AMERICAN BROTHER VENERATED IN UGANDA

On May 19, Pope Francis issued a decree that recognized the heroic virtues of BROTHER NORBERT McAULIFFE, an American missionary in Africa,, granting him the title of “venerable”.

The new Venerable was born in 1886 in Manhattan, New York, and eventually joined the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, a relatively new religious congregation at the time. The congregation was founded by in 1821 by Fr. André Coindre in France and by the time of his death was beginning to spread around the world.

Father Coindre had envisioned a community of brothers trained to work with the poor through the establishment of schools. The congregation is primarily made up of religious brothers, with only a few members being ordained priests.

According ot their Rule of Life, “Our love for our brothers and the young people in our care radiates from the love Jesus has for us. Our dedication to others, marked by respect, kindness, and concern, will be a sign to them of the compassion of Christ.”

Brother McAuliffe served as a director of their house in Metuchen, New Jersey, for  six years before being sent as a missionary to Uganda, Africa. There he established the congregation’s first mission. The country at the time was under British rule and the people were receptive to Brother McAuliffe’s missionary activities. He remained there for 20 years until his death on July 3, 1959 at the age of 72.

During the slaughter of people in Uganda in 2003, Archbishop John Baptist Odama prayed that Brother McAuliffe among others would intercede for the people:  Many of us have been forced to abandon their flock and have suffered even death in this conflict. This is devastating. I cannot ignore your sufferings but please… Servant of God Brother Norbert McAuliffe (Dano ma lego)… and others are all with us and praying for us."  

“We are only earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted , but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed, always wherever we may be we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too may always be seen in our body” (2Cor. 4:7-13).

Venerable Norbert's  legacy lives on in Uganda and his life is still an inspiration to the African people he ministered to in the region. Interestingly enough it is the bishops of Uganda who are leading the cause for his canonization, not his American Community.