EVENTS THIS WEEK
- POPE'S SILVER JUBILEE: The Bishops' Conference has designated Sunday next, October 12th, as the day for the celebration of the Holy Father's Silver Jubilee. On that day we give thanks to God for John Paul's 25 years as 'Servant of the Servants of God'. Every parish is expected to mark the occasion. Any ideas out there as to how we should mark it here in St. Augustine's? All ideas and suggestions will be most welcome.
- CHURCH REORDERING: Thanks and well done to all involved in the 'Information Walkabout' in the church on Sunday last. When dealing with a large number of people this really is the only effective method of conducting a two-way process: conveying accurate information and eliciting 'informed reactions'. Again, well done to all concerned.
- BLESSING OF ANIMALS TODAY: Saturday was the feast of St. Francis Assisi. It is traditional to have animals blessed on the Sunday nearest his feast. So this afternoon at 3.00 sail your Ark up to the grounds of the Poor Clare Sisters in Nun's Island, liberate your animals there and a Franciscan will oblige.
- OCTOBER: MONTH OF THE ROSARY: Tuesday next is the Feast of the Holy Rosary. Devotions in the Claddagh from 8-9pm, and in the Cathedral every Sunday night in October at 8.00pm.
AS I WAS SAYING...
Our two 'emissaries' to Noel's mission in Ecuador brought back encouraging, uplifting tales (see Gerry's 'impressions' below): the sheer enthusiasm with which the liturgy was celebrated; laypeople entrusted with real ministerial roles in the local church; a gracious people effusive in their gratitude for any support offered, be it material or moral; but especially a people who were generous to a fault with their meagre possessions.
As you perhaps know, Gerry and Concilia brought out a carved plaque to mark the partnership between St. Augustine's Parish here in Galway and Chone. In exchange, the people of Chone presented our delegates with four beautiful altar cloths, representing the four seasons of the year. (These will be on display in the Priory after Mass today). It is a real 'eye-opener' (literally) to step outside one's own culture and to view the world in a different location and from a totally different perspective. Gerry and Connie enjoyed the experience immensely. Noel was on the phone to me only yesterday. He (not surprisingly) enjoyed their company. But, more to the point, the people of Chone were deeply appreciative of their presence fro the opening of their new Parish Centre. Noel asked me to convey his deep gratitude to the patrons of St. Augustine's for making their presence possible, and indeed for your constant support.
Meanwhile, I myself dipped into another totally different culture in the course of the last couple of weeks. It was a brilliant experience. Though I knew very little of its history or its culture, China always fascinated me. Of course, since 1949, China has been dominated by an indigenous strain of communism. After their break with Soviet communism in the early 60s, China became particularly introverted and xenophobic (a fear and hatred of the outsider). Foremost among the 'outsiders' was the Roman Catholic Church. Catholics in China have been divided since Beijing and the Vatican severed diplomatic relations in 1951. There is now a state-supported Patriotic Catholic Church which does not recognise Rome. The communist party appoints its bishops! But millions of Chinese are believed to belong to a parallel underground church that remains loyal Rome. While reliable information is difficult to come by, there is little doubt but that members of the 'underground' Catholic Church are severely persecuted. For example, all of the bishops appointed by Rome are either under house arrest or in prison.
I travelled with a tour group, chaperoned at all times by extremely courteous Chinese guides. But 'our government' was always presented in favourable light! I was surprised at how westernised Beijing and Shanghai had become. It is obvious that China has moved away from doctrinaire socialism to a market-driven economy. Does free access to world markets inevitably lead to free access to ideas (including religious ideas)?
While in Beijing we asked our guide to take us to the local Catholic Cathedral. He informed us that this would not be possible since we should have made known our plans before arriving in China. A similar request in Shanghai was complied with immediately. So, it would appear that even among the communists, there is no agreement on matters religious! However, I don't think St. Augustine's will be 'twinning' with a Chinese parish for some time yet!
-Dick Lyng.
