IRISH FRANCISCAN MISSION MAGAZINE No.3 ApR/MAy 2011 €1.00

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St Anthony Brief

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If you were not risen,Lord Christ, to whom would we goto discover a radianceof the face of God?If you were not risen,we would not be togetherseeking your communion.We would not find in your presenceforgiveness,wellspring of a new beginning.

If you were not risen,where would we draw the energyfor following youright to the end of our existence,for choosing you again and anew?

– Brother Roger of Taize

If You Were Not Risen

4 From the Editor.

5 Going Down? The Spirituality of Diminishment.Fr Francis Cotter, OFM, celebrates how Christ uses ourfailures and struggles to lead us through the experience ofdiminishment to fuller life and freedom.

8 Costa Rica: A Land with a Franciscan Heart.As he continues his series on Costa Rica, Fr Gerald Evans,OFM, looks at the deep influence the Franciscan vision hashad on the spirit of that country.

10 A Picture That Speaks Volumes.Toni Cashnelli writes of a photo that provoked controversy butrevealed the depth of true pastoral care.

11 Postulants at Nharira.

12 Church Brief.

14 A Franciscan Place of Learning.Dermot Lavin, College Principal, writes of the FranciscanCollege, Gormanston, Co. Meath.

16 Resurrection Hope.Sr Mary Burke, FMDM, sees how the story of the journey toEmmaus can speak to our world’s search for hope.

19 800th Anniversary of the Founding of the Poor Sisters ofSt Clare.

20 The Friars’ Quest.In “questing” the friars went directly to the people seeking theirmaterial support. Br Cathal Duddy, OFM, looks at an age-oldtradition in Ireland, now disappeared.

22 News from Around the Franciscan World.

23 New Archbishop of Pretoria.

24 Memory, Memorials and Monuments.Fr Tom Russell, OFM, continues his series in preparation for theDublin Eucharistic Congress next year.

27 “When the Economy Kills…”– Seeking a Better Life for All.Fr Gearóid Ó Conaire, OFM, tells of the impact of a group offamilies in Verona, Italy, seeking to live in a sustainable waywith others.

30 Mission Digest.

31 Letters to the Editor.

Volume 71 No.3

Missionary Magazine of the Irish Franciscans. Published bi-monthly by the Franciscan Missionary Union, 8 Merchants Quay, Dublin 8.

Editor: Fr Bernard Jones, OFM.

Production: Fr Francis Cotter, OFM.

Subscription & Distribution Secretary:Helen Doran. Tel: (01) 6777651.

Design, Layout & Printing:Corcoran Print & Design. Tel: (053) 9234760.

Subscription including Postage:Ireland – €12.00 per annum Britain – Stg£12.00 per annumOverseas – €15.00 per annum

Apr/May 20113

SStt AA nthonynthony BriefBrief

Our Easter Gospel: A Story of Living FaithWe continue to move towards the light and that journey affects each of us in different ways.For some with sadness and others joy and many more just sail along; each of our stories isdifferent. The one thing that we each as Christians have in common is the knowledge andbelief that we never journey on our own, God is always with us no matter what.Very soon we will be celebrating the great Feast of Easter. In preparation maybe it would begood to take the time and ask ourselves what is the meaning of Easter for me.Easter is the day when we celebrate Jesus Christ rising from the dead. Jesus is the Son of Godand gave His life for our sins. On the third day after He died, the day we now celebrate asEaster Sunday, His disciples went to the grave and found it empty. They saw an angel whotold them: “Don’t be afraid, Jesus who was crucified has been raised from the dead, just as Hesaid it would happen.”Jesus offers to each of us the gift of Easter. He offers to you and me the gift of eternal life andforgiveness of our sins. Our faith is based on the truth of the story of Jesus’ Resurrection. It isnot a matter of science, history or archaeology. It’s a matter of faith. We each must ask the HolySpirit to assist us.

Lord God, hear our every prayer.We know that it is from Your handThat we have received all that we have

And are and will be.You call us to be stewards of your abundance,Caretakers of all you have entrusted to us.Help us always to use your gifts wiselyAnd teach us to share them generously.

We pray with grateful hearts, in Jesus’ name.Amen.

I thank you for your continuing support, and pray that we will each experience this Easter thepeace and love of the Risen Lord.

– Bernard Jones, OFM (bernardofm@eircom.net)

St Anthony Brief4

Fr Bernard Jones

From the Editor…

There is a form of piety, morecommon in former days, that putsgreat reliance on the language of

ascent. We are encouraged to climb theholy mountain, go up the ladder ofperfection, to increase in virtue, to grow inholiness, and to gain and accumulatemerit. One can see how this perspectiveencourages an energetic and whole-hearted attitude toward the spiritualjourney. But there is also a real dangerthat this approach can be misunderstood,something which happens frequently. Werisk ending up seeing ourselves asspiritual consumers always trying toaccomplish, perform and achieve. Thenthe focus is on us, not on the Lord; onwhat we do, not on the action of grace; onwinning God’s approval, not rejoicing inHis freely-lavished love.

Today the emphasis in Christian spiri-tuality is more on the language ofdescent, a going down into the depths ofhuman experience and of the depths ofGod as an equally authentic way ofdescribing Christian discipleship. Now weare asked to accept our poverty, embraceour vulnerability, to allow ourselves tobecome powerless, to let go and to letGod.

Apr/May 20115

Failure, diminishment, and power-lessness have a vital place on thespiritual journey. The friar Richard Rohrteaches: “Like all steps toward truth, theylead downward. It’s not addition thatmakes one holy but subtraction: strippingthe illusions, letting go of the pretence,exposing the false self, breaking open theheart and the understanding, not takingmy private self too seriously.” We arecalled to grow in love and goodnessrather that scale some exalted heights ofmoral perfection. The great theologianKarl Rahner, SJ, said that the mind’sdeepest need is not for answers but forcommunion – we are created for unionwith God and others. We are on the wayof communion not some abstractperfection!

Heart of the GospelThe language of powerlessness unfoldsfrom the very heart of Christianconsciousness; it is pure Gospel. TheWay of Diminishment is the path takenand still taken by Christ. The Franciscantradition speaks of the Crib, the Cross,and the Cup (of the Eucharist). What isthat but the path of ever-deepeningdescent, of humble self-emptying.

Looking at the Cross we speak today of atheology of failure. The pain, renunciationand abandonment are transformed intothe revelation of that love whichovercomes death, and sets us free. JesusChrist crucified and resurrected is thevulnerable face of God. The Lord usestragedy, suffering, betrayal, and deathitself to bring us to the Father. Failureitself is the raw material of salvation. Thisis true in the life of Christ, and we mustbe led to see how true it is in our ownlives.

So we disciples are called to thesame path, the way of the Beatitudes.Again and again in His teaching Jesuspoints to what have been called the 3 P’s:power, prestige and possessions. Thesecan be huge obstacles on the journey:they build up the false self, numb thesoul, and fool us that we do not needGod.

On the other hand, how constantly arewe taught the path of diminishment? TheScriptures are saturated with this truth –how do we keep on missing it! “Blessedare the poor in spirit...” “Unless youbecome like a little child...” “Unless agrain falls...” “Whoever loses his life willsave it...” “My grace is enough for you.”

Going Down? e Spirituality of Diminishment

Fr Francis Cotter, OFM,celebrates how Christ uses ourfailures and struggles to lead us through the experience ofdiminishment to fuller life

and freedom.

St Anthony Brief6

The Anglican writer Evelyn Underhillwrote: “In these days when therapy mustglow pleasantly, the Lord, like a surgeon,would rather wound you to have you wellthan gently indulge you as you sink into aspiritual coma. He is more concerned thatyou share His holiness than that you havea good time. His love is much better,more thorough, more persevering, andmore purposeful that anything we calllove. Those He loves He disciplines. Holy,divine love is ruthless.” Then speaking ofPeter’s denial (surely there was acollapse, a radical diminishment), shesays: “Peter had to know that in himselfhe did not have the strength and securityto do anything for the Lord, and that hewould need to lean on Christ’s strength inall the years ahead. So in that courtyardJesus had to look at Peter. He had to firethe arrow that would slay the flesh, theself-trust, the impetuous confidence, andthe self-grounded boldness. He had to letloose that look and break Peter down.The necessity came from within His veryholiness and love.”

WildernessContemporary psychology speaks of thisprocess in terms of “positive disinte-gration.” Scripture and human experienceconfirm it: the journey to maturity andcompassion is extremely paradoxical. Wemostly grow by falling apart. In theScriptures we find the metaphors thatspeak of this truth. Certain deep thingscan only happen in the soul when it ishelpless and exposed in the “desert” andthe “wilderness.” Like Jonah we need tobe carried to some place where we wouldrather not go “in the dark belly of thewhale.” Fr Ronald Releaser writes:

“Without me you can do nothing.” “He fillsthe hungry, He raises the lowly.” “Hechooses what the world considers weakand contemptible.” “He prunes with carethe fruitful branches.” “He must increase Imust decrease.” The response of Christto Paul, who prayed to be freed of thethorn in his flesh, is repeated to us all:“My power is made perfect in yourweakness.” Then Paul could rejoice:“When I am weak then I am strong” – inthe Lord (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Speaking of the Church, it has beensaid: “Satan wants us strong. Power heunderstands. It is powerlessness hefears.” In his very first homily as Pope,Benedict XVI said: “The Pope must beconscious of being a frail and weak man,since his strength is frail and weak,constantly needing purification andconversion.” Just as well for him and forus! If the Pope was perfect he would notneed the mercy of Christ; if he had nosins and failings he would have nothing tosay to us who struggle.

