St. Joseph’s
Advocate Mill Hill Missionaries
Autumn 2019
Fr. Mathews Olili visiting a parishioner in Sarawak, Malaysia
Advocate
‘God made their glowing colours. God made their tiny wings’
Autmn 2019
Volume 59 No. 2
ST. JOSEPH’S ADVOCATE
Published by: Editor: Printed by:
Mill Hill Missionaries Fr. Jim O’Connell Modern Printers, Kilkenny
CONTENTS From the Editor 2 Remembering the dead 4 Fifty years a Mill Hill Missionary 6 The reality of world poverty 9 Loving service – a moving story 10 Through the eyes of street children 13 Mill Hill Mission News in brief 14 Pause to ponder – the human eye 17
Kitale Community Programme 18 Let Mary be our inspiration 21 ‘The soldiers came just after dawn’ 24 Plastics and our Planet 26 Obituary Fr. Noel Hanrahan 29 Obituary Fr. Matthew Dunne 30 Obituary List 31
Photos credits: World Missions Ireland, Fons Eppink, Tom McGrath, Alexander Kimbi, Peter Major, Daniel Foley, Jacinta van Luijk
MISSION OFFERINGS
All Postal Orders and Cheques to be sent direct to us at St. Joseph’s Advocate, Mill Hill Missionaries, 50 Orwell Park, Rathgar, Dublin D06 C535. Bank Giros to be sent directly to our Bank account. Details of the a/c available from our office: 01 412 7707
St. Joseph’s Advocate Mill Hill Missionaries 50 Orwell Park Rathgar, Dublin D06 C535 Tel: (01) 412 7707 2
Autumn 2019
Autumn 2019
Email: organisingmhm@gmail.com Website: www.millhillmissionaries.co.uk 1
From the
Editor
Fr. Jim O’Connell, mhm
October 2019 - A Special Missionary Month.
“Baptized and Sent: The Church of Christ on Mission in the World”.
‘We are Baptised and Sent’ – Pope Francis This year (2019) is the 100th anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s Encyclical Letter about Mission. To mark the centenary, Pope Francis wants us to celebrate October as an ‘Extraordinary Missionary Month.’ The Pope stresses that it is necessary to renew our zeal for Mission. As Christians, we live in a time when the world order is shaken and value systems are being questioned, when our faith is challenged by a secular culture, and in many places, Christians face awful persecution. A recent British government Report concluded the Christians are now the most persecuted religious group in the world.
Four dimensions of this theme – Pope Francis A personal encounter with Jesus Christ living in his Church: in the Eucharist, in the Word of God, and in personal and communal prayer.
In this context, the Pope invites us to reflect together on the meaning and practice of mission today and to renew our missionary commitment. The theme chosen by the Pope is
With prayerful reflection on these four elements, Pope Francis wants people to get involved in a special way: “I want you to go outside. I want the Church out on the streets.”
2
Testimony: Witness to Christ - on Mission in the World. Also, focus on missionary saints, martyrs, and confessors of the faith as an expression of the Church throughout the world. Missionary formation: spiritual, biblical, catechetical and theological. Missionary charity: The witness of selfless love and of lived solidarity with the poor and the suffering to make God’s love for all people visible. This involves giving spiritual and financial help and support – missionary works of charity.
Autumn 2019
The Logo of the Extraordinary Mission Month - October The logo depicts a missionary cross. You may be wondering what it is when you see it for the first time. It is curved to indicate a globe (our world, planet earth). The globe (world) itself is transparent to signify that mission (evangelization) has no barriers or boundaries; it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Christian charity and the world transfigured in the Spirit overcome distances and open the gaze of our mind and heart. The words ‘Baptised and Sent’ that accompany the image indicate two aspects of Christian life: Baptism and Proclamation/Witness. The cross in the logo reminds us that mission is always in the name of Jesus Christ who suffered, died and rose again to redeem and save us. The cross is full of colour, a sign of victory and Resurrection. The colours are attributed to the five continents: red for America, green for Africa, white for Europe, yellow for Asia, and blue for Oceania. Autumn 2019
Red recalls the blood of the American martyrs, seeds of new life in the Christian faith. Green is the colour for Africa, signifying life, nature and vegetation. It symbolizes growth, fertility, youth, and vitality. It is also the colour of hope. White is the colour attributed to Europe and is a symbol of joy. It is a challenge for Europe to rediscover the joy of new life in Christ that is at the heart of Christian mission. Yellow is the colour for Asia, the colour of light; it reminds us that Jesus is our light. Blue is the colour of Oceania, of the water of life that restores us on the path to God. It is also the colour of our sky and reminds us of infinity - infinite space and time and distance - God. 3
November: November: honouring honouring the the memory memory of of the the dead dead During Duringthe themonth monthofofNovember Novembereach eachofofour ourpriests prieststhroughout throughoutthe theworld worldoffers offers Holy HolyMass Massfor forall allour ourdeceased deceasedmembers membersand andbenefactors. benefactors.In Inour ourMill MillHill HillSt. St. Joseph’s Joseph’sHouse Housein inDublin, Dublin,Holy HolyMass Masswill willbe becelebrated celebratedeach eachday dayof ofNovember November for fordeceased deceasedmembers membersand andbenefactors, benefactors,especially especiallyfor forall allthose thosewhose whosenames names are arerecorded recordedin inour our‘List ‘Listof ofthe theDead.’ Dead.’You Youare arekindly kindlyinvited invitedto tosend sendin inthe the names namesof ofyour yourdear deardeparted departedloved lovedones. ones.
Prayer Prayerfor foraahappy happydeath death ❑❑
“Lord, “Lord,for foryour yourfaithful faithfulpeople, people,at at death, death,life lifeisischanged, changed,not notended. ended. When When the the body body of of our our earthly earthly dwelling dwellinglies liesin indeath, death,we wegain gainan an everlasting everlasting dwelling dwelling place place in in Heaven.” Heaven.”(Preface (Prefaceof ofthe theMass Massfor for the thedead) dead)
❑❑ “I“Iam amthe theResurrection Resurrectionand andthe thelife. life. Those Those who who believe believe in in me, me, even even ❑❑ though though they they die, die, will will live, live, and and everyone everyonewho whobelieves believesin inme mewill will never neverdie.” die.”(Jn. (Jn.11:25-26) 11:25-26) ❑❑ Jesus Jesussaid saidto tothe theman manon onthe thecross cross beside besidehim: him:“This “Thisday dayyou youwill willbe be with withme mein inparadise.” paradise.” ❑❑ “Keep “Keepyour yourgaze gazefixed fixedon onthe thecrucru- ❑❑ cified cifiedand andRisen RisenChrist: Christ:“He “Hegives gives us ushope hopeand andlife. life.With Withhim himevil, evil,sufsuffering feringand anddeath deathdo donot nothave havethe the last lastword. word.The TheCross Crossisisnow nowaasign sign ❑❑ of oflove, love,hope hopeand andlife.” life.” (Pope (PopeFrancis) Francis) ❑❑ “Through “Throughdeath, death,we wego gointo intothe theininvisible visiblekingdom kingdomwhere wherethere thereisisno no 4
May MayGod Godsupport supportususall allday daylong, long, till tillthe theshadows shadowslengthen lengthen and andevening eveningcomes comes and andthe thebusy busyworld worldisishushed hushed and andthe thefever feverofoflife lifeisisover over and andour ourwork workisisdone. done.
