The Magazine of the Missionary Society of St. Columban
February 2013
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Volume 96 - Number 1- February 2013
Columban Mission
o n t e n t s
Issue Theme – The Missionary Life
Published By The Columban Fathers
Columban Mission (Issn 0095-4438) is published eight times a year. A minimum donation of $10 a year is required to receive a subscription. Send address and other contact information changes by calling our toll-free number, by sending the information to our mailing address or by e-mailing us at missionoffice@columban.org.
Trolley Ministry
12 On the Road
4 The Missionary Life
Columban Mission Today
8 Faith Flourishes in Myanmar
A Winter Visit
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Mailing Address: Columban Mission PO Box 10 St. Columbans, NE 68056-0010 Toll-Free Phone: 877/299-1920 Website: WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG Copyright Š 2013, The Columban Fathers (Legal Title) Publisher REVh. TimOTHY Mulroy, SSC directorusa@columban.org
Editor
10 50 Years Wandering the World
So Grateful
11 An Old Columban Missionary Reflects 16 What Am I Doing Here?
Vocation Promotion in Fiji
18 Out of Weakness
Hope and Strength
20 The Truth
What is That?
21 Woman of Courage 22 Truth Shall Spring Out of the Earth
Justice Shall Look Down from Heaven
Departments 3 In So Many Words 23 From the Director CM FEB13 2 final.indd 2
Kate Kenny kkenny@columban.org
Editorial Assistant Connie Wacha cwacha@columban.org
G RA P HI C DESI G NER KRISTIN ASHLEY
Editorial Board Amy Woolam Echeverria Dan Eminger Jesus Manuel Vargas Gamboa Chris Hochstetler Kate Kenny REV. TimOTHY Mulroy, SSC Jeff Norton Greg Simon Fr. Richard Steinhilber, SSC Connie Wacha
The Missionary Society of St. Columban was founded in 1918 to proclaim and witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Society seeks to establish the Catholic Church where the Gospel has not been preached, help local churches evangelize their laity, promote dialogue with other faiths, and foster among all baptized people an awareness of their missionary responsibility.
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Initial Sacrifices, Long Term Gains
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n being a missionary, initial sacrifices are made. We find ourselves away from our families and friends, living in unfamiliar surroundings, trying to learn a new language, getting used to a new culture and customs, eating different foods, bearing various discomforts. Yet in time the difficulties begin to ease as I became accustomed to my new situations. In the Philippines I found my views about living and about what is important in life broaden and deepen. I felt supported by the camaraderie with fellow Columbans and other missionaries. I learned to laugh at my own mistakes particularly in language and cultural adaptation. I learned from the patience of people. New friendships developed. I learned that more could be done by sharing with and involving lay people in ministry, by letting them take the lead whenever possible. I felt In So Many Words affirmed by them in my attempts to serve. A By Fr. John Comiskey mutual respect grew. By sharing in the lives of people, in their joys, successes and pains, illness and loss, I experienced a growth in compassion particularly for those who have less in life. I don’t mean that I didn’t miss my family and friends at home, and the things that I had known in Brooklyn and other New York environs, but newer elements and vistas were added. I grew to know and love new people in new places, in Sta. Rita, Olongapo; Novaliches, Malate, Manila. I felt a broader, deeper happiness despite the struggles and frustrations that I also faced. Throughout it all, a fuller sense of God’s love grew, a sustaining power and a keeper of subtle joy.
By sharing in the lives
of people, in their joys, successes and pains, illness and loss, I experienced a growth in compassion particularly for those who have less in life.
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Columban Fr. John Comiskey lives and works in St. Columbans, Nebraska.
