Br. Daniel Kevin Denis Courtney

Transcription

1 Br. Daniel Kevin Denis Courtney Messages of Condolence Announcement of Death It is with deep sadness that I write to tell you of the death of our brother, Dan Courtney, this morning at 8.45am. Dan s condition had been deteriorating in the last couple of days and his breathing became laboured. His death was peaceful. I was privileged to be at his deathbed as the final prayers and anointing were given. Present also were his sister, Elizabeth, Len Marshall and Jack Dowd. To Dan s immediate family, Gabrielle, Elizabeth and Des (dec d.), Denis and Rosemarie and their families we extend our deepest sympathy and support To Len Marshall and the Canossa community similarly we extend our sympathy and gratefulness for the wonderful care they have given Dan over many years. To The Sisters and staff at Canossa, the medical and support staff and our Health Care coordinators, Anne and Jenny, we express our gratitude for their unstinting care of Dan these past 10 and two-third years since his accident in Timor Leste on October 26 th To all friends, particularly Sr Colleen and June, who ministered to Dan since his accident, the Christian Brothers are in debt for the love and concern they gave to our brother. Much will be said of Dan s life before 2001 and his ministry after 2001 here in Oxley at his obsequies later this week (tentatively Mass of Celebration on Thursday and Vigil on Wednesday evening). 1

2 TRIBUTES Contents TRIBUTES... 2 From the Congregation Leadership Team... 3 Br. Philip Pinto (Congregation Leader)... 3 Br. Peter Dowling (Member of Congregation Leadership Team)... 3 Br Francis Hall (Member of Congregation Leadership Team)... 3 Br. Peter Harney (Edmund Rice International Geneva)... 3 From Timor Lesté... 3 Sr. Guilhermina Marcal, FdCC and the Canossian Sisters of Timor-Leste... 3 Sr. Aurora Pires FdCC: The Canossian Sisters in Timor Leste and friends Antonio, Sister Fatima, Sebastian and his wife and children Br. Frank Hennessy (Current Head of Ministry CER Timor Lesté)... 5 From Timor Terrace Network... 5 Cathy See (Terrace Timor Network TTN)... 5 Kaylene Elliot (Terrace Timor Network)... 6 Chris Ryan (Dean of Identity, Gregory Terrace)... 6 From Friends... 6 Kerry O'Rourke (Childhood and life long friend)... 6 Dr Rod Davison (A volunteer and supporter of CER Timor Lesté)... 6 Dan McMahon s: Principal s Reflection from his recent Shalom Newsletter... 7 Sylvia and John Rodger... 8 Brian and Carol Cannon (Friends)... 8 From Brothers... 8 Br. Stan Cusack (One of Dan s Teachers)... 8 Br. Shane Wood (Coordinator - Developing Nations & Justice Advocacy)... 8 Br. Dave Curtin (Christian Brother)... 8 Br. Pat White (Cluster Leader in NSW)... 9 Br. Vince Roche and Br. Eamon O Brien (Brothers in Wadeye NT)... 9 From Other Edmund Rice Network Members... 9 Max Montisci (Director)... 9 Peter Tuite (Manager Brothers Welfare & Property - Northern Regions)... 9 Garry and Judy Hatchman (Friends of Dan)... 9 Home in Dili... 9 Home in Railaco Craic

