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MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL SUPERIOR Not so long ago, Pope Francis referred to missionaries as the ‘evangelising heroes’ of our times as he shared the characteristics of men and women who choose to serve the Church as missionaries. He praised the ‘irresistible drive’ of missionaries who give their lives to the service of Christ. Over the past few months I have been celebrating in various countries the 150th jubilee of our foundation as a Mill Hill Society where Local Church leaders and those gathered for the celebrations sang the praises of past Mill Hill Missionaries and demonstrated a genuine affection and respect for the work our Society has done in the past. It is a song I have heard in Westminster, The Philippine Islands, Kenya, Scotland, The Netherlands and at our APF gatherings in Salford and Freshfield bearing broad and rich testimony to our motto, ‘to love and to serve. In Society administration, in teaching, formation, and in missionary work at home and abroad, together we have so much to be proud of in our Mill Hill History. Let us rejoice in what the Lord has done through us, in spite of our limitations and failings. In the space of over a hundred and fifty years, strong and vibrant local churches have been built on the sacrifices of the first missionaries and the generous service of those who followed to the present day. As our Society’s past gives way to the new, we may feel uncertain of what is coming. We may even fear it, but trusting, as always in the Lord of the harvest, we move ahead to even greater abundance in the future. With the North-South shift a new story is emerging. The Local Church has reached where they too, want to send out missionaries standing ready to continue the great missionary tradition to go out and proclaim the Good News of God’s Kingdom to those in greatest need. As missionaries the issues and challenges of our times are 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. We rejoice with those who rejoice and we weep with those who weep. Our strength as missionaries lies not so much in our learning and personal ability, but in the compassion we show for one another, in the care that we exercise especially for those who cannot care for themselves. In our day, multi-culturality (including the plurality of points of view) has become the lifestyle of the Church and our own Society. Although this could cause some difficulties we are expected to serve in this multicultural Church and Society with many faces. Moreover, when we turn our gaze to the world, we see a wonderful range of: mind-sets, cultures and religious experiences that challenge us. It is this real world that we are called to serve. It is not therefore a question of accepting or rejecting globalization, but rather being missionaries who are able and happy to serve the real world and involve ourselves with the real life issues that we meet daily in our encounter with others. Des, Andrew and Jimmy join me in wishing you every blessing in your ministry as we all continue to do what we do best – mission. . Michael Corcoran MHM General Superior
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GENERAL COUNCIL SCHEDULE OF VISITATIONS AND EVENTS JUNE 2016 Fr Michael Corcoran Fr Des McGillicuddy
28 June – 1 July: The Netherlands, including Society Jubilee Celebration (29 June) 28 June – 8 July: The Netherlands, including Society Jubilee Celebration (29 June) JULY 2016
Fr Andrew Mukulu Fr Michael Corcoran Fr Michael Corcoran Fr Andrew Mukulu
2 – 30: Congo 10: Jubilees, Dublin 20 July – 3 August: North America 30 July – 10 August: Uganda AUGUST 2016
Fr Michael Corcoran Fr Des McGillicuddy
09 – 20: The Netherlands, including Jubilees (15th August) 10– 12: St Anselm’s / 17 – 21: The Hague / Rotterdam SEPTEMBER 2016
Fr Michael Corcoran Fr Des McGillicuddy Fr Jimmy Lindero Fr Michael Corcoran
1 – 11: Brazil 1 – 11: Brazil 12 – 16: Development Workshop, Rome 20 – 21: APF-Missio Directors Meeting, Liverpool OCTOBER 2016
Fr Jimmy Lindero General Council General Council Fr Andrew Mukulu
3 – 7: Misean Cara MDO Course, Dublin 5: World Mission Conference 2016, Heythrop College 10 – 28: General Council Meeting 30 October – 4 November: Africa Cluster Meeting NOVEMBER 2016
Fr Michael Corcoran Fr Andrew Mukulu Fr Jimmy Lindero
Uganda (dates to be fixed) 23 - 25 November: Union of Superiors General, Rome 7-11 November: Africa Cluster Meetings and then Cameroon 28 November – 4 December: FABC Plenary Assembly, Sri Lanka
Africa Cluster Meeting
7 – 11 November, Nairobi
