Friends of Mill Hill Magazine East Africa

www.millhillmissionaries.co.uk/jubilee

Magazine of the Mill Hill Missionaries Celebrating 150 Years Vol. 20 No. 3 50 Kshs.

December 2016 1500 Ushs.

Editorial “ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us...” (Jn 1:14)

Another year is coming to an end. Looking back we Friends of Mill Hill, together with our Mill Hill Missionaries in the East Africa Area have accomplished most of the work we set out to do this year. The celebrations of Mill Hill’s 150 years at the local and international levels have been supportively acknowledged by a grateful local church authority and leadership. These were encouraging moments for all friends, students, associates and members of the Mill Hill family. We have heard much appreciation and gratitude from every diocese, especially here in East Africa, to which Mill Hill missionaries have been serving right from the beginning of the Society. Together we can say once more: all is grace. For all that we were and all that we are and will be come from God through countless people who were and still are journeying with us side by side to make the anniversary of the 150 years of the loving service of St Joseph’s Missionary Society of Mill Hill a memorable year for many years to come.

Ironically, looking at ourselves, at the moment, we feel we have not achieved much. Many programmes we have embarked on have not been accomplished.

Our dreams and visions have not been actualised. We are still at the crossroads.

Luckily, many additional members, old and young, have been appointed to East Africa recently to strengthen the currently dwindling number of the members in the EA community. Their presence and commitment to continue building the local church are highly appreciated.

Looking into the near future, Friends of Mill Hill (FOMH) and our promotion work still have many challenges and uncertainties ahead. I am afraid that we will not be able to keep publishing the FOMH magazine three times a year. We will reduce the number of issues to two from next year due to financial constraints.

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Fr Paul Hien MHM As a result, we also have to increase the price from this edition onwards. We trust we will continue to count on as many supporters, benefactors and friends as ever, whose prayers and support we need for the formation of our young Mill Hill missionaries and the support of our Mill Hill members from the East Africa Community.

Blissfully, Christmas is around the corner. We celebrate the birth of the Incarnated Son of God, the Emmanuel, who took human flesh in order to be with us always. We place all our trust in the fragile yet merciful Emmanuel whose powerlessness and voicelessness manifested in the darkness of the Holy Night, and revealed by the choir of joyful angels, will be our strength and hope for the coming year. The FOMH editorial team would like to wish all of you – Friends, Students, Associates and Members of Mill Hill – a very Blessed Christmas.

Paul Hien mhm

Email: fomhmkeug2016@gmail.com

Contents

2 Editorial 3 Christmas and New Year Wishes 4 Kisumu Celebrating Mill Hill 150 yrs 8 Friends of Mill Hill: Objectives and Purpose 9 Friends of Mill Hill Promotion 10-15 Our Jubilarians of 2016 11 Welcome Mill Hill Members and MEP

students to MH East Africa Area 17 Newly Ordained Deacons 17 Condolences 18 Our Deceased Members 19 Become a Mill Hill missionary?

19 Become a friend of Mill Hill?

Friends of Mill Hill Missionaries from Kenya and Uganda would like to wish all our Bishops, Priests, Sisters, all our FOMH Promoters, Coordinators, Supporters, Contributors, Readers of the FOMH magazine, our Lay MHM Associates, our Franciscan Missionary Sisters of St Joseph, and all Mill Hill missionaries

Ms Janet, Ms Resty, Iyolwa Catechist A Seminarian, Fr E. Omolo mhm

Iyolwa FOMH Promoters

a Very Blessed Christmas and a Very Prosperous 2017 Iyolwa Parishoners

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Kisumu Celebrating Mill Hill 150 Years of Missionary Endeavour In May 2016, we had a week of celebration to mark 150 years of the Mill Hill Missionaries’ loving service. Mill Hill Missionaries arrived in Kenya in 1904 and founded many parishes and institutions there. On the day before the Eucharistic celebration of thanksgiving, we had a musical drama about the death of Fr. John A. Kaiser, written and directed by Fr. Hans Burgman mhm. It was a stark reminder of the loving service given by Mill Hill Missionaries over the years to the point of giving up their lives for the sake of justice and truth. The musical was performed by former art students of Nyalenda Art School in the slums of Kisumu.

