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October
2003
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Contents
The Golden Years
Brother Alban Creedon,
RIP
Brother Cataldus
Mahony, RIP
Bishop Laurence Ryan,
RIP
The Early Brothers
Extended Council in Papua
New Guinea
Laughing Matters
Preparations for the
Chapter
The Golden Years
Pictured here are (L-R)
Marcellus Broderick, Gregory Fox, Richard Doheny, and Aengus Kavanagh,
together in Sydney celebrating their Golden Jubilee of Religious Profession.
Marcellus is based in Kenya, and has been for many years; Gregory is
in Ireland;
Richard and Aengus while born in Ireland and spent most of their lives
ministering to the youth of Australia.
Here were have the Brothers who were with the jubilarians
celebrating with them with Bishop David Cremin.
Bro.
Alban Creedon RIP - Tributes
1917
- 2003
In the days following Alban's death many
tributes were paid to him by friends and past pupils. We publish two letters
received: (Click here
for more information on Alban's death and life.)
5 t h M a r c h 0 3
F r a t r e s ,
I t w a s w i t h g r e
a t s a d n e s s t h a t I
h e a r d o n l y l a s t n i g h t
o f t h e d e a t h o f
B r o . A l b a n C r e e d o n .U
n f o r t u n a t e l y , i t c o i n c i d e d w i t
h t h e d e a t h o f m y
m o t h e r - i n - l a w
a n d s o I w a s a w a
y f r o m t h e h o u s e
f o r a w e e k b e f o r e
I h e a r d
t h e n e w s .
A l b a n t a u g
h t m e a t P . B . S . ,
A b b e y l e i x 5 6 - 5 7 a
n d s c h o o l e d m e f o r a
C o u n t y S c h o l a
r s h i p : i n s h o r t h e
c h a n g e d m y l i f e . I
n e f f e c t I a m a
l i v i n g t e s t a m
e n t t o h i s l i f e .
A s t h e y e a r s p a s s e d ,
w e c h a n g e d f r o m
M a s t e r a n d
P u p i l t o f r i e n d s a n d I
a l w a y s e n j o y e d h i s q u i c k
w i t a n d
h i s e y e
f o r t h e r i d i c u l o u s . I
s h a l l m i s s h i m g r e a t l
y ; h i s l i k e w i l l
n o t b e
s e e n a g a i n .
M y d e e p e s t s y m p a t h y
t o y o u a l l a t t h
i s t i m e a n d m a y
h e r e s t i n p e a c e .
Y o u r s ,
P . J . J o h n s o n
( I n t h e f o l l o w i n g
l e t t e r t h e t e r m
G u a r d r e f e r s t o
a n I r i s h P o l i c e m a n )
D e a r B r o .
C a m i l l u s ,
I w i s h t o o f f e r
m y s i n c e r e s y m p a t h y t
o y o u a n d t h e P a
t r i c i a n O r d e r a n d
a l s o t o
t h e f a m i l y o f t h e
l a t e B r o . A l b a n R . I . P
.
B r o . A l b a n w a s
p a r t o f t h e f a b r i c
o f M o u n t r a t h w h e n w e
w e r e g r o w i n g u p .
I n d e e d h e
w a s o n t h e B o a r d
o f M a n a g e m e n t o f o u r
h o u s e o n t h e S h a n n o n
R o a d a n d I
s u s p e c t m a n y o t h e r h o
u s e h o l d s a s w e l l .
T h e r e w e r e f i v e
i n o u r f a m i l y a n d
D a d d y , G o d r e s t h i m ,
w a s a G u a r d . L i k e
a l o t o f G u a r d s
f a m i l i e s o f t h e t i m e
o u r p a r e n t s h a d h i g h
h o p e s f o r a l l
f i v e o f
u s . T h e r e w a s o
n e p r o b l e m t h e r e
w a s l i t t l e m o n e y t o
f i n a n c e
t h o s e l o f t y
a m b i t i o n s . H o w e v e r a
l o n g c a m e B r o . A l b a n .
M y m o t h e r
c o n v e y e d h e r
i d e a s t o h i m . H
e o p e n e d a m a g i c
b o x i s t h e o n l y
w a y I
c a n d e s c r i b e
i t . H e s u g g e s t e d
t h a t N o e l , G o d r e s t
h i m , w h o w a s t h e
e l d e s t , s h o u l
d d o t h e C o u n t y
S c h o l a r s h i p . N o e l c a
m e f i r s t i n t h e
C o u n t y ,
( n o s u r p r i s e
w i t h B r o . A l b a n a t
t h e h e l m ) . W h e n
I h e a r d o f h i s p
a s s i n g
m y m i n d
w e n t r a c i n g b a c k i n
t i m e t o t h a t d a y .
