(Ireland) - Autumn 2012 - The Mill Hill Missionaries

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:40Page1

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:40Page2A version of “The Paradoxical Commandments”, written by Kent M. Keith,which Mother Teresa placed on a sign on the wall of Shishu Bhavan -the childrens’ home in Calcutta.

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:40Page3AdvocateAutumn 2012 Volume 52 No. 3ST JOSEPH’S ADVOCATEPublished by:Mill Hill MissionariesEditor:Fr. Jim O’Connell.Printed in Ireland by:Modern Printers, Kilkenny.Editorial 2Honouring Our Dead 3Meditation in Time of Famine 4Working with Youth in Pakistan 7Remembering Fr. Declan 10Your child in the hands of God 12St. Joseph pray for us 15Vatican Fountain honours St. Joseph 16Front Cover:Inside Front Cover:Inside Back Cover:Back Cover:CONTENTSYesterday’s World 18Congress Mass in Croke Park 20St. Clare of Assisi 22The ‘Throne of Grace’ 25The Ship Sails Out 26Missionaries in Africa 28The Late Fr. Jerry Doona 30Obituaries 31. Children at Premaseva Hostel, India. Photo: Paul Hien. Anyway - background photo: Daniel Foley. Promote Our Magazine.. Skellig Michael - photo: Padraig BuckleyPhoto Credits: . Hilary Awiti; Tony Chantry; Richard Njoroge; Paul Hien.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. 10914412Mill Hill MissionariesSt. Joseph’sWaterford Road, KilkennyTel: (056) 7721482 (Office)E.mail: jimocmhm@eircom.netFax No. (056) 7751490Mill Hill Missionaries50 Orwell ParkRathgarDublin 6Tel: (01) 4127700E.mail: josephmhm@eircom.netSt Mary’s Parish25 Marquis StreetBelfast BT1 1JJTel: 04890 320482

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:40Page5November: honouring the memoryof the deadDuring the month of November each of our priests throughout the worldoffers Holy Mass for all our deceased members and benefactors. Here inSt. Joseph's, Kilkenny, Holy Mass is celebrated each day of November forall deceased members and benefactors, and for all those whose names arerecorded in our ‘List of the Dead.’ You are kindly invited to send in thenames of your dear departed loved ones.Prayer for a happy death‘May God support us all day long,till the shades lengthenand evening comesand the busy world is hushedand the fever of life is overand our work is done.Then in his mercyMay he give us a safe lodgingAnd a holy rest and peace at last.Amen.The photos show two sections of a stained glass window in our chapel inKilkenny. The text at the base of the window reads: ‘St. Joseph, Patron of aHappy Death, pray for us’ The window depicts Joseph on his deathbed. Jesusis holding his hand and blessing him. Mary is praying and grieving close by.You may want to reflect on the scene and enter into it with hope and prayer.The same gentle loving Jesus is with each person on that final journey fromthis life to the heavenly peace that awaits us. At death ‘life is changed, notended.’ The scene depicted in the window can bring much comfort, when wehave to turn our thoughts to death or perhaps find ourselves grieving the lossof loved ones.

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page8was taking it out to the rebels. ‘As a warningto others’ they shot her and threw herbody into the Nile. Another mother, bysome miracle had walked safely throughthe valley of death. After days of walking,she was coming back with her tiny bag ofcorn, when she was met by a patrol ofrebels. They said she was bringing corn tofeed the Government soldiers in the town.They brutalized her and took the patheticlittle bag of corn from her. After days offear and agony she arrived back toher starving little ones withnothing at all but her love.‘Mama didn't comehome’ this little onetold me. Please Lord,send your holy angelsto bring her homeagainst all the terribleodds endsYesterday therewas a little boy sittingwith his backagainst a tree. Asmaller boy was lyingbeside him with his headon his lap. They were justthere, not asking for help, notsaying anything at all. I sat with themfor a little while. Mother was ‘lying down’they told me. There was no food at all. Ibrought them a little to eat and a little tocarry home for Mama. Then the bigger boystood up, hoisted his small brother on to hisback and staggered away. Today he wasthere alone. It is a terrible thing to see suchsadness on any human face, but on the faceof a child.... ‘Your little brother’ I asked,though I hardly heard my own voice. Iknew the answer. ‘Athow’ he said - He isdead. The big tears ran silently down thepinched little face.6Forgive me Lord, forgive our humanrace, for the many little brothers and sisterswe fail every day. I put them all beforeyou, for you to look at them. Yes, I know,Lord! I know your crucifixion never ends.But, only you can give them their dailybread. Tomorrow morning they will becoming again, looking to me, as I am lookingto you.A note Fr. Tony sent with the article:‘I remember writing thearticle that night by candlelightafter comingback from the church. Itshould be history now,but I'm wondering ifit is! When I seescenes from Somaliaand listen tothe appeals ofTrocaire, andhear the storiesfrom our Mill Hillpeople in Sudannow, it brings it allback to me again. Youhave only to look andwhat you see will nailyou to it forever’ – Tony.[Editor’s note: Fr. Tony is fromAhascragh, Co. Galway; he is now back inIreland working as a chaplain at KnockShrine. He is celebrating his Golden Jubileethis year, having spent nearly all ofthe fifty years in Africa – in Uganda,Kenya, Sudan and Cameroon. He spent 10years in Southern Sudan and this meditationwas written when he was there. It is aheart-rending account of famine – fromthe inside.]

