THE COURAGE

TO BE A WITNESS

Issue No 13 - January/February 2004

For many people, there is still the

tradition of looking back and reflecting

on the events of the past year and

looking ahead to a New Year and

making ‘New Year’ resolutions.

If we think for a moment about the

world in which we live, we see that

during the past twelve months there has

been an escalation in violence,

terrorism and crimes against humanity.

We are more conscious of the plight

and impact of refugees, asylum seekers

and illegal immigrants. We have been

made aware of the growing HIV/AIDS

pandemic; a growth in drug and

alcohol dependency, an increase in

associated crimes, family breakdown,

homelessness and the human misery

that is ever present when the value and

dignity of the person is undermined.

We have, on the other hand, witnessed

the courage, dedication and

commitment of a great number of

people who simply reach out to others

in times of need. There has, as always,

been a generous response to national

and international need when lives have

been threatened. The values expressed

by compassion, hospitality, justice,

respect and trust have been

demonstrated in so many ways by those

who care for others. I believe these

realities express the tension within each

one of us for good or for evil; for

generosity or selfishness.

At Christmas we celebrated the birth of

Jesus, the Son of God. The whole event

spoke to us about the love of God for

all peoples and throughout all ages.

God’s love for each one of us. A God

who enters into our human condition in

order to redeem it; who comes among

us, “so that they may have life and have

it to the full”. (John 10:10)

God, who is love, call us to love our

neighbour and live in peace.

Each one of us is called to respond to

the Gospel of life, to “feed the hungry,

give drink to the thirsty, to welcome the

stranger, clothe those in need, visit the

sick and go to see the prisoner.”

(Matthew 25:31-46). To do this in a

practical way is, as Pope John Paul II

reminds us, “to preach and teach the

Gospel which dispels the darkness and

illuminates the way of life.” (Address to

the Bishops of England and Wales – 23

October 2003).

Each one of us can bear witness in our

daily lives to the intrinsic dignity and

value of every human life, but it takes

courage.

Perhaps, as we begin this New Year of

2004, we could simply resolve, as far

as we are able, not to turn away from

the needs of our neighbour, knowing

that together we can make a difference

to world in which we live.

I wish you all a very Happy, Blessed and

Peaceful New Year.

Brother John Martin, OH, Provincial

“Each one of us canbear witness in our daily

lives to the intrinsicdignity and value of

every human life, but ittakes courage.”

ALSO IN THIS ISSUECAN YOU CONTRIBUTE?Changing Names!And addresses! Moving the Charityforward on page 2

News from the servicesFind out what’shappening in yourarea inside...

Brother BernardCelebrating the firstprovincial - page 10

We hope that you enjoy this issue of the Hospitaller. As an interactive publication, we welcome any comments or suggestions regarding the newsletter, and would bedelighted to include on the Hospitaller mailing list, additional names and addresses of friends, family or colleagues. If at any time your details change or you wishto have your name removed from the Hospitaller mailing list, please do let us know.

We acknowledge sincere appreciation to all those who continue to support our work. We will always be grateful for financial support and voluntary help, whichensures the continuation and extension of the Hospitaller mission.

PLEASE ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO KAREN GILROY, FUNDRAISING & PUBLICITY OFFICER

Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God Charitable Trust, 1 Houndgate, Darlington, Co. Durham, DL1 5RLTel: 01325 373700 Fax: 01325 373708 E-mail: information@hospitaller.org.uk www.hospitaller.co.uk

men and women who give badexample and are trouble makers, andwho give you much work because oftheir ill-breeding. So, send them awayand clear the hospital of such personsso that the poor who want to live inpeace and quietness are not afflictedand maltreated by them.”

John of God listened carefully until theArchbishop had finished and then hereplied: “My Father and good Prelate, itis I alone who am wicked, incorrigible,useless, and deserve to be thrown outof the house of God; and all the poorpeople who are in the hospital aregood and I do not know anything badabout a single one of them. God suffersthe bad and the good every day He letshis sun shine on them all. There is reallyno reason the throw the abandonedand the afflicted out of their ownhouse.”

John of God’s response, full ofsympathy for ‘his’ poor and assumingany blame that had to be assigned,moved the Archbishop deeply. He toldJohn: “Blessed of God, Brother John,go in peace. I give you permission to doin the hospital as you would in yourown home.” John of God went back tohis hospital, and his poor, healed inspirit if not in body.

A LAST DUTYIn February 1550, feeling that his lifewas slipping away, John of God stillhad one essential task to carry out. Hehad to put his financial affairs in orderso that his creditors would not lose theirmoney when he died. One morningJohn took a clerk with him and calledon his creditors throughout the city.Some of them had forgotten that heowed them anything. He listed his debtsand creditors and, back home, had acopy made. He then tucked the original

into his tunic and placed the copy in thehospital’s safe so whatever happenedhis creditors’ entitlements would beremembered and honoured.

FINAL SICKNESSJohn of God had been a ‘man-about-town’ in a very literal sense. He hadgone out into the city or the surroundingcountryside almost every day. He was inand out of the Archbishop’s Palace, thedwellings of the clergy, the palaces ofthe nobility and the homes of thewealthy and the poor; he visited innsand brothels, lawyers’ offices,merchants’ counting houses, shops, themarket place, the prison and so on.

There were several households inGranada that John visited almost daily.One, that of the ‘Casa de Los Pisa’ wasthe household of Don García de Pisa.On his way home from questing, Johnwould turn into the courtyard of thishouse and sit by the fountain, taking adrink of water and chatting to themistress of the house, Doña AnaOsorio, or anyone else who wasaround. More often than not he gotsomething here for his poor. From thishouse it was only a few minutes walk tohis hospital on the Los Gomeles Rise.

Towards the end of February severaldays passed without John of God

appearing at Casa de Los Pisa. DoñaAna enquired as to what had happenedto him. She was told that he hadbecome so sick that he was confined tohis bed at his own hospital. Doña Anaimmediately went to visit him. She sawthat the constant stream of peoplecoming and going from his room,asking for help and advice, preventedhim from getting the rest he needed.

She begged him to come to her house,where he could have a bed andeverything he needed. There, in his ownhospital, he was just lying on a plankwith his basket for a pillow. Johndeclined her invitation because hewanted to die, and be buried, amongsthis own people. However, at DoñaAna’s prompting, the Archbishopintervened and ordered him to go toher house to be nursed.

