A Word From Our New Provincial

Fr. Ian Buckmaster

Dublin airport had not changed much in the year I had been away. It was still stuffed with people coming and going and the passport area was thronged as all passports were been scrutinized much more closely. I was back home again after just a year in Africa. In the November issue of this newsletter last year I wrote that I was glad to be back in Tanzania and looking forward to getting back to Parish work. But there is a saying that “Man proposes but God disposes” and in June of this year I learned that I was chosen to be new Provincial, taking the place of Gerry Murphy who had reached the end of his mandate of 6 years. Gerry will now take a well deserved rest and will set off to our student house in Adigrat, Ethiopia in January 2007.

I had returned to Tanzania after an absence of nearly 10 years. I would like to say that I took to Parish work like a duck to water. It was not so. I was surprised by the extent of culture shock that I suffered. The world of north and south have grown so much apart in the last few decades that the gap not only in the economic sense but also in the social and moral areas threaten the very fabric of cohesion that in some way still binds us together It is true that there is some economic progress in Tanzania. Bicycles, mobile phones, bottled water are all signs of progress. But the road infrastructure is still terribly poor. I also got a sense that most of the development plans and ideas were coming from outside and while people accepted them, they did not really own them and indeed were in some way rejecting them. The church is doing well and is playing a big part in education and health. There are many vocations to the religious life but there are still not enough priests, brothers or nuns to serve the local church. Parishes still tend to be big not only in area but also in numbers

All this process of adaptation was interrupted in mid- June when I received a text message asking me to take up the job of provincial. On reflection it showed the revolution in communications. What, a few years ago, would have taken a few months was now done in a few minutes. I accepted the job feeling that God in his own mysterious ways was calling me back to the world of water and electricity.

So now I am home again ready for a quite different task. We only have one house in Ireland now. We
have a group of elderly men who have faithfully served the Church in Africa and who are continuing
to work for the Church in Africa by their prayers and other activities. We also have a group of student
priests. They belong to the younger generation of Missionaries of Africa. They are here to study at
various institutions in Dublin with a view to better serving the aims of our missionary society. They
continue to follow in the tradition of the house in Cypress Grove which has been a home for student
priests since 1960. I hope that this mixture of young and old will continue to give the province
vitality in the Irish church.

Please pray for me as I take on this new task. I look forward to meeting some of you who have so generously supported us for many years.

Missionaries of Africa Celebrate Their Jubilarians.

 

On August 12th 2006 a great day was held by one and all when the Missionaries of Africa and some friends of the Jubilarians came together to celebrate the occasion of their Jubilees.

Fr. Gerry Murphy (Newry and Ghana) was celebrating 25 years of Missionary oath; Br. Tim Murphy (Cork and Ghana) was celebrating 50 years of Missionary oath and Fr. Pat Houlihan (Cork, Malawi, South Africa and England) was celebrating 60 years of Priestly Ordination.

Fr. Ian Buckmaster, our new Provincial presided at the Eucharist which was held in our own Chapel. Afterwards we proceeded to the Spawell for a beautiful meal, before retiring to our house for a closing chat and drink. We wish our Jubilarians many more years in the service of the Lord.

Have we your correct Postal Address? Can you please let us have your correct postal address when you reply to us as An Post assures us that it will enhance delivery speeds? Many thanks.

 

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Missionaries of Africa on further studies:

It is with great joy that we welcome Frs Emmanuel Adeboa (Ghana) and Leornard (Rwanda) to our house in Dublin. They share some words with our readers:

Fr. Emmanuel Adeboa writes:
‘I was ordained in 1995. After three years of pastoral ministry in Tanzania I was asked to become the vocations Director of the Society in Kenya. While there over the last seven years I have also
ministered in our Parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace. Since August 2006 I have come to follow the Religious Formation Ministry Programme. So far so good!’

 

Fr. Leonard Hategekimana writes: ‘I come from Rwanda. I was ordained a priest in 1999. My first
appointment after my ordination was Zambia in St. John the Baptist, Kasamba a rural Parish in Mansa Diocese (Northern). I ministered there for 3 years and in June 2002 I was appointed to a semi- urban
parish, St. Annies-New Town Parish in Kasama Archdiocese (Northern) where I ministered until June 2006. As a parish we were mainly involved in Youth/Children apostolate; ongoing formation of the laity;
Women apostolate; self reliance/selfsustainability; Justice and Peace and Care for the Earth apostolate. We were also involved in works of mercy, Catechetical instructions; Liturgical and sacramental celebrations, which were very vibrant and moving. I enjoyed being and working together with Zambian people, mainly the Bamboo. In both parishes I worked with the Bamboo speaking people. We had very
committed Lay groups and Small Christian Communities. I learnt their language and culture, their history and shared with them both their joys and anxieties and I have become somehow one of them. When I was asked by my superiors to move from my parish ministry and prepare myself to move into a new ministry, I did not like it at all, it was painful. That was at the beginning of this year but slowly I accepted and prepared myself to move. My new ministry is to work for the vocations of the Missionaries of Africa
in Rwanda and Burundi for the next 4 - 5 years or so. That’s why I have been sent here to Ireland to follow the Religious Formation Ministry Programme at Loreto House in Dublin.
While here I will have an opportunity to know the country, the people and the history and I hope to enjoy all the bits of my stay except the cold’