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page9Working with YoungPeople in Pakistan[Fr. Hilary Awiti is a Mill Hill Missionary from Kenya. He wasordained in his hometown of Kisumu, Kenya, in 2009, and now worksin Pakistan with other Mill Hill Missionaries.]THERE is an Africansaying, ‘train thechild the way itshould grow, but makesure you grow the sameway.’ This is a saying thathas been a motivatingfactor to me, as I workwith many young people to helpprovide a sure foundation for ourChristian Community here inPakistan.The population of Pakistan is around180 million and 63% of the population areunder 25. Since my arrival in SargodhaParish, Rawalpindi-Islamabad diocese ofPakistan, I have developed a specific interestin Catechetical work, that is, in trainingand helping the children and young Christianpeople in Pakistan. Here we commonlyrefer to this ministry as the SundaySchool Children and Youth Ministry. Byengaging in this pastoral activity, I have gotan opportunity also to grow into and liveaccording to our faith, which is a call tolove others. Moreover, besides the normalcurriculum of education given in theBy Fr. Hillary Awiti. mhm.Fr. Hillary Awiti, mhmschools, this provides an opportunityto share my faith with thepeople here.We have on-going training ofthe Sunday School animators.Mostly these are the young people,boys and girls, who offer dedicatedservice to the Church byhaving regular, weekly Sunday Schoolclasses or programmes for children. As partof their training, we hold monthly meetingsin the Parish hall so as to provide them withthe necessary materials, skills and knowledge.The response has been amazing andencouraging. As a result, we have 40 SundaySchool Centres in this vast Parish thathas a population of over 4,000 ChristianFamilies.Having gathered some of the necessarytools for their ministry, the animators reachout to the children. On average, each SundaySchool Centre, has at least 25 Children.When we meet with the children, weshare our faith with them - passing on,handing-on the faith. Not only do we teachthem the basic articles of faith, like theprayers, the sacraments, the biblical stories,but we also show them Christian films.

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page10“Together on Easter Sunday as one big happy family of God” - “The population of Pakistan isaround 180 million - with 65% under 25”This last bit really captures their attentionand is of great interest to them. It is onemodern way to spread the Good News especiallyto the children in the villages,where in the government schools, the religioussyllabus is only about Islam.Focus on Christ brings hopeWhen we organise the Sunday SchoolMinistry programmes in the parish, we inviteall the Sunday School centres. We dothis twice a year, at Christmas and Easter.Since there is very little to celebrate becauseof the heavy Islamic environment,insecurity and poverty, such programmesare an opportunity to share and experience8the joy of our faith. At Christmas we celebratedthe Incarnation, the joy that God becamehuman, Emmanuel - God with us. Wealso had a colourful celebration of Easter,which is known in the Parish as ‘Children’sEaster programme’ with the theme; ‘TheResurrection of Christ is the joy of our children.’Because of the hardships and strugglesin life, the happiness at the birth of a child,born into poverty, in a manger, really depictsthe situation of the Christians in ourParish in Sargodha. The fragile, weak,baby Jesus, and the suffering of Christ onthe way to Golgotha, not only touches theirsense of being a minority here but also thefeeling of being treated differently becauseof being a Christian. After his birth, passionand death, the joy of Christ’s Resur-

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page11rection brings hope and newness to the lifeof the people and is a true source of consolation.God cares and loves us. He comesto us in our every situation with the hopeof redemption, and with a message of love.One big family of GodThe Holy Eucharist of the Easter celebrationbegan with all the Sunday SchoolCentres walking in groups and in procession,beautifully dressed, with banners havingthe name of each Centre. Thebeautifully dressed children were chantingthe entrance hymns as they waved the differentcoloured flags, marching in styleinto the Church. After the Eucharistic celebrationin the Church, we moved on to thevariety programme held at the SargodhaInstitute of Technology. After the twohours programme and talent show we allhad a meal together as one big family ofGod.These are the times when the localChristian community in Pakistan get to celebrate,to share in the one blessed hopeamidst the hopelessness and fear of insecuritydue to threats by suicide bombers. Indeed,there is quite a lot of hardship here.The ailing economy makes life very difficultfor our Christians who are a minorityin this heavily populated Muslim nation.As a result, the poverty level is alarmingwith many not knowing whether they willbe even safe enough to see the next meal,that is, if at all that meal will be available.However, I am contented that I offer lovingservice and give witness to God’s love forthe people here. May God bless our workand continue to inspire many more missionariesto share His love with others.9

