Autumn/Winter 2016
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“ Behold the way which God has opened for us finally to go out from our slavery to sin and death, and thus enter into the land of life and peace. Jesus, crucified and risen, is the way.� Pope Francis 12th April 2015
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Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of Mercy at the Cathedral of Bangui, Central African Republic, so beginning the Year of Mercy.
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Contents Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page Page
3 Editorial; Season of Change 5 A God-filled man 8 A Joyful Homecoming 12 Jesus in the Tenderloin 14 Cardinal Bo visits the Carmelites 16 Celebrations at Cardonald 18 Curacao - Rainbow Island 20 Obituaries 21 Men with a Mission 23 Moving Forward in Pune 24 World Youth Day in Krakow 27 Mill Hill in Latin America 28 Mill Hill in New Zealand, the Philippines, Australia, the South Atlantic 31 Silver circle winners
Acknowledgments Contributors: John Taylor, Paul Hien, Bernard Fox, Sr Jane, Fons Eppink, Mark Connolly, Thomas Yellavula, Jim Fanning Photo Credits: Konrad Willeit, Fons Eppink, Paul Hien, Thomas Yelluva, Jim Fanning Cover photos: Front cover: Woman of Curacao. Back cover: Fr Jim Fanning and Kenyan friend at World Youth Day.
St. Joseph’s Advocate is the magazine of the Mill Hill Missionaries in Scotland, published from St. Joseph’s House, 30 Lourdes Avenue, Cardonald, Glasgow G52 3QU. Tel: 0141 883 0139. Email: tollanmhm@yahoo.co.uk Registered Charity Number: SCO39809 Produced by: Burns Print Management Ltd., Caledonia Business Centre, Thornliebank Industrial Estate, Glasgow G46 8JT Tel: 07799 645 420 Email: frank.burns@burnsprintmgt.co.uk
Editorial Fr. Bill Tollan, mhm, Editor
Season of Change Change is an inevitable part of life; all growth involves change and decay, but even decay can be seen as a sign of new life. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain” said Jesus. The hours of daylight diminish, the leaves fall, the harvest is taken-in. In November we remember our dead, and pray for their eternal rest. We are made aware of the fragility of our lives, the transience of all things. Yet we remain people of hope, knowing the ‘joy of the Gospel’, and that we are on a journey to the fullness of life in our true home with the Lord. October is the Month of Mission, with ‘Mission Sunday’ falling on the 23rd. In his message for this year Pope Francis writes, “All peoples and cultures have the right to receive the message of salvation which is God’s gift to every person…Missionaries know from experience that the Gospel of forgiveness and mercy can bring joy
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and reconciliation, justice and peace.” Further on he writes that “all of us are asked to obey his call to go forth from our own comfort zone in order to reach all the ‘peripheries’ in need of the light of the Gospel.” In this issue of the Advocate the story of the Mill Hill Missionaries over the last 150 years is continued, with brief accounts of our work in Latin America, the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, and the South Atlantic. Fr Mark Connolly writes of the pioneers in in our Indian mission, and Indian MHM Fr Thomas writes of the opening of our new house of formation in Pune. Fr Paul Hien’s remarkable story reminds us of fellowChristians persecuted for their faith. Fr Eppink writes of the remarkably harmonious people of Curacao, and Fr Taylor of an exemplary young MHM who was tragically drowned.
Changes at Cardonald WELCOME TO FR BERNARD FOX! After his five years as a member of our General Council, and a
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Fr. Bernard Fox, mhm.
sabbatical year (about which he writes in this issue) Fr Bernard Fox has taken over once again as Rector here at St Joseph’s House. In November he will celebrate the 40th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. He brings lots of new energy and enthusiasm to our work of promoting the missionary work of our Society. I hope to be able to continue editing the magazine and helping in whatever way I can. Fr Hugh O’Donnell and Fr Matt Grier remain also, and Fr Gerard Hamill calls in regularly from his chaplaincy work with the Benedictine Nuns at Largs. Fr Mark Connolly was with us for a few months before going off to the Holy Land for a wellearned sabbatical; he will then return to his mission in India.
A God-filled Man
‘Let us go up to the House of the Lord!” by Fr John Taylor mhm An mhm writes of a fellow-missionary whose short life has been an inspiration to his own life as a missionary. This year I celebrated the 50th anniversary of my ordination as a Mill Hill Missionary priest. As I reflect on my journey to ordination and my years of ministry I realise just how much I owe to the influence on my life of one of my classmates. Gottfried Moltner (like so many of our MHM’s) came from Tirol. I learned so much from him in the four years we spent together in Mill Hill as we prepared for ordination. In the summer of 1965 we hitch-hiked through France to Lourdes to spend three weeks of voluntary service at the Cite Saint Pierre (known then as the City of the Poor) run by Secours Catholique (French Catholic organization for helping the poor.) Fr. Gottfried.
