maybe this is what you came to save usfrom: not just these faults but our excessivedependence on ourselves, our trustin ourselves, our pride in what we cando."Why does every Mass begin with aprayer for forgiveness, a recognition ofsin and the need for mercy? Is'nt it becauseno matter what we do, we alwayshave a need for forgiveness, for thevoice of God saying: "I know you bumbleand make a bags of things: trust meand start again. Trust me, even whenthe starting seems to get you nowhere".A great part of the Christian messageis that it is'nt simply a matter of lookingat myself and not seeing all that Ishould be, but of recognizing that mybecoming what I should be is a gift, awork of God, a matter of grace. On ourpart what's needed is trust, humility,confidence, letting go. Perhaps we canjoin with Leonard Cohen in the chorusof his song "Anthem" and sing:"Ring the bells that still can ringForget your perfect offeringThere is a crack in everythingThat's how the light gets in."‘Blessed are the cracked, forthey let in the light’.Spike Milligan

y:Fr. Tony Murphy, mhmSunday the 8th of July 2012 was‘Jubilee Day’ - when eleven Mill HillJubilarians gathered in Dublin,together with family members andMill Hill colleagues. Fr. Tony Murphy,(celebrating his Golden Jubilee)preached the Homily at the Mass.This is the text, which he edited forpublication in the Advocate.IN THE late 1950s, some ofus were seminarians inLondon; and in our quietseminary routine at St.Joseph’s College, Mill Hill(photo below), we hardlynoticed what was happening in‘the outside world’.When a young man from home cameto visit us, he told us that life was hardworking on the buildings, pushing barrowsof wet cement or concrete blocks.We also told him of our hard work, withlectures, hours of study and hard exams.Then he said to us: ‘After all that hardwork, what kind of money will ye belooking at?’ We laughed at his questionand he seemed to get a bit embarressed.Still, I could imagine him telling hismates next day about these fellows inMill Hill - and they too had a laugh!A fast changing worldIt was 1959, and the worldwas changing fast. The comingof T.V. was bringing new interests.Soon, Rock and Roll andthe electric guitar would bebringing noise and excitementto the young. Singing pubs,singing groups, super celebrities:all had arrived or were onthe way. And there was moneyfor leisure. Then the Beatlesexploded on to the stage, announcingas a matter of fact thatthey were more popular thanJesus Christ.A new age was dawning, an age verydifferent from the age of Faith in whichwe had grown up. In our time, in mostcommunities, young people emergedwho were known to have what wascalled a ‘vocation’. Vocations were common.No big deal! As regards the ‘Missions’,there was an unspoken realizationthat our Faith was our most precious possession.It stood to reason that, accordingto our Irish tradition, we shared what wehad (our Faith) with those who didn'thave it.

Jubilarians (L. to R.): Fr. Denis O’Connor (Ruby); Fr. D enis Treacy (Ruby); Fr. Tony Murphy(Golden); Fr. Jim O’Connell (Ruby); Fr. Patrick Neville (Diamond); Fr. Patrick Molloy (Ruby).A Missionary doesn’t springfrom nowhereA few years ago, there was a programmeon R.T.E. proposing to account for thegreat Irish missionary movement in thefirst half of last century. It began with thequestion: ‘What was it that set this movementafoot?’ Various authorities wereasked. One man said it was scarcity of jobsin Ireland at the time! He actually said that,and nobody asked him: ‘What about now?’Another expert suggested that missionarieswere sent out to expand the power of theVatican! It was funny, yes, but mostly sad.There they were, men who seemingly werewithout faith themselves, trying to accountfor a phenomenon that was rooted in faith,born of faith and sustained by faith.If there are fewer missionaries in Ireland26and indeed in Europe today, it has to be becausethe faith of communities has declined.A missionary doesn't spring fromnowhere. He, or she, is one