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page12RememberingFr. DeclanO’Toole inUgandaTen years ago, on Thursday21st March 2002, DeclanO'Toole and his two companionsFidelis Longole andPatrick Longoli, were drivingback to their mission atPanyangara in Karamoja,North Eastern Uganda.About forty kilometresfrom Panyangara, on a desertedstretch of road, twoUgandan soldiers stoppedtheir car, identified themand shot them at pointblank range.Evil men had plotted to silenceDeclan for the stand he took againstthe violent and indiscriminate interrogationof the people in their homevillages, in a military operation offorceful disarmament. Witnessingthis first hand, Declan wrote: ‘whatwas taking place was, in one word,torture. People were being beatenuntil they admitted that they had agun. It was a terrible and patheticscene’. Declan's deep desire to witnessto the liberating Gospel ofChrist had carried him to the peopleof Karamoja and it was his decisionto stand with and defend 'the mostabandoned' that brought him to hisuntimely and cruel death.On 21st March this year, wegathered at the very spot where Declan,Patrick and Fidelis were murdered,itself marked by a simplecross and inscription. As peopleprepared a place to celebrate the

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page13People prepare to celebrate the Memorial Mass for Fr. Declan.memorial Mass, I stood by the cross in reflectivesilence. The flat dusty landscapestretched out for as far as the eye could see.The red soil was only partially hidden bytinder-dry grass. A few acacia trees, standingtall above the desert brush, clung to lifein the parched soil. The sun in all its ferocityrudely reminded me that I was out ofplace, and there at my own risk. Only theconstant swirl of hot breezes brought relieffrom the oppressive heat.Two men suddenly appeared fromnowhere, one with a panga (machete),while the other carried something importantin his hand. The former dug a series ofsmall holes in the baked ground in a circlearound the cross; the other placed tinyseeds in these holes, gently covering themwith the hot soil. I overheard them informa curious visitor that they were plantingflower seeds.At first sight, it seemed to me that nothinglike this could ever grow here. Yet, onreflection, it was obvious that once therains came, the land would burst into life.The grass, these trees and bushes, would allbe transfigured by fresh green attire, andyes, those tiny seeds would surely blossomand flourish. A text sprang to mind: ‘Unlessa wheat grain falls on the ground and dies,it remains only a single grain; but if it diesit yields a rich harvest’. I had the Eastermiracle unfolding before me, challengingme to open my eyes and heart to faith.What followed was one of the mostmoving memorial Masses I have ever attended.The small crowd, seemingly appearingfrom nowhere, came to pay tributeto the loving service of a man who, withthe support of his companions, stood fortruth, justice and peace. His life and deathwill continue to inspire people to take upJesus' cross of liberation and hope, longinto the future.By Fr Tony Chantry(Mill Hill General Superior)11

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page14Your child in thehands of Godby Maria Byrne''For I know the plans I have for you,'' declares the Lord,''plans to prosper you and not to harm you,plans to give you hope and a future.'' (The prophet Jeremiah)MY SISTER recently sent me abeautiful description ofwhat true love is all about.Penned by Mother Teresa, it saysthat: ''true love hurts. It alwaysmust hurt. It has to be painful tolove someone; painful to leavesomeone you would like to diefor.'' She goes on to say that: ''amother who gives life to a childsuffers much''.These words were particularly poignant12for me as they were posted the day beforemy eldest son was facing into brain surgery.The procedure had been carefullyplanned over several months with endlesstests and consultations in the run-up to thelong awaited hospital admission. Everyquestion had been asked, every risk or sideeffect outlined and considered, but, nowthat the operation was imminent, all the reassurancesand words of support seemed todrift away on a sea of anxiety and doubt.It struck me a day or two before my son'sadmission that, with all the ups and downsof parenting that I'd experienced, this wastotally new territory.

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page15Handing over your preciouschildI'd been a nervous wreck when one ofmy daughters had to have teeth removedunder general anaesthetic, sitting in thewaiting room, clutching my husband'shand until my child was delivered safelyback into my arms. There's a helpless feelinginvolved in handing your preciouschild over to even the most highly trainedprofessionals. It's almost like that first dayat school when you see them disappearinginto a world that you're not a part of. Nomatter how much you trust that they'll becared for and that their best interests willbe paramount, there's always that inevitablemantle of misgiving that besetsyou with all sorts of imaginary fears. Atleast when your child begins school, youexpect them to return to you filled with storiesof their day and proudly waving somecolourful caterpillar creation or singing thelines of a newly learned song.‘ Nothing matteredexcept his safetyand survival’When a child is being wheeled off for serioussurgery, your first and most ferventhope is that all goes according to plan andthat there'll be no adverse effects. As Iwaved good-bye to my son, nothing matteredexcept his safety and survival and thesuccess of the operation almost faded intoa secondary concern.My internal alarm woke me at 5.30amon the morning of the scheduled surgery. Iwoke my husband and, after a few whisperedinstructions to my eldest daughter,we were on the road to the hospital by 6am.It was a beautiful sunny day and, as wecrossed the bridge over the Liffey in ourpeaceful village, the sparkling water remindedme of my son's love of kayaking.That morning I wished that he could be enjoyingan early morning paddle instead ofa journey into, what seemed like, an unknownfuture.‘ It’s funny howpeople talk aboutthe power of prayer’It's funny how people talk about thepower of prayer, but it's only when there'snothing else to grasp onto that the truemeaning of these words becomes apparent.Abraham Lincoln once claimed that he hadbeen driven many times to his knees by theoverwhelming conviction that he had absolutelyno other place to go. I felt a bit likethat on that bright autumn morning, ponderingon how more difficult situations inlife focus our minds on our own powerlessnessin extreme adversity.13

