Canon Alexander McGarry succeeded Father Alistair Tosh at St. Brigid's in September of 1998. He came to St. Brigid's from St. Cuthbert's in Maybole. Canon McGarry was promoted to Canon by the Bishop of Galloway, Maurice Taylor in 1999 at the Diocese Cathedral in Ayr. Though this, normally being a private affair, attended only by the Bishop and Diocese Canons, a bus was arranged from Kilbirnie and a number of parishioners from St. Brigid's attended the event.

THE BIRTH OF A CANON
Canon McGarry was born in Glasgow in January 1934. He left home in September 1946 to start his seminary training, a training which would take him to England, Holland and back to Scotland where he was ordained a priest of the White Fathers' Society by Archbishop Gordon Gray (later Cardinal) of St Andrew's and Edinburgh at Galashiels on the 8 May, 1958, together with nine others from England, Holland and French Canada. Four Germans were raised to the Diaconate at the same ceremony.

Having spent two years in further studies at Goldsmith's College (London University), Canon McGarry left for Tanganyika in 1960. This was two years before the country became independent (it had been a British protectorate till that time) and was jointed to Zanzibar to become Tanzania.

FIRST CAME TO KILBIRNIE
After ten years of missionary work and in education, Canon McGarry returned home, which was Saltcoats by that time, in 1970. It was during his home leave that he began to assist in St. John's, Stevenston especially during the time of Canon Maxwell' s heart trouble. He was accepted by Bishop McGee for work in the diocese on a more permanent basis and thus arrived in Kilbirnie in late January 1973. However his stay here was no longer than six weeks, being appointed to assist Fr. Shaun Crowley at Troon in March of the same year.

JOINS DIOCESE OF GALLOWAY
After some sixteen months at St Meddan's he was appointed to the Cathedral to assist Monsignor Frank Duffy. In 1977 he was incardinated into the diocese and after three very happy years with Monsignor Frank was appointed as Parish Priest at Beith. He speaks very fondly of both Fr. Crowley and Monsignor Duffy. He was to remain in Beith for the next eleven years. After a period of illness and during his recuperation, he started back by assisting at St. Andrew's, Dumfries from where he took up his appointment as parish priest at St. Cuthbert's, Maybole.

ASSIGNED TO KILBIRNIE
After only six years he finally returned to Kilbirnie as parish priest at St. Brigid's in 1998. He became a member of the Cathedral Chapter and was installed by Bishop Taylor on the 9th March, 2000.

Canon McGarry was not long in settling in at St. Brigid's. Since his arrival at St. Brigid's, Canon McGarry has been making improvements to the Church and its grounds. These include a new carpet, new cross behind the altar, new altar dressings and a new Tabernacle and has revamped the garden behind the Presbytery from its previous shabby state. There has also been quite a number of more minor improvements. He has also introduced a number of changes to reduce the running costs of the parish as much as possible.

Born Glasgow 1934. Ordained Galashiels 1958 for White Fathers Society. White Fathers, Rutherglen 1970-73. Came to Galloway diocese 1973; later incardinated into it. Troon 1973-74. Good Shepherd Cathedral, Ayr 1974-77. Beith 1977-88. Sick leave 1988-89. St. Andrew's, Dumfries 1989-92. St. Cuthbert's, Maybole 1992-98. St. Brigid's, Kilbirnie 1998 -

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From Our Executive Director


Dear Friend

"There is nothing new under the sun!"  "The more things change, the more they stay the same!"

I say this by way of introducing myself, or reintroducing myself, as incoming Director of Development for the Missionaries of Africa, since I already filled this role from 1987 until 1994.

I remember with gratitude the support and help given by so many of you, who give, and have given, and yet remain unknown to many of the missionaries in Africa.  As I write once again, I know I cannot do it without you.  It is your concern and support that gives me the courage and strength to seek the means to help the poor.  Many in Africa live in great poverty, in diverse situations, with the common denominator of poverty bringing them together!

Please know that in the months and years ahead — as I appeal for help on behalf of my colleagues and missionaries working among the poor and placing my faith and trust in your ongoing generosity.  It is not for myself that I ask, but for my colleagues and the people among whom they work.  It is your heart and hand that reaches out to bring them food, water, and medicine as well as many other material needs.

Thank you for sharing and caring.

Fr. John P. Lynch, M. Afr.

The following list may be a helpful reminder to those of you who were colleagues of John's at Blacklion :

Robbie writes (11th November 2005) :
I am in occasional contact with Fr. Emmanuel Mambwe a young Zambian M. Afr. and ex-Totteridge student who was ordained in the summer of 2003. I first met him at John Strain's ordination and later in Dublin. Anyway, I often ask him about his work as a missionary now that he is working in Uganda. I am including a picture of him last year when he narrowly missed injury in a car crash. The picture shows his refurbished Mitsubishi.

Dear Robbie

Greetings to you and your family. I hope you are all well. I am fine and have just taken a small holiday of two weeks. I would like to reply to your request.

A. BEING A ZAMBIAN IN UGANDA
People regard me as a priest first, I have to struggle with my languages and people are ready to withstand that with me; they have to make efforts to cope up with me. I am black like them but a
missionary. The truth is that when you are a foreigner you remain one until you die. They will speak and treat you as one. Not all people react negatively when you are helping them but when you do something wrong then you are really bad to some, especially those who are not Catholics. Generally I am accepted, with reservations of course.

B. BACKGROUND OF KASAMBYA PARISH
Ksambya parish is found in Uganda Kiyinda Mityana diocese in the south west country. The parish has 37 sub-stations with 152 small Christian communities. THE WHITE FATHERS started this parish fifteen years ago and it is the last parish of the White Fathers in the diocese.

C. MY PARISH WORK
Well at the moment I am involved in the following areas — Evangelisation — basing on the small Christian communities, ten to twelve families form one big family, as an extended family in the
sense of the African system. We administer all the sacraments in these families during week days and then on Sundays we visit sub parishes.

• Schools : We have to teach religion in both primary and secondary schools helped by the catechists. We have Catholic founded schools,
especially primary schools, but we do not have a secondary one yet. We
are looking forward to have one if God helps us with means.

Youth Groups : we have so many youths who have nothing to do. They are not in school and have no jobs, so we organise seminars on different topics to equip them with skills, knowledge and God's love and look for funds to start up some small projects. So far we have chicken, goats, cows, farms and we distribute these to them and, later on, share with the one who has looked after and then pass it to another youth.

• Buildings : We are involved in building schools, churches, a convent and
people's little home with the help we ask from lovely people like you
Robbie and your family and other benefactors. Personally I have only
you.

• Bursarship : for the house and the parish. I am in charge of funds and
running of the parish and our house and that keeps me busy all the
time.

• Others : Meeting other Christian denominations occasionally, Moslems,
visiting families, justice and peace. All in all TAKING PEOPLE TO
GOD'S LOVE.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST FOR NOW AND I WILL BE IN TOWN FOR SOME TWO WEEKS SO YOU CAN REPLY AND ASK MORE.

Yours, Emmanuel

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