After nearly six months of waiting the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal who have done much heralded work in the Moyross area of Limerick City have now set up their second base in Ireland, namely in Derry City. The Friars were invited to Derry’s Long Tower Parish by the Bishop of Derry Dr Seamus Hegarty.
Father Sylvester Mann, Brother Eoin Paul Fallon, Father Fidelis Moscinski and Brother Patrick Crawley, whose order is sometimes referred to as the Grey Franciscans because of their dress have just moved to Derry.
Speaking to the Derry Journal newspaper and on Radio Foyle Father Sylvester Mann, who has spent the last four years in Moyross, said the Friars want to respond to the needs of the community in Derry.
“I know some people automatically thought we'd open a soup kitchen in Derry," he said. "We've not done that in Moyross, in fact most of our friaries do not have soup kitchens.”
"It's important for us to build up positive relationships with people in the neighbourhood, people have a lot of questions about who we are and what we do. Already people have come by to visit. People are welcome to come and introduce themselves. As we get settled in I'm sure we will meet a lot of people locally."
“Over time Bishop Hegarty invited us to come into the diocese," he said. "We ended going to Limerick first but we promised the Bishop the next time we opened a friary in Ireland it would be in Derry.”
Father Sylvester explained the decision to head for Limerick first, hinged on an incident in which two young children were badly burned in an arson attack on a car. “ When we heard about the fire we knew Moyross was the place to go, it was the place with the greatest need.”
The Friars work in Moyross has made a significant difference with the crime rate now down by 60%, more people coming into the area, and children playing happily on the streets again.
He said that he is honoured to be going to Derry. “We also want to bring an outreach service to the youth of Derry.” What we want is to live our Franciscan life and share it with other people. We want to serve the local church as best we can, we have been blessed to meet some of the younger priests in the diocese, very fine young men and the best encouragement for vocations in the area.”
“We've seen a lot in Derry, there's still a lot more to see. We feel very privileged to be in this parish because of the history of St Columba, there's an ideal the parish represents that is inspiring to us.”
Father Sylvester added, "We are happy to be here and hope to be here for many years, we ask people to pray for us."
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