more more darkness, darkness, suffering suffering or or sadsadness, ness,and andwhere wherewe weare areone onewith withall all those those that that we we love love in in the the seen seen world world and and in in the the unseen unseen world. world. Death Death in in that that sense sense isis aa time time of of great greathomecoming, homecoming,and andthere thereisisno no need needto tobe beafraid.” afraid.”(The (Thelate lateJohn John O’ O’Donoghue) Donoghue) “O, “O, you you are are not not lying lying in in the the wet wet clay. clay.For Forititisisaaharvest harvestevening eveningnow now And Andwe weare arepiling pilingup upthe thericks ricksof of hay hayagainst againstthe themoonlight moonlight And And you you smile smile at at us us eternally” eternally”(From (From Patrick Patrick Kavanagh’s Kavanagh’s poem poemabout abouthis hismother) mother) “Fold “Foldour ourloved lovedones, ones,OOJesus, Jesus,in in your yourarms, arms,and andlet letthem themhenceforth henceforth be be messengers messengers of of love love between between our ourhuman humanhearts heartsand andthee. thee.Amen” Amen” “May “Mayyou youdiscover discoverthat thatyour yourloved loved one one has has not not really really left left you, you, that that there thereisisaaquiet quietpresence presencethat thatsussustains tains you, you, that that there there isis aa hidden hidden strength strengththat thatwill willhelp helpyou. you.Amen.” Amen.” Autumn 2019
Then Thenininhis hismercy mercy May Mayhe hegive giveususaasafe safelodging lodging And Andaaholy holyrest restand andpeace peaceatatlast. last. Amen. Amen. The Thephotos photosshow showtwo twosections sectionsof ofaastained stainedglass glasswindow. window.The Thetext textat atthe thebase base of ofthe thewindow windowreads: reads:‘St. ‘St.Joseph, Joseph,Patron Patronof ofaaHappy HappyDeath, Death,pray prayfor forus’ us’The The window window depicts depicts Joseph Joseph on on his his deathbed. deathbed. Jesus Jesus isis holding holding his his hand hand and and blessing blessing him. him. Mary Mary isis praying praying and and grieving grieving close close by. by. You You may may want want to to reflect reflecton onthe thescene sceneand andenter enterinto intoititwith withhope hopeand andprayer. prayer.The Thesame samegentle gentle loving lovingJesus Jesusisiswith witheach eachperson personon onthat thatfinal finaljourney journeyfrom fromthis thislife lifeto tothe the heavenly heavenly peace peace that that awaits awaits us. us.At At death death ‘life ‘life isis changed, changed, not not ended.’ ended.’The The scene scenedepicted depictedin inthe thewindow windowcan canbring bringmuch muchcomfort, comfort,when whenwe wehave haveto to turn turnour ourthoughts thoughtsto todeath deathor orperhaps perhapsfind findourselves ourselvesgrieving grievingthe theloss lossof of loved lovedones. ones. Autumn 2019 Autumn 2019
5
5
Fifty Years a Mill Hill Missionary (Golden Jubilee)
By Fr. Tom McGrath, mhm, Our special flight for missionaries left London for Kenya on the 11th of October 1969. On board, there were more than 250 missionaries. Those were the days! My first appointment was to Kibabii mission on the slopes of Mount Elgon. Having acquired a Honda motorbike and accompanied by Francis, the local catechist, I celebrated Mass in an ‘Outstation’ of the mission on my first Sunday. Fr. Folkert Kruis, my first PP, was young and enthusiastic and he taught me so much. However, a move came more quickly than expected! From January 1971 until the end of 1975, I taught English and History in St Peter’s Seminary where Fr. Kevin O’Rourke, who is celebrating his Diamond Jubilee this year, was my Rector. The students excelled in athletics, volleyball, soccer, basketball and tennis. In those days, I had lots of energy for sport and often joined the students in the various games.
Back home in Ireland
In 1975, another move saw me back 6
in Ireland where I spent the next 6 years. I replaced my classmate, the late Fr. Patrick Harrington, mhm, on the teaching staff of St. Joseph’s College, Freshford, in January 1976. Patrick had been appointed to Cameroon where he was to spend the rest of his life; his sudden death in Cameroon last year shocked us all. We remember him along with another classmate Fr. Brendan Jordan, mhm, who has also gone to his eternal reward. Next, in 1976, came an assignment to the Vocations/Mission Promotion team; this involved travelling the length and breadth of Ireland visiting schools and parishes and conducting many school retreats. We enjoyed warm hospitality wherever we went: Sisters, Brothers, Priests, teachers and pupils were so welcoming. An interesting thing is that during that time I rediscovered my own vocation through the Jesus Caritas Fraternity of Priests. This helped me to focus on the basics: Jesus, Scripture and prayer. My involvement with the ‘Marriage Encounter movement’ and ‘Choice for young people’ kept me in touch with the struggles of ordinary people. Autumn 2019
In February 1981, my father died suddenly at the age of 63. I really missed him, as did my Mam and all the family. It was good to have been close to home for those six years sharing in the joys of family weddings and christenings. With the death of my father, we were now grieving together for the first time. I began to realize that there is a providence in God’s way of ordering events in our lives. His plans we try to accept with resignation – they are often so different to ours.
Back in Kenya – for thirty years
In late 1981, it was back to Kenya where I was to spend the next 30 years. The first 12 years were spent in Webuye parish, on the main Trans African highway. These were very fruitful, exciting years. Setting up small Christian communities in an industrial town built around the ‘Panpaper’ factory that employed more than a thousand workers was quite a challenge. Accompanying Mill Hill students on mission experience kept me energised. Fr. Anton van Hout, mhm, joined me in 1990 and brought lots of colour to the scene; he was an artist who loved flowers and gardening. My Silver Jubilee was in 1994 and I spent a year in the Miltown Institute following a course in Spirituality. For a Clare man, it was a great year to be at home; our hurlers led by Anthony Daly won the Munster final after sixty-three years and later brought home the Liam McCarthy Cup - what excitement and emotion. It was a privilege to be at home to savour those wonderful days! On my return to Kenya in 1995, it was on to Sotik among the Kipsigis people. While in Sotik parish, Brother Jan de Groot, mhm, helped me build a lovely new parish church Autumn 2019
Fr. Tom with the Director and two of the children at the Centre for Street Children
Ebukuya school before being renovated
Ebukuya school after being renovated 7
dedicated to St Joseph. In December 1998, I moved to the parish of Luanda beside our Mill Hill house of Basic Formation. Besides caring for the pastoral needs of the people there, I had an opportunity to accompany many of our young Mill Hill students as they took their first steps in discerning their missionary vocation. The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of St. Joseph came to set up a programme to rehabilitate street children. Sr. Noel Barron and her companions worked tirelessly on that programme and on other projects to assist women and needy families. One of the Sisters was teaching in Ebukuya primary school. During my time in Luanda, the school was transformed. With funds from Ireland and Scotland, the old classrooms were renovated, new classrooms built, a food programme for the pupils started, and a special
school for the hearing impaired built and staffed. The two schools continue to flourish.