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With the help of voluntary workers the Cite provided free board and lodging for poor pilgrims. We had managed to get cheap student flights from the south of England to Beauvais airport (to the north of Paris) but from there we ‘thumbed’ our way south to Lourdes. If we had to wait too long by the roadside we would don our cassocks and red sashes to draw the attention of some kindly driver! During those times of waiting by the roadside, and later in Lourdes (and on our return to Mill Hill), Gottfried had pearls of missionary spirituality to share in his gentle and humble way. Every night of our journey we were accommodated by kind priests in (usually very poor) presbyteries, or laypeople in their own homes. Our final lift was like a miracle: it was from Mgr Rodhain, the head of Secours Catholique. After our time in Lourdes we hitchhiked to our respective homes in England and Tirol, but Gottfried went first to visit Ars, where the saintly Cure – John Mary Vianney spent almost all his long priestly life. Back in Mill Hill Gottfried asked me to go with him to the local public baths to teach him to swim; he thought he might need this skill in his future missionary life. He did learn to swim, but having been assigned to our MH mission in Chile, on a day-out, he was overwhelmed by the strong currents of the Pacific ocean and swept out to sea. His body was never found. His missionary
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ministry had lasted scarcely 12 months. The leader of the Mill Hill group in Chile at that time was Fr Vincent McCann. He had been on the beach that fateful day with Gottfried. He wrote to headquarters: “I know I am somewhat upset at the moment, but it is not emotion when I say that I have never known a holier and more devoted priest than Gottfried, because I have said it so often and to so many. No one I have ever met before had such a sincere love of the Scriptures as he did, nor tried to live them more than he did. His Bible was his constant companion, and it was the first piece of luggage he put in his suitcase when we went recently for a trip to the south of Chile. In just over a week he would have been with us just one year, but in that short time he had become a master of Spanish, and had endeared himself to all by his complete sincerity, love for the poor, and for the young people in the parish…The people simply loved him.” In a later report Fr McCann wrote about the Parish of St Lucrecia where the MHM’s were based. It was far from an idyllic location: the air was heavily polluted, the streets full of rubbish, it was close to the city’s slaughter-house, and the city Prison. It was a ‘difficult’ area, not least for the many young people. Yet, Gottfried established a close relationship with the youth, and they accorded him their love and respect. No matter how busy he had
been during the day, no matter how tired he was, Gottfried never lay down to sleep without first reading his Bible for a full half hour. His normal manner of taking free time was to visit some of the more difficult ‘cases’ in the parish, then to visit some other parish in the city to learn their approach to the problems of the Church in the modern world; only then would he head for the mountains – to spend time with the Word of God and meditate on the beauties of Nature and God’s love for mankind. Gottfried sought constantly to obtain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Chilean people and their problems. For this reason, whenever the Soviet Embassy put on a programme he would attend, so as to better appreciate why so many Chileans were drawn to Communism. When the Planned Parenthood Association of Santiago gave a talk, Gottfried would be present to understand better the problems of his parishioners. When distinguished theologians from other countries visited the city to give a lecture, he would be sure to attend. He visited the prisoners, he organised Catechetical programmes, he mingled with the petty traders in the market. He turned-up at Baptismal and Wedding Fiestas – making contacts with people who had scarcely met a priest since their own baptism or wedding. He was very much alive to the need to promote ecumenism. The local
Pentecostal minister was his friend. At Christmas he would attend the Nativity play at the Pentecostal Temple before rushing back to be in time for the Midnight Mass. He admired the Evangelicals for their faith and courage in praying, singing, and preaching at street corners. He also had Jewish friends, and would share meals with them. I was most grateful to Gottfried for introducing me to the life and writings of Blessed Charles de Foucauld, and especially to his Prayer of Abandonment. This prayer can help us calmly to face each day with hope and confidence in God our Father’s loving care. Rather than imagining a long and difficult future ahead of us, it is better to accept the ‘sacrament of the present moment’, and live one day at a time. Gottfried’s short life is surely testimony to this profound truth. Fr McCann wrote, “His sermons were always a thing of beauty; so instructive and so full of the love of God. I can remember almost every word of his last sermon, Sunday February 25th 1968 at the 7.30 pm evening Mass. He spoke so beautifully of Christ’s invitation to us ‘to go up to the House of the Lord.’ I will never forget his final sentence: ‘Vamos a la casa del Senor? Si, vamos!’” Fr. John Taylor.
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A Joyful Homecoming Fr Paul Hien mhm writes of his escape from Vietnam, becoming a refugee in the Netherlands, and eventually a Mill Hill Missionary priest. He describes his eventual return on a visit to his homeland, and his 25 years as an MHM. Over the last year we have seen boatloads of desperate people attempting to escape war, violence, and poverty – and make a new beginning somewhere in Europe. Many people will remember a similar exodus in the 1980’s when thousands of Vietnamese people fled from the
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A parish in North Vietnam.
advancing communist army. Among them was Paul Hien and his youngest brother. There were 133 men, women and children crammed into a fishing boat that could only accommodate 40 people. They set off into the unknown across the South China Sea towards Borneo – over 1,000 kms away.
Fr. Paul Hien.
