FR. LOUIS SISTI SAC R.I.P.

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Fr Louis Sisti, SAC, 1944-2016

Louis was born in Dareda on 7 January 1944; son of Daghero Sisti and Margarita Sillo. He went to minor seminary at Kibosho, Moshi Region and spent a few years there, he asked to be admitted to the Pallottines and in 1962 he travelled to Ireland with Basil Ikhula and did novitiate in Cabra. He made first consecration as a Pallottine Brother on 28 December 1965. He applied for permission to prepare for priesthood and did his Philosophical studies at St Patrick’s College, Thurles. In 1970 he returned to Tanzania to pursue Theological studies at Kipalapala Major Seminary in Tabora. He was ordained on 30 June 1974.

His appointments were to Dareda, Gallapo, Makiungu, Bashnet, Mbugwe and Nangwa and he was at San Silvestro during the academic year 1980-81 during which he studied Spirituality at the Angelicum University.

Louis suffered many health issues including a stroke, from which he made a good recovery, and he was diagnosed with polycystic kidneys which eventually resulted in him going on dialysis in November 2005. He was blessed to receive a kidney transplant in October 2011; however he was diagnosed as having vascular dementia the following year. He moved to Thurles, to St. Theresa’s Nursing Home in September 2013 where he was cared for and well looked after. He died there on Saturday 13 February at 13.50; Martin Mareja and Emmet O’Hara were with him as were Eileen Doran-Connolly and Francisco Tango.

His remains were received into the College in Thurles on Sunday 14 and from 15.00 there was viewing; he was removed to the College chapel following rosary and prayers. Concelebrated funeral Mass was held on Monday 15 at 13.00; Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly, SMA, concelebrated together with 32 priests, a deacon and our students; Gerry Fleming preached the homily, Martin Mareja gave a reflection after communion and Reginald Temu offered words of appreciation and thanks. It was great to see Srs Breda Ryan and Mary Friel of the MMMs at the ceremonies and also family members of a number of our men in East Africa and elsewhere.

A request was received from his immediate family that his remains be repatriated and this was accepted. The process of repatriating Louis’s remains took some days, he was flown to Kilimanjaro airport on 25 February, his remains were taken to our house in Njiro, Arusha, and then on to Gallapo where an all-night prayer vigil was held. The funeral Mass was held in Gallapo on Saturday 27, Bishop Isaac Amani, Bishop of Moshi and Apostolic Administrator of Mbulu, was the principal celebrant and there were 73 concelebrants along with our deacons and students. He was buried in our community plot in Gallapo.

The Burial Of Fr. Louis Sisti SAC in Galapo, Tanzania

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“I just want to  write a note to say how proud you should be of the group  here in East Africa and  how well they organised the  funeral of Fr Louis. They did a marvelous job and it was a  huge turn out – between two and three thousand I would  estimate two to three thousand were there and 70 priests.  People really appreciated the fact that bis body was brought  back.. So  that was so much appreciated and commented on from the  alter. It was very orderly and exceptionally well organised.  And everyone was fed and it was like the feeding of the  loaves and fishes – plenty to eat and plenty left over. So  if Fr Louis had a tough last ten years he certainly brought  out the best in everyone from the moment he arrived in  Kilimanjaro. I am sure you will get photos from others but  just to let you know he has finally rested in peace and you  can be proud of your East African brethren.”  Eamonn Brehony[dt_divider style=”narrow”/]

Reginald Temu, Provincial Delegate in East Africa, provided the following:

TemuAt the reception of the news of the death of Fr Louis Sisti, the delegature council met and a committee was put in place to prepare for the reception of his remains at Kilimanjaro International Airport before heading to Gallapo Pallottine Mission centre for the burial ceremony. Fr Louis’ remains were received at KIA by a delegation led by John Onna, James Amasi, and Sixberth Mrumbi, the Pallottine Sisters together with many friends of Louis. The cortege headed to Arusha with a stopover at the Njiro Formation House for people to pay their last respects and followed by holy Mass.

The cortege departed for Gallapo and by 6:45pm many mourners received the remains of Louis in Gallapo a place where he served as Parish priest from 1982-1984. Christians still have fresh memories of him moving the sanctuary to the centre of the Church in the spirit of Vatican II, emphasizing communion rather than hierarchy. His remains were received by the Parish priest, Emmanuel Malley and other confreres and a large number of the faithful who joined in singing the Office of the Dead. A night vigil was kept as his remains were left to be viewed the whole night. Prayers and many visits to pay last respects to him made the night even shorter. At day-break, we had the Office of the Dead again sung by the two choirs from Gallapo and Nangwa, the latter which he himself trained.

By 9:30 am Gallapo Parish was crowded with many people. Mourners came from Mbulu, Dar-es-Salaam, Singida, Arusha and some from Kenya.

The Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Parish Grounds by Mgr Isaac Amani, Bishop of Moshi and Apostolic Administrator of Mbulu Diocese.

