Note: Do you remember Charlie? He was at Broome Hall 1948 - 1950 and
again 1952 -1953. In between and after, he spent over 3 years in Hospital
- on the Isle of Wight and at the London Chest.
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Fr. Alex Easton WF 19 - 2001
- taken from Petit Echo (author unknown)
Alec,
as he was always known, came to Uganda for the first time as a young man of
twenty-four years and five months, and he was to spend the whole of his missionary
life in that country. He was never called for home service, and even the sabbatical
which he took in 1971 was spent in the Ggaba Pastoral Centre in Uganda.
Alec was bom in Scotland, and he continued all his life to take a strong interest
in Scottish affairs. Uganda however was his adopted country, and Mbarara became
his home diocese; he only spent the very beginning of his missionary life,
and his last two-and-a-half years, outside the frontiers of that diocese.
Like many of his generation, he spent a number of years in the teaching ministry,
two in the Junior Seminary and eight in the Ibanda catechists' Training centre.
For the rest he was in a variety of parishes: Kagamba, where he spent in all
fourteen years, Mushanga, Bubangizi, Rubanda, and Ibanda.
Yvon Lavoie writes that he had the opportunity of getting to know Alec well,
for they were together for seven years in lbanda Catetchists'Training Centre.
"He was a man whom one grew fond of, somewhat dry perhaps on first acquaintance,
but this was an appearance only, an expression of a natural shyness, for deep
down he was a charming and warmhearted man with whom it was a pleasure to
live. Mealtimes with Alec were always lively and interesting, for he read
a great deal and liked to share his discoveries with others. He also had a
keen sense of humour. As we were both involved in teaching, our common life
was truly a source of mutual enrichment. Alec's main concern in these years
was how to help his catechists to integrate their Christian faith into their
daily lives. He encouraged them to practise regular Gospel-sharing with their
people, and he provided them with a variety of models for this purpose.
"Alec was a very hard worker, but he also knew how to relax. Over a period
of months, when the day's teaching was over, he spent long hours learning
from a local lady how to make traditional pottery. He mastered all the intricacies
of the craft, and it was a moment to be remembered when the time came to fire
his first product. He continued for a long time to exercise this skill. After
supper, if we were not having a discussion, we might play scrabble, or, if
we had company from a neighbouring parish, we would have a game of bridge,
in which Alec was very sharp.
"In his apostolate, Alec's principal concern was organizing and directing
Basic Christian Communities. He put much of his energy into this work, and
he wrote a booklet to help the members of these Communities, calling it, "The
One who seeks shall find" (0sherura Azoora). The chapter-headings of
this booklet may be taken as pointers to the principal areas of his own missionary
effort: AIDS, Justice and Peace, Kingdom, Superstitions, Marriage, Discrimination.
"Alec was a realist. He had a clear idea about what a Small Christian
Community should be, but he also knew what really happened in small groups.
In 1992 he wrote down his reflections:
'At the end of the day I feel as much in the dark as I'm afraid most of the
other participants must have felt. They listed many of their problems and
the obstacles to social and economic development: land shortage, inadequate
markets for their produce, inflation, shortage of food, drunkenness, ignorance,
lack of ability to manage their resources, sickness, the difficulty of finding
school fees for their children, general shortage of cash ... But I never felt
that I had helped them towards sorting out issues that eat at their guts sufficiently
to move them to concerted action. Why? The inadequacy of my presentation must
obviously be accepted as a factor, perhaps the major one. Another element
was perhaps also their prolonged poverty, deprivation and frustration, for
our people are mostly from the bottom of the heap: they showed interest in
the courses and discussions, but there was little sign of commitment to action.
Catholics here, as no doubt in many other parts of the world, have a deep-rooted
tradition of piety and devotion. They pray and look forward to eternal salvation,
but tend to despise the 'things of this world'. These can be pursued, but
not as part of the Christian agenda.'