“The first night we ran into a heavy storm and thought we would all go down into the deep; the boat shook as huge waves poured into it. Those who were able tried to scoop out the water. Many were desperately sick and only halfconscious; others uttered desperate prayers for divine help. After some hours the storm abated and the sea calmed.” “We went six days without food – our rice and drinking water having been lost in the storm. We survived just on rain-water which we collected in anything that could hold water: plastic bags, rain-coats, a hat or a towel. For six days and nights we remained surrounded by water. We saw many big ships passing by. We hoped one of them might take pity on us and come to our help…but none did. On the afternoon of the sixth day a female nurse slipped while trying to collect rain water…and fell into the sea. She was soon rescued by our younger men, but it was too late – she had died. Just then a big Dutch cargo ship cane near, asking if we were in trouble. They saw the dead woman laid out on the boat. Immediately they lowered rope ladders and started to take us on board – to safety. Good Samaritans had come to our aid, just when we were in deep trouble and most fearful. We were brought to Singapore, where we stayed for two and a half months. We were then scattered to various countries which offered us asylum.” “I and my brother were given asylum in the Netherlands. It was there I started my new life, and
eventually joined the Mill Hill Missionaries. I hoped that one day I might be able to return to Vietnam as a missionary priest. Meanwhile, many priests back home had been put in prison; even the Bishop was imprisoned. All seminarians and Religious were sent back home. Foreign missionaries were expelled. Catholics had to find a new way to practise their faith.” After many years Fr Paul was eventually able to make a return visit to his homeland, and to meet his mother and many other family members. He was able to be present at the ordination of his brother as a priest. For years the Communist Government forbade ordinations, so many seminarians who had completed their studies had been waiting five to eight years before being allowed to be ordained. Now Fr Paul was able to concelebrate a Thanksgiving Mass with his brother in his own village, in the presence of many friends and family members, and especially his mother. She said, “Thanks be to God who has done great things for all of us. God is so beautiful and good.” Since his ordination 25 years ago, Fr Paul Hien has worked as a Mill Hill Missionary in East Africa. In his Jubilee year he was able to make yet another visit to his homeland. He writes of his impressions of a changing Vietnam. “Since the fall of Saigon in 1975 Vietnam has undergone a demographic explosion – to reach a population of 95 million. In the last decade the economy has grown rapidly. The Communist Party is still in absolute control, keeping a tight grip on all aspects of life in the
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country. It has encouraged foreign companies to invest and industrialise. My own small village that I left 36 years ago is now an industrialised zone with over 40,000 workers who have migrated from every corner of Vietnam. Huge factories have sprung up, surrounded by high walls and controlled by security guards. Church members, North Vietnam. In many places the people running the these churches are beautifully built new industries have no concern for in local style, with roof carvings and the adverse effects they have on the lots of intricate artistic work local environment, and the embellishing the interiors. Many Government doesn’t seem to care.” have fine carved wooden tabernacles “The Government makes sure its and high altars painted in bright red citizens are informed about its and gold colours. Travelling along policies and its regulations on the main roads one can see people traffic, health, and development. As going and coming to church at all early as 5.00 a.m. the loudspeakers hours of the day. In Ho Chi Minh on every local government office City (formerly Saigon) people – start broadcasting with the Catholics and non-Catholic alike Vietnamese national anthem, throng the churches until late at followed by news of the Party, and night, seven days a week. Sunday extolling the great successes and Masses are crowded with worshipers. achievements of the Government. The new church buildings are the “In my travels in the south and pride of the local communities, and north of Vietnam I was struck by have been built with the financial the large number of churches help of the many people who fled everywhere, most of them Catholic. the country at the time of the Many new churches are being built, Communist takeover. But there is and parishes being established. But also substantial local support. People there are also many historic really care for their church and churches built by the French and work hard for it in every way – Portuguese missionaries in the 18th and 19th centuries: most of these are providing their labour for maintenance and giving their badly in need of repair. Many of
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spiritual support.” “One might conclude that there must be a fair degree of freedom of religion. Freedom, however, can never be fully understood unless one lives it! Bishops are now free to ordain as many priests as they have candidates. Many religious congregations, including international ones, attract new members. In fact, the Catholic Church in Vietnam is now reaping the fruits of past hardships. All dioceses in Vietnam work hand in hand in terms of pastoral care and
catechetical training and teaching. However, they are not able to be so effective in the areas of justice and peace, the protection of human rights, and care of the environment. Church leaders have no means of speaking the truth to power. Qualified religious Sisters, Brothers, or Priests are not allowed to teach at higher levels in state schools or universities. Nor can they work as nurses or doctors in state institutions. Religious Sisters are only allowed to provide child care and primary-level education. They may do voluntary work like caring for the poor and the sick in their homes, but not in hospitals. Church authorities are unable to denounce the violations of human rights, the inhuman working Thanksgiving Mass with family and friends. conditions in factories, and the blatant pollution of the air, the rivers, the sea. Even the food (imported from China) made available for the workers is of such poor quality that they joke, ‘the ants and the cockroaches do not dare come Parishioners at work. near!’”
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Jesus shows shows up Jesus up in in the the Tenderloin Tenderloin by by FrFr Bernard Bernard Fox Fox mhm mhm
After serving 5 years on General the General Council of the Hill Missionaries there were daysMill when I felt stressed and After serving 5 years on the (during which hadMissionaries the privilege of travelling regularly to those African tired. I needed a sabbatical - and I Council of the MillI Hill countries where I opted forI awas sabbatical in Berkeley, what looking for at the (during which I hadour themissionaries privilege of work)found California. During years I experienced some wonderful moments School of Applied Theology in Berkeley. travelling regularly tothose those five African and met some extraordinary and men.we especially on the From the outset were invited to countries where ourtruly missionaries work) women Inevitably, however,enter there“sabbath were days when I felt time”, to let thestressed land of I African opted forcontinent. a sabbatical in Berkeley, and tired.During I needed a sabbatical found what looking for atliethe hearts andI was minds and bodies California. those five years I- and I our School of Applied Theology in Berkeley.fallow, Fromto the outset wethe were invited to experience Divine in new experienced some wonderful moments enter “sabbath time”, to let the land of ways, our hearts and minds and bodies to allow ourselves to move off lie and met some truly extraordinary fallow, and to experience the Divine ways, to allow ourselves to move paths of praying and off women men. especially on the in newwell-trodden well-trodden paths of prayingthinking and thinking about God. about God. African continent. Inevitably, however, Homeless San Francisco. Homelessinin San Francisco.