Doña Ana sent a sedan chair totransport John to Los Pisa. As soon ashe got into the chair his poor realisedthat he was being taken from them.They surrounded him to try and preventhis departure. John dissolved into tearswhen he saw ‘his’ poor so distraught.He said to them: “My brothers andsisters, God knows that I want to diehere amongst you. However, God isbetter served if I do His will and die outof your sight.”

His last words to ‘his’ poor and hiscompanions were a blessing: “Remainin peace my children. Should we nevermeet again, pray to Our Lord for me.”As the people around him began to cryand lament he slumped unconscious inthe chair. As soon as he recoveredsufficiently the servants of Doña Analifted him and carried him to Casa deLos Pisa

THE SAINT JOHN OF GOD STORY - PART 6 CONTINUED

Registered Charity No. 232539

The story of Saint John of Godconcludes in the next issue ofHospitaller.

CONTENTS

New Year Note from theProvincial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A New Name . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A New Location . . . . . . . . . . . .

NEWS FROM THE SERVICES

The North East . . . . . . . . . . . . .

North Yorkshire . . . . . . . . . . . .

West Yorkshire . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hertfordshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE ORDER’S REVIEW

Conference in Ghana . . . . . . . .

Hospitaller Order of Saint Johnof God General Conference . . .

The Path of Hospitality in theManner of Saint John of God . .

The First Provincial . . . . . . . . . .

Our 50th Anniversary . . . . . . . .

OTHER ITEMS

A Cracked Pot . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A Day for Reflection and Forward Planning . . . . . . . . . . .

Saint John of God Story part 6 .

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Sandown Road

22 Sandown Road was opened as a service in 1995 and is an eight-bedroomed bungalow offering 24-hour care and support to adults withprofound learning and physical disabilities, and complex needs. Such isthe extent of the challenging needs of some residents, many careproviders are unable to offer them homes. Hence Sandown Road is aparticularly valuable service in the area. In recent weeks, for the first timein any of its services, the Order has managed to negotiate a 2:1 staff ratiofor one resident who has particularly challenging and self-injuriousbehaviour. Two staff members are required to care and support thisperson with very special needs.

Working in partnership with Social Services and Health Trusts is vitallyimportant when ensuring the needs of the people we care for are met.

A NEW NAME…

…AND A NEW LOCATION

The Trustees have felt for some timethat the name of the Charity, “TheTrust Property Administered inConnection With The HospitallerOrder of Saint John of God” israther cumbersome. Accordingly, atthe Trustees meeting on 1 October2003, a resolution was passedchanging the name of the Charityto “Hospitaller Order of Saint Johnof God Charitable Trust”. As well asbeing less cumbersome, the newname more accurately describeswhat we are – a charity whichadvances the Mission of Hospitalityof the Hospitaller Order of SaintJohn of God.

The Hospitaller Order of Saint Johnof God Charitable Trust has movedits headquarters to the centre ofDarlington. After over 120 years inthe village of Scorton in NorthYorkshire, the Order and theCharitable Trust has moved in orderto take advantage of a centrallocation from where to serve its 40projects throughout Great Britain.The address details are on the right.

PROVINCIAL CURIA

1 HoundgateDarlingtonCo DurhamDL1 5RLTel: 01325 373701Fax: 01325 373707

PROVINCIALADMINISTRATION

35-36 BlackwellgateDarlingtonCo DurhamDL1 5HWTel: 01325 373700Fax: 01325 373708

NEWS FROM THE SERVICES

THE NORTH EAST

Dalby View

1 & 2 Dalby View in Coulby Newham, near Middlesbrough were purpose-built in 1993 as high specification bungalows each offeringaccommodation and 24-hour care and support for four young adults.Until very recently all of the people for whom Dalby View became theirhome had physical disabilities. However in response to a pressing need inthe area, the home is now registered to receive young people withlearning disabilities. Staff and residents have worked hard to have thisnew registration accepted and were pleased to welcome a young manwith learning disabilities to their home.

DON’T FORGET!

You can get all the information on our services by visiting our website at www.hospitaller.co.uk

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NORTH YORKSHIRE

have pursued have been to find apurchaser for the site as a goingconcern.

The Order has now received anexpression of interest, subject toplanning consent, which is beingactively pursued. This would be apositive solution, which will meanthat services will be continued onthe site, with further development ofthe site included in the proposal.

If this positive solution proceeds, itwill mean that the residents’ homeswill be secured and that themajority of staff would transferunder TUPE to the new provider.Some areas, including the ancillaryservices and LEOS, are potentiallystill at risk and we will be exploringthe options for these services andstaff with the potential purchaserover the next few weeks.

Further meetings with SocialServices and the PCT have beenestablished to further the transition

The Order has worked tirelessly inpursuit of a number of options forthe services at Scorton. Thesehave included particularly ourwork in partnership withBroadacres Housing Association,which produced a potentialdevelopment of new services.This option would have been theOrder’s preferred choice, as wewould have continued to providethe services. Sadly this was notfeasible, as the funding was notavailable. The other options we to the new provider. The intention

would be that there would be anappropriate handover period toensure that the quality of servicesis sustained throughout. Webelieve that this will providecontinuity for the people who usethe services and staff, reducedisruption to everyone andimprove the facilities on site.

We would like to thank everyonefor their patience and support.

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Saint John of God Hospital Services, Scorton, North Yorkshire

WEST YORKSHIRENEW NURSING HOMES

IN BRADFORD

The Hospitaller Order of SaintJohn of God Charitable Trust, inpartnership with Bradford DistrictCare Trust, is developing two newnursing homes, both of which areon sites adjacent to existingnursing homes run by the Charity.The first of these developments isin Thornton where a purpose builtnursing home will provide a hometo twelve people with learning and

physical disabilities. Building workon the bungalows is well under wayand due for completion inSeptember 2004.

The second development, inQueensbury, is an eight-beddednursing home for people withlearning disabilities, who also havechallenging behaviour. Work is dueto commence in January 2004 forcompletion later in the year.

The development of the Charity’sservices in West Yorkshire over thelast ten years has been extensive.When the two new nursing homesopen, the Charity will have a totalof nine nursing homes, twosupported living services and arespite care service. This rapiddevelopment has been madepossible by the Charity’s effectiveworking in partnership withBradford District Care Trust andCalderdale Social Services.

WEST YORKSHIRE HERTFORDSHIREThe following article was published in Bradford District NHS Connectionsmagazine, October/November 2003. A Triumph in Partnership

Working - The Relaunch ofWoodhall Community Centre

The 16th December saw the relaunch celebrationfor the Charity’s newest service in Hertfordshire,Woodhall Community Centre. The transfer of thiswell established, but underused, CommunityCentre from the local district council to the Charitytook a great deal of planning and hard work on allsides, but is a true triumph in partnership working.