Living the Grace We can reach a certain theoretical under-standing of the Gospel path of dimin-ishment. We can even sincerely desire toshare in the humility of Christ, and makechoices to bring that about. But the realityis that we can only participate deeply inthis painful and fruitful grace according tothe rhythm of the Lord’s will, and as it willbe revealed in unforeseeable ways in ourlives.

St Francis often referred to theScripture: “Christ suffered for you leavingyou an example that you might follow inHis footprints” (1Peter 2:21). And Franciswas clear: it is, above all, the interiordisposition of trusting surrender that is theheart of Christ’s example we are called tofollow. The constant message is ofhanding over all our lives in humble trust,especially the inevitable, unavoidablesufferings and failures we face.

Sometimes when a novice joins theFranciscans, in the first flush of hisspiritual fervour, he wants to suffer forChrist who suffered so much for love ofhim. He imagines being a great andglorious martyr. There’s something soromantic about laying down your life. Itsounds wonderful to give everything forthe Lord. But there is nothing gloriouswhen the sufferings of life bring us into atime of diminishment. When you’re in themiddle of it, it does not feel like anythingto do with growth in goodness or holiness.

The very essence of the desertexperience is that you want to get out ofit, at least in the beginning.

A Fragile LifeHave you ever noticed how frequentlyScriptures speak of the struggles andlosses of life? In doing so they are simplybeing real – life is fragile; at times the roadahead can be steep and hard and lonely;sorrow and loss of whatever sort and forwhatever reason pierce every soul. Anyspirituality that does not take into accountthe reality of suffering and pain will notstand. But God’s Word goes further: itspeaks of how suffering can be transfor-mative – the image frequently used is ofgold proved and purified in the furnace.

Indeed, we would wish it to beotherwise, but suffering, along withprayer, is one of the two primary paths oftransformation. Scripture scholar WalterBrueggemann says the job of the prophetis to free people from their numbness.Loss and diminishment also awake usfrom our numbness. Loss opens us to lifeand to God far more than success andcomfort can. Suffering can teach usthings about Gospel discipleship wecannot learn any other way. Spiritualcrises can reveal a God whose lovewants all of our heart, not simply part of it.We learn that God is the only one we cansurrender to without losing ourselves. Sothe pruning is for a purpose, for fruit-fulness: “He prunes with care that theymight bear more fruit” (John 15:2). Wecome to know that God’s love is a fiercefire, a jealous love, a passion for ourfreedom and lasting joy. Graham Greenespoke of “the appalling strangeness of theinfinite mercy of God!”

Fragile: in a broken world nobody escapes sorrow.

“Sometimes in order to grow we must fallapart, we must experience emotional andspiritual free fall, we must lose our grip onwhat is normal, enter into a frighteningchaos, lose our everyday securities, andbe carried by pain and loss and dimin-ishment to a place – for all sorts ofreasons – we are not ready to go on ourown.”

We think dependency is a sign ofweakness, but it signals our willingness toallow God be strong in us. A young childholds her father’s hand. As she grows upshe no longer needs to and so let’s go hishand; that’s the way it should be. This isnot true of our walk with God. God doesnot want us to ever let go. In fact, Hedesires that we become more and moredependent on Him step by step, day byday. Grace teaches us to align our heartswith His, and be content to have justenough light for the step we are on.

And the wonder is that this does notmake us childish and insipid. The spiritu-ality of diminishment is definitely notabout celebrating inferiority. Far from it –look at Paul, Francis, Clare, Therese,Maxamillian Kolbe, Mother Teresa, andthe list goes on and on. No one could saythey were timid or lacked a sense ofdefinite purpose and role in life. The greatsaints are certainly not wimps. They aresecure in their identity in Christ, secureenough to be vulnerable, to take on greattasks under God’s guidance. Losingthemselves they find themselves.

Those in whom the grace of dimin-ishment is doing its deep and liberatingwork don’t have to be paranoid aboutothers, full of fear about “losing face” –they have the interior freedom to lovewithout being blocked by a hundredinhibitions. Emptied of the false self –they can be filled by God; secure inthemselves – they can reach out toothers; open and available to the Spirit –the Lord can do great things throughthem.

Aligned hearts: step by step with God

At this point I want to emphasise weare not saying that God directly wills thelosses and struggles that open us to thegrace of diminishment. This world is notas God intends. In a broken world no oneescapes sorrow. But God turns every-thing, including sin, to the good for thosewho love Him. Divine compassion drawsloss, suffering, failure into His lovingpurpose for our lives and the world. Sothere are no dead ends in the Lord’seyes. The infinite wisdom of God’s graceuses everything to free, heal, andchange people. Everything can be trans-formed and everything can be used. StGregory of Nyssa saw sin as “the refusalto keep growing.” The saint grows fromeverything, even and especially from theirfailures.

Not AutomaticWe need to acknowledge that there is inus a deeply ingrained resistance to lettinggo, to opening ourselves to such dimin-ishment. A fundamental question for theLord’s disciple is: When the harshness oflife strips me how do I live so that I do notremain closed to the wisdom offered, sothat I do not miss the grace, so that I amnot destroyed? For there is no denying it– the heart breaks in different ways. It canbreak in a way that softens, purifies andopens it in compassion and selflessness.Or it can break in a way that makes itsour, hard and cold. Heartbreaks can bewarm or cold. It is the way suffering isfaced – and this is true both for us individ-ually and for the Church as a whole – it isthe way that suffering is faced that makesthe difference whether it stretches orshrinks the soul, blesses or burns, makesus better or bitter!

The pains of life, the losses weundergo are either transmitted or trans-formed. If they are not transformedthrough acknowledgement, deep accep-tance and surrender in faith and grace wetransmit them. Then the pain and hurtflow into our attitudes and relationships. Itall comes out in hyper-sensitivity,sarcasm, anger, resentments, living in thepast, critical of anything new, words thatwound and pull down, etc., etc. Hurtpeople hurt people! So, for example, theexperience of aging can be blighted withfrustration, cynicism or gnawing anger, orit can be ennobled by dignity, wisdom andgenerosity of heart.

Teilhard de Chardin, SJ, offersguidance for the path: “Above all trust inthe slow work of God. We are impatientwhen on the way to something unknown,something new. Don’t try to force what isto come, as though you could be todaywhat grace will make you tomorrow. Givethe Lord the benefit of believing that Hishand is at work, is leading you. Accepthumbly the confusing pain and loss of thispresent moment.” Such a stance of child-like trust and openness before God is anexpression of the spirituality of dimin-ishment.

When sorrow and loss of whateversort enter our lives may our faith notweaken so that we lose heart; may thehidden grace of dark times not be lost tous; and may our very powerlessnesscarry us to God. ��

7

8

In my previous article, I mentionedaspects which drew my attention onfirst arriving in Costa Rica. The

impressive brooding volcanic mountainsbacked against an intensely blue skyguarding the lush abundant tropicalvegetation of the immense crowdedforests. The incredible tameness of theiguanas and other tropical animals thatcalmly eat out of one’s hand.

The strikingly European features ofthe people especially in the CentralValley, seeming out of place in this part ofthe world. A respect for human rights andthe rule of law. The very laid back calmand peaceful atmosphere everywhereonce again dramatically in contrast withthe other Central American Republics withthe exception perhaps of Panama.

ValuesAs I began to work with different groupsin Costa Rica I became aware of a longtradition in the formation of its people inthe art of dialogue, of creating partici-pation, consultation and consensus ingroup work and decision making. Itseemed to me that all these values camenaturally to the people. I also becameaware of a spontaneous sense ofsolidarity in all classes of the populationtowards the poor, quite absent in thewealthier classes of other CentralAmerican Republics. I found myself at thesame time attracted and intrigued by thisnew experience and deeply curious as towhere it all came from.

My first clue and answer to thisquestion came as an insight during myfirst few months living in Costa Rica. Itoccurred to me, as I was preparingretreats and workshops on the Franciscancharism for the Franciscan Family in

St Anthony Brief

As he continues hisseries on Costa Rica,Fr Gerald Evans,OFM, looks at thedeep influence theFranciscan vision hashad on the spirit ofthat country. Costa Rica:

A Land with aFranciscanHeart

Central America that all the values I wasexperiencing here in Costa Rica were infact profoundly Franciscan. This led me tobegin to explore the history of theFranciscans in Costa Rica. I am stillexploring. The truth is that the history ofthis country and that of the Franciscansare simply inseparable.

