Mill Hill Missionaries

The Missionary Society of St.. Joseph of Mill Hill ( MHM religious symbol, Mill Hill Missionaries, Latin: Societas Sancti Missionarium Joseph de Mill Hill ) is an international Roman Catholic missionary society of priests, brothers and lay people. Currently, there are about 500 members in 30 communities that are represented in the mission areas with the local churches in Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America. Its motto is: " Amare Et Servire " in German: " To love and to serve. " The German headquarters of the Order ( in which many German missionaries had ) was since 1891 the mission house in Brixen, South Tyrol, which still exists today. The expended there, richly illustrated missionary magazine " St. Joseph's Missionsbote " was read in the entire German -speaking world.

History

The Missionary Society of St.. Joseph of Mill Hill was (1832-1903) founded on 19 March 1866 by Herbert Cardinal Vaughan to the Archbishop of Westminster ( London). The task he made the pastoral care in the new African colonies as well as the missionary and evangelization, the Mill Hill Missionaries were thus the first English missionary society. The name comes from the founding place Mill Hill a suburb of London and St. Joseph Colleges located there, the current mother house of the Congregation. The members of European, Asian and African countries live and work together in international communities and thus characterize the global mission work.

Missionary work

The Mill Hill Missionaries work with the local churches in Africa, Asia and the Churches in Oceania and South America. In addition to the houses in Europe, there are also in Africa and Asia schools and seminaries for young missionaries and seminarians. The former mission churches have become in the meantime to partner churches with its own responsibility and independence.

The missionaries are active in Uganda since 1895 and established parishes, schools, hospitals and dispensaries. The missionary work in Kenya today began in 1903. Bishops of the Diocese of Ngong (Kenya ), all emerged from the mission society.

In their missionary work the Mill Hill missionaries were supported by the Carmelites in the training and education, for work on farms.

French Holy Ghost Fathers took over in 1923 the French-speaking part of Cameroon, the Mill Hill missionaries took over the English-speaking part as a mission field.

The working in the Sultanate of Brunei Mill Hill missionaries were expelled in 1988, today act four Catholic priests in the Southeast Asian country.

The situation

The General Chapter of the Mill Hill Missionaries found in 2005, for the first time in the history of the Order, in Kenya instead. The most important item on the agenda was the decline in membership in the Missionary Society and advising on possible solutions. It was reported that the average age of the members had arrived from 65 to 70 years and half of the members of the Order are retired. This age structure show also significant staff shortages in the reappointment of the various offices and lead to make local changes to consideration. In some countries the missionary society, however, continuing definitely their commitment to the pastoral care of vocations and in training, these include: Central Africa, India and the Philippines. As the new Superior General of the Assembly elected in 2006, Father Antony Chantry from England, who succeeded the Frenchman Jac Hetsen. The Office of the General Council took over Fr Brendan Mulhall ( England), to Generalvikaren Father Michel Corcoran (Ireland) and brother Joos Boorkamp (Netherlands ) was elected.