Bro.
Isidore Quinn C.P. - Botswana
Bro.
Isidore Quinn celebrated his Golden Jubilee of Profession at Forest Hill
on November 17th 2003. Isidore is the longest serving Passionist in Botswana,
having arrived here on 21st November 1955 exactly two years after his
first profession in The Graan. At that time the superior told him that
his appointment to Botswana was to be temporary -' just for three years'
- and he is still here nearly half a century later!
The name 'Botswana' was unheard of in Ireland at that time. There is a joke that when Isidore told his neighbours in Tyrone about his new appointment that thought he was been sent to 'Buncrana' to work in Donegal!
In 1956 he was sent to the recently established foundation in Bank, in South Africa, to serve the African farm workers. It was here that he made his Final Profession on 21st November of that year. New mining towns were been established nearby at Carletonville and Westonaria and Bank was abandoned in favour of these places. But by 1958 Isidore had returned to Botswana.
After a short spell in Serowe helping Bro. Paul build the new Church, Isidore was appointed by Fr. Urban Murphy, later Bishop, as Manager of the Mission Farm at St. Joseph's, Kgale where he lived and worked for about forty years. Here he was noted for his generous and cheerful hospitality to all visitors and made St. Joseph's a second home to all visiting missionaries. In recent years he has been working in a very different sphere of the apostolate - ion the Diocesan Office at the cathedral in Gaborone. Among many duties there he helps with Diocesan finances and assists missionaries in a variety of ways.
The
jubilee mass was a very joyful celebration with Bishop Boniface the principal
celebrant. Many priests and religious from Botswana and South Africa attend
the Mass. Fr. Ignatius Waters C.P., the Regional Superior, was the preacher.
In his homily he spoke of Our Lady as a model for religious in her ongoing
'yes' to God in the sometimes surprising ways in which His Will was made
known to her in the course of her life.
Our Passionist students from Irene, South Africa, organised the splendid Liturgy of the Mass and led the singing to the rhythm of the African drums. At the end of the Mass Bishop Boniface paid tribute to Isidore for his many years of generous service to the Diocese and made a presentation as a token of gratitude. Ignatius also paid tribute to Isidore for his fifty years of dedicated service to God in the Congregation and presented a gift as a sign of appreciation from all Passionists. Isidore responded by thanking all those who came to celebrate his jubilee and all who over the years helped him to follow his Passionist vocation. The Mass was followed by a most enjoyable festive meal organised by Bro. Brendan.