of a family, acommunity, owned and supported by hispeople. No missionary ever went out alone.Thanking God for family,friends and neighboursThat's why, here today, we, the elevenjubilarians, couldn't possibly have this celebrationwithout you, our family membersand our friends. You are only a handful,but you represent our mothers and fathers,aunts and uncles, our brothers and sisters,friends, cousins, neighbours and teachers,many of whom have gone ahead of us. Thestory of what families and friends did forus can never be fully recounted because itis beyond all telling. They were there towelcome us when we came home on leave.They saw us off when we left. They prayedfor us while we were away. In times ofsickness or loneliness, physically they werefar away, but their prayers, their love andcare were still near, and we knew it. TodayI know that all of us will be remembering,and thanking the Great God for the lovingsupport of our families and friends.Carrying a great lightBefore he went back to the Father, Jesusgave the strict command: ‘Go and teach allnations… so that my Salvation may reachto the ends of the earth...’ Without hesitation,the first missionaries (the Apostles)set about obeying this command. Theytravelled all around the Roman Empire andbeyond, carrying the great news of God'sLove. About the year 50 A.D., St. Paulcrossed into Europe and brought our Faithfor the first time to this continent. Writingabout this, the B.B.C. commentator, MalcolmMuggeridge, said: ‘I don't supposePaul had much baggage with him when heset out for Europe, but he was carrying agreat light, a light that was to shine in thedarkness of a sick world’. I suppose all ourmissionary effort could be described as agreat light carried by a handful of smallpeople. In his book, ‘Jesus of Nazareth’,the present Pope made the following commenton this:‘If you think about it, is it not whatseems so small that is truly great? Does nota ray of light issue from Jesus, growingbrighter across the centuries? That ray oflight could not come from any mere man,but through it, the light of God truly shinesinto the world. Could the preaching of theApostles have found faith, and built up aworldwide community unless the power ofGod had been at work in it?’We have laboured in all fivecontinents of the worldThe Summer 2012 edition of the Advocatecarried our pictures - Eleven Jubilarians. You have only to look at these picturesand you'll probably say: ‘No names mentioned,but some of them lads are a shooklooking lot!’ Okay, but its not the mainpoint. The main point is the absence ofhaloes - not a halo in sight! But all thesame, like St. Paul we can boast a little, because,between us we have laboured in allfive continents of the world, doing ourhumble little bit to scatter the light of Godto the ends of the earth, as Jesus told us todo. Our team of supporters and we theeleven in the field, we all did our best. And,with God's power and the help of Hisgrace, our labours will not have been invain.The Faith of our Fathers is ourrichest treasureIn our modern Ireland, the faith of communitiesmay have declined. It will growagain. When Blessed Pope John Paul camehere 33 years ago, his last words to theIrish people were: ‘Semper fidelis’- ‘Foreverfaithful’. His prophecy will come true.People young and old will realize againthat the Faith of our Fathers is our richesttreasure, our most important heritage. We'llhear again the great call of Jesus to go outand bring his Salvation to the ends of theearth. Fashions change. Celebrities comeand go. Jesus is forever. The mission of hisSpirit in the world will continue to forgeahead. It is an unstoppable force.27