Home in Labasheeda
I left Luanda and Kenya on the 8th of September 2011 and handed over the parish to our new generation of Mill Hill Missionaries from Africa and Asia. When I returned to Ireland in 2011, I started helping our parish priest, Fr. John Kelly, in my home parish in Labasheeda, Co. Clare. Sadly, Fr. Kelly passed away in October 2013. At the request of the Bishop, I have continued to serve the pastoral needs of the people of Labasheeda. Being involved in the Irish church today is more challenging than anything I have ever encountered in Africa. Mission is here at home.
According to UNICEF, 22,000 children die each day due to poverty. They die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. • • • • • • • • • • •
Sr. Flora and pupils of Ebukuya school when Fr. Tom was in Luanda Parish 8
THE REALITY OF WORLD POVERTY
Autumn 2019
In 2013, around 400 million people were living on less than 2 Euros a day Over 800 million people do not have enough to eat. 3 in 10 people (2.1 billion) have no access to a safe water supply. 6 in 10 people (4.5 billion) have no access to managed sanitation. In the U.K. the average person uses around 150 litres of water a day (including 50 litres for flushing toilets) 1.8 billion People who have access to water within one kilometre, but not in their homes or yard, use 20 litres a day. Each year 361,000 children under five die of diarrhoea. 36.7 million People are living with HIV/AIDS Poor sanitation and contaminated water are also linked to cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, and typhoid. Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000, and it did not happen. In 2005, the wealthiest 20% of the world accounted for 76% of total private consumption. The poorest accounted for just 1.5%.
“Our defence of the innocent unborn ... needs to be clear, firm and passionate. … Equally sacred, however, are the lives of the poor, those already born, the destitute, the abandoned and the underprivileged, the vulnerable, infirm and elderly exposed to covert euthanasia, the victims of human trafficking, new forms of slavery, and every form of rejection.” (Pope Francis - ‘Rejoice and be Glad’ 101.) Autumn 2019
9
Requesting Baptism and to go home When I told them I was a priest, they got excited and freely shared their story with me. Being very open, they said that they had never stepped inside a church since they were born. Their parents were neither Christians nor Muslims. They left their village in their youth and moved from one place to another to make ends meet. Having moved a lot without achieving much in life, they settled down where they lived up to that time. Neither of them got married nor had children. They kept in contact with one of their brothers back a home in their village, who was also already very old. With this, they expressed their desire to go back home.
Fr. Alexander baptising the two brothers - Peter and Paul
Loving Service - A Moving Story by Fr. Alexander Kimbi, mhm. (Fr. Alexander Kimbi is a young Mill Hill priest working in the parish of Witu/Kipini on the Kenya coast.)
Having discussed with them at length – with the younger brother doing all the talking - I told them about Christ who has journeyed with them for all these years even without their knowing Him. I told them that he wants them to have a share in everlasting happiness with Him in heaven after this life on earth. After our talk, the younger brother expressed his wish to be baptized. Though really struggling to say a few words, the elder brother also requested to be baptized. Inviting the neighbours and telling them of their desire to be baptized, their neighbours received the news with joy.
Great poverty in the Witu area
On the 26th of June 2018, I received a phone call at 9 pm from one of our Christians far away from our mission house. She informed me about an elderly man in her neighbourhood who was sick. With security risks, moving at that time of the night would not be wise. I promised to be there the next morning to meet them. Arriving the next morning, I went with two neighbours to the home of this sick man. In the house, there were two brothers, both in their late seventies. The elder brother was very sick and could not walk or eat. The younger brother was blind for four years and could not help the sick brother in any way. I requested the neighbours to leave me with them so that I could talk with them privately.
I met all the neighbours who came out to witness their baptism and to say goodbye to them. The neighbours helped to wash and dress them up. They were brought out of their little hut made of palm fronds. They sat at the door ready for baptism. Our catechist, who was also a neighbour, was their sponsor. We said prayers together and they were baptized. Considering that the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul was just two days away, we gave them the names Peter and Paul. Peter was the younger brother and Paul was elder. Considering Paul’s health situation, the neighbours suggested that I take them to the hospital in Malindi Town with the hope that the family would come to pick them up from the hospital. Three neighbours readily offered to accompany us on the journey.
10
Autumn 2019
Autumn 2019
11
Painful words but some hope After a journey of three hours, we arrived at the hospital in Malindi town. The doctors attended to both of them and said Paul’s condition was critical. Peter for his part was healthy, apart from his sight. It was 7 pm when Paul was admitted. Their brother back home was not ready to do anything if it required him to spend money. When I called him on the mobile he passed it to another relative to talk to us, he said: “Put the one who is still able to walk in the car and send him to us. We shall pick him up here in the village. As for the one who was admitted, just leave him there and go your way. If he dies the government will bury him.” For me those words were painful. I stood there with the neighbours who were looking up to me for every solution. Peter was sitting there wondering what the future still held for him. I decided to contact the local Chief of Kipini in our parish. Through him, we were able to get in touch with the area chief of Peter and Paul’s village. At least, their chief gave us hope by requesting that his number be written on Paul’s hospital file. With The Mill Hill Mission pickup in which that, we left him with the doctors. the brothers were transported
Through the Eyes of Street Children by Fr. Peter Major, mhm [Fr. Peter Major is a Mill Hill Missionary who comes from Upper New York State. He spent over thirty years working in Sudan in various ministries that included chaplaincy work in a hospital and a prison, and helping street children. He is now back in his home area of New York State.]
The Eyes of Street Children It was hot, even by Sudanese standards. My house in Khartoum was a little dirty because of the ‘haboob’ (sandstorm) of the previous night. I knew it was dirty because I could trace my footsteps all over the house. Something had to be done. I started by sweeping the floor. After that I thought I might as well collect all the rubbish that had accumulated in my room: a pair of old worn out shoes, newspapers, a couple of worn shirts, a broken alarm clock, three or four empty Pepsi bottles, and I proceeded to take it all to the local rubbish dump in main street.
Fr. Peter Major celebrating the Easter Vigil with Sudanese Christians
We went home with Sorrow but grateful to God Early next morning, we looked for a vehicle to take Peter to the office of his area chief so that he could link him with his family. We headed back to Witu, leaving Paul at the mercy of God and the care of the doctors. After an hour’s drive, the chief phoned us, informing us that Peter had arrived safely and that he had handed him over to the family. He also informed us that the doctor had told him that Paul had passed away early that morning. We went home with sorrow but grateful to God that Paul spent the last few hours of his life in the Hospital and died a Catholic. We continue to pray for his brother Peter, that his family will be supportive to him at this time in his life.