There were 73 priests and many religious sisters including our Pallottine Sisters from both Arusha and Singida, the Medical Missionaries of Mary from Nangwa and Singida, Sisters of Charles Borromeo from Singida (Muntinko) who bid farewell to a man who once welcomed them to Tanzania and gave them retreats when he was serving at Nangwa Parish. 

The choirs of Nangwa and Gallapo in a spirit of collaboration sang the Mass and the whole liturgical celebration proved beyond doubt that Fr Louis is still alive in the hearts of many who came to pay their respects to him. The Bishop personally knew Fr Louis as they were seminarians together in the early 1970s in Kipalapala Seminary. Bishop Amani described Fr Louis as fluent in English, a great musician, designer, generous and an entertainer.

In his homily he said that “we have come to Gallapo to give our last respects to Fr Louis and to give condolences to the Pallottines and to his family”. In his meditation on death, Bishop Amani said that “death is a big separation that brings sorrow and grief to us because it puts an end to life and in fact no word can make death a better thing. The one who heals us from death is God. Death is a doorway to God. To go to God you do not pass through a window but rather through a doorway, and it is through death. We have been enlightened by Jesus Christ who died but resurrected, thus making death not an end but a pathway to eternal life.” He said we cannot go to heaven without dying and Fr Louis’ death has an important message for us that man has a beginning but has no end because God has something of his divinity, his life breath in us. So death comes at the moment when that breath escapes our body.

He reminded us that “Jesus says he came ‘to give life and life in its fullness’ (Jn 10:10b) so faith warns us this earthly tent will be removed and God will give us a new home not made by human hands. Our everlasting home is not a tomb but heaven for Christ promises us that in his Father’s house there are many places, so he is going to prepare a room for us.

This gives a transcendental hope to our desire for an immortal body that will have prevalence against all the tests and challenges we face in this earthly home. So let us not be disturbed, we have the Holy Spirit who calls us day by day to repent and believe in the Gospel, the Spirit who calls us to believe in God and in his Son. Our baptism calls us to be people of faith because Jesus will come back to take us. The challenge is, when he comes back at his own time, will he find us ready?

He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, we have to leave darkness and look at the everlasting life through good teaching, prayer and sacraments. Fr Louis lived for 72 years but spent 42 years as a priest, he lived his vocation as a man of faith and he leaves us a patrimony of being faithful to the end. We must do our best in this life. Whether married or religious, we have to make sure that our callings take us to heaven.

Fr Louis drank the cup of suffering for his eleven years of illness. We are not mourning his death but rather celebrating his faithful ministry as a missionary priest who served God and his people for 42 years.”

The Bishop exhorted the Pallottines to perpetuate his patrimony, to learn from him for he has left us a book of history by looking at his life. Since it is a period of Lent that comes during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, Bishop Isaac Amani encouraged all Christians to use the means of prayer and sacrifices with the Gospel of light to convert from darkness to light.

Other dignitaries present included the District Commissioner of Babati District, Hon. Crispin Meela who described Louis’ death as a peaceful one. The burial was also attended by two area Members of Parliament, one from Hannang Constituency, Hon. Mary Nagu and Hon. Flacey Massay of Mbulu Rural Constituency.

By 1:30 pm Fr. Louis was laid to rest in our cemetery in Gallapo. May his soul rest in eternal peace!

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Fr. Louis Sisti  Funeral Mass 15th February 2016 

Personal Testimony by Fr. Martin Mareja SAC 

martin marejaOne of the authors of the biography of St. John of the Cross once said, how can you measure life of a person? Is it measured by a number of years he lived, by achievements, by his wealth, a number of children he has or by his political career? He says, ‘you can actually measure life of a person by those significant moments’ that happen once in a life time. These are the moments that mark the end of one phase in a life of a person and begin a completely new phase. These are the moment thats we cannot forget because they shape all our lives. Such moments could be an event like the birth of a child, death of a friend or family member, an accident or even an encounter with another person. 

Such a moment happened in my life on 29th December, 1982. I travelled to Galapo to meet Fr. Louis Sisti, who was  then Vocation Director of the Pallottines in Tanzania, to discuss  my intention to join the Pallottines. I arrived late in the evening and I met also Fr. Vincent Shalvey RIP, who was a member of this community. My first experience was that of fear especially the moment Fr. Louis invited me to join the community for the evening meal. The sight of a flat plate, a knife and a fork was in a way a shock as all these things were new to me. I knew that this kind of life style was not made for me and my plan was the first thing in the morning is to hop into a bus and go back to my home village to a rather simple life. During the meal however, Fr. Louis must have noticed my unease with the knife and fork. He got up went to a press and brought a spoon and politely said to me, ‘I apologise, I forget to give you a spoon’. 

I made a sigh of relief. At this stage now I knew I will be able to enjoy a meal of rice and beans using a spoon rather than with the fork that I had never used before. Fr. Louis made me feel really welcome. And this was the significant moment that changed my whole life. This was a crucial moment of my to call to be a Pallottine. 

