BY NUALA MCALOON
At a special Mass in support of Father Gabriel Dolan (Kenya), a native of the parish, in St. Joseph's Church, Cashel on Thursday night last, a Kenyan based local Missionary priest gave an update on the ongoing unrest there, with thousands of people fleeing tribal conflicts.
The principal celebrant, Canon Patrick Lonergan, PE was assisted by Fr Niall Martin, from Belcoo who is a Kiltegan St. Patrick's Missionary Priest and is currently serving in Kenya. He had ministered there from 1977 to 1991, before returning to work in Scotland. This is his second stint in Kenya where he has been working for the last three years.
Fr Martin, who is presently at home on six weeks' annual leave, was joined by parishioners, and by family and friends of Father Dolan's. His thought provoking homily gave an insight into Kenya's prevalent turmoil away from the dominant media coverage.
He told the congregation that, prior to the Mass, Fr 'Gaby' had sent a text message to a family member which read: 'Let this be a Mass of peace. It is not me that is dying, it is the people of Kenya that are dying'.
Fr Martin said the words were characteristic of the Cashel man, and he added that while he thought it was disappointing that several aid agencies had pulled out of the conflict due to its dangers, the 60-plus Kiltegan Missionary Priests working there would not be going anywhere.
He said it was his wish to be back in Kenya, and that while he had every intention of returning on his due date, 22nd January, it was now a matter of whether he would be let back, given the ongoing situation.
"If I can get transport, I am going," he told the 'Herald' this week. "But if the Society said to hold-off for a while, I will. I will take advice, but I have no intentions of staying back because of the conflict. I would like to back with the people."
Fr Martin said while the pictures on the television screens depicted harrowing scenes of violence and death, they were reflective of the strife in the aftermath of the controversial election results, and not a reflection on the Kenyan people.
"The majority of Kenyan people are honest to God citizens", he stated. " They are lovely placid people, and I love their country."
Prior to returning home, Fr Niall Martin who has also worked in Sudan, said there had been a few incidents during the pre-election period in Kenya: "There were a few incidents", he said, "and people did wonder if it was going to break out, but no one anticipated the scale, quickness or extent of what has happened. It was tense. People were worried. It was the fear of the unknown.
"After the elections on the 27th December and the result count, the opposition questioned it and all hell broke loose. It was the catalyst really, there were deep seethed problems before that, like corruption and so on."
Back home in Fermanagh, Fr Martin has kept in daily contact with his fellow people in Kenya and has received daily up-dates from colleagues, including Father Dolan: "I am getting daily text messages, many from our own priests including Father Gaby. The messages are short and describe the tension and ask, 'please pray for us'. They are very worried, not so much about shortages but that people can come to safety."
Fr Martin said he was disappointed that some aid agencies had withdrawn from the conflict: "Yes, I am disappointed. If they are out there for the people, why run? At the same time, I can understand their position. A lot of them have young volunteers out there and I remember from Sudan, when there was war and bombings, the international agencies were the first to pull out. But, I think in this situation it is a bit early. People need them."