As I look back on my year at SAT there is one experience that stands out - and stays with me - especially when I go to bow or genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament. We had been told that our sabbatical was to be more experientnial that academic, more a journey of the heart that the head. In line with this we were offered the experience of spending a day each term in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco, across the Bay from us in Berkeley. One of the things that strikes
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the first time visitor to San Francisco is the strong presence of homeless men and women; at underground stations, department stores, outside restaurants and churches, in parks and on the pavement. On that March morning when we set off, with some trepidation, to encounter some homeless persons we were introduced to Mary Anne Finch, who for over 30 years has been working in the Tenderloin area of the city with homeless persons. She runs an Institute
(Care through Touch) whose aim aim is “to care for and educate poor poor and marginalised people by providing massage therapy and and holistic health practices that transform body, mind and spirit.” spirit.” So that our experience of homeless homeless persons would not just be “academic” we were each invited invited to spend time walking the streets streets with a man or woman who had had been or was still on the streets. streets. What I found difficult was not not so so much being with my “companion for the day” but the reactions of some some of of the the passers-by who, when they saw saw him him stop stop and examine examine aa bin bin as ashe hesearched searchedfor forfood, food, looked at both him and me with eyes of utter contempt! I was mortally ashamed and was almost tempted to shout after them that I was a priest and not a homeless person! It is not easy to feel excluded in this way. The other experience from that that Spring Spring day that stays with me was our our visit visit to to St Boniface’s Catholic church. This is ais a St Boniface’s Catholic church. This beautiful edifice started by GermanGermanspeaking Catholics in the 1850. 1850. As As II entered by a side door the sights, sights, sounds sounds and smells that I encountered blew blew my my mind away....There is an imposing imposing gilded gilded sanctuary, some striking frescoes frescoes and and an an attractive ceiling. But what makes makes the the place fairly unique is that, that, apart apart from from four four or five benches up front, each pew pew was was covered by a sleeping man or woman, woman, their few possessions often tied tied to to their their bodies to prevent them being stolen. stolen. Once Once Mass is over in the morning the the church church opens its doors to homeless persons. persons. It It was was truly a wonderful sight - and for for me me on on that March day summed up what what aa Catholic church ought to be. The The snorting snorting and snoring was sometimes very very loud loud but but somehow it felt very Franciscan Franciscan and and very very right! The deal is this: while homeless homeless shelter or or aa people can sometimes find shelter night, they they have have place in a hostel for the night,
Living onon the streets. Living the streets.
outby by8am....leaving 8am....leavingthem themnowhere nowhere totobebeout goduring duringthe therest restofofthe theday day(until (until totogo 6pm).To Tomeet meetthis thisneed, need,StStBoniface’s Boniface’s 6pm). opensits itsdoors doorseach eachday dayafter aftermorning morning opens Mass to those who need a place stay Mass to those who need a place totostay andwhere wherethey theycan canbe besafe safefrom fromthe the and threatsofofthe thestreets streets(the (thevast vastmajority majorityof of threats homelesswomen, women,for forexample, example,have havebeen been homeless raped.).Church Churchvolunteers volunteersare areon onhand handin in raped.). thechurch churchtotooffer offerfood, food,some somebasic basic the necessities,helpful helpfulinformation informationand and necessities, guaranteetheir theirprotection. protection. guarantee Oneofofmy mycompanions companionson onthe thesabbatical sabbatical One coursewas wasaaMalaysian Malaysiancalled calledFrFrPatrick Patrick course whowas waswith withme meon onthis thisvisit visitto toStSt who Boniface’s.Together Togetherwe wewalked walkedquietly quietly Boniface’s. aroundthe thechurch churchasaswe wetried triednot notto to around disturbororwake wakeup upthese these“guests”. “guests”.What What disturb hedid didatatthe theend endofofthe thevisit visittook tookme me he completelyby bysurprise. surprise.As Aswe wepassed passedthe the completely tabernacleand andaltar altarwe weboth bothbowed. bowed.I I tabernacle walkedon ontowards towardsthe thedoor, door,happy happyatatthe the walked prospectofofsome somefresh freshair. air.FrFrPatrick, Patrick, prospect however,turned turnedand andbowed bowedtotothe the however, sleepingcongregation congregationofofhomeless homelesswomen women sleeping and andmen. men.“If “Ifwe wereverence reverenceChrist Christin inthe the tabernacle” tabernacle”said saidPatrick,” Patrick,” should shouldwe wenot notalso alsoreverence the same Christ in those reverence the same Christ homeless persons lying on in those homeless persons the benches His inside lying on theinside benches house?” For me, that His house?” Forat me, at that precise precisemoment, moment,Jesus Jesus himself himselfhad hadjust justshown shownup up Fr Bernard Fox mhm theTenderloin! Tenderloin! ininthe
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Cardinal Bo’s visit to Dysart Carmel 11 May, 2016 by Sr Jane Khin Zaw I am sure most Christians in Scotland were excited when they heard the news that Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, would be visiting the UK in May. Just last year in February Archbishop Bo of Yangon was appointed Burma’s first ever cardinal, a priest after Pope Francis’s own heart, passionate about human rights and one of the most outspoken voices against discrimination of any kind, and especially passionate about the need, indeed the right for religious freedom. “The task of Christians is to move fences, to tear down walls…to be a voice for the voiceless”
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There was widespread and generous press coverage of his visit, and full churches to welcome him on his 3 week tour through the country He had a packed schedule, beginning in Glasgow on 8 May with Mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral. The visit was initiated and arranged by Benedict Rogers, East Asia Team Leader of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, the hosts and sponsors being the Bishops’ conferences of Scotland, and of England and Wales, Aid to the Church in Need, Missio as well as CSW. Here we had been eagerly following the details of Cardinal Bo’s forthcoming visit, when I heard from my very good friend Ben Rogers the wonderful news that he would be bringing Cardinal Charles to visit us on May 11th, before they set off to London on the rest of his visit to the UK and the EU in Brussels. It was a complete surprise for us all. I can only explain it by the Cardinal’s own very great kindness, as well as Ben’s, since it was he was arranging the Cardinal’s timetable. Somehow he managed to fit us in, arriving at 9.30 for Mass at 10 am. With the Cardinal were his secretary Fr Dominic, Ben, and Ruth, a colleague from CSW, and Fr Tom from Missio with Sr Stacey, a St Peter Claver Sister working with him.