The Centre has seen the first phase of itsrefurbishment completed but there is much workstill to do, with a new covered entrance to the caféarea being our next priority. The development ofthe centre is more than just bricks and mortar andmuch work has been done to develop our linkswith other agencies and people in the local area.We are also pushing forward with plans to involvelocal people and bring into the centre those groupswho are currently under represented.

The day was a celebration of what is a longstanding partnership between the Hospitaller andWelwyn & Hatfield Council and its latestachievement. It was a day that was enjoyed by allwho had the good fortune to be there.

The district’s first citizen, Councillor Roger Trigg andour own Provincial Brother John Martin OHunveiled a plaque commemorating the occasionand gave speeches that pointed out what can beachieved if organisations work together. Theentertainment was lively and enjoyable and thefood superb. We look forward to continuing to seethis new venture play its part in achieving theHospitaller Mission.

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THE ORDER’S REVIEWNEWS AND ARTICLES RELATING TO THE ORDER AND THE BROTHERS

HOSPITALLER ORDER OF SAINT JOHN OF GOD

GENERAL CONFERENCE 2003, TAGATAY, PHILLIPINES

MISSION CONFERENCE IN GHANA

The coming together of this groupallowed for the opportunity toexperience collegiality, to draw on theopinions and experiences of otherProvinces, help understand the meaningof appropriate globalisation, and aboveall, allow a more adequateunderstanding of the Brothers’ fraternitybased on respect for the diversity ofothers and the capacity for communion.The conference, which lasted six days,had delegates starting as early as 5amand finishing at 7.45 pm, such was theintensity of the schedule - it was noholiday for the participants althoughextremely rewarding!

The title of the conference was“Charismatic Management”.Charismatic management is a style ofmanagement and leadership, whichgives life and keeps the flame ofhospitality alive. The General

Government decided on this titlebecause it saw the need to promotecharismatic management in its centresfor the performance of its mission whilebeing at the same time both witnesses ofJesus Christ and of St John of God. Theaim of the conference was also toanalyse the strategies that areimplemented in order to steer theOrder’s future with an adequate missionin the Order, with the Brothers and theCo-workers united, sharingresponsibilities and defining their roles.

What St John of God put forward as hisstarting point when he gave substance tohis concerns – “may our Lord JesusChrist grant me the grace to have ahospital were I can treat the poor sickand the mentally ill as I wish” was atheme to drive on the Brothers and Co-workers to ensure that the managementperformed in the Order’s facilities today

are defined by the charism and imbuedwith the charism.

Another element of the conference,which goes hand-in-hand withcharismatic management, is the state ofvocations, the way the Brothers are inthe Church, the sense of religious lifetoday and how they are viewed by theChurch and by society. Delegateslooked at the rate at which the Order isattracting new members, what thismeans for the life of the Provinces andwhat decisions we are being asked totake in order to direct the Order’sfuture.

The last issue was a global analysis ofhow the Provinces implemented theconclusion of the General Chapter thattook place in 2000.

In summing up the week in thePhilippines, Brother John Martin, OH,Provincial of the Province of theVenerable Bede in Great Britain, said, “Itwas an extremely exciting conference inthe sense that we are constantlyevaluating our Mission of Hospitality.Our new document on spirituality – “Thepath of Hospitality in the manner ofSaint John of God” will encourage us tore-energise ourselves in the ongoingMission of Hospitality”

IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR, ALL THE PROVINCIALS OF THE ORDER, A REPRESENTATIVE OF EACH PROVINCE AND AGROUP OF CO-WORKERS MET TOGETHER WITH THE PRIOR GENERAL OF THE ORDER, PASCUAL PILES, OH AND HISCOUNCIL IN THE PHILIPPINES TO TAKE PART IN A GENERAL CONFERENCE. THIS REPRESENTED 23 PROVINCES, 1VICE-PROVINCE, 5 GENERAL DELEGATIONS AND HOSPITALLER SISTERS. THERE WERE ALMOST 90 PEOPLE INATTENDANCE FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

I was thrilled and privileged to be askedto attend the Order’s first MissionConference in May this year which tookplace in Accra, Ghana. I lookedforward to returning to Ghana after agap of nearly 30 years.

Brother John O’Neill was there to meetme at the airport and took me back tothe Brother’s Mission Hospital, St.Joseph’s and Community in Korforidua.I settled into Community life quickly andvisited the Hospital, then joined John inhis important tasks in and around theHospital.

There are two important aspects toevery conference. First is the actualconference content and second, there isthe valuable contact with otherconference delegates. This conferencewas special in that both aspects werefirst class! Eighty-five Brothers, Sistersand Co-workers, including the PriorGeneral and most of his Council, tookpart in this significant HospitallerConference.

The conference celebrated the efforts offollowers of St John of God to supportand advance the evangelisation ofpeoples by bringing John-of-Godhospitality into the life and cultures ofmany peoples. The Prior General paida tribute of admiration to themissionary Brothers who ‘went out tothe peoples’ in almost every generationfor their generosity, sacrifices and goodexample in living the true John-of Godstyle of life and serving others in theirmost urgent needs. Similarly, he paidwarm tribute to the first indigenousBrothers and the Co-workers whojoined the missionary Brothers.Hospitality, it seems, blends easily intoso many cultures.

The main speaker was Fr Donal Dorr, amember of the St Patrick’s MissionSociety. During the meeting he gave anumber of inspiring talks on missionaryactivity as part of the mission of theSpirit and the Word in Salvation history.

Brother Brian O’Donnell, from theAustralian Province of the Order, gave a

powerful and clear presentation on theOrder’s missionary activity. He tracedits missionary attitude to John of Godhimself who, in the words of the lateBrother Gabriele Russotto, was not amissionary in the commonly acceptedsense of the word, but he had amissionary spirit in his fruitfulapostolate in the streets of Granada.This missionary spirit of our Founderwas passed on to his first disciples andto all the Hospitaller Order, growingfrom his bountiful seed to spreadrapidly to mission lands. Brother Brianalso said “the Order’s tradition ofinculturation is the reason that it liveson today in many lands, more than fourcenturies after its foundation”

Each Mission region gave a history of itsfoundation and an up to date view of itspresent Hospitaller services. One canonly be impressed and inspired bythese Hospitaller services – with theBrothers and Co-workers working sideby side, just like our Founder did inGranada in the 16th Century.

