JIM DEEDS

WITH EYES WIDE OPEN

JIM DEEDS

Going round the houses

CHRISTMAS VISITS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS REMIND US OF WHO WE REALLY ARE.

An important part of our family Christmas experience over the years has been visiting friends and family. We would do so with an air of excitement, warmth and nostalgia. We get ourselves ready with presents and cards and make the rounds. On Christmas Day itself, this would have entailed meeting at my parents' house around 1 pm, coinciding with my brothers and sister and their families. It was always a joyous gathering. Even though we talk almost daily on the phone or message on social media, we would all come together only on these special occasions. There was always hugging, laughing, eating, and yet more laughing, singing and a bit more laughing for good measure.

Before Christmas day and on the days after, there would be visits to aunties and cousins, godchildren and friends. Some of these lovely people we would not have seen in quite some time. Relationships would be rekindled when we met up, given life through conversation and contact. Beautiful stuff!

Last year was so different for all of us as there was no going round the houses for any of us at all. We had one small gathering in my sister's house on Christmas night for an hour or so, as per government guidelines here in the North and in line with our desire to keep each other safe and well. This year may see the return of some of our ability to go round the houses, but not all such ability will likely be returned to us. We live in strange and difficult times. It may well be that, for many of us, we will have to 'go' virtually to loved ones' houses this year via the various online platforms we can avail of.

But why do we do it? Why do we go round the houses when it is an option for us?

That is a question I wrestled with a couple of years ago, along with a group of Year 9 and Year 12 boys in St Mary's Christian Brothers School in Belfast. I am lucky to be asked to visit the school occasionally to speak about faith and life. So, on this visit, I asked the boys why we call to people's houses around Christmas and the New Year.

They came up with really great answers. Some said they went round the houses because they got something in return. Fair enough, when we call with people, we often get a gift or some nourishment (food, drinks, love).

More said they called round the houses because they loved the people they visited. Whoa! That was a really good one, and it was even better for a bunch of 13-16-year-old boys to share it. We visit someone's house because we want to meet people we love. We remembered grannies and aunties and close friends in our conversation together.

One boy said that we call in order to see people who know all about us. I took this to mean that they hold a little bit of the stories of our lives (and in return, we hold a little bit of their stories too). We can reminisce with them. Grannies will say, 'Ah, I remember when you were only a wee baby' or, 'I can't believe you've grown up so much.' Friends will recall stories of adventures past. All this reminds us of who we really are. That's it, isn't it? Going round the houses reminds us of who we really are. And it is good to be there.

Whose houses will you go to this Christmas if you can physically or virtually? Bring them to your mind now. Hold them in love in your mind. Be thankful for them and for the times you have shared with them in the past and will share with them again, please God, in the future.

Now, remember those who do not have anyone to visit or to visit them this Christmas. So many people are lonely in our world. Perhaps you could think of someone you could visit or phone or video call?

Of course, on my journeys this Christmas time I will go to another house too. One where I will be fed and nourished. It is a house where I will experience love, joy and mercy (boy, do I need mercy!). It is a house that holds the story of who I am. Of course, I'm speaking of the house of God. This visit will be the central one of my Christmas visits. I invite you this year to think about making this visit too at some stage over the Christmas season, in whatever life situation you find yourself – even if you find yourself angry at God, angry at the church, or even disbelieving. Why not make a visit and give it a go? I believe you will encounter peace, quiet and healing there.

And if you can't do that this year, can I invite you to try one other thing? At some stage over the Christmas season, take a minute or two to yourself. Go to a quiet place and close your eyes. Spend a moment or two just breathing and letting yourself be carefree and centred on the present moment. In the quiet:

Call one thing to mind that is worrying you: ask God to help you with it

Call two people to mind who make you smile: hold them in love

Call three things to mind that you are really thankful for: give thanks to God

Just try it. I guarantee you it will not do you any harm. It will not spoil your Christmas. It will not take you away from the turkey for too long. And if it goes ok, why not make it a New Year's resolution to repeat this and grow this time in your life? May 2022 be a good year for us all.

Belfast man Jim Deeds is a poet, author, pastoral worker and retreat-giver working across Ireland.

The importance of light

THE SYMBOL OF LIGHT IS CENTRAL TO THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS AND TO THE CHRISTIAN STORY

BY MARIA HALL

Light is essential for life. It is our most important source of energy. The power of the sun allows us to breathe, keeps us warm, makes plants grow, creates the weather, and enables us to see our way around. It also gives us days and nights and so marks the passage of time.

Until the invention of electricity, this force of nature has been at the centre of civilisation. Our ancestors lived an outdoor life, and hunting for animals, growing crops, indeed their very survival, depended on the weather and the power of the sun, which gave heat and light, and food. The winter months were difficult as the days got shorter, and so the middle of December marked the promise of better times to come. More daylight and better weather was, therefore, a great cause for celebration, the triumph of light over darkness.

