ST GERARD’S DIAMOND JUBILEE PAGE 2
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST ALPHONSUS PAGE 7
BEATIFICATION OF BLESSED MARIA CELESTE CROSTAROSA NEWSLETTER OF THE IRISH REDEMPTORISTS
Volume 6 Number 2 • December 2016
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A BLESSING FROM POPE FRANCIS
Pope Francis blesses the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help before it began its national pilgrimage of cathedrals in April and May. Full story page 4
RED CAP FOR RED Congratulations to former superior general of the Redemptorists, Mgr Joseph Tobin, who recently became Cardinal and newly appointed archbishop of Newark, New Jersey. For the full story see page 8
OUR FAMILY GROWS Congratulations to Mark McMullan and Ryan Holovlasky who made their first profession in Toronto, Canada. See page 2
TWO NEW REDEMPTORISTS The Redemptorists welcome new family members 30 July 2016 was a day of celebration when Mark McMullan and Ryan Holovlasky professed their First Vows as Redemptorists in Clonard Monastery, Belfast. The new Redemptorists had successfully completed their Novitiate year in Toronto. Mark and Ryan have now joined the
Redemptorist formation community in Chicago to continue their studies. We ask you to keep Mark and Ryan in your prayers, as well as to pray that more men will discern the Redemptorist way of life. For more about the Redemptorists, please contact us at: vocations@ redemptorists.ie
DIAMOND JUBILEE OF ST GERARD’S, BELFAST
On 9 December, 2016 the Redemptorist Church of St Gerard on the Antrim Road, Belfast, celebrates its diamond jubilee. In 1951 a Victorian villa, Ben Eaden, came on the market when its owner, Major William Adeley, died. Originally part of the Belfast Castle estate, it was situated on a superb woodland site of 33 acres on the side of Cave Hill, overlooking Belfast Lough. The Redemptorists were anxious to acquire a site in this part of the city to build a retreat house as a replacement for Mount St Clement’s in Ardglass, Co. Down. Ardglass was the first Redemptorist retreat house in Ireland. In the years since its inception in 1947, it had proved phenomenally successful, but the old castle was in need of repairs and a site closer to the city was needed. In the political and social world of Belfast in the 1950s, any attempt by a religious order to acquire property usually met with stiff opposition. With the help of a local solicitor, the property was purchased for £14,000. The Adeley family left for England on 29 September 1951, and the
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Redemptorists moved in the same day. The largest ground floor room of the mansion was converted into a temporary chapel, and it was canonically erected in September 1953 as a Redemptorist community under the patronage of St Gerard. The site, on a steep hillside, was not ideal for building, and concrete piles had to be sunk, some as deep as 40 feet. The church of St Gerard was dedicated on 9 December 1956. The upper Antrim Road was a comfortable middle-class area with few Catholics but, by the 1960s, the Catholic population was growing. In 1969, the Redemptorists agreed to take parochial responsibility for a new area carved out from the existing parishes. It was the first time the Irish Redemptorists had taken responsibility for running a parish. The first parish priest was Fr Thomas McKinley, with Fr Patrick McGowan as curate. The present parish priest is Fr Gerry Cassidy with Fr Pat McLaughlin as curate. A retreat house was eventually built on the upper part of the site in 1960, and was closed in 2007.
Mark and Ryan
A NEW REDEMPTORIST COMMUNITY IN DUBLIN
Following the closure of Marianella in January 2016, a new Redemptorist community was formed in Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. It is made up of five confreres, including the Provincial Fr Dan Baragry. While one of the members works with the Travelling community, the Griffith Avenue community is very much a “house of welcome” for Redemptorists from around Ireland as well as those returning from the abroad. We wish the community every blessing in their new home.
