By Michael Motes

Father Richard Kieran has returned from a three-week European tour during which he studied the international program Campus Crusade for Christ in several countries.

Arriving in Ireland the day before his sister’s wedding (at which his brother, Father John Kieran officiated), Father Kieran had a brief family reunion before he began his studies.

Commenting on four days he spent in Galway with the staff of the Campus Crusade at the University there, Father Kieran said: “We had exciting meetings with the 40 to 50 Catholic students to whom Campus Crusade is ministering most directly in Galway. It was evident that these students have a great hunger for the Lord. For example, in our first meeting they kept me busy with questions for two and one-half hours—all about the Church and how they might relate more effectively to it.”

Father Kieran commented that the following day the students showed up at Mass, bringing friends with them.

Two of the days in Galway were spent with seven priests who are interested in ministry to youth, one of whom flew in from the Aran Islands.

“Although their ministries are very different to what I have experienced some are working in rural areas on Connemara – I think we all found a great deal of mutual support in sharing our convictions about our work,” Father Kieran said.

From Galway, Father Kieran went to southern Germany and Switzerland where he was reunited with friends John and Peggy Nyquist and spent one day with the staff of Campus Crusade in the university city of Freiberg.

“I enjoyed my visit on the campus with one of the staff members. The tour included a visit to the Catholic faculty of theology and lunch in a wonderful little German inn. We had a very fruitful afternoon of dialog with the staff, with the aid of a translator. They insisted that I remain and talk to the students that evening. It was a special blessing to be able to reassure some Catholics about their Church.”

Following a brief sight-seeing excursion through the Emmanthal district of Switzerland, famous for its cheese, Father Kieran and Nyquist went to Rome.

“The effervescent native Italian staff member, Giocele Baldari, had a tight schedule planned,” Father Kieran recalled. “The first afternoon was spent with the staff leadership. That night and the next day I had time with Elfi Revel, who visited with us in Atlanta last fall. The second day I met with the full Italian staff – a one hour session developed into a three-hour dialog.

“It was exciting to see the very genuine concern of Campus Crusade throughout Europe to work with the Church. The Italian staff especially are establishing some good contacts, especially with the assistant pastor of Elfi’s new parish.”

Father Kieran had a long visit with another Atlanta priest, Father Pat McCormick, at the North American College in Rome. His last day in Italy was spent in a workshop with some priests at a beautiful place near the pope’s summer residence at Castelgondolfo. Father Kieran commented that the attendance was poor but the interest of those who came was “most encouraging.”

His last stop was in Porto, Portugal where he was the guest of Jose and Ulla Gaoclaves, who are beginning the ministry there. Both are ordained Baptist ministers, Jose having been the pastor of a church in Porto for many years and who is currently serving as president of the European Baptist Federation.

Father Kieran met with the small leadership group in Porto and also met with representatives of several denominations, including a Catholic pastor and one of his lay leaders. He also had a visit with the Catholic Bishop of Porto.

Asked what one country impressed him most through the work of the Campus Crusade, Father Kieran stated that it was Ireland.

“Perhaps it is because they are English-speaking and the Campus Crusade was originated just over 25 years ago by Dr. Bill Bright at UCLA in California, but I did not notice the biggest response while in Ireland.

“The Church is not very present to the youth there, but the Campus Crusade is. The Crusade sees itself as helping the Church, certainly not replacing it.”

One thing that impressed Father Kieran was a great contrast between European and U.S. Church standards. An example he cited was that in this country there is a separation between Church and State. In Portugal, however, the Church is the State Church and recent political upheavals had significant ramifications for the Church there.

He was distressed by many negative attitudes he encountered. Again citing an example in Portugal, he commented that one woman asked him, “How can you be a Christian and a Catholic?”

Summing up his travels, Father Kieran said, “My overall impression of the trip is that I have been used by God to plant some seeds of a better understanding between Campus Crusade in Europe and the Catholic Church. I am grateful to have had the opportunity, with the help of many friends, to be a planter. I am leaving the results in God’s hands.”

Since its beginning, Campus Crusade for Christ has spread throughout the world. Today the ministry is practically every European country as well as being active in Africa, Asia and South America.