Autumn/Winter 2021
A Modern Martyr for Justice in defence of the Poor In one of his inspiring radio-broadcast homilies Saint Oscar Romero declared:
“We plant seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We cannot do everything…This enables us to do something, and do it well. We are workers, not master builders. Ministers, not Messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.”
Oscar Romero was appointed Archbishop of San Salvador, capital of El Salvador in 1977. A few weeks later, his friend and collaborator, Fr Rutilio Grande SJ was shot dead by government agents. Romero was now emboldened to speak-out against the oppressors of the poor. On 23 March 1980 he ordered in God’s name that the killings must stop. Next day, as he said Mass he was shot dead at the altar: the killers had been sent to silence the ‘voice of the poor’. The picture shows the Archbishop celebrating the Eucharist with Fr Rutilio. In 2009 the President of El Salvador declared his government would be inspired by Romero and his ‘preferential option for the poor’ – choosing to put the most vulnerable first.
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Contents Page 2 Archbishop Oscar Romero Page 5 MHM’s and pandemic: East Africa and India Page 6 Thriving during lockdown Page 9 Kitale Project, Kenya Page 12 Hannaway Project, Congo Page 16 Remembering Fr René Graat Page 19 Islands of Our Lady of Solitude Page 23 The Memorial Kongolo, Gentinnes Page 26 Two remarkable Glasgow Franciscan Sisters Page 29 Notice to all our friends and benefactors Page 30 Our Church numbers Page 31 Obituaries / Silver Circle winners
Acknowledgments Contributors: Fr Fons Eppink mhm Fr Bernard Fox mhm Fr Francis Hannaway mhm The FMSJ’s Fr John Doran mhm Sr Jacinta van Luijk Photo Credits: Various sources Cover photos: Front: Ramo’s extended family. Back: Sindh Project schoolchildren.
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 Publications Ltd., Caledonia Business Centre, Thornliebank Industrial Estate, Glasgow G46 8JT
Editorial Fr. Bill Tollan, mhm, Editor
The Covid Pandemic has dominated our lives for the last 18 months, and it seems as if we will continue to live under that dark shadow. We will never forget that day when Pope Francis led the world in prayer before a darkened, emptied, rain-soaked, St Peter’s Square. He spoke of our being like the terrified apostles, tossed-about in their flimsy boat on the Sea of Galilee – and of Jesus coming to calm the storm and bring them safely to shore. Since then he has spoken repeatedly of our need to listen to what God is telling us in these days about our lifestyle, about our scale of values, about our care of ‘our common home’ – the earth of which we are part, and our concern for the poor and marginalised of the world. In his message for World Mission Sunday (October 24th 2021) he recalls the words of the Apostles on the day of Pentecost: “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard.” He calls on us to a deeper appreciation of our Christian faith, and reminds us of how the work of MISSIO (the Pope’s own missionary organization) is supported by Catholics even from the poorest countries in the world. For example, the Church in Malawi contributed almost £18,500 last year. In this issue of the Advocate we have a chart describing ‘Our Church in Numbers’. This provides us with evidence of the ‘success’ of the world missionary effort, but also the challenges that lie ahead. We have all heard
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of the abduction of schoolchildren in Nigeria, and of the girls being forced to marry Muslim jihadists, the members of ‘Boko Haram’. This year the MISSIO-supported work of Sr Veronica is highlighted. In 2010 the Women’s Interfaith Council was established in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria. The Council encourages women of different faiths to work together to build peace through training programmes. These programmes empower women and contribute to healing and reconciliation. Sr Veronica has been leading the Council since 2019. She says, “When you train a woman, you train a nation. We bring them together as women and build peace. Every religion talks about love; there is no religion that talks about war.” This issue of the Advocate highlights the effects of Covid in many of the poorest parts of the world: in Kenya (Kitale), Uganda, India…but also in the story of Fr René Graat MHM, missionary in the Congo, and for 12 years a much-loved Parish Priest in a cluster of parishes in the Netherlands. He died of Covid. Many of our friends wondered how the four of us resident in St Joseph’s
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House handled the lockdown. Fr Bernard Fox describes how we somehow managed to survive, and even ‘thrive’, during this time. Another article highlights the tragic killings of missionaries (Catholic and Protestant, and including MHM’s) and many Congolese in the mayhem that followed independence from Belgium. The beautiful memorial chapel at Gentinnes in Belgium provides a worthy reminder of those terrible events. As discussions continue about ‘booster jabs’, we must remember the scandal of the people of the poorest countries in the world who have yet to receive the vaccines. Pope Francis is due to attend part of the great COP26 summit in Glasgow (01-12 November) to add his voice to the appeal he has made in his great encyclical, ‘Laudato Si’, ‘On Care for our Common Home.’ We are privileged to have the Holy Father visiting our country, and the city of Glasgow. We surely must take his message to heart, and act upon it. We are challenged as parishes and also as individuals to see what practical steps we can take to save our planet from imminent disaster.