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REPORTS ON GENERAL COUNCIL VISITATIONS India On 13th March 2016, Jimmy travelled to India to represent the General Council in several important Society events including the official opening and blessing of the newly constructed 2nd Cycle Formation House in Pune on 17th March, Feast of St. Patrick. The Society in 2003 made a historic venture of opening a 2nd Cycle Formation in Hyderabad, India, but due to the difficulties of obtaining visas for formators, this program was suspended in 2007. The General Chapter 2010 in Kuching recommended the re-opening of this program. Pune was chosen as the new venue because of the presence of a good philosophical – theological institute run by the Jesuits in the place. The 2nd Cycle Program began in a rented house in the middle of the thriving urban set-up with students from Cameroon, Philippines and India. The new Formation House was blessed by Bishop Thomas Dabre of Pune Diocese, who appreciated the positive integration of Mill Hill Students and Formators in the various pastoral ministries of the diocese. Two of the pioneer students in Pune, Michael Mandagiri and Yacob Chilka from Andra Pradesh, took their Perpetual Missionary Oath on the same day and both were ordained Deacons by Pune’s Bishop Emeritus Valerian D’Souza in the evening of the following day. On 19th March, Jimmy presided over the Eucharistic Celebrations in the Formation House in Karunapuram to celebrate the 150th Society Jubilee, which was attended by more than one thousand people coming from various formation houses of other religious orders/congregations in the village, family members of students and friends. Eight students were received to Temporary Membership in the Society. The Mill Hill Members present renewed their Missionary Oath after the Communion Rite. On 1st April, Fr. Arla Ambati from Nalgonda Diocese concluded his long years of missionary service with Mill Hill India. Over the years, he has generously served the Society in various capacities as a member of the formation staff in Karunapuram, as Rector of St. Joseph’s House in Ramanthapur, as Society Bursar and implementer of the building projects in Pune, among others. Fr. Arla handed over the bursary to Joseph Thangaraj on 4th April 2016 in the presence of Jimmy who represented the General Council, Accountant/Auditor, members of the Local Council and Fr. Fritz Neuhauser.
Malaysia From India, Jimmy visited our membership in Kuching, Sibu and Miri from 5th-26th April 2016. One of the main challenges of the local Church in Sarawak is the lack of local vocations to priesthood. Matthews Olili in one of the oldest long houses in Kapit, Sarawak Bishops of both Miri and Sibu are appealing for more Mill Hillers to come to work in their respective diocese. In every place where Mill Hill Missionaries are serving, they promote the active participation of the laity by empowering lay leaders and training local faith teachers and prayer leaders in long houses and kampong. They also encourage and provide opportunities for the young people to take up active roles in the pastoral life of the parish by training them to play musical instruments, introducing them to various methods of 4
prayer and giving them leadership training. The big challenge is to help the local church to grow from an ‘inward-looking to outward looking’ missionary attitude. Our MHMs in Sarawak are also passionate in caring for the immigrants, mostly from Indonesia, who are working in the palm oil plantations. In response to Laudato Si of Pope Francis, the care for and the preservation of the environment are taken seriously in a place where logging and converting forests into palm oil plantations are happening on a daily basis. The Missionary Community of Corpus Christi, a lay missionary initiative of Ivan Fang, has now established their main headquarters in Sentosa, where lay volunteers coming from the Philippines and Malaysia receive initial missionary formation before they are sent to missions in Cambodia and other places in Asia.
Uganda The Jubilee Celebration in Uganda was held on 19th March 2016 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Nsambya, the first parish set up by the Mill Hill Missionaries in Uganda. Andrew represented the General Council. The Jubilee Mass was presided by the Archbishop of Kampala Cyprian Kizito Lwanga. Also present were the Cardinal, the Papal Nuncio, Mill Hillers and many of our Friends. The main celebrant and speakers traced back the significant missionary contribution that Mill Hill made over the years particularly at the beginnings of the Church in Uganda. After Mass, prayers were offered at the graves of the 12 Mill Hillers buried in the parish cemetery. A jubilee placard was sealed on the wall of the Church to commemorate the missionary works of the Mill Hill Missionaries in the country.