The Eucharistic celebration was led by the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya Rt Rev. Balvo, assisted by Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth. The occasion was graced by seven other bishops from the dioceses founded by Hill Hill Missionaries. Many priests, religious and laity too were present. The Mill Hill General Superior, Rev. Fr. Michael Corcoran, was also present, and he received four new perpetual members into the Mill Hill society. During the celebration, we hailed the golden jubilees of Frs Adolf Poll and Albert Buijs, who had given fifty years of loving service in Kenya. Fr Paul Hien too celebrated his silver jubilee. The occasion was a moment of gratitude for all that the Lord has done through the many men and women who have left the comfort of their countries to share His love with the rest of the world: the mission carried out by all of our predecessors. Mission continues with the Mill Hill Missionaries labouring in the vineyard and gladly joined by the new blood of four new members.

Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth, Fr Michael Corcoran, General Superior of Mill Hill and the Apostolic Nuncio Charles D. Balvo lead the celebration

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Franciscan Missionary Sisters of St Joseph sing the Responsorial Psalm

One of the beautiful banners made for the occasion

This jubilee year is for us a moment of deep reflection, renewal and restitution: we take time to reflect in gratitude on what the Lord has done through the members of the Mill Hill Missionaries, and to seek to renew and re-dedicate ourselves to the Gospel’s values and our founder’s ideal. We acknowledge too our faults and mistakes that have affected others. With it also being the Year of Mercy, we take this chance to seek forgiveness and pardon. We have come this far not by our own efforts but by the grace of God and support from the many “Mill Hill friends”. You have journeyed with us, provided for us, supported us through your prayers and finance; this is your jubilee too, as you too are Mill Hill Missionaries. As we look to the future with great hope, we continue to rely on God’s help, the patronage of St. Joseph and Mary Mother of God, and the intercession of the Uganda Martyrs.

Philip Adede mhm

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The Congregation sings the Gloria during the liturgical celebration

Group photo after the Celebration in the front of the Kisumu Cathedral.

Sorry for the invisibility of some.

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One of the scenes in the musical

Fr Hans Burgman mhm together with his artists and the stage technicians receive acknowledgement and appreciation from the enthusiastic audience 7

FRIENDS OF MILL HILL MISSIONARIES (FOMH): Objectives and Purposes The Friends of Mill Hill is an organisation of lay people at the parish level that aims to make the mission work of the Church better known and supported by all Christians. Primarily, the support is spiritual through prayers and, where materially feasible, through donations and mission tins.

The specific objective is to support Mill Hill Missionaries from Kenya and Uganda who are working in countries around the world like Pakistan, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Malaysia, India and South Africa, sometimes in unimaginably challenging environments.

Their work is in the true Spirit of our Founder, Cardinal Herbert Vaughan, who wanted his missionaries to go where there is the greatest need. It includes primary evangelization, working for justice and reconciliation, the formation of faith and conscience, and many other areas of urgent need that the Church is currently facing.

The Friends of Mill Hill are invited to become involved in the missionary work of Mill Hill by praying and working for God’s Kingdom in their ordinary, everyday lives.

Objectives of Friends of Mill Hill: You are invited to offer: Prayers for all Mill Hill Missionaries working in all parts of the world: monthly prayer sessions, recollections, retreats, masses, participation in the Novena to St. Joseph, annual Mission Day. Support for Kenyan and Ugandan Mill Hill Missionaries, your own sons sent to spread the Word of God in other countries.

Publicity for Mill Hill Missionaries and their work.

Prayers and support for vocations.

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Finance, specifically to support Kenyan/Ugandan Mill Hill Missionaries.

Voluntary Membership: Structured groups, with a clear leadership of Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.

Mission Animation: Mission is the work of all of us, sharing the precious gift of faith, a sign of our faith maturity.

Promotions: To be organised by the groups – tins, envelopes, mobile and other fundraising activities.

Other Activities: Meetings, parish involvement, attending Mill Hill functions like ordinations, distribution of FOMH magazines and tins, visiting Mill Hill formation houses or MH parishes.