MHM’s and the pandemic - East Africa and India Writing from Kenya In July 2021, the MHM East African Regional Superior, Fr Afumaboh J. King reported ‘total lockdown in Uganda; all inter-district movement is prohibited.’ He went on to describe the partial lockdown in Kenya, particularly in the western part of the country. A few of our MHM’s were infected, but thankfully have recovered. In August two of our first African MHM’s, both now working in South Africa, were due to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of their ordination. An even more grim report came from the Rector of our Formation Centre in Pune, India, Fr Thomas
Yellavula mhm. “The pandemic has shaken India to the core, shattered and impacted all life far beyond our wildest imaginings. Neither the Central nor the State Governments were prepared for the devastating impart of Covid 19…a staggering 6.9 new infections were detected during the month of April.” He goes on to describe the lack of medical facilities like beds, drugs, ventilators, and oxygen. The MHM formation community all contracted Covid, but thankfully have recovered, though some members still experience after-effects. Fr Thomas goes on to express his concern for his parents and his brother’s family who suffer from diabetes and are surrounded by desperate people who have contracted Covid but have no access to medical care. He appeals for prayers for his people, and especially to the protection of St Joseph. Top: Pune Ordinations.
Left: Masking in Kenya.
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Thriving during the Covid19 Lockdown
The story of four MHM’s in Cardonald, Scotland These last 18 months (from March 2020) have been a time of great trial for all of us. Some people have suffered greatly after catching the Covid virus, others have lost their jobs and Left to right, Standing: Fr Bernard Fox, Fr Bill Tollan, Fr Hugh O’Donnell Seated: Fr Gerard Hamill, Fr John Doran.
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experienced dire financial hardship. ‘Normal life’ has been disrupted, many businesses have had to close down, and, as usual, the poorest in society have suffered most.
At the same time, however, the experience of ‘lockdown’ has had many positive consequences. We became more aware of our immediate surroundings, and of the world as God’s Creation; we heard the birds sing, we observed the variety of trees and flowers all around us, we appreciated the clear, blue skies – free of the noise and pollution from aeroplanes. Here in St Joseph’s the four of us missionaries sat down, in the first stages of the Pandemic to plan how best we could use this time when the usual groups and daily Massgoers could no longer come into our House. We decided to make an 8-day Ignatian Retreat, setting aside the mornings for silent prayer and reflection on our own. We agreed we would have a time of Eucharistic Adoration every Monday evening – praying silently for all our friends and family, and especially those going through difficult times. As we could no longer host our usual Meditation Group on Tuesday mornings the 4 of us meditated each Tuesday at 11am – joining in spirit 30+ people meditating at home. To link up with Laudato Si (On Care for our Common Home), Pope Francis’s wonderful encyclical on creation and our place in it, on Tuesday evenings we watched a number of DVDs on this subject - the Planets(Brian Cox), on the
natural world (David Attenborough). We could no longer continue with the Faith Formation group at our ‘Wednesday Talks’, but we decided we would continue with a programme for ourselves. We used the big meeting room as our ‘theatre’, and made use of various DVD-series to stimulate thought and discussion. (The videos were projected on to the big screen.) And so each Wednesday evening Fr Bill offered us a stimulating DVD, beginning with Kenneth Clark’s ‘Civilisation’ (though made many years ago, it is quite brilliant.) With the help of prepared notes we had some good discussions after viewing the hour-long programmes. Later we used other DVD-series: A History of Christianity; the History of the Jews; a modern version of K.Clark called ‘Civilisations’; A History of America; Spanish Art; etc. On Friday nights we met again in our ‘theatre’ for a specially-chosen film, either from a DVD or Netflix. And so it was that, after enjoying fish-suppers from the local chippy on a Friday night, we settled down to view (while enjoying a ‘Magnum’ ice-cream) such films as The Two Popes, Green Book, Quo Vadis, Contagion,The Dig, Karol, Turks and Caicos, Florence Foster Jenkins, Worth. In the absence of our excellent cook, Paul Dunphy, Fr John Doran stepped-in and kept us well fed four
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days a week throughout the pandemic. He had a recipe for making bread that came from the Roman legions when they were here and swore that it would keep us “marching” forward too! On Sundays one of us either said Mass at Nazareth House or it was streamed from our chapel. On Sunday evenings, Bella Vita, the local Italian restaurant offered us a ‘carry-out’ meal (usually soup and pasta), asking only that we pray that the business would survive the pandemic. (It’s now flourishing, thank God!) So, overall, the four of us here at St Joseph’s not only managed to retain our sanity but we grew closer together as a group. There were some challenges, however…. In December 2020 Fr Bernard Fox contracted Covid while conducting a funeral and had to shield in his room for three weeks. The after effects have still left him with some healthproblems but he remains in good spirits. Fr Hugh (better known as Shuggie) had to have several of his teeth removed. For months on end he spent most of his mornings in the chapel in prayer and reflection and we felt the benefit of his prayerful support. Fr Bill Tollan was hit by a severe case of cellulitis, with weeks and months of excruciating pain. Again, Fr John patiently brought
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meals to his room, the district nurses came to dress his wounds, and a good friend – a highlyqualified male nurse (a member of the Port Glasgow group which Fr Bill has accompanied to Lourdes for seven or eight years) - offered lots of practical advice and help. Thanks to Zoom some of us were able to follow a variety of spiritual events online. There was an excellent Holy Week retreat organised from Bonnevaux, Headquarters of the World Community for Christian Meditation, near Poitier, with Fr James Alison the main speaker. The lockdown imposed as a result of the pandemic encouraged many people to be become creative. Consequently, as we could not visit people or have them come into our house, we began reaching out by phone or social media and thanked God for such tools as WhatsApp, Facebook and Zoom. Looking back, these 18 months have been a richly ‘graced time’; in spite of the suffering and frustration at not being able to either receive our usual groups or go out on Mission Appeals, it’s been a time for deepening our spiritual lives and coming together as a group – and becoming more aware, as we listen to the bird song and look at the flowers and trees around us, of God’s wonderful creation of which we are a part.
