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Message from the General Superior Ours is an age of grave global problems and issues. We live in a time in which polarization and exclusion are considered the only ways to resolve conflicts. We see, for example, how quickly those among us with the status of a stranger, an immigrant, or a refugee, become a threat, take on the status of an enemy. An enemy because they come from a distant country or have different customs. An enemy because of the colour of their skin, their language or their social class. An enemy because they think differently or even have a different faith. An enemy because…. And without realizing it, this way of thinking becomes part of the way we live and act. Little by little, our differences turn into symptoms of hostility, threats and violence. The recent attacks in Manchester and London demonstrate the virus of polarization and animosity that permeates our way of thinking, feeling and acting. The call to mission in our own times is as urgent as ever. In his message for World Mission Sunday 2017, Pope Francis reminds us all that the world vitally needs the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through the Church, Christ continues his mission as the Good Samaritan, caring for the bleeding wounds of humanity, and as the Good Shepherd, constantly seeking out those who wander along winding paths that lead nowhere. The Church’s mission is enlivened by a spirituality of constant exodus. We are challenged “to go forth from our comfort zone in order to reach all the peripheries in need of the light of the Gospel” (EG 20). The Church’s mission impels us to undertake a constant pilgrimage across the various deserts of life, through the different experiences of hunger and thirst for truth and justice. The Church’s mission inspires a sense of constant exile. The Gospel is Good News filled with contagious joy, for it contains and offers new life. It is important to ask ourselves certain questions about our Christian and Mission identity and our responsibility as believers and missionaries in a world marked by confusion, disappointment and frustration, and torn by numerous wars that unjustly target the innocent. What is the basis of our Mission? What is the heart of our Mission? What are the essential approaches we need to take in carrying out Mission? On my recent visitations to Malaysia and Kenya, it was brought home to me once again that our Mill Hill Missionaries of today come from distant lands where we have a rich legacy spanning well over a century; we have different traditions, skin colour, languages and social backgrounds; we think differently and we celebrate our faith in a variety of ways – this is one of our greatest riches and worthy of celebration. With this abundant background mix and in light of new pastoral urgencies and new forms of poverty, we are called to deepen our charism and renew our impetus for evangelization. Called to be actively present in new arenas of evangelization with openness and attentiveness to situations of particular need that are emblematic of our time. Michael Corcoran MHM General Superior
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REPORTS ON GENERAL COUNCIL VISITATIONS The General Superior’s visitation Programme took him to Malaysia, the German-Speaking Region and Kenya.
MALAYSIA On his visit to Malaysia he was conscious of the divide between West Malaysia and East Malaysia (Sarawak) where our Mill Hill Missionaries are based. There is a constant radical drive by the authorities of West Malaysia to Islamise the State of Sarawak. Michael experienced our missionaries working in rural settings and having a pastoral outreach to the longhouses of the tribal Iban people. Visiting these longhouses often involves journeying upriver by boat for hours and even sleeping overnight on the banks of the river. Vocations in the dioceses of Sibu and Miri where we work are few and as such the presence of our Mill Hill Missionaries is much appreciated. Our missionaries have mastered the local Iban language and they also reach out to the strong Chinese community in learning the Mandarin language. The mission continues with a new generation of Mill Hill missionaries from African and Asia. Michael was also present for the installation of the new Archbishop of Kuching, Simon Poh who also presided at the Eucharistic celebration concluding our Mill Hill Assembly held in Kuching.
KENYA The General Superior returned to Kenya to complete his visitation programme begun in May 2016. In particular he visited the coast of Kenya in the Diocese of Malindi where he experienced our missionaries living out our charism. In Witu, there is a small but growing number of Christians and
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good relations continue to be established with the Muslim population. The local Bishop mentioned on a number of occasions the ‘approach’ we have as Mill Hill missionaries in that we are available and we reach out in our relations with people directed at mutual understanding and enrichment. In the Urban setting of Kisumu Ndogo our missionaries fulfil the call of the Chapter as they work on the edge with all the challenges that such a setting brings including poverty and HIV/Aids. The Kitale Aids Programme in Western Kenya offers support to those having to deal with HIV/Aids. Our Mill Hill Associate Jacinta van Luijk is the driving force behind this programme and is also extending the programme to include sexually abused children. Michael visited our Formation Centres, Guest Houses and the Parishes of Shauri Moyo, Nanga and Luanda. The visit was concluded with the taking of the Perpetual Oath of eight students on 19 th May followed by their ordination to the Diaconate on 20th May. These celebrations were tinged with sadness due to the unexpected death of Athanasius Fambo MHM who was on MEP at Kotido, Uganda.
