DATE:
Tuesday 7 th August 2007
NEW FRIARY FOR LIMERICK
The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal will open their first Friary in Ireland on Saturday 18 th August. The official opening of St. Patrick’s Friary will be celebrated with a Mass at Corpus Christi Church, Moyross, Limerick at 2.30pm. The Friary in Moyross will be home to five Friars coming from the United States, France and Germany.
The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal were founded by eight Capuchin Friars including Fr. Benedict Groeschel C.F.R. in 1987. Their mission is firstly to serve the materially poor. Every member of the community is to be personally and directly involved in “hands on” work with the poor. All service to the poor is given completely free of charge. Secondly, their mission is one of evangelization in the Church through preaching and teaching the Holy Gospel, and by sharing the rich treasures of the Catholic faith with all.
Well-known for their work with the poor and homeless in the South Bronx, New York, and other deprived areas, these Franciscans communicate a deep sense of the joy and love of those trying to be totally committed to living the Gospel in an increasingly de-Christianized world. United in their desire to be authentic disciples of Jesus Christ and following in the footsteps of Saint Francis, they want to encourage Christians of all denominations who are discouraged by the erosion of Gospel values in our culture.
The lifestyle of the Friars is a simple one. The spiritual values uniting them are commitment to Christ, Our Saviour, through contemplative and liturgical prayer, daily Eucharistic adoration, devotion to Our Lady, imitation of St. Francis and St. Clare, love for the Church and loyalty to the Holy Father. Their lives are marked by simplicity and hospitality as an example to those who are indifferent to the needs of their neighbour. This witness is accompanied by a preferential love for the poor and is shown especially by sharing the conditions of life of the most neglected.
Br. Shawn O’ Connor who is the local servant (superior) of the community in Limerick comes from New York State and has worked in the South Bronx and the East End of London. On behalf of the community he said, “we are happy to be in Limerick and Moyross and we are looking forward to getting to know the people and helping them not just materially but especially to know the love that God has for them”. Br. Shawn and the Friars wish to thank everyone in the Limerick Diocese who has made them so welcome especially Bishop Donal Murray and Parish Priest, Fr. Frank O’ Dea. They particularly wish to thank the City Corporation for their enormous practical help with settling into Limerick.
Parish Priest of Corpus Christi Parish, Moyross, Fr. Frank O’ Dea P.P. is delighted to welcome the Friars to the parish. He hopes that they will have a long and fruitful association with the parish. He said, “the parish community were looking forward to meeting and working with the Friars. The move of the Friars will be a constant reminder of the true meaning of regeneration which is to renew your hearts and turn them to Love of God”. Fr. Frank also wishes to add his voice of thanks to the City Corporation for their enormous help with this new project.
The Friars have been in negotiations with the Limerick diocese about this move for almost two years. On 18 th August five Friars will officially move into their new home at 64 Delmege Park, Moyross. Joining Br. Shawn (local servant) in the community will be Fr. Paulus, Br. Martin, Br. Seraphim and Fr. Sylvester.
Fr. Paulus comes from Dresden, Germany and has worked firstly in Germany as a Franciscan Friar and Artist and then in Yonkers and Harlem. He said, “we need beauty to be lifted in mind and heart. Christ brought us God’s Love, a source of all beauty, this love we try to communicate and we hope to bring some beauty to Moyross”.
Br. Martin comes from Omaha, Nebraska and has worked in the Bronx, Harlem and East London. He said, “we have been well received by the people of Moyross and are looking forward to serving them. We are looking forward to sharing the joy of Jesus Christ Our Lord, with the people of Moyross, especially the youth”.
Br. Seraphim comes from Versailles, France and has worked in Harlem and Yonkers. This is his second time in Ireland. The first time he stayed here was with an Irish family 15 years ago in Dublin and he noted that was also the first time he attended Mass in English. He said, “he hopes to share the joy that one can find in knowing and following Jesus”.
Fr. Sylvester comes from Philadelphia and has worked in the Bronx, Harlem, Yonkers and in Bradford, England. He said, “I am aware that the “Fitzgerald Plan” involves the physical regeneration of Moyross, but every physical body needs a soul in order to be alive and our work in Moyross is to bring the Spirit of God to the area in order to bring His new life”.
Bishop of Limerick, Donal Murray said, “I am particularly delighted to know that the Franciscan presence in Limerick will continue to be strong. In the year 1205 St. Francis had a vision in the ruined church of San Damiano, where the Lord told him to ‘rebuild my church’. In the same year the Cathedral Chapter of Limerick was founded and the first written reference was made to a Church of St. John the Baptist in Garryowen, where St. John’s Cathedral now stands.
St. Francis came to realise that the rebuilding he had been commissioned to do was not just physical but spiritual. The physical rebuilding that is taking place in Moyross and in other parts of the diocese would have little meaning without a deeper spiritual renewal among all of us. We need to recognise that we are all children of God, who thank him and worship him and trust in him; and we are all brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and of one another, who must recognise that we cannot be his followers unless we love one another – without exception – as he loves us. I welcome the Friars to Limerick and I pray that, like St. Francis himself, they may play a fruitful part in the rebuilding of the Lord’s church in our diocese.”
Photo: Left to right:
Fr. Paulus, Br. Martin, Br. Seraphim,
Br. Shawn and Fr. Sylvester.
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