Kitale, Kenya Community Advancement Programme by Jacinta van Luijk MHM, Mill Hill lay missionary associate, the driving force behind the KItale Community Advancement Programme (KAP). Since corona started, there have been visibly more sick and dead, teenage mothers, school dropouts, alcohol and drug abusers, suicides and domestic violence. Preparations for the elections at the end of 2022 have moved into high gear. The Indian corona variant arrived in Kenya at the end of May and has since spread considerably. The curfew (from 7pm) means less income
for many people, even hunger! In addition, prices are rising sharply. The prolonged drought has destroyed many crops. All this clearly creates increased tensions. Our staff members often do not have an easy time at home either. There is therefore a lot for us to do. Unfortunately, our county is currently in lockdown, and we are also only allowed to work in small groups and for a short period of time. This requires extra creativity in the execution of our activities.
Jacinta talks with members of the already imovrished community, which is under extreme pressure owing to Covid19.
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The Team offering a training session.
The Team leaders at work.
Small Group sharing.
Corona prevention, especially the importance of vaccination, receives a lot of attention. Vaccines are still scarce in Kenya and many people are unwilling to be vaccinated due to gossip. There is hardly any information about this. So even more work for us to help ensure that as soon as the Covid vaccinations arrive, the population will be ready to receive them.
The Heart-Rending Story of Lucy The story of Lucy, participant in the training for ‘unreached’ young people in Sabata, part of the Kitale Project. “I am a single mother, 21 years old. My problems started 6 years ago when my parents separated. With difficulty I completed my high school education and started a new chapter in my life. I got a boyfriend and after three months I found out I was pregnant. Fortunately, my friend promised to support me. However, my mother was very bitter about the situation and tried to force me to have an abortion. I refused and gave birth to twins.
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My mother still didn’t want to know anything about my boyfriend, nor did she like my children. She hated my friend, called him names and threatened to curse him, although he supported me as he promised. She threatened me with the same if I continued the relationship. I therefore decided to cut off communication with my boyfriend and move to my grandmother. However, this prompted my children’s father to
end our relationship, stop supporting his children and marry another girl after three months. I was shocked, depressed, hated and didn’t know what to do. The only option spinning in my mind was to end my life and that of my children. I bought agricultural poison. Unexpectedly, however, we received a visit from my cousin. He had problems and was going to stay for a week. But unfortunately he found the pesticides I had hidden in the yard. After two days he committed suicide. What a tragedy! I was very shocked and traumatized. I felt incredibly guilty, angry and deeply regretful. Of course I couldn’t tell anyone that I had brought the poison into my house to kill myself and my children. Out of frustration, I vented my anger at my children. It was during this confusing time that KAP came to work near us. I was allowed to participate and through the training and guidance I became aware of myself and the dangers to which I exposed myself and my family. I began to understand myself better and learned about all kinds of important facts, developments and values in life. I began to understand that my mother was also transferring her own anger and frustration at her broken marriage and single parenthood onto us.
The training has taken a heavy weight off my shoulders. I feel healed. I started making choices and I was able to set goals in my life. Also, I now have better communication with my father. He is willing to support me to achieve my goals. I was not aware of the nature and depth of my problems before attending KAP’s youth workshop in April 2021. Many thanks to the KAP family for this bright spot in my life. Story shared by Jacinta van Luijk MHM
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The
Basankusu Project of
Francis Hannaway
Francis Hannaway, a past Mill Hill Associate, who stayed on in the Congo to continue running his malnutrition centre, got in touch recently to wish me a Happy Birthday. He told me how things were going at his centre in Basankusu.
Malnourished children at the centre in Basankusu waiting to be fed.
“Work at my centre continues;
about the children that arrive for
we’ve got so many children
treatment. Basankusu is a sizeable
arriving, it’s difficult to keep up.
town of perhaps 30,000 people –
We’ve got 49 at the centre right
most of them under the age of 19.
now,” he told me.