I continued with my priestly training from this moment on. A friendship between Louis and me continued. In 1988 Fr. Louis became seriously ill. He needed specialised treatment which was available in few places. He was brought to Ireland accompanied by Sr. Mary Friel, MMM. He was in terrible pain but never complained.

In July 1992 after my completing theological studies, Fr. John Kelly, Provincial Delegate appointed me to do pastoral experience in Nangwa Parish where Fr. Louis was based. It was a great joy going to live and work with a friend. It was a very busy time because the Church building  was going on. And Fr. Louis would go or send me anywhere and at anytime where he thought he could get materials that were needed for the building of the Church. His heart, energy and resources were directed all for one and only one thing; building a permanent parish church. But at the same time he had time and place for everyone who called to him. 

He was a man of many surprises. One of them being that he brought a choir to Nairobi to sing during the ceremony of my perpetual consecration in Nairobi Kenya. I was absolutely thrilled and will never forget the joy and the beauty of the singing of the choir from Nangwa. This was not a cheap trip. However, it meant a lot to me and to the young people in Nangwa. He was a generous man who would not spare a penny  as long as it helped to make another human being happy.

There are many things one could say about Fr. Louis. One thing however remains difficult to comprehend.

It was very difficult to witness Fr. Louis responding to his final vocation on Saturday 13th, 2016. I strongly believe after suffering for so long Fr. Louis is gone to a better place to rest. 

As priest Fr. Louis was loved by all the parish in Nangwa, the wider area of the dioceses of Mbulu and totally dedicated to his people. 

I recall his love for sports, particularly Manchester united and found me strange that I could not support Manchester.  A close friend of Louis says he was great Tipperary hurling fan and would amaze you with his knowledge of both. He loved to watch Tipperary matches and was thrilled when Tipperary won the All Ireland. 

It was a privilege to be with him in his last hours. We will all miss him very much. 

Fr. Louis had a big heart full of love for his family, friends and fellow priests. He loved a simple life. His possessions were kept in his heart like gold and these he kept to the end of his life. 

For all of you that had known him, he had the light in him and all this came from  the deep love he had for our blessed mother Mary and our Lord Jesus. This love he had spread throughout his priesthood and which he shared with everyone he came to meet. He left a deep impression on so many lives with his love for the Eucharist. He will never be forgotten by all the people he served throughout his life in ministry. He saw the face of Jesus and Mary in every one. And they in return saw the gentleness and love of Christ in him.

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Homily by Fr. Gerry Fleming SAC

Fr. Gerry Fleming sacOur thoughts prayers and sympathy are with Fr. Louis’s family and friends in Tanzania and in other parts of the world. As well as his “adopted” family and friends here is Ireland who have been so much part of his life since he came here.  Not least Eileen Connolly and family and friends.  They too would be first to acknowledge the grace that Louis brought to their lives too. I know that Louis was most grateful for the love and support he received over the years.

We welcome the Medical Missionaries of Mary sisters to the funeral Mass too, who have been so kind and good friends to Louis over the years.

Although we mourn Louis’s loss we have come to celebrate the person he has been for each of us.

In our Mass some of the readings which we have heard at funerals come to mind: The souls of the just are in the hands of the Lord – no torment shall ever touch them – they are at peace.  Louis is at peace with the Lord.

We look to scripture to help as we celebrate this Mass: Even though we mourn Louis’s death we do not as St. Paul says” grieve as others do who have no hope’ (1 Thessalonians 4:13)” We believe that we will all be reunited in eternal life.

Death can be frightening for many people yet Christian faith offers the ‘sure and certain hope’ that Jesus, our life-companion, will be waiting to welcome us home as he welcomes Louis home. God’s love has sustained him and us over a lifetime.

We take consolation that now his divinely appointed destiny is to live through love in God’s presence (as St. Paul says in Ephesians 1:4).

St Elizabeth of the Blessed Trinity says: ‘There is a God, whose name is Love, who longs for our company’.  Louis will be safe in this love, this welcoming smile.

Jesus fulfills his promise: ‘I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, you may be also’ (John 14:3)

Each of us who knew Louis has their own memories of him. We recall his deep faith in the Lord and his love of Our Blessed Mother and of the Rosary.

We remember too his sense of humor, being laid back and ye yet having a determination to get things done, particularly for the people whom her served.  His development work with Eileen Connolly and her friends was outstanding – sending containers to Tanzania from Nenagh with much needed help.

One of my memories is my last visit to Nangwa, sitting with him in his new Church, before sunset, and seeing the light streaming through the stain glass windows, each of them telling a story – and sharing a prayer with him. It was a special moment in the presence of God.

But my memories go back longer than that: ‘Because I did a lot of Irish dancing as a kid I taught Louis to do Irish dancing and we “launched” our career by entering the talent competition of the 60’s in Thurles as Louis and Gerry. By that time Louis had mastered the accordion and guitar and wanted to be the African Michael Flatley of the 60’s   so we had great fun and met loads of wonderful people performing in the Premier hall and other halls around Tipp. It just showed his many talents and how he could relate to the Irish culture and how people took him to their hearts.