The back garden
The new community
OUR TRIP TO ESKER By Niamh, Aibinn, Kerry, Ruth & Nimi Our journey of faith, fun and friendship began the minute we gathered in the carpark of the Redemptorist monastery in Dundalk. As the bus filled with faces old and new, we set out to attend the Redemptorist Youth Gathering in Esker. We were welcomed to Esker with open arms. The first evening we had the opportunity to mingle with other youth ministry groups from around the country. We explored the beautiful grounds of Esker Retreat Centre engaging in a treasure hunt. This was a great way of getting to know some new faces. The following days were jam packed with arts and crafts,
citizenship and mindfulness workshops, and a visit to St Dominic’s Well. Our alarm clocks sounded at 6:30am for the biggest event of our gathering - climbing Croagh Patrick. There were laughs, cries, sweat and tears on our climb, but our team work and mindfulness helped us all get to the top and back down in one piece. The night prayer session around the bonfire was beautiful, with fantastic singing and a true sense of community and connectedness. With friendships blossomed and our faith renewed, we hit the road back to Dundalk, after having had an unforgettable experience.
The four authors of this article
The Clonard Youth Group at Esker
DUNDALK YOUTH MINISTRY We are a group of youth and young adults who come together to share our faith in fun ways, while making new friends. We meet monthly and partake in many trips away throughout the year. We are always happy to welcome new faces, so check out our Facebook page, Redemptorist Youth Minstry.
MOUNT ST ALPHONSUS SHRINE GETS A REVAMP The shrine of the Sacred Heart in the Redemptorist Church, Limerick, which opened on 3 November 1876, has recently been restored. The shrine was a gift from Margaret Teresa and Mary Anne Kelly in memory of their mother. A plaque invites us to pray for Mrs Kelly. The Kellys were generous benefactors of Mount St Alphonsus, where they also donated the shrines of Our Lady of Sorrows and St Gerard. The restoration was funded by a bequest from Mrs Kathleen Enright. The shrine was decorated by James Hodkinson in 1883 with plans designed by the London-based architectural practice of Goldie, Childe and Goldie. Randel Hodkinson, a great-grandson of James, has redecorated the shrine using the original drawings.
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CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF MAKING HER KNOWN By Claire Carmichael In 2016 the Redemptorists worldwide have been celebrating 150 years of devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Pope Pius IX presented the original icon to the Redemptorists in 1866 with a mandate to make Mary known as the Mother of Perpetual Help throughout the world. The first copy of the icon to arrive in Ireland has been lovingly venerated in Mount St Alphonsus, Limerick,
since December 1867. The centrepiece of the Irish celebrations was a pilgrimage with a specially commissioned copy of the icon, the Pilgrim Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, to the cathedrals of Ireland. This copy was blessed by Pope Francis during Holy Week. The Pilgrim Icon visited all 26 cathedrals. We also visited the Redemptorist and the Redemptoristine communities, schools,
hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, hospitals, communities of the travelling people, as well as shrines and places of pilgrimage. The Pilgrim Icon made a special visit to Stormont to pray for the work of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The pilgrimage concluded on 15 August 2016 with a programme of events in Knock Shrine as part of its annual novena. It was a source of joy for us to be able to
introduce the Pilgrim Icon and devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help to thousands of children and young people. We drew comfort from the visits to prisoners in Limerick and Mountjoy Prisons. We are grateful to all those who helped organise and promote the pilgrimage. Your hospitality, generosity and energy enabled us to continue to make our Mother of Perpetual Help known.
Pope Francis speaks with Fr Seamus Enright at the blessing of the icon in Rome The pilgrimage began at Mount St Alphonsus
All work and no play!
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Archbishop Brown blesses the icon at St John’s Cathedral, Limerick
Frs Seamus Enright, Dan Baragry, Archbishop Martin & Sr Lucy Conway
The Esker Community
The Poor Clares in Ennis F Brendan O’Rourke stops for gas!