Spanish ConquestFrom the very beginning of the Spanishconquest, Costa Rica was considered thepoor man of the Spanish colonies. It hadno mineral wealth worth talking about andwas too “far from anywhere” to be ofinterest to anybody of standing. Mexico,the seat of Spanish colonial power, wasthousands of miles away. EvenGuatemala, the second city of impor-tance, was also very distant. The nearestenclave of so called “civilisation” wasGranada Nicaragua. Lima in Peru, thesecond capital of the empire, was also

thousands of miles away and inaccessibleby land. So Costa Rica to a great extentwas left alone to fend for itself. News ofits independence from Spain in 1821reached its shores one month after theedict was passed. Even up until 1900 itspopulation barely reached 200,000 souls,the majority of whom were subsistencefarmers. The family became the basic unitof society and unlike the other CentralAmerican countries where most familiesof means had native Indian servants,Costa Rica ran everything through itsfamily members.

This state of things holds true right upto the present day. As the men were oftenabsent from the homestead due to workand hunting, women became the protago-nists at many levels within the culture.Once again right up to the present dayCosta Rican women are the organisersand movers within this culture. Theirparticipation within the country’s social,

Tourists taking photos

of the “pisotes” along the way.

Apr/May 2011

Two of the most renowned CostaRican missioners were Fray AntonioMargil de Jesus and Fray Pablo deRebullida. Both were graduates of theUniversity of Salamanca. The lives ofthese men and their writings reflect anextraordinary creative and humanisticvision. Their deep love and defence of thepeople and intrepid journeys through theCentral American jungles make for trulyinspiring reading.

Franciscan PerspectiveSo it was that for an incredible period ofalmost four hundred years the populationsof Costa Rica lived within the CatholicChurch with an exclusively Franciscanperspective and spirituality. That is, with adeep sense of respect and awe for thepresence of the Creator in creation, asense of the human person as sacred,created in the likeness of the Creator, theorganisation of society on a fraternal

rather than hierarchical structure, a spiritof harmony, respect and peace in humanrelations, and a sense of solidaritytowards the poor.

Other religious Orders began to trickleinto the country towards the end of the19th century and with them a nativediocesan clergy began to emerge. But theFranciscans and their vision of life andspirituality had established itself in theselands. It was on this vision, I wouldventure to say, that the present day CostaRica was built.

Curiously enough few Costa Ricansare aware of this in spite of the fact thatthe country’s patron is none other thanNuestra Señora de los Angeles (Our Ladyof the Angels) and is celebrated on theFranciscan feast of the Porciuncula, 2ndAugust. For Costa Ricans of every class itis a day of pilgrimage to the country’snational shrine, La Basilica de NuestraSeñora de los Angeles. ��

Costa Rica: A Land with aFranciscanHeart

political, economic and cultural sphereshas long been on a par with that of themen. The country at present has awoman president.

Barefoot FriarsFrom the very beginning, no missionariescared to come to these poverty strickenlands at the ends of the earth. It was thepoorest Franciscans “Los FrailesDescalsos” (The Barefooted friars) whooffered to come and live mainly amongthe native Indian populations. Thesewere men schooled by the greatFranciscan reformers of 16th centurySpain such as Fray Pedro de Alcantaraand Fray Francisco de Osuna. Theycentred their reforms on a simpler,prayerful and itinerant lifestyle. Althoughmaterially and spiritually poor andaustere many of these men were brilliantintellectually and incredibly creative andresourceful.

Members of our Community San Martin with Fray Damian, an Italian friar and ex-Minister Provincial of our Province.

The Basílica ofNuestra Señorade los Ángeles,Cartago, Costa Rica.

9

judge disregarded statements from

psychologists who said Derek suffers

from separation anxiety caused by a

hunting accident that killed the step-

father who raised him.

Bringing Out the Goodness

The circumstances are sad but not

unusual, according to Bryant, whose

“Inmate/Exmate” ministry is aimed at

kids who’ve run foul of the law. “One

young man I’ve been working with has

been sitting in jail for a year with nothing

happening. To sit for three years before

a trial is not unusual. You have to be

very patient. The more I get involved

with our justice system, the worse [I

think] it is.” Before coming to

Alamogordo, “I had never been involved

with juvenile delinquents. A lot of them

are kids that have no support system at

home. They have no significant people

in their lives. When you get involved with

them and care about them, it’s amazing

how oftentimes they will respond

positively.”

Right now, Bryant says: “There are

about a dozen kids I’m a big brother to.

With this whole dozen they don’t have a

mom, and the dad threw them away and

couldn’t care less. It’s amazing the

goodness that comes out when they

have the support of an adult.” One 20-

year-old Bryant visits in jail was 13

when the police shot and killed his

mother because they thought she was

pulling a gun. “She had no gun.” Partly

as a result of the trauma “this kid has a

little bit of anger and got involved with

the wrong crowd” and ended up in

trouble. “I try to bring out to them that

the goodness and talents in them don’t

go away because they do something

bad or illegal.”

Time to be Christian

In some cases, Bryant helps them find

housing or employment. In others, “I

help them financially. Even in jail,

sometimes they need clothes or a little

spending money and oftentimes they

have no family that cares enough to take

care of them.” Last Sunday at Mass,

Bryant told the congregation he was

going to court to support a man who had

broken into the chapel at Boles Acres. “I

said: ‘It’s time we be Christian and

Catholic and care for these throw-away

kids.’ They all clapped and yelled, but

they all go back to their own homes. Not

a lot of people get involved with jail kids.

Most people believe if a person is in jail

they deserve it.”

In the long run “you win a whole

bunch and you lose a whole bunch,”

Bryant says. “It gets depressing at

OOn February 24th a front-page

photo in the Alamogordo Daily

News made some readers

cringe. It made others angry.

But it made Fr Bryant Hausfeld,

OFM, proud.

The picture shows Fr Bryant, pastor

of Immaculate Conception Parish,

hugging Derek Miller, a young man who

has just left court after being sentenced

for a sexual offence. As a kid Derek was

a folkloric dancer and occasionally

helped out at IC Parish. Fr Bryant, who

has known him for ten years, appeared

in court as a character witness. “He’s a

church-goer and a responsible kid who’s

had a lot of hardship in his life,” Bryant

says. “He had never been in trouble

before this. I believe in my heart he is

innocent – but as often happens in our

court system, that makes little

difference.”

Derek, who is 23, was arrested in

May of 2009 and charged with

contributing to the delinquency of a

minor when a 15-year-old girl claimed

he’d had sex with her at a party. After

almost two years of hearings and delays

that resulted in a plea of no contest,

Derek was sentenced to three years at

the Otero County Detention Center, with

two years suspended. (He still insists he

is innocent.) According to Bryant, the

St Anthony Brief10

TONI CASHNELLI writes of aphoto that provoked controversy but revealed the depth of truepastoral care.

A picture That Speaks Volumes

Pic: Elva K. Osterreich,Alamogordo Daily News

True Pastor: Fr Bryant hugs Derek

Apr/May 201111

times.” Six months ago he testified

on behalf of a former student of St

Catherine Indian School who lost his

security clearance to work at a lab in

Los Alamos following a DUI (driving

under the influence) conviction. “He

got the clearance back. Then he

went out to celebrate and got

another DUI.”

Proudest Moment

In the case of Derek Miller,

involvement made a difference. The

judge agreed to a work release

when Bryant offered the young man

daytime employment at IC Parish.

With good behaviour “he can get the

sentence down to six months.”

After the photo appeared in the

Daily News, “He [Derek] was very

concerned and he apologised over

and over to me,” Bryant says. When

the feature was posted on the Daily

News website, there were 63

comments from readers – most of

them negative:

���� “What a pervert,” one reader wrote

of Miller. “The picture of Father

Bryant angers me as well.”

���� Another said: “Father Bryant

probably spoke on his behalf under

the impression that people come to

him and act one way with him, even

though on the outside, they are

known idiots.”

���� The outrage continued with:

“Attorneys who defend these creeps

and successfully get them ‘off the

hook’ should be ashamed because

they are part of the problem. As are

members of the clergy who offer

support where support is not

merited. Miller needed a kick in the

pants, not a hug, from the priest!”

All that animosity doesn’t bother Bryant.

“I told Derek, and I believe it, that this

is one of the proudest moments of my

priesthood.”

Reprinted with permission from

“SJB Notes” – St John the Baptist

Franciscan Province, USA ��

A picture That Speaks VolumesM.A. Taylor recalls her uncleBilly who died in an industrialschool, a boy of 15 years.A PENNY FOR THEMI thought of you in prayer Dear SoulIt wasn’t anything new.I took a box of matchesAnd lit a candle too.A young man sent to Industrial SchoolThe Glin I am told.No huge crime committedJust a little bold.A penny for your thoughts Dear UncleIs what I would say.A penny for themIf you were here today.Stripped of liberty and youthWhat purpose did it serveUntold justice hiddenWho? outside could observe. Stout walls that confined youWere now opening it’s doors.Freedom to be with loved onesWould never be yours.A penny for your thoughts Dear UncleIs what I would say.A penny for themIf you were here today.

– M.A. Taylor

Beginning:Four newPostulants withBr Ndabaningi(Director ofPostulants andGuardian atNhariraMission) and Sr Laurette,FranciscanSister ofPerpetualAdoration, who teaches the Postulantsat Nharira. The Postulantsare: Givemore,Elijah, Tatendaand Shepherd.

Christian Values inBusiness?When Catholic business leaders

gathered for a recent Vatican meeting,

they were asked to take part in an

unusual thought experiment. Andreas

Widmer, a towering former Swiss Guard

and business executive, told them:

“Imagine you are put on trial for being a

Christian, and they will use your

company and how you run it as proof of

your faith. Worst case scenario would

be they can’t convict you

because there’s

no evidence.”