But in the end of the day it’s not so much his talent or his development work. What we’ll remember is the gentle person that he was and how he related to each of us.   One of the prayers we say in the funeral service is: The bond of friendship and affection which knits us as one throughout our lives does not unravel with death. So we rejoice that we are united in God’s family with Louis.

None of us could have foreseen the future when we were students in the college what the future would hold for Louis, but I recall then that Fr. Bill Hanly our rector then used to recite a communion reflection at the end of his Mass.

 One of those reflections by Thomas Merton is I think is particularly apt for the end of Louis life, perhaps a prayer he might have used:

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself. I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.  I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Amen

Basil Louis

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The kind and gentle Fr. Louis Sisti SCA. died 13th February, 2016, peacefully, at St. Theresa’s Nursing Home, Thurles, following a long illness. Sadly missed by his loving Pallottine Community, his sisters Sabina and Elisabeth, his brothers Patrice, Emanuel and Moris, his extended family and very dear friends.

Lying in repose at the Pallottine College, Kickham Street, Thurles, on Sunday (14th February) from 3.30pm to 5.30pm, followed by prayers and removal to College chapel. Concelebrated funeral Mass on Monday (15th February) at 1.00pm in the College chapel.

Fr. Louis Sisti sac

Fr. Louis Sisti died today Saturday 13th at 13.45 in St. Theresa’s Nursing Home in Thurles. Louis had been going down steadily in recent weeks and was very poorly all week. He died very peacefully and was accompanied by Frs. Martin Mareja and Emmet O’Hara and his friends Eileen Connolly and Francisco. May his good soul rest in peace. Please remember Louis in your prayers and celebrate Mass for the repose of his soul. God bless. [dt_divider style=”narrow”/]
Fr. Derry Murphy sac, Provincial[dt_divider style=”narrow”/]

SOME PHOTOS OF FR. LOUIS

PALLOTTINE MISSIONARIES OF MERCY

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PALMISMER

On Ash Wednesday at a Mass Pope Francis gave the mandate to the “Missionaries of Mercy.”

They number 1142 priests from all the Continents, and have been specially chosen to announce and witness to the Mercy of God in the confessional, in the name of the Pope.

At the ceremony itself 726 priests were present and among them were three of our Pallottine confreres, Frs. Steffen Bruhl (Sacred Heart Province, Germany-Austria), Andrzej Partika (Annunciation Province Poland) and Jozef Gruba (a member of the Warsaw Province ministering in the Czech Republic). The Holy Father exhorted them “Let your hands bless and uplift our brothers and sisters with paternal care: through you may the Fathers gaze and hands rest on his children and heal their wounds.”

In the Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis wrote: “They will be missionaries of mercy because they will be facilitators of a truly human encounter, a source of liberation, rich with responsibility for overcoming obstacles and taking up the new life of Baptism again. They will be led in their mission by the words of the Apostle: “For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all” (Rm 11:32). Everyone, in fact, without exception, is called to embrace the call to mercy. May these Missionaries live this call with the assurance that they can fix their eyes on Jesus, “the merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God” (Heb 2:17).  (Misericordiae Vultus, n. 18)

The Beatification Of Venerable Elisabetta Sanna

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Elisabetta_Sanna-2-409x409The beatification of Venerable Elisabetta Sanna is approaching. On 21st January 2016, Pope Francis received His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Amato SDB, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, in audience. During the audience, the Holy Father authorized the Congregation to promulgate the decree concerning the miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God, Elisabetta Sanna, member of the Union of Catholic Apostolate. The instantaneous, complete and lasting healing of a Brazilian girl in 2008 was recognised as a miracle. 

On 22nd January, the Feast of St. Vincent Pallotti, the Holy Father’s decision was officially published. The beatification will take place on Sept. 17, 2016 in Sardinia, probably in the Elisabetta’s home parish, in the Basilica of the Holy Trinity of Saccargia, built in the twelfth century. 

As we thank the Lord for the forthcoming beatification, we humbly ask him to make us open to receive the graces which he wants to bestow upon us through this occasion.

READ MORE ABOUT ELISABETTA SANNA HERE

YEAR OF MERCY PILGRIMAGE TO ROME

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Pallottine Rome Pilgrimage

(In the footsteps of St Vincent Pallotti)

Wednesday April 27TH to Monday May 2nd 2016.

ROMEPIL

We will be staying with the Casa Procura of the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, Viale delle Mura Aurelie, 7/B in Rome; their guest house is a stone’s throw from St. Peter’s Basilica.

All Rooms are en-suite

The cost per night Bed and Breakfast is as follows:

Triple Rooms    @ €105 (i.e. €35 per person sharing)

Double Rooms @ €84 (i.e. €42 per person sharing)

Single Rooms  @ €52.

