Irish missionary reflects on Laudato Sì

Fr John Ahern

Irish missionary, Fr John Ahern, reflected on Laudato si' during the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Missionary Society of St James the Apostle which were held recently in Cork and attended by many Irish priests and sisters who ministered over the years in Latin America. The Missionary Society of St James was founded in 1958 by Cardinal Richard Cushing of Boston. The Society offers diocesan priests from English-speaking countries the opportunity to work on mission in the poor, developing countries of Latin America. Priests join the Society for a period of five years during which they remain part of their home/sending dioceses.

The following is Fr John's inspiring address:

"Pope Francis in his encyclical "Laudato si' issued a worldwide wake-up call to humanity to understand the destruction that we humans are rendering to the earth, the environment and to one another in "nuestra casa común' - our common home. The future of the planet hinges on how we respect and defend the environment. All forms of life - from human to animal and plant- are connected. One cannot talk about the corncrake in Kerry and ignore the otter in the Amazon - or vice versa. One has to be concerned with the human rights of all peoples. As missionaries in South America, the rights of indigenous people along with ecological and economic justice should be our concerns.

Laudato si' embodies what Pope Francis stands for - the joy of the Gospel, the joy of love, Gospel truths - a challenge to every believer and non-believer to halt the inexorable slide to an environmental disaster. Pope Francis urges us to recognize, preserve, and promote the good things - spiritual and moral - in all cultures. We are aware of the realities that confront us, posing a constant threat to our world.

Climate Change

There is a solid, scientific consensus that indicates we are presently witnessing a disturbing warming of the climatic system - dire consequences evidenced by, for example, extraordinary flooding and storms.

To all of this we are huge contributors. Our once friendly farming methods in Ireland have evolved into a voracious agribusiness - little care for native flora and fauna. Ireland and New Zealand, per capita, are considered to be the greatest "sinners" with regard to damaging farming methods - damaging levels of methane gas emissions, the destruction of hedgerows, the pollution of rivers - fish in some once prolific rivers are now almost a rarity. In the Amazon region, we have the exploitation of indigenous tribes. They are being driven off their lands by mining, petroleum and logging companies. Women are treated harshly … often sold into the sex industry. All of this is causing mass migration to the already overcrowded cities like Lima and Sao Paulo especially.

In Amazonia, for every 2.2 lbs. of gold that is mined, 2.9 lbs. of mercury and other toxic agents are washed into the Amazon - detrimental to all life in the river and along its banks. The health of people is greatly affected - high levels of mercury are found in the bloods of indigenous people.

Pope Francis came to Peru last January. His first official function, his first stop, was not at the "Palacio del Gobierno" - the President's residence, or at the Arzobispado de Lima - the archbishop's house … no it was in the city of Puerto Maldonado in the department known as Madre de Dios (Mother of God) linked to Mother Earth.

Puerto Maldonado is not only the gateway to pristine rainforests, jungle lodges, biodiversity stations and indigenous tribes, it is also the gateway to the 21st century gold rush which the New York Times notes "has not only eroded trees and rivers but also the rule of law". Crime and violence are endemic throughout the region.

In a packed auditorium in the presence of numerous tribal chiefs and representatives, Pope Francis declared, on 19 January: "This in not 'tierra de nadie' (no man's land), this is your land … you form part of the Body of Christ, you are suffering cruel exploitation. It is our duty, as fellow members, to defend your rights. The native Amazonian peoples have probably never been so threatened on their own lands as they are at present. We have to break with the historical paradigm that views Amazonia as an inexhaustible source of supplies for other countries without concern for its inhabitants".

In his discourse, he repeatedly expressed respect for indigenous people while assailing what modern society and consumerism had wrought in the Amazon region. Gold can turn into a false god that demands human sacrifice. False gods, the idols of avarice, money, power, corrupt everything. They corrupt people and institutions and they ruin the environment. One leader, Lucio Ortega Pineral, spoke for all when he said, "He seems to understand the struggles we face".

In the course of his speech, Pope Francis called for a Synod on the Amazon - for October 2019 in Rome - but he boldly proclaimed: "The synod begins here and now this very evening at 5 o'clock".

Already before the Pope's visit, the Latin American Bishops' Conference (CELAM) had identified the Amazon region as key to the future of the Church worldwide. Under the Presidency of Pedro Barreto, Peruvian Jesuit Bishop of Huancayo, REPAM (Red Eclesial Pan Amazonica) Church network for Amazon countries was set-up in 2014. REPAM is seen as God's answer to the heartfelt and urgent need to care for the life of people so they are able to live in harmony with nature starting from the widespread and varied presence of members and structure of the church in Amazonia. At the helm of REPAM with Bishop, now Cardinal Pedro Barreto is another giant of the Latin American church, the retired Cardinal Archbishop of Sao Paulo, Claudio Hummes. Pope Francis encouraged and supported REPAM from the outset.

The Synod on the Amazon

A lot of work has been done preparing the themes for the Synod. Three themes are outstanding in their importance, not only for Amazonia but for the Universal Church:

• Amazonia itself - challenged
• New paths (evangelization) for the Church in the world
• Integral ecology

The working document for the synod was presented in Rome to a meeting at which Pope Francis was present, over the Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week 2018. Five experts chosen by the REPAM were responsible for its presentation:

• Pablo Suess - a German missionary in the Amazon region for over 50 years.
• Justino Saramiento - Indigenous tribe Salesian priest
• Marcia Olivera de Souza - Brazilian anthropologist
• Fernando Roja - Peruvian anthropologist
• Peter Hughes - Irish Columban in Peru.