Widmer, who is

co-founder of

the philanthropic

SEVEN Fund,

made this point

to underline how

difficult it can be

to put one’s faith

to work and

make it inspire

corporate

policies and

behaviour. He

was one of about

40 guests invited

to take part in a

seminar co-

sponsored by the

Pontifical Council

for Justice and

Peace and the

John A. Ryan

Institute for Catholic Social Thought at

the University of St Thomas in St Paul,

Minnesota. Titled Caritas in Veritate:

The Logic of Gift and the Meaning of

Business, the seminar looked for ways

to help entrepreneurs and Catholic

educators inject spiritual values into

business practice. More specifically, its

aim was to use the principles outlined

in Charity in Truth, Pope Benedict XVI’s

2009 encyclical on social justice issues.

It was stated that it’s not true that a

business built around the logic of gift,

which reflects the Christian sense of

self-giving, would be at a significant

recent times more than 2,000 are

baptised each year in the Diocese of

Hong Kong and for the first time, last

year, the number rose above 3,000

thanks to the impressive commitment

by the diocese and the mobilisation of

the laity. Currently the diocese's

faithful counts 356,000 members,

equivalent to 5% of the Island's

population.

Abolishing Death PenaltyAfter years of

debate,

beginning in

1999, the

Governor of

Illinois, Pat

Quinn, signed

the decree

abolishing the

State's death

penalty and

substituting it

with life impris-

onment.

Catholic organi-

sations have

applauded the

final decision of

Governor

Quinn,

formalised on

Ash

Wednesday.

“The

suspension of the death penalty is a

sign of progress for the development of

the culture of life for our State,” the

Bishops of the United States said. “We

are grateful in the way that Illinois took

the time to reflect, study and act in

merit of the sanctity of every human

life.” Since 1976, the year in which the

Supreme Court reintroduced the death

penalty, there have been 12 executions

in Illinois. 1,242 have occurred

throughout the United States, while

another 20 detainees have been

exonerated. Illinois is the 16th State of

the United States without the death

penalty. ����

it’s also not going to lead you to

economic failure either,” it was stated.

Christian values help shape decisions

concerning the mundane elements of

every business: salaries, how jobs are

defined, how people are treated when

hired or fired, and how one interacts

with buyers and suppliers.

Hong Kong BaptismsBishop John Tong of Hong Kong has

announced: “At Easter 3,400 adult

catechumens will be baptised.” In

St Anthony Brief12

Spiritual values:putting faith to work

Church Briefcompetitive disadvantage against

businesses whose primary focus is

profit at all costs. And neither is it true

that the logic of money is the key to

success as the continuing financial

malaise has shown, he said. “What

we’ve seen is that the logic of

commodity and of price didn’t do too

well recently.” A business based on

values that put authentic human devel-

opment and the common good first may

not “always make you more money, but

Apr/May 201113

Enrolments for individuals, living and deceased.The stipend for same is ¤2.

Every day a Special Mass is offered for all those enrolledin the Franciscan Missionary Union at Merchants’ Quay.

Enrolments for individuals living and deceased.The stipend for same is ¤10. Family membership is ¤30(this includes both living and deceased members).

The St. Anthony Brief magazine is published bi-monthlyand is ¤1/£1 per copy. Subscription for the year

(including postage) is ¤12/£12.

St. Anthony’s Pools runs a draw on the 1st of every month.A book of 20 tickets is ¤10/£6.

FRANCISCANMISSIONARY

UNION8 Merchants’ Quay

Dublin 8

Tel: (01) 6777651Fax: (01) 6777293

Religious Items:Everybody’s St. Anthony booklet ¤1.00St. Anthony’s Brief in metal 50cSt. Anthony’s Brief in linen 50cSt. Anthony Guide Stamps booklet ¤1.00St. Anthony’s Relic 50cSt. Anthony’s Beads ¤2.00St. Anthony Blessings 20cSt. Anthony Novena prayers 30cStations of the Cross book ¤2.00All prices include postage & packaging

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AVAILABLE NOWFROM FMU OFFICE:

FFrranciscan College Gormanston is

a co-educational secondary

school set in east Meath. We

offer five- and seven-day boarding for

boys and co-education for boys and

girls. It is a vibrant college, with the

focus on achievement for all, raising

aspirations, equality and mutual respect.

Our Franciscan ethos underpins this

vision. Our primary aim is to create a

stimulating, secure and caring Catholic

environment where all members of the

school community matter.

We are very proud of our students.

We all have high expectations of them

and insist upon achievable standards;

equally all students are encouraged to

be the best that they can be. The school

has a broad profile and we will go to

significant lengths to provide support for

every kind of student and family. We aim

to provide the right programme for

young people, whether they are a bright

all-rounder, an average student with a

particular talent in one or more areas or

a student who finds some difficulty with

aspects of the regular educational

experience.

Academic Potential

Academic achievement is high. As a

school we continue to outperform

national norms and our students are

challenged and encouraged to reach

their academic potential. In tough

economic times it’s very important to

work to achieve academic targets; it’s

also important to be equipped to face

the world as confident, responsible

young men and women who have a

sense of themselves and the world

around them. We at Gormanston believe

passionately in the education of the

whole person. It is the value of a holistic

education that sets us apart.

Franciscan education seeks to

develop personal responsibility through

self-knowledge. Our objective is to

prepare students so they are equipped

for life after school in further education,

training or the workplace. For all

St Anthony Brief14

A Franciscan place of Learning

Dermot Lavin, College Principal, writes of the Franciscan College,Gormanston, Co. Meath.

parents/carers the successful education

of their son and/or daughter is an

absolute priority. This is a partnership

and the most important element of that

partnership is your child.

Partnership

In short, students come to us in first year

as young, eager children ready for the

next, great phase of their development.

They leave us as young, confident

adults equally ready for the excitement

and challenges of the rest of their lives.

It is our privilege, in partnership with

parents, to bring about this transfor-

mation.

Leonardo Da Vinci wrote: “Learning

is the only thing the mind never

exhausts, never fears and never

regrets.” Franciscan College

Gormanston is a place of learning and a

cohesive school community. We are a

school of great energy and activity.

Come and see for yourself!

If you would like more information

about Franciscan College Gormanston

please check our website:

www.gormanstoncollege.ie. Or you can

contact the college directly. You are

warmly invited to visit us. ����

Apr/May 201115

Gormanston: a cohesive school community

WE ARE LOOKING FOR PROMOTERS OF OUR MONTHLY DRAWWe are looking for supporters of our mission who will take one book of tickets a month.

Please help us. Buy a book yourself. Write for a book to sell to your friends.

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Please send me ............ Books for Next Draw

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Br Albert Mhari with the youth at St Francis parish, Waterfalls, Harare.

With young people

Sr Mary Burke, FMDM,sees how the story of the

journey to Emmaus can speak to our world’s search

for hope.

HHe was a tall man, his facecreased and weathered by therain, wind and storms of life. He

had spent about fifteen years sleeping indoorways. In fact he showed the inter-viewer one doorway with a widepavement slab which had been his homemost nights for the previous five years.Traumatised by his life as a soldier, herecalled that it took him almost twentyyears to come to terms with some of thethings he saw while in the service of hiscountry. His refuge now was a shelter forthe homeless where he had regained hissense of self and was gradually beginningto see that his life was worth more thanhe might have thought. His big fear wasthat he might end up homeless onceagain, forced to sleep in the samedoorway.

We might say surely he won’t end upback there, but this man then went on toshare the sad fact that this shelter, his

St Anthony Brief16

SR MARY BURKE, FMDMA FRESH LOOK

place of refuge was to be one of themany places where “cuts” were alreadytaking place. Having found a place wherehe could begin to rebuild his life, he wasnow in great danger of having this newand fragile future taken away from himand of being thrown, not just out onto thestreet, but back into the doorway of a pastthat was filled with pain and suffering.

Austerity but where is thecompassion? Could it be in the eyes ofthe reporter who listened to this tragicstory?

Austerity CutsThey came in their thousands, carryingbanners, pleaded anxiously for those theyloved, those who have no voice and couldnot speak for themselves. Many pushedthose who needed care in wheelchairs,their minds full of reports of the servicesthat were to be cut. Every town and city inour country seems to have seen such

demonstrations in recent times. Somemothers and relatives cried; some spokeangrily about the fact that in this time ofeconomic hardship those who have putus in this mess are still living a life ofease and comfort and have not beenmade to atone for their sins. Othersbravely begged for loving care andessential needs which would seem to bethe basic human right of us all. Theirbanners proclaimed: Save Our Hospitals,No More Cuts.

One woman found herself in thecentre of a media storm. She and herhusband had four children, threeteenagers and a six-year-old daughterneeding 24-hour nursing care. They nevermanaged more than two hours uninter-rupted sleep at a time. This loving mothersaid she felt she simply would no longerbe able to care for the daughter at homebecause the few weekends respite carefor her daughter were about to be cut.

Resurrection Hope

sense this is true and it is a cruelreflection of the world in which we live.Yet, there are those willing to speak up forthose without a voice, to give words to theneeds of those they love and in thatwillingness there is Resurrection hope.

