Congratulations

Spiritan News Update from the Missions:

Recently, at the Chapter of the Southwest Group in São Paulo, Brazil elected a new group leader/superior.

Fr Brendan Foley CSSp (Boyle, Co. Roscommon and Geevagh, Co Sligo, 49 yrs). He started his missionary journey in the Spiritan Parish of Alto Alegre in the peripheral city of São Paulo back in 1997 and until 2006. From there “Fr B” was appointed to support and develop the new Spiritan mission in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia with the construction of a new Spiritan Central House, Pastoral Centre and Churches with small community centres. This was made possible by the continued support and confidence from the Spiritan Development Fund / CESS-Kibanda, the Past Pupils Union of Blackrock College, Loreto College Foxrock, Apostolic Workers of Ireland and his circle of friends in New York.

In 2011, Brendan was asked to take a sabbatical leave in Dublin, Ireland, where he completed the Loreto House Formation course by June 2012. The Irish Province’s Chapter took place that summer and he was requested to work in Vocation-Youth Ministry. He worked in many different animation teams in Ireland; the Spiritan parish in Bawnogue, Vocations Ireland, retreat work in the Spiritan Colleges, TY Mission Immersion trips, the then IMU, collaboration on vocation ministry in Maynooth, Music Ministry Together and finally Spiritan coordinator in Europe for promotion of CSSp Vocations-Youth.

From September 2016-2017, he completed successfully an MA in International Development (KDSC/NUI Maynooth). Through consultation Brendan decided to return to the Southwest Group – Brazil in December 2017. In doing so, taking on the responsibility to lead a new Spiritan Parish and Spiritan community with Fr Niall Colgan CSSp (Waterford) and Fr Élson Lopes CSSp (Cape Verde) in the heart of the peripheral area of Perus; by all accounts a very challenging missionary post.

It is understood and often shared that Fr Foley CSSp gets his missionary inspiration from the missionary life of Blessed Daniel Brottier CSSp, to believe in the power of spiritual providence, having an open heart of generosity and an apostolic energy of stickability when faced with challenging moments in the mission.

We wish Fr (Marcos) Brendan Foley CSSp our prayers, support and collaboration in his new role of leadership and new responsibilities of service to the Southwest Group, Brazil. His mandate will begin around the last week of April 2019 for three years.

(Photo given with permission)