I c a n s t i l l f e e l
t h e s h e e r
j o y , e x c i t e m e
n t , a b s o l u t e d e l i g h t
o f o u r h o u s e w h e n
t h e r e s u l t s a r r i v e d .
O n e w a s
o n t h e r o a d a n d
a s p l a n n e d , s o m e h o w ,
i t r e l e a s e d a l l f i v e
t o a
b e t t e r l i f e .
A l a s , N o e l d i e d
y o u n g , t o d a y i s h i s
a n n i v e r s a r y . B u t n o t
b e f o r e h e h a d
d o n e g r e a t
w o r k f o r m a n y , m a n y
s t u d e n t s a n d i n d e e d f
o r t h e C h u r c h . H e
h a d b e c o m e
a g r e a t t e a c h e r i n
t h e n o r t h o f E n g l a n d .
H e l e f t f i v e
w o n d e r f u l c h i
l d r e n a l l g r o w n u p .
E a c h o n e o f t h e m
k n e w o f B r o . A l b a n
t h e y t e l l
m e t h e y f e e l t h e y
k n e w h i m p e r s o n a l l y f
r o m l i s t e n i n g t o s t o r
i e s
f r o m N o e l . T h e
y h a v e a s k e d m e
t o c o n v e y t h e i r c o n d o
l e n c e s .
B r o . A l b a n b e l o n g e d
t o a v e r y d i f f e r e n t
a g e w h e n l i f e w a s
a l o t m o r e
d i f f i c u l t a n d
y e t a l o t l e s s c
o m p l i c a t e d . H o w e v e r
t h e l i f e l o n g w o r k o f
s u c h a g
r e a t s o u l w i l l l a s t
b e y o n d t h e r e a l m s o f
t i m e .
Y o u r s s i n c e r e l y ,
M a u r e e n L a l l y ( O
D o n o g h u e )
Brother
Cataldus Mahony
1913
- 2003
T h e
t h i r d d e a t h i n t h e
I r i s h P r o v i n c e i n 2 0 0
3 o c c u r r e d o n 3 r d
J u l y w h e n C a t a l d u s p a
s s e d t o h i s e t e r n a l
r e w a r d a g e d 9 0 .
B o r n
a t W a r r e n , A b b e y l e i x ,
C o . L a o i s h e e n t e r e d
t h e N o v i t i a t e i n T u l l
o w i n 1 9 3 0 m a k i n g
h i s f i r s t p r o f e s s i o n
i n 1 9 3 1 . H e w e n t
t o I n d i a i n 1 9 3
4
s p e n d i n g
a l l o f h i s t e a c h i n g
c a r e e r t h e r e a n d i n
P a k i s t a n . H e r e t u r n e
d
t o
I r e l a n d i n 1 9 7 7 a n d
s p e n t t h e r e m a i n d e r o
f h i s l i f e i n N e
w b r i d g e .
T h e
m o s t i n o f f e n s i v e o f m
e n , h e w a s n o t e d
i n I n d i a a n d I r e l a n d
f o r t h e
r e g u l a r i
t y o f h i s l i f e a
n d t h e m e t i c u l o u s w a y
h e c a r r i e d o u t a n y
d u t i e s
h e
t o o k o n .
B r o .
T i m D u n n e , w h o w a s
w i t h h i m i n I n d i a
f o r m a n y y e a r s , w r i t e
s :
C a t a l d u s
w a s t h e r e a l e x a m p l e
o f a s o l i d r e l i g i o u s .