At Stormont
St Patrick’s, Armagh Arriving at Knock Basilica
School children with the icon
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THE GERMAN VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME
A worthwhile partnership - by Brendan Dineen While attending the Redemptorist Youth Congress in Bonn, Germany in 2004 I had a conversation with Fr Jurgen Langer, C.Ss.R. We talked about the possibility of young people from Germany working as volunteers in Redemptorist Youth Ministry in Ireland, and the rest, as they say, is history. Since 2005, approximately 38 young German men and women have come to Ireland for a year’s volunteering experience with the Redemptorists. They have worked
Severin is based in Cork
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mainly within youth ministry in Clonard, Belfast, and Scala, Cork. Volunteers have also worked alongside Fr Gerry O’Connor in Cherry Orchard parish, Dublin, with the SERVE organisation. These young people came to us with great energy and enthusiasm and brought a whole new perspective to our work and ministry. During their time in Ireland, they had an opportunity to develop their skills in facilitation, teamwork, and leading groups as well as personal and social
Lisa with some friends
development. Some had the experience of living in community. The volunteers continue to have an excellent relationship with their colleagues in youth ministry in Ireland and the many friends they made during their time here. All of them have returned to Ireland for holidays and to visit the communities where they worked, which shows how much this experience impacted their lives. Some have even described it as ‘life changing’.
Previous German volunteers to Ireland
This year we have welcomed Lisa to Belfast and Severin to Cork. What started as a conversation has now developed into a fruitful partnership with the Redemptorists of the Saint Clement’s Province. It is hard to put into words just how much these young people have contributed to Redemptorist Youth Ministry in Ireland. Brendan Dineen is Youth Ministry Coordinator, Clonard Monastery, Belfast. www.clonard.com
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST ALPHONSUS Betty O’Brien recalls her pilgrimage to Italy in June Joan and I are neighbours of the Redemptoristine Sisters in Dublin, so when we heard about a pilgrimage “In the footsteps of St Alphonsus” we decided to sign up. The pilgrimage was ably led by Irish Redemptorists, Frs Seamus Enright, Dan Baragry and Michael Kelleher.
Upon arrival at Naples, a coach brought us to Pompei where we entered the cathedral by the Holy Door and had Mass. The next day was the highlight of the pilgrimage for the three Drumcondra pilgrims when we visited Scala, where the Redemptoristines were founded.
Redemptorists on pilgrimage
On the last day of our pilgrimage the Redemptorists at Pagani welcomed us with morning drinks and to a typical Italian lunch at Ciorani. Our pilgrimage ended at the shrine of Blessed Gennaro Sarnelli in Ciorani with a celebration of the anointing of the sick.
Time for prayer
OUR LADY GETS A TRANSFER TO LIMERICK The Redemptorists in Limerick celebrated the 150th anniversary of Redemptorist devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help by erecting an outdoor shrine in her honour in the grounds of the church at Mount St Alphonsus. The shrine was blessed by the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, on 4 April 2016. The statue was carved by Seamus Murphy, the well-
The week passed quickly with trips to the main places associated with St Alphonsus in and around Naples. We celebrated the sacrament of reconciliation on our visit to Materdomini, international shrine of St Gerard Majella. We also got to see his birthplace at Muro Locano, high up in the mountains.
Archbishop Brown blesses the statue in its new home
known Cork sculptor, in 1959 for Cluain Mhuire monastery in Galway. It was moved to Marianella, Dublin, when Cluain Mhuire closed in 1990 and now, following the closure of Marianella, it has found a new home in Limerick. The first copy of the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help to arrive in Ireland has been venerated in Mount St Alphonsus since December 1867. 7
CALLED TO SERVE
Limerick native, Eileen Hoffler joined SERVE as CEO earlier this year. SERVE is an overseas development and volunteering organisation committed to tackling the root causes of poverty to achieve justice, equality and opportunities for all. Formed in 2003, SERVE grew out of the Redemptorist Metheil programme and retains very strong links with the Redemptorists, with SERVE and the Irish Redemptorists working together on projects across Southern Africa and South-East Asia. Inspired by the belief that ‘Solidarity in Action’ can improve the lives of the most vulnerable, SERVE works in partnership with local communities and organisations and relies on the support of the Irish public. Prior to joining SERVE, Eileen worked for 18 years with the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Limerick. “I enjoyed working for SVP. I found it challenging but very rewarding. I met so many amazing people from all walks of life. My time with SVP gave me many valuable experiences which will assist me in my work with SERVE,” says Eileen. Since joining SERVE, Eileen has spent time getting to know 8
