Prayer for Fr. Ha-Jo Lohre MAfr

Fr. Ha-Jo Lohre MAfr. disappeared, presumed kidnapped, in Bamako, Mali on 19th November 2022 whilst returning from saying Mass. Below is a prayer for him and all hostages:

God our Father, You, the Merciful, the all-powerful in love,
You who are always attentive to the cries of those who call upon you,
we turn to you with confidence.

We pray to you for our brother, Father Ha-Jo.
Protect him. Strengthen him in faith, hope and charity.
Give him the strength to stand firm in his new mission
which he did not choose,in the hope that he will soon be released.

We pray for his captors: touch their hearts;
that they may understand that you call us all to live together
in love and brotherhood.

To those who are working for his release,
inspire just decisions that lead to a happy outcome.

We pray for all the other hostages;
that they all regain their freedom and return to their families as soon as possible.

Bless the Church-Family of Mali;
Bless Mali!

Our Lady of Africa, watch over our brother Ha-Jo, Watch over Mali.  Amen

Cardinal Richard Kuuia Baawobr MAfr. R.I.P.

Cardinal Richard Baawobr MAfr died on Sunday 27 November 2022 in Rome, Italy
at the age of 63 years, of which 35 years of missionary life
in D.R. Congo, Italy, France, Tanzania and Ghana.

He was born in Nandom-Lawra , Ghana in 1959, took his Missionary Oath in Totteridge, London in 1986 and was ordained priest in Ko, Ghana in 1987. He was a member of the General Council, then was elected the first African Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa. After leaving office he was made Bishop of Wa in Ghana, then in 2022 he was created a cardinal, although he was too unwell to be physically present at the consistory. He was taken to hospital in the evening of Sunday 27th November 2022 where he was pronounced dead. He died on the 1st day of Advent. His waiting for the Coming of the Lord is over.

Let us pray for him and for his loved ones.

For those who wish to send their personal condolences: baawobr.condolences@mafr.org


Fr. Evert van Oostrom MAfr. Rest in Peace

On Wednesday 20 July 2022, at 01.00 am, our confrere, Evert, died peacefully in his room in Horn, Netherlands, in a home for the care for persons suffering of Alzheimer’s.

 He worked as a missionary in many places and in many countries; Tunisia, Uganda, Kenya, Great Britain, Ghana, Burkina Faso.

In UK he will be remembered for the time he lived in St. Edward’s College, Totteridge and taught Scripture at the Missionary Institute London in Mill Hill during the whole of the 1970s.

He will be remembered as a committed missionary, a kind confrere and a passionate and voluble proclaimer of the Gospel.

Bishop Richard Baawobr MAfr to be Cardinal

Bishop Richard Baawobr MAfr, presently Bishop of Wa, has been named by His Holiness Pope Francis to be created Cardinal at the next Consistory. Bishop Richard, born 1959 in Ghana has worked as a missionary in DRCongo and France. He served 6 years as First Councillor, then 6 years as Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa in Rome before being appointed Bishop of Wa in Upper East Ghana.

Fr. Aylward Shorter MAfr. 90 years

On Tuesday, 2nd. May 2022, confreres and family of Fr. Aylward Shorter MAfr gathered in Little Ealing Lane to celebrate with him his 90th birthday. During the concelebrated Mass, Aylward spoke about, and thanked God for, among other things, the contribution he was able to make to a Theology of Culture.

Afterwards there was a meal and the chance to meet and chat.

Thank God for your 90 years, Aylward. May God continue to bless you.

Requiem Mass Fr. Dave Cullen MAfr

Friends, Family and Confreres were reunited on 29th April 2022 to pray for the repose of the soul of Fr. David Cullen. The Requiem Mass took place at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Northfields .

Fr. Hugh Seenan MAfr presided and Fr. Mathew Banseh MAfr represented Zambia/Southern Africa Province where Fr. Dave worked for so many years. Family members read readings from the Word of God and Bidding Prayers. Some Zambian friends were also present and many more attended by means of the Internet.

Fr. David Cullen MAfr. Rest In Peace

At 3 a.m. Thursday 10th March 2022, Fr. David Cullen MAfr returned to the Father who created him. 3 weeks ago, David celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by family and confreres with a Mass of Thanksgiving and followed by a meal. There was a lot to celebrate. 63 years of missionary life. David’s ministry took him to Italy , Malawi and UK, but his heart remained in Zambia.