"As far as his personal faith and spiritual life were concerned, Alec
was very discreet. In fact he practically never spoke of them. He composed
several Eucharistic Prayers in Runyankole, and prepared the liturgy with immense
care. His fascination with the problems of living the Christian life amidst
all the preoccupations of the poor rural life in Africa were certainly signs
of how deeplyrooted was his own faith.
"When the Province decided to leave our two remaining parishes in the
diocese of Mbarara, Alec moved to the neighbouring diocese of Kasese, hoping
to spend another five years or so there. God however arranged things otherwise.
He had a crisis one day during evening prayer and was taken to the local hospital
of Kilembe. Two weeks later he was flown to Kampala, where three weeks later
he died of heart failure. He had only been seriously ill for about five weeks,
although he had suffered from stomach ulcers more or less all his life."
He was buried near Mbarara Cathedral, as he would surely have wished, and
many people from both MbaraTa and Kasese dioceses came for the funeral, including
four Bishops and many confreres and diocesan priests.
We may remember Alec perhaps especially for his simplicity and for his determination
to remain up to date, two points which were stressed in the funeral homily.
Archbishop Bakyenga spoke of Alec as frugal, and this was certain the mot
juste. He drove an almost microscopic Suzuki, and dressed with the utmost
simplicity. No one ever remembers seeing him in a suit or wearing a Roman
collar. His room typically contained a table, two chairs, a hoe, a walking
stick, a shelf with a packet of seeds, for he was a keen gardener, some copies
of his booklet on Small Communities, and a Bible. He often preferred to take
the smallest room in the house.
Alec was a great reader and thinker, not only up-to-date but in some respects
even ahead of his time. He was critical of defects in the church, and he could
become impatient when he encountered unthinking conservatism.
Alec led a full and a rich life in the broad spaces of Africa, although he
died at what is becoming the relatively young age of sixty-nine. We may hope
that the Church he dreamed of may become a reality in the not-too-distant
future.
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Fr.
Alan Thompson WF 1927 - 1990
Father
Alan Thompson was born at Stockton on Tees, County Durham, on the 18th. August
1927. He had two brothers, one of whom, Bob, became a Diocesan priest.
Fr. Alan went to St. Cuthbert's Primary School and then to St. Mary's College,
Middlesborough. He joined the White Fathers in 1943 and went to "The
Priory", Portsmouth, to finish his secondary education. He continued
his studies in Britain and Holland taking the oath and receiving the Diaconate
in 1951. He was ordained priest on 31st. May 1952 at Galashiels.
Fr. Alan began his White Father's life with several appointments in Britain,
the first of which was Provincial Secretary. He then moved to Sutton Coldfield
for promotion work, then to Dorking where he taught philosophy and after to
teach at "The Priory".
In 1961 Fr. Alan went to Karema Diocese in Tanzania. He studied Swahili and
then was appointed to Mpanda Parish. In 1963 he moved to Kaengesa Seminary
where he taught maths. He was to stay there until 1969, when he was appointed
to the province for promotion work at Sutton Coldfield where he was superior.
Fr. Alan became Provincial in 1975, an appointment he held until 1982. During
that time he carried out much work in developing the British province and
also oversaw the construction of the international formation house of the
White Fathers, St. Edward's College, Totteridge.
When he finished his term as Provincial, in 1982, Fr. Alan became Appeal Organiser,
and Circulation Manager for the magazine at Sutton Coldfield. In February
1990 he took ill and it was discovered that he had cancer. Fr. Alan went to
stay with his family and it was there that he died on 26th. December 1990.
In accordance with his wishes Fr. Alan's funeral was held at St. Edward's
and he was buried in the White Father plot at Kensal Green Cemetery, north
London on 4th. January 1991.
May He Rest In Peace
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Fr
Alfred Harrison WF 1940 -
1995
An appreciation by Fr. John Gould WF
Fr.