Sr Jane and Cardinal Bo.
impressed on us the tremendous need for It was a beautiful Mass. Sr Margaret our Prioress asked Ben to do the second reading persevering prayer for Burma. and the Cardinal gave a most inspiring Sr Margaret asked him if he would like to homily. He also joined in the hymns, see the garden and he gladly agreed, singing with all his heart. It was a great visiting the cemetery first where he led us blessing and uplift for all of us. After Mass in prayers for the many Sisters buried there. our visitors came into the Community He also went past the Caves of St Serf, a 6th room to meet and talk with the century hermit, and saw the rest of our Community for nearly an hour. Cardinal beautiful grounds. Meanwhile a buffet Charles first presented us with a Rainbow lunch was being prepared for the visitors Mission Rosary each, to pray for world before they left at 2 pm for their 3.20 pm peace and conversion through Catholic flight to London from Edinburgh airport. missionary efforts around the world. He The Community gathered in the front was surprised to find us such a large entrance hall to say Goodbye and Thank community and we explained that it was you, singing our farewell song - ‘Will ye no because we are an Infirmary Carmel. ’Hm’, come back again’, addressed not only to he mused ’27 Sisters…. You only need 8 Sisters to found another Carmel so you have enough to found 3 Carmels! Why not at least one in Burma?!’ The snag, as we were quick to remind him is the fact that most of us are over 60, old age pensioners! He was very friendly and at ease with us and kept us all The Carmelite Community with Cardinal Bo. laughing throughout. ‘Carmelites are certainly good at laughing’ he teased. the Cardinal but to Ben Rogers and his One of the Sisters asked him about the companions. I would like you to know of situation in Burma before and after the the close friendship between Ben and the recent elections. He spoke of ‘Myanmar’s Cardinal, who brought him into the Way of the Cross’ which lasted 50 years, Catholic Church. You can read about it in under the cruel totalitarian regime his compelling and inspiring book From following the military takeover in Burma to Rome: A Journey into the Catholic 1962. ‘The missionaries serving the poor Church (Leominster: Gracewing, 2015). and the vulnerable were expelled. Lands, Photos had been taken of the Community schools, medical institutions were with the Cardinal and Ben, in some of confiscated…Thousands were left without which I had to feature as the only Burmese skills to survive life. Nearly a million Sister! become refugees and IDPs.’. Now, after I have had the joy and privilege of Aung San Suu Kyi’s landslide victory ‘we knowing Cardinal Bo for many years from are sailing in the early morning hope of a as early as the 1970s, when he had been great democracy… but it cannot come consecrated bishop of Lashio. He and two overnight, a massive educational program other Burmese bishops were brought along and vocational training is needed, and to my former monastery of Golders Green, great patience. Burma stands in dire need to visit the community. I feel so grateful of institutions of empowerment and and humble to be able to share with them justice. It will take a long time. All the now our thanksgiving for God’s work in systems have been broken down and need our country’s history, and hopes for the building up again before any further future of Burma, Myanmar. progress can be made..’ Cardinal Charles
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On Saturday the 4th June we came together to Celebrate Mission and our 150th Anniversary. Here are some pictures from the occasion.
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Clockwise from top: Fr Tollan welcomes the Archbishop and Friends; M Fr Joe Holmes greets old friends, Fr Bernard Fox preached the homily. The main
d Friends; Mass in the chapel of Nazareth House; Reception after Mass, y. The main image shows Abp Tartaglia with General Superior and Scots mhms.
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Rainbow Island Mill Hill Missionary Fr Fons Eppink was invited recently to lead a retreat on the island of Curacao in the Caribbean. He describes some of the unique features of this island and its people – 80% of whom profess to be Catholics.
Independence Day Celebrations.
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The people of Curacao were celebrating their ‘Dia di Bandera’ (Flag Day) the first day I arrived on this small island (60 kms long, in breadth only 6 to 12 kms) with its population of 150,000. Curacao is not far off the coast of Venezuela. Proud to be an independent entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Curacaoans still cherish the connection. That connection goes back a long way, to 1634 in fact, when the Dutch took over the island from the Spanish. Sadly, soon after, Curacao became an important port of transit (and destination) for the slave trade, like other islands of the
Monument marking the slavery revolt in 1795 at Landhuis Knip.
Pietermaai Cathedral or Cathedral of the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Willemstad.
Caribbean. Slavery was abolished here in 1863. Situated at the crossroads of the shipping routes between European, African and North and South American continents, Curacao has, over the centuries, developed into a melting pot of continuously changing mix of cultures, languages, peoples and traditions from all over the world. This has produced a wonderfully exciting combination of Africa, Europe, and America in a kaleidoscopic variety of colours, sounds and cultural ancestries. The national anthem includes the lines, “Hail be to God our blessed Lord/ from now to eternity, /Who made thy children worthy /to be yu di Korsou – bred on Korsou!” [‘Korsou’ = Curacao] Dutch influence is most strikingly evident in the architectural style of the buildings in Willemstad, the picturesque capital. The elegant frontages of buildings along the waterfront, and the stately mansions in Punda, the old part of town, evoke the style of building in vogue along the canals of 17th century
Amsterdam. But there is one big difference: everything on this island, from official state buildings to office blocks, shops and residential homes, every square inch of wall is decorated in a riot of colours rivalling the hues and shades of the rainbow. A feast to the eye! Willemstad, rainbow city, is on Unesco’s World Heritage list since 1997. No wonder my host and companion, Brother Franklin Clemencia, was appalled by the absence of colour on his first visit to Holland – “Everything seemed so grey, so depressing…!” The other outstanding feature of the culture of this island is its language. Among the islands of the Caribbean, Curacoa distinguishes itself by having developed its own unique vernacular called ‘Papiamentu’. I was flabbergasted to discover that its roots are distinctly African. Papiamentu is a tonal language, like many African languages, with a vocabulary largely derived from Spanish and Portuguese with a wealth of other influences as well. More than 80% of the population profess to be Catholic. Pretty ochre-
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coloured churches with elegant spires, big and small, dot the urban and rural landscape. Dutch Dominicans were largely instrumental in building up the local Church communities on this island. But a distinguishing feature of the local church is the large number of religious Brothers and Sisters belonging to a variety of congregations, again almost exclusively from the Netherlands, who helped to set the education system on a sound footing from as early as 1842. They also organized
the healthcare provision. Almost all these Dutch Religious have now died, or retired from active work. There were even a few stray Mill Hill Missionaries who laboured for some years on the island. Today the number of local priests and religious is woefully inadequate. Some Filipino, Polish, and Latin American priests have come to fill the gap. Judging by the people I met at the retreat that I was privileged to lead, the laity are slowly and hesitantly beginning to find their voice.
