Mill Hill Missionaries

Rev Nicholas Abasaheb (Abba) Shirsath

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:27:11 +0000

The General Council announces the ordination to the Priesthood of

Rev Nicholas Abasaheb (Abba) Shirsath

on Saturday 10^thMarch 2012 at Divine Mercy Parish, Wadgoan Sheri in India.

Rev Nicolas Abasaheb Shirsath was born on the 1^st June 1979 at Khirdi, in the Diocese of Pune, India. His parents are Shirsath Laxman and Shirsath Kusum, and he has two brothers and two sisters.

Nicholas Abba was accepted to join the Basic Formation Programme at Karunapuram, did his studies in Philosophy at the same venue, and studied Theology at Hyderabad and Nairobi. He was sent to the Diocese of Malindi in Kenya to complete the Mission Experience Programme. Nicholas holds a BA from the University of Pune in India.

Nicholas Abba took his Temporary Oath on the 10^th March 2008 at Hyderabad, India, and his Perpetual Oath took place at St Joseph’s Formation Centre, Nairobi, on the 19^th March 2011.

He was ordained deacon on the 13^th August 2011 at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Langata Road, Nairobi.

The General Superior, with the consent of his Council, has appointed Rev Nicholas Abasaheb Shirsath to assist at the Mill Hill Formation Centre in Pune before moving to Oku Mission in the Diocese of Kumbo, Cameroon.

May the Lord bless Nicholas in his ministry as a Priest and Missionary of St Joseph’s Missionary Society, whose calling it is “To Love and to Serve.”

Rev Joseph Baskar Babu Gangarapu

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:24:55 +0000

The General Council announces the ordination to the Priesthood of

Rev Joseph Baskar Babu Gangarapu

on 21^st April 2012 at Christ the King Church, Ramanthapur, India.

Rev Joseph Baskar Babu was born on the 21^st June 1980 Ramachandrapuram in the Diocese of Cudappah, India. His parents are Bala Swamy Gangarapu and Theresamma Gangarapu. He has one brother and two sisters.

Joseph Baskar Babu participated in the Basic Formation Programme at Karunapuram. He did his studies in Philosophy at Karunapuram, and studied Theology at St John’s Seminary Hyderabad. He completed the Mission Experience Programme in Varanasi(India) and Kaplamai (Kenya).

Joseph Baskar took his Temporary Oath on the 5^th March 2006 at Ramanthapur, India, and his Perpetual Oath took place on the 26^th of September 2011 at Hyderabad in India.

He was ordained deacon on the 25^th October 2011 at St John’s Seminary Hyderabad, India. The General Superior, with the consent of his Council,has appointed Rev Joseph Bhaskar Gangarapu to the Diocese of Ambikapur in India.

May the Lord bless Joseph Baskar in his ministry as a Priest and Missionary of St Joseph’s Missionary Society, whose calling it is “To Love and To Serve.”

Rev Arul Nirmal Raj Jegaraj

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:20:49 +0000

The General Council announces the ordination to the Priesthood of

Rev Arul Nirmal Raj Jegaraj

on 21^st April 2012 at Christ the King Church, Ramanthapur, India.

Rev Arul Nirmal Raj was born on the 21^st February 1977 at Salem in the Diocese of Salem, India. His parents are Jegaraj and Mahalai Mary. He has one brother and one sister.

Arul Nirmal Raj was accepted to join the Basic Formation Programme at Karunapuram, did his studies in Philosophy at Karunapuram, and studied Theology at St John’s Seminary Hyderabad. He completed the Mission Experience Programme in Nellikuduru (India) and Mbikko (Uganda).

Arul took his Temporary Oath on the 5^th March 2006 at Ramanthapur, India, and his Perpetual Oath took place on the 26^th of September 2011 at Hyderabad in India.

He was ordained deacon on the 25^th October 2011 at St John’s Seminary Hyderabad, India. The General Superior, with the consent of his Council, has appointed Rev Arul Nirmmal Raj to the Diocese of Ambikapur in India.