A p a r t f r o m h i s
r e g u l a r i
t y a t p r a y e r s a n d
o t h e r c o m m u n i t y e x e r c i s e s
h e w a s e v e r s o
c a r e f u l
a b o u t h i s o t h e r d u t i e
s . H e l o v e d h i s
c l a s s r o o m w o r k a n d w a
s
v e r y
m u c h a d m i r e d b y h i s
p u p i l s . H o w e v e r , t h e
g r e a t e s t e s t e e m f o r h
i m
w a s
v e r y e v i d e n t o n t h e
p l a y g o u n d s . H e w a s
G a m e s M a s t e r i n e v e r y
s c h o o l
i n w h i c h h e t a u g h t
f r o m 1 9 3 4 t o t h e
t i m e o f h i s r e t i r e m e n
t . W h i l e
i n
M e e r u t a n d D e h r a D u n
t h e b o y s w o n s e v e r a l
h o c k e y a n d a t h l e t i c
t r o p h i e s
a n d p a r e n t s a d m i r e d h
i m v e r y m u c h . H
e h a d t h e r e p u t a t i o n
o f
b e i n g a p e r f e c t i o n i s t
i n a l l h e d i d p a
r t i c u l a r l y p r e p a r a t i o n o f
s p o r t s
f i e l d s
f o r t h e v a r i o u s e v e n t
s . H i s c h o r e o g
r a p h y o f t h e M a
r c h P a s t a t
t h e s e
e v e n t s w a s m u c h a d m i r
e d .
W e
h a v e l o s t a n o t h e r q u i
e t s t a l w a r t . M a y
h e e n j o y t h e r e w a r d
o f h i s
l i f e - l o n
g l a b o u r s i n t h e
L o r d s v i n e y a r d .
Bishop
Laurence Ryan
1931-
2003
P a t r i c i a n
B r o t h e r s w h o k n e w h i m
w i l l b e s a d d e n e d b y
t h e n e w s o f t h e
d e a t h
o f B i s h o p L a u r e n c e R y
a n o r L a r r y R y a n
a s h e p r e f e r r e d t o
b e
c a l l e d .
B i s h o p o f o u r h o m e
d i o c e s e o f K i l d a r e &
L e i g h l i n , h e h a d r e t i
r e d
l a s t
y e a r d u e t o f a i l i n g
h e a l t h . H i g h l y r e g a r
d e d a m o n g t h e o l o g i a n s
h e
p r o m o t e d
i n v o l v e m e n t o f t h e l a
i t y i n t h e a f f a i r s
o f t h e d i o c e s e b e i n g
p a r t i c u l
a r l y a n x i o u s t h a t a
P a s t o r a l C o u n c i l b e e
s t a b l i s h e d i n e v e r y
p a r i s h .
H e c o n t i n u e d , u n t i l h
i s r e t i r e m e n t , t h e c u
s t o m o f b e i n g p r e s e n t
a t
t h e T u l l o w C o r p u s C h r
i s t i P r o c e s s i o n b e g u n
b y h i s p r e d e c e s s o r B i
s h o p D a n i e l D e l a n y . M
a y h e r e s t i n p e
a c e .
 |
Daniel
Delany and the Early Brothers
Raymond
M. Forde
As we get closer
to the Bi-centenary of our foundation
we continue our
short history of our Founder
and the early Brothers
in the next few
issues of the Newsletter.
It was written by
Bro. Raymond Forde
while he was in
Kamagut, Kenya, and was based on research by Bro. Linus Walker.
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Br Raymond
M. Forde
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Bro. Linus Walker
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T h e
H o u s e
T h e
h o u s e i n w h i c h t h e
B r o t h e r s l i v e d w a s i n
a s a d s t a t e o f d
i s r e p a i r
a l t h o u g h
i t h a d u n d e r g o n e a
l i t t l e r e n o v a t i o n f o r
i t s p r e s e n t u s e . I t
h a d
a n
e w c o a t o f t h a t c h
b u t t h e w a l l s w e r e
m a d e o f o l d r o u g h
s t o n e r o u g h l y
m o r t a r e d
. T h e f l o o r s c o n s i s t e
d o f u n e v e n l y p a c k e d
c l a y . T h e r o o f t i m b e r
s
w e r e
k n o t t e d o r n e w a n d
c r u d e l y s a w n . I t w a s
s i t u a t e d b e t w e e n t h e
h o v e l s o f M i l l S t r e e t
t o t h e f r o n t a n d
s h a r p l y r i s i n g g r o u n d
t o t h e r e a r . A i r l e s s
i n
S u m m e r
- - M a y , J u n e a n d J u l y -
- a n d d r a u g h t y i n
w i n t e r - - N o v e m b e r ,
D e c e m b e r
a n d J a n u a r y - - b u t f o r
t h e p r e s e n t i t h a d
t o d o a s c h a p e l ,
m o n a s t e r
y a n d s c h o o l . T h e i r
l i t t l e m o n a s t e r y a l s o
c o n t a i n e d a k i t c h e n a
n d a r o o m w h i c h
w a s u s e d a s a s t
o r e a n d c a r p e n t e r ' s w
o r k s h o p . W a t e r h a d t o
b e d r a w n f r o m t h e
p u b l i c p u m p , a l o n g
s t r e e t a w a y o r c a r r i e
d f r o m t h e
r i v e r
S l a n e y b e h i n d t h e h o u
s e s o n t h e o p p o s i t e
s i d e o f t h e s t r e e t .