As soon as the days started to lengthen, everyone celebrated by lighting fires, drinking ale and feasting. Norse people thought of the sun as a large wheel that turned during the seasons. This wheel was called houl, which is the origin of yule. So our own winter traditions have ancient roots. In Britain, mistletoe was seen as a symbol of life in the dark winter months.

The Roman celebration of Saturnalia marked midwinter over 400 years before Christ was born. It was a week-long festival which ended on the shortest day, originally December 25. On that day, everyone feasted, and even slaves were given the day off. Candles were lit, and gifts were exchanged.

Pagan festivals such as these have provided reasons for the date of Christ's birth. December 25 is a traditional rather than an accurate date. There are anomalies in the Christmas story, such as the shepherds in the fields. It would have been too cold in mid-December, and they would not have been minding their sheep outside as accounts suggest. But that date creates a pleasing synergy; six months before, we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist on June 24, close to the summer solstice when days begin to shorten. This is echoed in John 3:30, where he says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” By adopting already established mid-winter pagan festivals, Christmas lessened their importance. The symbolism of the recurring theme of light overcoming the darkness cannot be lost.

SCRIPTURE AND LIGHT

In the Old Testament, light represents the presence of God. God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and to the Israelites in the pillar of flame. God gave instructions to Moses that the lamp stand in the Holy of Holies should be kept lit at all times and by all generations.

In the Psalms, we read, “The Lord is my light and my salvation," and “The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes." In the Book of Samuel, the Lord is a lamp that turns darkness into light.

Our Advent Sunday readings anticipate the arrival of the light of the Lord. Isaiah says, “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord." St Paul tells the Romans, “The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon… let us arm ourselves and appear in the light."

The readings of the Christmas Masses are full of the light metaphor. At Midnight Mass, we hear the great Isaiah passage, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; on those who live in a land of shadow, a great light has shone." Isaiah explains that out of a life of strife and desolation, the light of God will overcome and save.

Understanding the image of light dispelling the darkness

is central to understanding the incarnation. Christ's birth brings the promise of peace and everlasting life, and those who believe are bathed in the light of Christ. Those who haven't heard or do not believe remain in the darkness. Every year, we have the opportunity to hear again and believe with renewed fervour.

The second reading of the Mass on Christmas Day is from the letter to the Hebrews and tells us, “He is the radiant light of God's glory and the perfect copy of his nature." The Gospel acclamation announces, “Come you nations, worship the Lord, for today a great light has shone down upon the earth." It is a perfect prelude to the gospel from John:

All that came to be had life in

Him and that life was the light of men.

A light that shines in the dark,

A light that darkness could not overpower.

The Word was the true light that enlightens all people.

The collects of the Christmas masses help us put the truth of scripture into our lives. The collect for Midnight Mass says:

O God, who have made this most sacred night, radiant with the splendour of the true light, grant, we pray, that we who have known the mysteries of his light on earth, may also delight in his gladness in heaven.

And during the Mass at Dawn, we pray that “as we are bathed in the new radiance of your incarnate Word, the light of faith, which illumines our minds, may also shine in our deeds."

SOME TRADITIONS

Advent has been celebrated since the fifth century. For a long time, it was a period of fasting and prayer, and candles are very recent. The candles of the Advent wreath remind us that Jesus is the light of the world and that, as Christians, we also are meant to shine so that people may see our good works (Matthew 5). As Christ's coming draws closer, extra candles are lit, gradually dispelling the darkness.

The themes of hope, faith, joy and peace are represented in the candles. This tradition began in Germany in the 19th century. Originally there were 24 candles, and the wreath was fashioned from a cartwheel.

There is no evidence that the early church marked Christmas to any great degree. In fact, marking birthdays was a pagan custom, so they may have actively avoided doing so. The emphasis was on the Parousia, the Second Coming (Christ was expected soon!), so remembering Jesus' birth wasn't a priority. Pope Julius finally settled the date in AD350.

The Christmas story itself has inspired practices and traditions involving light. During the Middle Ages, it was customary to represent the star of Bethlehem with a large candle.

That bright star marked the place where Jesus was born and led the wise men to Jesus. It symbolises the truth that Christ is a guiding light for all time. Jesus tells us that if we follow him, we will have the light of life (John 8). In Revelation 21, Jesus refers to himself as the Morning Star. The appearance of the morning star means that day is about to break, and the sun will soon appear. This is symbolic of the resurrection, the light of Christ conquering the darkness, but it also reminds us that he will come again. We can't see the birth of Christ without the bigger picture of God's plan for salvation. Stars and lights on our Christmas trees don't just look pretty; they remind us of this message.

