THE CV OF MICHAEL DESMOND DENNEHY: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF A CHRISTIAN IN ACTION
Michael,
(Mick) was born on 8 February 1923 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and was
educated at Christian Brothers College, Kimberley.
After
school he entered the OMI Novitiate, but, after a year, he was advised to leave
due to ill health. On returning to the lay life he joined his
brother-in-law in the outfitting business on the West Rand, Johannesburg.
His
father had great influence on his young spiritual life by instilling in him the
social responsibilities taught in the Gospels. Mick married Mary Goodall in 1951 and they eventually adopted three children,
two sons and a daughter, the daughter, Elizabeth is married and lives in Waterford,
Ireland.
At an
early stage as a young adult Mick demonstrated his compassion for fellow human
beings by becoming involved in various parish and other caring
organizations. His main involvement was with those in dire need; the
poor, destitute and oppressed.
After
retiring in 1990, he started a group known as the Concerned Christian Action
Group. The main objective of this group being to actively seek out the
poorest of the poor, the sick and the hungry and to give whatever assistance he
could to help them obtain what was due to them. His example caught the
attention of corporate and religious bodies which came to his aid with finance
and other resources. These bodies included mining houses, individuals and
the Jesuit fathers.
Micks
main mission is to assist those who are entitled to any state benefits or
grants but who, due to poverty, illness, old age or illiteracy, are unable to
help themselves. He actively seeks out these needy people by going into
townships and elsewhere and taking them to where they need to be, then, if
necessary, fighting their cases until they obtain what is their due. In
many instances he has exposed corruption and graft and has, as a result, not
always been popular with some officials.
One
of Micks great motivating factors is Pope John Paul 11s Ecclesia in
Africa and the concept of Community Serving Humanity. When asked
what keeps him going at the age of ninety years, his reply is if we claim to
be Christians then we should be doing what Scripture tells us, no matter our
age.
Over
the years Mick has developed an excellent rapport with influential officials
and this has enabled him to succeed in his mission where many others might have
failed. During one of his missions he was accompanied by an SABC journalistic
Team and he later appeared on the investigative programme,
Special Assignment. Mick is, however, a very humble person and seeks no
acclaim for his work. He is adamant that he is doing only what all
Christians should be doing.
Mick
has documented many of his cases, only for purposes of having a store of
information for future cases. The writer has had sight of these and the
facts are quite remarkable. Cases include:
Assisting an aged destitute man to obtain 12 years back-paid
pension which was due to him and never paid.
A destitute quadriplegic lady was close to death, living alone in a
shack. She was unable to obtain medical treatment. Mick went
to her aid by contacting the highest medical authorities at the local state
hospital and, after great effort, getting her admitted and treated and placed
in care.
Countless poverty stricken and aged and illiterate people
have been assisted to obtain identity documents in order to enable them to access
state grants and services. This was not done from distance but by going
out to visit each person at their homes and by going the whole way with them.
At
the age of ninety he is still active on a daily basis in his service to the
community and his tenacity in dealing with reluctant officials has not wavered.
Whilst
Mick seeks no recognition, it is felt that this award will assist greatly in
serving as a public example and could be a motivating factor in spurring others
in our community to become involved and eventually continue the good work when
Mick is no longer able.
Compiler:
.
B Harvey
Pastoral Council Chairman:
..
Bernard Cole
Parish Priest: ..
Fr I Fidgeon OMI