Life is indeed austere for many peopleat the moment. We are reminded of thetwo disciples after the Crucifixion takingthe road to Emmaus to flee the pain andhumiliation of the Cross. One disciple wasname Cleophas, the other remainsunnamed. There is a sense in which we,like Cleophas and his companion, wouldalso like to get away from our“Jerusalem,” the place of pain, of death,of lack of hope in our world’s future. Thestruggles of life for many of us are truly of“Calvary” proportions; the future is a far-away place and the pain of the presentcan be overwhelming.

How did Jesus help those twodisciples on the road to Emmaus to move

Austerity but where is thecompassion? Could it be in the solidarityof those who walked and pleadedanxiously for the good of the vulnerableand the voiceless?

Cairo StreetsAnd yes they came in their hundreds ofthousands, tired from the lack of freedom;thirty years of oppression had finallydriven them onto the streets. Some ofthem said they would rather die in thestreets of Cairo than live as prisoners intheir own homes. For eighteen days, theysat, sang, prayed, slept in the streets,cried for democracy and a future in“Freedom Square.” At times it looked as ifthey would lose everything, even theirlives and some of them literally “laid downtheir lives” for a different tomorrow. Yet,they continued to come, to believe thatlife could be better, to hope, and in theend their endurance won them at the very

least the promise of a different future. The army watched over the

happenings for the most part, peacefully,gently and good-naturedly. An army usedto being in power now given the delicatetask of forming a bridge between the pastand the future and unusually for any armyof being the voice of peace and of moder-ation. Compassionately present,journeying with their brothers and sisters– on the road of hope and joining in therising of a nation from thirty years ofautocratic and fear-filled living.

Road to EmmausWe, as Christians, celebrate another“rising,” the Resurrection of Christ thisEaster season. We might look at the firsttwo stories in this article and say they arefull of the Cross, the suffering of thosecondemned to live on our streets, thosemost vulnerable and voiceless, those whohave hope taken away from them. In a

Apr/May 201117

Cuts: back on the street

St Anthony Brief18

from being “we had hoped” people tobecoming once again people of hope?Jesus goes in to stay with them. He ispresent to their suffering and their pain. Helistens and He loves. Jesus loves them intheir pain and even in their lack of recog-nition of Him.

Avenues and WindowsThere is no doubt that life is hard in theseaustere times but the call to love is alwaysChrist’s call to us. We are called, asThomas Merton says, to let God love othersthrough us, to become avenues andwindows through which the love of God canshine, to express that love on whateverroad to Emmaus we find ourselves. We can,then, bring that love and compassion tothose in dark places, to those whose livesare more Good Friday than Easter Sunday.As Christ gave love and compassion to twodejected disciples, who had no clear visionof where they were going, so we can do thesame.

Having experienced Christ’s love thesemen on the Road to Emmaus found a senseof direction and returned to Jerusalem full ofjoy. They were able to go back to the placeof pain because now they were takingChrist with them, not physically but in theirhearts. They had been listened to and lovedin their pain and sadness. This is surely themessage of the Resurrection. We are beinginvited to “take Christ with us,” to listen andlove those who need us, and that will makeall the difference – to us and to those whoneed Him in these challenging times.Compassion without austerity; yes, anabundance of compassion.

Interestingly, we never hear of Cleophasagain after this passage and we never learnthe name of his companion. But we knowthat something life-changing happened toboth of them. They learnt that Jesusappears in many forms, in many people.Christ may not walk physically alongside thebroken-hearted today and there are times inall our lives when we are the suffering andthe struggling. Then, let us pray that whenwe walk the road of pain we will find aChrist-companion to walk alongside us.When we are a little stronger and seeothers on this road we will be able to bringChrist to others and be windows and theavenues through which His love can be feltand His compassion experienced.

Let us remember Resurrection Hopecan often be found where we least expect it!

Is Christ inviting you to be hisResurrection Hope for someone thisEaster? ����

Music ManBr Bonaventure Ward hasbeen involved with fife anddrum bands for over 50years. His mother asked him when joining theFranciscans in 1960: “Areyou prepared to give upyour bike and your band?”But that did not provenecessary. He has beeninvolved since then in localbands in Wexford, Limerick and Waterford (where hestill displays his passion for music).Right: Br Bonaventure with the St Mary’s Cup won in Limerick in 1985 by St Patrick’s Band fromWexford conducted by him.

Playing in Wexford, 1982, for Donncha O’Dulaing, RTE.

Directing Munster parade of 4 bands from Dingle, Wexford,Warerford and Limerick in 2008.

Apr/May 201119

800th Anniversary of the Founding of the Poor Sisters of St Clare

At the age of eighteen, Clare became the first female follower of St Francis whenshe left her home on Palm Sunday night in 1212 in order to be consecrated to

Christ. She was joined shortly by others and so began a new way of religious lifewithin the Church.

The Franciscan family celebrates a Year of St Clare, a time of gratitude andreflection, from Palm Sunday 2011 to the Feast of St Clare, 11th August 2012.

Letter of the Minister Generals to the Poor Clares of the World:

Thank you for your tireless search for God.This freedom lived in God

is an invitationto dive into

the Divine Mystery every day.

Check out: www.poor-clares.com

Abandoning yourselves through the Spirit

and shaped by the Gospel,continue to announce by your existence,

as you live the mystical dimension of life,

that God exists,that God is love.

In “questing” the friarswent directly to thepeople seeking theirmaterial support. Br Cathal Duddy, OFM, looks at an age-oldtradition in Ireland, now disappeared.

Older people might remember

times past when a friar visited

their home each year. Perhaps

the friar was accompanied by a driver

and, as a child, you were somewhat in

awe of the habited visitor. I recall my

grandparents talking with fondness

about a Franciscan friar who used to

call to their home in Bray, Co. Wicklow.

They cherished his visits when they

could enjoy a chat with him over a cup

of tea. Many people loved these house

amongst the local population for food,

heating fuel and others things that could

be exchanged for cash was an absolute

necessity.

Territories

Questing was common in Ireland

wherever there were religious Orders,

and its universal support amongst the

populace testifies to the practice over

many years, perhaps over generations.

People expected a questing friar at

certain times of the year, and questors

in turn accepted whatever people

offered and could afford. The friars also

quested butter at the local creameries.

Questing territories were based on

diocesan boundaries and, once the

bishop granted questing rights, the friars

were permitted to quest throughout his

diocese. In the diocese of Waterford

and Lismore where three Franciscan

friaries were present, the friars had to

negotiate three separate questing areas

calls and might wonder why they

ceased. Known to friars as questing or

simply the quest, house visiting was

crucial to the work and maintenance of

the friary, and in these pages I try to

illustrate how this was the case.

Franciscan questing was a form of

“begging” undertaken by the friars to

support the friary and its work. It was

carried out from friaries in Athlone,

Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Cork,

Drogheda, Dublin, Ennis, Galway,

Killarney, Limerick, Rossnowlagh,

Waterford, and Wexford. Whilst town

questing took place within some urban

areas, usually it was in the countryside

around the towns where eggs,

vegetables, wool or turf could be

collected. Most of the friaries supported

approximately ten friars, and some such

as the novitiate in Killarney and city

friaries like Dublin and Cork had

communities of up to thirty friars each.

Without an alternative income, questing

St Anthony Brief20

The Friars’ QuestA different world: Br Gerald Fitzpatrick in 1960 on the egg quest in Glenflesk outside Killarney withthen postulant Pius McLaughlin, carrying the egg basket. The motorbike belongs to the photographer,

Fr Fritz O'Kelly, OFM Conv, who met the questing friars on the road as he was travelling thecountryside seeking vocations for the Conventual friars in England. He is now in his mid 80's

and living in Wexford friary.

Apr/May 201121

and 70s, much of this changed when

people began to own cars with which

they could travel to wherever they

needed to go. The friars were no

different, and soon realised how

practical and efficient car ownership

could be for carrying out friary work.

Questing by car, they could cover more

territory in much less time. A down-side

to questing by car, however, was that

many friars felt awkward because many

of the people from whom they quested

could not afford to own a car

themselves.

Other more fundamental factors

perhaps led to the final cessation of

questing. In the first place, falling

vocations from the 1960s onwards

meant that less manpower was

available for the time and energy it

demanded. Secondly, new forms of

friary income became available with

new structures for Mass offerings and

increased opportunities for friars to

undertake paid employment in parishes

and education.

At any rate, questing ceased

altogether in the 1980s, and with it an

age-old means of supporting friaries,

one which carried the friars through the

twentieth century. Fruits of contact

forged through the quest continue to

stand to the friars today as people

inherit their parents' friary allegiance.

The quest as we knew it may be gone

forever due to changed circumstances,

but sometimes I wonder about the

possibility of finding new forms of

questing that would meet present and

future needs. ��

so as not to trespass on one another's

questing territory. While long-time

questors knew their questing areas to

the last house, sometimes a questing

territory encroached on other dioceses.

Although some friars continued to

quest using a pony and trap well into

the twentieth century, motor vehicles

began to be used by other questing

friars who hired a local driver or

hackney to drive them about. Only

much later in the 1960s and 70s did the

friars themselves begin to own cars,

and were then questing under their own

steam.