A group of street children who were hanging around there saw me busying myself emptying the rubbish. When I drove off I noticed in my rearview mirror that they were busy taking my rubbish from the skip to take it with them. For me, that is how God is. God has the eyes of street children; in the eyes of God and of street children, there is no such thing as rubbish.
Fr. Peter Major, mhm, out and about 12
Autumn 2019
Autumn 2019
13
Mill Hill Mission
News in Brief
South Sudan
East African Assembly In January 2019, the annual East Africa Assembly of Mill Hill Members took place in Kakamega, Western Kenya. A record number of 51 participants attended the Assembly. This included the students currently on Mission Experience in the Area. Fr. Fons Eppink led a Recollection day and at a later stage gave a talk on Safeguarding Children. Apart from hearing reports from the different missions, the gathering also had lively discussions on the different topics that are of concern in the Region. Among these was a discussion regarding our anticipated new missions; Mill Hill is returning to Lemek in Ngong Diocese (Kenya) and going to Busaana in Lugazi Diocese (Uganda). Members welcomed these new initiatives. The attendance of a largely young membership from Africa and Asia was seen as a positive sign testimony to the abundant fruit of the missionary work of our Society.
Fr. Andrew Mukulu, of the Mill Hill General Council, travelled to Juba, South Sudan, to visit our new mission there. Our two Mill Hill members, Frs. Michael Ochwo and Emmanuel Omollo, are in Holy Rosary Parish in the centre of the city. It is a very busy parish due to its location. Many refugees have moved to the city because of recent wars. At the main Church where our members reside, the Sunday attendance is around 800. While there, Fr. Andrew met the Archbishop of Juba, Most Reverend Paulino Lokudu, who once again expressed appreciation for the presence of Mill Hill in the Archdiocese. Most of South Sudan is currently experiencing an uneasy calm following the signing of a peace deal in September 2018 between the warring parties. This deal is yet to be fully implemented. Though sceptical, the people are praying that the deal this time round holds. On the 11/4/2019, Pope Francis got on his hands and knees before the leaders of South Sudan’s government and its opposition, kissing their feet/shoes and imploring the two men to maintain the tenuous peace that exists between them. “I’m asking you with my heart,” the pope said to the president, Salva Kiir, and the opposition leader, Riek Machar, clutching his hands in front of his chest. “Stay in peace.” The dramatic gesture happened during a spiritual retreat by the two men at the Vatican. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, guided the retreat together with Pope Francis.
Malaysia Fr. Jimmy Lindero of our General Council visited the dioceses of Sibu and Miri in Sarawak. There are six Mill Hillers working in Sibu and four in Miri. In 2018, the Catholic Church in Bintangor celebrated the centenary of its foundation. Our Mill Hill priests are involved in local parish ministry but also have to reach out to the many families who live in ‘Long Houses’. Most of these can only be reached by boat - travelling upriver. Fr. Ivan Fang continues to animate and supervise the lay Missionary Community of Corpus Christi. He is also involved in training of catechists and youth animation. At present, there are three students in Sarawak for Mission Experience - two from Cameroon and one from India. An interesting little detail concerning Limbang in Miri diocese - one of our young Mill Hill priests, Fr. Ravindra Rao, mhm, has moved there this year. He is the 12th Mill Hiller to serve in Limbang since 1968, one of whom was the late Kevin O’Donovan from Drimoleague, Co. Cork.
East African Assembly 14
Autumn 2019
Autumn 2019
15
Kenya - Mill Hill Formation (Theology) Nairobi In January, Fr. Fons Eppink, mhm, wrote: Nothing stirred in the compound of the Formation Centre of the Mill Hill Missionaries in Nairobi when I arrived. All thirty-two students had returned from their Christmas break the previous day, sometimes travelling long and tiresome journeys. The Eucharist for the Feast of Epiphany on January 6th in the tastefully decorated chapel was both reflective and joyful. I was delighted to join in the rich selection of hymns that were sung with gusto in a bewildering variety of languages – an apt reflection of the international composition of the student body with students hailing from India, Malaysia, Philippines, Cameroon, Congo, Kenya and Uganda. The festive meal and joyously noisy social that followed provided an opportunity for all to reconnect and exchange experiences of the past several weeks. Judging by the energy exhibited, this second semester would not be a dull affair! I waved the students off the next morning as they boarded the bus that would take them to Tangaza College for lectures.
Uganda - Mill Hill Formation (Philosophy) Jinja. In January, Fr. Fons Eppink, mhm, wrote: Today I ‘sat at the feet’ of Fr. John Kwa Akain mhm, as he delivered his first lecture at the Philosophy Centre Jinja, Uganda. This was his first appearance in front of some forty philosophy students - drawn from a number of Missionary congregations.
Pause to Ponder
– the Wonder of the Human Eye “Inside my human eye, there are 107,000,000 cells. Seven million are cones, each loaded to fire off a message to the brain when a few photons of light cross them. Cones give me the full band of colour awareness, and because of them, I can distinguish a thousand shades of colour. The other hundred million cells are rods, back-up cells for use in low light. When only rods are operating, I do not see colour, but I can distinguish a spectrum of light so broad that the brightest light I perceive is a billion times brighter than the dimmest.” (American surgeon Paul Brand – quoted in John Quinn’s recent book ‘Gratias’) “People go abroad to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars – and they pass themselves by without wondering.” (St. Augustine)
You may remember Fr. John’s article and photos in the Spring Advocate. He was conferred with a Doctorate in Philosophy at Maynooth University in November 2108, having spent four years studying there. There were two visitors from Ireland present, friends of Fr. John, Ms. Mary Murphy and Fr. Brian Kavanaugh. They introduced themselves and spoke of their visit to a project in West Nile sponsored by an Organisation they set up. I also said a few words. After that, John took to the floor. Testing ideas, raising questions, challenging received assumptions – the assembled student body seemed to get livelier and livelier as the 50 minutes passed by. The start of a long journey of exploration for the students.
Mill Hill students in Nairobi 16
“I thank you, O Lord, for the wonder of my being and the wonder of all your creation” (Psalm 139)
I want to mention the new bridge across the river Nile at Jinja, just a stone’s throw from the Owen Falls Dam. Japanese technology at its best. Autumn 2019
Autumn 2019
17
Another participant, a teenager, has lost all family members to sickness, lives alone in the family homestead, hardly interacts with anybody, has strange behaviour patterns and is the laughing stock of his village age mates. When telling his story in small group sharing his fellow youth are very touched, and from then on have started visiting, helping and inviting him to join their activities.
Jacinta out and about in Kitale
‘Kitale Community Advancement Programme’ (KAP) By Jacinta van Luijk – Mill Hill Lay Associate
Others tell how multiple sexual relationships in a small group of friends led to unintended pregnancy. In one person’s story, there was the murder of the six months old child and plans of revenge. Many participants have serious quarrels with their parents, often separated; they sometimes believe themselves to be cursed. Stories of sexually transmitted disease and abuse of drugs and alcohol are very common.