Obituaries LET US PRAY FOR OUR DEAD
Recently Deceased Members Fr Jan van Luyk Fr Joseph Geoghegan Fr George Bauer Fr Peter Jacobse Fr Herman Plattner Fr Lawrence English Fr Nicholas Konings Fr James Dalziel: Born in India, where his father was working, James grew up in Cardonald, Glasgow, and attended St Aloysius College. He was ordained as a MHM priest in 1963, and after studies in Cambridge was appointed to India, where he worked for many years in Kashmir, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. Problems with skin cancer necessitated his return to Britain, where he worked on mission promotion, as vice-rector of our retirement house, and as chaplain to the Mill Hill Sisters in Burnley. Eventually ill health forced his retirement to Freshfield where he died on 17th August, aged 78.
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Recently Deceased Friends and Benefactors Fr Stuart Allan had been a student with Mill Hill, but decided his vocation was to work as a priest in Europe. He was ordained for a diocese in the Netherlands and spent some years as a parish priest until contracting severe MS which confined him to a wheelchair. Sadly, he was involved in a fatal car accident earlier this year. Catherine McKay Iain Burgess (South Uist) Edward Orr Agnes McSherry (Clarkston) Jim McColgan (Duntocher) Noel Fitzpatrick Tony Rooney
Men with a Mission The Story of Mill Hill in India Continues… by Fr Mark Connolly mhm There were just four in that first group of Mill Hill Missionaries who landed in Madras in the late autumn of 1875, but what a group! Their leader was an Irish physician called David Forbes whose medical skills enhanced the spiritual work he would later do in an area of India where medical services were rudimentary in the extreme. There was an older Belgian priest, John Sabbe, who had previously spent a short time in prison for apparent ‘financial mismanagement’, but who
David Forbes.
had been rehabilitated and courageously volunteered to join this first team of Mill Hill Missionaries to set foot on the Indian sub-continent. There was a German, Theodore Dieckmann, whose linguistic skills were legendary and ensured that he would become the real ‘anchor’ for the whole group. Finally, there was a young Frenchman named Joseph Grand who almost joined the Paris Foreign Mission Society, but in the end opted to join this new Missionary
Theodore Dieckmann.
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Society of Mill Hill instead. Fr. Joseph was somewhat accident-prone and managed to blow his arm off with a shotgun which meant-according to the rules of the day – he was not allowed to celebrate Mass! A colourful team indeed! I’m writing this from the small central Indian town of Pargi. It is now mid-April and yesterday the temperature reached 41C, so I’m very conscious of the physical hardships this group of pioneers would have had to endure as they struggled to begin their missionary outreach in the torrid humidity of India’s East Coast without the modern benefits of fridges, fans and air conditioners. Within weeks they were immersed in the study of the difficult Telugu language until suddenly called upon to care for the victims – Christian and non-Christian – of a local cholera outbreak. When the epidemic finally subsided, they were each appointed to their various mission stations and the work of evangelization could begin in earnest.
More than 140 years later that work of bringing what Pope Francis calls ‘The joy of the Gospel’ to the poor continues. Mill Hill Missionaries have two missions – Baswar and Vishnupur - in the North of India and two – Pargi and Nellikuduru - in the South. In all our missions, the priority outreach is to those our Founder referred to as ‘poorest and most abandoned’. Though they are no less colourful, in many ways our missionaries in India today are different from the original group: Most of them are Indian themselves and so they are able to present Christ to the people using the rich array of cultural and religious tools from India ’s ancient past. The message they carry, however - God’s special love for the poor and the oppressed - is the same one that Fr. David Forbes and his companions brought so many years before. In this special Jubilee Year, Mill Hill in India honours its missionaries Fr Mark – both past and present. Connolly mhm
Others appointed to the Indian Mission in Madras included, from left, A. Kroot, J. Aelen, J. Brouwer and T. Mayer.
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Moving Forward in Pune, India by Fr Thomas Yellavula mhm Our Mill Hill Formation house in the city of Pune began with a small rented house next to a Mosque. Eighteen months later our dream of a more suitable place has become a reality; the new house was blessed and inaugurated by Fr Jimmy Lindero mhm of our General Council. We acknowledge the generosity of so many generous benefactors from various parts of the world who have made the dream come true. On this same occasion we also witnessed the first fruits of the Pune formation programme when two of our students took their perpetual oath to become full members of St Joseph’s Missionary Society of Mill Hill. Fr Jimmy gave an inspiring yet challenging homily centring on the acronym ‘LGS’ – ‘Love, Grow, and Serve.’ We were all invited to be people of Jesus in the world and to everyone we encounter from day to day. We are being invited by the Church today to receive God’s love and mercy, and then become missionaries of that love and mercy to those on the periphery of the society of today. Next day, 18th March, our students Michael and Yacob were ordained Deacons by Bishop Valerian D’Souza. It was an occasion to reflect on the growing strength of the Mill Hill Missionaries in India, and on this 150th anniversary of the Society’s foundation, to remember
especially the missionary endeavours of our pioneers who made such a major contribution to building up local Christian communities. Recently Pope Francis called on us to remember also that “a great history is still to be accomplished.” He went on to encourage us to look to the future “where the Spirit is sending you in order to do even greater things.”
The new MH House in Pune.
Fr. Brian Oswald on left and Fr. Jimmy on right with the Bishop and new deacons.
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World Youth Day Krakow MHM Fr Jim Fanning, who worked for many years in Kenya and the Congo, joined the young people in this great festival of faith and youth.
