The Reds December 2017

THE BENEMERENTI MEDAL PAGE 4

BR JEAN MARIE IN BELFAST PAGE 4

THE SEÁN O’RIORDAN SCHOLARSHIPS NEWSLETTER OF THE IRISH REDEMPTORISTS

Volume 7 Number 2 • December 2017

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ALEC REID THE BOOK LAUNCH In June the long-awaited book commemorating the peace ministry of the late Fr Alec Reid CSsR was launched at Clonard monastery, Belfast and also in his home county of Tipperary. Pictured is Fr Alec’s sister, Maura Lister who is flanked by family friend and former President, Mary McAleese and Redemptorist Provincial Dan Baragry CSsR. Full story on page 3

REDEMPTORISTINES WELCOME A NEW MEMBER Full story on page 2

GOD’S GENTLE CALL Sr Máire Bríd shares her journey in discovering her religious vocation My journey to the Redemptoristines has been a treasured journey. It took me a long time before I was ready to respond to God’s gentle call and say ‘yes’ with all my heart to this way of life but I haven’t regretted a moment since the day I entered.

There have been difficult moments for sure and it has been a huge change to my life in every way possible…. letting go of so much and letting God in. On August 21, this year, I was clothed with the Redemptoristine habit and became a novice.

It was a very special ceremony and I received the

Sr Máire Bríd receives her habit from Sr Lucy, the community Prioress.

Sr Máire Bríd and community after the clothing ceremony.

MAKING HER KNOWN

name Sr Máire Bríd of God’s Infinite Love. As I continue this journey day by day, I pray that I will grow deeper and deeper into the Redemptoristine charism and become a radiant witness of God’s Infinite Love to all.

Máire Bríd O’Driscoll is a native of Ballineen, Co Cork and graduated from Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. She was a primary school teacher for a few years before entering the Redemptoristine community on November 21, 2016.

Patricia Wade, Fr Michael Cusack and Kate Green

A special conference in Madrid to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Icon. By Kate Green On Wednesday, May 3, 2017, Frs Michael Cusack and Brendan O’Rourke, Patricia Wade, Claire Carmichael, Phena Moroney, Joanne Behan, Gearoid Mulroney and I set off for beautiful Madrid. We each represented one of the Irish Redemptorist communities, and had worked on various aspects of the year-long celebrations of Pope Leo giving the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help to the Congregation in 1865 with the instruction to “Make her known”.

We joined 66 other representatives from all over 2

Europe for a well-organised, challenging, enriching and grace-filled five days of sharing, reflection, discussion and future-planning as to how we might work together to further that goal in the 21st century.

It was wonderful to meet so many co-workers and to engage socially and in faith with them and our Redemptorist Superior, Fr Michael Brehl. We were gifted with beautiful liturgies, enjoyed Spanish culture and warm hospitality, and returned uplifted and energised to continue. It was a blessing to be there!

Joanne Behan, Fr Michael Brehl and Phena Moroney Fr Michael Cusack, Patricia Wade, Kate Green, Fr Seamus Enright, Superior General Fr Michael Brehl, Fr Brendan O’Rourke, Phena Moroney, Gearoid Mulroney and Joanne Behan

COMMEMORATING FR ALEC REID One Man, One God: The Peace Ministry of Fr Alec Reid by Fr Martin McKeever CSsR, professor of moral theology at the Alphonsian Academy in Rome, is a study of the life and ministry of the late Fr Alec Reid. The Tipperary-born Redemptorist priest, who spent more than 40 years in Clonard and died in 2013, is widely acknowledged as one of the architects of the Northern Ireland peace process. The book was launched in Clonard on June 6 by former President, Mary McAleese, who was a friend of Fr Alec and contributed much to the process of dialogue he initiated and sustained over many years. “No-one will ever know the fullness of Fr Alec’s contribution to the peace and good neighbourliness we now enjoy but One Man, One God lets us know something of what we owe him,” the former President said. In recognition of Fr Reid’s

strong links to Tipperary, a second launch was held in the Nenagh Arts Centre on June 27. Dr Harold Good, the Methodist minister who along with Fr Alec took part in the decommissioning of Republican arms, was the principal speaker of the evening. He recalled that Fr Alec spoke so often about his ‘Nenagh family’.

While they came from two different traditions, “Alec took delight in what we had in common. We shared the same humour, banter, our faith, our understanding of the Gospel that, sadly, many in our churches don’t.

We also shared our travels, and he said his best loved journey was the journey of decommissioning.”