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page16While my son was in theatre, I was reluctantto abandon the security of the hospitalwith its soothing buzz of activity.However, I was relieved to discover thepeace and tranquillity of the chapel with itsenclosed oratory where I could sit and pray.I was impressed by a picture in the oratoryof a rainbow with a quotation from theBook of Jeremiah -- ''For I know the plansI have for you,'' declares the Lord, ''plansto prosper you and not to harm you, plansto give you hope and a future.'' The wordsseemed to banish the worry and stress ofthe moment as biblical words often havethe power to do, but it was the mention ofhope that suddenly infused me with a senseof peace and a feeling that God wouldnever let us down.A sense of HopeIt was a sense of hope that kept me goingduring that long day in Beaumont Hospitalas I spent six hours waiting for my son's returnto his hospital bed. Hope that was encouragedand built up by some of myinteractions with the various kindly peoplewho seemed to appear at the exact rightmoments, especially Jenny, a member ofthe chaplaincy team who prayed with meand promised me that my son would be rememberedin the mass later that day andthe lovely woman I encountered in the hospitalrestaurant who was also waiting for achild and offered to pray for my son.Throughout the day, I received numerouscalls and texts from family and friends, anextended circle of assistance and solace.My son was in the hands of a very professionalneurosurgical team and is recoveringexcellently, but, on that day he wasalso very much in the hands of God.People commented afterwards that itmust have been hard being alone in thehospital while my son underwent surgery,but, on that unforgettable day, I never feltalone thanks to the prayers and kindness ofthose closest to me and those who took thetime to offer a few thoughts, encouragingwords and prayers.[Acknowledgements to ‘The Irish Catholic’(6 Oct 2011) and thanks to Maria Byrne forthis interesting article. In giving permission touse the article, the Editor of ‘The IrishCatholic’ requested that we carry the advertgiven here]SUBSCRIPTION RATES2012Duration 52 WeeksIreland €110 UK €135 EU €135 Rest of World €135(Please note that all prices are quoted in euros and are inclusive of postage and packing)I enclose a cheque/postal order for €______Please charge my credit card: Mastercard Visa Lasercard for €_______Card number: ___________________________________________Expiry Date: CI DNo.: ____ /____Name: _________________________________________________Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Phone Number: ________________________________14Post to: or phone: 01 687 4020 to place your order by credit card.

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page17St. Joseph pray for usO glorious St. Joseph,husband of Maryand foster father of Jesus,you were a wonderfulexample of faith and humility.Through your intercession,help me to accept the joysand sorrows of lifewith deep trust in God.I humbly ask you to obtainfor me the petitionsthat I now place before you…With your help, St. Joseph,may I always be close to Jesusand Mary and have the great joythat you had - of enteringeternal life in their company.Amen.15

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page18Vatican Fountain honouringSt. Joseph---In July 2010, Pope Benedict presided over a ceremony to bless a Fountainin honour of St. Joseph in the Vatican Gardens behind St. Peter's Basilica.The ‘St. Joseph Fountain’ is set into a hill in the Gardens, in what the Popecalled a ‘vital space’ he often turns to for prayer and relaxation.The fountain has a series of six bronzepanels set into the granite structure; thesepanels recount the life of St Joseph. Thesculptor and designer of the panels, FrancoMurer, spoke of his work on the occasionof the ceremonial opening of the fountain.He said he spent a year meditating on StJoseph and reading the Gospels. He imaginedthe man who raised Jesus as “bothstrong and humble... an extraordinary man.In his quiet yet constant care of the Virginand Child, he in many ways resemblesPope Benedict XVI.”During the ceremony pope Benedict saidthat in its design, which depicts scenesfrom the life of St. Joseph, the new foun-16tain “leads us to contemplate the values ofthe Father of Christ... it constitutes a symboliccall back to the values of simplicityand humility in carrying out God's willdaily, values characterized by the silent, butprecious life of the Guardian of the Redeemer."‘The silent but beautiful life ofJoseph’The Holy father spoke very movinglyabout his beloved patron, St Joseph, a “figureclose to the heart of the People of Godand to my own heart.” He went on to commenton the themes depicted in the six pan-

