Running the long road from Ecuador

HE’S come all the way back from Ecuador, so a little bit of tonsillitis isn’t going to stop Fr John Molloy from taking part in this year’s Dublin City Marathon.
The former Ennis priest spoke to The Clare Champion during his recent stay in the town. While here, he caught up with some friends before this Monday’s marathon to raise funds for the ongoing work in his parish in Ecuador. After the marathon, which he will run with Fr Colm Hogan, he will then heading back to South America.
“I’m on target with the training and I’m disciplined, I’ve been doing quite a bit most days I do an hour or two. But I had to go to the doctor’s for what I call my annual NCT and everything was going well ’til he checked my throat and said I had tonsillitis. He said, ‘you should be resting’, and I told him I’m doing a marathon but it will be all right,” he assured. Anybody who wants to donate towards the marathon run can do so through the parish office in Ennis.
“I’m really looking forward to going back,” said Fr John of his imminent return to Ecuador. “I miss them. I suppose I’m so much a part of it now and I have a lot of plans to complete the parish.”
On his time back in Ennis he said, “I’ve had a huge welcome since I’ve been back. I feel very at home. When I’m over in Ecuador, I’m happy out and I’m at home and when I’m here I’m happy out at home. It’s the same thing in a different way. I notice there is a down in the country because of what’s going on, people are struggling and I find it very difficult listening to that from a lot of families. That’s hard, but it will come back up again please God.”
He added, “I’ve been doing a lot of walking since I came home and I find we have a lovely country. Where I am the place is just pure barren, I have a few trees and I find it even hard to grow those. This is teaching me a lot with regards appreciation. And because there is no rushing where I am and everybody takes their time, it’s a different lifestyle, I’m learning patience. I find that the experience is doing me good.”
Fr John doesn’t expect to be back in Ireland next year, so he was delighted to spend some time in Clare where he had the chance to express his appreciation for the support he has received from local people.
“The parish of Ennis has been a great support to me, you can’t do this on your own. I couldn’t do this on my own, there is no way. I’m out there but if I didn’t have what Ennis has given I would be nowhere. All the individuals and groups who give their support, it all adds up. People are just extraordinary.
“I can’t stress enough how good people are and not just to me but to so many causes. I see in the ‘Champion every week all the different causes people are giving to. The demands are huge on people with little money so I am overwhelmed by the generosity.”
Local people have been able to keep up-to-date with Fr John’s mission in Ecuador through regular articles in The Clare Champion.
“I’ve met a lot of people since I’ve been home and they say they like the updates because they feel a part of it then. It’s a little connection. Even though I’m far away the distance means nothing.”
Fr John’s parish is part of the poor areas called ‘barrios’ that surround Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city. While people living there do not have the comforts we are used to, Fr John says he has seen much improvement since he first arrived.
“Economically, things are bad but I see huge improvements like in the roads, electricity, water and sewerage. All of these things are slowly, slowly improving. The government are putting the money into what’s affecting the lives of people, what they need and want.
“We’re a long way off, I’d say it’ll be 10 to 15 years before my people have piped water and the sewerage right but they know it will happen. We can see ahead that it will improve and the hope is good.”
Much of Fr John’s work in Monte Sinai has involved the building of a primary school. “We have four or five more rooms to do, concrete the yard, probably build some offices and extend the computer room and continue with the library. The school will take about a year, year-and-a-half. I want to acknowledge my predecessor, Fr Hogan, who set the whole thing up so we could build the property.
“In a short number of years, I have never seen such a difference. Colm did three years here, I have done three and I will do another two. It will take eight years to get the new parish established and then it will be handed over to a local priest. The local seminary is full and I believe it’s the biggest in South America. The parish will be in very capable hands when I finish. A few days after I get back, we’ll be starting the next phase of the classrooms.”
As well as building the primary school, Fr John’s work has involved sending a number of students to secondary school and university. Because there are no religion classes in school, he is active in setting up catechetics programmes.
Working with his six volunteers from the States and his parish team including co-ordinator Sylvia, the parish is a thriving hub for young people.
“All around the church where I am, it’s nearly like a youth centre. There are no other outlets so they come to this place and they could spend hours here, maybe just practising music. It’s their base and they love it,” he said.
Just one example of the support the parish has received from Ennis is the park that has been set up through finances raised by Rice College.
“That has been as important as the church, it’s used more. It’s been opened up to all the community and all groups are welcome. It’s used nearly every evening, mainly for soccer. There is a great buzz around the park and it’s right beside the church. Many who come to the park wouldn’t be church going but I’m finding now that they’ve started to ask me questions. It’s been a great link with the church,” said Fr John.
On his return journey to Ireland, Fr John visited Yonkers and Boston in the US. Since his arrival, he has been in Shannon parish, his home place of Terryglass in Tipperary and has travelled to Lourdes for the diocesan pilgrimage. He also managed to find time to climb Croagh Patrick with his brother.
“It was the day before the first All-Ireland so there were a lot of Mayo people climbing and praying. Just to see the amount of people, young and old but particularly young people, that’s where the faith is I think. It’s back to the basics and these things are as important as any church when people are out on pilgrimage or whatever they are doing.”
Speaking about his experiences in Lourdes he said, “People think going to Lourdes is going to be all praying but I found it was the conversations I had with different people that made it. It was just beautiful. What I found about it was it’s so international, it gives a very different perspective. We’re such a small country and I’m learning as I’ve been away that regards the church what we are doing is international, it’s the whole world.”
As well as working on the school, next year Fr John and another from the diocese will accompany three youths from the parish to Rio de Janero for World Youth Day. “I will be meeting whoever will be coming over from Ireland and I will try and connect my group with them beforehand so they get to know each other.”
Fr John’s experiences in Ecuador have been captured on the DVD Killaloe Mission to Ecuador, produced by Ennis’ Colm Flynn. The DVD is still available from the parish office for a donation, and funds go to Fr John’s mission.