Our African Brothers were terrific hostsand the conference was marked by lotsof deep sharing, laughter and realinterest in each other’s Hospitalleractivities.

Brother Michael Newman, OH

Brother Ignatius Halloran, OH celebrated his Golden Jubilee of ReligiousProfession on 13 December 2003. In the next issue of Hospitaller, we willlook at his life in the Order.

IN THE NEXT ISSUE:

A LETTER FROM THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF MANILA, JOSE L ATIENZA, JR TO THE DELEGATE OF THE PHILIPPINE PROVINCIAL DELEGATION.My profoundest felicitations to the officers and members of the Philippine Delegation of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John ofGod on your celebration of the third centennial of the Martyrdom of the Venerable Lorenzo Gomez, OH on 1-6 December 2003.

The devotion of our very own Asian Martyr Lorenzo will always be remembered as a blessing. His commitment to serve the sickpoor is truly worthy of emulation. Indeed, he is the epitome of unflinching commitment to his mission, a saint that stood forgenuine service and high sense of responsibility.

I exhort all the delegates from the fifty different countries that will gather in Manila to commemorate the third centennial of thisAsian martyr to continue his selfless legacy of service to the sick poor. Let us draw strength from the teaching of the HolyScripture to do our work as slaves cheerfully, as though we served Christ, and not merely human beings. Remember that theLord will reward each of us … for the good we do. (Eph 6:7-8).

As Father of the City of Manila, and on behalf of our people, I extend my utmost support to the Hospitaller Order’s laudableundertakings. May your great works increase and your blessings be a hundredfold!

May God Almighty bless your works generously as only He could!

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SPIRITUALITY DOCUMENT PRESENTEDAt the general conference in the Philippines December 2004,the Prior General made the long awaited presentation of thenew document on the Spirituality of St. John of God and theOrder. This is now being printed in Rome in seven languageversions and should be ready sometime in March 2004. Thisarticle is an attempt on my part to give a short synopsis of itscontents.

INTRODUCTIONWhat St. John of God began around 1538 is still movingforward after 465 years. This is the result of the power of thecharism of St. John of God to transform the men and womenwho look to him as a spiritual Father. Today we are living in arapidly changing world, so the legacy that we have received,that has been handed down to us deserves to be transformed,so that it is relevant to our time in history. It needs to live and beexpressed in new ways, come alive in new cultural forms, witha fresh fervour. We cannot sit back and just accept the Charismas a static legacy that has been bequeathed to us, it must bereborn again and again, given a new face, and expressed innew ways relevant to our time. We have many co-workersendowed with the spirit of the charism, so we are sharing aspirituality with them. The purpose of this document is to placethe Orders spirituality within this new historical context.

It is divided into three parts1 Memory (The Charismatic Origins)2 The Gospel Keys (Mercy and Hospitality)3 The Spiritual Path (Hospitaller Spirituality for ourAge)

1 MEMORYJohn of God was a man on the move, he reached his own life’speaks by recognising the depths of human misery. This isdescribed in the following way, EMPTINESS MAKING ROOMFOR GRACE. The failures of his early life, his abduction as achild, his near death experiences as a soldier, the death of hisparents. Are all events that lead him not to place trust in self, butto place God before and above all the things of this world.

CALL : The Final Act of Service to the LordHe was seeking without success, in Seville, in Ceuta, in Gibralta,all the time praying, “bring peace and calm my soul.” Whileselling books in Granada he went to the hermitage of themartyrs to hear John of Avila preach. There God was waiting forhim.CHANGE : Transformed by the word of GodJohn found the answer to his yearning to serve the Lord in theRoyal Hospital in Granada, his whole being was changed intothat of a rehabilitator and healer. He discovered the path hesought when he came down on the side of the poor and thesick.IDENTIFICATION : With the Poor Jesus and Poor PeopleSeeing the poor cast out, along with the sick and abandoned,he was determined to bring them help. Little by little his desireto have his own hospital was granted, and for John the hospitalwas a holy place, God’s home. It was a hospital-home in whichhe cared for the poor and the sick without distinction.

TRADITION : Handing down the Spirit of the Founder andFatherThe gift of John spread widely, others decided to live this newway of following and imitating Jesus in the company of John.His only rule was the example of his own life. He wantedBrothers who had experienced God’s mercy, because this wouldensure they lived their own lives imbued with love. TheHospitaller Order had been born.

THE HOSPITALLER SPIRIT LEGACYHis first companions spread the spirit they had inherited. Johnof God has attracted many people across time and history, thespiritual values that have inspired this long history are,• Profound experience of God’s Grace and Mercy• Following the Compassionate Christ• Devotion to Mary• Love of God and Neighbour• Spiritual Constancy when Faced with Obstacles• Radiating Hospitality• Serving the Poor and Needy• Professionalism• Self giving unto Death• Inculturation among the Poor

THE CHARISM OF SAINT JOHN OF GOD, A SHAREDMISSIONThe gift of hospitality has spread continuously even to thepeople not driven by the values of Christian faith. A new visionof the Order as a family is being fostered today. It challenges usto live in such a way that others feel animated to do the same.

2. THE GOSPEL KEYS MERCY AND HOSPITALITY

MERCYThe capacity to understand, to show compassion, toforgive, to be agents of reconciliation.HOSPITALITYThe capacity to reach out and welcome others. Toreject violence, especially between ourselves, where weare incapable of living in peace.MERCYThe God of the Old Testament was a God of mercy, alwaysready to forgive despite faithlessness. He is the one who takesthe lead in forgiving. Mercy is the way in which God revealshimself to the people as God.The new testament shows Jesus as the great forgiver, the greathealer of forgiveness. Mercy is the key to the Charisma andSpirituality of St. John of God, we seek to live mercy within thechurch.HOSPITALITYThe tradition term in which we have expressed our charism. Itspeaks about the relationship between guest and host.Hospitality is outreach and welcome, it has a number offeatures.• IT IS VIRTUALLY UNIVERSAL• IT REVEALS A HIGH SENSE OF MORALITY• IT IS VIRTUALLY SACRED

• IT IS AN UNPREDICTABLE AND UNCONTROLLABLE EVENT• EVERY MEETING OF HOSPITALITY IS UNIQUE, IT INVOLVES

SEEING PEOPLE AS INDIVIDUALSHOSPITALITY IN REVELATIONWe have icons of hospitality in the Old Testament. The NewTestament describes a great outburst of hospitality whichreaches a climax when Jesus washes our feet and dies. Thegreat Christian parable of hospitality, the story of the goodSamaritan brings hospitality and mercy together.HOSPITALITY IN OUR AGEWe are called to express hospitality in the age in which we live,and respond to our specific vocation, by offering services whereour organisation, professionalism, technology, andhumanisation, are combined with an attitude of welcome,outreach, service and solidarity with the poor, for the healing ofphysical and moral suffering.