AN IRISH TRADITION

In Penal times, Catholics practised their faith in fear of their lives. To have a priest visit your house was dangerous. Families wished that at least once, a priest would visit them at Christmas time. They placed a candle in the window to indicate their intent to any passing priest. To the authorities, it was nothing but a harmless custom to welcome Joseph and Mary into their homes and was permitted. In fact, it was an outward sign of faith, of welcome, and a desire to meet the Lord.

Though we don't live with that fear today, we can still light a candle and share our faith with all who see it.

CHRISTINGLE

The Christingle originated in 18th-century Germany. John de Watteville, a Moravian minister, gave the children a candle with a red ribbon around it, representing Jesus as the light of the world. He prayed, “Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these children's hearts that theirs like thine become." The custom spread quickly, and today the candle stands in an orange, representing the world, and the red ribbon reminds us of the blood Christ shed for us. Sticks and sweets represent the four corners of the earth and the fruits of the earth. This is a growing tradition amongst Catholics and a lovely activity for young children.

A FRESH LOOK AT LIGHT

The image of light is a central theme of Christianity, not just Christmas. Knowing that we will have the light of life if we follow Christ should fill us with constant, unbounded joy. But life gets in the way, and we forget, and we live in an age where light is taken for granted and is controlled by technology. Let's not lose the significance of its meaning:  Listen for, and reflect upon the meaning of light in the readings and prayers of Christmastide. Listen to carols with fresh ears, for phrases such as, “Son of God, love's pure light," “Lo we saw a wondrous light," “God of God, light of light," “Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light."  Enjoy decorating your house and trees with lights, remembering their real significance. Explore and enjoy the use of light in famous works of art: The Adoration of the Shepherds by Guido Reni, and The Nativity at Night by Geertgen tot Sint Jans (on nationalgallery.org there is a beautiful video).

Maria Hall is music director at St Wilfrid's Church, Preston, England. A qualified teacher, she has a Master’s from the Liturgy Centre, Maynooth and is a consultant on matters liturgical for schools and parishes. https:// www.mariahall.org/

things to tell your young ones about Christmas10 that you won’t find in a cracker

For the first three centuries of Christianity, the church did not celebrate Christmas. The major church festival was Easter-Pentecost. It was only in the fourth century AD that the church began to celebrate the events connected with the birth of Jesus. 1

Nobody knows the actual date of Jesus’ birth. Based on Matthew’s Gospel and the references to King Herod the Great, the accepted year of Jesus’ birth is 4 BC, according to our modern Gregorian calendar.

2

3It’s very unlikely that Jesus was born in

December or in winter, for Luke tells us that the shepherds were out in the fields with their sheep. This is something Palestinian shepherds did not do in wintertime.

4The date of December 25 has to do with the winter solstice. For the pagan Romans this astronomical phenomenon became an event of religious significance. They turned the solstice into a two-week religious festival in which they celebrated the birthday of Sol Invictus (The Unconquerable Sun). As with many other pagan Roman feasts, the early Christians took it over and sanctified it as the festival of the birthday of the Son of God.

Our word 'Christmas' comes from the Old English Christes Mæsse, which means 'Christ’s Mass.' The first recorded use of Christes Mæsse dates from 1038 AD.

5

7The Season of Christmas contains four main feasts. These are the Feast of the

Nativity of the Lord, the Feast of the Holy

Family, the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord and the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

The Feast of the Nativity celebrates the birth of Jesus. It has three different liturgical celebrations in one day: Midnight Mass,

Dawn Mass and Daytime Mass.

The Feast of the Holy Family (December 26, 2021) recalls that Jesus grew and matured as part of a human family.

The Solemnity of the Epiphany (January 6, 2022) celebrates not just the arrival of the wise people from the East with their gifts to worship the young child, but also God’s appearing (Epiphany means manifestation or showing) among us as one like ourselves in the flesh and blood of Jesus.

The Christmas season ends with the Baptism of the Lord. This celebrates Jesus’ baptism when he came face to face with his identity and calling and then began his mission.

6While the commercial Christmas ends with the close of business on Christmas

Eve, the liturgical Season of Christmas begins on Christmas Eve with Midnight

Mass and continues until the Feast of the

Baptism of the Lord, (which takes place this season on January 9, 2022). School nativity plays often emphasise how the hard-hearted innkeepers of Bethlehem turned away Mary and Joseph in their hour of need. But there is nothing about this in the Gospel. Inns in those times were often crowded places without privacy. Guests slept in a large room, unrolling their bedding on the floor. There was also accommodation for the travellers’ animals, in much the same way as a modern hotel has a garage. A woman about to have a baby would hardly want to deliver her child in a crowded public sleeping space and might have sought the privacy of a corner of the space where the animals were tethered.

8

Leaving a candle in the window is a common Christmas Eve tradition in Ireland. It is not only a symbol of welcome to Mary and Joseph as they journeyed looking for shelter but also of hospitality to any stranger seeking shelter.

