Cathal BarryThe tragic loss of lives in Berkeley has revealed just how vital Irish chaplaincy services abroad are, writes Cathal Barry
When tragedy stuck in Berkeley last week, Irish chaplaincy personnel there swung into action, proving at once the vital place of such services across the globe.
The Irish Immigration Pastoral Center (IIPC) in San Francisco, run by Fr Brendan McBride, led the charge.
Up until last week, the staff at the IIPC were working away tirelessly behind the scenes as usual, providing whatever help they could to Irish expats.
They are committed to providing advice, information, advocacy, referral and support for immigrants on issues related to immigration, employment, housing, career, education and social services.
It was only the beginning of the busy season, with thousands of young Irish students arriving in the US on J1 visas looking for summer work. Then tragedy struck.
Up until last week, the staff at the IIPC were working away tirelessly behind the scenes as usual, providing whatever help they could to Irish expats.
It was only the beginning of the busy season, with thousands of young Irish students arriving in the US on J1 visas looking for summer work. Then tragedy struck.
Fr Aidan McAleenan of St Columba Parish in Oakland, who was one of the first priests on the scene, told The Irish Catholic that Fr Brendan McBride and the IIPC “took the lead in terms of the response” along with the Irish Consulate.
Collegiality
“There was a tremendous sense of collegiality and working together between the two organisations. They came together with one spirit, one voice, one body to deal with what was the most horrendous situation,” he said.
“I can’t even imagine how this would have all unfolded if we didn’t have the leadership of the Irish Immigration Pastoral Centre. I’m only thinking about that now, it would have been awful.
“The work of the people from the pastoral centre was amazing. Fr Brendan really brought every piece of pastoral experience into situation. He was a quiet presence at all times giving great leadership and tremendous professionalism,” he said.
Fr McAleenan, who later hosted a vigil for the students who had died, said there was something uniquely Irish about the response to the in the tragedy in Berkeley.
“The response was truly Irish in the sense of our faith, our traditions, our families and communities. While it was a really terrible moment, everyone just seemed to come together.
“There was no plan for this, there was no road map. You just sort of jump into it. We all divided up whatever needed to be done. It was a matter of just turning up and bringing your best pastoral sense to the situation. I think that’s what we all did together,” he said.
Singling out the IIPC for their “invaluable” work since the incident, however, Fr McAleenan said he couldn’t imagine not having such a service available in San Francisco.
“The presence of the Irish pastoral centre was just invaluable. The bottom line is I just can’t imagine us being without it,” he said.
The IIPC is part of the Irish Apostolate USA which caters to the needs of Irish immigrants in the United States – the needs of the whole human person.
The apostolate began in 1987 in the Archdioceses of Boston and New York. Traditionally two of the largest Irish communities in the United States, these communities were growing as many young Irish left for distant shores in search of work.
Irish Chaplains followed these immigrants and have since cared for new arrivals.
Currently the membership in the Irish Apostolate USA consists of 9 immigration and outreach centres.
There are pastoral centres in Boston, Chicago, New York and San Francisco and outreach centres in Milwaukee, Baltimore and Ocean City, Maryland, San Diego and Seattle.
Vital
Such centres provide a “vital” service to many Irish emigrants, according to Fr Alan Hilliard of the Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants. “You don’t realise what being Irish means until you go away,” Fr Hilliard told The Irish Catholic.
“You are creating a home from home. You can cope quite well, but there are difficult occasions when there are particularly emotional stuff to deal with and process and that’s the time when you need somebody with a bit of Irish wisdom to help you,” he said.
Care for the needs of the whole person (religious, spiritual, emotional and physical) is something Fr Hilliard believes should be at the heart of such pastoral care.
“Some would consider pastoral care to be sacramental provision, when in actual fact any documents from Rome on migration would consider pastoral care of the whole human being,” he said.
Megan Carroll, Executive Director of the Irish Pastoral Centre (IPC) in Boston facilitates Irish Emigrants in their transition to life in America so that it may be a positive experience for them.
Dealing “mostly with students” during the summer months, Ms Carroll said the tragic event in Berkeley has been like an “earthquake that has hit and spread to all the other major cities”.
“So many people are hurting because of what has happened. Many students have come in just wanting to talk with someone. Some of the students are visibly upset, some of them knew the students those who died and some are wondering should they go home.
“It’s definitely affecting all of the J1 students here are we are just trying to supply a support network for them so that no one gets depressed or sad or wants to leave,” she said.
While they may have excelled themselves in recent circumstances, centres such as the IIPC don’t just operate in emergency situations.
They assist students in finding work, affordable and safe housing and explain subtle cultural differences students may be unaware of.
They also cater for Irish of all ages living abroad, running outreach programs for both young and old.
Given that many of these centres are still Church-run, Ms Carroll said all of their work flows from a “pastoral care perspective”.
“We are part of the Catholic church. That is our mission,” she said.
Ms Carroll insisted that the service is “vital to the Irish diaspora all over the world”.
“It’s of tremendous benefit to Irish people aboard to have this diaspora support network. There is a strong sense of community among the Irish and we are trying encourage that.
“It’s definitely making a difference in people’s lives. It’s really necessary work,” she said.