OUTREACH

IRISH CAPUCHIN MISSIONS

SPRING 2007

My dear friends of the Capuchin Missions:

I wish you all the blessings of the Risen Lord.  Every Christian has celebrated again the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the founder of our Church.  Ever since its foundation by Jesus Christ, there has always been missionary activity in the Church.  As the Vatican Council said, "The Church by its nature is Missionary".  There have been periods when this missionary activity has been particularly intense, and the twentieth century was one such period.   I'm proud to say that Ireland was one of the countries where there was huge missionary interest and activity over the last century.

Sowing the Seed

I was looking the other day at the number of Irish Capuchins who worked in the overseas missions.  Old Fr. Sebastian Brennan was the first.  He went out in 1901 and was followed by Fr. Leonard Brophy from Castlecomer and Fr. Luke Sheehan from Cork.  Exactly 100 years later in 2001, Fr. Laurence Kettle, a Dublin man, grand-nephew of Tom Kettle of 1916 history, left for Korea.  He was the last.   In between, 249 Irish Capuchins went out in response to the comman of Jesus to 'go and teach all nations'.   They spread the Gospel in the United States, Zambia, South Africa, New Zealand and Korea.   These numbers grew and grew until the 1970's and then they began to taper off slowly.  To-day, there are very few missionary vocations in Ireland.  The golden age seems to be nearing completion.

Growth

However, a newer phase is just beginning.  There is a blossoming of missionary activity taking place in those young churches where the seed was sown by our Irish missionaries.  We now have, for example, 52 Zambian born Capuchins, including 7 Postulants and 4 Novices and 24 in First Profession.   These young men will be in formation for a few more years, and the Mission Office will pay for their education until they compete their studies.  This is a whole new emphasis in our Missionary work.  We thank God that we are part of this marvellous growth.  It is clearly the work of the Holy Spirit.  May the Lord be praised !

Blossoming

Further up the scale, there are now three Zambian born friars on the Vice-Provincial Council, including Fr. Thomas Zulu who is second in command of the whole Mission.  On the Council also are two other young Zambian friars.  We thank God for the amazing support and prayers of our friends and benefactors down the years.  We pray that God will guide us into the future to play our part in the emerging international and inter-cultural missionary movement of the twenty first century.

Sincerely,

Fr. Anthony Boran OFM Cap., (Mission Secretary)

South Africa

The friars in South Africa held a very successful Vice-Provincial Chapter. Br. Kees Thonissen, the Vice-Provincial said that the reception of their 2 postulants and 3 novices has been a great morale boost for them.  The Order is being blessed in South Africa.

Mission Office News

As you know, the work of the Mission Office is to gather the financial donations of our benefactors and friends and use the money to  help support the people working overseas and also to help support the Formation Programme for young friars as well as all the other projects.  The main areas of support are the Seraphic Mass Association, individual donations and wills and the Mission Boxes in shops and businesses all over Ireland.  The support is wonderful.   I am glad to be able to tell you that the annual work has been completed and we were able to send the full grants to Zambia, South Africa and Korea.  This is entirely due to you and everybody for your continued prayers, help and support.  I pray to the Risen Lord that you will be richly blessed.

St. Francis of Assisi's Vocation Prayer
Most High, glorious God, englighten the darkness of our minds.  Give us a right faith, a firm hope and a perfect charity, so that we may always and in all things, act according to your holy will.  Amen.

 If you still have not found what you are looking for, contact:

Fr. Sean Donohoe OFM Cap.,
Vocations Director
Capuchin Friary
Rahney
Dublin 5.

Tel. 01-8313886 :  Fax 01-8511498

You can help in any of the following ways:

PRAYING:  By praying for Missionaries and Vocations
MISSION BOXES:  Our Capuchin Mission Boxes are on display throughout the country.
BURSES:  There are 7 separate burses, each with its own patron or intention and each providing the necessary support for the full training of a Capuchin, approximately €7,000.  Burses are in honour of: Sacred Heart; Our Lady; St.Francis; St. Anthony;  St. Theresa;  Holy Souls;  Padre Pio.
BEQUESTS:  By remembering the Irish Capuchin Missions in your will.
MISSIONARY MASS ASSOCIATION (M.M.A.) is an association for the support of the foreign mission work of the Capuchin friars.  Any person living or dead can be enrolled by making a subscription for our mission work.  To enrol a deceased or living person €2 and to enrol a family €15.

Any help will be greatly appreciated
Enquiries to: 

Fr. Anthony Boran ofm cap.,
Capuchin Mission Office, Church Street, Dublin 7.