It’s extremely isolated, situated in
He went on to give some examples
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the middle of Congo’s Equatorial
rainforest. Most people are extremely poor, living on less than £1 a day. Malnutrition is rife. During the months of May to September, there’s a lack of protein in most people’s daily diet, and this pushes a lot of children into a precarious position, healthwise. When a child is already underweight, any childhood, or tropical illness Children at the centre with energy/protein deficiency, which is all too common in rural DRC. can push them into crisis. Francis told me that parents, make it through the night. Of those after denying the problem for who do, the long process of several weeks and without money recovery begins at the malnutrition for hospital treatment, often bring centre – for at least 2 or 3 months. their children to his centre at 6 “We give them foods with protein o’clock in the morning, or even at to repair the body, and energy to 9 o’clock in the evening. Some keep them positive. We treat them have such advanced malnutrition that they need an immediate blood for underlying conditions like worms, malaria and TB,” he transfusion at the Catholic explained. Foods include full-cream hospital, next door. The hospital, founded by Fr. Harry Reusen MHM, milk powder, to which they add a is only a simple clinic, with only one nurse on night duty. “We usually keep a stock of pouches for blood at my house,” he said. “for whenever the hospital pharmacy is closed.” But if there are none left, he has to search through the dark streets to find a private pharmacy kiosk on the chance that they have some. Not only that, the night-duty nurse then needs to go to the house of a blood-donor, wake them up and persuade them to come to the hospital. Not all of the children
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hadn’t been able to come home since before corona started last year and asked him if he’d manage to have a break this year. “I was thinking about a visit home,” he replied, “but corona and visa complications make it unlikely. I was home for Christmas 2019 to renew my visa. I came back to the Congo in February 2020, with a return ticket to Manchester, 8 July the same year. (I think I’d decided that I needed more frequent breaks!) The flight was cancelled, but I was forbidden from travelling to Kinshasa for it anyway.” “I had the possibility of travelling after my arrival in Kinshasa, last August, but I was busy with buying stock and registering my charity nationally,” he continued. “The immigration police said they’d tell me what I’d need for a 5-year visa. They dragged their heels, issuing a visa for 3 months, and then a further 3 months, as they spun things out again. I finally submitted my application in February and the UK put Congo on the red list!” Although he finally submitted his visa application in February, Francis still hasn’t got it yet, or his passport back. There is, sadly, a constant stream of children needing our help. He continued to
little sugar and vegetable oil. Not only does this contain protein and energy in an easily absorbable form, but it also helps to correct the balance of fluids in the body and reduces painful swelling. Children eventually progress to solid foods, including a porridge made from maize flour, ground peanuts and soya-milk. Later in the day they’ll also have a plate of rice, beans and dried fish. “Our hospital bill just for June is £430, plus medicines bought outside,” he continued. “Our food bill between May and September is around £500 each month. Running costs, in general, are at about £2,000 per month – at this time of year we spend more, November to February we spend less.” Francis works with a team of local volunteers; I could see that he puts a lot of effort into helping these vulnerable children. I knew he
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work at his malnutrition centre until last week, before travelling back down to Kinshasa to sort it all out. “I dodged some more shenanigans from the immigration police during my return to Kinshasa a week ago,” he told me. At 9:30, Wednesday morning, a week ago, he was told there was a place on a 16-seater plane which was delivering equipment for a palm plantation at 12 noon. He was the only passenger. The same airline, Kinavia, had crashed a similar plane a few days previously; all 3 on board were killed. Africa is full of risks. He’d imagined coming home for a holiday on last year’s cancelled ticket, re-booked for 8 July. “Unfortunately, it would mean a hotel quarantine, costing £1750,” he said, “and I’d need to get my passport back, and it would leave me in the UK without a visa to return. So, I won’t be getting on the flight. So much for having more frequent breaks!”
Our children desperately need your help. It is a constant battle to raise funds and by your kind donations we can work miracles.
Francis can be contacted on Facebook and by email: francish7@yahoo.com Donations can be sent via: PayPal.me/FHannaway or contact him for bank details.