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page19‘An extraordinary man – strong and humble’els: the marriage of Joseph and Mary; theangel communicating with Joseph in adream; Joseph at the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem;Joseph and the flight into Egypt;Joseph and Mary finding the boy Jesus inthe Temple; and Joseph (with Jesus) in hiscarpenter’s workshop at Nazareth.The Holy Father said: “The Gospel hasnot kept any word from Joseph, who carriesout his activity in silence. He experiencedmoments of trial that challenged hisfaith. Yet he consented and cooperated inGod’s plan of salvation. To trust God doesnot mean to see everything clearly accordingto our criteria. It does not mean to carryout what we have planned; to trust Godmeans to empty ourselves and to deny ourselves.Only one who accepts losing himselffor God can be ‘just’ as Joseph was.”The Pope reflected on Jesus growing upin Nazareth, working alongside Joseph thecarpenter: “The Son of God is hidden frommen, and only Mary and Joseph guard hismystery and live it each day. The parentsof Jesus lived their vocation, hidden inChrist, in his mystery”.He focussed on the values of simplicityand humility in the life of St Joseph, as hecarried out day by day the will of God,“values that distinguished the silent butbeautiful life of the Custodian of the Redeemer.”Concluding his address for the inauguration,the Holy Father prayed for the intercessionof the St. Joseph, saying:“together with the Virgin Mary, his bride,may he always guide my journey andyours, that we may become joyful instrumentsof peace and salvation.”An engraving on the wall beside theFountain records that the Fountain wasconstructed: “in honour of the husband ofthe Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Guardianof the Holy Family, protector of the UniversalChurch and Patron of Workers.”The message also recalls that Joseph wasthe patron saint given to Benedict XVI athis baptism.

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page22Extracts from ArchbishopDiarmuid Martin’s closingcommentsArchbishop Martin’s closingcomments: “One week ago we set outon a journey of prayer andreflection, of song and silence, ofrenewal of our hearts and renewal ofour Church. In these eight days theEucharist has awakened in our heartssomething which went way beyondour plans and expectations.The Eucharist has been the nourishment ofthe extraordinary sense of our communion withone another we have experienced… We havebeen enriched by our sharing with those whojoined us from over 120 countries. We havebeen joined by individuals, parish groups, anddiocesan pilgrimages from all over Ireland…We thank God for the experience of thesedays. We experienced the presence of Jesuswith us in the Eucharist and the power of theEucharist spread through every aspect of ourassembly. We thank all those who contributedto this great event… We thank Cardinal MarcOuellet most sincerely for his tireless work duringthese days in Dublin, at Lough Derg and inKnock. We express through you our affectionand loyalty and gratitude to Pope Benedict XVIand you can assure him of our prayers.A Renewed Passion forthe EucharistThe 50th International Eucharistic Congresswas not just a seven-day event. Over the pastyear a great deal of catechesis has been carriedout across Ireland in preparation for this week.Tomorrow we must start our catechesis anew toprolong the fruits of this Eucharistic Congress

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page25IN the dead of night inthe year 1212, a youngeighteen-year-old womannamed Clare Offreducioslipped quietly out of herhome to meet up with anewly formed band ofreligious men in the woodslocated not far from the town ofAssisi.The leader of the group, Francis, welcomedthe young woman in a simple but profoundceremony. After Francis had cut offClare’s beautiful hair and substituted her richclothing for the simple habit of the friars,Clare renounced all her worldly goods inorder to follow Jesus Christ in the manner ofFrancis and his followers.The ‘Poor Ladies of Assisi’Facing much opposition from family, andat times Church authorities in Assisi, Clarepersevered in her new life and before long heryounger sister Agnes joined her. Otherwomen of the town and from elsewherejoined Clare; her mother also joined. They setup home in the restored chapel of San Damiano- the place where Francis heard the voiceof Christ calling him to rebuild His Church.The Sisters devoted themselves to a life ofprayer, penance, fasting and poverty, as theytried to imitate the hidden life of Jesus ofNazareth. The influence of thisradical form of Religious Lifesoon spread and communitiesbegan to spring up in other partsof Italy and beyond. The life ofthese ‘Poor ladies” was to besimple and joyful; they were toown no property unlike othermonastic communities, theywere to do their own work, share what theyhave with the poor and rely on Divine Providence.Clare wrote a Rule of Life for hercommunity but it only received final approvalfrom the Pope many years later. When Clarewas near to death the Holy Father went to seeher and in person presented Clare with the approvedRule. It was the first Rule ever to bewritten by a woman for a community ofwomen.Fr. Liam Durrant, mhmClare was a strong and valiant woman ofher time when women were obliged to fulfilfamily expectations and bow to the constraintsof Holy Mother Church. She resistedall that got in the way and with perseveranceand a strong faith succeeded in her desire tofollow her poor Lord and Saviour. Faced withdisappointments and dangers, Clare trusted inAlmighty God. One incident we read aboutis that she warded off a marauding group ofsoldiers by raising the Blessed Sacrament beforethese assailants who threatened to invadethe town of Assisi and the Convent. Claredied in 1253 and was canonised in 1255.23