S a n i t a r y c o n d i t i o n s f o r
s c h o o l a n d m o n a s t e r y
w e r e i n a d e q u a t e a n d c
r u d e . T h e l i t t l e b a c k
y a r d , w h i c h s e r v e d a l
s o a s a s c h o o l p
l a y g r o u n d c o n t a i n e d a
f e w b r o k e n - d o w n s h e d s
f o r f u e l , t o o l s e t c .
E v e n t h e g a r d e n w a s
m u c h t o o s m a l l t o
m e e t
t h e c o m m u n i t y n e e d f o
r p o t a t o e s , w h i c h w a s
t h e n t h e s t a p l e f o o d
f o r
t h e
p o o r i n I r e l a n d . T h e
b u i l d i n g w a s i n c o n s t
a n t n e e d o f r e p a i r
a n d n o
m a t t e r
h o w h a r d t h e y w o r k e d
o n i t , i t a l w a y s
r e m a i n e d d a r k , d a m p a
n d a
d a n g e r
t o h e a l t h . T h e B r o t h e
r s l i v e d i n r e a l
p o v e r t y . F i n a n c i a l l y t h e y
w e r e
d r e a d f u l
l y p o o r . E v e r y m e m b e r
w o r k e d h a r d a n d c o n s t
a n t l y o n a v a r i e t y
o f
t a s k s .
F o r t h e i r t r a d e s t h e y
w e r e p a i d i n m e a l ,
m i l k o r p o t a t o e s ,
s o m e t i m e
s i n c l o t h , b u t
s e l d o m i n c a s h .
T h e n
a s m a l l f a c t o r y w h i c h
m a n u f a c t u r e d c o m b s w a s
o p e n e d i n t h e t o w n
i n 1 8 0 9 . F o u r o f
t h e y o u n g B r o t h e r s w e
r e t o b e t r a i n e d
h e r e a n d a s t h e
b u s i n e s s
w o u l d e x p a n d t o o t h e r
t o w n s a l l w o u l d s h a r e
i n t h e p r o f i t s .
£ 3 0
w a s t o b e p a i d a
s a d e p o s i t b y t h e
B r o t h e r s , a s u m w h i c h
t h e y c o u l d
n o t
a f f o r d , b u t w h i c h w a s
g u a r a n t e e d b y t h e F o u
n d e r . T h e s c h e m e
p r o s p e r e
d a n d a l l b u t t h
e t e a c h e r a n d t h e
c o o k w o r k e d t h e r e . A t
l a s t t h e y
h a d
a m e a n s o f s u p p o r t
a n d m u c h i m p r o v e m e n t
w a s m a d e t o t h e
m o n a s t e r y . T h e S u p e r i o r ,
B r o . J o s e p h , h a d a n
i d e a o f l e a s i n g a
l a r g e r p r e m i s e s f o r
s c h o o l
a n d m o n a s t e r y . S a d l y ,
e a r l y t h e f o l l o w i n g y
e a r t h e o w n e r w a s
b a n k r u p t
, h i s w o r k s h o p w a s
c l o s e d a n d e v e r y t h i n g
h e p o s s e s s e d w a s t a k e
n b y t h o s e t o w h
o m h e o w e d m o n e y .
A l l b u t t w o o f t
h e B r o t h e r s w e r e n o w
o u t
o f w o r k .
N o w
t h e y l o o k e d f o r t h e
B i s h o p ' s p e r m i s s i o n t o
g o o u t t h r o u g h t h e
P a r i s h
i n
s e a r c h o f w o r k . H e
g l a d l y c o n s e n t e d a n d
a s w e l l o f f e r e d t h e m
s u c h
a s s i s t a n
c e a s h e p o s s i b l y
c o u l d . A f t e r s o m e w e e
k s w h e n h e s a w n
o
b r i g h t e r
p r o s p e c t s f o r t h e f u t
u r e h e c a l l e d t h e
c o m m u n i t y t o g e t h e r a n d
o f f e r e d
e a c h m e m b e r f r e e d o m t
o r e t u r n t o h i s
h o m e a n d h i s f o r m e r
w a y
o f
l i f e . H e r e m i n d e d t h e
m t h a t t h e y w e r e
n o t b o u n d b y v o w s ,
j u s t a c o m m o n p u r p o s e
i n t h e L o r d a n d
t h a t i n t h e p r e s e n t
c r i s i s t h e y m u s t f i r s
t s e e k
t o
f i n d o u t G o d ' s w i l l .