South Africa Andrew also travelled to South Africa from 5th to 26th April 2016 to visit our members there. Currently we have 8 members in the Dioceses of Rustenburg and Kroonstad who are involved in various parish-based ministries and chaplaincies on a diocesan level. In a meeting with the Bishop of Kroonstad, Bishop Peter Holiday expressed his appreciation of the pivotal role our members are playing in his Diocese and cited their laudable dedication to their ministries. He renewed a call for more members to be appointed there, due to the many needs of the Diocese. Currently, youth ministry and formation of lay leadership are some of the key focuses of ministry for the Members. During his visit, Andrew held a general meeting with the Members and discussed issues pertaining to the mission in South Africa. Facilitating the process of reconciliation in the post-apartheid era was a key element in starting the mission in South Africa. In the meeting, the need for all the members to keep the element of reconciling the formerly racially divided communities at the forefront of their activities was reiterated. On the 20th April Andrew travelled to Cape Town where he met John Melhuish and the Archbishop of Cape Town, Stephen Brislin, a close friend of Mill Hill and a former Bishop of Kroonstad Diocese. He expressed the wish to have Mill Hill Missionaries in his Archdiocese.
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British Region During his visitation, Des met with 46 Members and 2 Associates in the British Region, in Freshfield (Herbert House and Red Gables), Formby, Maidenhead, parishes in the North-West of England and North Wales, and places of special ministry in different parts of the country. Issues for the Region include: (a) Leadership: As in other Regions in Europe and in the North America Area, few MHMs are available or are willing to assume leadership positions. (b) The sale of the field in Freshfield is progressing well, as the application to sell the land for development has been approved by Sefton Council, and there is a good number of interested buyers. (c) The Regional Council is setting up a committee to examine the possibility of taking on a parish in a challenging mission setting, perhaps even in the Archdiocese of Westminster. (d) APF: There is a threat of a shortage of MHM personnel; at the same time, it is proving increasingly difficult to mark appeals in parishes. Missio and our Society will be carrying out a review of the situation.
Jubilee Celebration in Cardonald, Glasgow
Philippines Michael visited the Philippine mission in April, 2016. Less than a decade ago the Mill Hill Missionaries charted new territory in Turda by taking on an apostolate amongst the Tagbanwa indigenous people who are in the minority. In place is a multi- cultural team from Uganda, India and Cameroon giving witness in the very best tradition of our Mill Hill Society in choosing by preference to work among those ‘most abandoned and in greatest need’ quoting our Founder Cardinal Vaughan in this our 150th Jubilee year of our foundation. Pope Francis speaks about a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it is out on the streets…reaching out beyond its own comfort zone to those in need throughout the world especially the poor and this is exactly what happened in the past few years when Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as Yolanda) hit this area of the Philippine Islands. Together with Caritas International our missionaries were very much involved in providing and distributing assistance to vulnerable communities.
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In reaching out to the people our missionaries travel by a boat called ‘The Mill Hill Trail Blazer’ in order to visit the many islands that form the parish of Turda. Our cherished links continue with the Archdiocese of Jaro and San Jose de Antique where our missionaries are involved in a variety of ministries.
Kenya As General Superior Michael was privileged to participate in celebrations marking the 150 year jubilee of our foundation both in Kenya and the Philippine Islands. Our missionaries began the great work of evangelisation in Kenya in 1902 among the peoples near Lake Victoria. Our arrival in the Philippine Islands in 1906 was marked by the death of one missionary soon after arrival the very same year. Both in Kenya and the Philippines the local Church publicly sang the praises of past Mill Hill Missionaries and demonstrated a genuine affection and respect for the work our Mill Hill Society has done in the past. It’s a song Michael has heard in other countries he has visited including Pakistan and India – a wealth of missionary experience and effort bearing broad and rich testimony to our Mill Hill motto ‘to love and to serve’. In these days our presence in so many areas where we have worked decreases as Christ’s Church increases, yet as this story appears to come to an end, a new story is emerging. The local church has reached a stage where they, too, want to send out missionaries to continue our missionary tradition. What greater gift from God can we ask for than to have these young missionaries as our future with many more to follow? During his recent visit to Kenya, Michael received four young men into our Mill Hill Society on 21st May 2016, as Perpetual Members. We rejoice.
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New Perpetual Members L-R David Masiga (Kenya), Cosmas Ondari (Kenya), Chrysantus Munu (Cameroon), George Odero (Kenya)
MISAL Meeting Michael also attended the MISAL meeting in Mexico City from 5th – 9th April 2016 which allowed time for reflection by the participants on Evangelii Gaudium and Laudato Si. It was also an opportunity to bring up issues that concern many of the MISAL members particularly this time around Insurance, finances and lines of approach and action as we care for our Common Home as found in ‘Laudato Si’.”
