11 June 1998 Edition
Fógraí bháis: Fr Maurice (Mossy) Burke S.M.A. (1927-1998)
Fr Maurice Burke of the Society of African Missions died on 15 April in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin after a long illness. He was buried at Wilton in Cork city after Requiem mass in St Joseph's Wilton. He is survived by one brother Fr Don, who works in Zambia, and four sisters, who live in Ireland.
Maurice was born in Waterford in 1927. From an early age he was interested in Irish history and the Irish language. Ordained to the priesthood in 1952 he went to work on the Missions in Nigeria from 1955-1967. His enthusiasm for education and learning led him to found a number of schools and colleges. He is still remembered in Nigeria for his pioneering work in science education.
He suffered a serious heart attack while in Nigeria and was forced to retire from missionary work. When he recovered in 1968 he went to work in Tottenville parish in Staten Island, New York where he remained until 1991. During that time he showed his real and abiding concern for the violations of human rights in the British occupied six counties. Maurice set about countering British propaganda in the United States through a column in the Irish People and through his own newsletter ``The Nation'' which went to subscribers all over the States.
His main concern was the way the British and indeed, the Dublin governments distorted the facts about the situation in the six counties. Throughout these years he made the annual trips to the north with the INA delegations.
When he retired in 1991 he returned to live near his sister in Dublin. Although in failing health he still worked tirelessy writing and helping the prisoners and their families. This good work brought him to the attention of the Dublin Special Branch who visited him on at least one occasion.
Fr Maurice (or ``Mossy'' as he was known to his friends and colleagues) believed passionately in a free and independent Ireland because he was convinced that it was the only way the Irish people could achieve their full potential. He felt it was his duty as a priest to make known the facts about British rule in the north of Ireland which were not reported in the press.
He wrote a number of books (including Ireland: The Facts) and pamphlets and formed a group known as Clergy for Justice which published many pamphlets and a book, The Truth about British Injustice in Ireland. Maurice was a man of learning and wisdom, of courage and integrity, a man committed to the truth and to justice. He stirred a few consciences along the way. He has made a great contribution to the creation of a just and lasting peace in Ireland. Duine uasal, sagart diograiseach, fear croiuil agus croguil. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal.
By Fr Joe McVeigh
Maurice was born in Waterford in 1927. From an early age he was interested in Irish history and the Irish language. Ordained to the priesthood in 1952 he went to work on the Missions in Nigeria from 1955-1967. His enthusiasm for education and learning led him to found a number of schools and colleges. He is still remembered in Nigeria for his pioneering work in science education.
He suffered a serious heart attack while in Nigeria and was forced to retire from missionary work. When he recovered in 1968 he went to work in Tottenville parish in Staten Island, New York where he remained until 1991. During that time he showed his real and abiding concern for the violations of human rights in the British occupied six counties. Maurice set about countering British propaganda in the United States through a column in the Irish People and through his own newsletter ``The Nation'' which went to subscribers all over the States.
His main concern was the way the British and indeed, the Dublin governments distorted the facts about the situation in the six counties. Throughout these years he made the annual trips to the north with the INA delegations.
When he retired in 1991 he returned to live near his sister in Dublin. Although in failing health he still worked tirelessy writing and helping the prisoners and their families. This good work brought him to the attention of the Dublin Special Branch who visited him on at least one occasion.
Fr Maurice (or ``Mossy'' as he was known to his friends and colleagues) believed passionately in a free and independent Ireland because he was convinced that it was the only way the Irish people could achieve their full potential. He felt it was his duty as a priest to make known the facts about British rule in the north of Ireland which were not reported in the press.
He wrote a number of books (including Ireland: The Facts) and pamphlets and formed a group known as Clergy for Justice which published many pamphlets and a book, The Truth about British Injustice in Ireland. Maurice was a man of learning and wisdom, of courage and integrity, a man committed to the truth and to justice. He stirred a few consciences along the way. He has made a great contribution to the creation of a just and lasting peace in Ireland. Duine uasal, sagart diograiseach, fear croiuil agus croguil. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal.
By Fr Joe McVeigh