T h e c o m m u n i t y d e c i d e d
t o s t a y t o g e t h e r n o
m a t t e r
w h a t
t r i a l s t h e y w e r e t o
e n d u r e . H e s t i l l i n s i
s t e d t h a t e a c h m e m b e r
w a s
f r e e
t o w i t h d r a w . O v e r t h e
n e x t f e w w e e k s t w o
o r t h r e e d i d l e a v e .
T h e n a
l o c a l
m a n w h o k n e w t h e
B r o t h e r s s i t u a t i o n v e r y
w e l l j o i n e d t h e c o m m u
n i t y . T h a t s e e m e d l i k
e a d i v i n e b l e s s i n g
o n t h o s e w h o r e m a i n e d
.
C a s u a l
l a b o u r w a s s t i l l t h e
p r i n c i p a l m e a n s b y w h
i c h t h e y o b t a i n e d a
l i v e l i h o
o d . T h e y m i g h t g e t
a d a y t h r e s h i n g c o r n ,
a w e e k d i g g i n g , m a k i n
g
d r a i n s
o r p l o u g h i n g . T h r e e B
r o t h e r s f o u n d w o r k i n
q u a r r y i n g s t o n e f o r t
h e
b u i l d e r
w h o h a d b e e n e n g a g e d
t o b u i l d t h e B r i g i d i n
e C o n v e n t ' s f i r s t
e x t e n s i o
n . A l i t t l e l a t e r
t w o o t h e r s f o u n d e m p l
o y m e n t a s u n s k i l l e d
l a b o u r e r
s o n t h e s i t e .
T h e
F o u n d e r , t o s h o w h i s
c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e c o m
m u n i t y , s u g g e s t e d t h a t
t h e y
s t a r t a n e w f o u n d a t i o
n i n M o u n t r a t h . S o
o n F e b . 2 n d . 1 8 1 0
B r o . J o h n
B a p t i s t
M c M a h o n , B r o . J o s e p h
D a w s o n , B r o . B e r n a r d
F i t z p a t r i c k a n d B r o .
D o m i n i c
P h e l a n s e t o u t o n
f o o t t o t h e n e w
p l a c e f o r t y m i l e s a w a
y .
R e m a i n i n
g i n T u l l o w w e r e
B r o . E v a n g e l i s t C u m m i n s ,
B r o . S e r e n u s K e l l y ,
B r o .
P a u l N e i l a n d B r o .
F r a n c i s W o o d s . T h e l a
t t e r w a s n o w i n
c h a r g e o f
t h e
s c h o o l . S h o r t l y a f t e r
t h e i r a r r i v a l a n e w
P o s t u l a n t e n t e r e d f r o m
B a l l y f i n
. H e w e n t t o T u l
l o w a n d t o o k t h e
n a m e B r o . F i n t a n .
|
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| Monstrance used by Bishop Delany - A statue of Bishop Delany, to be
found at Holy Cross College chapel, Ryde, Australia - the Bishop's glasses. |
|
I n
T u l l o w , o n e o f t h o s e
n o t e n g a g e d i n t h e
s c h o o l s e t u p a
s m a l l f o r g e
f o r
t h e m a k i n g o f s u c h
i r o n i m p l e m e n t s a s w e
r e c o m m o n l y r e q u i r e d
b y
f a r m e r s .
A n o t h e r t u r n e d o u t h o
u s e h o l d a r t i c l e s i n w
o o d a n d s u c h t h i n g s
a s
h a n d - c a r v e d c a s k e t s , o r n a m
e n t a l p r e s s e s a n d t h e
o d d t a b e r n a c l e . L a t e r
s o m e o n e b u i l t a l o o m
a n d u n d e r t o o k t h e w e a
v i n g o f c l o t h . D u r i n g
a l l t h i s t i m e t h e
p a y - s c h o o l c o n t i n u e d i n
o p e r a t i o n a s d i d t h e
e v e n i n g c l a s s e s , t h e
s u p e r v i s e d w a k e s a n d
m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y t h e
S u n d a y c l a s s e s , w h i c h
a t t r a c t e
d h u g e n u m b e r s a n d
w h i c h t h e y s h a r e d w i t
h t h e S i s t e r s a n d
o t h e r
m e m b e r s
o f t h e C h r i s t i a n D o c t
r i n e C o n f r a t e r n i t y . T h e s e
c l a s s e s w e r e n o w e x t e
n d e d t o a l i t t l e
p l a c e n o t f a r f r o m
T u l l o w c a l l e d A r d a t t i n .