3 From the Congregation Leadership Team Br. Philip Pinto (Congregation Leader) I send you greetings from New York where this evening I begin two Retreats with our Brothers here. I just got your message about the passing of Dan Courtney and write to offer my deepest condolences to you and the Brothers in Queensland. I first met Dan when he came to our Province in India and was struck by his gentleness and care for others. Then later when I was on the CLT I met him and listened to him share his dream of going to East Timor. Later I had the privilege of visiting when he was there and saw at first-hand how he loved the people and how they loved him. God's ways are certainly not our ways, and his tragic accident would not be the way we would have written the script. Yet through it all God's love has been so visible in the wonderful care that Dan received and which you have so well highlighted in your . With death, life is changed not taken away. I know that Dan lives in a whole new way and the people he loved will realize it in the days to come. My gratitude to our own Brothers who cared for him. I hate singling out any one person but Len Marshall has been simply wonderful. I will be remembering Dan and the Brothers over the coming two weeks of Retreat. God bless, Br. Peter Dowling (Member of Congregation Leadership Team) I read of Dan's death a little earlier here in Dublin, and offer you and all the men my deep sympathy and thoughts at a time when, while there is some gladness that Dan's life has moved to another plane, the quality of his presence will be greatly missed by so many. There are just no answers as to why these things happen, and Dan lived in a way in which he would never have envisaged for so long. Maybe he has become an inspiration to many by being the man he has been in that time. And so many other people, like Len Marshall, have been inspirations too, in their care for Dan. We hold you all in our thoughts and prayer here. Br Francis Hall (Member of Congregation Leadership Team) My sympathies to you and the Brothers in Qld re Dan's passing. Dan's life over past 10 years has been a living mystery beyond my comprehension but giving me great inspiration. You are in my prayer these days during the time of mourning for Dan. Br. Peter Harney (Edmund Rice International Geneva) My heart is very heavy tonight. Dan's passing has left me feeling sad and a little disconnected from the grieving heart and soul of our brothers especially in Qld. I grew to love the Timorese like Dan and still hold them in my deepest centre. Dan had a long journey to make to his hearts-home in the design of the universe and I often wondered what his world was like as he lay there for ten years being touched and ministered to by some of the most loving people I know. I am sure it was part of Dan's unlived story that needed to unfold but this will always be mystery. One memory I had of Dan was his being taken day after day to the pool for therapy by Bob Chambers. Bob showed extraordinary love as did so many others. I feel it was a significant time for those who cared for Dan in finding a different way of being and living. So graces flowed when they were least expected. So I am sad for Len and the Canossa community tonight. Please pass on my deepest sympathy and prayer. So life passes and we are left to live each day with passion and love. From Timor Lesté Sr. Guilhermina Marcal, FdCC and the Canossian Sisters of Timor-Leste Most of the Canossian Sisters in TL knew Dan. It was a privileged for me to come to know Br. Dan 3

4 personally and we were working together at Magior Seminary of Fatumeta Dili. He was a man of the Gospel. Where ever he went around Dili or Railaku with his motorbike, every one called him using our language: Maun Dan it means Br. Dan waving hand where ever he went. The kids called him, Maun Dan diak ka la'e? Br. Dan, how are you? He kept distributing some sweets to the kids when he passed by. Br. Dan was a very good friend and brother for us Timorese. His presence remain as a remembrance for us Timorese. He did a lot for us, especially for the little ones with much dedication and love He built up schools and clinics in Railaku.Br. Dan was a prophet who led by example and travelled new and different roads where he saw injustice and poverty and tried with all his being to right that injustice. When I was in Brisbane 2008, I visited him with some other Timorese at Canossa hospital, I called him by name in tetum. He made a grand effort to answer me, but all he managed was a body movement. I saw the tears running, we kept in silence and prayed for him. Now Br. Dan is in heaven, I am sure he will pray for Timor-Leste, the country that he loved until he lost his life for us. Sr. Aurora Pires FdCC: The Canossian Sisters in Timor Leste and friends. Dear Br. Vincent Duggan, Christian Brothers and Family of Br. Dan; our condolence to each of you. I have known Br. Dan for over ten years when Br. Dan was preparing to come to Timor. Br. Dan has been a good servant of God who served God's mission in this land of Timor in its trouble times. It was during this mission and in this mission that he had the accident. Like the grain of wheat that dies and bears fruit Br. Dan will be remembered when the mission of the Christian Brothers in Timor reaches out to give a dignify life to the people in the villages of Ermera. Individuals such as teachers - Carlos, Delfina who are now classroom Pre-school teachers reaching out to help other teachers thus making classrooms or play rooms better environment for the children is linked to the bravery of a man who years back said yes and set to another shores than those of Australia when Jesus called him. I remember going with Brother Dan to Hera to buy fish as groups of Australia youth were coming to Timor. The details brother Dan took to make others comfortable and be at home. The consideration Br. Dan had in involving others in conversation and the interests he took in persons as persons to make them feel special. The justice he showed to ensure the fisherman got the right price for their sells. It is with love that we wish to reach a comfort hand to touch, to apologize for the sorrow we put in Br. Dan's family, community for it was due to his mission in Timor that he had the accident. We cannot be there with you personally but we are with you in prayers to remember a great bother, a good friend. In the name of the friends who have known Br. Dan we pray that God Bless his soul and may Br. Dan rest in peace. Following is a translation of a tribute penned in tetun by Orlando s family who lived in the same group of homes where our community residence was in Fatuhada, Dili. (Orlando died in April this year. He was the landlord of the community house in Dili.) These words are entrusted from Senor Orlando s children who are the following: Antonio, Sister Fatima, Sebastian and his wife and children. Together they pass on their sincere condolences to Br Dan s family in Australia as a symbol of their love. 4