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page26In this Icon, you can see St. Clare on the left and St. Francis on the right, with the San DamianoCross in the centre - the Cross before which St. Francis prayed. The original Cross is displayedin the church of the ‘Poor Clares’ in Assisi.Today, 800 years later the ‘Poor Clares’continue their mission to intercede for theneeds of the Church and the World. Thereare nearly twenty thousand women in communitieson all continents - women likeClare who have made that bold decision infaith to forsake everything to follow theirpoor Divine Master, Jesus Christ.The Poor Clare Nuns came to the Philippinessoon after the arrival of the SpanishConquistadors in the 17th Century; they establishedthe first religious house of womenin the Philippines at Manila. Over the years,Poor Clare Monasteries were establishedthroughout the country. In recent times Sistershave gone overseas to assist other communitiesin the wake of falling vocations inBritain and Ireland. Closer to home a groupof Poor Clares established a small community24in the neighbouring Diocese of San Jose deAntique, Philippines, at the request of thelocal Bishop. They are the first contemplativecommunity in this former Mill Hill Diocesewith a community now numbering eight Sisters,which includes three local vocationswho joined the community soon after it wasestablished in 2003. A Mill Hill priest servesas confessor and part time chaplain.St. Clare is a woman for our times. Sheteaches us in this age of secularization andmaterialism that true happiness is found intotal surrender to God and detachment fromthings that can draw us away from Him. Sheencourages us with these words: ‘Love Himtotally, who gave Himself totally for ourlove’. St Clare of Assisi, Pray for us.

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page27The ‘Throne of Grace’In the Dominican Church in Kilkenny,which is called The Black Abbey,there is an alabaster statue of theMost Holy Trinity - to whom the Abbeyis dedicated. Though the date 1264 ison the statue, it seems that it wascarved in England around 1400.During penal times it was coveredup and hidden in a wall in a nichewithin the church, and came tolight again during restorationwork in the early 19th century.The statue, which is referredto as 'The Throneof Grace', depicts Godthe Father sitting on achair or throne, holdingthe Cross bearing Hisdying Son between hisknees, with the HolySpirit suspended ontop of the cross in theform of a Dove, symbolisingthe Love betweenFather and Sonthat unites them. Thisstatue is quite special,as there are very fewof its kind.The statue remindsus that God so lovedthe world that he didnot spare his own Son, but gave himup for us all, by surrendering Him tosuffering and death on Calvary. It alsoreminds us that on the Cross Jesus feltabandoned by the Father, but in fact,the Father was holding him close to hisheart.The statue is a very comforting imagefor us. When we suffer, as we all do atsome stage, the Father is close to us,holding us gently and healing ourwounds, as he draws us into thereality of His Divine Embrace. Likethe father in the story of theprodigal son, the Father welcomesus home with openarms when he finds us lostand lonely.The ‘Black Abbey’ wasfounded by the Dominicansin 1225. The officialtitle of the Abbey is:‘The Abbey of the MostHoly Trinity’. It got thepopular title ‘BlackAbbey’ from the blackcappa worn by theDominicans over theirwhite habit. The Dominicanchurch inOxford is called‘Blackfriars’ and also‘Blackfriars Bridge’ inLondon gets its namefrom the Dominicanswho lived nearby.The ‘Black Abbey’ isstill functioning as a church nearly 800years after it was founded. Otherchurches founded around the sametime are historic ruins.25

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page28November: Rememberingthe DeadThe Ship Sails Outby Fr. Flor McCarthy, SDBWe are standing on the dockside. The moment of departure hasarrived. The goodbyes have been said. With a solemn, businesslikeair, the sailors untie the moorings and the ship begins to pull awayfrom the pier, accompanied by the mournful cries of the seagulls.

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page29“As it goes, the detailsof its structurebegin to fade”At first the ship’s movement is slow andcumbersome. But once it has cleared themouth of the harbour, it picks up speed andrapidly begins to draw away from us. It'samazing how quickly time and distanceachieve their purpose. It has barely left theharbour and already it has diminished insize. Of course, the ship doesn't vary insize. It is only our perception of it that isdiminished.As it goes, the details of its structurebegin to fade. Eventually, only the outlineremains. Even from a distance, the outlineis an impressive one. But gradually the outlinetoo begins to shrink to the point wherethe great ship is reduced to a mere dot. Finallythe dot disappears below the horizon.Memories and a new moreinternal presenceA feeling of loneliness and emptinesstakes hold of us. Everyone has fallen silent.We continue to stand there for some time,looking forlornly out to sea. Then, reluctantly,we turn our backs to the sea andwalk slowly away from the dockside. Thisship has sailed and will never again returnto the harbour. All we have of it now arememories.So it is when a loved one dies. Deathlaunches the ship on its final voyage. However,the loved one doesn't die immediatelyfor us. It is as though they have merelygone away and will return. But as the daysand weeks go by, the truth begins to sinkin. Yes, they have gone away, but they willnot return. And slowly but inevitably theloved one fades, as harbour lights fade fora night-time fisherman.We have to let the loved one go. But lettinggo does not mean forgetting. We rememberhim or her. And the act ofremembering keeps the deceased person inour life. It is a different kind of presence,not equivalent, but still real.This new presence is a more internalone, and for that very reason it is a moreintimate one. In this way we still feel theperson's influence, and the person's examplecontinues to inspire us.“Love knows not itsown depth until thehour of separation”(Kahlil Gibran)Death seems to be the destruction ofevery relationship. But this is not so. Theties we had with the deceased in life are notended in death. So long as we cherish thememory of the deceased, no wall can cutus off from that person.[Acknowledgements to Intercom, November 2008]“Now my life is spent, as a candle,and my hope is rising every day thatI’ll be called into the Eternal Kingdom.May God guide me on this longroad I have not travelled before. Ithink everything is folly except lovingGod”. (Peig Sayers)27