B r o . S e r e n u s K e l l y a n
d B r o . F r a n c i s W o o d s
w e n t o n S u n d a y s t o
h e l p i n t h e i n s t r u c t i
o n o f y o u n g a n d
o l d .
S i n c e
t h e y n o w h a d a s
m a l l t h r e e - r o o m e d m o n a s t e r
y i n M o u n t r a t h , t h e
F o u n d e r
b e c a m e m o r e a n x i o u s t
o p r o v i d e a b e t t e r
r e s i d e n c e f o r t h e
B r o t h e r s
i n T u l l o w . T h e o l d
p l a c e w a s p r o v i n g a
d a n g e r t o h e a l t h a n d
s o m e
a s p i r a n t s h a d w i t h d r a w n .
A p l o t o f s i x a c
r e s w a s o f f e r e d f o r
s a l e .
S i n c e
h e k n e w t h a t m e m b e r s
o f t h e P r o t e s t a n t c o m
m u n i t y w o u l d o b j e c t ,
h e a s k e d t w o l o c a l
m e n t o b i d i n t h
e a u c t i o n . B u t a n
o f f e r f r o m a r i c h
p e r s o n
d a s h e d
h i s h o p e s . N o w h e
g a v e t h e m t h e i r o l d
r e s i d e n c e c o s t f r e e ,
s i m p l y b e c a u s e a g o o d
l a d y h a d o f f e r e d t o
p a y t h e y e a r l y r e n t
o f £ 3 .
Extended
Council in Papua New Guinea
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Sunset from the novitiate at
Bishop's Hill, Aitape
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Newly made novices cutting the cake. Inset
is James who arrived a little later.
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Postulants performed a traditional dance
to welcome members of the Council
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Newly received novices with members of the
Council
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James celebrates his birthday in Sydney
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Back in Aitape the Council begins
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Laughing
Matters
Death
W h i l e
w a l k i n g a l o n g t h e s i d
e w a l k i n f r o n t o f
h i s c h u r c h , t h e l o c a l
m i n i s t e r h e a r d t h e i n
t o n i n g o f a p r a y e r
t h a t n e a r l y m a d e h i s
c o l l a r w i l t .
A p p a r e
n t l y , h i s 5 - y e a r - o l d
s o n a n d h i s p l a y m a t e s
h a d f o u n d a d e a d
r o b i n . F e e l i n g t h a t p
r o p e r b u r i a l s h o u l d b
e p e r f o r m e d , t h e y h a d
s e c u r e d a s m a l l
b o x
a n d c o t t o n b a t t i n g , t
h e n d u g a h o l e a
n d m a d e r e a d y f o r
t h e d i s p o s a l
o f
t h e d e c e a s e d . T h e m i n
i s t e r ' s s o n w a s c h o s e
n t o s a y t h e a p p
r o p r i a t e p r a y e r s a n d
w i t h s e r i o u s d i g n i t y
i n t o n e d h i s v e r s i o n o
f w h a t h e t h o u g h t
h i s
f a t h e r
a l w a y s s a i d : " G l o r y b e
u n t o t h e F a a a a t h e r , a
n d u n t o t h e S o n n n . . . .
.
a n d
i n t o t h e h o l e h e
g o o o o e s . "
***
T h e r
e w e r e t w o n u n s . . .
O n e
o f t h e m w a s k n o w n
a s S i s t e r M a t h e m a t i c a l
( S M ) , a n d t h e o t h e r
o n e
w a s
k n o w n a s S i s t e r L o g i c
a l ( S L ) .
I t
i s g e t t i n g d a r k a n d
t h e y a r e s t i l l f a r
a w a y f r o m t h e c o n v e n t
.
S M :
H a v e y o u n o t i c e d t h a t
a m a n h a s b e e n f
o l l o w i n g u s f o r t h e
p a s t
t h i r t y - e
i g h t a n d a h a l f
m i n u t e s ? I w o n d e r w h a
t h e w a n t s .
S L :
I t ' s l o g i c a l . H e w a n t
s t o a t t a c k u s .
S M :
O h , n o ! A t t h i s
r a t e h e w i l l r e a c h
u s i n 1 5 m i n u t e s
a t t h e m o s t ? W h a t
c a n
w e d o ?