TYROL Very often when we think of mission or the missions our minds turn to Africa, Asia and Latin America. As missionaries whether abroad or on the home front, the issues and challenges of our times are ever present and not faceless. Each one of us can articulate the hopes and dreams, the challenges and sufferings, which mark the lives of the peoples we encounter in our ministry. There are people who need our help, who are crying out to be heard and who are supremely worthy of our every effort especially on behalf of justice, peace and solidarity.
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Visiting our missionaries in the Tyrol gave me a sense of the missionary work we continue to do on the Home Front in embracing the reality of human life. Though many of our missionaries on the home front are now in retirement, they continue to find new opportunities to serve others as missionaries. A constant in our conversation with the leadership in the German Speaking Region was and still is the rationalisation of properties taking into account the decreasing numbers and costs involved.
Fr. Gustl Frenademez MHM over fifty years a missionary in the Philippines standing in front of a picture of his cousin, St. Joseph Freinademetz SVD who died a missionary in China.
PAKISTAN The Councillor for Asia visited Pakistan in May 2017. He first went to Rawalpindi Diocese where five of our Members are quietly serving in a rather hostile environment for Christians and other religious minorities. Both our seasoned and young missionaries brave the daily hassles of tight security and reach out to their people in their homes and places of work. The Missionary of St. Thomas Sisters (MST) founded by Fr. Tom Rafferty continue to reach out pastorally to small pockets of Christians spread out amid the mountains of Swat, where until recently foreigners were prohibited to visit due to Taliban militants’ infiltration of the area. We continue to give witness in the vast parish of Sargodha where early this year a new Member from Uganda joined the parish pastoral team composed of Mill Hiller and local priests. In the urban setting of Westridge, our missionary presence not only caters for the spiritual needs of the Christians but also brings compassionate care to the elderly and the ‘unwanted’ in society through the hospice. Another Member continues to bring hope and freedom to drug dependents in a specialised ministry through a drug detoxification program and also manages the diocesan board of education.
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MST Sisters in Nowshera The Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad in Sindh has the biggest tribal apostolate in the whole country where six of our Members are currently working among the Kohli and Punjabi people. A newly ordained Member from Kenya has been appointed to Sindh and he is currently waiting for the approval of his missionary visa, a process which usually takes a bit of time. Bishop Samson Shukardin, OFM who was installed in January 2015, is keen in fostering local priestly vocations by venturing into a new program of recruitment and pre-seminary training for candidates. All our Members both in the North and South of Pakistan are evidently filled with enthusiasm and missionary zeal in living out the Society charism and mission priorities. They are very much in the frontiers of our Society mission, struggling day by day with their people who are very much economically and socially marginalized by a majority Muslim population. Neither the threat of terrorism, nor the abject poverty of their people, nor the derision of anti-Christian elements, nor the threat of death can extinguish the fire of missionary zeal in their hearts in bringing the merciful and compassionate face of God to a society torn apart by hatred and division.