The group should be financially stable and sustainable.

Monthly Missionary Intentions: Please remember and pray for the following intentions January:

For our missionaries working in Malaysia February: For our missionaries

working in South Africa March: Novena to St. Joseph April: For our martyred MH

missionaries in Kenya and Uganda May: For the Mill Hill

Missionaries society June: For all our missionaries

working in Kenya and Uganda July: For our missionaries

working in Pakistan August: For our Formation Houses

and for Vocations September: For our missionaries

working in India and the

Philippines October: For our Mill Hill groups to

become true missionaries November: For the souls of all departed

Mill Hill missionaries and friends of Mill Hill December: For the entire Church Prepared by Fr Jim Fanning mhm

Friends of Mill Hill Promotion Over many years, a team of lay men and women in Uganda have been working hard to promote Mill Hill Legacy and Awareness in different parishes and in different Dioceses. Below, we list some of the parishes we have been coming to over the years to do Friends of Mill Hill promotion.

We, Friends of Mill Hill, want to express our HEARTFELT THANKS and APPRECIATION to all the parish priests and their priest colleagues, as well as their parishioners and Mill Hill promoters on the parish level for allowing us to come and promote Mill Hill awareness Ms Janet Alungat, in their parishes.

FOMH Coordinator We also want to express our GRATITUDE and APPRECIATION to all our Bishops for allowing our Mill Hill Promotion team to do Mill Hill promotions in your Dioceses. We have been visiting the following parishes from time to time to do our promotion work.

Soroti Diocese St Joseph, Ngora St Patrick, Madera Our Lady, Lwala St Pancras, Toroma St Theresa, Bukedea Our Lady’s Parish Kidetock/ Kamad St Paul, Kumi Immaculate Conception, Soroti St Michael, Wera Our Lady of the Assumption, Kyere Tororo Diocese Uganda Martyrs, Nyangole St Theresa, Achilet St Bruno Sserunkuma, Agururu Christ the King, Budadiri St Anthony, Budaka St Mary Assumpta, Bugitimwa Holy Family, Butiru St John the Baptist, Chelekura Our Lady of Fatima, Gangama St Francis De Sales, Iyolwa St Michael, Kaproron St Joseph, Mulanda St Peter Claver, Muyembe St Wilbrod, Nagongera St Denis Ssebugwawo, Namatala St Jude, Osia St John the Baptist, Pallisa

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Tororo St Augustine of Hippo, Situmi St Austin’s, Mbale Jinja Diocese

Our Lady and All Souls, Budini St Francis of Assisi, Buluba Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Busowa Uganda Martyrs, Buswale St Joseph Cathedral, Jinja Our Lady of Fatima, Jinja St Peter Claver, Iganga St Gonzaga Gonza, Kagoma/ Buwenge Our Lady and St Joseph, Kamuli Enkabi Centre, Jinja Town

Lugazi Diocese St Karoli Lwanga, Mbikko St Paul the Apostle, Mukono St Joseph, Naggalama Our Lady of Lourdes, Namilyango Queen of Peace, Nkokonjeru St Francis, Nyenga Kampala Archdiocese Christ the King, Kampala St John the Baptist, Ggaba

Our Lady of Perpetual Soccour and St Jude, Naggulu Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Namugongo

St Peter, Nsambya

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v Acknowledgement of and Congratulations to Our Mill Hill Missionaries who have been celebrating their jubilee this Year 2016.

The following missionary life stories are shared by those who worked in East Africa. We thank them and also those whose jubilee stories we have already pub-lished in the FOMH April edition for their contributions to the local church. We wish them God’s blessing and good health.

60 Years of loving Service

Fr Fons Geert MHM ’s Happy Memoir “With words of encouragement from Fr. Peter Dirven MHM (RIP), I became a Mill Hill missionary. I worked in Uganda and Kenya for 43 years.

