Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa and now Athlone

2009 has proved to be a year of celebration and reflection for Fr John McManus as he marked the Silver Jubilee of his ordination as a priest, which has taken him from Kenya to South Africa and Athlone in a variety of challenging ministries. A member of the St Patrick's Kiltegan order, the Strokestown native's first posting brought him to Kenya during the height of the famous drought of 1984, a time that many people associate with the Bob Geldof's fundraising efforts to raise money for the victims through Band Aid. Fr John spent time in the Nakuru and Eldoret areas during his twelve-year stint in the east African country, and although living in areas without basics like electricity that we take for granted, he said he thoroughly enjoyed his work there. "Whereas a lot of my life and work has been pastoral, a lot of it in Africa was helping with basic needs, like feeding people. It was very challenging but there was great support from home, the aid agencies and the church in Kenya," he recalled, as he prepares to make a return visit to the country for three weeks in November. The friendly cleric, who is now attached to Ss Peter and Paul's parish explained that he also spent three weeks working in Rwanda in 1995, in the wake of the devastating genocide in the country between the Tutsi and Hutu tribes, something he described as a "distressing and difficult time". "Part of my work in Kenya was with refugees during internal turmoil or tribal clashes. So I had the experience. After the genocide I was asked would I considering volunteering there which I did for three weeks. It's patient, slow work building trust between cultures again whether in Rwanda, Kenya or anywhere in the world. It's a difficult one," he reflected, adding that people would get a flavour of it if they had ever seen the acclaimed film Hotel Rwanda. A year later, his clerical journey brought him to Johannesburg, during a very momentous time in the country's history after the shackles of apartheid had been cast off, and the new South Africa was beginning to emerge under the leadership of Nelson Mandela. "It was very different to Kenya. As you know, parts of South Africa are very first world but it's not without its share of problems. It was an exciting time to be in the country," he remarked. "One of the biggest problems facing the new South Africa and still facing it today is the level of crime. I like to think things are improving especially with the World Cup happening there next year. That would be worrying and at a personal level, I was victim of it one Christmas in the late 1990s. I was attacked, but I'm just one many priests that would share a similar story," Fr John said. Although he admitted it was a worrying and frightening time for him, he paid tribute to the people within the church and community who were very supportive of him and it certainly had nothing to do with him leaving Johannesburg. When asked how he found working with different nationalities, cultures and tribal groupings, he replied philosophically: "People are people. You are going to find the good and the bad, it's in every society. Having said that, in terms of me being a missionary, the welcome in those countries I can't highlight enough," the 50-year-old said. Fr John returned to Ireland in 2001 and in September of that year took up residence as a curate in Ss Peter and Paul's Parish in Athlone. Interestingly, it was in that very church that his own parents had got married back in 1958. Now, based in Monksland, he sees his role as important in building up neighbourliness, working with young people in Cloonakilla NS and Summerhill National School and the many community groups in the area. "Monksland where I'm living is fast developing both as a parish, and in terms of area in Roscommon. The Bishop felt it would be good to have a presence here, so just that word again, welcome that I experienced in Kenya, South Africa I got here as well," he enthused from his quiet Ashford home last week in between home visitations to the elderly on the first Friday of the month. "One of the ways we're trying a build the community here is we have a mass once a month in the community centre. It helps people come together and get to know their neighbours. There is a huge young population here so a lot of ministry is preparing people for marriage, communion etc." So what prospect does Fr John see for Monksland having its own church in the near future? "I would have said yes to that some years ago but I think you know the reality maybe not. Maybe down the line but not in the immediate future," he remarked. "Ss Peter and Paul's is very much the parish focus, and I think that's way it should be but having said that it's equally important that there is a presence out here, that's a very good start." At present, the parish is engaged in major restoration of the church in advance of its 75th anniversary in 2012, a project that will cost in excess of €500,000. "Work is progressing very well on restoration. The clocks have been replaced and the bells are back running again, a feature of Ss Peter and Paul's in the past," Fr John enthused. "The next project is the painting of the church, which will hopefully begin in January and will take two or three months," he said, adding that all the priests had been heartened by the support of the community to their fundraising draw. While he witnessed the changing face of Africa in many regards with a multi-party Government in Kenya and the end of apartheid in South Africa, Fr John also came back to a very different Ireland to the one he left in the 1980s. "It had become very progressive and very wealthy but what I would have noticed was that same sense of neighbourliness was lacking in communities. Having said that, the progress was good. Now, though, is a very challenging and anxious time for people and we have to support them. It's a good time also to take stock of where we are." "People still need I'd like to think, support from church and priests to be available. We all have struggles in life and it's nice to be able to share them and have someone to confide in," the hard working priest said. Aside from his busy ministry, Fr John laughs that music and sport keep him sane. "It was a great thrill this Summer to get to see Bruce Springsteen in concert. I actually share his birthday," he smiled, telling me he's also a big fan of Glasgow Celtic, indeed so much so, that his friends gave a glass replica of the old European Cup, won by the club in 1967 to mark his Silver Jubilee. Fr John is also involved in the nearby Clann na Gael club, and follows the exploits of the Roscommon football team, while a stack of books on the coffee table in his home also confirm reading is another hobby. When asked what he thinks the major challenges the church is facing in Ireland today, Fr John said clearly that being available to people and building up trust with the public again is the major priority in the years ahead. "You asked earlier about the changes, and it's not a bad thing that the church hadn't the respect it had before, that is probably a good thing. But when you see things like the Ryan report you have to acknowledge the hurt that was caused to people by the church, albeit by a minority," he said. "It has to take responsibility so I feel it's important to build trust and confidence again with people so that the church is seen as a caring church and is available to people in times of need. You can never sorry often enough," Fr John concluded candidly.