Atheist John Halligan's sermon in a Brazilian church: 'I felt it was the respectful thing to do'
.During his recent St Patrick’s Day trade, tourism and education mission to Brazil, Minister of State for Training, Skills and Innovation John Halligan TD spent several hours touring Vila Prudente, São Paulo’s oldest and largest favela. His guide was Holy Ghost missionary Fr Patrick Clarke, who has worked with local street children for over 40 years.
Such was the rapport between the two men that Minister Halligan – who is a committed atheist – agreed to return to the St Joseph the Worker Pastoral Area the following Sunday for mass, where there arose (possibly) the first ever occasion of a non-believing Irish government minister delivering the weekly homily to its Brazilian parishioners. This is his sermon.
Fri 7:30 PM
John Halligan
This was the first ever occasion of a non-believing Irish government minister delivering the weekly homily to Brazilian parishioners, writes John Halligan
AS A RULE I don’t attend church, except as a mark of respect for funerals. And I don’t pray, not ever.
I acknowledge other people’s right to do so, it’s just not for me. But Fr Pat had given me the best part of a day showing me around the neighbourhood and, when he asked me to return for mass, I felt it was the respectful thing to do.
As someone who grew up in conservative Catholic Ireland, the mass itself was like nothing I’d experienced before. It was very animated, tactile and all about the family. The children sat on the altar, mothers with babies stood on the altar and there were lots of occasions where people held hands and sang.
Being put on the spot
During my earlier visit to the slums I had noticed a lot of young boys playing, or trying to play, with punctured footballs. So I brought along five footballs to the mass. The kids brought these up as an offering and placed them on the altar. And I thought that was where my contribution would end. Apparently not.
http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/atheist-john-halligans-sermon-in-a-brazilian-church-i-felt-it-was-the-respectful-thing-to-do-3304857-Mar2017/