Observing the ‘Unreached Youth’ group, members of the neighbourhood express their surprise about and appreciation for the changes they see in the young participants. These were young people that they had already judged to be impossible, lazy, alcohol and drug abusers, and here they were “now drinking tea and taking up small jobs.” Several participants have addressed broken relationships, have gone for HIV testing and show reduced high-risk behaviour. How we developed KAP – Kitale Community Advancement Programme Our experience through the years showed that the youth who participated in our programme for ‘Unreached Youth’ were struggling with serious emotional trauma due to their broken lives. We observed that this expressed itself in low respect for self and others,
(Jacinta van Luijk is a Mill Hill Lay Associate from The Netherlands. She has worked in Kenya for nearly 37 years. She spent 18 years coordinating the Community Healthcare Programme in Pandipieri, Kisumu, which is now run by Sr. Bernadette Nealon, fmsj. Jacinta moved to Kitale 19 years ago where she has been the driving force behind the ‘Kitale Community Advancement Programme’ (KAP). In this report, she describes how the Programme assists vulnerable youth.)
Taking part in our course for ‘Unreached Youth’, there are two sisters, aged 15 and 17 years. In the first week of the course, the sisters opened up and told that for years their father sexually abused them and accused them of the death of their mother. “We send them
to your course”, the area Chief told us, “But they won’t even stay for a day: Hopeless cases”. Both sisters stayed for the full basic course, explained for the first time in their lives what was going on, and are happy to participate in the follow-up activities. Jacinta in discussion with Fr. Andrew Mukulu of Mill Hill General Council
18
Autumn 2019
Autumn 2019
19
lack of purpose and hope, as well as risky, violent behaviour. We set up KAP to address healing from personal trauma; this was the starting point for the journey towards safe behaviour regarding HIV/AIDS, abuse/ addiction and violence. In addition, we recognized that without personal healing participants would not be able to pass on their new knowledge and skills to others. The course now lasts six months. A basic course is followed by several education days, micromeetings (in small groups) for group and one-on-one/family counselling, visits to helpful organisations (e.g. those addressing sexual violence), guided community education sessions, graduation, and for those interested (usually the majority), an additional year of sessions addressing new and
related topics - community-based abuse/addiction treatment, counselling, etc. The great needs but also interest and enthusiasm to participate as well as good results are clearly there. God bless KAP - A personal testimony: “I am a girl aged 19 years old being third born in our family. My mother died when I was born and people told me I was cursed because of this. I lost hope in life and lived a meaningless life. I was angry with myself and everyone else. I trusted no one. I did all the negative things to end my life but God kept on protecting me from harm for KAP to come and save my life. I now have knowledge and skills for a new beginning. I have met friends to lean on in case of challenges. God bless KAP.”
The Kitale Programme (KAP) receives substantial funding from ‘Misean Cara’ – the Irish International Missionary Development Agency. Fr. Philip O’Halloran (Mill Hill Irish Regional) has helped Jacinta to obtain this funding. Jacinta and her team and those who benefit from the Programme are very grateful for the financial help from Ireland.
by Fr. Christy Fox, mhm As a young lad growing up in rural Ireland, I recall that the family Rosary was common practice in most households. In those far-off pre-TV days sometime between supper and bedtime, my mother would round up the family. Visiting neighbours would join in and she would lead us all in saying the Rosary. We took our decade in turn, hoping we had counted right when it came to the Glory be! Then at the end, we waited patiently while she got through all the ‘trimmings,’ the extra prayers, when all the needs of the family and parish were put before the Lord. Though we were often reluctant participants at the time, down the arches of the years I can still hear the soft sound of my mother’s voice as she led us on and I bless her memory. The mysteries of the Rosary are a summary of the great mysteries of our religion, the birth, life, passion, death and resurrection of Christ, Our Saviour. The very repetition of the Hail Mary is also a way of leading us into contemplation. The Rosary remains one of the most beautiful ways of honouring Mary and bringing us closer to Jesus.
Jacinta and George (her assistant) running a seminar 20
Let Mary be our Inspiration
Autumn 2019
What was Mary like? Devotion to Mary has helped people in many ways. At a time when Church Autumn 2019
21
teaching in general was rather stern, with a lot of emphasis on sin and sanctions and God presented as a rather exacting judge, the face of the Mother of Jesus helped to soften the picture. When times were tough we always prayed to Our Lady for help. There is an old Irish saying which translates as, “God is strong and He has a great mother.” What was Mary like? Too often, she is depicted as otherworldly meek and mild, not part of our messy, broken world. Nothing could be further from the truth. In a telling passage from Marialis Cultus, a document on Mary, the late Pope Paul VI wrote, “Mary was anything but passive and submissive, pious to the point of being out of contact with reality. No, here was a woman who did not hesitate to assert that God is the avenger of the oppressed, that He topples the mighty of this world from their thrones. In Mary we recognise the valiant woman, who has known poverty and suffering, flight and exile.” No wonder we can pray to her in all our needs for she too lived through the storm and stress of the human condition. It is important to have a proper understanding of Mary within the mystery of Christ and the Church. We believe that Christ is the one mediator of salvation but he chooses not to be alone 22
• Mary responded to God’s call with praise and thanksgiving. Her beautiful hymn of praise begins, “My soul glorifies the Lord.” Too often, our prayers are limited to petitions rather than to praise and thanksgiving for all God’s goodness to us. Each of us, however inadequate we feel, can write our own Magnificat because the Lord can do great things for us and through us.
in the work of mediating the saving love of the Father. He is present in his Church, seen both as institution with sacraments and hierarchy and as the People of God. The Church continues His saving work and Mary is not only the chief member but also the figure, the Mother, the model of what a Christian is called to be. Pope Paul VI outlined four points that should underline all devotion to Mary: • Mary was a woman of faith. She was so open to God’s call; her faith was so strong that she became the rainbow that spanned heaven and earth, which enabled the Word of God, as it were, to float down and pitch His tent among us. Mary is the inspiration for each of us to discern God’s will and faithfully follow it. Autumn 2019
• Mary gave birth to Jesus, Immanuel – a name that means God-with-us. Through Mary, Jesus, the Son of God, became present to Joseph, the shepherds, the poor, the lowly, to the world at large. Our vocation too is to make Jesus present in the world we live in by the witness we give to the Christian faith we profess. My life may be the only book some people read about Jesus Christ. What do they read there? • Mary offered her Son Jesus in sorrow on Calvary. Mary, the valiant woman, stands beside us in times of tragedy and sorrow. She gives comfort and consolation to all who mourn. She is a source of strength to all who suffer for she knew suffering, having stood at the foot of the Cross.
