by Father Seán Coyle

At 1am on Sunday, 30 July 2000, I was dancing with thousands of others in the streets of Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands. It was the culmination of the National Day, the feast of St Olav. We were doing the Faroese Circle Dance. This began with a singer leading a song that recounted the history of the people and seemed to have about 100 verses. Most knew the words. The circles of dancers formed all over the place until everyone was involved. It was quite impossible not to join in. The steps are very simple, two double steps left and one right. The dance to that first song lasted probably twenty minutes and was followed by another. No instruments are ever used.

By Father Seán Coyle

On 16 May Pope John Paul canonized Gianna Beretta Molla. She was born near Milan on 4 October 1922 and grew up in a strongly Christian family that led her to experience life as a marvelous gift from God. During her student years she was active in Catholic organizations and spent much time with the elderly and needy. She graduated as a doctor in 1949 and opened a clinic the following year near her home place. She specialized in pediatrics at the University of Milan. Gianna considered medicine a mission and practiced it with generosity, especially among the poor. She also loved skiing and mountaineering as her sister-in-law, Virginia Beretta, recalls. Playing the piano and going to the opera at Milan’s famous La Scala were also part of her life as was dabbling in oil-painting.

Gianna married Pietro Molla on 24 September 1955, when they dedicated themselves ‘to forming a truly Christian family.’ In November 1956 Pierluigi was born, in December 1957 Mariolina and in July 1959 Laura. With her passion for life, Gianna was able to balance the demands of being wife, mother and doctor.

By Father Seán Coyle SSC

This article is based mainly on a report sent to the members of the Missionaries of Charity by Sister M Raphael MC, regional superior in Amman, Jordan, in 1998.

Sister Mary Michael MC was born Victoria Espejon in the Philippines on 21 September 1961. Along with Sr M Zelia MC (Pancratia Minj) and Sr M Aletta MC (Albisia Dung Dung), both from India and just a little younger, she was shot dead in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, in the south of Yemen, on the morning of 27 July 1998.