INTO THE CAMPO
We left the town of Chone and drove a few miles down the main road. Noel was heading for one of his schools in the Campo-which is the countryside off the main road. He picked up Rolando, who was to operate as co-driver. His main function was to operate the trunk. This is a block of wood with a handle which you place behind the front wheel if the jeep stalls on a hill and there were lots of hills, mostly about 200 feet high but very steep. All around us was heavy jungle vegetation-we recognised banana trees and tall coconut trees. The road was a dirt track that twisted and turned - dived to stream beds and then climbed up steep hills into the mist. Behind the jeep was a thick cloud of red dust that only caught up with us, when we crawled along a stream bed, or picked our way around perilous corners.
We saw the odd pick-up truck with people crowded into the back. Many people rode horses or mules but Noel told us that mules are safer and more intelligent than horses. In the wet season the mule is the only way along these perilous trails. One mule carried a husband, wife and a babe in arms.
Eventually we halted on a steep hill and got out to view the village away down below us-it was called the Island of Flowers. The waiting group gathered and waved up at us. The spokesman in the group told us afterwards that he was proud that we were the first visitors to their village. The altar was a lean-to supported with bamboo poles and covered with tattered plastic. The altar itself was decorated with brightly coloured flowers. It was noticeable that some of the men remained at a distance, during the Mass. Some of them still sat nonchalantly on their mules. However they maintained a respectful silence and watched everything closely.
As usual there were a number of baptisms - mainly infants, but some of them were as old as eight or nine. I thought Noel was a little generous with the water at the Baptism, but it was clear that the older kids were determined not to cry and I saw one lad grin proudly over at some of his mates. The paper-work for the Baptisms was completed by the Catechist, who is a very important presence in the community.
During the Mass Noel must have told the community that this was his last visit before his return to Ireland. As the Mass came to a close quite a few were in tears and the Catechist, who had an illuminated address to read to Noel, broke down and another teacher had to read it for her. We finished with a meal in the house behind the school. Most houses in the Campo are built entirely of bamboo-usually two storeys as the family quarters are upstairs and the pigs and the farmyard fowl are downstairs. The houses were remarkably cool. They always serve delicious and varied fruit drinks. We came away loaded down with fruit and with fond memories of smiling faces.
-Gerry Ferguson.
Edward Joseph Flanagan (l886-l948)
Edward J. Flanagan, founder of Boys Town, was born in Ballymoe, Co. Roscommon in 1886. After his secondary education at Summerhill College, Sligo he emigrated to the United States in 1904 and began his studies for the priesthood at a New York seminary. Chronic ill-health forced him to pursue his studies, first in Rome, and eventually in Innsbruck, Austria where he was ordained in July 1912. He returned to the States and became pastor at St.Philomena's Church, Omaha.
Working among Omaha's poor, he established a shelter for unemployed men and later, in 1917, founded the Home for Homeless Boys. Because the downtown facilities were inadequate, he purchased 320 acres of land and established Boys Town, ten miles west of Omaha, in 1921. Under Flanagan's direction, Boys Town grew to be a large community with its own boy-mayor, schools, chapel, post office, cottages, gymnasium, and other facilities, where boys between ages 10 and 16 could receive an education and learn a trade.
This forward-thinking visionary banned corporal punishment and adopted instead a policy of 'positive encouragement'. He famously declared that 'there is not such thing as a bad boy!' A sign at the entrance to Boystown declared that all races, creeds and colours were accepted and that visitors were welcome. The institution continues to flourish today. The village was featured in a 1936 film starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. Another movie, "Men of Boys Town," was made in 1941.
Flanagan received many awards for his work with homeless and delinquent boys. He served on several committees and boards dealing with the welfare of children, and was the author of articles on child welfare.
Internationally known, Flanagan travelled to Japan and Korea in 1947 to study child welfare problems. He made a similar trip to Austria and Germany and while in Germany, died on May l5, 1948, aged 62. He was buried in Boys Town. Flanagan was severe and very public critic of the way in which 'delinquents' were treated in Ireland. On a visit to Ireland in 1946, he condemned their widespread institutionalisation as 'a disgrace to the nation'. Time has revealed how prophetic he was. He was a blazing light in a very dark time.
Home