Also present were Dr Martin Mansergh, a former Minister of State who had been closely involved in the peace process, members of Fr Alec’s family, Frs Dan Baragry, Michael Kelleher and other Redemptorist priests and brothers.

GRADUATION CONGRATULATIONS

Fr Michael Kelleher, Fr Noel Kehoe, Fr Martin McKeever, Mrs Mary McAleese and Fr Dan Baragry

Former cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council Cllr Siobhán Ambrose and Fr Martin McKeever CSsR

Dr Martin Mansergh, Fr Martin McKeever CSsR, Cllr Siobhan Ambrose, Rev Harold Good, Fr Michael Kelleher CSsR, Fr Dan Baragry CSsR and Joe MacGrath

Youth Ministry Studies graduates from the Killaloe diocese with Bishop Fintan Monahan and Fr Michael Kelleher CSsR

On Saturday October 14, youth ministers from the Killaloe diocese graduated with a Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies. The graduation took place in the Redemptorist church Mount St Alphonsus, Limerick. The Bishop of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan presented the graduates with their certificates. Congratulations to all for their hard work. We wish them every success in their ministries.

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BENEMERENTI MEDAL AWARD The papal award was recently bestowed on Belfast woman, Chrissie Moley Warm congratulations to Mrs Chrissie Moley from St Gerard’s Redemptorist parish in Belfast, who was recently awarded the Benemerenti Medal. The Benemerenti Medal is an

Chrissie and Fr Gerry Cassidy CSsR

honour awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy or laity for service to the Catholic Church.

Chrissie has given more than 40 years of service to St Gerard’s parish working

as sacristan and as a member of the Apostolic workers. This is a welldeserved recognition of Chrissie’s hard work and dedication to the service of St Gerard’s Parish.

Mary Oliver (new sacristan) and Chrissie

Chrissie, Fr Gerry Cassidy CSsR, Phillip Moley and Briege Smyth (president of the Parish Apostolic Association)

VISIT OF BR JEAN MARIE TO CLONARD By Brendan Dineen Following a very successful pilgrimage to Taizé in July, the Clonard Youth Ministry team were delighted to welcome Br Jean Marie, a member of the Taizé community, to Clonard. The first part of brother Jean Marie’s visit was to show him around the city of Belfast and to share with him the story of reconciliation while stopping at various landmarks in the city such as Belfast City Hall and St Anne’s and St Peter’s Cathedrals. In the evening the Clonard community hosted a reception of welcome attended by young people who had been on the Taizé pilgrimage and those involved in music ministry in Clonard. Later in the evening we were overwhelmed by the many people who came to the Taizé prayer in the church. It was a wonderful atmosphere of prayer, singing and silence. Clonard looked amazing and sounded fantastic; this was due to lots of preparation and hard work by the church manager and volunteers along with the Clonard choir and folk group who prepared the chants. It was a wonderful occasion. One of the most powerful moments in the prayer service was the prayer around the cross where people were invited to kneel and lay their burdens and the burdens of others. After the service many people had the chance to meet and talk to Br Jean Marie.

The next morning youth workers, Redemptorists and clergy from other Christian traditions gathered at Clonard for a prayer walk around the Belfast Peace Line stopping at various points to pray.

It was a great honour for us to host this visit and to build up our relationship with the ecumenical community of Taizé.

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Br Jean Marie praying at the Peace Wall in Belfast

Br Jean Marie leading the Taizé prayer evening with some of the young people from Clonard

THE BRAZILIAN MISSION The Fortaleza Visitation – July 22 to August 23, 2017

The visitation by Frs Dan Baragry (Provincial) and Noel Kehoe (Provincial Consultor) of the Vice Province of Fortaleza in Brazil over the summer was a very positive and uplifting experience. This mission in the north east of Brazil was begun by Irish Redemptorists in the early 1960s and while 18 Irish continue to live and minister there, the energy and leadership of the group is now very much with the younger Brazilian confrères. The Vice Province is in a healthy state, thank God, with a very real missionary spirit at its core working

mainly amongst the poor in large urban parishes.

Particularly encouraging is the number of young men currently in formation, over 20 in all, who are a real sign of hope for the future of the Redemptorists in this part of Brazil. Frs Dan and Noel assured the members of the Vice Province of the continued support, encouragement and prayers of all in the Dublin Province. The Irish Redemptorist who are still working in the Vice Province and those who have ministered there in the past can be rightly proud of the seeds they have sown.

