The Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), or Holy Ghost Fathers as they used to be known, is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a programme of events which began at Pentecost Sunday (31st May).In October President Mary McAleese and Archbishop of Dublin will mark the arrival of the congregation in Ireland and later in the year Mass of The Holy Spirit in Kimmage will be televised by RTÉ.
Today the Spiritans are present in several continents including the Americas, Asia and almost all African nations. Provincial Fr Brian Starken told ciNews that there are more than 300 members in the Irish Province of which 100 work abroad on the missions.
“In July we will have a Mission Forum to which we have invited the other missionary congregations; it is just for reflection on mission and the future of mission. In a sense, whilst we still have people overseas, the whole focus of mission is to build up the local church - to plant the seed and then to build it up. That work has been done in many countries,” said Fr Starken who added that missionaries still have a role to play in areas like formation.
There is also the opportunity of becoming missionaries in Ireland and Northern Europe where so many people are no longer in contact with the church - and therefore there is a big job of work to do.
The Spiritans currently run two parishes in Clondalkin and others elsewhere in Ireland. Their more traditional role in Ireland is to run schools such as Blackrock College, St Mary’s, Rathmines and Rockwell College in the midlands.
However in recent years the order has developed a centre, at North Circular Road, Dublin, which caters for refugees and is the only centre in Ireland for survivors of torture.
Kimmage Development Studies are held at Kimmage Manor for missionaries going overseas be they lay or religious, Christian, Moslem or any other religion.
The next anniversary event will be held on Sunday 21st June, when in the presence of many of relatives, deceased members of the community will be remembered at both Rockwell and Kimmage Manor.
A three-day mission forum on the theme Some challenges to Missionary Groups today will involve representatives of 50 groups, closely associated with the Spiritans. This will run from 9th - 11th July and the next day, Sunday, the huge debt of gratitude which the community feel they owe to its promoters and supporters will be acknowledged at a special Mass and celebration.
The 8th September, traditionally the Province’s day of Professions to the Religious Life, will be an occasion to reflect on how Spiritans live religious life today. In conjunction with CORI, Spiritans are sponsoring a day on The Future of Religious Life, in Milltown Institute, Dublin.
On Friday 2nd October on the 300th anniversary of the death of Claude Poullart des Places, co-founder of the Congregation, the congregation will celebrate work now being done by the Transition Year pupils of the Spiritan Schools, around the history of the Congregation and Province, and the lives of founders and of Bishop Shanahan.
A highlight of the year will be on 28th October, the date of arrival of the first Spiritans in Ireland, when President McAleese will address the Congregation, on the Contribution of Ireland to Mission. The Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, will preside and preach at the Eucharist which follows.
On All Saints Day, 1st November 2009, Mass will be televised by RTÉ. It will come from the former Seminary Chapel in Kimmage, now Holy Spirit Parish Church.
November and December will see a series of lectures on aspects of the history and future of the Province.
The Feast of the Congregation’s co-founder, Venerable Francis Libermann. will mark the close of the celebrations in February 2010.
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