We thank Almighty God for the life of his servant, Dave, and pray that Dave may now be living that peace and joy now which for so many years he witnessed to others.

Fr. David was born in Croydon (near London) on 7th. February 1932, made his Missionary Oath in s’Heerenberg in the Netherlands in 1958 and was ordained to the priesthood in Whetstone (London on 3rd. February 1958.

After ordination he was sent to Rome for further studies (Bible) 1959-62. He was on the staff of the Noviciate in Dorking 1962-69 then was sent to Kachebere in Malawi to teach Bible.

From 1973 until 1991 he was in Zambia as a lecturer, seminary rector, parish curate and Regional Councillor.

1991-95 he spent teaching and as a staff member in St.Edward’s College, London and at MIL (Missionary Institute London).

1997-2020 saw him back in Zambia in parish ministry, finally leaving Zambia for London because of deteriorating health, he stayed in Little Ealing Lane from 2020 until his death.

There is no date given for his funeral, as yet. People in Zambia where he was known and loved, have been making a Book of Condolences and preparing to celebrate a Requiem Mass for him to coincide with his funeral in UK.

Fr. David Cullen MAfr. 90 Years Young.

On Sunday 6th February 2022 friends, family and confreres gathered together at the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, Northfields (London) to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the 90 years of life of Fr.David Cullen.

The Mass was presided by Fr. Hugh Seenan and a short resume of Fr. David’s life (written by himself) was read out by Fr. Chris Wallbank. The congregation and readers were made up of cousins, nephews and nieces, grand nephews and nieces and great-grand nephews and nieces as well as confreres and Sisters of Our Lady of Africa. Fr. David’s deceased sister Ann was especially remembered also. She is the mother, grandmother and great-grandmother of many of those present.

After Mass the celebration continued in the church hall with food, drinks, balloons and a cake.

Congratulations David!

Vigil of Prayer for Peace and Reconciliation

In the early evening of Friday 4 February, the International Day of Human Fraternity, on the plaza in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool, there took place a Vigil of Prayer for Peace and Reconciliation between Russia and Ukraine and all other nations in conflict. A banner reminded people of these other countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Libya, Myanmar, Mozambique, Sudan. The vigil was organized by the Missionaries of Africa who are in charge of the parish of St Vincent de Paul, Liverpool. Fr Terry Madden, M.Afr., welcomed the group of between 70 and 80 people who had braved the cold and the rain to be present, including representatives of Pax Christi Liverpool. The following took an active part in the vigil: Sr Pennie MacInnes, Mrs Moira Potier, Ibrahim Syed (leader of the Merseyside Network of Mosques), Rev. Dr. Miranda Threlfall-Holmes (Anglican, Rector of St. Luke-in-the-City), Priyanka Mohta (Hindu), Rev. Taras Khomych (Ukranian Catholic Church), Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald, M.Afr. and Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, O.P who gave the final blessing. Paul Glover led the singing and Barbara Tolmie sent the group on their way with a song for peace.

Cardinal receives OBE

Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald MAfr has received the OBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours List. He has received this for services to Interfaith and Interchurch Partnerships. At present Cardinal Fitzgerald is in community in Liverpool.

Congratulations, your Eminence.

I am appreciative and grateful for this award, particularly considering that my 'service to interfaith relations' has taken place mainly outside the UK. I think the award should really go to the Missionaries of Africa, the Society to which I belong, for having allowed me to have the necessary formation for this service which I exercised first within the framework of the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, and then to the Holy See, to Pope Saint John Paul II who, in 1987, appointed me Secretary of the Secretariat for Non-Christians (as it was then) and later in 2002 appointed me President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (as it had become). This gave me the possibility of engaging in fraternal relations on a wider scale than Christian-Muslim relations. Pope Francis, with his actions and his teaching - the jointly-signed Document on Human Fraternity and Fratelli Tutti - is encouraging us to continue building up these fraternal relations which our world badly needs. Quotation from Cardinal Michael on being awarded the OBE.

White Fathers in England and Wales: Registered Charity No. 233302
Charity Registered in Scotland No. SC037981