My first appointment was in Tororo Diocese, Uganda, where I arrived in December 1956. Bishop John Greif appointed me to Alanyi Parish in Lango District. In Alanyi, I worked for some years with a good Parish Priest, Fr. Joseph Delhey MHM, from whom I learned a lot – very important for settling into a new environment. We spent many hours together discussing our pastoral work and also the customs and language of the Lango people. I was also for quite some years in Bukedea, Kidetok and Toroma parishes, in what is now Soroti Diocese.

I was always very interested in education. I began Fr Fons Geert MHM to build some primary and secondary schools as there were, at the time, very few schools in the villages. Parents used to come to ask us to help them to start a school in their village. We would help them on the one condition that we and the parents would work together to construct the schools. We also suggested that one cannot become a better farmer or shopkeeper if one cannot read and write.

In 1975, I needed to renew my work permit. Amin refused. I had to leave Uganda, together with two other Mill Hill members. Then, I was appointed to Kisii Diocese in Kenya. Bishop Mugendi appointed me to Sengera Parish. After some years, Sengera Parish was split in two. I was asked to start a new parish which became Etago parish, where I worked till 1999. Then I had to go home to the Netherlands due to my two bad hips. I had to say a sad goodbye to the Kisii people. My work was taken over by a Diocesan Priest.

I always look back on my time in Uganda and Kenya with happy memories, much gratitude and joy.”

Fr Fons Geert mhm 10

60 Years of Missionary Service Fr Theo Beemster MHM’s Appreciation for UGANDA

“I stayed in Uganda for 13 years. Following my ordination, I worked in Uganda from 1956 till 1964. After a spell in the Netherlands as money collector, I returned to Uganda in 1968. My work in Uganda came an abrupt end in 1973 during the Amin regime. I landed in Makindi Prison, Kampala Fr Theo Beemster MHM for a long weekend. After that, I spent one week in a police prison in Kampala. On the whole, I enjoyed all my years in Uganda: in Bududa, Kidetok, Ngora, Kumi and Butebo where I worked as a missionary. The most memorable days are the ones when I was in prison. I have never been so near to my people than during those few days. I have never experienced such a strong faith than I experienced in myself and in my co-prisoners.

On 3rd June, the Feast of the Martyrs of Uganda, I celebrated Mass with them. All of them came to confession, also the Protestants, and all of them received Holy Communion, also the Protestants. Remembering my days in Uganda has always encouraged me to continue my priestly work. Even now after 60 years, I still feel burned with love for missionary work here in our nursing home, Vrijland, NL.” Fr. Theo Beemster mhm

Welcome Our Members and Students on the Missionary Experience Programme (MEP) to our Mill Hill East Africa Community: Fr Wijnand Huijs mhm arrived in Uganda in July 2016, and works now as rector at Mill Hill Formation House, Jinja, Uganda. Fr Wijnand worked in various parishes and also taught in various seminaries in Uganda for many years. In 2007, he was appointed to St Anselm’s Institute, Kent, England, where he taught for 9 years.

Our MEP Students in Uganda: Fambo Athanasius Ndoh, Caniban Gerald Tabafa (Panyangara, Kotido Diocese) and Nobert Yarshike (Loyoro Parish, Kotido Diocese). Chwenkam Chuante Roger and Gemanga Michael Calopez (Mbikko, Lugazi Diocese).

Our MEP students in Kenya: Ananta Nayak (K. Ndogo, Malindi Diocese), Vidhya Sagar (Luanda, Kakamega Diocese) Joseph Tamfu Kanjoh (Shauri Moyo, Nairobi Archdiocese), Patrick B. Ndzedzeni and Emmanuel Verbe B (both are in Witu Kipini, Malindi Diocese).

We wish them happiness and fulfilment in their ministry!

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50 Years of Missionary Service Fr Donald Harney MHM’s Years in Uganda “I reached Uganda in December 1966. This was the year of my ordination. I still remember the first words of Bishop John Grief to me: “Father, we are very short of teachers here.” I then knew what my future life in Uganda was to be. Mill Hill was in charge of both secondary schools and Teachers Training Colleges in the Diocese of Tororo at the time. After brief spells in the parishes of Kumi and Ngora, I found myself on the staff of Mbale College in January 1968.