5 On Sunday morning between 9am 10am, Br Frank received a telephone call from Br Dan s family saying that Br Dan had died. We the family of Senor Orlando in Fatuhada are very sad because Br Dan did a lot for us during the 1999 referendum. Br Dan and his friend Fr Peter drove Sebastian, his wife and their children where they fled to Kupang, Indonesia and stayed at the sister s college. After that Br Dan returned to Australia. Sebastian and his family stayed in Kupang for 1 month and returned to Timor in October. But Senor Orlando and his wife did not leave their house in Fatuhada, Dili. Eventually, Br Patrick and a friend came back from Australia in order to see East Timor s situation. But there was a problem with the house Br Dan lived in The Indonesian army had forced their way in and taken everything. Because the Indonesians had guns and there was many of them, Senor Orlando was scared and they indeed took everything. When Br Patrick heard about this he shared the information with Br Dan when he returned to Australia. After a month or two, Br Dan returned to Timor because Timor had found independence. Br Dan continued his work in Dili and Railaco. When he arrived back in Dili, Br Dan started buying things for the house. Br Dan is a person who is number 1. He supported Senor Orlando s daughter to work in Australia with the Cannossian congregation. Sister Fatima told Br Dan that the house in Fatuhada was not ready yet, but Br Dan came anyway to open his community in Timor. When Br Dan came back to Timor to see the condition of the house, he did not mind that it was not ready. He liked it anyway. On the last day before he returned to Australia, he said to Sister Fatima that although the house is not ready, he likes it and will create his community there. Br Dan also helped with giving money so that the house could be built quickly. Br Dan worked a lot for our Timorese country over many years. In the end he found disaster with his motorbike on the road to Railaco. He was treated by the Australian medics and received treatment over many years without consequence. Eventually, he decided to leave this world here on Sunday 8 th July Br Dan was always ready to work with Senor Orlando and always took him to a big ceremony (Anzac Day) about the day Australia soldiers died in the war between in Timor. Br Dan always invited him to go with him and his friends. They went together to mass and to lay flowers for those that died during their time in Timor. The family of Senor Orlando will indeed never forget what Br Dan has taught the community as we know that Br Dan never forgot us. We as the children of Senor Orlando, are sad because at the hour Br Dan died, he would also have met Senor Orlando before God. Because they are two good friends. Sister Fatima has already asked that they pray for Br Dan at mass. They pray to assist Br Dan in finding a good place in heaven with our father. Antonio, Sister Fatima, Sebastian and his family will always, entirely continue to remember Br Dan. Goodbye, Goodbye Br Dan. Amen. Br. Frank Hennessy (Current Head of Ministry CER Timor Lesté) The end of a pioneer s life. A happy release for Dan. From Timor Terrace Network Cathy See (Terrace Timor Network TTN) We extend our sympathy to Br Dan's family and friends as well as our gratitude to those who have cared for Br Dan for so many years. I personally have been reflecting today on the enormous inspiration Br Dan has provided to all working with the people of Timor Leste and to all of us involved with TTN. I marvel at a life well spent and know his enormous influence to work with those most in need will continue for many years to come. 5