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Remembering Fr René Graat MHM 1945 - 2020 After 37 years as a missionary in the Congo, Fr René was for 12 years the much-loved Parish Priest (‘Pastoor’ in Dutch) of a cluster of parishes in the south of the Netherlands. Sadly, he contracted Covid, and died, aged 74, but there could be no public funeral at that time. With the easing of the restrictions a group of MHM former Congo missionaries, including Fr Fons Eppink was able to join parishioners in a special Eucharist, and other ceremonies to commemorate their beloved pastor. Fr Fons Eppink describes the ceremonies in honour of ‘Pastoor Graat’
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hand assistant of the regional When René Graat MHM died on 11th April 2020, a victim of the first superior. But no one was allowed to attend the funeral due to a nationwave of the Covid-19 pandemic in wide lockdown which was operative The Netherlands, the parish at the time. community of Banholt, Noorbeek For 37 years, before deciding to and Reijmerstok, where he had return to his home region in the served for the past 12 years, was Dutch province of Limburg, René deeply traumatised. They had had served as a missionary in the fervently prayed for his recovery, diocese of Basankusu in DR Congo. kept a weekly candle lit vigil in the porches of their houses every Friday He had opted to stay with the people whom he had during the three weeks of come to love and his desperate struggle appreciate when the with the virus. But to no country descended into avail. what later came to be The life of their muchcalled the continent’s loved and hugely popular first ‘All African’ war. He pastor, was cut short at had made some really the age of 74. And they close personal friends were left behind feeling among the local clergy orphaned, but unable to and religious. They too process their grief in a were devastated at his collective ritual of Memorial Plaque passing. mourning due to the in honour of Fr René. But a ritual closing of stringent corona the mourning process of measures. this painful personal and collective The youth of the parish paraded loss remained in abeyance…. the horse drawn cart carrying his Until yesterday, 3rd July 2021, the coffin over a 15 km stretch through day René would have celebrated his the hill country of his pastoral golden jubilee. The parish ‘vineyard’. A graphic photo report community in close consultation of this procession even made it to with the family decided to mark the central pages of the national this day with a special memorial newspapers. Those were the service and ceremony of beginning days of the Covid-19 remembrance. The progressive pandemic when the seriousness of relaxation of corona measures now the situation was just gradually allowed for larger gatherings. A sinking in. seven men strong delegation of The Dutch region of the Mill Hill mostly fellow Mill Hill Missionaries Missionaries also mourned the loss from Congo, led by the regional, of a much-appreciated colleague and inspiring companion, the right- made their way to Reijmerstok
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Parishioners gather in town square for ceremony naming it in honour of Fr René.
where the ceremonies were to take place. A commemorative Eucharist enlivened by a few songs in Lingala opened an afternoon of loving remembrance. This was followed by the blessing of a commemorative plaque at the local cemetery and the naming of the central village square after their much-loved missionary pastor: ‘Pastoor Graatplein MHM’. All in all this gently emotional commemorative afternoon felt like a suitable closure to an exceptionally long period of mourning of an exceptional person.
Fr René Graat (Pastoor = Parish Priest) Square unveiled while veteran Congo MHMs look on.
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The parish priest blesses the new signboards.
Elderly Congo MHMs visit Fr René’s grave.
After the ceremony Fr Fons Eppink (centre) enjoyed a meal with fellow MHM’s and parishioners.
The Islands of Our Lady of Solitude by John F. Doran mhm In Spain and in the countries of the former Spanish Empire the Mother of God is venerated between Good Friday and Easter Sunday as ‘Our Lady of Solitude’. Her image is dressed in black. In the 1770’s a small Spanish garrison named a remote and uninhabited group of islands in her honour. Others, sailors from the French port of St Malo, named the islands ‘Les Maloines’. From this came the Spanish name, ‘Las Malvinas’ – known to us today as the ‘Falkland Islands’ (after Lord
Falkland.) The islands (two fairly big, and many other smaller ones) are about half the size of Wales. There is a population of about 2,000, and not many of these are Catholics. (Today the overall population is boosted by military personnel and many contracted workers.) Nonetheless, in the 19th century a diocesan priest called Fr Foran (from the NE of England) ministered to the Catholics, and also to three or four families of shepherds from Harris and Lewis
Former Grytviken whaling station, South Georgia.
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The original Lutheran Church, now an ecumenical chapel, in which Fr John celebrated Mass.
in distant sheep-farming outstations, even though they were not Catholics. In the 1880’s Salesian priests arrived. They were followed by English-speaking Salesian Sisters from Uruguay and Argentina who began a school for girls. The Salesians stayed until World War II. Mill Hill was then asked by Rome to take over. An ‘Apostolic Prefecture’ (a kind of diocese) was established: it covered a huge area of the South Atlantic – from Ascension Island, to St Helena, Tristan de Cuna, - and all the way to South Georgia.
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The first Prefect Apostolic was Mgr. James Ireland who came from Preston. Mgr Danny Spraggon mhm succeeded Mgr Ireland as Prefect. He was assisted by Fr Austin Monaghan, - both of them from the NE of England. They were there when the Argentinians invaded the Falklands; their role in comforting their people throughout the conflict was greatly appreciated. 14,000 foreign soldiers had arrived – seven for every inhabitant of the Falklands! They had been sent by the military dictatorship in Buenos Aires, partly to distract attention from the growing opposition to their corrupt rule. (Ironically, in 1982 Argentinian sailors still wore a black stripe on their uniform to commemorate the death of Nelson, so close had been relations between Britain and Argentina.) The invading soldiers
Fr John Doran.
were on the whole well-behaved, well-disciplined, and even admired by their British counterparts. The war being over, the third Apostolic Prefect was Mgr Anton Agreiter who came from Germanspeaking South Tirol (an autonomous region of Italy.) So he had some experience of the reality of settling old disputes. I was appointed as assistant to Mgr Agreiter, and spent four years as ‘officiating chaplain to H.M.’s Forces, South Atlantic.’ We were responsible also for the pastoral care of the people on Ascension Island, St Helena (where an MHM was stationed for many years), and Tristan da Cunha.