The Christmas crib dates back to St Francis of Assisi. On Christmas Eve 1293 the first crib was built in the woods of Greccio near Assisi. 10

The Taking of Christ by Caravaggio 1602 (discovered in August 1990, in the dining room of one of the houses of the Jesuit Fathers on Leeson Street, Dublin)

CA VAGGIO’S

WONDERFUL LEGACY

FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS AFTER HIS BIRTH, CARAVAGGIO'S PAINTINGS CONTINUE TO ENCHANT VIEWERS IN CHURCHES, CONVENTS AND MUSEUMS

BY MICHAEL COLLINS

Michelangelo da Caravaggio was born in 1571 in the northern Italian region of Lombardy. His father, Fermo, was tutor to the children of the aristocratic Sforza family. As a young boy, Michelangelo was introduced to the Colonna and Borromeo families, both of which had strong ties with the papacy. Trained as a painter, Michelanglo's talent was recognised by the Marchese di Sforza, and letters of recommendation were provided for him to the papal court. This was the type of break every young artist of the era yearned for, as the popes were notable patrons of the arts. In mid-1592, the 21-year-old Caravaggio left for Rome, where Pope Clement VIII (15921605) had been elected some six months

earlier. The papal city provided important opportunities for skilled artists. In the wake of the Catholic Reformation and following new norms laid down by the Council of Trent, a renewed and robust Catholicism used art as a weapon and catechetical tool to combat Protestant teaching.

Paintings of biblical scenes or of the saints stirred up the people's faith. There was a veritable explosion of church building in Rome under Jesuit patronage, and religious orders continuously searched for new talent.

Another fortunate encounter came when Caravaggio met Costanza Colonna, the daughter of Marcantonio Colonna, the admiral of the fleet that won victory over the Turkish forces at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. She gave Caravaggio temporary accommodation on his arrival in Rome, and the two formed a close friendship. A further fortuitous encounter occurred when the young artist met Anna Borromeo, niece of Pope Pius IV and sister of St Charles Borromeo. Such patronage would not have gone unnoticed in the city of intrigue. It would assuredly have helped the young artist find work.

POVERTY

Despite these important introductions, early biographers noted that Caravaggio's early years were marked by poverty and, for the first two years, he worked in an artist's studio as an assistant. Finally, the young man came to the attention of Cardinal Del Monte, a patron of Galileo, who lived at the Palazzo Madama, the stately home which now houses the Italian government.

Del Monte invited Caravaggio to enter his household at the palazzo, and here the young painter produced a series of religious and street scene canvases. In several of these early Roman works, the artist used a couple of male models whom he painted as street urchins or angels.

The cardinal gave his young protégé a space to paint in and provided pigments. In return, the artist painted several scenes for his patron. The quality of his work improved dramatically, and his output increased. Already Michelangelo Buonarotti had pioneered a change of painting style in the mid-16th century, imbuing his figures with life, even to the extent of distortion. Caravaggio preferred a more realistic depiction of his subjects to the Classicism of the past. From 1598, Caravaggio painted more overtly religious canvases, clearly chasing after religious patrons.

Between 1599 and 1600, Caravaggio worked on his most ambitious project – three large oil canvases for the Contarelli Chapel in San Luigi dei Francesi, the French church in Rome. The chapel was dark, and Caravaggio solved the lighting problem by a heightened use of chiaroscuro, the dramatic contrast of light and shade in paint. Raphael had already developed the style almost a century earlier, but Caravaggio developed it much further.

WONDEROUS PAINTINGS

The larger canvases on the lateral walls were

23

The Entombment of Christ by Caravaggio 1603-1604 (The Virgin Mary is depicted for the first time as a middle-aged woman)

the Calling of St Matthew and The Martyrdom of St Matthew, while the smaller canvas, The Dictation of the Gospel, faced into the church. The effect was akin to an image caught in theatre spotlights. These were the very years in which the first operas were composed in Italy. Figures emerged from the dusky backgrounds, their faces, limbs and clothes lit by lamps from the side. After the unveiling of the two large canvasses, swarms of Romans came to see the wonderous paintings.

Two years later, when Caravaggio finished the chapel with The Dictation of the Gospel, public taste turned. Objections were raised as the artist had used an elderly peasant for the evangelist. Matthew's calloused feet and wrinkled face were judged as too lifelike and bearing no resemblance to a saint. Caravaggio probably saw the feet as those of a man who had journeyed along stony roads, preaching the Gospel.

Similar objections had been raised in 1600 when a horse's rump figured in The Road to Damascus. A man's hindquarters, extending from the lower quarter of The Crucificion of St Peter (1601) were prominently displayed. Both were eventually installed in the Cerasi Chapel in Santa Maria Del Popolo. This was the first church that the thousands of pilgrims who flocked to Rome for the Holy Year of 1600 saw on their arrival at the Porta Del Popolo.