6 Kaylene Elliot (Terrace Timor Network) Thanks for letting the network know about Br Dan s death. For years, he has been our silent companion and inspiration of the TTN journey. Chris Ryan (Dean of Identity, Gregory Terrace) My sincere condolences to the Brothers community on the passing of Brother Dan. His journey has had a remarkable impact on so many people and the dignity and devotion of the care offered to him over an extended period has always impressed and inspired me. Cathy See forwarded me your beautifully written words to your Brothers. We will pray for Dan and his friends and family at Terrace today. From Friends Kerry O'Rourke (Childhood and life long friend) Well, yes, it is a great relief to see Dan go home to his maker. Over ten years he had at Canossa, how sad, but I am sure it was all for a reason. Dan was my best friend at Terrace. As ten year olds we were inseparable. We lived five minutes from each other and our holidays and weekends were spent tearing around the district and the Enoggera army camp in particular. Every Saturday during summer, we would double each other on his bike up to Terrace to the swimming pool. We played football in the same team from Grade five to our Senior year where we both played First XV. And rowing... we both started in 1961 in the same crew and stayed together right through to the First Eight in I was stroke and he was bow. I am still very involved with rowing. We studied together, worked together and had holidays together. He was one of my brothers and I was one of his, I was part of his family and he was part of mine. Big Catholic families, all with the same faith attitudes, still today. He gave his life to Edmund Rice and the ideals of the Christian Brothers and I became an architect. We saw each other as often as we could but it was impossible to understand why this accident happened and why he was left with us for ten long years before he went home to God. I lost a brother on Sunday morning. I will think for the rest of my life about the reasons for all this and when I go home to my maker I will know. Thank you for all your kind words. I will pass them on to the rest of my family. It is my 65th birthday on the day of his funeral -12th July Orangemen's Day. Please pass on my kind regards (including this letter if appropriate) and thanks to Dan s family, the Brothers and many friends for looking after Dan all these years. Dr Rod Davison (A volunteer and supporter of CER Timor Lesté) Many of you knew Dan much better than I did but I do have lasting memories of Dan. My wife Sue also has great memories of Dan, many of them from hours spent at his bedside where even in a coma his deep spirituality touched her. I remember his humanity; his innate love and caring for all: Especially for those who were suffering; But even for those of us who were not suffering; 6

7 Even when we challenged him Even when we caused him concern Even when we couldn't give as he could give He still loved us and accepted us. I remember his excitement when I gained approval from work to spend just 4 weeks working with the team in East Timor. We celebrated with a couple of beers in a pub near here. I remember his mutual teasing with Father Peter: Sometimes about deeply spiritual things Sometimes about such important issues as whether Peter had eaten the chicken that he had put in Peter's freezer! I remember once how shocked he was to find that I was still alive. Five of us were in a vehicle following behind his vehicle coming down from the clinics in the mountains. They waited at the bottom but we never arrived. We had fallen 50 ft over a cliff and had to be rescued. I remember his responses to criticisms from others. How he responded with respect but stuck to his commitments and beliefs. He may not have had an academic or intellectual analysis to justify the way he was responding to the needs of the people of East Timor, but he had a spiritual response and a deep personal response. He demonstrated both with the way he lived his life, accepted and respected others and relentlessly pursued the strategies he thought were best. With the benefit of hindsight and with the help of a throng of volunteers and the leadership of Brother Bill, many of the seeds that Dan sowed have borne rich fruit. You may think it is sad that Dan. spent over a decade in a coma not knowing what CER was achieving. But I suspect Dan already knew: He understood the strength of the East Timorese people He understood the goodwill of the friends of Edmund Rice He brought us all together May He Rest In Peace Dan McMahon s: Principal s Reflection from his recent Shalom Newsletter I went to the funeral of a mate of mine yesterday Br Dan Courtney. Dan was 65 and had been in a coma for the past ten years. He was a wonderful bloke. Br Dan was involved in an accident in East Timor in October 2001 when the motor bike he was riding up a windy mountain road towards a village collided with a truck. He never regained consciousness and finally went to God last Sunday morning. Dan had been the leader of the Brothers Mission in East Timor. He loved the people up there and they responded. Dan lived through the terror in Timor Lesté before Independence and put his life on the line to lie and deceive the Indonesian military and militia to shepherd numerous Timorese out of danger during that very difficult time. In the years before he went to Timor, Dan encouraged the Brothers to re-consider their commitment to traditional schools. He believed that the work the Brothers had done so well could now be handed over to lay teachers and that the Brothers should work with those most at risk. His voice was prophetic and he suffered as most prophets do but he responded compassionately and with good humour. Br Dan Courtney was a loyal follower of Edmund Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers and he embodied the best of that tradition. Shalom shares in that tradition. We are one of the few schools in Australia that still have a Christian Brother on staff. We are blessed to have Br Rochford ministering here well into his retirement years. Brothers now are to be found ministering to those most in need in Timor Lesté, East Africa, the Philippines, PNG and India rather than schools in Australia. Shalom is now an Associate School in the Edmund Rice Network of schools and ministries. We are blessed to be able to claim something of the story and tradition of Edmund Rice who started a group of men to educate young people sorely in need. We are also a member of Mercy Schools International as we also share in the charism of Catherine McAuley who started the Sisters of Mercy to do similar work for girls. Shalom College began from the amalgamation of Loyola College and Christian Brothers Bundaberg. Today, we stand on the shoulders of those men and women and, at our best, respond faithfully to the vision 7