May the Lord bless Arul in his ministry as a Priest and Missionary of St Joseph’s Missionary Society, whose calling it is “To Love and To Serve.”

Fr Toon Schoone

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:48:56 +0000

We regret to announce the death at “Verpleeghuis Marienstaete”, Warmond, the Netherlands, on the 2^nd February 2012, at the age of 85,

Fr Toon Schoone

May he rest in Peace

Fr Anthony (Toon) Schoone was born on 23^rd March 1926 at Lisse in the Diocese of Haarlem, the Netherlands. He was the son of Martin Schoone and Maria van der Klauw, and he had six brothers and six sisters. Toon received his secondary education in Mill Hill Colleges, starting at Hoorn in 1941, and continuing at Haelen. From 1948 to 1950 he studied Philosophy in Roosendaal, and from 1950 to 1954 Theology at Mill Hill. He took his Perpetual Oath at St Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, London, on 7^th May 1953, and was ordained priest at the same venue on 11^th July 1954 by Cardinal Griffin.

Fr Toon Schoone lived his life as a missionary in Uganda and the Netherlands. After ordination he was appointed to the Diocese of Kampala in Uganda. Nkokonjeru was his first mission. He was withdrawn from Uganda in 1963 and appointed to do organizing work at Hoorn. In 1966 he returned to Uganda and was initially appointed to the Diocese of Tororo. The appointment was changed and he went to Jinja instead, where he worked in Kiyunga among other places. Health issues made it necessary for Toon to be appointed to the Netherlands in 1982. He first accepted to be procurator in Hoorn before moving as administrator to Opdam in 1985. In 1990 he moved to St Josefhuis, Oosterbeek, before taking up residence at “Missiehuis Vrijland” in 1999.

Toon was described as a dedicated priest, who had the esteem of his colleagues and the affection of the people, because he gave of his gifts for the good of others. He struggled with the cross of ill health for many years, but remained in good humour and willing to help others.

Fr Toon Schoone suffered heart attacks in 2007, which necessitated surgery at the Hospital in Nijmegen. His health continued to deteriorate and his care needs increased. In 2010 he was transferred to the “Verpleeghuis Marienstaete” in Warmond where he could receive the best care possible. There he died peacefully last night. The funeral mass will take place at “Missiehuis Vrijland”on Wednesday 8^th February at 11.00am followed by burial at the Mill Hill cemetery in Oosterbeek.

The previous obituary (16/2011) was that of FrHenk van Tilborg, who died in Vrijland, the Netherlands, on 16th December 2011.

Rev Joseph King Afumaboh

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:21:35 +0000

The General Council announces the ordination to the Priesthood of

Rev Joseph King Afumaboh,

on 4^th February 2012 at Njinikom Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, Cameroon.

Rev Joseph King Afumaboh was born on the 18^th March 1981 at Njinikom, Cameroon. His parents are Francis King Munteh and Rose Bi King, and he has three brothers and four sisters.

Joseph was accepted to join the Basic Formation Programme at Bamenda, did his studies in Philosophy at the Philosophy Centre Jinja, and studied Theology at Tangaza College in Nairobi. He was sent to the Diocese of Malindi in Kenya to complete the Mission Experience Programme.

Joseph took his Temporary Oath on the 1^st May 2003 at the Mill Hill Formation House in Jinja, Uganda, and his Perpetual Oath took place at St Joseph’s Formation Centre, Nairobi, on the 19^th March 2011.

He was ordained deacon on the 13^th August 2011 at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Langata Road, Nairobi.

The General Superior, with the consent of his Council, has appointed Rev Joseph King Afumaboh to the Diocese of Kotido in Uganda.

May the Lord bless Joseph in his ministry as a Priest and Missionary of St Joseph’s Missionary Society, whose calling it is ”To Love and To Serve.”