Fr Donald Harney MHM Two years later, I was transferred to Nagongera Seminary where I spent 16 years. I was there during the difficult years of Amin’s regime. Some of our members were expelled in 1972 and more in 1975. Their only crime was that their immigration papers were not fully in order – something outside their control. Luckily, many of these men were later able to work in Kenya and elsewhere. Amin was overthrown in 1979 but insecurity followed for years afterwards. Being near the border had its advantage, and I used to slip across to Kenya every school holiday.

In 1987, I was back again to teach in Mbale College. In 1993, I suffered bad health and had to come home. However, I was able to return the following year,1994, and this was to a new place, Mbikko Parish, outside Jinja. I became teacher chaplain to a nearby secondary school built by Fr Len Wiedemayer. It was great to be able to work with Fr Len who was one of our greatest missionaries.”

Fr Donald Harney mhm

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 (Jos Boerkamp mhm: 40 years of Missionary…)

In 2000 I was surprisingly elected a member of the General Council by the General Chapter of our Society of Mill Hill. It was not easy for me to leave Africa after 28 years, but I had no other choice. I left Africa but kept many good memories of all those years in my heart. After working as a member of the General Council for 10 years, in 2010, after a New General Council had been elected, I was appointed Financial Secretary of the Mill Hill Society in Maidenhead, the post which I still hold to this present day.

Jos Boerkamp mhm 12

50 Years of Missionary Service Bro. Martien van Leeuwen MHM

“I want to share with you on this occasion of my golden jubilee as a Mill Hill Missionary.

It was September 1955 when I entered the Mill Hill formation programme in Oosterbeek, not knowing that this was to prepare myself for missionary life. As far as I knew, this was a school for boys to become brothers, no more, no less. The formation period took eleven years.

In the centenary year of Mill Hill, on 19th of March 1966, I took the perpetual oath, and my appointment came an hour later when I was Bro. Martien van Leeuwen MHM appointed to Freshfield, one of our Mill Hill Houses in Great Britain. This came to me as a huge disappointment. I had hoped that on such an occasion – 100 years Mill Hill – I would be appointed to one of the Mill Hill missions in Africa or Asia. For such was the reason I joined Mill Hill. I felt disappointed and angry.

I went obediently to work in Freshfield. Then two years later, I was appointed to the staff in the brothers’ formation centre in Courtfield, where I worked for 5 years.

Then, one day in 1973, I received a letter for which I had waited so long - a mission appointment at last! I was appointed to the Diocese of Kisumu in Kenya, where Bishop Jan de Reeper had requested a brother to work in the seminary at Mabanga.

I was happy. This seminary was closed shortly afterwards and relocated to Tindinyo, where it be came known as St. Matthias Mulumba Major Seminary near Kaimosi.

Here I worked from 1974 until 1985. These became the best years of my life. My work was very varied: administration, shopping, maintenance, farming, supervising sports and running the infirmary.

I am proud to have been an instrument in the formation of future priests and bishops for various dioceses in Kenya and Uganda. Amongst the students were Bishop Norman Wambua, currently Bishop of the Diocese of Bungoma, Bishop John Oballa Owaa of Ngong Diocese and Bishop Emeritus Linus Okok.

For the good sisters across the road, the Carmelites, I did repair jobs when called upon. To this day, I still have regular contact with those beloved sisters and am very happy to know that they still hold me in their prayers. In 1987, I was appointed administrator of the Nairobi Mill Hill guesthouse, where I worked till 2000, when I was appointed to Kampala. A year later, I returned to the Netherlands, and since then, I have been holding different Society responsibilities. Looking back, I am grateful for all that I was able to do and those whom I met and worked or lived with in all those years as a missionary. May God bless you all abundantly.”

Bro. Martien van Leeuwen mhm 13

50 Years of Missionary Service Bro. Herman Wübbels “As a missionary brother I was sent to Uganda in 1966. My first placement was Kamuli Mission. Mgr. Wierts asked me to put up a boys’ home. I started Saint Mugagga’s Boys’ Home in Busowa with three boys. Later I constructed some buildings in Jinja, on Rubaga Hill. The Saint Mugagga’s Home is still there in the hands of the Banakaroli Brothers, who took over from me in 1973 when I had to leave due to the Idi Amin troubles.