We also wish Fr. Nicholas Aayire a safe return to Tanzania. Nick has spent one year in Ireland following a pastoral theology course in Mater Dei. He now returns to Tanzania. The monies we receive through our St. Anthony’s Burse and our mite boxes enables our Society support our priests in their further studies.

 

Confreres on Home Leave
This summer saw the passing through of Frs. James Mc Tiernan (Uganda), Brendan O Shea (Malawi) and John O Donoughue (Mozambique). Jimmy is presently following an updating course in Canada having served quite number of years in Uganda in the area of Justice and Peace. John is presently in his native Kerry having returned from three years service in Mozambique – he will return later this year to his parish. While Brendan also from Kerry will pursue a course in London in preparation for his work with a Cultural Centre in Malawi. We wish them all a pleasant stay in their respective places.

Brendan shares a word with us:
IT IS GOOD TO SAY
THANKS
It often surprises me in Malawi that small gestures can go a long way in helping people. When the first Missionaries of Africa arrived in Africa many years ago they soon realized that building churches and preaching the Gospel was not enough. People also needed education and medicine. Therefore, almost all our parishes have the Church situated near a Mission hospital and a Catholic school.

Part of my work in the parish has always been to visit the schools, encouraging the teachers and helping the children to know that we are there to help them. So too on a regular basis I spend time visiting the sick and celebrating mass with them. It never fails to amaze me how much suffering people endure and yet their faith is a great strength to them.

It was on one of these visits to the hospital that one day I heard about Julia who had just given birth to triplets. I thought this was amazing and should be a happy event, but I was one of the few. Everybody else knew there was little chance they would survive, what with poor sanitation and several older kids the future looked bleak. It seemed Julia didn’t even have enough money to pay the hospital fees.

However, such despair could not deter me from going to see the new arrivals. When I entered the bare room there I found the three little bundles of life and Julia looking so hopeful. I got talking to the new mum and eventually we decided to help her pay her bills and a little to go home with. It seemed so little but we lived in hope and Julia promised to take care of her babies. Being busy in the Parish and Julia being from another area I lost track of Julia.

Several months later Julia got up one morning at sunrise, accompanied by her mother and sister they set out a four hour journey by foot. Their journey was to visit me. The three women arrived with the three growing babies. Each woman carried a hen and a basin of flour. They wanted to firstly show that our
little help had gone a long way and helped Julia to care for her babies. Most importantly they wanted to say thank you. I have seen this family several times since and they go from strength to strength.
We might sometimes wonder if we really make a difference to people’s life, well Julia and her triplets are a reminder that in fact without help from home we as missionaries in Malawi couldn’t fulfil our aim of helping people.
Thank you.

An Irish Encounter In Africa

 

Mission Prayer Blessed are you Lord God of all creation Blessed are You Jesus Christ The Way, the Truth and the Life Blessed are you, oh Holy Spirit the source of all inspiration May your Kingdom of justice peace, love and forgiveness be established in every land May your healing hand touch the sick, comfort the lonely and give new life to all Be our compassion on the road and help us to make your Mission alive in our community and through out the world. We make our prayer through Christ Our Lord Amen

Fr. Sean writes: These days the Irish Missionaries of Africa in Africa are scattered few and far between each other on that vast and varied continent and so it is rare to find three in the same spot, if only for a short period of time. The occasion was Fr. Sean O Leary from Dublin, who works in South Africa, holding a seminar on Justice and Peace ministry at the Spiritual Formation centre in Kasama, Zambia.

Presently there are two other Irish confreres on the staff of the Formation Centre namely Fr. Charlie Timoney from Clonmel and Fr. Dave Sullivan also from Dublin. Coming to the end of their Spiritual
year in Kasama, 24 young men from all over Africa, Asia and Europe were preparing for their next stage of formation, that of a two year practical pastoral experience somewhere in Africa. Fr. Sean was there to help them in skills to meet the socio-economic situations they would find themselves in very soon!

Fr. Dave was in Kasama for a year helping out at the Spiritual Formation Cantre on a well deserved break from his work in Poland, where he spent many years. Fr. Charlie spent the earlier part of his missionary life in Ghana but moved to Zambia some years ago.