3 THE SPIRITUAL PATHTHE STAGES THROUGH WHICH ST. JOHN OF GODWENT POINT US TO OUR OWN SPIRITUAL PATH.

EXPERIENCES OF EMPTINESS (Being uprooted in order to be born again)We recognise the limitations of the world, our response to ourvocation can in this sense be seen as a first step towards achange of life. It invites us to go further and give rise to ayearning for something different.

THE CALL AND CALLING THROUGHOUT LIFE : “LISTENMY SON”When people give up living for themselves they discover amysterious design and plan for their life. Great effort is needed

to readjust our lives to what God is offering us. Throughoutlife we have ‘new callings’ which deepen our initial

calling and give it solidarity. But we have to respond.

CHANGE AND CONSECRATIONThose who know that they are called by God to live inthe manner of St. John of God, and respond to thatcall, must strive for a gradual interior transformation,a sense of being changed and consecrated.

THE MYSTICAL IDENTIFICATION WITH THEPOOR, MARGINALISED AND SUFFERING JESUS

In the present life, the path of the spirit never ends. Thespirit acts through us to keep the merciful Christ of the

gospels presence alive through time.

PARTICIPANTS ALONG THE PATH OF THE PEOPLE OFGODThe importance of daily mass, the real presence of Jesus in thetabernacle, converts our communities into genuine schools ofhospitality. It also speaks of the sacraments of reconciliation,anointing the sick, and the liturgy of the hours.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE PATH OF SPIRITUALITY OF THEORDER AND IT COMMUNITIES

CHARISMATIC TRANSMISSIONOur spirituality takes place through transmission (communion)the community, the Order the past and the present areimportant as a school of spirituality in hospitality.

BROTHERLY LOVEOur sign to society lies above all in the Brothers to createcommunion in fraternal love.

SHARING THE EXPERIENCE OF GOD AND CARRYINGOUT COMMUNITY DISCERNMENT IN GOD’S WILLWe are called to make our communities places in which theenvironment and spirituality give rise to spiritual discernment.

THE COMMUNITY AND THE MISSION OF HOSPITALITYWe do not act in an individual capacity, the community sendsus, while it supports us and makes us credible as Brothers.

A COMMUNITY WITH A SENSE OF CHURCHWe belong to the great community of the church. The Order’sapostolic centres are called to be places in which Christian loveis publicly confessed, proclaimed and practised.

OUR PERSONAL PATH OF SPIRITUALITYWe are called to be men of the Spirit. We will not be able toshare this spirit if we do not seek to possess it.

PERSONAL PRAYER AS A PATH OF SPIRITUALITYWhen daily concerns and daily work prevent our prayer lifefrom flourishing, our path of spirituality stall, we can evenbackslide.

A PERSONAL SPIRITUAL PROJECTThe personal life project becomes a manifestation of ourcontinuing vocational response. The spirituality of self-giving, orpermanent service, of unreserved outreach and welcome.

CONTEMPLATIVES ON THE MISSIONWe are called to live with a contemplative attitude. With our co-workers, we are called to cultivate the values of the humanperson, and a deepening of the culture of hospitality.

VIGILANCE AND OUTREACH TO THE SPIRITThe spirit calls us to be messengers and witnesses of justice,committed to peace.

FORMATION AS A PATH OF SPIRITUALITYThis is present in three stages. The first stage or initial formationis covered under the heading “Charismatic Initiation”. It is seenas the age of ideals. The second stage is seen as the stage ofoperational responsibility. The third stage is presented as thestage of increasing limitation.Whatever the stage, there arealways decisive moments in our lives. Trials are a providentialinstrument of the spirit for our growth and identification withJesus.

CONCLUSIONAllowing the yearning of spirituality which dwells within us toflourish, will surprise us. Something new will grow within us.What seems impossible, will become possible. We shall bejoyful and enthusiastic messengers of the good news of mercyand hospitality.

The people of God and the whole of humanity need our witnessas prophets and mercy. Let us take up the invitation of John PaulII “Duc in Altum” may Christ out hope, strengthen andencourage our fidelity to our prophetic mission.

THE PATH OF HOSPITALITY IN THE MANNER OF SAINT JOHN OF GOD

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GOD LOVES MEWhat is the point of all this? People “inlove” are capable of tremendous selfsacrifice and self giving and they do noteven think it’s costly. When can I fullygrasp that God loves me so much andlongs for my love in return. I am notsimply tolerated, I am loved, deeply. Asyou might expect there is a caveat. A fullacceptance of this love, which is Godspresence in me, can never be grasped bythe intellect and can only be reached byprayer. Thus my transformation can onlybe gradual. God will bring it aboutthrough people and events and – myprayer. All of which, of course, Bernardknew long, long ago.

CONTEMPLATIVEIn the distant past one Brother Benignus,on a visit from Ireland, told us the moreyour life seethes with activity, the greateryour need for prayer. Christ our Lord wascontemplative. His prayer and actionfollow one another as constantly as theinhaling and exhaling of breathing.Bernard, I believe, was alwayscontemplative in action. The terms arecomplementary. Thomas Merton used tospeak of the spring and the stream.

DYINGIn the Genesis myth the serpents classicline of seduction is “You will be likeGods.” Gods who are in control. So easyto satisfy this desire for divinity byknowing every one else’s business, bycriticising and judging the neighbour. Bywanting to be the centre of ones smalluniverse. Bernard’s claim was thatbecause we are pre occupied withourselves, we have in some sense to dieto that self and over the years he hasexemplified a path of increasingselflessness and self-emptying.

IN CHRISTHe has always admired St Paul, the manwho was an apostle because he hadseen the Lord. The Paul who always facedup to reality, who asked and answeredthe hard questions, who writes as a manof prayer and whose whole life wascontinuously held in the presence ofChrist. Paul whose special insight lay inChrist’s relationship to believers. Being“in Christ” – sharing the divine life,knowing a divine indwelling, believingthat Christ and the Christian are one.

But also a Paul conversant withweakness, who could write “I came toyou in weakness and fear, and muchtrembling”, whose appearance was un-impressive and was plagued by illness: aPaul who could proclaim “I live not withmy own life but with the life of Christ wholives in me.” (Gals 2:20).