Contact

As well as providing for the friary, there

were other benefits too, not least the

meaningful contact made possible

between friars and people, and the

enduring bond that it established

between them. The friars met people on

their own terms at a remove from the

ordinary church setting, and people

chatted at ease with friars beside the

hearth. People also had an opportunity

to give something back – usually some

produce from the farm – to the friars for

all their service and availability

throughout the year. Furthermore, friars

were able to offer their many services to

the people far and wide, services such

as hearing confessions and blessing the

sick, providing Easter water to bless

farms and livestock, listening to peoples'

problems, and mediating in disputes. As

one person put it, it was the Church

beyond the church.

Some notable Franciscan questors

were Br Gerard Hill in Cork, Br Gerald

Fitzpatrick in Killarney, Br Raphael

Buckley in Galway, Br Peter Mangan in

Limerick, and the last Irish Franciscan

tertiary, Br Paschal Williamson in

Rossnowlagh. As an altar boy at the

friary in Broad Lane, Cork city, the late

Fr Walter Crowley OFM recalled seeing

Br Gerard returning from the quest with

a cart full of produce in 1935. Br Gerard

died while out on the quest there in

1943.

Changing Ireland

Even before the quest ended completely

in the 1980s, it seems to have been in

decline for some time. Every aspect of

life had been changing utterly across

Ireland during the twentieth century, and

this is perhaps most evident in the way

people travelled. One of the benefits of

the quest was being able to make

contact with people who lived in outlying

areas, people who perhaps seldom

were able to go to town where the friary

was located. To these country people,

the visit of a friar was a very welcome

“outreach.” However, during the 1960s

I am on thequest for information youmay have on this little known but recent piece of socio-religious history of Ireland. If you can help, please contact me, Br Cathal Duddy, The Abbey, 8 St Francis Street, Galway, Ireland.

News from around the . . .

Franciscan World

St Anthony Brief22

Galway Parish:The parish of St Francis, Galway, centred on the

Abbey, is celebrating 40 years since it was established.Fr John Bosco O'Byrne, OFM, was appointed the firstparish priest in 1971. A joyous gathering recentlybrought together the friars, people and some pastFranciscan parish priests and curates. Our photoshows the former PP, Ralph Lawless, with Mercy

Sisters: ????????? (on left) and Sr Catherine (on right).

Minister General visits Haiti

March 7th, 2011 |

About a year after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the Minister General, Br. Jose Carballo, paid them a visit from February 27 to March

1, 2011. The purpose of such visit was to show solidarity, affection and admiration of the whole Order to the Haitian brothers.

Accompanied by Br. Massimo Tedoldi of the Secretariate for the Missions and Evangelization and Br. Edwin Alvarado, Vice-Provincial of the Province of

Central America, the Minister General visited the three fraternities in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. At the convent of St. Alexander he met friars

Victor, Carlos Omar and Colombano plus the four postulants who will soon begin their novitiate. He lingered with some forty children who frequented the

little convent daily. A welcome house nearby will soon be constructed for them by Zecchino d’oro di Bologna and Cassa di Risparmio di Torino.

He also spent time to visit the city which was almost completely destroyed by that terrible tremor of January 12, 2010. At the cemetery, where hundreds of

thousands were buried, he offered prayers before their graves.

He then visited the heavily-damaged church of Croix-les-missions which will be reconstructed entirely. Thanks to the contributions of the Province of

Central American upon which the Foundation is dependent. The parish priest and at the same time President of the Foundation, Br. Dempsey, informed the

Minister of all the charitable initiatives the friars had begun during this dreadful year. Aside from his parochial duties, another friar, Br Jean-Louis,

renders free medical services in a small clinic, caring and healing about 50 to 60 sick persons a day.

Lilavois, a place situated on a plain below the city was the third fraternity he visited where friars Raymond, Carlos and Miguel live along with four young

Haitian friars. Beside their formation activities, they are also involved in receiving the religious for days of spirituality. Right at Lilavois all brothers of the

Foundation gathered together around the Minister to recollect the hounding events of the past year and to plan for the future.

The Minister exhorted this group of courageous friars:

to build a strong fraternity even before the material buildings through regular and thorough planning and meetings.

to be affectively and effectively closed to the Mother Province,

to be sensitive to the needs of the needy people, thus, offering a response in accordance to our charism,

to have guidelines on stages of formation especially for the novitiate.

Through the Minister, the friars in Haiti extended their deepest gratitude to all friars of the Order who showed in more ways than one their fraternal

solidarity.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Visit to HaitiAt the end of February, about a year afterthe devastating earthquake in Haiti, theMinister General, Jose Carballo, paid avisit to the Franciscan communities there.The purpose was to show solidarity andto express the admiration of the wholeOrder to the friars there for their life andministry among the poorest. The MinisterGeneral visited the three fraternities inthe Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, andmet the friars including the four postu-lants who will soon begin their novitiate.He spent time with some forty childrenwho come to the little friary daily lookingfor assistance. A house of welcome willsoon be constructed for them nearby. Fr

Jose then visited the heavily-damagedchurch of Croix-les-missions which will bereconstructed entirely thanks to the contri-butions of the Province of Central Americaupon which the Haitian Foundation isdependent.

Many charitable initiatives have beenbegun by the friars during this dreadfulyear. One friar, Jean-Louis, offers freemedical services in a small clinic, caringfor about 50 to 60 sick persons a day. InLilavois, a place situated on a plain belowthe city, there is a formation fraternitywhere four young Haitian friars prepare fortheir future. This house also provides awelcoming place for religious who wish tospend some time apart in prayer. ��

Muckross Abbey: Three men attended aVocations Live-in inKillarney friary recently,from Co. Down, Co.Limerick and from Dublin.Br David Collins, one of our students in formation,came from Canterbury forthe event and VincentFinnegan, our postulantfrom Achill Island now in Killarney, practicallyorganised everything.

The Minister General in theruined Franciscan church.

AAnn IIrriisshh FFrraanncciissccaann ffrriiaarr sshhaarreess hhiiss rreeff lleeccttiioonnss oonn ll iiffee’’ss jjoouurrnneeyy,, ssppiirrii ttuuaallii ttyy aanndd ccuurrrreenntt hhaappppeenniinnggss..

CChheecckk oouutt wwwwww..ffrraanncciissccaannppoonnddeerriinnggss..bbllooggssppoott..ccoomm

Apr/May 201123

Univeristy and in Rome. Ordained a priestin 1970, he went as a missionary to SouthAfrica the following year. He worked invarious parishes and was Director ofNovices for the Franciscan friars. He wasRector of the national seminary, St JohnVianney in Pretoria, from 1984 to 1991.He was appointed Bishop of Kokstad andordained a bishop on 19th February 1994.

He has published a number of religiousand spiritual books in Sotho, Zulu, Xhosaand Sepedi. His fluency in theselanguages will be a blessing for the peopleof God in the Archdiocese of Pretoria.

AAn Irish Franciscan, BishopWilliam (Liam) Slattery, OFM, upto now Bishop of Kokstad, has

been appointed Archbishop of Pretoria,one of the most senior posts within theCatholic Church in South Africa. Thecelebration of his installation as the newarchbishop took place on Sunday 30thJanuary.

Born in Portlaoise, Co. Laois, in 1943,Archbishop Slattery was educated in theFranciscan College, Gormanston, Co.Meath. He joined the Franciscans andafter his novitiate he studied at Galway

The Archdiocese of Pretoria has206,000 Catholics and a total of 109priests, 11 permanent deacons and 273religious. The Vatican also confirmed thatArchbishop Slattery will also serve asMilitary Ordinary to the South AfricaNational Defense Force, a position thattraditionally has been linked with theposition of Archbishop of Pretoria.

We wish Archbishop Liam everyblessing and grace as he takes up hisnew role of leadership and serviceamong the People of God in SouthAfrica. �

New Archbishop of pretoria

With friars Dominic Hession and Patrick Noonan. Taking on a new role.

Greeting his new flock.Cardinal Napier, OFM, of Durban with Sisters.

Memory, Memorials and Monuments

celebration of the great liberation event

(Passover) brought them into the

presence of God, “I Am,” guiding their

onward path. It gave them hope.

“Memorial means that God allows what is

past to be present here and now, that we

are related to that great past which is

here and now effective” (Credo

Catechism, 1984).

We saw in the last issue that Jesus

was born into this rich prayer tradition of

grateful remembrance. He, His kinsfolk,

and the apostles celebrated the

foundation Passover feast yearly. He had

a great desire to celebrate it with them

the very week of His death. He linked His

impending sacrifice to the ritual of the

food and drink set before them. He

SSince Pentecost “the Church has

never failed to come together to

celebrate the paschal mystery”

(Vatican II, Liturgy 6).

In the last century Canon Georges

Lemaitre at Louvain University put

forward a now much discussed theory

that the universe had begun with a “big

bang” unleashing awesome energies.

Perhaps one could say that the Jewish

people, descended from Abraham and

Sarah, had their “big bang” experience –

that night when God intervened to snatch

them from slavery in Egypt. Moses then

led them on an arduous desert “great

march” which forged them into a people.

