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Letter to the Editor, Irish Times, 24th May 2007
Madam,
Joe Humphrey's article on retiring missionaries is extremely timely ("What happens to projects when Irish missionaries retire?" The Irish Times, May 18th). With the average age of Irish missionaries abroad hovering around 70 years, the issue is a worrying one.
In my 30 years of work in the developing world I have not come across a better way of getting help to those who need it most than through the missionaries on the ground.
The disappearance en masse of those "on the missions" is an impending disaster for the developing world. Missionaries rarely make the headlines and are the forgotten heroes of the struggle for global equality. But they are on the front line of development; literally saving lives.
Our missionaries are the true diaspora. They left Ireland not for career or profit but for the relief of pain and suffering in some of the harshest terrain this earth has to offer.
Yours, etc,
John O'Shea
GOAL
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