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The Missionary Life Columban Mission Today by Amy Woolam Echeverria
“We are not here to convert the Chinese, but to do God’s will.” 1 Written by the Missionary Society of St. Columban co-founder Bishop Edward Galvin, these words were a radical departure from the early 20th century approach to mission and continue to define Columban mission life today. This faithfulness to God’s mission impels us to move beyond our comfort zone and encounter people, cultures, religious and social realities unlike our own. As St. Columban once said, “A life unlike your own can be your teacher.” In 2012 two significant gatherings occurred in the life of Columbans and the Church. The first was the 13th General Assembly of the Missionary Society of St. Columban. Every six years these Assemblies are key moments in the life of the Society providing a space for prayerful discernment of the Spirit Who speaks to us constantly through the Church and in the changing circumstances of the world. 2 Held in the United States for the first time in the Society’s 94 year history, Los Angeles, California, with its tremendous cultural diversity and rich mission history, was the backdrop for the delegates from around the world to articulate 4
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the Columban vision for the next six years. What emerged was a “Call to Communion,” an invitation to be in relationship, especially with the poor and the unevangelized. Building on our long tradition of solidarity and dialogue, Columbans will continue to seek ways to witness God’s love in the world. Within days of the Columban General Assembly concluding, the 13th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops opened with the theme, The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith, which lasted
“A life unlike your own can be your teacher.” ~ St. Columban from October 7-28, 2012. Aside from the coincidental fact that it was the 13th General Assembly for both Columbans and the Bishops (Ordinary General Assembly), there were other similarities. The first and perhaps the most important message from both Assemblies was the recognition of the urgency of mission today. From the pre-Synod document, Lineamenta, 3 the preface begins
with Jesus’ command to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Mt.28:19) It is from this scripture that the entire Synod process of reflection was grounded. Similarly, in Columban constitutions, this same scripture is the first one reads upon opening to the section, “Nature, Purpose, and Spirit of the Society.” Just as it was for early disciples and Christians throughout the ages, this command has inspired many generations of Columbans to witness Christ’s message of love, peace, justice, hope and reconciliation in a broken world. In a post-Synod article by John Allen, he describes the big take-aways from the synod saying, “In broad strokes the idea is a transition from maintenance to mission – from keeping the machinery of the church in good working order to reviving its missionary energies.” 4 Similarly, Columbans and many Catholic institutions find that we are called to increasingly place our structures at the service of mission versus adapting mission to fulfill the needs of the institutions. A second commonality between the two gatherings was a focus on the call to conversion, both www.columban.org
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personal and societal. In this conversion, a turning towards God, we abandon our own initiatives and space is made for us to more fully respond to God’s will. At the 2012 U.S. Regional Assembly, the image of the grain of wheat dying in order to bring forth new life captured the imagination and hearts of Columbans. Through the letting go of one’s own desires, we are created anew in the image of God. In the Synod’s closing message, the Bishops emphasize this call to conversion saying, “In these days voices among the Bishops were raised to recall that the Church must first of all heed the Word before she can evangelize the world. The invitation to evangelize becomes a call to conversion.” 5 Not coincidentally, during the Synod, Pope Benedict opened the Year of Faith, beginning in October 2012 and continuing till September 2013. This special designation for the cultivation and strengthening of our interior lives becomes a graced moment to drink from the well of renewal. A third, but no less significant observance, last October during the Synod was the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. John Allen binds the Synod with Vatican II’s strong call for justice in the world when he says, “In a synod dedicated to relighting the church’s missionary fires, there are two core tests for the authenticity of that effort. The first is contemplation…and the second is a determination to see ‘the face of the poor’.” 6 The pre-Synod document, Instrumentum Laboris, which was the summary of the Lineamenta, offered numerous references to www.columban.org
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previous encyclicals, and other Church documents which lift up the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) dimension of the Church’s mission which according to the Synod of Bishops in 1971 is said to be “integral to preaching the Gospel.” On the eve of the Synod, Columban Superior General, Fr. Kevin O’Neill, on behalf of the Society, submitted to the gathered Bishops, a letter praising their recognition of the significance of justice in the Synod’s documents. He emphasized that from our missionary perspective, the Church cannot afford to weaken its positions on justice by overemphasizing charity. Indeed, some have compared “charity” and “justice” to the two feet we need to walk in the way of Jesus; action for justice and direct service to those in need. Both are needed to fulfill God’s mission. We must remain committed to meeting the immediate spiritual and social needs of the people we encounter, as well as seek lasting structural change. Finally, what do these Assemblies mean practically? How will Columbans and the Church implement the ideas set forth in their respective gatherings? For Columbans, we affirmed our Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation ministry that seeks solidarity with the marginalized and vulnerable. We also affirmed our ministry of Inter-faith Dialogue, particularly among the Chinese and with Muslims. Ministries that invite people to mission such as Vocations, Formation, Lay Mission, Mission Exposure, and Short-term Volunteering will also be ways that