the organisation and has visited some of its overseas partners. “My time in Zambia on a school immersion project with Colaiste Feirste, Belfast, convinced me of the value of such projects to both our partners and to the young people participating,” Eileen says. “It also reaffirmed my belief in an approach that uses youth leadership and solidarity to affect change.” SERVE has developed a strong reputation for ethical partnership based development and for facilitating school immersion and summer volunteer programmes. Eileen is keen to offer an opportunity to become involved in SERVE’s work to those who may not be in a position to go abroad. To this end SERVE is currently forming SERVE Solidarity Groups. These will provide members with a forum to discuss global issues as well as opportunities to participate in advocacy campaigns and fundraising efforts. For more information on SERVE Solidarity Groups, contact Eileen on 087 900245 or email eileen@serve.ie SERVE is currently recruiting for their Summer Volunteer Programme 2017. For more information please visit www. serve.ie
FORMER REDEMPTORIST SUPERIOR GENERAL IS NAMED A CARDINAL One of the unexpected names in the list of new cardinals announced by Pope Francis in October was the former superior general of the Redemptorists and newly appointed archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, Mgr Joseph Tobin (64). A native of Detroit, Michigan, Cardinal Tobin is the eldest of a family of 13 children. After ordination to the priesthood, he served in Latino parishes in Detroit and learned excellent Spanish. No stranger to Ireland during his 12 years as Redemptorist general, in 2010 he was appointed as secretary of the Vatican Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. At that time, the Congregation was running what was widely regarded as a hostile investigation into women’s religious life in the United States. Archbishop Tobin said publicly that Rome needed to acknowledge the “depth of anger and hurt” provoked among American religious women especially by a visitation, and that it illustrated the need for a “strategy of reconciliation” with the sisters. Two years later, he was appointed Archbishop of Indianapolis. During his term as superior general, Fr Tobin had attended the Synod of Bishops on behalf of male religious orders. He joined one of the Spanish working groups, a member of which was Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, and the two became friends. Fr Tobin told the cardinal that his mother had been rooting for the Argentine Jesuit during the conclave which had elected Pope Benedict. Surprised, the future pope asked why. “Well, she read in the newspaper that you pick up after yourself and you cook your own food and wash your own clothes,” Fr Tobin told him. “She’s had it up to here with the monarchic sort of church!” Mrs Tobin is still alive and attended her son’s installation as cardinal along with many other family members.
FINAL MASS AT MARIANELLA January 31, 2016, a typical winter’s day, overcast with occasional drizzle, matched the mood of people arriving for Sunday Mass in Marianella Chapel, Dublin. Our usual congregation numbered about 200 but today, with this being the last Mass in the chapel, the numbers exceeded 500. The specially tailored, dignified liturgy began with a pre-Eucharist ritual of thanksgiving and remembrance for all who had served and worshipped in this place, which had been for many a haven of peace and tranquillity. In his homily, Fr Baragry, Provincial Superior, spoke of “a difficult and painful time and day not just for
the Redemptorists but for all who worshipped here regularly and who feel an affinity with the Marianella community, particularly with this beautiful chapel.” There was “a tangible sense of sadness, of loss and grief around Marianella,” he said, adding that it was “the end of an era for us Irish Redemptorists and all associated with us.” A poignant moment for many came after Holy Communion when the Sanctuary lamp was extinguished and the Blessed Sacrament was carried solemnly from the chapel to the strains of the Tatum Ergo. This act brought home to many that this really was “the end.”
By Br Anthony McCrave CSsR Fr Ciarán O’Callaghan was the chief presider at the mass
Fr Brian Nolan says good bye to the regulars
UPDATE ON THE BUILDING WORK IN DUNDALK Work is progressing steadily on phase one of the development at St. Joseph’s. The roofing of the monastery and church! The dormer windows have all been removed and are now replaced with new mahogany dormers painted to the original
white. The chimney pots have all been replaced and the brick work pointed. The slates on the roof have been removed and replaced using as many of the original as possible, guttering and downpipes have been removed and are being stripped back and
salvaged where possible. Cast iron guttering has to be custom made. The progress of the work depends on weather and thankfully so far so good. The theft of the lead in August was a slight set back but we are even more determined now to get
all the work moved on. Work on the church roof is now beginning and that should leave us on target to complete this phase of the development by the end of January. The internal work and the new build should follow on from there...... fingers crossed!