Monsignor Anton Agreiter, MHM served as the Apostolic Prefect of the Falkland Islands and Ecclesiastic Superior of St. Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha.
The journey to the Falklands takes eight hours by RAF to Ascension Island, and a further eight hours to Mount Pleasant – the huge military complex which is over 30 miles from Port Stanley, the capital of the Falklands. I spent time with
soldiers, sailors, airmen, and their civilian workers (many of them Scots). These contract workers could make good money working for companies like ‘Turner Diesel’ and ‘Kelvin Catering’. But most of my time was spent with the islanders. I was also able to visit South Georgia, then the most southerly ice-free harbour in the world. It involved a three day sea-journey to reach the small British garrison based at the abandoned Norwegian whaling station of Gritviken. On the day before Pentecost we visited the chapel (formerly Lutheran) which had been renovated by the Royal Engineers. Next day, I said Mass there for two Catholic soldiers of the Light Infantry. I invited them to look over their shoulders, through the open door – to the mountains and the glacier…and the dazzling blue sea with an iceberg slowly drifting by! I said something like “here we are, proclaiming the Gospel to the ends of the earth.” Back in Port Stanley, tourists (including those from big cruise liners) would turn up at our little house beside St Mary’s Catholic Church. They would express astonishment that the Catholic Church was present here also – in this faraway place. The Mill Hill Missionaries withdrew about twenty years ago, and responsibility passed to the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
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I write this on an autumn afternoon in Cardonald, the sun playing on the golden leaves outside my window. Words of Pope Francis, the Psalms, and Francis of Assisi play about in my head… something about Nature praising God by its very existence…and most beautiful of all – the people
we meet; all give witness and glory to God. Our task and our privilege, as humans, is to put it into words. We do so in the Psalms and great prayers, and especially in the Liturgy of the Church - but also in our own simple words and memories.
Jean, a member of QARANC - Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps - and myself on Bird Island, off South Georgia. The British Antarctic Survey station is in the background.
Fr John Doran, closest to camera, on the Wickham Heights, East Falkland, accompanied by Peter and Andy of the Cheshires and Danny, of the RAF Regiment.
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The
‘Mémorial Kongolo’
at Gentinnes by Fr Fons Eppink mhm
The Mémorial Kongolo is a special place of remembrance for the numerous missionaries in the Belgian Congo (currently named Democratic Republic of Congo) who died during the turbulent years immediately following the country’s declaration of independence in June 1960. It is named after the 19 Spiritan missionaries
who were massacred in the town of Kongolo (S.E. Congo) on January 1st, 1962. Since a number of them were former pupils of the Spiritan run ‘apostolic school’ at Gentinnes in Belgium that location
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The Chapel interior, with its magnificent stained glass.
the independence of Congo (1962 – 1964): Catholics and Protestants, priests, men and women religious and lay persons, Europeans, Americans, Africans. 217 names in all. (One cannot help but think of the many nameless victims – catechists, lay leaders, ordinary peace-loving folk – of the mindless violence that swept the country during those turbulent years) The beautifully designed ‘Le Corbusier style’ Chapel features at its entrance a striking statue of a missionary in prayerful surrender with, on the outside wall, the 217 names arranged in the form of an egg – a symbol Names of all known missionary victims of the killings, presented of life. Multicoloured on the exterior wall at the entrance in the shape of an egg, stained glass windows symbolising ‘life’.
seemed a natural choice for a suitable memorial. As the idea of a memorial matured it was decided to make it all inclusive and give it a distinctly ecumenical character. Thus, the memorial chapel honours not only the Kongolo 19 but all the missionaries who lost their lives during the troubles that followed
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suffuse the inner space with delicate light revealing on adjacent walls a Christ in glory on the Cross and a statue of the Virgin Mary offering her infant Jesus to the world. The chapel was inaugurated and consecrated on May 7, 1967, in the presence of Belgian King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola. It has become a place of pilgrimage ever since. My attraction to the place stems from my intimate involvement with the Church in Congo during the 17 years I was privileged to work as a missionary in the diocese of Basankusu, beginning at the end of the 1960’s. The Mémorial Kongolo carries a deeply emotional charge since seven of the names figuring on the outside wall of the chapel are those of missionaries active in the diocese of Basankusu. Four of them (three sisters of the Belgian congregation of Ten Bunderen and a Mill Hill brother) died in a tragic accident on the Lulonga river whilst being evacuated at the start of the Simba rebellion in 1964. And three Mill Hill priests died elsewhere in the diocese at the hands of the rebels. Their story was carefully researched and faithfully recorded by Belgian historian Dries Vanysacker.