He assembled this people at Mount Sinai

where the solemn ritual of the Covenant

was enacted. The words that “I will be

your God and you will be my people”

were ratified as Moses sprinkled the life-

blood of the sacrifice both on the people

and on the altar representing God. They

were now God’s holy people even if

chosen on behalf of all of us to nurture

the ancient promise that the seed of the

woman would crush the head of the

serpent-devil. They were sealed by “the

blood of the Covenant.”

It is a fact that time dulls memory and

we humans can be quite forgetful not to

say ungrateful. The people long ago had

no books or videos, no tapes or photos,

no telephones or faxes, no email or

internet. But nomadic people had

stunning memories just as Irish society

had the bards and poets as guardians of

the story. So the Eternal added the

required step. The people should keep a

yearly memorial festival of Passover

(liberation) extended later to Pentecost

(covenant). “This is a day you are to

remember and celebrate in honour of

Yahweh. It is to be kept as a festival day

for all generations forever” (Exodus

12:24).

Re-acting the Story

When the people assembled – eventually

in Jerusalem – it was time to recall the

story, to retell it, to relive and to re-enact it

in some ritual drama and in the Passover

meal especially. This would involve

prayer, singing and renewal of faith in

God who had remembered and saved

them. By focussing on the past event they

would re-present it in faith and re-

experience the drama and the liberation.

They remembered God and asked God to

remember them here and now. The

St Anthony Brief24

FR TOM RUSSELL, OFM

Fr Tom Russell, OFM, continues his series inpreparation for the Dublin Eucharistic Congress

next year.

25

remember God whose powerful love

liberated us. As people remembered

God’s deeds they were moved to bless

and thank the Giver of the gifts whose

blessings flowed back to them. In this way

the Eternal is present to each generation.

Jesus was no stranger to human

celebrations. His very presence at a meal

reminded the Jews that heaven would be

a banquet. So He chose the sacred meal

with “the Cross rooted on the table” as

the means of His personal saving

presence to each generation.

There is then:

���� One unique sacrifice of Christ

���� Jesus offered this sacrifice in His own

person on the Cross

���� We offer that same sacrifice today “in

memory of me.”

���� The Eucharist, grounded in the Last

Supper ritual, is the realisation or

actualisation of the Passion of Christ

today. This re-presentation of the

Cross is celebrated in mystery or in

sacrament.

���� Mass is then the ritual sacramental

celebration of the Passover of Christ.

This means true liberation from sin

and true union with the Father in the

New Covenant “in His own blood”

(Hebrews 9:26).

���� Holy Mass is then “the sacrament of

the sacrifice of Christ.”

���� Each Mass is the real presence of the

sacrificial death of Jesus in all places

planted the Cross amidst all the praise

and thanksgiving. He would be the true

Lamb of God whose precious “blood of

the new Covenant” liberates and cleanses

all of us. “Do this, as often as you drink it,

in remembrance of me,” so that “as often

as you eat this bread and drink this cup,

you proclaim the death of the Lord until

He comes” (1Corinthians 11:25,26). “For

our Paschal Lamb, Christ, has been sacri-

ficed” (1Corinthians 5:7). And so the great

journey of Jesus through death to glory,

which turned at the Cross, focuses in on

each Last Supper or holy Eucharist

celebrated. Long since St Cyprian wrote

that the Mass is “the sacrament of the

Passion.”

The sequence is the event of liber-

ation or redemption, the memorial repre-

sentation of the event, God’s presence

and blessing. Jesus’ journey is

proclaimed and actualised in worship. At

this point it would be helpful to reflect on

memory, memorials and monuments.

When studying Latin at school we learned

the jingle: “It is a pity you forget to

remember” as a way to remember which

three verbs – these three – govern the

genitive case. There is great drama in

human “forgetting” and “remembering.”

The Wings of Memory

The study and mapping of the human

brain is one of the latest frontiers in

science. God created us in His image and

likeness endowing us with the power of

reason, thought and language, with imagi-

nation and intuition, with emotions and

feelings, and with the wonderful gift of

memory called the “womb of the brain.”

Memory roots us in a personal, familial

and collective past. Roots means identity,

history, tradition, and inheritance. Pity the

people or person with no past, no history.

The Swedish proverb says: “If you cut

your chains you are free, if you cut your

roots you die.” Our past is alive in each of

us today.

Memory gives us wings besides. We

can accept the past, stretch it, surpass

and transcend it. Memory gives birth to

hope. Memory is the living voice of

yesterday. It grounds hope while action

realises it. Memory cries out for human

celebrations and gatherings such as

marriages, funerals, sowing and reaping

time, war and peace. It is when we come

together that memories are tickled,

prodded, and suddenly flow forth in

stories, songs, anecdotes. Such meetings

Apr/May 2011

deepen the unity of people such as

members of a family.

Naturally we record such gatherings –

diaries, letters, videos, photos, emails,

mementos, souvenirs. The story is caught

and captured in order to be told and

retold. Some memories are too important

to forget. So we hold memorial services,

we put up statues, name streets and

buildings, build monuments. Above all we

remember the dead. Irish Franciscans are

proud of the way Br Michéal Ó Cléirig and

his team “caught” our previous history in

their monumental Annals of the Kingdom

of Ireland.

Human gatherings always involve

food and drink and nearly always music

and dance. One can progress from

snacks to parties to formal dinners to

state banquets. Food and drink keep us

alive and healthy. Food and drink shared

in a meal deepen our common unity, our

relationship and bondedness. In such

ways we express the deep truth that we

are “beings-in-relationships,” beholden to

so many others.

Feast days are crucial as they inject

the note of celebration into our gatherings

as we rejoice in our togetherness. They

are good for the heart.

Sacred Meal

The Eternal took all this human reality into

account and so memorial celebrations

became the channel by which we

Party: human gatherings always involve food

and times. Each Mass plugs in directly

to the unique event of our salvation,

the sacrifice of the Cross.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

reads: “In the institution narrative, the

power of the words and action of Christ,

and the power of the Holy Spirit, make

sacramentally present under the species

of bread and wine, Christ’s Body and

Blood, His sacrifice offered on the Cross

once and for all. In the memorial

(anamnesis) that follows, the Church calls

to mind the Passion, Resurrection and

glorious return of Christ Jesus; she

presents to the Father the offering of His

Son which reconciles us with Him” (no.

1353).

Eternal Redemption (Hebrews 9:12)

Jesus had promised that “where two or

three are gathered together in my name,

there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew

18:20). When we gather to “do this in

remembrance of me” the presence of His

entire Paschal Mystery focuses in on this

Mass. This is Jesus seen in the vision of

the apostle John as “standing in the midst

of the throne... a Lamb that seemed to

have been slain” (Revelation 5:6). Slain

yet alive!

This is Jesus who said: “I am the first

and the last, the One who lives. Once I

was dead but now I am alive forever and

ever” (Revelation 1:18). This is the risen

Jesus of John 20 standing among His

apostles, proud of the wounds He

suffered on our behalf. This is Jesus “who

dies no more” (Romans 6:9). Indeed this

is Jesus “who died or rather was raised

up, who is at the right hand of God and

who intercedes for us” (Romans 8:34).

St Anthony Brief26

Philip McCosker remarks that Pope

Benedict preaching in Westminister

Cathedral recently was “keen to stress

the simultaneity of our celebration of the

Eucharist and Christ’s eternal inter-

cession for us to the Father.”

Our memorial ritual holy Mass repre-

sents His death-sacrifice and is the

effective real presence or sacrament of

His Passion, of His Body broken for us

(bread), of His life blood poured out for

us (wine). This is Calvary, the Cross on

the table altar as lived and experienced

so personally by St Padre Pio, Marthe

Robin and other victim souls. This is our

proclamation of Jesus’ death “until He

comes.” This is the Cross standing

while the world whirls by. This is the

source of the power of the Holy Spirit

that kept Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan in

his solitary confinement in a Vietnam

prison.

“We should glory in the Cross of our

Lord Jesus Christ, for He is our

salvation, our life and our resurrection;

through Him we are saved and made

free” (Holy Thursday liturgy). ����

Memorials: too important to forget.Patrick Kavanagh by the Grand Canal, Dublin.

“At the Last Supper, on the nightHe was betrayed, our Saviour insti-

tuted the Eucharistic Sacrifice ofHis Body and Blood. He did this toperpetuate the sacrifice of the Crossthroughout the centuries until Hecomes again, and so entrust to His

beloved Spouse, the Church, amemorial of His death and

Resurrection: a sacrament of love, asign of unity, a bond of charity, a

paschal banquet in which Christ isreceived, the mind is filled with

grace, and a pledge of future gloryis given to us”

(Vatican II, Liturgy 47).

“It would be simply a question, then,of having Jesus present to their

thoughts. He would merely be withthem in spirit across the barriers of

space and time. This is all that purelyhuman remembering is able to achieve.

It is indeed precious and wonderfulbut it is still no substitute for living

and true presence. The memorialwhich Jesus Christ left us is filled withdivine power. In a way that completely

surpasses our understanding, Goduses it to make Jesus personally

present; to make Him present in thefullness of His being and life with thewhole saving power of His death onthe Cross. That death He symbolised

at the Last Supper by blessing,breaking and distributing bread andwine. It was to be for Him and for all

who would believe in Him, thegateway to heavenly glory. To ‘do thisin my memory’ means re-presenting ofthe full power and reality of the Cross

now, today” (Kevin McNamara).