Painting of St. Joseph and Jesusin the carpenter shopSt. Joseph - theone who listenedST. JOSEPH is honoured as thePatron and Protector of theUniversal Church. Under hisand Mary’s guidance, the childJesus grew in wisdom andmaturity. In his care andprotection of Mary and Jesus,Joseph is a role model forfathers.We can also honour him as the one wholistened to God in prayer and faithfully carriedout His will. There is no reference inthe Gospels to any recorded words ofJoseph. But there are clear indications ofhow deeply he listened to what Godwanted him to do, even if initially he wasgreatly troubled and perplexed, acceptingMary when she was already pregnant, laterrising in the dead of night to bring her andher Child to safety in Egypt.Joseph was a Jew, and in their traditionGod spoke to people especially in twoways: through the teaching of the prophets– think of the great prophets Moses, Jeremiahand Isaiah. God also spoke to themthrough the events of their history, whetherit was a success or a failure, especially thegreat events such as the Exodus fromEgypt or later the Babylonian captivity.Often they interpreted a defeat as a punishmentfrom God for their disobedience andidolatry. The Jews were also aware thatBy Fr. Christy Fox, mhmGod could speak to certain chosen individualsthrough dreams or angelic messages.God speaks to us too through the teachingof the church and the words of greatmen and women. He speaks to us throughthe events of our history. We have to readthe signs of the times. This very much appliesto what is happening in the church inrecent times, the declining numbers ofpriestly and religious vocations, the scandalsthat have shocked and saddened us all- what is God saying to us through theseevents? Ultimately, of course, God speaksto us through His only begotten Son, Jesusour Saviour, the Word of God. Jesus isGod’s ultimate word of love to us. He isour word of love back to God. Jesus is theperfect mediator. God commands us: ‘Thisis my beloved Son, Listen to him’.Listening is often the hard bitI like to define prayer as: talking and listeningto God, listening and learning, learningand doing. Listening is often the hardbit. In the Old Testament, God, through theprophets often complains: these people donot listen to me. Never once do we hear:these people do not talk to me. They werealways talking to God through their sacrificesand Temple worship. Perhaps it maybe the same with each of us. We are allgood at talking to God in prayer, saying theRosary, various litanies; these are all excellentways of praying but they need to be29

O b i t u a r y L i s t (Spring 2013)(Up to and including 1/12/2012)Most Sacred Heart of Jesushave mercy on the souls of:Prayer -Listening and the need for stillnessSister Laetitia (Maura) O’Donoghue, sister of Fr Jim O’Donoghue, MHM.Sally McGill, sister in law of Fr Maurice McGill, MHM.Annie Brouder, sister in law of the late Fr Tom Brouder, MHM.William Daly, brother in law of Fr Joe Jones, MHM.Michael O’Brien, uncle of Fr. Denis Treacy, MHM.Jeremy Patrick Dee, nephew of Sr. Patricia Dee, FMSJ.Perpetual Members:complemented by a listening heart. Perhapssome of us need to develop a deeper senseof silence and of listening.There is a humourous story of a womansuing her husband for mental cruelty. Shecomplained he hadn’t spoken to her for awhole year. When the judge asked him didhe have any excuse for such a reprehensiblebehaviour, he simply said, “yourHonour, I didn’t like to interrupt her!”Sometimes I feel God needs to interruptour many vocal prayers and call us to aspirit of listening.Listening is at the heart of real prayer.In the silence of our hearts God speaks tous. It is impossible to combine such deepprayer of listening with a dishonest way oflife. Put it this way. If I’m involved in anyarea of dishonesty, whether fiddling the accounts,cheating in business, keeping adeep grudge against someone who has hurtme, being involved in an unhealthy relationship,or in any sinful practice, when canGod call me to repentance? Certainly not30when I’m preaching to others, not whenI’m involved in a busy work schedule, noteven when I’m saying my Rosary, howeverbeautiful a prayer that may be. No, it isonly when I create that stillness within myselfand allow God to speak to me in thedepths of my heart. It will help us to avoidevil if we pause and listen to the voice ofour