Next, I went to Courtfield, England, to work in the Brothers Formation Center. After one year, in 1974, I was re-appointed to Uganda and I returned to Jinja. There, the bishop put me in charge of the Destitutes’ Home in a religious building in Jinja. As time passed by, we looked after more and more destitute people. The Jinja municipality gave me a piece of land in Mpummudde. With the help of Cebemo in Holland, I was able to build the present home. Many people flocked to the home and were cared for till they died a dignified death; it is called the Home for the Destitutes and is still there.

From the beginning, I made it a point to work with the local people and send them for training. The home has never been a part of the diocese; it belongs to the people of Jinja. At the same time, I was also in charge of the Jinja Joint Welfare Advisory Council, of which the Destitutes’ Home was a part; it was a strong council, one of the best in Uganda. I took over the chair from Bishop Willigers. People gave me the local name Kakaire which means ‘the old one’.

In 1980, I left Jinja, which had become very insecure with robberies and gun attacks. I was asked by the Mill Hill Society to be in charge of our Mill Hill house in Waumini in Nairobi. I was asked to be the co-ordinator of a new project to build our present Mill Hill House on Ngong Road. I was the first rector of the house.

In 1985, I was able to go back to Jinja and was appointed by Bishop Joseph B. L. 14

Bro. Herman Wübbels MHM Willigers as Bursar and Social Welfare Coordinator of the Diocese, together with Mrs Kafuko. Later, I was appointed as administrator of Buluba Leprosy Hospital.

The Kevinite Sisters had started that hospital in 1934, and I was the first external administrator; I was the administrator for three years.

In 1991, I followed a pastoral renewal course at the Missionary Institute and Damascus House in London. Then I went to our Mill Hill House in Roosendaal, Holland, as guest master. There, I started working with refugees. Father Gerard van der Arend mhm and I started a project for AIDS patients and their relatives. We were able to avail ourselves of a Sisters’ convent.

That turned out to be a very satisfying project indeed.

I worked also with the Discharged Prisoners’ Aid Society. People were sent to work with me for a few weeks and some for a longer time instead of going to prison.

Then, I went to our house in Obdam for one year. In 1995, I went back to Uganda, to Jinja, in order to assist Fr. Jaap Zonneveld mhm with the Mill Hill centenary celebrations. I became the manager of our present Mill Hill House in Kampala. That was the end of my time in Africa, though I still worked happily in Vrijland for another ten years. Now I am retired and enjoying myself very much.”

Bro. Herman Wubbels mhm

Jos Boerkamp mhm:

40 years of Missionary Ministry in Kenya & Uganda 1973-2000 and in England ever since “In 1973, I was sent out as a young 21-year old missionary lay-brother to the then Nakuru Diocese in Kenya. I started a Village Polytechnic (Rural Trade School) in Ndanai-Chebalungu together with a colleague, Dingeman Broeder, who had already been working in Kenya for many years. The whole area had been called “the reserve” under the colonial government because it had been reserved for the Africans, with missionaries allowed to enter only during the day to give service to the inhabitants. In 1970 a mission had been set up amongst the Kipsigis. In 1973, within the Trade School, we also set up a Village Polytechnic Carpentry Workshop, using an old church in Kaplomboi near Ndanai. I had a group of 15 students at the time.

Funding for the new Village Polytechnic School in Ndanai was received from CEBEMO Holland. The school aimed to train the local youth in practical skills needed in the community – carpentry, brick-laying, tailoring and agricultural skills – with which they would be able to earn a good living and build a better future. The Polytechnic school was soon flourishing.

Later on, we were able to build five more Village Polytechnic Schools across the Diocese of Nakuru.

At the time I worked especially with older groups of ex-students from the various polytechnics to set up and expand local private businesses, run by either individuals or groups. We formed building groups and built small workshops for tailors and carpenters in various villages. I acted as their advisor/ instructor and kept them motivated till they could stand on their own feet.