  1. Everyone will have to book their own Flights and Travel Insurance Cover (it is vital that you take out Travel Insurance). Aer Lingus and Ryanair offer daily flights to Rome. At the moment the Aer Lingus flight departs Dublin Airport at 06.30 and flies in to Fiumicino Airport, the Ryanair flight departs Dublin Airport at 06.30 and flies in to Ciampino Airport. We will look at arranging transport (bus/mini-bus/taxi, depending on numbers) from the airports to the guest house when we have the definite list of pilgrims.
  2. The guest house is simple and it is on a hill, those who stay there would need to be reasonably agile as there is no bus service up that road.
  3. As the Sisters only do Bed and Breakfast the Pilgrims will have to look after their own lunch and evening meal.
  4. The guest house has a chapel and daily Mass will be celebrated for our group.

Their website is www.pgsmproma.it

The rooms will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, so people interested in going will need to get back to me with their details and who they would like to share with. If you wish you can also post the details to me.

My details are as follows:

helenmmahon@eircom.net.

My Address:

St Anne’s

6 College Road,

Clane

Co Kildare                                            

Phone 087-6735573 or 045-868434

 

 

 

NEW CHURCH OF ST. VINCENT PALLOTTI IN ESSO

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St. Vincent Pallotti Parish, Esso, Arusha, Tanzania.

_DSC0199Friday January 22nd, the feast day of St. Vincent Pallotti, was a very special day for the parish community at Esso and for the Pallottines in East Africa. That day marked a culmination of a vision and years of hard work, effort and collaboration of countless persons in the parish of St. Vincent Pallotti. At 4pm the auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Arusha, Monsignor Prosper Lyimo, placed the relic of St. Vincent Pallotti into the newly constructed main altar and sealed it, this ceremony took place as part of a ceremony of sung Evening Prayer which was attended by those of the parish community who could be present and the Pallottines and the Sisters of the Congregation Daughters of the Sacred Heart.

The following morning, Saturday January 23rd , dawned bright and sunny and the parish community came out in strength to participate in the solemn consecration of the parish church and its official opening. Monsignor Lyimo was due to officiate at this event but had succumbed to a bad dose of laryngitis and the Archbishop of Arusha, Monsignor Josaphat Lebulu, came in his stead. The parish community attended in their thousands, all brightly decked out in white and yellow tee-shirts specially commissioned for the occasion. The ceremony was reverent, joyful and celebratory as befitted an 11 year history in the parish. It was a celebration of the vibrancy of the faith of the Catholics in Esso, a celebration of the commitment of the Pallottines who served there and facilitated the development, it was also a celebration of the many volunteers and contributors who in one way or another took part in the building up of this impressive community life and faith centre.  The procession  halted at the door of the church, Archbishop Lebulu  blessed the doors and the pillars, the ribbon was cut and the door formally opened.  He then anointed the altar with oil, blessed the baptismal font, blessed the church walls and the congregation gathered for the event. Suffice it to say that the ceremony started at 10am and concluded at 2.15pm; the four hour Eucharistic celebration was filled with song, dance, prayer, readings and reflections.

_DSC0057The Pallottines were first invited to minister to the Catholics in this disadvantaged area of the city of Arusha in 2004. Fr. Noel O’Connor was the first Pallottine to work here, he was joined by Fr. Michael O’Sullivan and while Noel was also Novice Master the novitiate was also held here, Frs. Paul Makita, Boniface Muro and Martin Mtai were novices then, along with Paul O’Callaghan from Dublin. Fr. Andrew Kayhumbya joined Fr. Michael and they worked together for a number of years. Fr. Reginald Kimathi is the current parish priest and his assistant is the recently ordained Fr. Simon Sserufambi .

VIEW PHOTOS HERE

HOMILY OF BISHOP FREEMAN FOR THE ORDINATION OF DEACONS BRENDAN AND JAIMIE

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Introduction    

1279103259450Good afternoon everybody.

With the greatest of joy and affection, I greet each and every one of you, as we gather together united in prayer, as members of God’s family, to celebrate the Rite of Ordination to the Deaconate, of Brendan McCarrick and Jamie Twohig.  I welcome Brendan and Jamie, I welcome you, their families and friends, and I welcome members of my Pallottine Family, who will concelebrate the Eucharist here this afternoon. It is a very special day for Brendan and Jamie, for their family and friends and a significant day for the Pallottine community.  I am delighted to join with you today.  It is indeed a privilege for me to be asked as Bishop of Ossory, to ordain these two men to the order of Deacon for the Pallottine Community.     

Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

These men who come before us, Brendan and Jaimie, are now to be raised to the order of deacons.   Consider carefully the ministry to which they are to be promoted.

Brendan and Jamie will draw new strength from the gift of the Holy Spirit.    They will help the bishop and his body of priests as ministers of the Word, of the Altar, and of Charity.  They will make themselves servants of all.    As ministers of the altar, Brendan and Jaimie will proclaim the Gospel, prepare the sacrifice, and give the Lord’s body and blood to the community of believers.