Asian Cluster Meeting This was held from 3rd to 6th May 2016 in Iloilo which was attended by Michael and Jimmy together with 8 Members from various places in Asia Mission. Reports from various mission areas (India, Malaysia, Pakistan and The Philippines) were presented. There was a time for giving feedback from Chapter 2015 and discussions on ‘Residence of General Council’, ‘Subsidiarity’, ‘Retirement’, ‘Safeguarding’ and ‘Care of Members’. The participants then addressed the topic of ‘Possible Expansion to New Missions in Asia’. In this context, they drafted a recommendation to the General Council to take seriously the proposal to consider Cambodia as a possible MHM missionary Asian outreach. The meeting in Iloilo proposed that Jimmy choose one of the Society Representatives from Asia to accompany him on a visit to Cambodia to assess the situation. Other issues were also discussed at the meeting like a pastoral presence in Iloilo especially to offer pastoral exposure to students in formation, possibility of Filipino students to take summer pastoral exposure in Malaysia, the need for internationality in all mission areas, the frequency of Asia Cluster Meetings, inclusion of a sub-meeting on formation between Philippines and Malaysia, local leave, mission fund and pensions. The final evaluation of the meeting itself was very favourable.
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Editor’s Meeting Jimmy chaired the Editors’ Meeting in Maidenhead, held from 17th to 20th May 2016. On the first day, Richard Owens gave a review of the Society’s publications in Europe and the Society’s website, followed by a sharing of his insights into Information Technology and its relevance for the Society. This was followed by a report on each publication: St. Joseph’s Advocate (Ireland), Advocate (Scotland), Contactblad (Netherlands), Missionsbote (GSR), the Central Newsletter and the Society Website and Social Media. The editors made a series of recommendations to the General Council: to take photos on their journeys and upload to Flickr, select a correspondent person in every mission area, link up electronically with the editors of local MHM magazines during the next Editors Meeting, Fons Eppink to continue his annual visits to mission areas, encourage and support the Society publications in Africa and Asia which are already well produced, and the Editors Meeting to occur on a yearly basis, among others. Jimmy on behalf of the General Council thanked our Society Editors and highlighted the value of their missionary work. Members are encouraged to upload their photos to Society Flickr. The link can be found at the Society website.
SOCIETY 150TH JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE The Society-wide celebration was held in Westminster Cathedral on 19th March, attended by up to 2,000 people, and presided by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, with the presence of Michael and Des from the General Council. There was a tremendous response to the call to celebrate the Jubilee in the different Regions and Mission Areas of the Society. These were all reported on the Society’s website. A number of special Jubileerelated publications were produced. Apart from the Society publication, ‘Mill Hill Missionaries’, the Dutch Region produced a book entitled ‘Er komt altijd een nieuwe bron’. Various other Regions and Areas produced special magazines and/or special editions of their current magazines. The Society website features a series of videoed interviews of MHMs, also a video on the Jubilee produced in India, and a host of special articles. The General Council would like to acknowledge the efforts and energies of all the Members, Associates and Friends who made our Jubilee Celebrations across the globe a success. Kudos to all! 9
APPOINTMENTS Jos Boerkamp, re-appointed Society Finance Secretary, for three years, effective 1st July 2016. Fons Eppink, re-appointed Society Correspondent and Website Administrator, for three years, effective 1st October 2016. Ephraim Odhiambo, appointed Consultor to the Society Representative in South Africa, effective from 15th June 2016 until 16th December, 2016. Pat Murray, re-appointed Bursar of the Irish Region, for three years, effective 1st July 2016. Dignum Marcus, withdrawn from Brazil and appointed to the Dutch Region, effective 1st July 2016. Michael Mandagiri, appointed to the Archdiocese of Bamenda, effective 1st January 2017. Yacob Chilka, appointed to the Parish of Pargi in the Archdiocese of Hyderabad, India, effective 1 st January 2017. Nicholas Abba Shirsath, withdrawn from Cameroon and appointed to be Assistant Formator in Pargi Orientation Centre, for a three-year period, effective 1st July 2016. Bernard Fox, appointed Rector of St Joseph’s House, Cardonald, for three years, effective 1st August 2016. Domingo Arnaiz, re-appointed Society Representative in The Philippines for three years, effective 1st August 2016. Gopal Sleevaraj Manchanapally, appointed Consultor to the Society Representative in the Philippines, for three years, effective 1st August 2016. Abner Dimo, appointed Consultor to the Society Representative in the Philippines, for three years, effective 1st August 2016. Mario Dimapilis, appointed Consultor to the Society Representative in the Philippines, for three years, effective 1st August 2016. Martien van Leeuwen, re-appointed Regional of the Dutch Region, for three years, effective 15th August 2016. Arie Braak, re- appointed Consultor to the Regional in the Dutch Region, for three years, effective 15th August 2016. Toos Beentjes, re- appointed Consultor to the Regional in the Dutch Region, for three years, effective 15th August 2016. Theo Geurtsen, re- appointed Consultor to the Regional in the Dutch Region, for three years, effective 15th August 2016. RenÊ Graat, re- appointed Consultor to the Regional in the Dutch Region, for three years, effective 15th August 2016. 10
Dorus Wübbels, appointed Consultor to the Regional in the Dutch Region, for three years, effective 15th August 2016. Robert O’Neil, appointed Society Representative in North America for three years, effective 1st August 2016. Brian Coffey, appointed Consultor to the Society Representative in North America, for three years, effective 1st August 2016. Willem Klaver, appointed Consultor to the Society Representative in North America, for three years, effective 1st August 2016.
