Last night, Monday 20 October, the Cherryfielders slept for the first time in their new building. Furniture had been moved across all day, and the first Mass was celebrated this morning, although not in the Chapel, which is still in preparation. The formal blessing and house-warming is planned for 8 December.
Gerry Clarke SJ has begun to take up his new duties, working for the Jesuit Refugee Centre in Goma, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. His journey to Goma appears to have been smooth and enthralling. In a recent missive, he describes the last stage – coming suddenly upon the majestic volcanoes near the shores of the beautiful Lake Kivu. Read more below. Read more »
John Dunne SJ is out of hospital, but starting fortnightly chemotherapy as AMDG Express goes out. In spite of this he is returning to his office as Socius (with the part-time assistance of Liam O’Connell SJ), and acting Provincial until 23 October, while the Provincial, John Dardis SJ, is at a conference of European Provincials. Fr General Nicholas slipped away from the Synod of Bishops to spend Saturday and Sunday with the Provincials in Madrid, then returned to Rome in time for the Monday session of the Synod.
Slí Eile, The Jesuit Centre for Young Adults, took part in a major celebration on Mission Sunday, Oct 19 2008, in St Peter’s Church, Phibsboro (pictured). They showcased their young people’s involvement in the Church’s overseas Mission and invited young adults to join them in that work. Slí Eile is currently looking for young adults to volunteer to work in Jamaica for three weeks in July 2009. The work there will involve supporting local teachers in summer school for children in downtown Kingston. For more details, contact Debbie Moore at 01-8880606 or e-mail debbie.moore@sli-eile.com.
On 16 October Michael Paul Gallagher SJ spoke to a distinguished audience in the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, on the contemporary role of national colleges in Rome. He was speaking at the launch of a new publication about the college, The Irish College, Rome, and its World, edited by Dr Dáire Keogh and Fr Albert McDonnell (published by Four Courts Press). The book is based upon the archival holdings of the college and presents a fascinating insight into its history since its inception in 1628.
Kevin Laheen recently attended the Western Region Assembly of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem at Cong. Many of the group had recently returned from the Holy Land and Kevin addressed them on the theme, “Visitor to the Holy Land – Pilgrim or Tourist?” He concelebrated Mass with Dr Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam, to whom he later gave a gift of the 2009 calendar published by the Messenger Office, with its illustrations of works by Harry Clarke. As there are many Clarke stained glass windows in Dr Neary’s archdiocese, he was especially pleased with the gift.
Jesuit-related video clips are being compiled by the Jesuit Communication Centre and featured on Jesuit.ie. The first ones are about the JUST project in Ballymun and (in two parts) a Kairos production about Fr John Sullivan SJ. The producer was Fr Edmund O’Keefe SJ. Many more videos will be added to the ‘Worth Watching’ page in the coming months.|
FR PROVINCIAL’S DIARY 22 Oct: Returns from CEP and EOC meetings in Madrid 23 Oct: Finance meeting; Ministries Commission meeting 24-25 Oct: Consult 27-31 Oct: Holidays |
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Slí Eile (Jesuit centre for young adults) is one of 25 voluntary groups involved in a series of events to mark the UN Eradication of World Poverty Day on Friday 17 October. The annual commemoration presents the human face behind poverty statistics. In Dublin, a world poverty commemorative stone by Irish artist Stuart McGrath will be unveiled at Custom House Quay at 12.00 noon. The stone bears the message, in English, Irish and French: “Wherever men and women are condemned to live in poverty human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights are respected is our solemn duty.”
On 9th October the Hopkins Room in Leeson Street hosted a day of training in First Aid for personnel in Jesuit works. There were people from Milltown, JRS, Pioneers, JCC, SHM, Archives. In an intense day of hands-on instruction they learned things to do in an emergency (Resuscitation, Recovery Position, Heimlich Manoeuvre, making slings and bandages) and things to avoid (blowing into a bag. using tourniquets – they don’t work). The pictures show how it made for a level of close interdependence and physical exertion. Liam, an experienced Fire Brigade paramedic, was a good teacher.
Last week saw the ordination of the first Vietnamese Jesuit to be ordained a bishop, Cosmas Hoang Van Dat SJ (pictured here).|
FR PROVINCIAL’S DIARY 14 Oct: Curia Team meeting; Meeting with Provincial of Oblates; CCSA Meeting in Milltown 15 – 22 Oct: 15th: – CEP and EOC meetings in Madrid |
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The Irish Provincial, Fr John Dardis, was on visitation to Cherryfield Lodge on Monday, 13 October, the last visitation before the transfer to the new building, which is due to take place next week. John said Mass for the residents, and the students from the Gonzaga choir provided the music.
Murt Curry SJ has spent a packed fortnight in Zambia, with two consultants, Anne and Brenda (pictured here) from the International NGO Training and Research Centre (INTARC), London. They were evaluating the ability of the Mission Office and the Zambia/Malawi Province to handle what they call integrated funding, a simpler, less paper-ridden method than the project- and salary-funding used at present; it involves submission of a comprehensive plan, and then receiving the appropriate funding in a lump sum. Read more below about the evaluation. Read more »
Manresa has booked an impressive line-up of speakers for a one-day seminar on “Addiction and the Family: breaking the cycle. ” They include political figures (Mary Wallace, Feargal Quinn), therapists (Maura Russell, Willie Collins, Mara DeLacy, Majella Coyle), and two media people (Pat Coyle, Richard Leonard SJ). The Seminar, on this major issue of concern, will be held in Manresa Centre of Spirituality on 1st November: for details see manresa@jesuit.ie.