Autumn 2019
All our devotions to Mary, whether private rosaries or simple prayers, public devotions or pilgrimages to the great Marian Shrines, lead us to a deeper love of Jesus our Saviour and to a greater fidelity to our Christian vocation. May Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us all and may she be our inspiration, our joy and our courage as we continue our earthly pilgrimage. [From Fr. Christy’s book: ‘Our Lady’s Apron’ – a collection of articles on spiritual topics] 23
The Soldiers came just after dawn - by Fr. Fons Eppink, mhm Fr. Cyprian going about his work in Witu, Kenya (In the previous Advocate, we carried the shocking news that a Young Mill Hill Priest, Fr. Cosmos Omboto Ondari, was shot dead last November in Cameroon. Around the same time, the father of one of our young Mill Hill priests was shot dead – together with the local assistant chief. Fr. Fons Eppink talked to Fr. Cyprian Taah about the brutal killing of his father and the chief.) Ko Klaver, the bursar and guest master at the Mill Hill House Nairobi, was still up when I arrived late in the evening of January 3rd from Amsterdam. We sat down for a drink and a chat to reconnect and share some of the latest ‘news’. That is when he told me that Fr. Cyprian Taah, mhm, was in the house. He had just returned from burying his father in Cameroon. I had heard of the tragic fate of Cyprian’s 24
father. Another victim of the violence that increasingly engulfs Anglophone (English speaking) Cameroon in its struggle against the government’s perceived discrimination and neglect. I only knew the bare fact and was keen to get the full story from Cyprian - who is a Mill Hill Missionary working in the diocese of Malindi on Kenya’s east coast. Therefore, next morning after breakfast, we sat down and Cyprian calmly shared his story of returning to his home village of Ngwah, not far from Fundong, NW Province, Cameroon, to mourn his father and console his family. He told me “They came early in the morning just after dawn. Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Cameroon stationed in Fundong were on a burn and destroy mission. Apparently, they suspected the presence of a camp of Autumn 2019
the separatist/rebel forces in the hills behind our village. Most people took to the bush at the first sign of trouble. However, the soldiers caught the assistant local chief, his wife and my ageing father in their homesteads. They grabbed hold of them and beat them up. ‘Why had the assistant chief not hoisted the national flag’, they wanted to know. ‘Was he going to raise the rebel flag instead?’ The assistant chief’s defence – ‘It’s too early in the morning; I have not had time yet’, fell on deaf ears”. After some further brutalisation, they were taken to the main road passing the village. There the woman captive was released. She still witnessed how the soldiers ordered the two men to kneel down and summoned them to raise their hands above their heads. Cyprian’s father refused. A violent prod. ‘I will only raise my hands to
praise God’, he retorted. At some distance from the scene, the woman heard two shots. They found the two bodies in the afternoon of that same day after the soldiers had left the village leaving behind a scene of chaos and devastation. Meanwhile in Witu, in faraway Kenya, Fr. Cyprian got a phone call relaying the tragic news of his father’s murder. The efforts to get his father’s body taken to the mortuary in Fundong proved fruitless as the road between the village and Fundong was too insecure. His mother told him that the body was badly bruised, and had been lying in the sun all day. The burial could not wait. Cyprian returned to Cameroon a week later and eventually managed to reach his home village. A time of intense mourning could begin. He was there to grieve with his family as they tried to comfort each other.
Such sadness on their faces - Bishop Andrew Nkea visiting Kembong parish just after Mill Hill priest Fr. Cosmos was killed Autumn 2019
Mill Hill Priest, Fr. Cosmas Omboto Ondari, who was shot dead around the same time as Fr. Cyprian’s father - May they rest in peace 25
WHAT PLASTIC IS DOING TO OUR PLANET - AND TO US!
alone, that beautiful once pristine remote ocean, researchers have detected 300 billion bits of floating plastic micro-particles that are being eaten by fish. Fish absorb the micro particles. Turtles swallow plastic bags thinking they are jellyfish and most fish eat plankton but mistake the plastic microparticles for food.
By Fr. Shay Cullen, SSC.
We eat a lot of fish, which is considered healthier than eating meat. We humans consumed around 92.6 million tons of fish in 2015 alone, according to a U.N. report. This means that those of us who eat fish (in many parts of the world where the fish absorb the particles) could be ingesting plastic particles that could be harmful to our inner organs.
It surrounds us. It is in every place we go, on the street, on the beach, and in the woods. We see it when we climb a mountain or go for a swim. It is evidence of our ingenious inventiveness, but also of our neglect. It is our friend but also our destructive enemy. It is causing permanent and irreversible harm to us and to the creatures of our planet. It is plastic - a strong, reliable, protective material has become very valuable for its many uses. It is used in every conceivable way, from wrapping our sandwiches to the chairs we sit on.
According to a report by the Ocean Conservatory, Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines are among the worst polluters. The Pasig River in Manila is one of the worst. Up to 60 percent of the plastic junk in the world comes from the Southeast Asian countries.
Every time I open a plastic-wrapped package of food or a product, I feel a twinge of guilt, sadness and frustration. How can I recycle and dispose of it in a safe harmless way? Out of all the plastic produced in the past 80 years, only nine percent of it is recycled. The rest of it is dumped in landfills or burnt, or finds its way into the environment and the oceans. (There is an increase in recycling in recent years; Ireland now recycles around 35% of plastics)
There is also the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” in the Pacific Ocean and there is “The Eastern Garbage Patch in the North Atlantic.” These are huge swaths of ocean where plastic debris has accumulated into islands, some as big as France. We have not yet evolved as plastic-resistant creatures. We have to focus on what this low-cost, useful yet damaging material is doing to our environment and to us. It is so beneficial and yet so destructive. We are so dependent on oil-based plastic. We have to change our ways and develop the plantbased biodegradable form of plastic.
Plastic, plastic, everywhere … A recent report in The Independent newspaper noted that there are as many as eight million tons of plastic waste dumped into the oceans every year. In the Arctic 26
Autumn 2019
Autumn 2019
27
The problem with oil-based plastic The durability of plastic is what gives it such appeal to manufacturers, but it is also its weakness. Oil-based plastic is not biodegradable. It will not rot away like wood, or break down for hundreds of years. Even then, it will remain a toxic substance that poisons the planet. It does slowly disintegrate into micro-plastic particles and these become dust and cling to plants, float in the air, and are carried into the rivers and oceans. They attract other chemicals, pesticides, and residues that
it forever, it seems. If we live in a city environment, which most of us do, or in an industrial area, we have the smog or fumes from burning coal and oil and diesel. The plastic micro-particles tend to cling to them, according to new research by Professor Frank Kelly, from London’s Kings College, who is a renowned researcher on environmental hazards. Yet there is hope in the development of plant-based plastics and packaging, but they are a long way from general use. Some countries, towns and cities are banning the use of plastic bags. There is a new ‘CleanSeas’ campaign announced by the United Nations to clean the oceans of plastic debris. Let us give good example by recycling our plastic and thus try to clean the environment of plastic and encourage our nations to join the campaign. (Acknowledgements and thanks to Fr. Shay Cullen and www.preda.org for this article. Fr. Shay is an Irish Columban priest working in the Philippines.)
cling to the plastic particles and create an unseen dangerous toxic brew of poison. We are breathing the unseen and undetectable particles that can stick in our lungs and nostrils, causing conditions that cannot be properly diagnosed.
