From the editor’s desk

Mission to Guyana

By Fr. Gerald Curry, SFM
April 2000

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It has been a long time since we have had an issue on our missioners and their work in Guyana. Guyana has always been one of our primary areas of mission service. In 1953 the small number of local Guyanese priests and members of the Society of Jesus from England welcomed us with open arms. Since then 37 of our priests and seven of our lay missioners have served there. Presently in Guyana are Frs. Linus Wall, Ken MacAulay, Russ Sampson, and Pat Kelly, along with lay missionaries John and Jean MacInnis and Peggy Velker. They serve primarily in the major urban areas of Georgetown and New Amsterdam. Fr. Kelly works in the rural town of Charity. Also present in New Amsterdam are Sisters Cecile Turner and Doris MacDonell of Our Lady’s Missionaries, and Mother Teresa’s Sisters of Charity.

In this issue Scarboro priest and lay missionaries in Guyana share some of their experiences with you. You will see how intimately connected they are with the lives of ordinary people. The poor and the marginalized are always close by, understanding in their hearts who these missioners are and why they are there. Our missioners feel blessed to be present among the poor, and to serve them in many acts of love, helping them to experience their dignity as daughters and sons of God.

In Guyana the people are the Church. For several decades the laity have been empowered to take responsibility for many areas of ministry formerly carried out by priests and Sisters. Scarboro lay and priest missionaries accompany this Church on its faith journey.

I last visited Guyana in 1978. I remember it having ample resources for all of its people. Since that time the country has been torn by political and economic strife. It has been exploited both from within and without by those seeking political and economic gain.

Today Guyana is considered to be a highly indebted poor country and many are poor and must struggle for a basic living. Over the years the Church has always been a voice for justice, indeed at times the only voice for justice. It continues to be a sign of unity and hope for the people.

In 1996 Fr. Graham Clark who spent all of his 37 years as a Scarboro missionary in Guyana, died there in an automobile accident. And last year another tragic accident in Guyana ended the life of Fr. Al Felix who was also serving there. In a special way we dedicate this issue to them.

We remember, too, Scarboro lay missioner David Fish who served with his wife Elena Abubo in Nairobi, Africa. And we are saddened by the unexpected death of Fr. Don Boyle, a longtime Scarboro missionary to Japan. We celebrate and give thanks for these missionaries as well.

With this issue, we give tribute to the many Scarboro missionaries who have served in Guyana, the “Land of Many Rivers.” We celebrate with those serving there today and ask God to continue to bless them as they proclaim God’s Reign in word and deed.

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