At 3.30am, four days a week, Fr Patrick Magro SJ closes the door of the Jesuit community residence at Msida and goes on a 20km run. He returns as dawn breaks, in time to join his Jesuit companions in prayer before they start their day’s work.
Every weekend the run covers over 30km. Clear night or pelting rain, he runs. And he is running with a purpose.
Mark Kimario SJ is a young Jesuit from Tanzania. He is currently serving in Malta, accompanying students at St Aloysius’ College, Birkirkara. He runs whenever he can, building his endurance, readying himself for what is in store. And then there’s 41-year-old Mario Farrugia, an accountant by profession who is no newcomer to long-distance running. With a good number of races under his belt, he too is making his steps count.
Patrick, Mark and Mario are training hard for the London Marathon which will take place on Sunday, April 22. It will be their first ever, and they will endure the gruelling 42km route to create awareness and raise funds for the Jesuit Missions UK, which this year will support two challenging humanitarian projects, one in Uganda and one in India.
The thought of running all the way with that huge head on me is a little worrying
“During my working day I encounter so many people who talk about their joys and their difficulties,” said Fr Patrick, a 48-year-old Jesuit priest.
“Running in the early hours of the morning is my form of rest. I am alone, the roads are quiet, most people are asleep. It is a time when I can reflect and pray. It is a challenge, but I enjoy it.”
The London Marathon, one of the world’s most famous sporting events, is well known for its fundraising aspect and also for the hilarious, iconic and sometimes downright absurd costumes worn by many participants, designed to attract attention to a huge variety of worthy causes. A handful of runners dress up as Wombles, the story-book characters adopted for the past 20 London Marathons by Jesuit Missions UK. This year, Fr Patrick Magro SJ will be running wearing this furry costume and great fluffy head. No easy feat!
He took up the challenge with the hope that it will create more awareness for the cause. “It’s a little bit crazy, I know, and I will only put on the costume for the first time on arrival in London the day before, with no time to practice, which is a bit of a concern,” he said with a smile.
“The thought of running all the way with that huge head on me is a little worrying, and I hope it won’t rain! But I’ll see it to the finish-line, one step at a time.”
Mario Farrugia, the only one of the trio who is not a Jesuit priest, said: “Though every race presents its own challenges, a full marathon is a different ball game, which requires building psychological strength, not just physical. Anyone’s support to the cause will play a very important part to help me keep going.”
Jesuit Missions is the official international development agency of the Jesuits in Britain, supporting vulnerable communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Jesuit Missions works in partnership with other Jesuit organisations and accompanies more than 17,000 Jesuits who put their faith into action in the field. Their work is concrete, professional and life-changing for the thousands they support.
“In the two years I’ve been at Jesuit Missions, I’ve seen how effectively the organisation works with poor and marginalised people,” says Sam Aidoo, a staff member of the Jesuit Missions office and a participant in last year’s marathon.
“About 85% of my motivation for running was to help bring funds to the projects Jesuit Missions is working on.”
The three runners: From left, Mario Farrugia, Fr Patrick Magro SJ and Mark Kimario SJ, who will be running the London Marathon in April.Support the cause
In Uganda there are more refugees and asylum seekers than any other African nation,1.3 million, 82% of whom are women or girls who have fled the catastrophic situations in South Sudan and in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Jesuit Refugee Service’s work in Uganda will empower and integrate refugees and asylum seekers, while increasing access to education and providing English language support.
In India the Jesuits are working with women who are vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking. Near the Nepalese border they have reunited women trafficked to the nearby cities with their families. This year they will provide even more women with training and new skills.
The Jesuits have also increased awareness of the dangers of exploitation by groups promising work in the cities, helped women take on leadership roles in their villages and increased participation in local decision and policy making.
Donations may be made to: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PatrickMagro; or http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MarioFarrugia
Alison Vella is communications officer, Euro-Mediterranean Province of the Society of Jesus (Malta).