Fr Albert McGettrick CSsR, Fr Dan Baragry CSsR, Fr Brian O’Sullivan CSsR, Fr Noel Kehoe CSsR with co-workers

Vice Province of Fortaleza during their Chapter meeting

Fr Seán Myers CSsR, Fr Dan Baragry CSsR, Fr Noel Kehoe CSsR and Fr Matt Ryan CSsR

Fr Dan Baragry with Fr Brendan McDonald

ALTAR SERVERS FAMILY DAY AT TAYTO PARK By Michael Kelleher CSsR

Clonard and St Joseph’s, Dundalk altar servers and family members at Tayto Park

The ministry of youth altar servers has seen a revival in recent times. The safeguarding crises of the 1990s, prompted many church leaders to replace young altar servers with adults. However, as parents have become more confident of new, robust safeguarding procedures, local churches have once again begun to welcome boys and girls who have made their First Communion to exercise this ministry. On May 27 last, around 80 servers and family members from Redemptorist churches in Belfast, Dundalk and Limerick gathered for a ‘family day’ in Tayto Park in Co Meath. Though it rained a lot that day, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of all who took part.

Mount St Alphonsus, Limerick altar servers with Fr Michael Kelleher and their famiy members at Tayto Park

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SEÁN O’RIORDAN SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships (for MPhil in Christian Theology) to honour the memory of a distinguished Redemptorist

Fr Seán O’Riordan CSsR

Fr Seán O’Riordan was a distinguished Irish Redemptorist who was born 100 years ago on October 18, 1916.

A graduate of UCG and a doctor of the Pontifical University of Maynooth, he taught theology for many years in the Redemptorist House of Studies, Cluain Mhuire Galway. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1940. One of his more lasting contributions to Irish church life was that he belonged to a small group of former Maynooth

colleagues and friends who conceived and brought to birth the journal, The Furrow. It probably owes its name to Seán who was a reader of an Austrian Catholic weekly of the same name (Die Fürche).

In 1960, he became an ‘Extraordinary Professor’ of the Alphonsian Academy of the Lateran University in Rome. He was to spend much of his life there, becoming Ordinary Professor in 1970.

Seán taught in Rome, the US, Ireland, England and

indeed in most of the English-speaking world. He died on January 26, 1998.

Fr Raphael Gallagher CSsR has described Seán’s way of doing theology: “He had little patience with those who saw truth as some abstract concept you could parcel up and package. Seán was unlikely to begin with a proposition which he then applied in a cold fashion to the question at issue.

More characteristic of him would be his wish to know the history and context of a question, and the particular aspect that was bothering

you. Seán would try to reach a judgement that was soundly based, but always making sure that there was room for further clarification and deepening, if necessary.”

In recognition of Seán O’Riordan’s extraordinary career as a Redemptorist and theologian, the Irish Redemptorist Province has endowed two postgraduate scholarships in theology at the Loyola Institute of Catholic Theology, Trinity College, Dublin. This year’s recipients are Beverley Collins and Edith O’Nuallain.

Fr Dan Baragry CSsR (Provincial of the Irish Redemptorists) with Beverley Collins and Edith O’Nuallain, winners of the Seán O’Riordan Scholarship

GRANADA 2018 In July this year Redemptorists and co-workers from all over Europe gathered in Granada, Spain to plan the next Redemptorist Youth Congress. Next year’s event will be the 11th Redemptorist European Youth meeting. These events have been wonderful occasions for young people and Redemptorists to come together to celebrate life and faith. It is hoped that around 50 young people and Redemptorists from Ireland will take part in this great event in the Spanish city next summer.

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Orin Hampson, Fr Brian Nolan CSsR and Brendan Dineen

The preparation team

REDCAMP - AN EXPERIENCE OF FAITH

By Ryan M Holovlasky CSsR Welcome to Red Camp!

From July 11-17, 2017 groups from many parts of Europe, Poland, Portugal and Ireland gathered for a week of prayer and evangelisation in Porto, Portugal.

Fourteen lay and young people from Portugal with their animator Fr Rui Santiago CSsR prepared this meeting and about 40 were involved in this marvellous experience of faith. Fr Pedro López (General Consultor), Fr Jacek Zdrzalek (Coordinator of the CRE), Fr António Marinho (Provincial of Lisbon Province) participated in some parts of this school of evangelisation.

During the week together we journeyed with Jesus from the banks of the Jordan River to his final destination on Mount Calvary. On Sunday, the Feast of the Most Holy

Redeemer, we reached the climax of our journey by reflecting on the mystery of redemption on the cross at Calvary.

The week was filled with prayer, singing and pilgrimage to Fatima. The message of spreading the good news came alive on Saturday as we took to the streets of Porto to sing, pray, listen, answer questions about church and faith, and share stories with locals and tourists in Porto.