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page30‘Missionaries in Africa’By Matthew ParrisAFTER 45 years, I returned tothe country that as a boy Iknew as Nyasaland. Today itis Malawi, and The TimesChristmas Appeal includes asmall British charity workingthere. Pump Aid helps ruralcommunities to install a simplepump, letting people keep theirvillage wells sealed and clean.I went to see this work. It inspired me, renewingmy flagging faith in developmentcharities. But travelling in Malawi refreshedanother belief, too - one I've been trying tobanish all my life, but an observation I've28been unable to avoid since my African childhood.It confounds my ideological beliefs; itstubbornly refuses to fit my worldview, andhas embarrassed my growing belief thatthere is no God.‘The Christians were alwaysdifferent’Now a confirmed atheist, I've becomeconvinced of the enormous contribution thatChristian Missionaries make in Africa. ThisMissionary work is sharply distinct from thework of secular government projects and Internationalaid efforts. These alone will notdo. Education and training alone will not do.In Africa, Christianity changes people's

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page31Surprising Praise - from anAtheist!hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. Therebirth is real. The change is good.I used to avoid this truth by applauding -as you can - the practical work of missionchurches in Africa. It's a pity, I would say, thatsalvation is part of the package, but Christiansblack and white, working in Africa, do healthe sick, do teach people to read and write;and only the severest kind of secularist couldsee a mission hospital or school and say theworld would be better without it. I wouldallow that if faith was needed to motivatemissionaries to help, then, fine: but whatcounted was the help, not the faith.‘ Their faith appeared to haveliberated and relaxed them’But this doesn't fit the facts. Faith doesmore than support the missionary; it is alsotransferred to his flock. This is the effect thatmatters so immensely, and which I cannothelp observing. We had friends, who weremissionaries, and as a child I often stayedwith them; I also stayed, alone with my littlebrother, in a traditional rural African village.In the city, we had Africans working for us.These people had converted to Christianityand were strong believers. The Christianswere always different. Far from havingcowed or confined its converts, their faithappeared to have liberated and relaxedthem. There was liveliness, a curiosity, an engagementwith the world, and a directnessin their dealings with others - that seemed tobe missing in traditional African life. Theystood tall.‘Something changed in thefaces of the people’At 24, travelling by land across the continentreinforced this impression. From Algiersto Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and the CentralAfrican Republic, then right through theCongo to Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya, fourstudent friends and I drove our old LandRover to Nairobi.We slept under the stars, so it was importantas we reached the more populated andlawless parts of the sub-Sahara that every daywe find somewhere safe by nightfall. Thiswas often near a mission.Whenever we entered a territory workedby missionaries, we had to acknowledge thatsomething changed in the faces of the peoplewe passed and spoke to: something intheir eyes, the way they approached you ina direct way, man-to-man, without lookingdown or away. They had not become moredeferential towards strangers - in some waysless so - but more open.‘ You do not encounter missionariesin the lobbies of expensivehotels’This time in Malawi it was the same. I metno missionaries. You do not encounter missionariesin the lobbies of expensive hotels29

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page32“I have become convinced of the enormous difference that missionaries make in Africa”discussing development strategy documents,as you do with the big Agencies. Butinstead I noticed that a handful of the mostimpressive African members of the PumpAid team (largely from Zimbabwe) were,privately, strong Christians. 'Privately' becausethe charity is entirely secular, and I neverheard any of its team so much as mention religionwhile working in the villages. But Ipicked up the Christian references in ourconversations. One, I saw, was studying adevotional textbook in the car. Another, onSunday, went off to church at dawn for atwo-hour service.Their work was affected bypersonal faithIt would suit me to believe that their honesty,diligence and optimism in their work30were unconnected with personal faith. Theirwork was secular, but surely affected bywhat they were. What they were was, in turn,influenced by a conception of their place inthe universe that Christianity had taughtthem…Those who want Africa to walk tall amid21st century global competition must not kidthemselves that providing the material meansor even the know-how that accompanieswhat we call development will change someof the crushing tribal practices and beliefsystems. Removing Christian Missionariesfrom the African equation may leave the continentat the mercy of a malign fusion of Nike,the witch doctor, the mobile phone and themachete (a big, heavy knife).[© An extract from an article in The Times- England]

