Botswana and South Africa

· Saturday 30th April: In the Cathedral in Gaborone, we had a very happy celebration for the combined jubilees of Fr. John Corrigan (Golden Jubilee of Ordination) and Fr. Pat Sheridan (Silver Jubilee of Ordination). People from all the parishes attended, gifts were not only presented to the jubilarians but also held aloft for all to see! Afterward there was food in abundance for everyone in the marquees set up in the Cathedral grounds.


· June 21st: Needless to say, we were shocked by Fr. Hugh's death. On Friday June 24, we had a mass here in Irene for Hugh and Dermot Patrick and many of Hugh's friends attended.

· July 1st: We celebrated the First Birthday of Leratong Hospice. It is always a joy to visit the hospice, The Matron and staff are obviously so happy and proud of the beautiful place and the work they do.

· In July, Kagiso, our only novice this year, departed for Tanzania to join the novitiate class at Itololo. He has written to say he is settling well.

· July 21-22 in Forest Hill, the annual student gathering took place. The twenty students, facilitated by Fr. Patrick and Fr. Michael, reflected on the subject of Restructuring in the Congregation.

· On August 29th, a Memorial Mass was celebrated for the late Fr Cathal Butler, at Jwaneng where he had worked for 20 years. The main celebrant was Bishop Boniface Setlalekgosi and a large body of clergy and religious attended as well as members of the faithful from as far away as Gaborone. Fr Lawrence Byrne was the homilist and he paid warm tribute to Cathal's life and work in Botswana with special reference to his spirit of hospitality.

· At the end of August, Fr. Pat left us for a year's Sabbatical, which will include a Renewal course in Tucson, Arizona and parish experience in California.

· Sept 8th in Forest Hill, Emmanuel Kabinga from Zambia made his Final Profession. His vows were received by Fr Michael Ogweno

· CP who preached eloquently in the presence of Bishop Boniface and a large gathering of clergy, religious and laity including Emmanuel's brother and sister from Zambia.

· September 18-21, Fr. Julian directed a three-day retreat for the Philosophy students at Irene.

· September 19-22, Fr. Michael Ogweno visited Zambia for talks with the Archbishop of Lusaka about the possibility of a foundation in his diocese.

· Fr Dermot O'Carroll arrived back in Forest Hill, on the 20th September, after his visit to Ireland for eye treatment.

· On the 26th September Fr. Andrew Makgetla departed for a course at St. Anselm's in Kent, England. We wish him well in his studies, which continue till June 2006.