God-given conscience – the voicewithin.Talking and listening, listening andlearning are all central to prayer. Onlywhen we listen deeply, can we discern thewill of God for each of us. The learningleads to doing. We rise from prayer tocarry out the will of God. The bottom lineof all prayer is: God’s will be done; notmine. Growth in spirituality as well as repentancealways takes place in the silenceof a listening heart.May St. Joseph, our patron and protector,help us all to become good listeners toGod and to faithfully carry out God’s willin our daily lives.Joan Beck, Nora Bergin, Sally Keane, Elizabeth McCoy, EdwardTempany, Veronica Fennell, Jean Ann Quinn, John Joseph Quinn.Fr Michael Maher, Sister MargaretCarroll, Sister Josie Cummins,Sister Gerard Forristal, Sr. VeraHogan, Mary J. Angland, EileenBennett, Tom Bolger, Rose Boyle,Elizabeth Bradley, Breeda Breen,Mary Brennan, Mary Broderick,Eileen Brosnan, Brigid Burke,Teresa Burke, Eileen Byrne, JimmyByrne, Michael Cahill, PaddyCahill, Mary Carberry, JamesCasey, John Chawke, Mary Clancy,Ellen Cleary, Christina Clinton,James Collins, Margaret Connolly,Promoters and Box Holders:Mary Bergin, Annie Cassidy, Mary Murphy, Grace McGinley,Rosemary McKenna.Members:Maureen Conway, John Corroon,Mary Cox, Nancy Crawford, CeciliaCronin, Sonny Cummins, Molly31

Daly, Patsy Dawson, MauriceDonnelly, Dick Dunphy, MarkDoyle, Dan Duggan, Walter Dwyer.Thomas (Tommy) Finnan, EthnaFlynn, Mary Flynn, John Flynn,Molly Flynn, Sr. Joseph Gibbons,Margaret Hayes, Mary Hale, PaddyHalvey, Tim Hannon, SusanHanratty, Catherine Haran, AliceHarney, John Harrington, MichaelHarrington, Mary Hart, MauraHoward. Michael Johnson, LindaKavanagh, Gertie Keating, SeanKeaveney, Walter Kelly, EamonKenna, Patrick Kenny, DoraKennedy, Jerry Kennedy, MaryKennedy, Batt Kerrisk, JosephKnowles, Francis Lahert, MichaelLalor, Mary Kate Larkin, Alice Lee,Nellie Lee, Lilly Lennon, EamonnLong, Ignatius Lyons, John Macken,John Madden, Ellen Nora Maguire,Una Mahony, David Morgan,Matthew Murphy, Mary Molloy,Sean Mulcahy, Tom Murphy,Michael Murray, George McBurney,Grace McCann, Stella McCormack,Jack McDonnell, MaighreadMcGrath, Kathleen McHugh, Isobel(Bella) McKenna, Mrs M McQuade,Margaret Niland, Lilly Nolan, PhilipO’Brien, Bridie O’Donoghue,Stephen O’Donoghue, ColmO’Neill, Donal O’Sullivan,Margaret O’Sullivan, MarionO’Sullivan, Eileen Pyne, DesyQuinn, Francis John Quinn, JeanQuinn, Gloria Reynolds, PaddyRyan, Aileen Sandys, Eily Simpson,Kathleen Sinnott, Philomena Smith,Nellie Toner, Peggy Treacy, NoraTwomey, Tony Wallace,Elizabeth Williams.Please Remember theMissions in your willI bequeath to St Joseph’s Society for the Missions Inc,(Mill Hill Missionaries), Waterford Road, Kilkenny, the sum ofe............................................... free of dutyto be applied for the general purpose of the said Society,and I declare that the receipt of the Rev. Directorfor the time being ofSt Joseph’s Society, Waterford Road, Kilkenny,shall be a sufficient discharge of the same.32

•It keeps all our friends and supporters intouch with our work in the Third World.•It also publishes articles of spiritual,church and general interest.•It is published from our house inKilkenny. There are four issues per yearplus a Calendar at Christmas. It is sentto all our members.•Membership is e10.00 per year, £7.00 forthose in the sterling area, $12 for the U.S.•Most members give generously to helpour missionary work and we deeplyappreciate their great support.If you would like to become a member and receive the Advocate, pleasecontact: Fr. Director, Mill Hill Missionaries, Waterford Road, Kilkenny.I enclose e10 for: (Please tick)r New Membershipr Renewal of Membership (If you have not renewed)Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Perhaps you might interest a friend in becoming a member. All help for our missionaryapostolate is deeply appreciated, and you share in the prayers and good works of ourmissionaries.South African Scene:Capetown nestled under Table Mountain