we seek to be in communion with the world. The Synod identified no fewer than 58 Propositions that offer focus for the implementation of the New Evangelization. 7 Below are a few that align with Columban priorities. • Proposition 15: New Evangelization and Human Rights Proposition • Proposition 21: Migrants • Proposition 24: The Social Teaching of the Church • Proposition 51: Youth and the New Evangelization • Proposition 52: Ecumenical Dialogue • Proposition 53: Inter-Religious Dialogue • Proposition 56: Stewardship of Creation While it will likely be a year or more from the conclusion of the Synod before the Pope issues his official document, an apostolic exhortation which further outlines direction based on the results of the Synod, these propositions give insight into what the New Evangelization means practically. The missionary life for Columbans, today, remains rooted in the mandate of Jesus to proclaim the Good News to the ends of the earth in the spirit of our founders. We continue to cross boundaries to meet the spiritual and social challenges of our times. We seek relationships with people, communities, and Creation which are marginalized and vulnerable. Above all, we humbly and earnestly work to do God’s will. And yet, in many ways the world in which we live mission today is very different from our beginnings in 1918. The urgency February 2013
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for communion, relationship, and unity is ever more pressing in the light of globalization with its apparent instantaneous connection paradoxically in many ways pulls us apart. The Columbans share the Church’s call in the New Evangelization, for a world in which the human dignity of all peoples is respected and the care for Creation is integral to our Catholic Christian lives. We recognize that the New Evangelization, which is quite simply “entering into the long path of proclaiming the Gospel,” 8 begins in depths of our own heart through prayer and is made real in our encounters with Christ in the Other. In this way, we see the face of God in our neighbor, the stranger, and all of Creation as we are transformed into the face of God ourselves. CM 1 Letter from E. J. Galvin to E. J. McCarthy, September 4, 1927, as cited in The Spirituality of Our Founders, by Fr. James McCaslin, SSC 2 SSC Constitutions and Directory, p.21. 3 The Lineamenta is a pre-Synod consultation document which encourages Bishops to invite the participation of the local Church. The text for the XIII General Assembly Synod can be found at the Vatican website, www.vatican.va. 4 Allen, John Jr. “Synod surfaces ferment over mission”, National Catholic Reporter. November 9-22, 2012. Vol.49, No.2. pp 1, 12-13. 5 Closing Message of the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith. Section 5. 6 Allen, John Jr. “Synod surfaces ferment over mission”, National Catholic Reporter. November 9-22, 2012. Vol.49, No.2. pp 1, 12-13. 7 The full text of the Propositions can be found at www.vatican.va.
Spend this Summer on Mission in the Nation’s Capital Columban Summer Advocacy Internship Washington, D.C. June 3 – July 26, 2013
Be an Advocate for Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation Grow in Your Faith Live in Community To Apply: www.columban.org/get-involved ccaoprograms@columban.org 301-565-4547
8 Closing Message of the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith. Section 2.
Amy Woolam Echeverria is the director of the Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach in Washington, D.C.
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Being Chosen No Turning Back By Dan Diamond
I remember it like it was yesterday; the day I was invited to join a mission trip to Puerto Rico with my employer back in 1998. I returned to my office, checked my voicemail, and there was a message from one of the coordinators of the annual staff mission trip. She said they had an open spot for the upcoming trip and thought I would be a perfect fit. I was confused, to say the least, but she had definitely triggered some intrigue in me. There was also a feeling, in that very moment, of being touched, chosen. It was a time in my life when I thought I had it all figured out. I had a great job working in the computing center at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where I had studied. I had worked as a staff member at the university while working my way through college, and one of the perks of the job was that my tuition was paid. I remember when I was first hired thinking how great it would be that when I completed my degree I would already have 5 years of work experience under my belt which would surely help me land a great job. I purchased a house, a new car, my social life was good; what else could I have asked for? But looking back now I guess God had a different future planned for me. The trip that we were going on was to help some Dominican Sisters with an annual festival that they held every year to honor www.columban.org
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the indigenous people of Puerto Rico. As we prepared for the trip I remember thinking: why in the world did they invite me? I felt so different than the others in the group. They had all had some sort of history working with the Church in different areas. During our preparation I learned that I really was different than the others in that they had all applied to go on the trip and I was invited. I really thought: Why did they choose me? I have always considered myself a Catholic, but at the time I was not even a regular churchgoer.
…God had a different future planned for me. So the trip came, and we arrived in Puerto Rico. I had traveled internationally in the past, but that was my first trip to Latin America. It was so different than anything I had ever encountered. When we arrived at the convent in the mountains we were greeted by the Sisters, but they were so different than I expected. They were young, and many of them were my age (at the time I was 25). As the week went on I was changing by the minute. I think
my fellow travelers even saw the change in me. I remember at one point one of the younger Sisters invited me to pray with her before the Blessed Sacrament, and I wasn’t even sure what that meant. She explained to me that praying before the Blessed Sacrament is a wonderful opportunity for us to sit and talk to Jesus while he is physically present. We went, and I was dumbfounded by the closeness I felt to Jesus at that very moment. The rest of the week I spent countless hours with the Blessed Sacrament, and God called me to mission. As the trip came to an end, and we were saying goodbye to the Sisters, it was very hard to hide my tears. As I hugged one of them, Sr. Margarita, she whispered in my ear, “I love you,” but it wasn’t her that was saying it, it was God. I went home and tried to go back to my routine, but I couldn’t because I was different. God had called me and there was no turning back. Since that time I have spent several years abroad on mission and for the last three and half years I have been a Columban lay missionary. All because of a little voicemail. CM Daniel Diamond lives and works with the Columbans in Chicago, Illinois.