The following year, with The Entombment of Christ, Caravaggio broke another artistic taboo. Tradition dictated that the Virgin Mary be always depicted in her youth. Here, the mother of Jesus is clearly a middle-aged woman. Her wrinkled face is burnt by the sun. His model was evidently from the lower classes.

In 1604, Caravaggio unveiled the Madonna dei Pelligrini at the church of Sant Agostino beside Piazza Navona. Here Mary is depicted off-centre, holding the infant Jesus, who is evidently far too big for his mother's comfort. Mary is depicted with crossed legs, leaning against the lintel of a decrepit house. This was in stark contrast with the serene depictions of the Madonna in the High Renaissance.

DISASTER

Despite the often hostile public reaction, Caravaggio continued to obtain prestigious and well-paid contracts. But in 1606, his fortune changed dramatically. On May 29, he killed a young man, Ranuccio Tomassoni, during a brawl. The motive is lost in history. Caravaggio fled Rome for Naples, where he was sheltered by members of the Colonna family. Although a refuge from justice, Ranucci's family seem not to have pursued revenge. Almost immediately, Caravaggio picked up lucrative commissions, although he left some months later for Malta.

It may have been during this sojourn that he became a Knight of Malta, but his membership was short-lived. Within months he was expelled for inappropriate behaviour, although the motive was not revealed.

Unwelcome now on the small island of Malta, Caravaggio sailed for nearby Sicily. His reputation as an artist preceded him, and soon he began painting a number of large canvases. After nine months, however, he left Sicily for Naples. He may have wished to enlist the Colonna family's help in obtaining a pardon from the pope for the killing of Tomassoni. Encouraging news from the papal court indicated that his exile would end when he arrived in Rome. Landing at Port Ercole, north of the Eternal City, Caravaggio died, close to the shore. The cause of his death is unknown, although theories include malaria and lead poisoning. The papal pardon arrived from Pope Paul V three days after Caravaggio's death.

POPULAR PAINTER

Four centuries after his death, Caravaggio is now one of the most popular artists of all time. There is a sexual allure to his paintings that resonates with contemporary society. His skill with theatrical lighting is impressive and spawned a school of chiaroscuro followers. But his contribution to the Catholic faith should not be underestimated. In the decades following the Protestant Reformation, Caravaggio and his contemporaries bolstered up devotion to the saints. His depiction of episodes from the Bible often educated illiterate viewers. Several religious orders, notably the Jesuits, Redemptorists and Barnabites, were formed in the aftermath of the Reformation.

The first oratorio, The Representation of the Soul and Body, by Cavalieri was given in Rome in 1600. Caravaggio and the artists he inspired and worked with played a vital part in re-establishing the Catholic faith following a long period of decline and stagnation. The 450th anniversary of his birth is a cause for celebration and appreciation of the master of light and shade.

Fr Michael Collins is a priest of the Archdiocese of Dublin. He is a graduate of University College Dublin. He has written and edited award-winning books, which have been translated into 12 languages.

BURYING THE DEAD

IN MOZAMBIQUE IN THE TIME OF COVID

LIFE IN FURANCUNGO PARISH IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

BY BRIAN HOLMES CSsR

The new Redemptorist church at Furancungo

We live in a parish called Furancungo, which is bigger than County Cork, with over 200,000 inhabitants. About 28,000 are participating Catholics. Like the rest of the world, we had to batten down the hatches during the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily, we suffered less in our area than in the rest of the country. Mozambique has a population of around 33 million. At the end of September, we had a total of 1,900 registered deaths from Covid. To compare, Ireland, with a population of five million people, has over 5,200 deaths. Ireland has registered 1,000 deaths per million people, while Mozambique has registered 57 deaths per million.

In an impoverished country with very precarious health care structures, how did we escape? There are lots of maybes. Maybe because we are off the beaten track, in an inaccessible mountainy region. Maybe because the people live their lives outdoors; they rarely go back into their tiny houses once they get up in the early morning. They cook, work, and wash themselves and their clothes in the open air. Some think that generations of people trying to survive malaria may have developed some immunity. Possibly a lot more died but were never identified. Maybe malaria eliminates the weaker citizens with chronic illnesses, the most vulnerable. Whatever the explanation, only one woman, Dona Dereva, in the whole parish died from COVID -19. And she was a Catholic.

In this part of the world, funerals have a profound impact on our lives. In the community, everybody and everything stops, schools close, market stalls are abandoned, all work is suspended, and everybody participates in the traditional funeral rituals. I won't go into all these rituals in detail, but while the government tried to limit the number of people at a funeral to 20, this was ignored in our parish and all over Mozambique. There were never less than a thousand people at the funerals that passed by our house, which is on the way to the cemetery.