Alf was born in Droylsden, Manchester, in 194(). He was an only child. While
still at school he developed a desire to be a missionary and came in contact
with the White Fathers. He was encouraged by his parents
to follow his vocation, and had to do extra studies in Latin and French before
going to the Junior Seminary and then to Ireland for Philosophy in 196().
While Fr. Alf was there his father died, and Fr. Alf was torn between continuing
with his training for the priest hood, and returning home to support his mother.
In the end, it was decided that he should continue, and he was sent to Canada
for his four years of Theology. In the inter national community there, he
was known as a cheerful, open and hard-working student, with sense of humour
and a gift for mimicry and for languages, qualities that served him well throughout
his missionary life.
After his ordination in his home parish of Droylsden in 1966, Fr. Alf was
appointed to Rutherglen for promotion work. To begin his missionary life in
Scotland rather than Africa was a disappointment for him, but he came to love
Scotland and made life-long friends there. His warmth and his gift for human
relations were characteristic of his whole life as a White Father.
In 1969 Fr. Alf was appointed to Zambia and worked in bush parishes in Mbala
Diocese for three years, before returning to London as chaplain to overseas
students. He then followed a course in community development in Manchester
and went back to Zambia in 1974 to put his skills to use in a large parish
in the "melting-pot" of the capital Lusaka.
After a further spell of promotion work in England, Fr. Alf found himself
in Mbala again, in the cathedral parish, and for a time, acting Vicar General.
From there, in 1984, he was appointed as director of the Language Centre.
Set in an isolated bush mission, it had developed from a Centre serving only
Catholic missionary priests and sisters to one that welcomed lay missionaries
of various denominations, including married couples and families, doctors
and development workers. Fr. Alf's organisational and public relations skills
served him well in his responsibilities of managing the Centre and preparing
such a varied group to understand and appreciate the culture and language
of the Bemba people with whom they would live and work. He also acted as chaplain
to lay missionaries, providing valued encouragement and support to groups
and individuals.
Fr. Alf's life changed in 1986, when he suffered fered a heart attack on the
plane while on his way back to Zambia after his home-leave. "Cod and
I got to grips" is how he described the experience in a letter. He had
to return to England and slowly recover his health. This was a time of spiritual
renewal for Fr. Alf, and the painful experience of his own vulnerability gave
him even greater resources and insight to add to his natural ability to listen
sympathetically and help others.
By May 1987, Fr. Alf was back in Zambia, but in less than a year a new heart
condition forced him to return to England for good. Another close brush with
death from an attack of cerebral malaria left him with chronic health problems,
but they were a burden that Fr. Alf always carried lightly. In 1989, he accepted
the job of Provincial Treasurer, which he carried out for six years, combining
efficiency with unfailing humour and consideration.
When he left the Treasurer's office in 1995, he moved to the community in
Preston from where he was able to devote some time to his mother, who was
frail and in poor health. Then he went back to Rutherglen to help care for
the elderly and retired missionaries, and brought life and energy into the
community. Fr. Alf died suddenly, on the 20th. October after a heart attack,
ending his missionary life in the place where he had started. He was buried
at home in Manchester, where his mother still lives.
May He Rest in Peace
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BROTHER
JOHN MENNIE WF 1932 - 1997
An appreciation by Fr. John Sandom WF
We
all know of aspiring W.F.s who dreamt of becoming professional footballers.
But for few indeed was this ever even a remote possibility. John was an exception,
being a schoolboy international.
John was born on the 1st. June, 1932, at Coatbridge
in Lanarkshire. He had three brothers and four sisters, all older than himself.
He did his primary schooling at St Mary's School, Coatbridge, then went on
for his secondary studies at St Mary's Secondary School in the same town,
completing them at Our Lady's High School, Motherwell, obtaining Highers in
maths, French and history. His two years' National Service were spent in the
Air Force.