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Faith Flourishes in Myanmar A Winter Visit By Fr. Sean Conneely
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s we drove out the main gate of the compound of the Archdiocese of Myitkyina on the fine afternoon in January, we turned left into a dusty, potholed road packed with motorbikes and jeepneys with thousands of people going about their daily business. Behind us we left the Cathedral of St. Columban built by Bishop Howe in the 1940s and the old building of the minor seminary built and run by the Columban Fathers in the 1950s and 1960s. They are both run now by the native priests and Bishop Francis. That morning I concelebrated Mass with Bishop Francis in a packed church. The parishioners sang their way in their native language all through Mass. It was an eerie, mystical and an uplifting spiritual experience for me. At the end of Mass Archbishop Francis asked me to say a few words in English which he translated. 8
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I mainly thanked them for welcoming me to Myanmar and stated what a privilege it was for me to visit their Diocese and have the opportunity to celebrate Mass with them. Above all I was glad to be able to say thanks to them for their welcome and care and respect and love for the Columban priests and Sisters over the years. In my short visit to Myanmar I encountered a respect and interest for the Columbans unlike anyplace else I have ever visited or lived. The local people knew the names of all the Columbans who worked there, where they are now and, if applicable, when they died. In various designated areas they have memorials for the Columbans who worked in Myitkyina Diocese. It was a tragic turn of history when the military-socialist government took over the country in 1964. The junta nationalized the schools and hospitals and made it
so impossible for missionaries to work there that the last Columbans made the difficult decision to leave in 1977. Bishop John Howe from Ireland was the only Bishop in the Myitkyina Diocese at the time, but before he left he ordained Paul Grawng as the first native priest in 1974 and as Bishop in 1977. Bishop Paul is now the Archbishop of Mandalay, and Myitkyina has since been divided into two dioceses, Banmaw/Bhamo was set up as a Diocese in 2002. The area was known as Bhamo when the Columbans first worked in parishes and schools. As the Kachin driver drove us along the dusty crowded road to the airport, suddenly I felt a sadness come over me as if I was leaving home for the last time. My mind brought me back to the Columban Sisters and Fathers who had to leave Burma prematurely because of government pressure www.columban.org
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and circumstances. What were their thoughts and feelings as they were driven to the airport those days? I related my thoughts to Bishop Francis who was sitting behind me. “I was a young priest at the time” he said, “grew up with the Columbans, and I was with the last group as they left to the airport. As we left the city their last wish was to be allowed to visit the graves of their fellow Columbans, priests and Sisters who had died here. As they said prayers tears ran down from their eyes to the ground like spring rain. They were doubly brokenhearted, not only for leaving their ministry places and the people they loved but also leaving their colleagues in the graves in a foreign land. They were leaving their life’s work unfinished, their dreams, hopes and desires behind. They felt they could never return again, and while most didn’t, a few did.” As we sat in silence in the Jeep weaving our way slowly on a crowded airport road, I wondered how they really felt and thought. Most of all they left behind the people they loved, churches, schools and clinics, taken over by a government hostile to Christian religion and values. How did they feel towards those in power who interrupted the work of their hands and hearts? This was the place they had sowed their first seeds as missionaries, the place where they saw their first dreams come true. Did they think that their long hours of learning languages and culture, their years of building up an education system were a waste of time and energy? Were they angry with God for not protecting them from a government who had the audacity to take over their schools and education system to control the noble people of Burma especially the Kachin people among whom they had worked? www.columban.org
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Fr. Sean with friends in Myanmar
Thanks to God the church of the Kachins did not die, rather it flourished under persecution and is still flourishing. Bishop Paul Grawng led the church, and the seed sown by missionaries took flower. With only ten priests when they left, the area now has 50, two dioceses, three native Bishops and many religious priests and Sisters. And it is not just a vibrant group of clergy they left behind but a very fervent and committed group of laity. I had the privilege to be present with Bishop Francis Daw Tang at the opening Mass of the yearly education program for 90 catechists and church workers from all around the hill country parishes of the Katchin State. There were both, men and women but mainly men, ordinary men who farm and labor in the mountain areas take off two months every year to come to Myitkyina to study about their faith and spend time together to share care and learn from each other. Some could not come because of the war strife and pillaging by the army in their area. For others the roads were mined and too
dangerous to travel. When the program is over, they return to their villages and lead their congregation in prayer, liturgy, catechesis and care for their spiritual needs, while living their own daily life of farming and raising their family. The schools that the Columbans built are still held by the government, but it looks like a change is coming. Small, unofficial schools are offering alternative education. The government is beginning to see the need for a more open and liberal and educated people as they encounter the wider world of trade and business. No one knows, but people have the hope. With Aung Sung Sui Kyi released from house arrest, people look to her as the new Nelson Mandela to lead them to the promised land of peace and prosperity. We hope and pray with them. CM Columban Fr. Sean Conneely lives and works in Seoul, South Korea.