8 of Catherine and Edmund. The life of Br Dan Courtney is a very real reminder to this community to be responsive to those most in need and to know that any such commitment involves a cost. I hope that if Edmund Rice or Catherine McAuley were to walk through Shalom, they would recognise it as one of their schools. Sylvia and John Rodger Thank you for the albeit bearing sad news. John and I were in Ireland last week and went to Waterford to the Edmund Rice Heritage Centre and Chapel, where we spent a few hours pouring through the museum and taking in all the spirit of the place and walking in the little garden. We both reflected on the Christian Brothers we know as there is a large board on the wall with hundreds of photographs. We talked about Dan as well and his influence on my early life as a teenager and uni student involved in CLAG camps. In the chapel on Wednesday last week we lit a candle for Br Dan and another for all the brothers we know and spent some time in quiet reflection in the chapel. It was a very peaceful and spiritual time for us. It is a bit eery to know that these were the days when Dan was deteriorating. My adult life path was much influenced by his charism in my teen years. We are currently in southern Spain and I am sad to say will not be back in time for the funeral or VIgil however our prayers will be with his family, the brothers and all of TTN, It was a great privilege to visit him a few years ago at Canossa with our two East Timorese pilgrims who we looked after at home and to see how well cared for he was. The girls sang to him in Timorese and it seemed he knew of their presence and seemed to calm and enjoy them being around. I am sure he registered the singing and Tetun language, quite simply a wonderful gift to have been there, My best to you all Brian and Carol Cannon (Friends) So sorry to hear about the death of Dan. In one way it is such a blessing that he is now entering Eternal life something he so richly deserves. I remember him with much love especially the days I spent with him at Xavier. Please convey our deepest sympathy to all the Brothers and his family. Our apologies for not being able to attend his funeral as we are in our beloved Central Queensland but will be with you all in spirit. Fondest regards From Brothers Br. Stan Cusack (One of Dan s Teachers) Please accept our prayers and very kind wishes on the death of Dan whom I taught at Gregory Terrace in Scholarship Br. Shane Wood (Coordinator - Developing Nations & Justice Advocacy) My sympathy on the passing of Dan. I know you will be feeling this loss keenly today and for the days to come. It is impossible to make judgements about what the struggle to stay on this earth meant for Dan over the past 10 years, but it must have been very difficult at times. I guess he can now rest in peace, the race has been run. His legacy certainly lives on in Timor Leste and in the hearts of the people here and there who knew and loved him. Br. Dave Curtin (Christian Brother) I'm not sure if the words 'merciful release' are appropriate but what a long and extraordinarily demanding time it's been for so many, Dan especially. Deepest sympathy and assurances of our prayers down this way, 8

9 Br. Pat White (Cluster Leader in NSW) As we all know, Dan has been in a comatose state since October So at this time of loss, may I on behalf of the NSW Region send our sincere sympathy and promise of prayers to Dan s family and our Brothers in the Qld Region. Br. Vince Roche and Br. Eamon O Brien (Brothers in Wadeye NT) The news of Dan's death is indeed a sad moment, though his suffering for so long is over. Eamon and I extend our sympathies to his family and the Province. The only one of his family I met was Gabrielle because she worked in the Clinic here for a while.our thoughts are with all those who cared for Dan over the years; it would make a mighty long list. Dan will be remembered for a long time to come. From Other Edmund Rice Network Members Max Montisci (Director) Such sad news. Dan and his family will be in our thoughts and prayers. Peter Tuite (Manager Brothers Welfare & Property - Northern Regions) Thank you for the sad news of Dan's death - I cannot help but think that he has been released from a situation that may have been somewhat frustrating for him. I think it would have been so for those near and dear to him. But it's God's will, may he now rest in peace. Garry and Judy Hatchman (Friends of Dan) Our sincere condolences to Dan s family and the Brothers on the loss of Dan. He was a close friend of ours also, and we loved him dearly. I am so glad that both Judy and I visited him at the end of last year. He was a great fisherman and will be catching those big ones in heaven now. There will never be another Dan, one of the best! On Thursday (July 12th) afternoon in Ria Mori at the Church of St Ignatius, Mass was celebrated for Dan by the people of the villages where Dan worked in the hills of Timor Leste. His good friend, Fr. Peter, and Sr Rita and Fr. Bong lead the farewell by the Timorese people. Home in Dili Home in Railaco Craic 9