S L :
T h e o n l y l o g i c a l t h i n
g t o d o o f c o u r s
e i s t o w a l k f a s
t e r .
S M :
I t ' s n o t w o r k i n g .
S L :
O f c o u r s e i t ' s n o t
w o r k i n g . T h e m a n d i d
t h e o n l y l o g i c a l t h i n
g . H e
s t a r t e d
t o w a l k f a s t e r , t o o .
S M :
S o , w h a t s h a l l w e
d o ? A t t h i s r a t e
h e w i l l r e a c h u s
i n o n e m i n u t e .
S L :
T h e o n l y l o g i c a l t h i n
g w e c a n d o i s
s p l i t . Y o u g o t h a t
w a y a n d I ' l l g o
t h i s
w a y . H e c a n n o t f o l l o w
u s b o t h .
S o
t h e m a n d e c i d e d t o
f o l l o w S i s t e r L o g i c a l .
S i s t e r
M a t h e m a t i c a l a r r i v e s a t
t h e c o n v e n t a n d i s
w o r r i e d a b o u t w h a t
h a s h a p p e n e d t o S i s t e
r L o g i c a l .
T h e n
S i s t e r L o g i c a l a r r i v e s .
S M :
S i s t e r L o g i c a l ! T h a n k
G o d y o u a r e h e r e !
T e l l m e w h a t h a p p e n e d
!
S L :
T h e o n l y l o g i c a l t h i n
g h a p p e n e d . T h e m a n
c o u l d n ' t f o l l o w u s b o
t h , s o
h e
f o l l o w e d m e .
S M :
Y e s , y e s ! B u t w h a t
h a p p e n e d t h e n ?
S L :
T h e o n l y l o g i c a l t h i n
g h a p p e n e d . I s t a r t e d
t o r u n a s f a s t a
s I c o u l d
a n d
h e s t a r t e d t o r u n
a s f a s t a s h e c o
u l d .
S M :
A n d ?
S L :
T h e o n l y l o g i c a l t h i n
g h a p p e n e d . H e r e a c h e
d m e .
S M :
O h , d e a r ! W h a t d i d
y o u d o ?
S L :
T h e o n l y l o g i c a l t h i n
g t o d o . I l i f t e
d m y d r e s s u p .
S M :
O h , S i s t e r ! W h a t d i d
t h e m a n d o ?
S L :
T h e o n l y l o g i c a l t h i n
g t o d o . H e p u l l
e d d o w n h i s p a n t s .
S M :
O h , n o ! W h a t h a p p e n e d
t h e n ?
S L :
I s n ' t i t l o g i c a l , S i s
t e r ? A n u n w i t h
h e r d r e s s u p c a n
r u n f a s t e r t h a n
m a n
w i t h h i s p a n t s d o w n .
A n d
f o r t h o s e o f y o u
w h o t h o u g h t i t w o u l d
b e a d i r t y s t o r y ,
s a y t h r e e H a i l
M a r y s !
***
K e r r
y F a r m e r s r u l e !
A
b i g D u b l i n c i t y
l a w y e r w e n t d u c k h u n t
i n g i n r u r a l K e r r y .
H e s h o t a n d d r o p p e d
a b i r d , b u t i t f
e l l i n t o a f a r m e r ' s
f i e l d o n t h e o t h e r
s i d e o f a f e n c e .
A s t h e l a w y e r c l i m b e d
o v e r t h e f e n c e , a n
e l d e r l y f a r m e r d r o v e
u p o n h i s t r a c t o r
a n d a s k e d h i m w h a t
h e w a s d o i n g .
T h e
l a w y e r r e s p o n d e d , " I
s h o t a d u c k a n d
i t f e l l i n t h i s
f i e l d , a n d n o w I ' m
g o i n g
t o r e t r i e v e i t . "
T h e
o l d f a r m e r r e p l i e d , "
T h i s i s m y p r o p e r t y ,
a n d y o u a r e n o t
c o m i n g o v e r
h e r e . "
T h e
i n d i g n a n t l a w y e r s a i d ,
" I a m o n e o f t h e
b e s t t r i a l a t t o r n e y s
i n D u b l i n
a n d ,
i f y o u d o n ' t l e t
m e g e t t h a t d u c k ,
I ' l l s u e y o u a n d
t a k e e v e r y t h i n g
y o u
o w n . "
T h e
o l d f a r m e r s m i l e d a n d
s a i d , " A p p a r e n t l y , y o u
d o n ' t k n o w h o w w e
s e t t l e
d i s p u t e s i n K e r r y .