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50 Years Wandering the World So Grateful By Fr. Charles Duster
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f I had stayed in Iowa and worked in the grocery store with my Dad, I would never have become informed and concerned about what is happening around the world. Like every human being I must live my life in the place where I reside, but having lived and worked in various countries, I have a sense of belonging that goes beyond the small patch that I have always called home. Also, being able to communicate with people from other countries in their own language has been such a joy for me. There were always people in foreign lands who spoke some English, but the expression on their face would change totally when I spoke to them in their own language. They clearly recognized my wish and the determination to meet them on their cultural turf. I have spent most of my working life outside the United States. Following my ordination in 1961, I went to Japan for six years; then returned to the U.S. for five years to promote vocations to the Columban missionary priesthood. I then went to Fiji for twelve years, to Rome to run our post-graduate house of studies for eight years and after that back to Fiji for eleven years. For health reasons, I returned to the U.S. in 2001. I feel so grateful for those years I spent working overseas and am equally grateful for the opportunity to work for some time in my own country. I do not feel as pressured as I was in other countries. Being in my own country, I am familiar
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I have a sense of belonging that goes beyond the small patch that I have always called home. with the environment, even though much has changed in this country since 1961. On returning to the U.S., I began working out of our mission center in Chicago, Illinois. The heart of our work was and is gratitude to all those who support our missionary endeavor. I never tire of telling people that they are the gas that keeps the engine going. All my years overseas on mission were supported by the constant generosity of people here. In Chicago I worked with other Columbans phoning and visiting donors to thank them for their support. We also ran events in
major cities to thank donors with a practical gesture. We would run a three hour session consisting of a PowerPoint presentation on how Columbans overseas are engaged in mission today, refreshments, and a Mass of thanksgiving offered for the intentions of all those present. Also, during my time at our Chicago mission center I worked on mission education and motivation through mission appeals in parishes around the Midwest. On some occasions we were also invited to give mission presentations in Catholic schools. We also took a booth at some regional and national educationwww.columban.org
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related conventions for teachers who work in Catholic schools and parishes. Most participants work as teachers in schools but many also work in parish based programs. At our booth we offer material on mission education. Finally, we worked to form and support Columban affiliate groups whose aim is to support the groups’ members in their local mission or outreach commitments. We also helped them situate the local mission of the Church in a global context. We have not been as successful as I would have liked in this area, but we persevere with the project as it seems to be a worthwhile way of promoting the missionary dimension of the grassroots church.
In 2011 I moved to our U.S. headquarters house in St. Columbans (Omaha), Nebraska, to continue with similar work. I no longer have the energy of youth but am grateful to be able to continue to enjoy my work as a Columban missionary priest. For now, I am as busy as I want to be and don’t really have time to read all those books that I intended to read! I hope to remain open to whatever might await me. These days, I like especially the many opportunities that come my way to express our gratitude to our supporters and partners in mission. Also, a bonus of being in the U.S. has been reengaging with family and friends. Now it is relatively easy for me to attend important family
functions, such as baptisms and weddings, and, on occasion, to visit family members, who are scattered across the country. The evening of my life is not exactly hassle free, but I find that I am under less pressure. I have time for myself, and I find that I pray more than before. Thank God, the Columbans, our supporters and all those with whom we share our mission, for a full life. CM Columban Fr. Charles Duster lives and works in St. Columbans, Nebraska.
An Old Columban Missionary Reflects Before the world was begun, O Lord You had me in your mind You gave me a place in your world, O Lord To be gracious, forgiving and kind.
Your call to the priesthood was grace, O Lord To peoples across the sea With friendship and love to inspire me Lord To be true to them and to Thee.
I tried and I failed and despaired, O Lord But you raised me again and again So I trust in your grace and your love, O Lord To shepherd me through to the end.
Every step that I take, O Lord Every step is for you Every breath that I breathe, O Lord Every breath is for you.
You gave me a hearth and a home, O Lord With parents to show me the way A brother and sisters to keep me right Whenever I tended to stray.