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page33The Late Fr. Jerry Doona, mhm(4-11-1924 - 14-6-2012)Fr. Jerry Doona was from Faha, Killarney,County Kerry. I first met Fr.Jerry in Cameroon in early December1973; he had come from hisparish of Mbiame to be present atthe opening of the new Major Seminaryin Bamenda. 'Are you the newIrishman?' were his first words tome as he got out of his ‘LandRover’; when I said that I was, heasked if I could come to help him inhis parish over the Christmas period.Jerry and his ‘Land Rover’ were covered indark red dust after a journey of 150 kilometres.Jerry was 48 years of age and already a veteran– with twenty-two years of service inCameroon. Short in stature, but fit and lithe inmovement and full of energy and zeal, he hadgood reason to attend the opening of the seminaryas two of the dozen seminarians were fromhis newly opened parish. I got to know Jerrywell over the next nine years.Jerry's first appointment (1950) was to St.Joseph's College, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny,where he spent one year. In 1951, he was appointedto the Diocese of Buea, Cameroon. Hespent the early years as an assistant priest in anumber of parishes, including four years in theremote parish of Mbetta, where he visited themany outstations on foot. The Diocese of Bamendawas cut off from Buea in 1970; Jerryopened the parishes of Mbiame and Fuli-Komin the new Diocese. With the help of the localpeople and funds from his family and friends inKerry, London and Chicago, Jerry built newchurches in these parishes. He also built a newchurch in Bali, which was described by the lateArchbishop Verdzekov as 'the most beautifuland most functional in the Archdiocese of Bamenda'.The Archbishop also praised Jerry'steaching of doctrine classes to adults and children,and said it was an example to otherpriests. His teaching was orthodox. In 1989,after 38 years in Cameroon, Jerry had to returnto Ireland for health reasons. He served as Rectorof Herbert House for nine years; he was welcomingto the visitors, and made Herbert Housea good home for the retired. He officially retiredin 1999 and resided in Herbert House and laterin our new retirement facility: St. Joseph'sHouse. His care needs increased late last yearand he moved to Our Lady of Lourdes NursingHome in Kilcummin, near Killarney in his nativeCounty Kerry. There he died on 14th June2012, at the age of 87. May this dedicated missionarypriest rest in eternal peace.Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dílis.(Fr. Maurice McGill, mhm.)

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page34O b i t u a r y L i s t(Autumn 2012 - Up to and including 1/7/2012))Most Sacred Heart of Jesushave mercy on the souls of:Sr. Padua Delaney, Elizabeth Brady,Michael Brennan, Agnes Coen, ArthurCorrigan, Mrs K Daly, Mary Daly,Tommy Daly, Margaret Darcy, MaryDeenahan, Nora Degnan, RichardDineen, Maureen Doherty, TeresaDuncan, Pierce Durand, MaureenDurand, Padraig Faulkner, KayFitzgerald, Kitty Fitzpatrick, BrigidGargan, Paddy Hennessy, Patrick Hoare,Mairead Horrigan, Martin Horrigan,Frank Jordan, Bridie Keane, MargaretKelly, Breda Kennedy, Stella Lawleess,Patricia Leahy, Eileen Lynch, MaryMagee, Jim Mahady, Patricia Maher,Anne Mahoney, Agatha Marron, KittyMoran, Gerald McAleese, MartinMcGree, Teresa McGuire, John32Fr. Jerry Doona, MHM, who died on 14th June 2012Catherine (Kitty) Harney, sister-in-law of Fr. Donal Harney, MHMMary Kelly, sister of the late Fr. Brian Clarke, MHMDerry Staunton, brother of Fr. Bob Staunton, MHMPerpetual Members:Eamon Cregan, Mary Rohan, Dr. Eddie Staunton,Promoters and Box Holders:Vera Clifford, Mary Ann Graffin, Mary Healy, Mary McGrath,Josephine Mac Suibhne, Teresa Durcan.Members:McKearney, Donal Mulcahy, MarianNaughton, James Nolan, MaryO’Driscoll, Hugh O’Hanlon, MargaretO’Keeffe, Sheila O’Keeffe, Fintan Ryan,Gerry Scanlon, Joe Stuart, JosephineStuart, Mary Thynne, Mary K Wall,Elizabeth (Liz) Whyte.

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page35•It keeps all our friends and supporters intouch with our Missionary Work.•It promotes devotion to St. Joseph, ourPrincipal Patron and Advocate.•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.

AdvocateAutumn2012-2:Layout117/07/201216:41Page36‘Beehive Cells’ on Skellig Michael, located in the AtlanticOcean, 12km off the Kerry coast. Skellig Michael is designated aWorld Heritage Site.

(Ireland) - Autumn 2012 - The Mill Hill Missionaries

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?