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RETURNED TO THE FATHER Fr William (Bill) Skehan was born on 27 December 1933 in Coolbawn, Fethard, Co. Tipperary. After his secondary schooling, he went to the novitiate in 1951 and took first vows on 24 September 1952. After ordination in 1959, Bill did a pastoral year in Limerick where he studied Ilongo, spoken mainly in the central Philippines, as it was presumed he would be sent to this area. He travelled to the Philippines in July 1961 but on his way by ship discovered that he had been appointed to the Cebuanospeaking mission. This meant he had to learn another dialect. He spent most of the following 20 years in Davao where he gave missions in the remotest parts of Mindanao, an island larger than Ireland. In 1983 he was back in Dumaguete where he spent his first years and later was appointed to Tacloban, where he was engaged in parish ministry. Bill was a man who liked to keep up with the news and the latest trends in theology. He could be critical of the church’s ways but was always respectful. Fr Skehan wrote: “From my own experience I have come away with the conviction that work for justice and peace is an integral part of our mission. A genuine spirituality must incorporate some action for justice and peace, mainly at the levels of reflection, prayer and preaching.” After a lingering illness, Bill died on 4 February 2016 and is buried in Cebu.
Fr Patrick (Patsy) Kelly was born in Ballinakill, Co. Offaly, on 10 June 1938. He professed his vows as a Redemptorist on 8 December 1958 and was ordained on 13 June 1965. A year later Patsy took up an appointment in Brazil where he ministered mostly in the north-east of the country. Upon his return to Ireland in the late 1980s, he was assigned to the Redemptorist community in Jobstown, Dublin. In 1995 he moved to North William Street in Dublin’s inner city for 10 years, and then ministered for two years in Harrington Street, Dublin. Nine years ago, due to failing health, Fr Patsy was appointed to St Joseph’s community, Dundalk where, for a time, he was able to take part in some ministry. In recent years he was resident in a local care home. A man of gentle disposition and a kind pastor, Fr Patsy died on 22 April 2016. 10
Fr James (Jim) O’Connor was born in Limerick on 7 July 1924 and died on 18 April 2016. Fr Jim was a much-loved member of our Province, and lived in Mount St Alphonsus, Limerick, for the past 11 years. He had laboured for most of his life in the Philippines. After ordination in 1950, Jim was appointed to the Philippines where he spent two long periods, first travelling there in 1952 and returning to Ireland in 1968. He then gave parish missions and retreats all over Ireland, before leaving again for his first love, the Philippines, in 1984, returning home for good in 2005. Jim was a proud Limerick man, and a great rugby fan, an ardent follower of Munster rugby. For many years, before the digital age, his family would send him the Monday copy of The Irish Times to keep him updated with all the sports news, as he followed every sport. He was also a wonderful singer, and his favourite partypiece was ‘Keep right on to the end of the road,’ which he would sing at the drop of a hat. His niece said: “He sometimes joked, not in a boastful way as he was very humble, that the day he went into the monastery he left a string of broken hearts behind him. He’d say it with a wink and a nod. He had a great sense of humour, and loved the banter with his family.” Fr O’Connor spent his last two years in Carrigoran House, where he was happy and mentally alert right up to his passing. His funeral Mass was held on 21 April with burial afterwards in Castlemungret Cemetery.