Every beat of my heart, O Lord Every beat is for you So when I come to expire, O Lord My life has been spent for you. ~ Columban Father Jim Moynihan
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Trolley Ministry Visiting in Style By Fr. John Boles
Columban priest John Boles enjoys a feast with a difference, in his Chilean parish. “Fancy a ride in a supermarket trolley, Father?” It isn’t the sort of invitation a parish priest might expect to get at the best of times, let alone on the eve of a major feast day. However, this is the Columban parish of Santo Tomás de la Pintana, in the Chilean capital of Santiago. La Pintana is one of the city’s most underprivileged areas and also one of its most exhilarating. Here, the people make up with ingenuity what they lack in material goods. Nothing can surprise you in La Pintana. The feast in question is known as “Cuasimodo.” In an Englishspeaking context, the first thing that this word brings to mind is 12
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probably the deformed hero of the same name in the classic novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. However, in much of the Spanishspeaking world, Cuasimodo (or, “Quasimodo”), is the title given to the Second Sunday of Easter. In fact, the term comes from the Latin, “quasi modo,” meaning, “in the manner of,” which were the first two words of the liturgy of that day. In colonial times, it was traditionally the day when the priest took communion to the sick members of the parish. It was regarded as a great event. In an age before Eucharistic ministers, it was often the only day of the year when the housebound could receive the Eucharist. For this reason, it was celebrated with great fanfare. The priest would ride out on his horse, leading a procession of the faithful,
with music sounding and banners flying. The Spanish have been gone from Chile for 200 years, and lay ministers now take communion to those who can’t get to church. However, the custom of Cuasimodo endures. To this day, after morning Mass on the Second Sunday of Easter, the priest is invited to visit the sick in procession. In well-to-do parishes, Father is still mounted on horseback and accompanied by an equestrian parade, the participants invariably dressing up in traditional costume. In middle-class areas, the priest is now more generally taken in a car. In La Pintana, he is wheeled around on a supermarket trolley. As it turned out, on this particular occasion (which was my first experience of Cuasimodo) www.columban.org
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I gained a reprieve. Maybe the previous incumbents had been slimmer than me, because various attempts to place me in a chair atop the trolley resulted in some very precarious arrangements. Finally, I was given an upgrade. A friendly street-seller agreed to lend us his handcart, into which both chair and passenger fit very nicely, and off we went. The spectacle is noisy and colorful. We were all decked out in papal yellow and white and led by the parish musicians and choir. Between songs, much use was made of horns, rattles, bells and anything else that would make a din. For good measure, we were launched on our way by a volley of firecrackers. In this fashion, we passed around the homes of some fifteen ill or elderly parishioners. Onlookers www.columban.org
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lined the route, and there was a carnival atmosphere to the whole event. However, I soon realized that, behind all the pomp and circumstance, there is a serious side to the Feast. Given that a dedicated team of Eucharistic ministers take communion to the sick of our parish on a regular basis, this is a rare opportunity for me to visit some of these homes. Many of the situations I witness are both sad and uplifting, with serious illnesses borne with courage and the longterm sick tended to devotedly by family members. Also, Chileans value a house blessing conducted by a priest. As I always finish the sick visit with a blessing of the home, I feel I am giving something to them in return for the inspiration that
they are giving me. Cuasimodo is a wonderful opportunity for the poor of a Chilean parish to demonstrate their faith, creativity and cultural roots. If this entails the parish priest ending up in a somewhat less than dignified conveyance, then it is a price I am more than willing to pay. CM Columban Fr. John Boles is the Rector of Student Formation and parish priest of Santo Tomรกs parish in Santiago, Chile.
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On the Road An Adventure with Sr. Virgie By Sr. Virgie Mozo
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ittle did I imagine that I would ever be one of those drivers being selected at a random road inspection when I was on my way to Dearborn, Michigan, for the weekend church appeal. I was not under any time pressure, and I was driving under the speed limit. I expected to arrive around lunch time in Dearborn at the largest mosque in the United States. It is there that the Arab Muslim community has built the Islamic Center which is the second largest outside of the Middle East. However, when I heard the police siren, I knew that my plans were destined to change drastically. I knew that I wasn’t speeding, as I kept a close watch on the speedometer. I was wondering what had I done to attract police attention. The officer asked for the car registration and my driver’s license. With an innocent look and a wondering mind, I inquired about what was wrong. The police officer told me to wait. But I asked him over and over “What have I done?” As I was waiting I thought of the entrance antiphon from Psalm 70: “O God come to my assistance; O lord, make haste to help me, You are my rescuer, my help. O Lord, do not delay.” Even though I was only sitting there for 20 minutes, it seemed like an eternity. When the officer returned he told me to get out of the car. Mama Mia! The next 14
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thing I saw was two police cars with a sniffer dog descending on the scene. I got out of the car feeling very vulnerable as the dog went into my car and started to sniff around. I did not know what was going on or what to expect. Right in front of me were three state troopers with a dog searching my car. Many thoughts went through my mind. Did they think I was carrying drugs or illegal fire arms? Did they think
