Remembering What Happened - by Fr Pat O'Shea

March 17, 2022

February 10 was the anniversary of 4 Columbans, John Henagan, Peter Fallon, Patrick Kelly and Joseph Monaghan, who were taken by the Japanese from the parish of Malate in the Philippines in 1945 and were never seen again. We usually take time here during our weekday masses to remember deceased Columbans on their anniversaries. This year I was taken by the fact that no one knows exactly what happened to them or where their bodies are buried. The same is true for New Zealand Columban Francis Douglas who was taken to Paete church by the Japanese in 1943 and was never seen again.

It set me thinking about other people who have disappeared without trace and about their loved ones. One of them is a young man, Trevor Deely, from my hometown of Naas who disappeared 22 years ago. His family are still trying to find out what happened to him.  Fr John Brinkley, who was one of the priests in Naas parish, became noted over the years for always remembering Trevor when he presided at Sunday masses.

There are many stories about people who disappeared in various countries. In Argentina in 1977 some of the mothers of Los Desaparecidos” (the disappeared) started to gather on Thursdays at the Plaza de Mayo, to demand answers about the fate of their sons and daughters. They were called the mad mothers and one of them agreed “yes, we are mad, mad with grief”. They became known as the Madres de Plaza de Mayo and the white headscarves they wore became a symbol of resistance as well as a demand for truth and justice. It is estimated that between 10000 and 30000 people disappeared after the military coup in March of 1976. Through the efforts of these mothers there have been a number of prosecutions and some of the bodies have been found and identified.  In 2017, some 40 years later, according to an article in the Guardian newspaper, the mothers were part of a massive demonstration held in the name of memory, truth and justice. Their concern now is that the new government is trying to whitewash history and supress the memory of what happened.

 Los Desaparecidos in Argentina

I was prompted to post a prayer on our website for the Malate Martyrs, all the disappeared and for their families. Once I had done so I thought why not continue and write a prayer based on what happened the next day and the one after that.  Websites like On This Day provide a long list of events from which to choose.

I have found this exercise to be challenging and engaging. Just looking at the events that happened on a particular day serves as a way of remembering our history. I was aware of some of the entries but many more were news to me. I noted that it was easier to find stories about disasters, wars and tragedies than good news.  Bad news always seems to attract more notice.  There are always a number of events that I can use so I try to pick one that connects with what is happening today and seems to call for prayer.

Formulating the prayer prompts me to consider just what I want to pray for. What am I asking God to do?  Each prayer is also a way of clarifying what I need to do. There are as many possible prayers as there are events so this exercise involves accepting limits. I cannot say everything that might be said.  I am not the only one who is praying.

You can find these prayers on the website under the Prayer banner or follow the link below. 

To read our daily prayers click on this link - Prayers

 

Las Madres in 2009. Image: Beatrice Murch/Flickr.

 

Fr Pat O'Shea - Columban Mission, Lower Hutt

Remembering What Happened - by Fr Pat O'Shea

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