It will also be their duty, at the bishop’s discretion, to bring God’s word to believer and unbeliever alike, to preside over public prayer, to baptise, to assist at marriages and bless them, to give viaticum to the dying, and to lead the rites of burial.  Once they are consecrated by the laying on of hands that comes to us from the apostles and is bound more closely to the altar, they will perform works of charity in the name of the bishop or their superior. From the way they go about these duties, may you recognise them as disciples of Jesus, who came to serve, not to be served.

Priests and Deacons are called to serve the people of God, not to be served. Every gift and blessing that God bestows on us is not just for ourselves – it is for others – it is for sharing with others. And when we share these gifts, blessings and talents, then our own lives become ever more enriched. Brendan and Jamie, if you live your lives in a spirit of mercy and compassion, you will do as the good Lord asks of us as priests, and that is, you will serve the people of God entrusted to your care with a profound sense of mercy and compassion. Do bear in mind that not only in the writings of Pope Francis do we find the importance of Mercy and Compassion but also in page after page in the writings of our founder, St. Vincent Pallotti. 

Announcing the Great Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Holy Father, Pope Francis said: “I have often thought of how the Church may render more clear her mission to be a witness to mercy; and we have to make this journey.      It is a journey which begins with spiritual conversion. Therefore, I have decided to announce an Extraordinary Jubilee which has at its centre the MERCY OF GOD. It will be a HOLY YEAR OF MERCY. We want to live in the light of the word of the Lord: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (cf. Lk 6:36).

As we embrace this Jubilee Year of Mercy, let each one of us be a light of shining hope for the other and by being that light of shining hope, we will do as the Holy Fathers asks of us, and that is, we will live in the light of the Word of the Lord.   “‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2. Cor. 4.6).  

Some may ask what does it mean to be merciful like the Father?   We must imitate the life of Jesus – to live like Jesus who lay down his life for his friends and his enemies.  Jesus is asking us to touch human misery –  to touch the suffering flesh of the  other.  Whenever we do so, our lives become wonderfully complicated and often difficult, however, we experience intensely, what it is to be a part of a people.             

Mercy comes from two Latin words MISEREOR which means to suffer and CORDIS which means heart, a suffering heart or a broken heart, the CROSS. To suffer as Jesus suffered on the cross. When the Holy Father asks us to “be merciful like the Father” he is not asking us to suffer, but what is asked of us, is that we make ourselves available to one another in times of suffering.  When we show mercy and compassion to one another we help alleviate the sufferings of others and we develop a sensitivity of going out to others and helping them overcome their suffering. 

To live in a spiritual life is to become missionary – to come out to meet others, and when we do, we learn something new about one another and about God.  Whenever our eyes are opened to acknowledge the other, we grow in the light of faith and knowledge of God.     

We do not live any greater a life when we flee or hide or stop giving and lock ourselves up in our own comforts, when we become individualistic, as such a life is nothing less than selfish.   

Being a missionary is not a part time activity but requires surrender to a new kind of existence – a soul filled other centeredness. Our mission of being in the heart of the people is not just a part of our lives or a badge we can take of – it is not an extra or just another moment in life – it is something we cannot up root from our being without destroying ourselves.  

Each one of us has a mission on this earth. That is the reason why we are here in this world. To quote Mark Twain:  “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

We have to regard ourselves as sealed – even branded by this mission, of bringing light, blessing, hope, healing, and love, to the other.  All around us we will begin to see others with soul – people who have chosen to be WITH others and FOR others.   

When we speak of each of us living a mission in life – each one of us being unique, I am mindful of the writings of Cardinal John Henry Newman:

“God created me to do Him some definite service. 
He has committed some work to me, 
which He has not committed to another. 
I HAVE A MISSION, 
I am a link in a chain, 
a bond of connection between persons.

Therefore I will trust Him. 
Whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. 
If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; 
if I am perplexed, my perplexity may serve Him; 
if I am in joy, my joy may serve Him; 
if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve him. 
He does nothing in vain.  He knows what He is about.

Brendan and Jamie, you are being raised to the order of deacons. The Lord has set an example for you to follow.  As deacons you will serve Jesus Christ, who was known among his disciples as the one who served others.  Do the will of God generously.  Serve God and humankind in love and joy.  Look upon all unchastity and avarice as worship of false gods; for no one can serve two masters.

Like the men the apostles chose for works of charity, you should be men of good reputation, filled with wisdom and the Holy Spirit. Show before God and humankind that you are above every suspicion of blame, a true minister of Christ and of God’s mysteries, a man firmly rooted in faith. Never turn away from the hope which the Gospel offers; now you must not only listen to God’s word but also preach it. Hold the mystery of faith with a clear conscience. Express in action what you proclaim by word of mouth. Then the people of Christ, brought to life by the Spirit, will be an offering God accepts. Finally, on the last day, when you go to meet the Lord, you will hear him say: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.”