“Are you from Scotland with that tartan?” “No, I’m a Maasai from Kenya, and this is the way we dress so that the wild animals keep away from us in the bush.” World Youth Days began with Pope John Paul II inviting the Youth of the world to come to Rome in 1985. It was such a tremendous experience for the Church and for the youth that it has become an ongoing celebration every three years, held in different parts of the world. This year the venue for the 18th WYD was St John Paul’s own city of Krakow. Unfortunately Africa hardly gets a chance to participate because it does not yet have the infrastructure to support such a big event. Moreover, most African youth do not have the resources to fund long-distance travel. Having worked with the young people of Africa for many years, I decided to raise funds to sponsor Michael Lemayen from Narosura Parish in Ngong Diocese in Kenya, together with Fr Bruno Muboki, a newly-ordained priest from
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the Archdiocese of Tororo (Uganda), and Abraham Emorut, a charismatic youth leader, also from Tororo. They joined in the celebrations from 26th July until 31st this year. I went along to see for myself, as I had always wanted to witness these historic events. My three friends arrived after long complicated journeys from Africa to Krakow. Their allotted Polish families immediately took them to their homes. They could not believe the kindness of their hosts’ hospitality. They saw what Mercy can be in practice, being welcomed so warmly though complete strangers. The theme of this year’s WYD was ‘Blessed are the merciful as they shall have mercy shown to them’; these words were sung on many occasions throughout this week. Fr Bruno and Abraham came the week before, and Michael stayed a week afterwards. The families took them out every day in Katowice, showing them the places where St John Paul worked in the
mines, did his studies, and retired to pray. Many youth went into Krakow itself to see the famous Divine Mercy shrine where Sr Faustina received her revelations. They had free travel on all buses and trains. For more or less two weeks Krakow belonged to the young people. On every street streams and streams of young people became rivers pouring into and out of the one-timecapital of Poland. Michael found the bread diet quite hard at the beginning but then settled down when the chicken and sausages came along! As they went into the city each day people handed them produce from their homes. Difficult as it was, the young people started picking up essential words in Polish like ‘Gin kooye’ (thank you) and ‘Gin dobray’ (good morning.) The first part of the week was given over to Catechesis in all the Parish Churches around Krakow. Each language group had several designated churches. I was with Ghanaians, Americans, Australians, Irish and English. My local church was at Podlesc and three different English-speaking bishops turned up to teach the youth about receiving and giving mercy. Their talks, which were followed by Mass, were excellent. The highlight of course, was the arrival of Pope Francis. We had a welcoming ceremony on Thursday evening at Bolenia Park. Then on Friday we had the Stations of the Cross with him. Saturday was the all-night vigil at Mater Misericordia campus, where everyone slept in the field. The FM app on our mobile phones proved essential for following the Pope’s Italian talks in English translation.
Fr Jim with a Kenyan Sister.
Sunday morning saw the crowning Mass under a bright sunny sky. In front of me a sea of young people stretched as far as the eye could see, with the flags of 187 nations fluttering in the air, often blocking our view of the Mass on the faraway screens. It was a great experience to be among representatives of Youth from the whole world. They were still enthusiastic for everything, despite the cold night. They chanted “Papa Francesco, Papa Francesco.” Pope Francis preached about the mercy Jesus showed to Zachaeus as he passed through Jericho. He highlighted three obstacles that can block us from accessing Jesus: small size, shame, and comments from others. But Zachaeus overcame these because he believed that Jesus was merciful. The Pope encouraged his listeners to believe in the power of love and mercy in the world, rather than hate. “Let borders not be barriers for that love” he said, “and when people dismiss your belief in the gentle power of mercy do not be discouraged.” At the end of the Mass the Pope announced that the next WYD will be in Panama in 2019. Even if he will not
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A Bishop giving catechesis.
Young people from all nations meet in warm friendship.
be around, his successor on the chair of Peter will be there. The World Youth Day had ended but now the living-out of it begins back home. Waiting in the departure lounge for our Ryanair flight back to Britain, a vociferous group of youth from Scotland started singing joyous songs about Jesus at the top of their voices. As the youth of six continents become such bold and joyful heralds of God’s Mercy, they are casting out already the evils of the world with the power of the Gospel, - and Abraham, Fr Bruno, and Michael are so happy to be with them.
Camping at the Field of Mercy.
Coming Events Dates for your Diary at St. Joseph’s House, Cardonald • First Fridays of the month: Mass for the Sick at 9.00 a.m. • Tuesdays: Meditation Group meets at 11.00 a.m. • Wednesdays: Wednesday Talks 7.00 p.m. – 8.00 p.m. • Sunday November 27th: Tree of Life Mass at 3.00 p.m. in Nazareth House Chapel 26
Mill inHill Latin America Chile In the Cold War years after the end of the Second World War, there was great fear in Western countries of a world overtaken by Communism. Eastern Europe was isolated behind a Sovietcontrolled ‘Iron Curtain.’ Pope John XXIII feared that the ‘Catholic’ subcontinent of South and Central America might fall under Communist control. In spite of 450 years of Christianity, there was a lack of local clergy, and a social system that favoured a wealthy minority at the expense of the impoverished majority. Pope John appealed to Religious Orders and Missionary Societies to send priests to Latin America. In response, a group of MHM’s were appointed to Santiago in Chile. Some of the first MH Lay Associates joined them in the work. They soon identified with the poorest, living
in simple housing alongside the people. They set up Basic Christian Communities, Credit Unions, and helped people to stand up for their rights. With the overthrow of President Allende there followed the long and brutal dictatorship of General Pinochet. Many people resisted the new regime, were arrested, tortured and ‘disappeared.’ Missionaries too were arrested and tortured; they were accused of being Communists, and the Basic Communities seen as communist cells.
Diocesan Youth, Itaguai, Brazil.