consider the fact that these officers were doing their job and trying to protect all citizens for safety and security, just like a random inspection at the airport or places where securities are of high risk. • Walking in solidarity with the poor and the marginalized: I thought of the many people in different parts of the world who are living in the margins at the edge of the society. • Recognizing the dignity and
I did not know what was going on or what to expect. Right in front of me were three state troopers with a dog searching my car. Many thoughts went through my mind… I was involved in moving illegal migrants? With no prejudice that was my immediate reflection. I introduced myself to the three officers and told them that I was a missionary religious Sister on my way for church appeals. I even showed them my brochures and the poster that I prepared for the weekend. I shared with those three men the ministry and mission of our Sisters: • Building peace in the midst of violence: I felt that my human rights as a person had just been violated on the road for a random inspection. But I tried to
place of women in a society where they are exploited and their person is denied: I felt that my dignity and integrity were being denied as they stopped me and refused to answer my questions. I finally dialogued with those men as they themselves might do in their own families with their mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. Just like what Barbara Marx Hubbard, one of the key speakers of the recent LCWR (Leadership Conference for Women Religious) General Assembly pointed out: Crises are potential signals driving the world toward more www.columban.org
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co-creative, co evolving humanity, where people become more fully aware of their potential for healing and evolving the world in new ways, new forms and ever expanding relationships. I told the officers that I would be writing an article about this episode. Later, I asked if I could get their names, and other information. I then asked if I could take a photograph of them — a Kodak moment, as we call it in the Philippines. They were smiling by that time. They obliged and requested to have the sniffer dog be included in the picture as well. By the way, the picture came out great! www.columban.org
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As I shared my sense of mission with the three men, I was able to become more aware of the living God who invited me and us to proclaim the Good news of faith, love, peace, forgiveness and joy. I also believe that God allowed me to finally touch their hearts as they offered me an apology. As I continued my journey to Dearborn, Michigan, I was still shaken. But when I arrived at my hostess’ home I asked for a big hug. She was worried about me being late and gave me two hugs. Later I shared this scary but also somewhat humorous story with the parishioners of my visiting
parish. I learned that the Lord gives us diverse opportunities to share our faith and also NEVER to speed in Ohio. The pastor of St. Joseph and St. Martha, Fr. Terry Kerner, was also very welcoming. I thanked him for his sense of humor, his welcoming heart and his spiritual mind. His parishioners also shared their sense of joy and good spirit, their generosity and kindness. I have deep gratitude to them. May God bless them abundantly. CM Originally from the Philippines, Columban Sister Virgie Mozo (pictured above) lives and works in the U.S.
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What Am I Doing Here? Vocation Promotion in Fiji By Fr. Frank Hoare
“What is a 65-year-old foreign missionary doing talking about the missionary priest’s vocation to Fijian 19- and 20-year-olds,” I ask myself. “Is it not time to do something less challenging? Would there not be more results to show from pastoral work or teaching?” “Am I still able for phoning schools, remembering names, and traveling long journeys to different parts of Fiji and Tonga in all sorts of weather?” Well, actually there are not many others queuing up to be Vocation Director here. And the Columban Society in recent General Assemblies has given a priority to this apostolate. Moreover, I am convinced that it is worthwhile to pass on the legacy of Columban missionary experience to young missionaries from other cultures. Their gifts and different approach to mission will reveal God’s love in Jesus Christ for humankind in a new way.
station. Pat felt he had no option but give the boy his fare and walk home. This story touched the heart of at least one listening student. He told me later that it brought him to a Columban Come and See day at our formation house. These Come and See days, held about three times yearly in different locations around Fiji and Tonga, bring small groups of young men together to learn more about the life of a missionary priest. Here, too, it is the local Pacifican Columban students who share their vocation stories and explain the stages and processes involved in the formation journey. The youths also view a Columban DVD, read and share their thoughts about Columban Mission articles, and speak personally with me or with our formator.
The few who decide that they want to discern seriously whether God is calling them to be missionary priests then follow a one year accompaniment program. They meet monthly with a Columban to share about different human and spiritual themes
Columban Fr. Taaremon Matuaea
Bridging the Age and Culture Gap
I try to overcome the age and culture gap by having a young Columban seminarian address the youths with me. Pat Visanti, a fourth year Columban student, shared how, during his spiritual year in Manila, the Philippines, he was shocked to see young children searching through a trash heap and eating the rotting food found there. One day he was confronted by the outstretched hand of a grime-covered eight-year-old child, in tattered clothes, at a railway 16
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Young scholars at Nabala Secondary School 2012
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provided to them for prayer and reflection. We are fortunate this year to have Columban students, Carlo from Korea and Kurt from the Philippines, to facilitate this reflection in the West and North of Fiji while I accompany the group living in Suva. At the end of this accompaniment year the two or three who apply to join the Columbans undergo medical and psychological assessment and appear before the Admissions Board. The successful candidates then join our Fiji formation program, beginning their studies at Pacific Regional Seminary in Suva.