I see Bernard as the Father of the EnglishProvince. His leadership and examplehas always pointed the way. I am not inthe business of Canonisation Bernard,you were always on the stubborn side butif I were an examiner I would put ticksagainst increasing selflessness andsimplicity. A charity that knows nobounds, a man who for all his greatachievements accepts to be seen asunimportant, and a man who now prayswithout ceasing.

So this is my tribute to Bernard, arambling but sincere tribute for no onecould ever accuse me of sticking to thepoint.

We still need his prayers.

Brother Joseph Carroll, OH

SPEAKING FOR THE PROVINCE WE ASK TO BE

FORGIVEN FOR ALL THIS INTROSPECTION BUT

WE ARE ONLY 50 ONCE. AS THIS CELEBRATORY

YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE WE LOOK FOR A

FITTING SYMBOL THAT CAN EPITOMISE ALL THAT

WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN, AND ALL WE HAVE BEEN

ABLE TO ACHIEVE: SOME ONE PERSON WHO

CAN BOTH SUMMARISE THE PAST AND POINT

THE WAY AHEAD. HAVING EARLIER SPOKEN OF

A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY, OF A MATURING

PROCESS, AND OF LIVES GIVEN, WE LOOK MORE

SPECIFICALLY AT THE ONE BROTHER WHO WAS

HERE LONG BEFORE WE BECAME A PROVINCE

AND HAS BEEN AND STILL IS AN INSPIRATIONAL

FIGURE THROUGHOUT.

THE MANOn my first visit to Scorton in 1948 therewas this tall fresh faced Brother, probablymid-thirties I thought, black robed,hands under scapular, warmlywelcoming smile, one Brother BernardBurke, then head of the English Province,the man I would later think of as ever theinnovator. Over the years I would cometo appreciate his qualities as a leader, hisreadiness to accept responsibility, thecourage of this convictions, hisdecisiveness and being unafraid ofmaking mistakes, always open to changeand, above all, his deep faith. Noteverybody’s cup of tea mind of course,as some thought him too stubborn butyou cannot please them all. Some yearslater I learnt that when I was being votedon by the community for admission toProfession of Vows I was black-balled,considered not suitable for Profession. Inever knew the nature of my crimes butin fact Bernard over ruled them all, somaybe my summation is biased.

IN OLD AGEThe Bernard who was always a goodbluffer and given his educationalbackground, an almost scandalous over-achiever, is now the Doyen of theProvince, in his 93rd year, blind, ‘leadernow no longer’ and away from hisimmediate environment, has to be led bythe hand. How can a sighted-personunderstand the deprivation which isblindness and yet he has quietly acceptedto be seen as unimportant, has neverbecome soured, grumpy, resentful, isnever known to complain. He still wantsthe Mass passionately and seems tospend most of the day in prayer. Heseems to be immersed in Christ as thedrop of water in the wine of the chalice.For the Christian God is always there,deep within us, intent on bringing us tothat union with himself. Thattransforming union, for which we weremade. It follows that far from pityingBernard in his weakened physical state Isee in him the full flowering of theChristian life; for this he was made.

I see a life that echoes the prayer inEphesians “Glory be to him whose powerworking within us can do infinitely morethan we can ask or imagine” (Eph 3:20).Christ within us identifies with all ourstruggles, pain, disappointments, stillintent on leading us to be with him, inlove and total trust.

FULL ACCEPTANCEThe truth is that God’s love for me, for allof us, is unconditional. It can be difficultto fully accept this. My tendency is tothink of a slow progression up the ladderof virtue which fashions me and makesme fit for God even though the reverse istrue. I need to fully accept that God lovesme – infinitely – now just as I am anddoes not saddle this love with conditions.Further, the teaching insists that fullacceptance of this truth makes everythingelse possible. My whole being needs tograsp “God loves me.”

AN ELABORATIONSome theologians today incline to thepossibility that Jesus himself experienceda profound conversion at the time of hisBaptism by John the Baptist. A conversionnot from sin to virtue – which isunthinkable – but in the radicalredirection of his life as his entire personwas caught up in a total, unconditionalresponse to the revelation of his Father’slove for him. “At once, as he was comingup out of the water.” “You are mybeloved Son, my favour rests on you.”That his entire human existence wasirrevocably turned towards the Fatherwith all the intensity of his being. Whichmight explain the astonishment of hisown townspeople who know him beforethe baptism “Where did he get all thiswisdom?”

THE FIRST PROVINCIAL – BROTHER BERNARD BURKE, OHA TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO THE FIRST PROVINCIAL OF THE ENGLISH PROVINCE BY BROTHER JOSEPH CARROLL, OH

BROTHER BERNARD WAS THE FIRST PROVINCIAL OF THE HOSPITALLER ORDER OF SAINT JOHN OF GOD’S ENGLISH PROVINCE. HE WAS A MAN WHO WAS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING TWO HOSPITALS – ST. CUTHBERTS, HURTHWORTH PLACEAND ST. JOHN OF GOD, SILVERDALE. HE WAS A MAN WHO ESTABLISHED THE NURSING SCHOOL AT SCORTON; THE ONLY ALL MALE ONE IN THE COUNTRY AT THAT TIME. HE WAS A MAN, WHO IN HIS LATE SIXTIES, WAS A FOUNDER MEMBER OF A REHABILITATIONCENTRE IN MONZE, ZAMBIA. WHAT FOLLOWS IS A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF BROTHER BERNARD BY BROTHER JOSEPH CARROLL OH (EDITOR).

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St John of God Hospital, Scorton

Silverdale, Lancashire

Silverdale, Lancashire

OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY - THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!

washing, bathing, toileting, dressingwounds, and of course so many patientsto be fed. It was not uncommon to see aBrother within a circle of patients givingeach a mouthful in turn. To add to thedelight we also did the cleaning. Wehad no domestics. Patients were seldomdischarged. The only person I doremember leaving us was transferred toanother institution only to die two weekslater. Oh the delight, the sheer delight,on the rare occasion of an afternoon offand a bicycle ride into the country. Suchbliss! You will note that while purportingto speak of the Province my remarks sofar have been confined to Scorton. Wedid have other works in the country but,in our formative years, it is there wewere grounded in every sense.