Rio’s sprawling Rocinha favela.
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Brazil Some of the MHM’s who had been expelled from the Malaysian mission (Sabah), responded to a request for missionaries in the Diocese of Governador Valadares in the State of Minas Gerais. They were joined by others, including some who transferred from Chile when Mill Hill withdrew from there. Later they moved into the diocese of Itagui in the State of Rio de Janeiro. As in Chile our missionaries were deeply involved in establishing Basic Christian Communities, and in many welfare projects.
stilts over the swamp. Fr Frank Smith established a well-equipped Health Centre on the island. The parish of St Rose of Lima was created, and a fine Church built. Two MH lay missionaries set up a catechetical and social centre. Gradually the swamp was filled-in, and small concrete-block houses were laid out in orderly streets. Fr Brian Ahern (who came from Dundee) worked on the island for some years and built a multipurpose Mass Centre. Declining numbers of MHM’s meant that this successful mission was handed over to the local Church.
Ecuador A small group of MHM’s and MH Associates worked for a number of years in the slums of Guayaquil, the country’s biggest city. When a new road was constructed through a large swampy island in the river, thousands of poor people began building flimsy houses along the road edge and then on bamboo
Children at play in the slums of Guayaquil.
Mill Hill in New Zealand, the Philippines, Australia, and the South Atlantic The Maori Mission In 1883 the Bishop of Auckland in New Zealand appealed to Cardinal Vaughan to send MHM’s to help revitalise the mission among the aboriginal Maori population. Three years later the first group arrived to begin the task of learning the Maori language and immersing themselves in the culture and traditions of the Maori people. The Maoris lived in
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Scots MHMs on the Maori Mission.
small scattered rural communities in the North Island, and the priests had to travel on foot and horseback to reach their people. Many new parish communities were formed and Churches built. The dedication of the missionaries won the hearts and minds of the people. In later years large numbers of Maoris drifted away from their traditional areas to seek a very different life in the big towns and cities. They nonetheless wanted to maintain their own language and identity. In response, a number of MHM’s moved into the urban areas to provide appropriate pastoral care and help establish Centres where Maoris could gather for worship and for traditional cultural activities. For over a century about a hundred MHM’s served in the Maori mission, among them from Scotland: Frs P. J. McCrory, H. McKillop, C. Murray, J. Logue, B. McDonald. Some of the MHM’s became known for their expertise in the Maori language and knowledge of their cultural traditions.
The Philippines At first sight it seems strange that the Mill Hill Missionaries were asked by Rome in 1905 to send men to work in the Philippines. The Philippines had been a Spanish possession for centuries (though now under American control) and the majority of the people were already Christians. The Spanish missionaries had done little to establish a local clergy. However, a schismatic Filipino priest, Fr Gregorio Aglipay had broken away to form a Filipino Church cut-off from communion with Rome. The poverty-stricken province of Antique was a particular stronghold of the new Church, and it was to there that the first MHM’s were assigned. They soon learned the local Visayan language and through their dedication won the hearts of the people, recovering the area from the control of the schismatics. They opened schools and colleges, and published dictionaries, grammars, and even a New Testament in Visayan.
Fr Hoogveld mhm with Maori choir.
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During the Second World War the Japanese occupied the Philippines, disrupting much of the work of the Church. Churches and houses were destroyed, and six missionaries were killed. After the war the work continued and flourished: the province of Antique became a Diocese with a MHM as the first Bishop. The number of local clergy increased and gradually took over most of the parishes. In 1988 Mill Hill began to recruit Filipino members for Mill Hill. Today many are working in different parts of the world, and one of them, Fr Jimmy Lindero, is a member of the General Council – the Society’s governing body.
Australia In 1985 the Bishop of Geraldton in Western Australia asked the Society to send some missionaries who would undertake the apostolate among the
Aborigine population – many of whom were scattered about his enormous diocese. The Bishop wrote that it would be “a work of primary evangelization of considerable difficulty.” A small group of MHM’s were engaged in this challenging apostolate for a number of years, but eventually withdrew.
The South Atlantic In the 1950’s long-existing tensions between the British government and Argentina were heightened over ownership of the Falkland Islands/ Malvinas. At this time Mill Hill was asked to take pastoral responsibility for the small number of Catholics not only on the Falklands, but also the other British possessions of Ascension Island, St Helena, and Tristan da Cunha. All four of these territories were included in a new ‘Prefecture’ (a sort of Diocese with a ‘Prefect
Filipino MHMs.
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Apostolic’) which covered an enormous area of the South Atlantic. Mgr James Ireland was the first Prefect. A number of other MHM’s served in the islands in a period of over 50 years, right into the beginning of this century when responsibility was passed over to the Bishops of England and Wales.
Right, from top: Fr Charles Okata helps with tornado relief, Philippines. Fr John Ambrose and Fr Domingo, mhm superior in the Philippines. Grave of one of the MH pioneers in the Philippines.
Silver Circle Winners MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
335 Tollan
£25
234 Walls
£25
268 Hutchison
£25
365 Robb
£25
196 Beattie
£15
55
McGuire
£15
347 McDonald
£15
88 Healy
£15
188 Docherty
£10
72
Clynes
£10
339 Pierce
£10
164 Beattie
£10
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
178 Scullion
£25
57
Anderson
£25
68
Carey
£25
92 Quinn
£15
115 Caulfield
£15
80
McGovern
£15
144 Gallagher
£10
87
£10
63
Rodden
£10
Watt
Congratulations to them all.
Many thanks to all who support the Silver Circle. Your help is greatly appreciated, and contributes to supporting our missionary work.
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St. Joseph’s House, 30 Lourdes Avenue, Cardonald, Glasgow G52 3QU. Tel: 0141 883 0139. Email: bernardfox76@gmail.com Mill Hill Website: www.millhillmissionaries.com Registered Charity Number: SCO39809