At the end of 1953 he applied to join the White Fathers as a brother. He seemed
to have good health and was robust. With refined manners and above average
intelligence he made a very good impression. This was backed up with excellent
reports from his parish priest. Having entered our Postulancy at Monteviot
in February 1954, he received the habit in August of the same year and at
the same place, taking the name of Columbkill. His technical formation was
at Marital, in Luxembourg, where his talents were shown to be more intellectual
than manual, so it came as no surprise when he was appointed to teach in our
Junior Seminary at 'The Priory', Bishop's Waltham. Here his health started
to give cause for concern, necessitating a major stomach operation. This blocked
his chance of going to Africa until he was fully recovered. In the meantime,
he joined the Promotion Team at Sutton Coldfield with bookkeeping and office
work, later he was secretary to the Provincial Treasurer.
Eventually his health had improved sufficiently for him to be appointed to
Ujiji Seminary in Tanzania, where he spent over twelve years, mostly teaching.
But by the end of 1978 it was clear that he would have to return home for
a long rest. This he did, taking the opportunity of following a series of
courses, including the Jerusalem Biblical Sessions.
There was some talk of his returning to the missions, but doubts over his
state of health but doubts over his state of health eventually ruled this
out. Instead he served the Province as assistant to the Treasurer at Stormont
Rd., London. Then he was sent to help out at our Promotion Centre which was
then in Grove Street, Edinburgh. When his work there was completed, he returned
to help out with accounts at Stormont Road, where he commuted daily from Oak
Lodge, Totteridge, his residence.
By this time he had become quite a computer 'buff', his expertise benefiting
not only Stormont Road, but confreres up and down the Province, who sought
his advice on various cybernetic problems. We, in Oak Lodge, also benefited
from his culinary skills, when we were deficient of a cook.
Early in 1997, John was being treated for suspected anaemia when the doctors
found he had a small stomach tumour. A course of chemotherapy followed by
an operation was suggested. Our brother suffered these procedures with cheerfulness
and courage. All thought these interventions had been successful.
After he had left hospital, John convalesced in Beaconsfield, before taking
a short trip up to Scotland. He then returned to Oak Lodge, with the intention
of resuming his work at Stormont Rd. But he was readmitted to hospital when
swallowing became difficult. Tests revealed his tumour had returned with a
vengeance. John was informed that his life expectancy was measured in weeks,
rather than months. There was nothing the doctors could do for him. He returned
home to Oak Lodge to pass his remaining days.
Swallowing solids had been difficult, this was then the case with liquids,
and finally even this was impossible. The poor man was getting thinner by
the day. But his spirit was indomitable. His was a shining example of a holy
death. We thank God that at Oak Lodge we were able to fulfil his wish to die
at home, thanks to visiting nurses and a devoted GP We took it in turns to
be with him. He actively joined in all our prayers, right to his very last
hours.
John gave us a shining example of "putting one's house in order",
not just spiritually, but materially as well. Not only was his office work
right up-to-date and completed, but his room was left in perfect order. He
gave away most of his belongings as he was dying. The remainder were carefully
listed and assigned to various individuals and organisations.
John had kept regular contact with his relatives and friends all down the
years. Several of these were able to come and spend a few days with him. Among
these were Jimmy Judge, Alex Soper, and Pat McGurk, life-long friends from
their school days at Our Lady's High School, Motherwell. It was a bittersweet
occasion, joy at meeting, sadness that it was for the last time. One of John's
favourite quotes was "Live a little, die a little, cry a little, laugh
a little, but in all things be happy and at peace."
John died very peacefully on the 18th. March. His funeral Mass was at the
church of the Sacred Heart and Mary Immaculate, Mill Hill, on the 24th March,
the burial taking place that afternoon in the White Fathers' plot at Kensal
Rise. Jimmy, Alex and Pat came down again for John's funeral, Pat's wife Mary
and his daughters _ joining them. Tom Mennie, John's older brother and sole
surviving sibling, came down from Scotland with his wife Isabel, as did his
niece Mrs Catriona Tyers. Mrs Jean Mennie (sister in law) came up from Southampton.
