Lifers - Thu 31 Jan, 22:15 - 23:15 - RTÉ One (Documentary) - The lives and work of three missionaries

Film-maker Ruan Magan travels to some of the world's remotest regions to meet three missionaries who carry out their duties in some of the toughest circumstances on the planet. John Glynn, who carries out his work for We Care Foundation in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Pat Murray, a Loreto sister who was employed in education in Ireland and is now in charge of Solidarity with South Sudan, and Pat Brennan, a Divine Word Missionary living in the Amazonian rain forest in Brazil, all tell their stories of endurance and faith in the face of extreme adversity.

Those living outside Ireland may be able to watch the programme on The RTE Player or live on AERTV on the Internet. 

 
Jan 26th 2013: Thirty-six people have been killed and almost 70,000 displaced by rains and floods in Mozambique, the United Nations says.  "A total of 26 persons have died in (the worst affected southern province of) Gaza alone, with the nationwide death toll at 36," the UN mission in Mozambique said in a statement on Friday.

As many as 67,995 people have been displaced and about 85,000 affected by the flooding in the impoverished southeastern African nation, the statement added.  The UN said it would appeal to its donors to urgently arrange funds "to help deal with this emergency," which started on January 12, when the Limpopo River swelled, prompting an orange alert in the country.  The overflow in the 1,750-kilometer river was caused by week-long heavy rains in neighboring South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The flood waters are still wreaking havoc across the south of Mozambique. International aid agencies and the Mozambican government are struggling to contain the humanitarian disaster.  

Joao Carlos, a government spokesman, said on Friday that flood waters in the coastal tourist city of Xai-Xai were expected to rise up to eight meters (26 feet).  "The water is coming into the city. It is just starting. Some roads in the lower part of town are under water… The situation is not very good,” the official stated.  Rising waters in the provincial capital Xai-Xai would cut the main road connection between the north and south of Mozambique.  "Private and commercial services have been evacuated from the lower parts of the city to higher areas," said police spokeswoman Sylvia Paolo.  "The population obeyed the calls for them to leave risk areas," she added.

These floods are effecting the southern part of Mozambique.  Our Congregation is working on the outskirts of the capitol city Maputo and in central Mozambique close to Malawi.

RTE Radio 1 "Thought for the Day" this week (Jan 21st to 26th) is being presented by Fr. Mike Ruddy sscc.  You can listen to podcasts of the programme at this website (click here)  Normally "Thought for the Day" is broadcast around 1 hr & 10 mins into the programme at 6.40 am 

Congrats to Mike on this initiative.

Maputo, Mozambique: In the novitiate community on the 6th January 2013 the brothers and sisters joyfully accompanied our four sisters (Lydie, Patience, Huguette and Elizabeth) as they made their first profession in our Congregation.

The Archbishop of Maputo, Dom Francisco Chimoio presided at the celebration along with some sscc brothers. In his homily he spoke about the feast of the Epiphany as a manifestation of the Lord God shining among his people. At the same time he challenged us priests and religious to live our vows. He reminded us that we had said a "YES" to the Lord . It is not a "Yes" of graduation day, but a "Yes" that always remains a "Yes". He alluded to what is often heard today in Religious Life "we are modern…, long live modernity,…". These vows are made for one’s whole life. Religious life is a commitment which gives witness to Jesus in the midst of our world. They can only be lived out in an atmosphere of prayer. He invited us however, to continue by our example, to help our young sisters who have just made their commitment: formation never finishes.