GENERAL COUNCIL: SCHEDULE OF VISITATIONS, EVENTS AND MEETINGS VISITATIONS MICHAEL CORCORAN
2nd to 20th July: 5th to 18th August: 23rd August to11th Sept.: 24th October to 7th Nov.:
Ireland The Netherlands South Africa Uganda
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DESMOND MCGILLICUDDY 10th to 21st July 2017:
British Region
ANDREW MUKULU 5th July to 20th August:
Uganda
JIMMY LINDERO 9th July to10th August:
India (including development workshops)
EVENTS AND MEETINGS 14th to 15th June 5th July 20th July 20th August to 7th Sept. 10th to 17th September 10th to 21st September 19th to 20th September 25th to 30th September 24th October to 8th Nov. 2nd to 13th November 12th to 25th November
Missio AGM, Leicestershire (Michael) Overseas Mission Committee (Des) Meetings with Investment Managers (Des) Development Workshops, Cameroon (Jimmy) Attend Dutch Regional Assembly (Andrew) Attend Dutch Regional Assembly, visit agencies (Jimmy) APF-Mill AGM, Freshfield (Michael & Des) 65+ Seminar (Michael) Development Workshops, Kenya (Jimmy) Africa Cluster Meeting (Andrew) Retreat (Jimmy)
APPOINTMENTS
Mathews Olili, appointed Bursar in Malaysia, for three years, effective 1st July 2017. Philip Odhiambo Obaso, appointed Vocation Director in Malaysia, for three years, effective 1st July 2017. Vincent Oates, withdrawn from Malaysia and appointed to the British Region for APF work, effective 1st May 2018. Edson Paguntalan, appointed Bursar in Sindh, Pakistan, for three years, effective 1 st July 2017. Bernie Luna, appointed MEP Coordinator in Pakistan, for three years, effective 1 st July 2017. Alois Valentin, withdrawn from East Africa, and appointed to the German Speaking Region, effective 1st August 2018. Jakob Kirchler, re-appointed to the Formation Staff of St. Joseph’s Formation Centre, Nairobi, Kenya, for three years, effective 1st August 2017. Otto Bambokela, re-appointed Rector of the Basic Formation Programme, Luanda, for one year effective 1st August 2017. Hermann Gufler, withdrawn from Cameroon and appointed for retirement to the German Speaking Region, effective1st August 2017. Christopher Hancock, withdrawn from Cameroon and appointed to the British Region and seconded to the Archdiocese of Cardiff, for three years, effective 1 st July 2017. Tony Amort, withdrawn from the Diocese of Governador Valadares, Brazil and appointed to the German Speaking Region, effective 1st September 2017. 7
Emmanuel Mbeh, withdrawn from the Diocese of Kroonstad, South Africa and appointed to the British Region as an APF-MH Organiser, for three years, effective 1st August 2017. Liam Cummins, re-appointed Rector of the Generalate, Maidenhead, for one year, effective 5th September 2017. Terrry Burke, withdrawn from Malaysia and appointed to the British Region, effective 1st July 2017. Jaap Nielen, appointed for retirement to the Dutch Region, effective 1 st July 2017. Thaddeus de Deckere, appointed Secretary General, for two years, effective 15th September 2017.
CANDIDATE FOR PERPETUAL MEMBERSHIP AND TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE JOHN PAUL BANGSI The General Council accepted the applications to Perpetual Membership and Ordination to Transitional Diaconate of JOHN PAUL BANGSI who has completed his formation training in Pune this year. The Perpetual Oath Ceremony will be presided by the Councillor for Asia on 14th July 2017 at Mill Hill Formation House, Pune. Bishop Thomas Dabre of Pune Diocese will ordain him to the Order of Diaconate on 15th July 2017 at Divine Mercy Parish, Pune. John Paul is from the Archdiocese of Bamenda, Cameroon. Congratulations!
RELEASED FROM THE TEMPORARY OATH
Albert Baguio Silos, released from the Temporary Oath, as of 23rd May 2017. Praveen Kumar Kothapalli, released from the Temporary Oath, as of 23rd May 2017. Louis Is’Ikoka Lokuli, released from the Temporary Oath, as of 23rd May 2017. Vidhya Sagar Chellapalli, released from the Temporary Oath, as of 24th May 2017. Adelbert Mngo Modufe, released from the Temporary Oath, as of 24th May 2017. Emmanuel Bodzemo Verbe, released from the Temporary Oath, as of 25th May 2017. Paul Ayukatiku Nkongho, released from the Temporary Oath, as of 25th May 2017. Marvin Gasataya, released from the Temporary Oath, as of 23rd June 2017.
