Irish Missionary Union 50 Years To the People DL.indd

Presenter/Speakers
Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA of Cashel is President of
National Mission Council.
Dr Fainche Ryan is a lecturer in theology at the Loyola
Institute, Trinity College, Dublin. She has worked in China and
Namibia.
Jane Mellett is a Parish Pastoral Worker in Cherry Orchard
and Ballyfermot Parishes, Dublin.
Celebrating 50 Years of
‘To the Peoples’
Kathleen McGarvey OLA is Provincial of Missionary Sisters
of Our Lady of Apostles, Ardfoyle, Cork and President of Irish
Missionary Union.
Sean Healy SMA is co-Director of Social Justice Ireland, an
independent think tank and social advocacy organisation.
Sheila Curran is a Sister of Mercy from the Northern Province.
Currently she is Justice Coordinator for the Irish Missionary
Union and the Conference of Religious of Ireland.
Donal Dorr SPS is a missionary, teacher and lecturer on
Ecology, Justice and Missionary topics.
Joe Humphreys is a journalist and author, currently Education
Correspondent with The Irish Times. His books include, God’s
Entrepreneurs: How Irish Missionaries Tried to Change the World.
Connie O’Halloran worked in social development for the past
fourteen years and lived in Tanzania from 2005 to 2010.
Cyril Odia SDB, from Nigeria, is assistant pastor at Sean
McDermott Street Parish, Dublin.
Archbishop Michael Jackson is the Church of Ireland
Archbishop of Dublin since 2011. He is interested in ecumenical
life and work both in his diocese and internationally.
Dr Ali al-Saleh is Imam at Ahlul Bayt Islamic Centre,
Milltown, Dublin.
Hugh MacMahon is Executive Secretary of Irish Missionary
Union and worked in Asia for most of his life. He is author of
Guest from the West.
For more information contact:
Irish Missionary Union at [email protected] or 01-4923326
October Talks on Modern Mission
St Paul’s Church, Arran Quay.
Irish Missionary Union
Every Thursday in October:
7.30 to 9.00 pm
At Paul’s Church, Arran Quay.
Schedule of Events
Celebrating 50 Years of
‘To the Peoples’
(Ad Gentes)
‘To the Peoples’ launched in December 1965, set a
new agenda for Catholic missionary activity for the
rest of the century.
Celebrating its 50th Anniversary is an opportunity
both to evaluate its impact on peoples, cultures
and religions around the world and also look
forward to continuing that mission into the future.
Changes in mission thinking and practice are partly
due to new insights into the meaning of Church and
existence. However, they are also due to social,
economic and political changes in the world. The
end of colonialism, the desire for autonomy of the
now independent but still developing countries, the
increased respect for and indeed encounter with
other cultures and religions, the global and often
fundamentalist religious revivalism, the continuous
and increasing gap between rich and poor nations,
technological advances, the communications
industry and so on, have all greatly influenced how
mission is understood and practiced today.
Since its publication, the insights and directives
of ‘To the Peoples’ have been further developed
by three major documents, the most recent being
Pope Francis’ ‘Joy of the Gospel.’
October 1.
Opening Celebration. St Paul’s, Arran Quay. 7.30 – 9.00 pm
Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA. President of the National Mission Council
October 8.
Seminar: The Church is Missionary
Chair: Dr Fainche Ryan
The Local Challenge: Jane Mellett
The Global Challenge: Kathleen McGarvey OLA
October 15. Seminar: Mission and Justice
Chair: Sean Healy SMA
Communion of All People: Sheila Curran RSM
Communion of All Creation: Donal Dorr SPS
October 22. Seminar: Mission and Development
Chair: Joe Humphreys
The West to the Rest: Connie O’Halloran
The Rest to the West: Cyril Odia SDB
October 29. Seminar: Mission and Dialogue
Chair: Archbishop Michael Jackson
Islam: Iman Ali al-Saleh
Buddhism: Hugh MacMahon SSC
The time for all sessions is 7.30 to 9.00 pm