“Exposure to atmospheric pollutants produces a broad spectrum of health hazards, especially for the poor, and causes millions of premature deaths.” (Pope Francis - Laudato Si 20)
The animals and our children’s children will be ingesting plastic micro particles for centuries to come if we do not do something serious now to stop the pollution. We are stuck with
Practical steps and changes in lifestyle that can be made to reduce the use of plastic. The “Five R’s strategy for fighting plastic pollution - Refuse, Reuse, Reduce, Remove, Recycle.”
28
Autumn 2019
In memory of
Fr. Noel Hanrahan, mhm Fr. Noel Hanrahan, mhm, died on July 11th, 2019, in St James’s Hospital, Dublin, aged 90. Fr. Noel was born on December 23rd, 1928, in Grangemockler, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. His father, William, a farmer, was married to Bridget (née McGrath). Noel had five brothers and three sisters. Following secondary education at our college in Freshford, he studied philosophy in Roosendaal from 1948 to 1950. From 1950 to 1954 he studied theology in St Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, London. He took the Perpetual Oath on May 7th, 1953, and was ordained priest on July 11th, 1954, at St. Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, by Cardinal Griffin. Following ordination, Noel studied at Rome, where he obtained a Doctorate in Divinity in 1958. He then began teaching dogmatic theology at Mill Hill, where he also held the post of Master of Discipline. In 1968, he became president of the Missionary Institute London. A year earlier, he had been appointed fourth Consultor to the Superior General. Noel was elected Superior General of the Society at the Renewal Chapter in 1970 and served for two terms, until 1982. Travelling to all continents, he transmitted the message and spirit of a Vatican-II model of church to our missionaries and local Church leaders. In 1983, following a sabbatical in Rome, Noel was appointed to Kuching, Sarawak, Autumn 2019
where he was teaching Theology at St Peter’s College and occupied a number of other positions in the seminary over 15 years. In 1983, he was elected Society Representative, and re-elected to that position in 1986. In 1988, he was Chapter Delegate for Malaysia/Indonesia. In January 1999, following sick leave, Noel was appointed from Kuching to the Irish Region, where he served as a chaplain at the Shrine of Our Lady in Knock, Co. Mayo. In 2012, Noel retired to St Joseph’s House in Dublin. On the occasion of his Ruby Jubilee, the then Superior General wrote: “you have exercised many ministries but you have always been the missionary priest witnessing to and making real for others the person and values of Jesus Christ Our Lord.” Noel will be remembered both inside and outside our Society as a wise and skilful leader, a dedicated teacher and a compassionate pastor. In recent years, Noel had many hospital appointments to control the cancer in his body. Some months ago, he underwent an operation to remove a cancerous growth inside his mouth. Following some falls, he was admitted to St James’s Hospital on 5th July. There, he died peacefully on Thursday afternoon, the 11th of July. His funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph’s House, Dublin, on July 15, with burial afterwards in the Mill Hill plot in Bohernabreena Cemetery. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis 29
Obituary List
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on the souls of:
In memory of
Fr. Matthew Dunne, mhm Fr. Matthew Dunne, mhm, died on Wednesday July 10, 2019, in St James’s Hospital, Dublin, aged 93.
Parish, Archdiocese of Westminster. On completion of his stay there, the parish priest wrote, “he has done all things well”.
Fr. Matthew (Mattie) was born on March 30, 1926, in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. His father, Edward, was married to Ann (née Cullen), and he had one brother Edward (Ted) and one sister Kathleen (O’Brien); both of them predeceased Mattie. Following secondary education at our college in Freshford, Mattie studied philosophy in Roosendaal, the Netherlands, from 1946 to 1948. From 1948 to 1952, he studied theology at Mill Hill, London. He took the Perpetual Oath on 5th May 1951 and was ordained priest on July 11, 1952, at St. Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, by Cardinal Griffin.
From 1994 onwards, Mattie was engaged in mission promotion from Kilkenny and was Vice-Rector for three years. In August 2009, he was appointed to retirement at St Joseph’s House, Dublin. At that time, Fr. Anthony Chantry, Mill Hill Superior General, wrote to Mattie, “In all the places where you worked, you have given of yourself in the service of others. You have used and developed your gifts for administration and pastoral care for the good of those to whom you have ministered and in all this you have tried to live out your missionary calling to the full.” Fr. Christy Fox worked with Mattie in Kilkenny and commented: “He was always so helpful and reliable. The office staff there appreciated the huge help he gave them, especially when things were rushed.”
After ordination, Mattie took up an appointment to Kuching Diocese, Malaysia. In 1959, he moved back to Ireland and served in the Organising Department in Freshford. In 1971, he took up parish ministry in Southampton, Diocese of Portsmouth. In December 1972, he became APF Organiser for the Diocese of Leeds. In 1975, he returned to Ireland to take up work for the Organising Department. Here he gained the reputation of being a good administrator and hard worker. Mattie then followed a renewal course at Hawkstone Hall. From 1983 to 1989, as Rector of Herbert House in Dublin, Mattie cared for our retired members. In 1989, he served as assistant priest in Kensal Rise 30
In recent years, Mattie suffered from failing eyesight. On June 19, following a serious fall, Fr. Mattie was admitted to St James’s Hospital, where his health deteriorated further. He died there in the early afternoon of July 10. His funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph’s House, Dublin, on July 13, with burial afterwards in the Mill Hill plot in Bohernabreena Cemetery. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis Autumn 2019
Fr. Matthew Dunne, MHM Fr. Noel Hanrahan, MHM Breda Fitzpatrick, sister of the late Fr. Noel Hanrahan, MHM John Collins, brother in law of Fr. Maurice McGill, MHM Billy Murphy, brother of Fr. Tony Murphy, MHM Tom Brennan, brother in law of Fr. Gerald Doyle, MHM