The style of the building and its features is decidedly slender, modern, open and bright.
The architectural design of the chapel was entrusted to the architect Jeandrain de Gembloux, the stained glass windows are by Yves Dehais, the statue of the missionary, above, is by Raf Mailleux de Genk.
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Two remarkable Glasgow-born mh Franciscan Sisters Isabel Kelly was born in Milngavie on January 31st 1934. She had three sisters, only one of whom, Margaret, is still alive. After leaving school she studied shorthand and typing, and then in 1952 joined the Women’s Royal Navy and spent four years as a WREN. In December 1956 she began her long life as a Franciscan Missionary of St Joseph. She was appointed to Sarawak, Malaysia, and for 14 years taught in schools in Kuching and Sibu, and in the neighbouring state of Brunei. During this time she also followed a Catechetical course in Manila, the Philippines. Back in UK she began a three year teacher training course in London. In 1979 she was appointed to Kenya where she worked in schools in Marigat and Rangala. Four years later she was appointed to Ecuador where she worked among the poor in Quito, and in the coastal city of Guayaquil.
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Sr Isabel Kelly
[As a member of the MHM General Council I visited our missionaries in Ecuador at this time. Since my flight to Guayaquil had a three-hour stopover in Quito, the Sisters had asked me to bring them a parcel and
said they would meet me at the airport; one of the Quito sisters was Sr Isabel, the other Sr Moira Geary (see below.) Moira had to leave, but Isabel stayed chatting with me until my flight was called. While waiting a party of travellers arrived who were on their way to the Galapagos Islands. Overhearing our Glasgow accidents, a couple came over to talk with us. Isabel spoke of her work among the poor – and this couple were deeply moved (and somewhat embarrassed) to be part of an expensive luxury holiday group. They promised they would send a cheque to support her work! Ed.] Sr Isabel was then appointed to the Blackburn FMSJ community, and for 21 years was Chaplain to the Blackburn Royal Hospital. In 1985 she was appointed as ‘Justice and Peace Co-ordinator’ for the Congregation. In 1999 she was elected to the Congregation’s General Council for six years, which involved visits to Kenya and Borneo. She became deeply involved in work against human trafficking, travelling all over the country to give talks on Justice and Peace issues. She raised funds for the Medaille Trust which provides safe houses for women who have been trafficked. In the ‘Year of Mercy’ she was often seen at the Mercy Bus – handing out miraculous medals, listening to people, and encouraging them to return to the practice of their faith. She did lots of writing, keeping contact with people, writing poems and prayers which she made into leaflets to give
Sr Isabel in Borneo.
to hospital patients. She was a woman of great integrity, sensitivity, and humour. In 2019 she was diagnosed with bone cancer, but continued her ministries until the Covid Pandemic took hold. Even then she continued to minister by phone. She was sustained by her life of prayer, and her devotion to Padre Pio. Moira Geary was born in Glasgow on 18th January 1932. She studied at the West of Scotland Commercial College, and entered the Franciscan Missionaries of St Joseph in 1953. Four years later she was appointed to what was then called ‘British North Borneo’ where she taught in various schools run by the FMSJ’s. In 1969 she
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Sr Moira Geary.
followed a year-long pastoral course in the Philippines. Back in UK she worked in the Mission Secretariat at Mill Hill, and in the overseasstudent hostel. In 1981 she was elected to the General Council and then became Secretary General. Nine years later she was appointed
to Ecuador, where she worked with the poor in Quito (alongside Sr Isabel Kelly), and later in Guayquil. Another Sister who worked with her in Guayaqil wrote: “Each day had a drama of its own ranging from emergencies in the dispensary to tragedies in local families and Government coups. Sr Moira gave stability to our lives with her ‘business as usual’ approach, set times for prayer and for meals – no matter what was happening. She was much loved by the people and easily communicated her sense of humour…Through her steely determination she navigated the mound of red tape and bureaucracy in setting up and running new buildings. She was forward-thinking, and her wisdom will be greatly missed.” Moira returned to UK in 2011 where she worked in the Generalate until a fall necessitated her transfer to the community in Blackburn in 2017. She suffered from Parkinsons disease and became increasingly frail and dependent on the staff for her daily living. She died on June 7th 2021.