Because Dereva died of Covid, our Christian leaders were pressured to limit the different rituals. They told me that the local health authorities and the police had insisted that I wasn't to go near the body. Still, the people wanted me to carry out my part of the funeral rituals. One of the key elements for Catholics here is that after the coffin has been made, the women go in procession to bring it to the house where the body has been laid out. There the lay minister or priest, if he can be present, blesses it. As I was not allowed near the body, they asked me to go with the women and bless the coffin in the carpenters' shed. That was a first for me. We blessed the coffin and the carpenters. Then the women carried the coffin, singing and dancing in their funereal mode, to the house where the body was laid out.

Another key moment in the ritual is the blessing of the body, now in the coffin, as it leaves the house and heads for the cemetery. So they asked me to stand on a little hillock near the church and say the prayers of the blessing of the body with the holy water as the funeral passed by, which I did from a little altar with candles and a crucifix.

Finally, there was the challenge of blessing the grave. They got around that by bringing me to the graveyard before the funeral arrived. There, as the men who dug the grave rested in the shade, we blessed the grave, the grave-diggers, and all who were suffering from COVID-19. Then I was whisked away before the funeral was due to arrive.

From this little episode, you can have an idea of how we spent the second year of the pandemic in Furancungo – trying to obey the rules, bending them at times, as the People of God coped creatively with this frightening disease. Despite all the churches being closed for months on end, our people held on, as best they could, to what they really believe in. There is never a dull moment.

Silver Jubilee

OF THE PROVINCE OF CEBU

IT'S 25 YEARS SINCE THE VICE-PROVINCE IN THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES BECAME INDEPENDENT

BY COLM MEANEY CSsR

Baclaran church, national shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help

In December 1905, the first Redemptorist to reach the Philippines arrived by ship into Manila harbour. Fr Andrew Boylan was provincial in Dublin at the time, and he had decided to found a new mission in the Far East. In the years that followed, both Irish and Australian Redemptorists were appointed to the new venture. By 1928, a plan was agreed for their missionary efforts in the vast archipelago: the Australians would conduct missions in the north of the country, beginning in the capital Manila. The Irish would go south and evangelise in the central and southern islands. The Irish arrived in Cebu on June 30, 1906. As time passed, the north evolved into a vice-province of Australia, with both Aussies and Filipinos among its members. To this day, it remains a vice-province due to a lack of numbers. Meanwhile, vocations were greater in the south, so in1996, what had been a vice-province of Dublin became the independent Province of Cebu (the second city of the country and the residence of the provincial). That means that 2021 marks the silver anniversary of the province.

At first, without monasteries of their own, the intrepid early missionaries were given the use of a centuries-old church on the island of Mactan, in the town of Lapulapu – named after the chieftain who had killed the explorer Magellan 500 years earlier. From that church, the Redemptorists went forth on their missions to neighbouring towns and islands. As the decades passed, they acquired land on various islands, eventually establishing 11 foundations (monasteries, churches, and retreat houses) on five islands.

During the early decades, following the tradition of the congregation since the time of St Alphonsus, parish missions were the chief apostolate. I had many fruitful years involved in parish missions. My predecessors were great men dedicated to their task. Here are some words of Fr Barney Casey CSsR, quoting a statement from a man in whose house he was staying during a parish mission: "'Your work is the same as that of Jesus Christ.' I still find great consolation in that affirmation."

Another essential element of any Redemptorist mission soon began – devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. It was an immediate favourite and is now a national devotion.

Later, other Alfonsian ministries were introduced: the giving of retreats to various groups: clergy, nuns, schools. (In the 1960s, three retreat houses were built in Cebu, Iloilo and Bacolod). Eventually parishes were accepted, comprising the villages around a particular monastery. The Redemptorists have been chaplains to the leprosarium in Cebu since before World War II.

By the early 1990s, vocations were in steep decline in Ireland but were steady in the southern Philippines. In addition, the vice-province of Cebu had decided to apply to become independent of Dublin. Almost 90 years after the Irish had arrived in the Philippines, the first Filipino provincial Fr Abdon Josol was elected.

The celebrations on becoming a province were memorable. We were honoured with the presence of a general consultor from Rome, Fr Joseph Tobin, and of the then Irish provincial, Fr Brendan Callanan, as well as many other distinguished guests – not to mention our faithful local supporters. We recalled our forebears in the

Back Row: Brs Gall, Stephen, Richard. Middle Row: Frs Kerlin, Minihan, P.Scott, Madigan, Kearns, Burns, Lawlor, Front Row: Frs Maloney, Ryan, Curran, McMahon, Nulty

congregation, especially those who had begun the mission in the early 20th century, enduring some challenging episodes. We recalled the struggles during the martial law years in the 1970s and 80s and its many victims, including our confrère, Rudy Romano. We thanked the Lord for the many blessings conferred through the years, and then we had a sumptuous meal followed by a cultural programme.

