April, 2010   

Dear friends,     
Each year on Holy Thursday the local bishop celebrates the Chrism Mass. During this celebration he blesses the Holy Oils that will be used for the sacramental celebrations throughout the year. Holy Oils are used in the celebration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and the Anointing of the Sick. As a sign of the unity that exists between the bishop and his priests, all the local clergy are invited to concelebrate. During this liturgy there is also a renewal of commitment to priestly service. As Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper in which Jesus gave us the example of humble service by washing the feet of the Apostles and instituted the Eucharist, it is more than appropriate that the renewal of commitment take place on this special day of Holy Week. This year the renewal had special meaning for two new missionaries. They will now be faithful ministers of the mysteries of God in Peru and Ecuador.

On Sunday, March 7th, 2010, Cardinal Seán O’Malley received two new members into the Society of St. James: Fr. John Molloy of the Diocese of Killaloe in Ireland and Fr. Thomas Keyes of the Archdiocese of Boston in the United States. Both bring a wealth of talent and experience to their new missions. Fr. Molloy has organized mission projects in Africa and Fr. Keyes served previously with the Society in Bolivia. I have assigned Fr. Molloy to work in Ecuador and Fr. Keyes to work in Peru. In consultation with the local Country Coordinator, their mission sites will be designated.

This month we remember as well two other missionaries. After some 34 years of ministry in both Bolivia and Ecuador, with service as the Society Director for three years, Fr. Bob Thomas returns to his beloved hometown of Boston. We wish Fr. Thomas well. Fr. Adrian Crowley heard the call to minister in Africa, founding a prayer center in Liberia in Western Africa. He shares some thoughts with us this month and we keep him in our prayers.

The Sending on Mission Mass for the two new members and the Easter Season that we celebrate allow us to reflect on the decree on the missionary activity of the Church from the Second Vatican Council (Ad Gentes). This document reminds us that Jesus Christ founded his Church as the sacrament of salvation and sent the Apostles into the whole world, just as the Father had sent him. In this we see the duty granted to the Church of spreading the faith and the salvation that comes from Christ. The missionary goes forth to gather those alienated and distant from the Church and to bring them to the faith, freedom and peace of Christ. On this happy occasion I ask that you pray for the new missionaries so that God’s Holy Spirit may bless them with the gifts they need to be faithful ministers of Christ in Latin America. May the Risen Lord bless you with the special joy of the new life celebrated in the Easter Season.

Sincerely,

Rev. Kevin Hays
Director

Update from Fr. Adrian Crowley

November, 2009, Liberia: Greetings to all. The rainy season is finishing here, and it is getting hotter. Good news this month: a missionary returned from England with funding for 27 wells for villages in the deep forest north of here. This is a brilliant gift, for in the dry season the people have to drink stale, stagnant waters from low rivers or marsh pools and you can imagine the consequent illnesses. Now they will have pure clean water all year. It is a happy day for the 27 villages. Peace continues and the markets are looking a bit brighter, though still very, very basic. Mary’s Meals are increasing the number of children receiving good healthy meals from 15,000 to 20,000. Not far from where I live, we found a settlement of Sierra Leone refugees in very poor conditions: 37 orphans and displaced folk. Today we bring the first bags of rice and beans, etc. to Dudutown, a small traditional village where Mary’s Meals are beginning. There will be lots of joy. 50 children will get good food daily. The traditional village school is made of wattle and clay and is roofed with old rice bags. A new Archbishop has been installed here in Monrovia. He is His Excellency Louis Zeigler, a shy, retiring Liberian, but very pleasant and well liked. He wanted to stay in his simple, country life, but finally accepted. - Fr. Adrian

Thank you Fr. Bob!

Fr. Bob Thomas has returned to his hometown of Boston after 34 years of service with the Society of St. James. We thank you for all you've done and wish you the best.

Cardinal Seán O'Malley, Fr. Hays, the new missionaries and other concelebrating priests on the altar at St. Stephen's Church.

 

Cardinal Seán O'Malley and Fr. Kevin Hays process into the church at the beginning of the Sending Mass. (photo: Michele Morgan)

Cardinal O'Malley meets and greets the parishioners and special guests after Mass.

Fr. John Molloy (center) takes a photo with two fellow Irish priests, Fr. David Costello (left), country coordinator of Peru, and Fr. Colm Hogan, (right) who currently serves in Ecuador, and hails from Killaloe, the same diocese as Fr. Molloy.

Cardinal O'Malley gives the homily.

Fr. Molloy's parents, Gerard and Margaret Molloy, bring up the gifts during the offertory procession. They flew in from Ireland to attend the Sending on Mission Mass.

Cardinal O'Malley presents Fr. John Molloy and Fr. Tom Keyes with the mission crosses. (photo: Michele Morgan)

From left: missionary Fr. John Molloy, Society president and Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Seán O'Malley, returning missionary Fr. Tom Keyes, and Director Fr. Kevin Hays.

Cardinal O'Malley was the principal celebrant at the mass. There were ten other priests who concelebrated, including Fr. Kevin Hays, the two new missionaries, current members, alumni and priests from Ireland and the Archdiocese of Boston.

The 2010 AGM: From left: Bishop Hugo Garaycoa, Fr. Kevin Hays, Bishop Luis Bambarén, SJ, Fr. Frank Jones, Archbishop Bruno Musaró, Archbishop Cardinal Seán O'Malley, OFM Cap., Bishop Lino Panizza, OFM Cap., Bishop Michael LaFay, O. Carm, Fr. David Costello

Thank you Fr. Bob!

Fr. Bob Thomas has returned to his hometown of Boston after 34 years of service with the Society of St. James. We thank you for all you've done and wish you the best.