Members Brother John Brazil, Fr. Joseph Campion, Fr. Michael Mannion, Sr. Martha Joseph Mason, Sr. Ursula Ryan, Mary Armstrong, Una Baker, Patrick Beakey. John Beirne, Philomena Bohane, Carmel Boles, Alice Booth, Teresa Bourke, Annie Boyle, Celine Brolly, Bridie Brady, Helen Brennan, Joe Brennan, Mary Brennan, May Brennan, Peter Broderick, Michael Brophy, Brigid Burke, Teresa Bourke, Liz Butler, Malachy Byrne, Margaret Byrne, Mary Byrne. Penelope Caffrey, Elizabeth Cahill, Johnie Cahill, Phyllis Campion, Kathleen Carr, Bridget Carroll, Andy Carty, Joseph Carvill, Claire Casey, Margaret Casey, Anne Cassidy, Dermott Chadwick, Kate Cheasty, Betty Conlon, Patrick Connery, Bridie Connolly, Noel Conroy, Brendan Conway, Carmel Costello, Sheila Cotter, Kathleen Cotter, Bridie Cox, Patrick Cox, Seamus Coyle, Margaret Cribbin, Joan Cronin, Ann Cronin, Kathleen Cummins, Breda Daly, Margaret Delaney, Susan Delaney, Elizabeth Desmond, Rita Dineen, Sally Doherty, Annie Donaghey, Carmel Donohue, Carmel Doyle, Pauline Doyle, Mairead Duffy, Rose Duffy, Gretta Dunleavy, Margaret Dunne, Maureen Dunne, Margaret F Dunnion, George Dunwoody. Autumn 2019
Bridie Egan, William Padraic Egan, Malachy Eastwood, William Enright, Anna Farmer, Mary Fennell, Elizabeth Fenton, Nancy Finnegan, Patrick Fitzgerald, Bridie Fitzmaurice, Maureen Fitzpatrick, Teresa Fitzpatrick, Helena Fitzsimons, Sarah Fitzsimons, John Flanagan, Mary Flanagan, Eamonn Fleming, Mary Flynn, Josie Fogarty, Catherine Geaney, Eugene Ginty, Josie Golding, Susan Grant, Mary Gormley, Gerard Grace, Mary Griffin, Mary Groarke, Eileen Guiney, Kathleen Hallahan, Rita Hallahan, Ann Hanley, Margaret Gaughran, Mary Haggan, Catherine Hanley, Eileen Hannon, Mary Jane Harkin, Edward Hartnett, Anne Hayde, Mary Heneghan, Mary Hegarty, Ann Hendrick, Catherine Hennessy, Tom Hennessy, Mary Hickey, Marie Hogan, Molly Hogan, Winifred Holland, Bridget Horan, Agnes Hughes. Mary Joyce, Patrick Joyce, Alice Johnson, Nancy Jordan, Phil Kane, Joan Keane, Kathleen Keane, Nora Keane, Mary Keaveney, Mai Kehoe, Anne Kelly, Margaret Kelly, Martin Kelly, Agnes Kennedy, Gertrude Kenna, Maura Kenny, Philomena Kenny, Teresa Kenny, Veronica Kilbride, Nellie King, Eileen Kinsella, Bridie Kirby, Sean Kirrane, Bridget Lally, 31
Members Eileen Larkin, May Lordan, Kitty Lynch, Siobhan Lynch, Teresa Lynam, John Lyons. Thomas Mackey, Muriel Mahon, Patricia Mahon, Catherine Martin, Mary Masterson, William Meagher, Mary Meehan, Christina Molloy, Mary Molloy, Eileen Moloney, M. Monaghan, Agnes Mullan, Margaret Murphy, Mary Murphy, Patricia Murphy, Rose Marie McCauley, Gretta McCambridge, Eileen McCarthy, Mary McCarthy, William McClure, Rose McCrory, Mary McCullough. Mary McDaid, Eileen McDonagh, Ethna McEvoy, Mary McGillian, Elizabeth McGinn, Bernadette McGovern, Celine McGovern, James McGrane, James McGrath, Eugene McGrattan, Mary McInerney. Lizzie McKiernan, Elizabeth McKiernan, Pauline McManus, Rita McNally, Carmel McNerney, Mrs B. McSharry, Maura Naddy, Joan Neary, Kate Newell, Catherine Nolan, Eileen Norris, Patrick Organ, John Owens, Anne O’Boyle, Ambrose O’Brien, Eileen O’Brien, Mary O’Byrne, Elizabeth O’Callaghan, Dan O’Connor, John
O’Connor, May O’Connell, Brigid O’Dea, Mairead O’Dea, Michael O’Donoghue, Eileen O’Farrell, Con O’Leary, Eileen O’Leary, Alice O’Mahony, Bridget O’Neill, Patricia O’Regan, Mary O’Regan, Cathal O’Reilly, Joan O’Reilly, Kathleen O’Reilly, Sheila O’Shea, Catherine O’Sullivan, Eileen O’Sullivan. Colette Pratt, Anne Power, Eileen Quinlan, Maureen Reilly, Joe Reynolds, Ina Rice, Kay Rice, Diarmuid Ring, Denis Riordan, Bernadette Roche, Denis Rohan, Bart Rooney, Kathleen Rooney, Brid Ryan, Jean Ryan, Kathleen Ryan, Margot Seymour, Una Shearer, Eileen Sheehy, Catherine Sherman, Bridget Shiels, Sheila Shiels, Kathleen Slack, Michael Sludden, Tess Spillane, Margaret Sullivan, Mary Sweeney, Peggy Thornhill, Bridie Traynor, Elma Twomey, Patrick Twomey, Margaret Walsh, Mary P.Walsh. Edward Ward, Gerald Ward, Nancy Ward, Hannah Whooley, Brigid Whyte, Bridget Wilson, Sean Young.
It keeps our friends and supporters in touch with our missionary work.
•
It promotes devotion to St. Joseph - our patron and protector
•
There are three issues per year plus a Calendar at Christmas. It is sent to all our members.
•
Membership is e10.00 per year, £7.00 for those in the sterling area, $12 for the U.S.
Important Notice about Data Protection All your personal data that we hold is being stored and protected in accordance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) that became law in Ireland on 25/5/2018. This covers your name and address, as well as information about your donations for the missions, for Masses and for our Magazine (St. Joseph’s Advocate)
To those that we have not heard from for some time We have regular contact with most people on our mailing list but we have not heard from some people for some time. If you are in this group, please fill in your name/address below to renew your membership and continue to receive St. Joseph’s Advocate. If you do not wish to renew, please tick the cancel box.
Post the slip to: St. Joseph’s Advocate, Mill Hill Missionaries, 50 Orwell Park, Rathgar, Dublin D06 C535.
Please Remember the Missions in your will
Name ...............................................................................................................................
I bequeath to St Joseph’s Society for the Missions Inc, (Mill Hill Missionaries), 50 Orwell Park, Rathgar, Dublin D06 C535, the sum of
32
•
Address ........................................................................................................................... .........................................................................................................................................
e..................................................................... free of duty
.........................................................................................................................................
to be applied for the general purpose of the said Society, and I declare that the receipt of the Rev. Director shall be a sufficient discharge of the same.
.........................................................................................................................................
Autumn 2019
Autumn 2019
RENEW
CANCEL
33
St. Joseph’s Missionary Society of Mill Hill Advocate Autumn 2017:Layout 1 29/06/2017 12:54 Page 1
St. Joseph’s
St. Joseph’s
Advocate
Advocate Mill Hill Missionaries
Advocate
Advocate
Winter 2018
Spring 2018
Mill Hill Missionaries
Spring 2019
Maasai herdsman on the open plains in Kenya
1
Mother and child, Turda Mission, Philippines
Wearing traditional headdress in Sarawak, Malaysia Winter 2018
Autumn 2018
St. Joseph’s
St. Joseph’s
Mill Hill Missionaries
Mill Hill Missionaries
Spring 2018
Spring 2019
1
ST. JOSEPH’S ADVOCATE MILL HILL MISSIONARIES 50 Orwell Park Rathgar, Dublin D06 C535 Tel: (01) 412 7707 Email: organisingmhm@gmail.com www.millhillmissionaries.co.uk
1