I thank the people and communities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia for their welcome and hospitality, and also for giving us the opportunity to share our faith journey with them. With him is plentiful redemption.

May the Holy Redeemer continue to bless us and all whom we have met during that week of evangelisation.

Br Ryan Holovlasky CSsR (Ireland), Fr Pawel Drobot CSsR (Poland), and Fr Maciej Ziebiec CSsR (Poland)

Fr Maciej Ziebiec, Fr Pawel Drobot, Magda, Olga, Lukas, Maria, Br Ryan Holovlasky and Pedro Panzina

MOZAMBIQUE MISSION UPDATE Recently the ten Redemptorists working in Mozambique gathered in Maputo, the capital of the country: two from Ireland, two from Brazil and six from Argentina. While there has been ongoing contact in recent years between the three Redemptorist Units working in Mozambique this was the first time that all those working in the country gathered together. Following three days of retreat, they spent some days reflecting on the needs of the mission and on how to work more effectively together in the future.

A significant development earlier this year (2017) was the purchase of a property, on the outskirts of Maputo, to serve as a future formation house for the Congregation. This is a common project of the three Units and is a real sign of confidence in and hope for the future of the Redemptorist Mission in Mozambique. Work is currently ongoing to provide simple yet suitable accommodation for our students who will hopefully take up residence there sometime next year. We take the opportunity of thanking all who have helped, through your prayers and donations, to make this project a reality.

The new formation house

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YOUTH MINISTRY TRIP TO TAIZÉ AND PARIS By Megan Sarl

Therese (Clonard) with Aoife and Clodagh (Scala) during prayer in Taizé

Irish group of young people and leaders in Paris

Our journey to Taizé started with 43 young people and leaders gathering in Dublin airport. We took a flight to Switzerland and got a bus to Taizé in France.

Each day in Taizé had a fixed structure. We began with prayer followed by breakfast. After breakfast we met with our Bible group until midday. This was a time to reflect on the

scriptures and concluded with a time of prayer. In the afternoons we had time to connect with other members of our Bible group to make new friends.

The groups were a mixture of people, all from different parts of the world. We then had evening prayer followed by dinner. Each session of prayer consisted of Taizé chants and quiet

time. There was social time in the evenings when everyone flocked to the Oyak. There was always a singsong or group games happening or a long queue for the crêpes. Once we finished our week-long experience in Taizé we travelled to Paris for three days. We travelled down the Seine by boat and saw lots of Paris sights.

The Eiffel Tower was a huge hit and many selfies were taken. We couldn’t have travelled all the way to Paris and not taken a trip to Disneyland. This was a great way to end our pilgrim journey. We arrived home to Ireland very tired but with amazing memories of a fantastic, life-changing trip.

REDEMPTORIST PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK

INTRODUCING...

CLONARD’S NEW PASTORAL WORKER, FÓDHLA MCGRANE

The second Redemptorist Pilgrimage to Knock took place on August 15. Buses travelled from all communities and more than 350 Redemptorists, co-workers, associates and friends made the journey. Fr Seamus Enright CSsR was the preacher at the Masses and Fr Michael Cusack CSsR led the workshops on the theme ‘Mary bearer of life and joy’.

It was a blessed day for all and an opportunity to connect with friends from other communities.

Save the date for next year: Wednesday August 15, 2018

Fódhla comes from Kells, Co Meath and moved North at age 17 to study at Ulster University. She has worked around the world as a retreat leader, teacher and public relations executive. Fódhla joined Clonard in September 2017. Her role involves adult faith formation, parish missions and working with Clonard’s many volunteers. She has an MA in Christian Theology and a PhD in one-to-one conflict resolution, which is one of her retreat themes. Fódhla is an Oblate of St Benedict with Douai Abbey in England, where she led retreats for 10 years. Fódhla’s love is her chocolate Labrador, Paddy, age 11.

NEW SCALA MEMBER, MEGAN SARL

Fr Seamus Enright, Fr JP O’ Riordan and Fr Brian Nolan with some of the Limerick group outside the Apparition Chapel in Knock.

My name is Megan Sarl and I had been volunteering as part of the Scala team for the last five years. When I was in secondary school I was part of the Meitheal programme. After school I studied Youth and Community Work in University College Cork and graduated in October 2017. I have always loved volunteering in Scala and now that I have finished college and graduated I was asked to join the Scala team as a full-time employee. My new role in Scala is starting an outreach programme. This programme will focus on implementing and developing programmes for the local community and young people.

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 2017 (Printed on November 17, 2017)