SOCIETY EDITORS’ MEETING The Society Editors from Europe met in Maidenhead from 25th to 27th April, 2017 to update each other with the Society’s publications. The participants were Jim O’Connell and Philip O’Halloran (Advocate Ireland), Bill Tollan (Advocate Scotland), Anton Steiner (Missionsbote, GSR) Fons Eppink (Society Correspondent, Website and Contactblad) and Jimmy Lindero (GC Communications, Central Newsletter). Michael Corcoran attended the final morning and expressed his appreciation to the Editors for their unique role in promoting our Society mission. Sr. Janet Fearns, FMDM who works with the Redemptorist Publications in London was invited to be the resource person. She gave inputs on Catholic publications in general and emphasised the unique contribution of Catholic papers to society such as the promotion of positive and gospel values, the beauty and value of life in every culture, the broader/inclusive perspective of the gospel and the
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dignity and respect for the human person. She engaged the group in discussions on the technical aspects of publications - title page, photos, fonts, paper quality, choice of colour etc. She was amazed how old our Society publications were: 1890 Contactblad started until it became a newsletter in 1967 when the Dutch Religious Conference decided to have one publication for the whole country; 1896 advent of Missionsbote by Alois Stater in German Speaking Region; 1935 birth of The Advocate (Ireland). It was noted that there is a steady decline of subscribers to our Society magazines every year due to many factors including the advance of digital publications. A webinar was held to connect with our Editors in India and the Philippines. It was a unique experience for all of us in spite of a few technical glitches. The meeting concluded with a trip to St. Michael’s Abbey, a Benedictine Monastery in Farnborough, Hampshire. There we admired the crowned statue of St. Joseph, also the main and side altars of the former St. Joseph’s College. There also we found the wooden confessional box which used to be at the main entrance of the college chapel.
Shrine of St. Joseph at St. Michael’s Abbey, Farnborough
SOCIETY FINANCE COUNCIL This year’s meeting of the Society Finance Council was held in Oosterbeek from 30 th May to 1st June. After listening to and discussing the various financial reports for 2016, much of the time was devoted to revising the ‘Global Financial Regulations Manual’. This was the first revision to be carried out since the publication of the Manual in 2007. Following further 9
editing and approval by the General Council, the revised Manual will eventually be made available to the membership.
LEADERSHIP CONSULTATION MEETING The annual Leadership Consultation Meeting was held in Maidenhead in June, attended by the General Council and the five Representatives from Europe & North America. After hearing the reports, topics of common interest were discussed, including planning to deal with the consequences of declining membership in Europe and North America in areas such as the rationalisation of Society buildings and the employment of more lay staff in administrative roles. Once again, Mission to the West was on the agenda.
The Regionals with the General Council Members
65+ SEMINAR IN ROME The 65+ Course is due to take place at the Benedictine Monastery at Bevilacqua, Rome from 9th to 30th September 2017. Bernard Fox, Liam Cummins and Sally Hyland, MSHR are the members of the organising team. Resource persons have been invited to give input on a range of topics.
FUNDING APPLICATIONS The General Council meets three times a year, in the months of February, June and October. If a Member or Associate is considering applying to the General Council for funding, the application must be submitted by 31st January, 31st May or 30th September. In addition, any funding application must have the prior recommendation of the respective local Society Council for it to be considered for approval by the General Council.
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LETTER OF GOOD STANDING MHMs visiting Britain or coming on home leave must, before engaging in any pastoral activity in this country, request a Letter of Good Standing from the British Regional, giving details of place and date of intended ministry.
FMSJ GENERAL COUNCIL
The FMSJ General Chapter held in Manchester in June this year re-elected Sr. Maureen Murphy as the Congregational Leader of the Franciscan Missionaries of St. Joseph also known as Mill Hill Sisters. Sr. Anne Moore was elected as assistant Congregational Leader and bursar while Sr. Margaret Nyabongoye, Sr. Brenda Makokha, and Sr. Joan Kerley were elected as Councillors. Congratulations and best wishes!
MID-LIFE SEMINAR 2018 As recommended by Chapter 2015, the General Council is organising a Mid-Life Seminar to be held at Benedictine Monastery at Bevilacqua, Rome from 14th to 28th July 2018. Twentysix (26) Members within the age bracket of 40 to 55 years who have not attended previous Mid-Life Seminars are being invited to attend the course. Those who received their invitation are requested to send an email confirming their attendance by 1 st October 2017 to Jimmy Lindero at gc-asia@millhillmissionaries.com. The organising committee is composed of Michael Corcoran, Liam Cummins and Jimmy Lindero. Sr. Catherine Ryan, OSM accepted to facilitate.
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Editor: Jimmy Lindero, MHM Contact: gc-asia@millhillmissionaries.com Society Website: www.millhillmissionaries.co.uk About the Front Cover: A Kohli mother preparing food for her family. Photo taken by the editor.
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