By your own free choice you seek to enter the order of deacons. You shall exercise this ministry in the celibate state for celibacy is both a sign and a motive of pastoral charity, and a special source of spiritual fruitfulness in the world. By living in this state with total dedication, moved by a sincere love for Christ the Lord, you are consecrated to him in a new and special way. By this consecration you will adhere more easily to Christ with an undivided heart; you will be more freely at the service of God and humankind, and you will be freer in the ministry of Christian conversion and rebirth. By your life and character you will give witness to your brothers and sisters in faith that God must be loved above all else, and that it is he whom you serve in others.

Brendan and Jamie, these are the thoughts that I share with you on this happy day in your lives. I hope you can develop these thoughts as you begin your ministry as Deacons in the Pallottine family while all the time developing and sharing every gift and blessing that God has bestowed on you.

With every blessing of the good Lord.

God bless you always.

+ Séamus Freeman, SAC.

   Bishop of Ossory.

   16th January 2016

Two Pallottine students ordained as deacons

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Diaconate16The two new deacons have highlighted how both Youth 2000 and Medjugorje played a part in their vocation stories.

Brendan McCarrick recalled first contemplating his future direction as he prepared for his mock Junior Cert in February 1993 when he first encountered the words of poet Robert Frost, words which he said “have remained with me, and words which I have returned to on many occasion as I have forged my way through life.”

“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller.”

He later went to college and studied engineering but applied at 20 to study for the priesthood. For three years he struggled with his studies in the seminary before realising that he was in the wrong place.“I was lonely and alone in a seminary, in a class of over twenty lads, and over one hundred and seventy lads studying for diocesan priesthood.”

Bishop Seamus Freeman sac and Rev Rev Brendan McCarrick sac with his parents.

A life changing event happened in 2008, when Brendan travelled to Australia for World Youth Day, where his faith was reinvigorated.

“It was there I decided, during my time in prayer that God was still calling me to priesthood, the only decision was where? A return to diocesan priesthood or community/religious life?”

Throughout that year he discerned and prayed for guidance as to which road should he travel.

While attending a Youth 2000 event, he met the vocations director of the Pallottines, and he invited Brendan to a weekend retreat in Thurles, where he could learn more about the Pallottines, St Vincent Pallotti the founder of the Society and about where God was guiding him in my life.

“During that weekend I felt welcomed and at home, and knew God was calling me to ‘give, offer and surrender my whole life to God.’”

On 11 August 2009, while in Medjugorje on his annual retreat, Brendan received a phone call from the provincial of the Pallottines, congratulating him that his application to become a member had been accepted.

“Three years later I took my first promises to the Society, ‘to give, offer and surrender my whole life to God’, and this I do each day by trusting in God, surrendering to his will, and by believing in God, that he is guiding and directing me each day, so that I will receive that strength and courage to follow the road less travelled.”

The other new deacon, Jaimie Twohig went to Medjugorje in 2005 where he had “a very powerful experience one night at a prayer meeting”.

Bishop Seamus Freeman sac and Rev Jaimie Twohig sac and family.

“It is very hard to put it in to words but to put it simply I knew that God loved me completely. I can’t describe the peace and the joy I felt. The feeling of emptiness inside of me was gone. This experience changed my life forever.”

This consolation came at just the right time because a period of extreme trial and suffering was about to begin when his father passed away in 2007.

“The sadness that comes with someone so close passing away is very hard. He was not just my Dad but also my close friend.”

This time of trial brought him closer to his mother and deepened his prayer life. “As a result I began to feel the call to priesthood.”

At this point he had also joined Youth 2000 and this deepened his love for Jesus and Our Lady.

“I also came in contact with other young people of the same age who had the same faith that I did. This really opened my eyes; it was such a relief to see other young people on the same walk with God.”

“What really touched my heart about Youth 2000 was the witness of the priests. They were so alive and joyful and so in love with Jesus. I wanted to be like them, to live a life for God.”

He finally decided to do something about the call he was feeling in my heart in late 2008. “I didn’t feel called to diocesan priesthood so I knew that a community life was the way to go.”

In early 2009, he was invited to a Pallottine vocations weekend by Fr Emmet O’Hara. “This weekend left a deep impression on me. I had been to the Pallottines in Thurles many times before but this time I felt great peace and it felt like home.”

“After this weekend was over I knew the Lord wanted me to apply to the Pallottines.”

VISIT OUR VOCATIONS PAGE HERE

READ BISHOP SEAMUS FREEMAN’S HOMILY HERE

http://www.catholicireland.net/

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OCTAVE OF THE EPIPHANY

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epiphany
Happy New Year to all of you – and to your families and communities. Tomorrow we rejoice in the wonderful Solemnity of the Epiphany, a feast very dear to the heart of St. Vincent, and in a growing number of places in the Pallottine world the Octave of the Epiphany will be celebrated over the coming days. We are sending for your information, both as a link and an attachment, the poster for the Octave of the Epiphany celebration in the Queen of Apostles Parish, Via Ferrari in Rome. We pray that the celebration of the Epiphany will be for all of us a time of renewal in the spirit of the our charism, that Christ, the Light of the Nations, will become ever more deeply the light of our lives so that, in the power of his Spirit, we may bring the light of his mercy and love to all peoples. With every blessing for 2016.

