Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30: Margaret Conneely, (Anniv).
11.00 Tim & Bella Murray; John Joyce, (RIP).
6.30: Pascal Seary, (Anniv).

As I Was Saying...

Dignitas, founded in 1998, is a suicide-assisting group based in Zurich. People with chronic diseases now travel to Switzerland to 'avail of its services'. Its founder, Swiss lawyer Ludwig Minelli, runs it as a non-profit organisation. It takes advantage of Switzerland's liberal laws on assisted suicide, where a person can only be prosecuted if they are acting out of self-interest, or for financial gain.

This matter hit the headlines this week of course when the death of 59-year-old Craig Ewert was shown on ITV. The former university lecturer from the United States suffered from motor neurone disease and chose to end his life rather than endure its "nightmare" symptoms, his wife Mary said. The couple allowed his 2006 death at the Dignitas clinic to be filmed by Oscar-winning Canadian documentary maker John Zaritsky. Was this another freak show from the 'shock jocks' of Reality TV, or a genuine attempt to stimulate an ethical debate?

In fact two serious attempts have been made in the British parliament to introduce assisted suicide there. Most of the speeches concentrated on weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of making it legal. Whether it is intended or not, the legalisation of an act signifies a high degree of social and cultural endorsement. But what might a Christian perspective contribute to the underlying moral issue? For this is very much a moral issue as well as a legal one.

As any of you who saw the ITV programme will know, Craig Ewert was obviously terminally ill. But the same can't be said for the talented young rugby player Daniel James. Daniel was paralysed from the waist down in a rugby accident, and, with the help of his family, he set out on the path to Zurich and the Dignitas clinic there too, and premature death.

Matt Hampson was also paralysed in a rugby accident. He found new hope in rehabilitation. He knew Dan James well and he tried in vain to persuade him that hope was possible. He said of his friend, "Dan obviously craved life as it was before. I'm not going to judge him. I hope he has found peace now." Dr Peter Saunders, who campaigns against assisted suicide, concurs with Hampson: "This young man, Daniel James, did not need help to kill himself: he needed help to live with severe disability," he said. Besides, what message is this sending to other people with disabilities?

The Christian faith offers two relevant insights. First, we must alleviate suffering wherever and whenever we can. The meaning and value of life cannot be assessed simply by trying to balance the amount of pain against the amount of pleasure. Most people instinctively feel that something more is at stake; that there are values like courage and kindness, which take us into a different scale of measurement altogether, one which defines our very humanity.

Secondly, we are not just solitary, self-sufficient, choosing individuals - a fundamental misconception in the West since the late 17th century. We are dependent on one another from the day we are born to the day we die. To be dependent on others does not mean we lose either our dignity or value as human beings. It is a fundamental feature of being human. The promotion of assisted suicide dehumanises us all.

-Dick Lyng

Christmas Programme

CHRISTMAS MASSES:
First Mass of Christmas: 12.00 Midnight Christmas Eve
Christmas Day Mass: 11.00
CONFESSIONS:
Monday, 22nd: 12.00-12.45; 3.30-5.30.
Tuesday, 23rd: 11.30-12.30; 3.30-5.30.
Wednesday 24th: 11.30-12.30; 2.30-4.00.
PENITENTIAL SERVICES:
Monday, 22nd: 7.30
Wednesday 24th: 4.30

Please Note: During the week following Christmas, there will be just one Mass daily in the Augustinian: 11.00. On most days, the Priory Office will open for a brief period after that Mass.

George Herterich, rip

George Herterich passed away on Wednesday last. He had been ill for only a short time. In fact he celebrated his 70th birthday within the last month and he seemed to be in great form that night. The first inkling I got that there was something amiss was his failure to appear at George Junior's anniversary Mass in the Augustinian on Monday night, December 8th.

George was just two years old when, on May 11th 1940, his father Fred set up shop for the first time at No. 1 Lombard Street. The family soon build up a national reputation as quality Pork Butchers. Before 'Brand Names' were in vogue, 'Herterich's Sausages' were synonymous with Galway and with quality.

The Herterich Family Tree, as the name suggests, has its roots in Germany. George's grandfather, also George, was one of twelve siblings. The family arrived in Ireland via the north of England, Newry and Naas, in the early days of the 20th century. Every male offspring, with one relatively recent exception, went into the meat business, setting up establishments in the various locations at which they landed. These establishments had one common 'ingredient': the great-grandfather's original German recipes.

Long before the organic fad became an obsession, Herterich's sausages and puddings were promoted widely as 'free from all preservatives, colorants or phosphates'.

On leaving "The Bish" in the late 1950s, George followed his father Fred into the pork trade. But George didn't confine himself to his domestic business. Through his position as executive vice-president of the Irish Master Butchers' Federation, he was involved with the Department of Agriculture in drafting minimum standards for meat products.

Anthony Ryan, speaking to the Galway Advertiser, recalled a man of vision and personality who had great communication skills. "It is difficult to believe he is dead. He was one of the pivotal business people in Galway throughout the development of this city through the modern era. His family were in business as butchers for years in Shop Street. George was a people person, he had great communication skills and was a great family man. He was also very involved with the Galway Golf Club and the Augustinian Church."

Mr Ryan says he always put customers first. "He was one of the generation of businessmen like my late father [Paddy Ryan] who left us a great heritage. George had a very strong work ethic and vision and was totally committed to the city. He was a rock of sense and always saw the sensible option."

George was quite an accomplished athlete. He was Connaught Sports Sprint Champion in his time. But his real passion was rugby. He represented Connaught at Schools Interprovincial level and he went on to enjoy a long and distinguished innings with Galwegians Rugby Club. In later life he took up golf and is a former captain of the Galway Golf Club.

George was a very generous benefactor of the Augustinian here. The great heartbreak of George and Carmel's life was the death of George Junior after a prolonged illness in the days before Christmas in 2004. It is poignant indeed that Carmel should be burying her husband George at the very same time of year. May she find comfort in the knowledge that he lived well and generously. May he rest in peace.

-Dick Lyng.

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