In one of her poems Sr Isabel wrote:
“What is dying? We shall never know until it is our time to go. God will be with us all the way. It will be full of surprises, full of fun, Full of wonder. God won’t be outdone. We just can’t imagine what our future holds.” 28
WINNERS of the ANNUAL PRIZE DRAW (In aid of Shisong Hospital, Cameroon) 1st. Prize 2nd. Prize 3rd. Prize
£200 £100 £50
Bridget Orr, Kingspark Ann McManus, Motherwell Mrs. McGrady, Coatbridge
NOTICE TO ALL OUR FRIENDS AND BENEFACTORS • We have made a limited re-start of the usual activities at St Joseph’s House, but with our own ‘protocols’ to ensure safety for all: so, social distancing, sanitising, recording of names, masks, etc. We cannot use the Chapel for any of these activities since there is only one window that can be opened to provide free flow of air. Meditation, Mass, Wednesday Talks, etc. take place in the large meeting-room, - entry is through the patio doors. • Tree of Life Mass: we will NOT be able to use the Nazareth House Chapel, to ensure the safety of the Residents. However, on Sunday 21 November, Feast of Christ the King, we will stream the Tree of Life Mass at 10.00 a.m. from our chapel, with the resident priests participating – but we cannot have any others present. (Go to ‘Mill Hill Missionaries, Scotland’ on Facebook to access the live Mass.) We hope as many of you as possible will join us as we pray for all our deceased loved ones, members of our MHM Society, and all whose names are recorded on the Tree of Life. • Mass will be offered daily in St Joseph’s House throughout November, for the repose of the souls of all our friends and benefactors, though it will not be possible as yet to invite our friends to these Masses. Fr Bernard Fox mhm, Rector Fr John Doran mhm
Fr Hugh O’Donnell mhm Fr Bill Tollan mhm
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OUR CHURCH IN NUMBERS On an annual basis, the Vatican releases statistics on our Church throughout the world. The Church works in over 1,000 missionary dioceses, thanks to your prayerful support and generosity.
114,058 major seminarians
7.8bn
people in the world
414,336
1 in 7
Priests
people are baptised Catholics
61,696,155
15,423
homes for people who are elderly, chronically ill or disabled
children and young people are being educated in Catholic primary and secondary schools
5,192 hospitals
3,076,624
catechists working with children, young people and adults to explore their faith
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15,481
dispensaries & clinics
9,295
care homes for children
••• Source: FIDES •••
Obituaries LET US PRAY FOR OUR DEAD Recently deceased Mill Hill Missionaries Brother Karl Dallasega: died in Tirol aged 84, after many years work in Cameron. Fr Ted Feldbrugge: died in the Netherlands aged 91. After’ higher studies’ he taught in our College at Lochwinnoch before being appointed to Malaysia; later he worked in USA. Fr Otto Bambokella: died of malaria aged 51 in Basankusu, DRC; previously he had worked in Kenya. Fr Tom Rafferty: died of Covid in Pakistan after working in remote areas of that country for 51 years. Fr Gerard van de Laar: died aged 99, having worked 61 years in Kenya.
Recently Deceased Friends and Benefactors Hugh Cairney (Milngavie) Peter Mulhall (Liverpool, brother of Fr Brendan Mulhall, Sindh, Pakistan) Patrick Byrne (Tyrone) Mary Rosleen Byrne (Tyrone) Alex McCrory (Tyrone) Maisie Logan (Tyrone) Gordon McPherson (brother-inlaw of Fr Gerry Hastie mhm) (Busby) Anne McDonald (daughter of late Kathleen McColgan) (Glasgow) Jane Gillespie (Paisley) (sister of Cathie McCleland) Mary Theresa Temple (Largs) (sister of Cathie McCleland) Geraldine Susan O’Mahony (Peterborough)
Silver Circle Winners May 141 Gilmurray £25 162 Campbell
£15 367 McGeehan
£10
June 12 Hagan
£15 119 Atkins
£10
July
£25 270 Hattie
01 Cathie Kerr £25 117 John Gallacher
£15 52 Helen McFarlane £10
August 16 G. McGuire £25 103 Kieran McIlhinny £15 September 08 Patsy Ferns £25 87 Mary Watt
£10
£15 297 Gerry McLaughlin £10
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: tollanmhm@yahoo.co.uk Registered Charity Number: SCO39809
Pithoro School Project • Pithoro is a small rural town in the parish of Khipro, • There is no help from Government. in the diocese of Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. • The parents are the poorest in Sindhi society; • For many years our MHM’s have worked among the working for big landowners as share-croppers, or gravely-marginalised tribal people of this area. labourers who receive meagre wages. • Pithoro has one of 20 schools begun by our • We depend completely on our kind donors to pay missionaries in Khipro parish. the teachers a monthly stipend, and keep our • There is a small community of Christians living near schools in good repair. the school, but most of the children are from the • We need your support if we are to continue to offer oppressed Hindu indigenous communities. this service – the key to a better future, and for • We are particularly anxious that parents send their girls to school.
many, especially girls, the only opportunity of an education.
• The three teachers somehow have to manage the classes from Nursery to year 8 by coping with a multi-grade teaching Methodology.
• Already many who have benefited from this basic education have achieved a vast improvement in their living conditions – from living in primitive huts to brick one-roomed houses with a toilet• With over 200 children there is a desperate need for a fourth teacher and for more classroom-space. bathroom, and to an improved diet. • The girls especially are the best agents of change. SO, PLEASE SUPPORT OUR PRIZE DRAW FOR 2022 AND HELP BRING ABOUT CHANGE!
Visit our website to learn more about the work of the MHM’s
www.millhillmissionaries.co.uk