Rev Anthony Ndang Ndichia

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:20:34 +0000

The General Council announces the ordination to the Priesthood of

Rev Anthony Ndang Ndichia

on 4^th February 2012 at Njinikom Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Bamenda, Cameroon.

Rev Anthony Ndang Ndichia was born on the 11^th July 1982 at Njinikom, Cameroon. His parents are Primus Nkuo and Angeline Nain Ndang. He has one brother and three sisters.

Anthony was accepted to join the Basic Formation Programme at Bamenda, did his studies in Philosophy at the Philosophy Centre Jinja, and studied Theology at Tangaza College in Nairobi. He was sent to the Diocese of Malindi in Kenya to complete the Mission Experience Programme.

Anthony took his Temporary Oath on the 1^st May 2003 at the Mill Hill Formation House in Jinja, Uganda, and his Perpetual Oath took place at St Joseph’s Formation Centre, Nairobi, on the 19^th March 2011.

He was ordained deacon on the 13^th August 2011 at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Langata Road, Nairobi.

The General Superior, with the consent of his Council, has appointed Rev Anthony Ndang Ndichia to the Diocese of Kroonstad in South Africa.

May the Lord bless Anthony in his ministry as a Priest and Missionary of St Joseph’s Missionary Society, whose calling it is “To Love and To Serve.”

Herbert Vaughan - From the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1914

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:17:23 +0000

Some enjoy digging in archives and library stacks. Its peaceful and a place to forget everything but the search. And then there is the moment some correspondence or a hand written note in an old book’s margin or a journal article appears and surprises. It is a surprise that can be an introduction to interesting people. So it was for me in preparing to write about Herbert Vaughan. In some old issues of The Tablet I met, for the first time, John Snead-Cox.

At mid day meals in the seminary he founded at Mill Hill we learned about Cardinal Vaughan. Students would read from a two volume biography about Vaughan published in 1910. But who of us knew anything of John Snead-Cox, his biographer. He is one of those people who appear in the background of a great one’s story. If we are curious enough and search diligently enough, their stories can make the main character’s life so much more interesting.

John George Snead Cox, “Johnny Cox” to his family, was the author of The Life of Cardinal Vaughan. Two years later he prepared an entry on Cardinal Vaughan for The Catholic Encyclopedia reproduced below. It is a good introduction to the life of Vaughan even 100 years later.

Going through copies of The Tablet a 1920 edition had a tribute to Snead-Cox on his retirement and then in 1940 there was his obituary. They told of terrible events in his life: the deaths of three of his four sons in World War One. He and his wife lost their two eldest within a few days of each other at Ypres in 1914, and the third at the battle of Jutland.

Snead Cox was born in 1855, the son of Col Richard Snead Cox who was High Sheriff for Hereford in 1858 and Mary Theresa, the daughter of George Weld and niece of Cardinal Weld. John was related to Herbert Vaughan through his mother.

He studied at Stonyhurst and then law, and was called to the bar in 1881. Later he turned to journalism and began writing for The Tablet, the weekly owned by Vaughan, becoming editor in 1884 and remaining in that position for 36 years.

In 1891 he married Mary, the daughter of George Porteaus of New Orleans.

Despite the deaths of their three sons Snead Cox continued to edit The Tablet until he retired in 1920. but remained close to his old paper, writing , despite failing eyesight and health, for the next 20 years.

Snead-Cox died on 30 Dec 1939 at Broxwood, Leominster, Hereford. The Tablet notice used the words “self effacing” to describe him as a biographer and journalist. Many others were better known but he had no equal in setting and maintaining for such a long time “a higher standard of disinterested work for the Church”

“The funeral took place,” it continued, “on Tuesday, at Broxwood. The Prior of Belmont officiated, assisted by a choir of monks from the Abbey. Mr. Robin Snead-Cox was unable to be present as he is in the Sudan with his regiment.”