Br Michael Gilleece died on 18 June 2016, having given many decades of service to his Redemptorist community and to the people of Belfast through his work in Clonard church. For more than 56 years Michael lived the life of a Redemptorist Brother, celebrating his Golden Jubilee of profession in 2010. He spent 46 of those years in Belfast, in Clonard Monastery, apart from a six year spell in St Gerard’s, on Belfast’s north side. Born in Kinawley, Co. Fermanagh, he worked locally after leaving school; then a few years later emigrated to Canada. While working in the oil industry in Western Canada he attended the local Redemptorist church, and ended up joining the Canadian Redemptorists as a brother. About 1970 he returned to Ireland to train in youth work in Belfast, and was given a transfer to the Irish Province. His pride and joy was establishing the Clonard Youth Club with the support of the Clonard community and lay co-operators. This was undertaken at a very difficult time in the history of West Belfast and was a welcome asset to the area and its young people. Brother Michael had a profound love of Clonard and through his work in the youth club, prayer groups and in the monastery reception, he developed lasting friendships that assisted him greatly in his last days. His funeral Mass was celebrated in Clonard on 25 June, followed by burial at Milltown Cemetery
Br John Augustine Forrie, better known as Br Senan, was born in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo in 1925. He celebrated his 90th birthday on 31 August 2015 and died peacefully on 11 February 2016, the 68th anniversary of his religious profession. On leaving school he worked in the catering trade for some years before joining the Redemptorists. He spent all of his religious life in Ireland and for about 20 years was cook at different times in Esker, Limerick, Clonard, and St Clement’s Retreat House, Belfast. In 1968, he became sacristan in St Joseph’s Dundalk as well as house manager, followed, 12 years later, by a move to Limerick where he was community bursar and house manager, as well as working closely with the Limerick Solemn Novena Team. His final transfer took place in 1990 with his appointment to Esker. Here he held a similar position to that in Limerick and was, through the 1990’s, involved in the development of the Esker Youth Village, part of the Retreat House ministry. Several years ago ill-health compelled him to relinquish his activities. A man of strong views, he took his life as a religious seriously and was constantly concerned with the development of the Brothers’ vocation and did what he could to promote it.
Fr Brian Foley “The one who made us smile.” Over and over again through these past years, whenever one went to visit Fr Brian in the nursing home, you came away with a smile on your face. There was a quiet radiance about Brian, a depth within, that was a blessing and a joy to whomever went to visit him. Fr Brian was born on 4 December 1932 in Cloonboniffe, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. Some 21 years later, on 24 September 1953, he made his profession as a Redemptorist, and was ordained priest on 20 September 1959. He spent all his life in Ireland where he ministered in various capacities: church ministry in Clonard, a conductor of retreats in Limerick Retreat House, but the greater part of his life was spent working in and from Esker Retreat House and monastery on parish missions and school retreats. In the early 1980s he was director of the trainee programme for Redemptorist Brothers. Indifferent health was a cross he bore with equanimity for a quarter of a century, the final 10 in nursing home care, and it is to this last decade that the opening paragraph refers. Brian was pre-deceased by his twin brother Fr Seán, also a Redemptorist, who died in 2002.
Fr Patrick Egan - also known as Pat, Paddy and Pádraig - was born in Barnacarroll, Claremorris, Co. Mayo on 20 July 1923. He professed his vows as a Redemptorist in October 1943 and was ordained priest in August 1950. For most ofhis priestly life, Fr Pat was a parish missioner, preaching missions and retreats throughout the country. As one of the few Redemptorists proficient in the Irish language, he worked a great deal in the Gaeltacht areas, often with Fr Frank Mullaghy, another Gaeilgeoir. In an interlude from parish missions he was director of the men’s Holy Family Confraternity both in Limerick and Belfast. When in Limerick, he had the honour of leading the centenary celebrations marking the founding of the confraternity in 1868. In January 1969 he became Confraternity director in Clonard, Belfast and within months had to face death and destruction caused by “The Troubles”. Addressing the confraternity men in the aftermath of the burning down of the houses in Bombay Street, in the shadow of Clonard, he urged the men not to let emotions rule them. He concluded by saying: “Let’s all of us pray that we will have a society where Catholics and Protestants live, as they should live, together in peace – helping each other as good neighbours should. We must live with each other. It is a mixed society. But that doesn’t mean that we are not going to demand justice, and we pray tonight that God will grant us this justice which is our due.” In 1972 he was reappointed to preaching missions, and continued in this ministry for 25 years, before being assigned to the pastoral team at Knock Shrine. Fr Pat retired to Esker a few years ago and died on 9 July 2016.