W e s e t t l e s m a l l d i s a g
r e e m e n t s l i k e t h i s w i
t h
t h e
K e r r y T h r e e K i c k R u l e
. "
T h e
l a w y e r a s k e d , " W h a t i
s t h e K e r r y T h r e e
K i c k R u l e ? "
T h e
f a r m e r r e p l i e d , " W e l l ,
b e c a u s e t h e d i s p u t e
o c c u r s
o n m y l a n d , f i r s t
I k i c k y o u t h r e e
t i m e s a n d t h e n y o u
k i c k m e
t h r e e
t i m e s a n d s o o n
b a c k a n d f o r t h u n t i l
s o m e o n e g i v e s u p . "
T h e
a t t o r n e y q u i c k l y t h o u g h t
a b o u t t h e p r o p o s e d c o
n t e s t a n d d e c i d e d t h a
t
h e
c o u l d e a s i l y t a k e t h e
o l d c o d g e r . H e a g r e e d
t o a b i d e b y t h e
l o c a l
c u s t o
m .
T h e
o l d f a r m e r s l o w l y c l i
m b e d d o w n f r o m t h e
t r a c t o r a n d w a l k e d u p
t o t h e
a t t o r n e y
. H i s f i r s t k i c k
p l a n t e d t h e t o e o f
h i s h e a v y s t e e l - t o e d
w o r k b o o t
i n t o
t h e l a w y e r ' s g r o i n a n
d d r o p p e d h i m t o
h i s k n e e s . H i s s e c o n d
k i c k t o
t h e
m i d r i f f s e n t t h e l a w y
e r ' s l a s t m e a l g u s h i n
g f r o m h i s m o u t h .
T h e
b a r r i
s t e r w a s o n a l l
f o u r s w h e n t h e f a r m e r
' s t h i r d k i c k t o
h i s r e a r e n d
s e n t
h i m f a c e - f i r s t i n t o a
f r e s h c o w p i e .
T h e
l a w y e r s u m m o n e d e v e r y
b i t o f h i s w i l l
a n d m a n a g e d t o g e t
t o h i s f e e t . W i p i n g
h i s f a c e w i t h t h e
a r m o f h i s j a c k e t ,
h e s a i d ,
" O k a y
, y o u o l d c o o t .
N o w i t ' s m y t u r n . "
T h e
o l d f a r m e r s m i l e d a n d
s a i d ,
" N a w ,
I g i v e u p . Y o u c
a n h a v e t h e d u c k . "
***
W e i r
d !
H o w
w e i r d i s t h i s . . .
W h i l e
s i t t i n g a t y o u r d e s k
m a k e c l o c k w i s e c i r c l e s
w i t h y o u r r i g h t f o o t .
W h i l e
d o i n g t h i s , d r a w t h e
n u m b e r " 6 " i n t h e
a i r w i t h y o u r r i g h t
h a n d .
W h a t
d i r e c t i o n i s y o u r f o o
t g o i n g n o w ?
Preparations for the Chapter
 |
 |
A new 8-bedroom house has benn constructed
opposite the
Brothers' Residence
|
New Conference Room. Chapter room with secretarial
offices.
|
|
Brothers from Abbeyleix, Ballyfin, Carricmacross,
Finglas, Mountrath, Newbridge, and Tullow communities gather in Newbridge
to begin Province preparation
for the 2004 General Chapter
|
| Preparations are underway in all Regions and
Provinces for the 2004 General Chapter. Photographs above show some of
the work already done in Kamagut to accommodate the members of the Chapter.
A lot of the work is unseen and includes provision of solar power and extra
water tanks which, with the new buildings, will be invaluable to the Region
and its Formation Programme in the future.
The most importnat part of the preparation will
be done by the Brothers themselves and all are invited, individually or
in groups, to make submissions to the chosen delegates or the Generalate. |
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Chapter Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us to be mindful of the
mission you have entrusted to our Congregation as we pray for the forth-
coming General Chapter. Guide the efforts of all involved in the preparation
process and may the diversity and gifts ot our members be used in the service
of your name.
Let us view this time of change and renew- al
not as a threat to what has been, but as an invitation to build on the
foundation which has been given to us.
God, our Father, give us confidence in your loving
care and be the source of all our
inspirations and decisions. Amen |
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Extended Council members on
Thursday
Island
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