MISSIO DIRECTOR
The Holy See appointed Tony Chantry, MHM to the position of National Director of Pontifical Missionary Society of England and Wales for five years. ‘We congratulate Tony on this appointment knowing that he brings to the position a wealth of experience. The unique relationship that exists between the Superior General and the Director of APF/Missio together with the mandate of Chapter 2015 will be further strengthened by this appointment.’ – Michael Corcoran, MHM
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ORDINATIONS TO TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE Pune, India Congratulations to Rev. Yacob Chilka and Rev. Michael Mandagiri, both from Andra Pradesh, India who were ordained Deacons by Bishop Valerian D'Souza, Bishop Emeritus of Pune, on 18 th March 2016 at Divine Mercy Parish, Wadgaon, Pune. Nairobi, Kenya The following will be ordained deacons on 20th August 2016 at Shauri Moyo Parish at 10:00 a.m. by Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe of Kakamega Diocese.
Chrysantus Mbiemieh Munu from Bamenda, Cameroon Cosmas Omboto Ondari from Kisii, Kenya David Masiga Odonya from Eldoret, Kenya George Omuto Odero, Homabay, Kenya
Congratulations!
FAREWELL AND WELCOME AT THE SOCIETY’S FINANCE OFFICE Richard Cotter who has been the Society’s Accountant since 2002 retired from the post on 12th July 2016. The General Council and Finance Secretary wish to record their gratitude for his loyal and invaluable service during that time, and wish him a long and happy retirement. Richard’s post is being taken over by Christabelle Mathews. We welcome Christabelle to her new assignment and wish her well. David Barnes who has helped one day a week doing specialist accountancy work in the Finance Office since the Generalate came to Maidenhead, is also leaving at this time. We wish him a long and enjoyable retirement. Much of his activities are temporarily taken over by Trish Glenn, the accountant for the British Region. Jos Boerkamp sent around a letter advising all concerned about the above changes in personnel in the Society Finance Office.
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L-R Richard, Jos, Christabelle and David taken during the Ruby Jubilee Celebration of Jos in Colby Gardens, Maidenhead
SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE ‘TABLET’ MAGAZINE The Finance Office has received messages from some Members that they had received renewal reminders of their subscription to The Tablet Magazine. All Tablet subscriptions have been duly paid through the Society’s Finance Office. We brought this problem to the attention of the Marketing Manager of The Tablet, who apologised and explained that due to a glitch in the system anyone whose subscription had been renewed around March this year had wrongly been sent recently these reminder letters. The Finance Office would like to assure the Members who have subscribed to The Tablet through the Finance Office that they will continue to receive copies of The Tablet for the remaining period of their subscription. If, by any chance, you are not receiving your copy of The Tablet please inform the Finance Office.
65+ SEMINAR The General Council would like to confirm that the 65+ Course will take place at the Benedictine Monastery at Bevilacqua, Rome on 9th – 30th September 2017. The organising team is composed of Bernard Fox, Liam Cummins and Sr. Sally Hyland, MSHR. The team will invite resource people to give input on a range of themes. Please get in touch with your Regional/Society Representative or a member of the General Council if you wish to participate – there are still a few vacancies left.
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OBITUARIES
FR. STUART ALLAN who died in a tragic car accident on 9th May 2016 in Belgium. He was a former Mill Hill Student who later was ordained in Dutch diocese Den Bosch.
Editor: Jimmy Lindero, MHM Contact: gc-asia@millhillmissionaries.com Website: www.millhillmissionaries.com
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