Amongst friends who came were Martin Brennan and his son Paul.
May He Rest In Peace
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Father
Hugh Monaghan WF 1918 - 1997
An appreciation by Fr. John Lynch WF
Fr.
Hugh Monaghan was born in Craigneuk, near Motherwell on
the 18th. April, 1918. He was one of twelve children (three sets of twins).
He attended St Patrick's Primary school before going to Our lady's High, Motherwell
for secondary studies. Fr. Hugh was a good average student with a very retentive
memory. He was gifted with a beautiful tenor voice, which much to the regret
of many others he never used to its full advantage. He was a sensitive man
in spite of a phlegmatic exterior and was reputed to be a good boxer!
Fr. Hugh Monaghan joined the White Fathers' Seminary and in due process finished
up in North Africa, where he was ordained to the Priesthood in 1943. Fr. Hugh
had studied in Carthage along with his twin brother, Pat who was ill with
tuberculosis. His elder brother Gerald had died only a couple of years
earlier at Pau in France (picture below). When other British students moved
out for safety in the face of the advancing German army, Fr. Hugh, who by
that time was a Deacon, opted to stay behind to be with Pat. A few months
later Pat died and, his death was to have a lifelong impact on Fr. Hugh, even
if he preferred not to speak much about it. Shortly after Ordination Fr. Hugh
returned to Scotland where for a considerable period of time he himself underwent
treatment for tuberculosis at Kingussie Sanatorium in the Highlands of Scotland.
Fr. Hugh Monaghan was seen to be quiet and yet when drawn out could be very
talkative. He presented himself as 'matter of fact', but showed his true sentiments
by the work he undertook and by his willingness to do things for others. Fr.
Hugh often kept himself to himself but at times he allowed his sense of humour
to show and he had a very engaging and beautiful smile, which caused his face
to, as it were, light up and come alive! His dry sense of humour came out
at such moments.
In the years he worked in the U.K. he had several jobs and did them well,
including that of being teacher at the Junior Seminary. He successfully completed
a teacher training course in Dublin and then moved to Africa, where he was
deemed too old to really learn the language and again was used in the seminary
teaching English. He made a valiant effort to accept and understand a system,
which was very different from what he was used to, and after a time he left
the Seminary work to work in a parish. He loved being in the Outstabons. He
worked in Burundi for eighteen years.
Fr. Hugh returned to UK where he helped out in whatever capacity he was asked,
including making Mission Appeals in England and Wales. In his last couple
of years he was limited due to an injury sustained in a car crash. His loss
of independence of movement hit him hard. He kept alert by taking a course
in accounting and doing crosswords. He read the paper each day and would have
comments on sports etc.
His sudden death on 22nd of March caught everyone by surprise and caused quite
a shock to the other members of the Rutherglen Community. Some students from
'The Priory', Bishop's Waltham where Fr. Hugh had taught, came to pay their
respects and express their appreciation of his efforts for them. One of his
two surviving Sisters came from New Zealand to be present for his funeral
as also did many of his own relatives and friends.
May he now truly rest in Peace.
Estelle
Geddes, Fr Hugh
Monaghan's niece, has kindly sent us this further tribute:
If
my memory works well, I should say that we had some major changes in Mbarara
Diocese in 1987. Kagamba Parish gave away some of her priests but also received
others. Alex Easton was one of the new ones. I think he had worked in the
place before.
Fr
Pat Donnelly took over as Superior of the Priory during the summer of 1951.
Tom Moran was an extremely popular priest and a hard, hard act to follow. His
style was what would today be called "laid-back" ("Be good, say
your prayers, 'ave an 'oliday") whereas Pat was so conscientious as to
literally worry himself sick concerning whether he was doing his job properly
or not.