IIrecently participated at a Conference

on Sustainable Development in Rome.

The quality of the input on a range of

topics was good and also varied in

content. However, it followed an approach

which consisted of having several talks

with hardly any time to assimilate, debate

or ask questions. I was asked to share

examples of what religious men and

women are doing around the world to

“When the Economy Kills…”–Seeking a Better Life for All

FAITH IN ACTIONFR GEARÓID Ó CONAIRE, OFM

Apr/May 201127

contribute, in practical ways, to ensuring

that our contemporaries pass on a world

to future generations that can be lived in.

I was awarded the final speaking slot. Six

others preceded, some of whom went

well beyond their allotted time!

Sustainable Living

I was particularly struck by a talk given by

Gianni Fazzini from Verona, Italy. You

might remember that Shakespeare

situated his play Romeo and Juliet in this

beautiful city. Gianni described how over

the past 27 years over a thousand

families, divided up into 43 groups

countrywide, have joined together,

inspired by a common ideal of trying to

live more justly. As with all initiatives, this

one began with an inspirational idea to

try to live in a sustainable way with

Fr Gearóid Ó Conaire, OFM, tells of the impact of a group of families inVerona, Italy, seeking to live in a sustainable way with others.

emerged. They discovered that the

process helped them to become more

consumer conscious. Over time, on

average per family, one third of their

purchases were consciously made. In

other words, before they bought

something they examined the content,

where it came from, who made it, how it

was transported, etc. They also

discovered that they were in fact

spending 25% less on average per

month.

Focus on Quality of Life

With the help of the Wuppertal1 Institute

in Germany, they developed a question-

naire to examine personal and family

quality of life or wellbeing resulting from

this process. “The term quality of life is

used to evaluate the general well-being of

individuals and societies. The term is

used in a wide range of contexts,

including the fields of international devel-

opment, healthcare, and politics. Quality

others. Sustainability can be defined as

just using the material resources one

needs – rather that gratifying all of one’s

wants – in such a way that others,

including future generations, can simply

live. Sometimes our best efforts come

crashing down because we try to act

alone. There is strength in numbers,

particularly when there is a common

vision and sense of purpose.

In 1993 a meeting was organised to

discuss the economic situation affecting

people in the developing world at that

time, which continues to be critical today.

It was entitled When the Economy Kills,

There is a Need to Change. Those who

participated realised that it was not good

enough just to blame such and such a

country or economic institution for the

divisions and inequality in the world, but

that change had to begin with oneself

and locally. Initially 130 families

committed themselves to the project.

There was a growing awareness that

their own lifestyle was killing those in the

developing world. In other words, their

diet, their acquisitions, their choice of

clothes and goods, as well as means of

transport and investment strategies, to

name but a few, were having either

positive or negative consequences on

others and on the environment. This

motivated the group of families to embark

together on a journey of change, in order

to contribute in practical ways to a more

just world for everyone and for the whole

of creation.

Beginning in Verona

What does this project look like in

practice? Each family begins by trying to

quantify resources used and waste left

over on a monthly basis. For example,

one might decide to use public transport

or ride a bike to work or school on a

number of days per month. Another might

make a decision to go without meat on

another couple of days. Someone else

might decide to buy food that has been

locally produced with less packaging.

Others might turn down the thermostat a

few degrees. These choices have

economic impact on the monthly budget,

which can be calculated in monetary

terms. It is even possible to weigh the

refuse and build up a picture over time of

how the family is progressing. When the

group of families or their representatives

meet, they share what they have tried to

do, as well as the progress and diffi-

culties encountered. In this way their

efforts are made visible to the broader

community and mutually inspire and

encourage one another. Over time the

family groups begin to see how ethically-

motivated consumer choices begin to

become visible, not only to one’s own

family, but to the group of families who

have embarked on a similar journey.

The group of families in Verona

eventually decided to set up a secretariat

with contributions from each family to

finance a secretary who worked for a half

day per week. The secretary helped

improve communications and some

logistic support to the families. After

some time, the overall process was

evaluated and some surprising results

St Anthony Brief28

Sustainable living: care for the earth and future generations

1. "The Wuppertal Institute explores and develops models, strategies and instruments to support sustainable development at local, national andinternational level. Sustainability research at the Wuppertal Institute focuses on ecology and its relation to economy and society. Special emphasisis put on analysing and supporting technological and social innovations that decouple prosperity and economic growth from the use of naturalresources." For more information go to: http://www.wupperinst.org/en/home/index.html

2. For more details on the concept of ‘quality of life’ I recommend you visit the following web page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality_of_life

The work done by the people in

Verona has also had some impact on the

Church in Italy. There is now someone

responsible for New Styles of Life in 32

dioceses. They tend to be volunteers

without many resources. But it is a

beginning and slowly this dimension is

becoming recognised as an integral part

of evangelisation. Through this initiative,

Catholics in Italy are being helped to link

their faith in Jesus Christ, membership of

the Church and their commitment to

Gospel values with everyday ordinary

decisions. It might seem simple, but

making a real-life connection between

faith and action is the key to spiritual

growth and maturity with positive knock-

on consequences for the “common

good.” The more each one of us learns to

live out our faith by putting Gospel values

into practise in the home, at work, in

school and during recreation, the more

solid, just and peaceful our relationships

will become. This in turn will build up the

level of trust between people and

strengthen our democracy. It can only be

a win/win situation for everyone. ����

gfoconaire@yahoo.co.uk

discovered that, in general, families had

more time for cultural activities together,

giving an average grade of 6. On the

“feel good factor” they averaged between

6 and 7. Recollecting back, before this

project began, the people felt they were

being tricked into buying more than they

needed, spending excessive time

watching TV and in general felt less free.

With more conscious choices they

commented that they felt better about

themselves and the world.

Faith and Decisions

This whole process began with a desire

to help the poor in Africa and ended up

by improving the people’s self-under-

standing. They discovered that in reality

they were the ones being “killed” by

consumerism, the market economy and

their way of life, which often tended not to

be consciously chosen. Relationships,

including those with their children, were

being evaluated not by the quality of

human interaction and time spent

together, but by purely material criteria.

The lack of time, due to work or other

commitments was being compensated

with presents and other material goods.

of life should not be confused with the

concept of standard of living, which is

based primarily on income. Instead,

standard indicators of the quality of life

include not only wealth and employment,

but also the built environment, physical

and mental health, education, recreation

and leisure time, and social belonging.”2

We often wonder why people who

supposedly have everything from a

material point of view can often be very

unhappy, while others, in comparison,

managing with just the bare necessities

can be quite content. Of course, it is

much easier to measure income than

“the quality of life.” A lot of research is

being done on happiness. What seems

to be emerging is that happiness, in so

far as it can be measured, does not

necessarily increase correspondingly

with the comfort that results from

increasing income.

Research done by the Italian families

seems to support the general idea that

increased consumption does not improve

the sense of wellbeing or happiness.

Each family was asked to evaluate a

number of aspects contributing to

wellbeing on a scale of 1–7. They

Apr/May 201129

Quality of life: family life improved

MISSION DIGEST

St Anthony Brief30

Br NdabaningiSithola speaking at a SecularFranciscangathering at

Nharira Mission.

Fr Liam McCarthy at Mass at St Michael’s, the new outstation of Waterfalls parish, Harare.

Top left: Sister Barbara and Fr Emmanuel Musaraat Maurambindi.

ZimbabweanSnapshots Above: Fr Emmanuel presents two rose bushes

to Sr Agnes, Abbess of the Poor Clares, Harare,at a joint meeting of the Poor Clares and friars.

The roses represent Sts Clare and Francis!

Dear Editor,I would like to purchase a couple of St Anthony’s stamp books... As I read “A Franciscan Benediction”

it instilled

in me what St Anthony has come to represent.

St Anthony came into my life in July 1973

when my daughter was born. Then for a time

I forgot him. He was brought back into my life

in October 1990 when sadly my daughter died.

From then on he has become my constant

companion.Kind regards,Anonymous.

Please write your letters,comments andsuggestions, to: The Editor,

St Anthony Brief,Franciscan

Missionary Union, Merchants’ Quay,

Dublin 8.

Letters to the EditorDear Editor,Thank you as always for the StAnthony Brief. It is a good read. Sr Mary Burke’s article about theCistercian monks martyred in Algeriawas very interesting. Then after I readit I saw that the film about them wasshowing here in Dublin so I went alongwith a friend. What an extraordinaryexperience! The cinema was packed andnot a sound as we watched that beautifulfilm about those courageous men. Itshowed their struggle with faith and trustin God, and how their love for God, oneanother and the people kept them faithfulto the end. I left the cinema renewed inmy own faith.God bless you and your work.Denise Cunningham,Dublin.

Dear Rev. Father,

I enjoy reading the magazine and

would like to see some articles about

the origins of the St Anthony Brief.

Was it called “Assisi” one time? Or

was “Assisi” the name of some other

magazine? I have been a reader of

St Anthony Brief since 1980 and a

promoter since 1983.

Wishing you every blessing and

success with the magazine. Please

keep me in your prayers.

Yours sincerely,

Maureen Breen,

Co. Clare.

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