The document, which is on the REPAM website, is short and well prepared. It is now being discussed at Latin American Church level, universal Church, and in Academia concerned with the themes.

The main personages of the synod will include Cardinals Barreto and Hummes, three Brazilian Bishops. Notable among them Erwin Kreitler, Bishop of Xingú, Bishop David Martinez (Puerto Maldonado), and one bishop from Bolivia, Columbia, Venezuela, and Surinam.

Of universal interest at the Synod, there will be freedom to discuss obligatory celibacy for priests, especially in Amazonia, and that women should be given a specific official ministry within the Church.

What about us?

What can be done at home regarding the sometimes-apocalyptic nature of discussions on the environment? I think of an 86-year-old social economist, Mayer Hillman, who has observed, "Civilization will end in global catastrophe because it will not give up its dependence on fossil fuels". Mayer foregoes the car for the bicycle. A question for each of us is: what am I prepared to give up?

Action in the area is not without challenge. I think of the wonderful Peruvian Good Shepherd Sister, Maria Agustina Rivas (affectionately known as Aguchita), who at the age of 71 volunteered to be part of her congregation's mission to the jungle. Where 25 years before Laudato si', she described her new mission as "shepherding nature". As she defended the rights of the native girls protecting them from being sold into sex slavery, she cultivated and protected native plants. She died at the hands of Sendero Luminoso in September 1990 … Peru's first martyr.

I think of Cacique Jorginho Guajajara of the Guajarajara tribe who was assassinated only recently in the Maranháo … the 80th of his tribe since 2000. He died defending his lands from exploiters. Do I question the actions of mining companies, petroleum companies? Do I take issue with what happens at home as people are driven from their lands?

Do I listen to President Trump and other politicians who are in denial of climate change? As one Irish politician said, "There were no cars in the time of Noah and there was a great flood". Of do I act on the great projects deserving of our support … many of them supported by our overseas development agencies - Tròcaire and CAFOD - and by our missionaries, for example:

• The Great Green Wall in Africa - (an 8,000 kilometer ribbon of hope extending from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east. The Society of African Missions have developed a unique project that aims to grow trees in Ireland and to support Africa in delivering the Great Green Wall by 2030. For just €60 you can help plant 6 trees (1 in Ireland and 5 along the Great Green Wall). Your donation, which represents just €5 per month, will also help to create green jobs, increase food security, train Great Green Wall guardian communities, and also begin to extract up to 240 tons of carbon from the atmosphere during the next 50 years)

• The Slow Food Movement, Genoa
• Rocha Conservation and Hope Organization (Finland)
• Our own diocesan Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation forums
• Be a Solution to plastic pollution (Kerry)
• Cidade dos Anjos (City of Angles) Fr. Pat Clarke Cssp, Sao Paolo
• Cloughjordan Community Farm
• Encourage our parishes to have biodiversity gardens on grounds or become eco parishes

At Puerto Maldonado on 19 January 2018, Pope Francis reminded us: 'You are a living memory of the mission that God has entrusted to us all … the protection of our common home'. That is our challenge. It is up to each of us individually and collectively in communion" Fr. John concluded to loud applause from an appreciative audience of over 180 missionaries, local clergy, and lay people, including Bishop Robert Hennessy from the Archdiocese of Boston, who also ministered in Bolivia with the Society. Bishop Pedro Bustamente from Sicuani in Peru representing the receiving bishops of Latin America, and Bishop John Buckley of the Diocese of Cork & Ross.

Members of Society of St James believe that REPAM will eventually be the greatest legacy of Pope Francis. It will get Laudato si' off the pages and bring it alive Irish Columban, Fr. Peter Hughes from Ballinrobe is deeply involved in the project.

Fr John Ahern is from Farranfore, Co Kerry, and was ordained in 1966 for the Diocese of Salford in Manchester. Having volunteered with the Society of St James, he ministered in Chimbote in Peru from 1973 to 1978, and then in Villa El Salvador until 1982 when he returned to Salford where he retired last year.

During the celebration, three now retired missionaries were presented with Cardinal Cushing Medals in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the poor of Latin America. They were Fr. Tim O'Sullivan, the last surviving Cork priest who worked with both the St. James Society and also with the Cork diocesan mission in Trujillo; Fr. Gerry O'Meara from Limerick representing the many Irish priests who served with the Society, and who has worked in Peru for 55 years; and Fr. Roger Clark from Shrewsbury representing the vast contribution of priests from the UK.

For me, it was one of the most enjoyable missionary celebrations I have attended. The joy and the enthusiasm, and the energy of some not so young missionaries was really inspiring. The Society's Superior, Fr David Costello from Limerick and who has been in Peru since 2003, was high in his praise for the excellent arrangements made by his confrere, Fr Joe McCarthy from Bantry.

(Matt Moran is author of book - The Legacy of Irish Missionaries Lives On - available from www.onstream.ie and which illustrates how the work undertaken over many decades by the Irish missionaries in the global south is being continued by their local colleagues and by members of congregations which they founded there).