Bro. Jos Boerkamp MHM

After 10 years of working in the Diocese of Nakuru, I was appointed to Nairobi to assist the Bishops’ Conferences of the six Eastern African Countries (AMECEA) in setting up what is now the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA). I was employed as a clerk of works for this project and, at the same time, the bursar and administrator of the project. The CUEA was opened by Pope John-Paul II in 1985 during the Nairobi Eucharistic Congress.

Then in 1987, I was appointed to Jinja Diocese in Uganda, on the shores of Lake Victoria. The then Bishop Joseph Willigers MHM asked me to do something on technical education for the youth in the diocese. I renovated a trade school/village polytechnic in Jinja town and set up a Development Office (project office) for the Diocese.

As Uganda greatly needed skilled people after many years of civil war, I concentrated on promoting village polytechnics, but this took a long time because the local youth and their parents were not so willing to listen. Most parents wanted their daughters and sons to be doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers etc., so that learning a manual skill was not what they really wanted for their children! However, the country desperately needed professionally trained and skilled people to rebuild the country and its infrastructure, which had disintegrated due to the civil war.

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We built a new polytechnic school in Kamuli and in some other parishes in the Diocese of Jinja, as well as renovating the former trade school in Jinja parish. Together, with both trained students from trade school and small business groups we put up structures and buildings in many missions and their outstations, schools, dispensaries, convents, catechist houses etc. Together, with the Diocesan Development Office and our students, we succeeded in creating awareness among the youth with regard to development and working for a better living. Together with the local authority, we initiated such projects as agricultural nursery development, tree planting, water borehole drilling, and the promotion of Community Healthcare in many villages.

In 1994, I was appointed as a Formator at our Jinja Formation Centre to form a new generation of Mill Hill Missionaries from Africa, which I accepted happily.

It gave me an opportunity to be back in Africa and Jinja after a year of sabbatical study in the U.K. Whilst doing this formation work, I additionally worked as the bursar of the Philosophy Centre Jinja (PCJ). I was also a consultant on various committees in Jinja Diocese and an advisor to various groups as well as to some religious congregations and parishes.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

We also remember and pray for all our deceased MH members, benefactors and Friends of Mill Hill who died recently Fr Peter Jacobse MHM died on June 24th, 2016 in the Netherlands at the age of 92.

Fr Hermann Plattner MHM died on June 27th, 2016 in Brixen, Austria at the age of 93 Fr Laurence (Larry) English MHM died on July 10th, 2016 in Dublin, Ireland at the age of 87 Mr George Odonya, the late father of our Deacon David Masiga mhm died on July 13th, 2016 in Kenya.

Fr James (Jim) Dalziel MHM died on August 17th, 2016 in Herbert House, England at the age of 78 Br Theodore (Ted) Tolboom MHM died on his birthday, October 31st, 2016 aged 86 in Rijinstate Hospital, the Netherlands.

Eternal rest grant unto these of ours and all our departed missionaries, benefactors, and friends, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace.

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Congratulations to Our New Deacons who were ordained on August 20th at Sts.Joseph and Mary’s Parish, Shauri Moyo, Nrb by Bishop Joseph Obanyi of the Diocese of Kakamega

[left to right] Chrysanthus Mbiemieh Munu, David Masiga Odonya,

Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe, Cosmas Ondari Ombotoi, George Odero Omuto

Condolences: We send our heartfelt condolences to our Deacon David Masiga mhm., whose father, George Odonya died on 13th July 2016.

May God continue to send his consolation and comfort to the family.

May God rest George Odonya’s soul in eternal peace.

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Remember and Pray for Our Deceased Members and Friends: Fr. Nicolaas Marinus Josephus Konings MHM was born on 9th June in Volendam, Netherlands. Ordained on 11th July 1948, he worked in the Procure for many years. In 1961 he was appointed to the mission and arrived Kenya in 1962. He became the parish priest of Nangina parish. He initiated Small Christian Communities and the formation of the Laity, the Community Health Care Programme, the Family Life Programme, the Charismatic Renewal, the Life in the Spirit Seminars, and the Counselling courses for substance abusers, and later for AIDS prevention. Fr N. Konings died on 18th July 2016 at the age of 92 in our Missiehuis, Vrijland, Netherlands.

