FROM BELFAST TO BEIRUT
FROM CORK TO COPENHAGEN
 FROM BRATISLAVA TO BAGHDAD
 FROM SHANNON TO SAIGON!
Welcome to the Redemptorist formation programme

These are only a few of the places that our students come from. Add to these the equally exotic locations of Antrim, Kerry, Portadown, Limerick, Galway, Newry and Dublin, and the picture becomes a little clearer. In all, there are 18 students, made up of seven nationalities, six languages and three different rites of the Church, but all have come together for the one reason – to try the Redemptorist Way!


The Redemptorist students meet President McAleese at Árus an Uachtaráin

 Not all the students are studying to be Irish Redemptorists. However, Dublin has become the formation centre for four different groups of Redemptorists: those in the Middle East, Denmark, Slovakia, and of course, Ireland.

So, who are these students?

The Redemptorists have been working with Christians in the Middle East for many years now. More recently, they have begun to accept local candidates to ensure that the Redemptorist Way is firmly implanted in those countries. They work both in Iraq and in the Lebanon. Although united with Rome, the Christians in this part of the world have their own distinct way of celebrating their liturgy and carrying out ministry. They have different rites of the Catholic Church, ones which have a very ancient tradition.

 		  

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President McAleese greets Brian Nolan. On the right is Tony Rice.

 Amir Mette Dinkha comes from Iraq. Before joining the Redemptorists, Amir completed his primary studies at the Babel University in Baghdad, where he studied for the priesthood. In 1999, he came to Ireland to continue his studies as a Redemptorist.

Alphonso Yussef is Lebanese and joined the Redemptorists in Beirut in 1999. Within six months, he found himself on a plane to Ireland to begin his novitiate in Dundalk. He professed his first vows in August 2000. Alphonso is now completing his second year in philosophy at Milltown, where he is studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree.

 		  
 
 
Fr Ciaran O’Callaghan, Director of students, introduces Amir Mette Dinkha (5th from left) and other students to the President.
 
Joseph Thanh Ba Pham, originally from Vietnam, followed the rest of his family to begin a new life in Denmark. Despite the many restrictions on the Church in Vietnam, Joseph came to know the Redemptorists there. When he eventually succeeded in leaving Vietnam, he renewed his contact with the Redemptorists in Denmark. He began his training in Dublin in 1998.

Joseph was soon joined by Denmark’s second student, Per Odvig, who came to Ireland in 2000, and is studying philosophy in Milltown.

After the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, the Redemptorists emerged from underground. During the many decades of oppression, the Redemptorist Way continued in secret in the face of persecution and even martyrdom. With the re-establishment of democracy, many vocations have flourished. Slovakia is one example, and a strong relationship has developed between the Irish Redemptorists and their brothers in Slovakia. Through this relationship, Slovakian Redemptorist students are given the opportunity to study in Ireland.

Jan Andrejov joined the congregation in 1999 and came to Ireland in September 2001. Jan’s first cousin, Maria, also came to Ireland this year, and entered the Redemptoristine Monastery in Drumcondra, Dublin.

Jan was accompanied to Dublin by Tomas Reges, who is studying English and theology.

 

President McAleese greets Joseph Thanh Ba Pham. On the right is Jan Andrejov.		 In the Dublin province there are 12 Irish students.

Brendan Mulhall, a native of Belfast, joined in 1993. He recently returned to Ireland following two years in Brazil and is finishing his studies.

Dubliner Lawrence Gallagher also joined in 1993. He has been working in Brazil for the last two years and will return to complete his studies in the summer.

Fergal O’Neill and Noel Kehoe are about to interrupt their studies to go on pastoral assignments. Noel, from Newry, will go to Brazil, and Fergal, from Shannon, will go to Scala.

Belfast-native Michael Dempsey trained as a nurse before joining the congregation. He is currently completing his second year of theology at Kimmage.

Ronan Campbell, from Portadown, is completing an assignment in Clonard monastery with the youth ministry team, and will enter the novitiate in September.

 		  
Darren O’Reilly is another Northerner, from Glenravel, in Co. Antrim. He studied social science before joining the Redemptorists and is currently completing an M Phil at the Irish School of Ecumenics.

Brian Nolan is our Limerick representative. Brian had a long connection with our church in Limerick, before coming to formation in 2000. He will go to the novitiate in 2003.

Four men joined the Redemptorists in September. They are James Daly from Cork, Cathal O’Sullivan from Kerry, Sean Duggan from Galway, and Tony Rice from Belfast. Are all studying in Milltown Institute, Dublin.

Sean and Tony will spend the summer working with the Canadian Redemptorists in Haiti.

As one can imagine, such cultural, linguistic and liturgical diversity can pose many challenges in a group this size. However, it also creates a very rich and rewarding environment in which to grow in the Redemptorist Way. It shows at first hand how universal the church really is and how Christian unity is found amid diversity. For students who come to Ireland from abroad, there is the opportunity to experience the many strengths and limitations of Irish culture and church life. For the Irish students, it equips them with the skills and understanding required to preach and evangelise in a new Ireland: an Ireland which is increasingly multi-ethnic and which, at times, struggles to find unity and diversity.

These 18 students, with all their strengths and weaknesses, and despite their many differences, are united in something greater. Each has taken up the challenge to walk and to grow in the Redemptorist Way – the Way of Christ the Redeemer. Let us hope that their time in formation will be an experience and living proof of Christ’s “Plentiful Redemption.”

 
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