In the business pages of a newspaper Irecently saw the headline “Innovate orDie”. On our journey of discovery thatcould have been our motto. BrotherBernard, our founding Provincial, wasever the innovator, always open tochange. He took us into the NationalHealth Service structure from itsinception and through its pre-Thatcherite glory. He somehow hadScorton registered as a State RegisteredNurse training school and was the firstto employ women in the hospital. Hehired one of those early massive TVscreens so that we might see theCoronation (half the village came in) ingrainy black and white, and seeWolverhampton Wanderers in a cup-tie.He sought to brighten the lives of thenovices by introducing football, runningand recreational quizzes. This man atthe age of 70 went out to Zambia tostart a new work of the Province.

A recent article by Brother MichaelFrancis in the Scottish BishopsNewsletter “Care” provides a more upto date illustration of this characteristicof our Province. He presents our workat Barrhead in Scotland as a microcosmof our present day philosophy. TheBrothers took over St. Mary’s Nursing

Home with buildings no longer suitableto the present day needs of its residents.It was decided to re-provide the servicein a more integrated community setting.We have had some success. A numberof our former residents now live in theirown homes in the style known as“supported living”. There are problemsof course, mainly financial. We have towork in partnership with localgovernment and housing associations.This makes our re-settlementprogramme more complex. It takes timebut we are getting there. Thus weattempt to counter the limitations ofinstitutional life, offer privacy,independence, consultation, freedom ofchoice, an opportunity to “make yourvoice heard” to break down walls. Havethere been mistakes on the way? Ofcourse there have. It is a part of thehuman condition. I have known eightProvincials and they were all fallible.But those who do not make mistakes donot make anything else. So, as thewartime song enjoined us “Bless 'em all,Bless 'em all, the long and the short andthe tall”.

Over the 50 years of our Province’sexistence Brothers past and presenthave been called to follow Jesus Christwhose only concern, whose solesatisfaction lies in doing his Father’swill. A Christ who emptied himselftaking the form of a servant(Phils 2: 5ff). The more emptied we arethe more the Father is free to givehimself as he wants, totally withoutmeasure. Ours are towering idealsamidst human frailty. But the path ofheroic martyrdom is always a minorityoccupation. There will always be apenumbra, a shaded part, a partialshadow over those of us who prove lessfully involved in this enormous ideal.We are fallible Lord. We must concedeour limits. But this is irrelevant and Iclose with a metaphor from the world ofathletics. The young and ambitiousathlete is interviewed and has thatcrestfallen look because he failed to wingold or break a world record. Then hebrightens up and, as we chorus withhim, “but I gave it my best shot”. Thusends a very personal reminiscence.

Brother Joseph Carroll OH

In 1948 this young beginner en routefrom Scorton’s pre-Beeching railwaystation and smoking his last cigarette,believed his was a divine call to followChrist in this distinctive way and heexpected sacrifice. He would not bedisappointed. That beautiful bluedouble-breasted pin-stripe suit whichcost £18 of the demob pittance, thewristwatch, the radio and the cigarettes,“Verboten!” No newspapers, no whatthe Zambians call “ma-pint-ee”, nodays off and your next trip home will bein 3 years me lad. You used to sing “If Iwas single my pockets would jingle” butnow no pocket money either. Allowed abath once a week, one clean bed sheeta week, a very short haircut and a lifegoverned by bells (and I don’t mean thewhisky).

Ear shattering, at the crack of dawn,and the injunction to rise as though thebed were on fire. Take your enamelbasin for a cold water splash, thenproceed to the chapel where you willmeet with the rest of the Communityfour times each day to pray the DivineOffice, in Latin, and if you make amistake, lean forward and kiss thebench. After Morning Prayer we had 30minutes of silent meditation. Thebreakfast will be strong coffee and goodplain food. During the meals we listento a reading which will include on aSunday at lunchtime “The Imitation ofChrist” and at supper “The Rule of St.

Augustine”. We sit in the refectory instrict hierarchical order with thesuperiors on the top table. Sometimes,the fun of it, you will be asked to eatyour meal whilst kneeling on the floor asa small penitential exercise. OnSaturday night we sing an antiphon toour Blessed Lady, and each night wegather for 30 minutes recreation whichends when a bell is rung. You mustrespond to this immediately even if itmeans stopping in the middle of asentence. Then follows Night Prayer andthe magnum silentium, a silence not tobe broken until after breakfast the nextday.

Each beginner had a small pocket bookon deportment. Walk with the handsunder the scapular. If passing a superiorkiss your scapular and say “praised beJesus Christ”. Steps are to be climbedone at a time me lad and avoidmannerisms such as touching your facewith your finger. Should you require arazor blade or toothpaste enter theNovice Master’s room, kneel down, kissthe floor and then make your request (Ikid you not). I remember thinking this isjust plain ludicrous. I tried to cover myembarrassment by saying “I’ve comeshopping” only to be told “not shoppingBrother but as a poor man comebegging”. There was a voice within mecrying, “look I’m 26 years old, you mustbe joking”. Later, as one of the Brothersstarting to train as a State Registered

Nurse at a Darlington Hospital, Ithought here we go again. If you brokea thermometer, value 6p, you wererequired to take the pieces to thematron and apologise. And there wasthis same hidden voice threatening“Madam, I fought in a war, you must bejoking”. Today all of this sounds surrealto say the least, whilst humility is laudedas a supreme Christian virtue, it is still infact the least practiced.

I look back with near incredulity at thatcontrolled, ordered life and work ethic,which was simply staggering. Thehospital at Scorton in those days was an

all-male environment consisting of 120to 130 patients. They were of all creedsand none and all were the victims ofsevere long-term illness or disability.There were only the Brothers to care forthem and the work was demanding.Have I previously mentioned the parallelthat comes to mind? FlorenceNightingale shepherding her smallgroup of volunteer nurses to the Crimeaand hearing one of them romanticisingthe notion of cooling the fevered browsof our brave soldiers, brings them downto earth “the strongest will be needed atthe wash tub”. Ours was work for thestrongest. It proved a strenuousapprenticeship. My recollection is of aseemingly endless round of sheetchanging, bed making (no duvets),shaving bristly chins (no electric razors),

WHAT FOLLOWS IS A PERSONAL REMINISCENCE BY BROTHER JOSEPH CARROLL OH, A FORMER PROVINCIAL, ON WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE FOR AYOUNG BROTHER IN THE EARLY 1950’S, AROUND THE TIME THE PROVINCE WAS FOUNDED. BROTHER JOE ALSO REFLECTS ON SOME OF THEDEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITHIN THE PROVINCE SINCE THEN. (EDITOR).