Fr Charles Norbert Cammack MHM was born on 6th June 1929.

Ordained on 10th July 1955 by Cardinal Griffin, he went for further studies and obtained a Scottish Master of Arts Degree from Glasgow University.

In 1960, he was appointed to Mulanda parish, then served in education in Tororo, Soroti and Moroto, Uganda where he served in various places for 27 years. In 1987, Fr Charles was appointed Secretary General to the Society, then became British Regional Representative in 1988 for two terms. He was appointed to the Falkland Islands where “he developed a great and lasting love for the islands and their people”. After two years he went back to the British region and took care of St. Peter’s House as administrator and did Mission Promotion until his ‘retirement’ to Herbert House in 2011. After 61 years of priesthood Charles died in our Herbert House on 18th September 2016 at the age of 87.

Fr Michael Ortner MHM was born on 3rd February 1924 in Sillian, Austria. He was ordained to the missionary priesthood in Olympia, London on 12th July 1953 by Cardinal Bernard Griffin. In 1953, Fr Michael was appointed to Uganda and worked in Namagunga, Naggalama, Wesunire and became the parish priest of the Jinja Cathedral Parish. He lived courageously throughout the Amin years. He returned to the German speaking region in 1961 and served in Brixen and Absam doing Mission Promotion work. In 1967 he returned to Uganda, but his ill-health forced his withdrawal from Uganda in 1998. Michael spent the final weeks of his life at the Klaraheim, a care home run by the Tertiary Sisters in Hall, where he died peacefully on Oct 20th 2016 at the age of 92.

Fr Jan (John) Appelman MHM was born on 30th September 1934 in Wogmeer, NH, the Netherlands. Ordained on 12th July 1959 by Cardinal Godfrey, Jan was sent to teach at Mill Hill College in Hoorn.

Jan then was sent to Uganda in 1961. After a short time in the parish of Budini, Jinja Diocese, he was appointed to teach in a Minor Seminary in Nyenga. He then became the Parish Priest of Christ the King Parish, Kampala Archdiocese. Due to the upheavals under Amin years, Jan was withdrawn from Uganda and sent to Canada where he did his missionary work for the next 36 years in the Diocese of Kingston, Ontario. Jan retired to the Netherlands in 2010. He moved in to our Missiehuis Vrijland in July of this year, where he died this early morning of 27th October 2016 at the age of 82.

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Would you like to become a

Mill Hill Missionary Priest?

Lay Missionary as an Associate?

“Come follow me.” Say yes to the voice of God in your heart and take part in the adventure of making his Gospel known to the world. “The harvest is rich, but labourers are few” (Mt. 9:37-38).

The Mill Hill Missionaries are called to dedicate their lives to Evangelisation with preference for the poor, the oppressed and those in greatest need.

“Yes, I am ready to follow you, Lord.”

For more information write to: Vocation Director In Kenya: P.O. Box 2011, 40100 Kisumu, Kenya Mobile 0705 819 773 & 0732 458 117.

Email: mhmvocationken@yahoo.com

Vocation Director of Kenya and Uganda: Fr. Ronald Kajja MHM

In Uganda: P.O. Box 520 Jinja, Uganda.

Mobile: 0757 106 323 Email: mhmvauganda51@yahoo.com

Becoming a Friend of Mill Hill? You can support Mill Hill Missionaries with prayers and donations. For 500/- Ksh or 12,000/- Ush per year you can be enrolled as a Friend of Mill Hill, and receive the FOMH magazine three times a year.

If using Pay Bill or MTN Mobile Phone please write or send an SMS with your name, address and the amount you sent.

In Kenya: Payment for membership of the Friends of Mill Hill should be sent to P.O. Box 2011, 40100, Kisumu, Kenya.

Or: Pay Bill Number: Business No. 811 908 Account No. 0717 20 84 81 In Uganda: Payment for membership of the Friends of Mill Hill should be sent to P.O. Box 520, Jinja, Uganda.

Or via MTN Mobile Money 0784 786 184 19

We thank the artist signed as P.N. for the front cover photo taken from a christmas card.