Earlier, the Redemptorist members had a simple ceremony in the grounds of our retreat house in Cebu. Each community from the various islands had brought a small bag of soil. A seedling was planted to commemorate becoming a province, and the soil from each community was mixed among its roots. I saw the mixing of the soil as representing two truths: that becoming a province was a common project, a united effort in which all played some part. The soil also was a reminder that we should be among the lowest, the most humble, and that being among them this new plant, the Province of Cebu, would flourish. The quarter-century since then has seen some fine achievements.

OUTREACH TO KOREA

One of the first accomplishments was opening a mission in Korea in 1991. Spearheaded by three priests, one each from Thailand, Brazil and Cebu, the mission has gone from strength to strength. It was an important undertaking for the fledgling province. The temptation might have been to rest on our laurels and concentrate on our already established ministries. But the lifeblood of any growing organism is to rise to the challenge of going further, being adventurous, taking risks. Not only was the new beginning in Korea symbolic of the innovative character of the province, but it has proven to be a fruitful strategy. Vocations in Korea are steady, and among their apostolates is a ministry to the large number of Filipino workers there.

In the area of formation (training seminarians), two regional projects deserve mention. The novitiate is located in the city of Lipa in Luzon, but it serves the SouthEast Asian region (including the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka). Formators are appointed from these countries.

An even more ambitious project was setting up a Redemptorist theologate in Davao. This serves the Redemptorists and other congregations and is staffed by teachers from various groups (Redemptorists, Franciscan, Benedictine, lay, etc.) and also provides teachers for the local diocesan seminary.

As the regular ministries of the province continue year by year (parish missions, retreats, parishes, formation), there has been a steady stream of other initiatives. In Manila, the Redemptorists run the national

shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. It is truly a massive undertaking, with many thousands attending the novena each Wednesday. Confessions in many different dialects are almost non-stop. For several decades, the Cebu province has sent a confrère to help in Manila. For some decades too, a Redemptorist has also been among the chaplains ministering to the large Filipino populations throughout Italy. A confrère from Cebu assists the Singapore Redemptorists in a parish in Dalat, Sarawak (East Malaysia), while one man also works with Filipino migrants in rural Malaysia.

All in all, I think it's fair to say that the Cebu province is flourishing and well deserves a big splash to celebrate its silver anniversary.

Former Irish Provincial Fr Brendan Callanan taking part in the tree planting ceremony Tacloban 1952: Br Ireland, Frs Collins, Coffey, Corr, Curran, McMahon, Connolly, Power

Your work is the same as that of Jesus Christ

A native of Limerick city where he went to school in St Clement’s College, Fr Colm Meaney CSsR first went to the Philippines as a student and has spent most of his priestly life there.

Letter from the Philippines

WHAT EVER

THE TROPICAL CLIMATE IN THE PHILIPPINES IS VERY DIFFERENT TO WHAT WE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO IN EUROPE

BY COLM MEANEY CSsR

The Philippines, a nation of islands in South-East Asia, is nicely divided into three groups: Luzon (Luz), the large island in the north, where Manila is located; Visayas (Viz), a group of islands roughly in the mid-part of the country, where Cebu is located (where the explorer Magellan met his comeuppance in 1521); and Mindanao (Minda), the large island in the south. The three abbreviations are joined to form Luzviminda, a popular girl's name that has made its way to Ireland. The winner of the 1998 Rose of Tralee was Luzveminda O'Sullivan, from Mayo. (The letters 'i' and 'e' are interchangeable in Filipino spelling).

The country lies entirely north of the equator, stretching about 700 miles from north to south, 400 miles from east to west. The south is quite near the equator, so, therefore, we don't have the glorious, long summer evenings we have in Ireland, nor do we have the short days of darkest winter. Because of its position on the globe, day and night in the Philippines are practically of the same duration throughout the year. Sunrise is around 5.30 am, and sunset is about 5.30 pm, with a brief dawn and dusk.

When you arrive in the Philippines, the first thing that strikes you is the wall of heat as you walk from the plane to the arrivals area, and even more so as you leave the air-conditioned airport terminal and stand in line for a taxi. The heat is unrelenting, but so is the humidity. Even after taking a cold shower, one is soon perspiring.

GEOLOGICAL FEATURES

The country has some notable geological features. Off the eastern coast runs the Philippine Trench, which is deeper than Mount Everest is high. The undersea trench, which is over 700 miles long, is the deepest place on the planet, reaching a depth of 34,000 feet (Everest is 29,000 feet). After the Trench (invisible, needless to say), the next territories one meets going eastward are the islands of Guam, Saipan, and eventually Hawaii. In other words, the eastern flank of the Philippines faces the Pacific Ocean, which can spell trouble.