Robert O’Neil, MHM
New York, January 27, 2012

Novena to St Joseph

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:16:56 +0000

Update on the Floods in Pakistan

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:12:35 +0000

Last year both the north and the south of Pakistan were devastated by floods caused by the rivers bursting their banks. Our Mill Hill Missionaries were busy helping with relief in both north and south. The floods of last year have subsided but many of those who lost their houses are struggling to find shelter and the relief work continues.

Here we see Fr Tom Rafferty MHM in Nowshera supervising the building some houses to give shelter to those who have none.

This year in the south the greater part of Sindh was flooded due exceptionally heavy rains. Even months after the rains have finished large areas are still under water and many people are still living in tents on the roads which are higher that the flooded fields.

Jimmy Lindero MHM is visiting such displaced family.

Where the water has subsided and people have returned to their villages where often their houses have been destroyed.

Crops and food stores were destroyed. Many people are without livelihood as they normally work on the crops. Many are without food and shelter. It will be a very difficult winter for many people. Our missionaries are joining with the efforts of others to distribute aid and to assist with rebuilding houses. Often they just supply some roof materials.

Fr Brendan Mulhall MHM

By the Rivers in Kanowit

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:34:03 +0000

‘Do you know how to swim?’ I’m asked this question almost every day by different people. This often brings to my mind the incident of the legless man who upon his vehement argument about his swimming prowess was brought to the swimming pool, and immediately humiliatingly kept silent for his lack both of skill and of strength. Though I was born and brought up not so far from the shores of Lake Victoria, the largest of all African Lakes besides being the second widest freshwater body in the world, I am not good at swimming. This explains my initial fear before I reached Sibu Diocese, East Malaysia. It also explains why I always have a life jacket whenever I’m in the boat. Every time I come out of my room at the Kanowit Parish presbytery, I’m confronted by glaring sight of the wide brownish Sungai Rajang (Rajang River), the longest river in Malaysia, only a few metres away from the parish compound. Most of the houses in this area are accessible mainly by this river. The boat, therefore, is our main means of transport.

By the riversides, the native people stay. After alighting from the boat we trek through the kampung (jungle), most part of it being swampy, to reach the people. These are the Iban, a branch of the Dayak people of Borneo Island. They were renowned for chopping off the heads of their enemies and hanging on the ruai (verandah). The more heads one brought, the more respect he earned in the community. As such they were (and are still) known as ‘head hunters’. However, I don’t have to worry about becoming headless because besides being no enemy to them, the practice itself is long gone now… (though I have seen some skulls in some houses). One of the natives explained to me that having realised that one finger-nail cannot by itself kill a louse, they would join together to defend themselves whenever an enemy confronted them. To make this more effective, they took to staying together, not in villages, but in one long house (rumah panjai). They still live in long houses.

As the name rightly suggests, these houses are exactly that: long. They are traditionally built of timber. Since the area often floods, among other reasons, the house is raised off the ground by strong poles, to such an extent that an average tall person can comfortably stand erect under it. Pigs and chicken live underneath. The house is narrow, with rooms adjoining each other in a row. Each family lives in one room. The length of the house depends on the number of families living in it, which in turn determines the number of rooms. One of the houses I have visited has about 60 families…meaning the house is over 350 metres long! The front side of the long house has a wide public veranda, the ruai, which runs the length of the building. It is here that the public life of all the members of the long house, the majority of whom are relatives, is lived. Our parish takes care of more than 140 of such long houses, which wakes me up to the reality of scarcity of labourers amidst an abundance of harvest in the Lord’s vineyard.

Skimming across the surface of the Rajang and Kanowit rivers, I see a lot. Indeed I now have some knowledge about the waters here. However, this is but a superficial horizontal knowledge…for much more reality exists deep inside and remains to be experienced once I vertically immerse myself in the water, and penetrate its depth. The same horizontality still characterises my knowledge of Kanowit and the Iban people to whom I have been sent, as part of the missionary activity of the Church. As such I have began scratching the surface so as to vertically immerse myself in the real experiences of the people…the starting point being that of learning their language. I am now learning the Iban language.