Fr Tom Byrne The death occurred on 24 October 2016 of Fr Tommy Byrne, just four days short of his 78th birthday. Tommy made his profession as a Redemptorist in 1963. After ordination in 1968, he worked in the Retreat House in Galway and later in St Clement’s Retreat House, Belfast. Throughout his life he was involved in ministry to couples preparing for marriage. Tommy was in charge of Esker Retreat House in the late 1980s, then in the 1990s became a parish missioner while based in Marianella, Dublin. About 2001, he moved to Limerick where he was involved for 10 years with Doras Luiminí, a welcome centre for refugees and asylum seekers. In 2011 he moved to Esker where he worked on the Retreat House team and on other community ministries. Almost every summer for the past 30 years, Fr Tommy ministered in parishes in the Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. In recent years, as his health deteriorated, the hardest thing for Tommy was his frustration at being unable to work as much as he would like. His heart was always full of zeal for people; he was a man of prayer, and his quiet and warm smile was a feature of the welcome he gave to so many who visited Esker. 11
A FIRST FOR BALLYFERMOT In the last week of September a Solemn Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help took place in Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Ballyfermot, Dublin. It was a special nine days for the parish as it was the first time the novena was celebrated there since the Redemptorists arrived in 2011. A variety of speakers came each night and were well received. Fr Michael Murtagh from Cherry Orchard Parish, began proceedings on the Friday night. On Monday
By Jane Mellett
night we welcomed Fr Peter McVerry, who shared his experience of working with homeless people in Dublin for the past 40 years. He told stories of those who live on the streets and spoke about how his work has impacted on his faith and radically changed his view of God. We were delighted to have Brother Kevin’s Singers provide music for us that evening also. On another night, Mike and Fran Watts from GROW spoke on the theme of ‘Nurturing the
Spirit for Mental Health’ and shared their journey of recovery from crippling mental health issues. Marion Carroll from Athlone also told her account of being healed during an Anointing of the Sick service in Knock in 1989. Meabh Carlin joined us on the Friday night. A native of Co. Armagh, Meabh was seriously injured when hit by a car while at World Youth Day in Madrid in 2011. Her story of healing and recovery was inspirational to all who heard her.
Frs Stan Mellett, Con Kenneally and Richard Delahunty joined with parishioners in promoting and celebrating this special week. The Anointing of the Sick attracted huge crowds, while the Blessing of Babies was a joy-filled experience for all. A special service for local schools brought young people from across the parish together to experience this special event. We were thrilled with the novena this year and hope to build on its success next year.
BEATIFICATION OF BLESSED MARIA CELESTE CROSTAROSA Founder of the Redemptoristines - By Sr Gabrielle Fox OSsR Maria Celeste Crostorosa was born into a noble family in Naples, Italy on 31 October 1696. At the age of 21, she entered a convent in Marigliano near Naples where she lived a life of deep prayer. When that convent was closed, she entered the convent of Scala, near Amalfi. It was while there that she had a revelation which ultimately led to her founding the Redemptoristine Order, with its distinctive deep red habit and its own rule. Celeste’s spiritual journey was favoured with many mystical experiences.
Celeste’s spirituality is characterized by a spiritual transformation into Christ, becoming his ‘living memory’ in our lives, obedience to conscience, the search for the meaning of the Gospels and by living these gospel values in a simple life centred on prayer.
The beatification of M. Celeste Crostarosa took place on 18 June 2016 at the Sanctuary of the Beata Vergine Maria Madre di Dio Incoronata in Italy. Sisters from five continents, representing most of the communities of the Redemptoristine Order, participated in the celebration, which was
presided over by Mons. Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints. Redemptorist Superior General Fr Michael Brehl also participated, together with numerous bishops and priests. For more info go to www.rednuns.ie
The sisters with Frs Michael Brehl (Superior General) & Dan Baragry (Provincial)
Published by Redemptorist Communications, Unit A6, Santry Business Park, Swords Road, Dublin D09 X651 Ireland. Telephone: 00353-1-4922488 www.redcoms.org © REDEMPTORIST COMMIUNICATIONS December 2016