Madam, - Recently I visited Nigeria to spend time with my brother, Fr Dermot Connolly SPS (a Kiltegan father). He took me to meet many of the people with whom he worked and I visited a number of their workplaces.
I visited four centres set up by the Medical Missionaries of Mary to help people suffering from tuberculosis, leprosy and Aids. They also ran a clinic for women who suffered from vesico-vaginal fistula. The Nigerians being treated in these centres were for the most part the very poorest. In some cases they had been ostracised because of their condition and some were extremely ill and unable to help themselves.
The difference the treatments made to their lives was dramatic. In most cases they were enabled to return to their own communities or villages and re-connect with their own societies. I was very deeply moved by the simple effectiveness of what I observed.
The personnel staffing these clinics were mostly Irish women who had chosen to become missionaries. Their age range was from 65 to 80 years. I certainly found the climate difficult to bear. It was the time before the rainy season and it was very humid. The missionaries have been exposed to many diseases that are not endemic in Ireland, including malaria.
This is a hard life to live and of course they are far from their kith and kin. The generosity of their commitment and the fact that the issues they deal with are never-ending affected me at a very deep level. I truly admire their sacrifice and commitment.
During my stay in Nigeria the only priests I met were members of the Kiltegan fathers, but I believe that what I experienced of them is applicable to all the other Irish priests serving in Nigeria. The parishes I went to were usually in the poorest areas. It was clear that the churches belonged to the people. These Catholics really seemed to enjoy their Sunday Mass. They sang and danced with joy. After Mass many of them remained to hold meetings of the Legion of Mary, the St Vincent de Paul Society, etc. I was amazed at the time they gave so willingly.
The priests who by their example and courage had overseen these developments were ordinary Irishmen like me. Both priests and nuns gave up their personal comforts a long time ago, and they still continue to give their lives to the Nigerian people.
I wish I had better words to express my profound admiration for these Irish men and women. The final wonderful discovery, for me, was that the people of Ireland had funded most of what I witnessed through Government funding and from money donated to support the missions. I am filled with wonder at the goodness of our missionaries and am proud to be Irish. - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN M CONNOLLY, Brookville Estate, Glanmire, Co Cork.