The two islands most exposed to the vagaries of the Pacific are Leyte and Samar. The former may be familiar as the site where General McArthur landed during World War II. After having been temporarily bested by the Japanese, he had famously declared, "I shall return" – which he subsequently did, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Leyte and Samar experience regular typhoons, but Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013 beat all predictions. It was the mother of all storms, and it is difficult to exaggerate the effects. For example, a huge ship was moved inland simply by the force of the waves and the wind. Our monastery in Tacloban city was sturdily built in the 1950s, so it didn't suffer any real damage, but practically every house around it was reduced to scrap. Numberless trees fell due to the unrelenting winds. Electric poles fell, cables snapped, as a result of which there was no electricity in many areas for many weeks. One isolated town, Guiuan, practically disappeared altogether as it was in the eye of the storm. Little remained of any of the houses and infrastructure of the town of 45,000 people.

I happened to be in Cebu at that time (about 200 miles distant, on another island). In Cebu city, all we experienced were a few broken windows due to severe gusts. But friends 50 miles north of Cebu city texted me to say that being in the path of the typhoon was like being pummelled in a washing machine; the winds were so chaotic, seeming to attack from every direction. Quite a graphic comparison. Irish readers who remember Hurricane Debbie back in September 1961 will have some sense of the force of such a storm.

THE

WEATHER

EARTHQUAKE

Still, as devastating as a typhoon can be, I find the earth quaking under my feet to be even more unsettling. It's a really eerie feeling when the walls of the room you are in begin to tremble; furniture moves, and articles begin to fall. This is the most disturbing side of Mother Nature because you don't know how long it will last or how strong the tremor will be. Most of those I've experienced in the southern Philippines were harmless, but there have been some major quakes in recent years. Is one safer under a door jamb, or is it better to be out of doors?

TWO SEASONS

There are really just two seasons in the Philippines, dry and rainy. We celebrate the annual fiesta of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in late June, part of which is a massive procession along the streets of Manila, Cebu and other cities – an awe-inspiring spectacle worthy of a separate article. But it's always touch-andgo as to whether it will rain or not during the procession because June is typically the start of the rainy season. (Later in the year, the heat returns, and the sun usually splits the rocks on Christmas day.) Those rains are reminiscent of Noah, as if they will continue non-stop for 40 days, thundering earthward in torrential downpours. Good fun for the children in the squatter areas in the cities as they frolic innocently in the floods.

But floods, for all the inconvenience they cause, may also bring blessings. I was in a remote region of the island of Negros in mid-December 2012 when we heard on the radio that there had been severe flooding in Dumaguete (the city where I was officially assigned, about 100 miles from the mission area). We were celebrating the nine days of pre-dawn Masses in preparation for Christmas. I announced, a few days in advance, that I was going to Dumaguete on December 23, and if they wanted to send any food assistance, that would be welcome. The response was most heartening. Almost two sacks of rice were donated, which was gratefully received in the city.

The soil in the Philippines is especially fertile due mainly to the number of volcanoes, the spewing of lava over the millennia guaranteeing a perennially rich harvest, no matter what the crop. Most are now extinct or at least dormant, although, in 1991, there was a mighty eruption of Mt Pinatubo (on the island of Luzon). Volcanic ash reached 22 miles into the atmosphere and spread to many parts of the globe. Amazingly, global temperatures were affected for a few years, so dense was the volcanic ash. Incredibly, only about 350 people died due to the eruption, primarily due to collapsing roofs.

Perhaps any people can recover from a disastrous natural calamity, but Filipinos can do it with aplomb. When Mt Pinatubo erupted, a tremendous amount of volcanic ash was spewed over a large area. This ash is technically called lahar, a greyish viscous substance. It covered churches and other large buildings. In fact, there was something biblical about the lahar's extensive presence. Like the plague of locusts before the Exodus from Egypt, it "shall cover the surface of the soil so thick that the soil will not be seen" (Ex. 10:5) – such was the lahar. So, what do you do with such a vast amount of seemingly useless sludge? The Filipino answer is to use it creatively, which is precisely what they did. Using the hardened lahar, artists sculpted various decorative scenes as memorials of the eruption and as much-needed income. Lovely handiwork, proof that disaster is not the last word.

LIVE THE GOSPEL

Whatever clime we find ourselves in, whether the cloying humidity of the tropics or the more bracing Irish weather, the challenge and privilege is to preach, or better, to live the Gospel. Such was the message to the somewhat timid bishop Timothy: "Preach the word in season and out of season" (2 Tim 4:2). And such was the powerful, heartfelt confession of Paul: "Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel" (1 Cor 9:16)

The effects of Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines, November 2013

A native of Limerick city where he went to school in St Clement’s College, Fr Colm Meaney CSsR first went to the Philippines as a student and has spent most of his priestly life there.

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