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St Raphael’s, Barvin Park - Potters Bar

St John of God Hospital, Scorton

St John of God Hospital, Scorton

A CRACKED POT

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung onthe ends of a pole which he carried across his shoulders.One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot wasperfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At theend of the long walk from the stream to the house, thecracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years thiswent on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and ahalf pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfectpot was perfect for the task for which it was made, andproud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked potwas ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable thatit was able to accomplish only half of what it had beenmade to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure,it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I amashamed of myself and I want to apologise to you. I havebeen able to deliver only half my load because this crackin my side causes water to leak out all the way back toyour house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all thiswork and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” thepot said. The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice thatthere were flowers only on your side of the path and everyday while we walk back, you’ve watered them. For twoyears, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers todecorate the table. Without your being just the way youare, there would not be beauty to grace the house.”

Moral:Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all crackedpots, but it is the crack and flaws we each have that makeour lives together interesting and rewarding. You’ve got totake people for what they are and look for the good inthem. Blessed are the flexible for they shall be bent out ofshape. Remember to appreciate all the different people inyour life.

THE FOLLOWING PARABLE WAS PRESENTED AT THECONFERENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES BY BROTHER VINCENT. THE 18TH CHAPTER OF THE PROVINCE – A DAY FOR REFLECTION

AND FORWARD PLANNINGI was recently delighted to join the Brothers, Directors andArea Managers in reviewing the Hospitaller Mission overthe last three years. We evaluated our experiences (bothgood and not so good) over the last three years and fromthere, looked to the future and where as an organisationwe wanted to be.

Together and in groups we discussed and revealed ourideas and hopes for the future. To share this with you, weelected to recommend the following eight proposals forthe 18th Chapter of the Province in March 2004

1) Develop charismatic management by:• Reviewing communication systems• Using and developing the skills of people• Implementing and reviewing the governance manual

2) Define, establish and develop our School of Hospitality3) Re-energise the Brothers so that they can be more proactive in the leadership of the

Hospitaller Mission4) Keep responding to need with more involvement of the people using the Order’s services5) Develop and communicate the Mission Plan into strategy6) Prioritise outstanding pieces of work and establish project groups to complete within a

time frame7) Continue to develop the inclusiveness of our Hospitaller family8) Measuring performance to audit the quality of services and identify areas for

improvement

We all felt the day was a huge success. As a group we hadparticipated, communicated and agreed where the focusfor us all should be. These all help to give the leadershipand direction needed to continue the Order’s Mission insupporting and caring for the people who use our servicesso that Together We Do Make A Difference. We thankRonnie McEwan and Paul Cummings for their excellentfacilitation of the day that was enjoyed by all.

Rachel Clark, Human Resources Manager

A DAY FOR REFLECTION

AND FORWARD PLANNING

FIRE AT THE ROYAL HOSPITALSome three months after that weddinganother festivity in Granada was to havea less happy result. At the RoyalHospital, on July 3, 1549, there was abanquet in honour of Dõna Magdalenade Bobadilla. In the kitchens of thehospital a big fire was lit to roast an oxstuffed with small birds and variousspices and seasonings. About 11 am,the fire got out of control and began tospread through the hospital.

When John of God heard of the fire herushed to the scene. His intimateknowledge of the layout of the hospitalenabled him to go immediately to theplace where the psychiatric patients werehoused. Ignoring personal danger hebegan to get them out of the building.

When he had rescued the patients Johnrushed back to where the fire was ragingto help put it out. He began hurling bedsand bedding from the windows.Suddenly a great sheet of flameengulfed him and billows of smokepoured out onto the people outside.Everyone concluded that the flames hadconsumed John of God. Then heemerged from the building without amark on him, except for singedeyebrows. Many people who saw all thisconsidered that he had had amiraculous escape from the fire anddeath.

DROWNINGAs his life ran out in his last year John ofGod was not only tested by fire but alsoby water. Worn out by his labours andtravels John of God had become quiteill. He was in no fit state to react as hedid to the news that recent heavy rainshad put the bitterly cold Genil River ‘inflood’ and that it was sweeping throughthe city carrying unusual quantities oflogs and branches that could be sold, orused, as firewood.

Throughout John’s life the free firewoodthat he had gathered had come to seemlike a manna that, gathered and sold,helped to sustain him and ‘his’ poor.There was no question of allowing thisfirewood to be lost, even if that meanthis having to ignore his illness to leadsome of the stronger men and biggerboys to the river bank to reap thistransitory harvest.

The river, fed by snow and sleet, wasice-cold. One of the youngsters withJohn of God fell into the river and wasswept away. John plunged in to rescuehim but was unable to do so and theboy drowned. This sad experience leftJohn depressed and soaked to the skin.It aggravated his illness and, from thatday, his health deteriorated rapidly.

John of God was forced to take to hisbed, however he was still in immediatecontact with ‘his’ poor and he was ableto encourage and guide hiscompanions and fellow workers. Hecontinued to serve the poor but from aprone position.

SUMMONEDJohn was no stranger to criticism butthis time it was from people who shouldhave known better. With John confinedto bed, some well meaning busy-bodieswho did not understand his way ofdoing things felt they that they now hada chance, even a duty, to rectify anaspect of his administration of whichthey did not approve. They went to theArchbishop, Don Pedro Guerrero, andtold him that at John of God’s hospital

there were some men who were quitecapable of working and should not beallowed to stay there and that, similarly,there were some worthless womenaround the hospital who, forgetful of allthe John had done for them,disparaged him whenever they did notget their way. These people told theArchbishop that he was the only onewho could remedy the situation andthat it was his responsibility to do so.

The Archbishop, recommended for hispost by Father John de Avila and with acertain “watching brief” over John ofGod and his activities, took note of thecomplaints and, not knowing that Johnwas ill in bed, sent for him. When Johnof God received his summons heimmediately got out of bed and went tothe Archbishop.

The Archbishop said to him: “BrotherJohn of God, I have been led tounderstand that your hospital shelters

(continues on the back page)

THE ANGULO WEDDINGWith less than a year to live John of God, on May 14, 1549, had the happiness of seeinghis friend Angulo married to Beatriz de Ayvar. By special permission from the VicarGeneral of the Archdiocese the marriage ceremony took place at John of God’s hospitaland, undoubtedly, in his presence. The first fruit of the marriage was a boy, called (ofcourse) John, who was born the following year, only 12 days after John of God’s death.

THE SAINT JOHN OFGOD STORY - PART 6 THE PENULTIMATE CHAPTER FROM THE ADAPTATION FROM“JOHN OF GOD – FATHER OF THE POOR” BY BROTHER BRIAN O’DONNELL, OH.

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