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Pallottine Prayer For the Vigil Of Epiphany

Lord, our God, we praise you for sending us your Son as Saviour of the world. We adore you because you manifested his glory to all peoples and nations. Fill your Church here on earth with the spirit of faith and adoration. Strengthen our conviction that even today you are close to your people in your Son, and reign as Lord over all.[dt_divider style=”narrow”/]
All the kings of the earth will adore him. Alleluia!  All the peoples will serve him. Alleluia![dt_divider style=”narrow”/]
Father of light, unchanging God, today you revealed your Word made Flesh to the nations by the guidance of a star. Your light is strong, your love is near; draw us beyond the limits which this world imposes, to the life where your Spirit makes all life complete. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
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Epiphany – “the first manifestation our Lord Jesus Christ made of himself to the Gentiles, the first proclamation of the Catholic faith”

(St. Vincent Pallotti)

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Octave of the Epiphany explained 

 

 

 

 

Threshold Of Hope: New Year 2016

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Feast of Mary Mother of God & World Day of Peace

open door 3We come to the threshold of a new year, to a crossing in which we are carried by Christ; carried within Him in the mystery of Word and Eucharist. For the Christian it is always a threshold of hope.

We come to it – together or alone – in the company of Mary, Mother of God, Mother of Peace and, with her we pause to glance back at the year that is ending, we pause to ponder and to treasure in our hearts all that has been. There are experiences of great personal pain, of death and births that did not happen. There are babies who were born, dreams that were fulfilled, challenges met and obstacles overcome. We ponder in order to recognize the presence of God in all that we have been given to experience and this recognition of God’s presence in the past gives us hope for the future that is unfolding.

This is a contemplative, reflective moment that is necessary in every human life so that we are not endlessly rushing from one experience to another without learning the lessons and the wisdom offered by God in every single thing.

Looking back and moving forward we need to decide what to take with us and what to leave behind so that we don’t spend our lives hauling excess baggage, being unnecessarily burdened. The invitation of God in the Bible is to “unload all your worries on to Him because He is looking after you.” We need not carry more than is necessary.

We cross the threshold with Mary, abiding in Christ with the prayer of the Spirit of Jesus – “Abba Father” – rising in our hearts and the Eucharist as food for the journey.

I have had a great year. Being 60 years of age is a wonderful experience and I have learned the importance of the dreams that God has placed in our hearts. Dreams that I have held in my heart since childhood.

There is one dream that I decided to fulfil during the year – to travel for a week on a cargo ship – and it almost came true but didn’t in the end. But two other dreams did come true through no effort of my own.

The first was getting to spend a few days in a lighthouse, a gift given me by my family who were attentive to my dreams. The second is that I got to become a presenter on radio, Radio Maria. I didn’t seek it out. It was given. And this teaches me that I may propose to do something that is good and God given but God may choose otherwise, choosing instead to surprise me. And so I look back on these surprises and move forward in expectancy of surprises to come.

60At home after Christmas I got to spend a day alone with my two youngest nieces – Katie and Laura – aged 7 and 5. I had decided not to buy them presents because they are overwhelmed with too many things. My intention was to offer them an experience – the experience of our presence with each other. Part of the plan was to bring them to a movie that they wanted to see.

I can’t remember which of the storms was raging in Galway on that particular day but it was horrendously wet and we couldn’t get parking anywhere. Everyone seemed to be out in town that day and when I said to the girls that we might not get to the movie, they said “we can just go to  your house.” And I loved their adaptability. They were content not to get what was promised, content with whatever we might do together.

We went to Bonkers, an indoor play area for a couple of hours, followed by a Supermacs takeaway which we ate at home in the sitting room at my house and when it came to time for going home they were reluctant to leave. During the drive back home the three of us sang Christmas carols and there was such purity and sincerity in their singing that I felt I had reached the summit of Christmas.

This is something I carry across the threshold into 2016, the song of a child in my heart, song of gladness and praise. Singing is also part of the prayer of the Spirit in all our hearts, the prayer that has power in it to shift the darkness in which we will inevitably find ourselves from time to time.

And we carry blessing, the blessing given by God to Mosses and Aaron in Numbers chapter 6 – “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord uncover His face to you, and give you peace.”

I like this idea of the Lord uncovering His Face, revealing himself to us in the journey that lies ahead. It is for us, in moving forward, to keep the eyes of our soul focused on the light that shines from God’s face, a light that no darkness can overcome. May it be done in the Spirit, in the people who bless our lives every day and in the circumstances that will unfold. May we see the face of God.

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