What the encounter shows is that the terrain of the average Irish missionary can change considerably over the years and mobility is a key factor in mission today. Occasions like this are a privileged moment to catch up with each other, share respective missionary stories and celebrate the joy of mission life from an Irish perspective.

Fr. Charlie adds: Mary Robinson took time out from her visit to Livingstone in June to go to Lusaka to meet all the Irish Missionaries at the Irish Ambassador’s residence. She addressed about three hundred people and then took questions afterwards. She commended the Missionaries on the work they were doing. Fr. Frank Barnes (U.K.) also joined the other members of staff to attend the meeting.

Welcoming the Newcomer
This year’s theme for Mission Alive is ‘To the whole World’ which encourages us to welcome newcomers into our communities. It is our hope that the Christian communities in Ireland will practically respond to the question: “When did we see you a stranger and welcome you” (Matt 25:38). As missionaries we have all stories to tell of how we were welcomed into new communities. May we at home equally be as welcoming.

CASTLE SINGERS

For many years now, The Castle Singers from Clontarf in Dublin, together with Mr. Gerry Nolan, organize and stage an annual concert to support our mission work. But especially to help the mission of Fr. Ian Buckmaster who hails from Clontarf. The Missionaries of Africa would like to express sincere
thanks to everyone who helps in anyway to make this yearly concert such a great success.

Please Pray for our Friends who have Died

Carroll Mr. Finbarr. Cypress Lawn, Templeogue,Dublin 6W Esmonde Mrs. Aileen, Ballyellis, Buttevant,Co.Cork Conaty Mrs. Annie, Ardamagh, Ballyhaise,Co.Cavan Gildea Mr. John, Mountain Bay, Arklow. Martin Mrs. Kathleen, Slane Road, Navan,Co. Meath. Bowes Mr. Joe, Clark Villas, Clonmel,Co. Tipperary Donegan Mr. Val. Newport Rd.,Castlebar,Co.Mayo Brown, Mr. Daniel, Rathfriland Rd., Hilltown,Co. Down O’Malley Mr. John, Bristol, England Cannon Mrs. Bridget, Legnagrow, Glangevlin,Co.Cavan Sister M. Rooney, Mercy Convent, Cootehill,Co.Cavan O’Boyle Ms. M. Glasnevin, Dublin Lenihan Ms. Nancy, Glasnevin, Dublin Guihan Mr. John, Dublin 9 Canon R. Phillips, Ballymun Road, Dublin McGrail Mr. Patrick, Ballinaglera, Co.Leitrim Brennan Mrs. Sarah, Ballydavid, Ninemilehouse,Co.Tipperary Stewart Mr. James, Enniskillen, Co.Fermanagh McNiff Mr. James PeterCasey Ms. Mary, 15 Kilmandil Road, Dunloy,Co.Antrim Dooley Mr. Peter, Cloneygath, Monasterevan,Co.Kildare Daly Ms. Mary, 42 Derham Park, Balbriggan,Co.Dublin O’Toole Mr. Gabriel, 22 Ferndale Drive,Glengormley, Co.Antrim Magee Mrs. Margaret, 19 Derrybeg Drive, Newry,Co.Down McAuley Mr. 70 Tullyodonnell Rd. Rock,Dungannon, Co.Tyrone Kelly Mr. John, Cnoc Mhuire, Lissycasey, Ennis,Co,Clare O’Rourke Mr. Anthony, Barran, Blacklion,Co.Cavan Cassidy Mrs Mary, Ardbeg House, Donegal Town(Mother of Fr. P.J.Cassidy M.Afr.) Duignan Mr. Michael, Clooncorrick, Carrigallen,Co. Leitrim Walsh Mr. John, Gurtard, Ballylongford, Co.Kerry O’Dolan Mr. Malachy, Temple Rushin, Belcoo,Co.Fermanagh McGuinness Mr. Phillip, Strandhill, Sligo (Brotherof Fr. C.McGuinness M.Afr) Richey Rev. Canon Robert (Robin), Blacklion.Co.Cavan Canty Mrs.Peggy, Gotoon Cottage, Hospital,Co.Limerick Farrelly Mr. H. Barrack St., Granard, Co. Longford Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

May they rest in peace with the Father

PLEASE REMEMBER THE MISSIONS IN YOUR WILL Our legal name is Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers). A suitable formula is: I give to the Society of Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) the sum off €........... free of duty. And I declare that the Provincial of the Society who now resides at 148 Wainsfort Road, Dublin 6 shall be in good discharge. Carry on the good work you have been doing during your life by helping to spread the Gospel after you have gone to the Father.

Email: promafr@eircom.net