The Vocation to be Christian
Personally, I look at vocation promotion not just as attracting young people to be Columban
missionaries. It is a way to help the young to think about the marvelous gift of life and how best we can live out this gift. What is most important is the Christian vocation to be a disciple of Christ. So I also encourage young Columban Companions to help youth groups to reflect and share on their gifts and talents and to recognize how our Christian faith brings meaning and purpose to life. Last year, here in Fiji, we celebrated with joy the priestly ordination of Taaremon Matuaea. The happy occasion was celebrated with prayer, feasting and island dancing as a young man from the tiny island community of Rabi reached the end of one journey and then began another. I am reminded of God’s words to Samuel about choosing a king for Israel, “God
does not see as man sees; man looks at appearances but Yahweh looks at the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7) So, what am I doing here? I feel privileged to be able to meet and speak with young people who are searching for what God wants of them in their lives. It is a joy to witness the unfolding of God’s grace in the lives of others, especially in the lives of the young. Perhaps it even keeps this 65 year old Columban missionary young at heart. CM Columban Fr. Frank Hoare lives and works in Fiji.
Join Us In Mission Columban missionaries are called, as St. Columban was, to bring the Gospel of Christ to the world and assist the poorest among us; giving aid to the impoverished, the oppressed and those most in need. In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul tells us that we all have the same call. “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…” Ephesians 4:11 NIV Join us in this missionary invitation; the Columban Fathers cannot do it alone. Please support the calling by remembering the Columban Fathers with your donation. Use the envelope in this magazine to make your gift or visit us online at http:// www.columban.org/donate to remember the missions. The Columban Fathers are deeply grateful for your generosity and your partnership as together we continue to fulfill God’s call to the mission!
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The Columban Fathers P.O. Box 10 St. Columbans, NE 68056 Phone: (402) 291-1290 Fax: (402) 291-4984 Toll free: (877) 299-1920 www.columban.org
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Out of Weakness Hope and Strength The story of a Columban priest who struggled for many years with an addiction to gambling. I started matching pennies with my father when I was four years old. I distinctly remember the thrill of winning four pennies and said to my Dad, “Let’s do it again.” However, he replied, “No, that’s enough for now.” It took me 45 years to get around to saying, “That’s enough.” That was when I went to my first Gamblers Anonymous (GA) meeting in 1980. In 1959 I took on an overseas mission assignment, but I struggled with the language and during my early years did not find the support I needed to get on top of the language or the job. A lively game of poker was a great release from all that. Later I began to go to casinos and soon realized that I was addicted to gambling. It was not just something in my head, but rather something physical, something I felt; the urge to gamble gripped me. In fact, I felt miserable but did not know that until after I began to go to GA meetings. In 1980 four things happened for me that helped turn my life around: first, I worked as a chaplain on an Air Force base in Omaha, Nebraska, for six months; second, 18
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I did a three month renewal course that was run by the Maryknoll Missionaries; third, I began to attend GA meetings; fourth, I was invited to attend a three day marriage encounter retreat. You might say that 1980 was truly a year of grace for me. As an auxiliary chaplain at the Air Force base, I heard the phrase “self image” for the first time. In the course of my work on the base I realized that I had very low self confidence. I had never felt appreciated in my mission work; I felt inadequate in the parish as I did not understand much of what people were saying to me even though I did manage to say what I wanted to communicate. Nor had I learned to think for myself through the education system that I had been through; I had merely learned what others wanted me to know. However, on the base, others affirmed me, and I discovered I was reasonably good at helping those (especially couples) who came to see me about religious and other matters. During my years on overseas mission another Columban www.columban.org
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had dubbed me “an incurable conservative.” In the renewal course I discovered that there are other valid ways of understanding our Catholic faith. I had locked myself into what I had learnt since childhood and so had become quite rigid in my attitudes towards many aspects of Catholicism. The renewal course helped me on the way towards flexibility and acceptance of difference. When I went to my first GA meeting I did not speak, but soon after I did and realized immediately that those present understood me. My story was their story and theirs was mine, so I continued to assist regularly at the meetings. After a year I returned to my mission, was assigned to another part of the country so was able to make a fresh start. I was appointed as pastor to a parish where the head of the parish council (who ran a hardware store) would come to visit me in the evenings, and we would just talk. There was no deep discussion about anything, and my friend kept the language simple. During my three years there I learnt so much more and gained confidence in my ability to both speak and understand the language. Also the circumstances of my life were easier. The weather was better – no driving through three feet of snow. I eventually felt welcomed by the people of the island where I was working. I also found the bishop, who was a local, most respectful and easy to work with. However, after two and a half years I returned to gambling in www.columban.org
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When I went to my first GA meeting I did not speak, but soon after I did and realized immediately that those present understood me. My story was their story and theirs was mine, so I continued to assist regularly at the meetings. the casino. I honestly thought it would be just an experiment to see whether I could gamble small and with control. After twelve trips to the casino I had won about $300. But I was beginning to realize my desire to play the games longer and for higher stakes was becoming ever stronger. I knew I had to stop completely. Also, I was a heavy smoker, and my sinuses were badly infected. I returned to the U.S. and reconnected with the GA group, who expressed surprise that I had kept away from the gambling for so long without the help of weekly GA meetings. They helped me understand that we cannot combat our addiction alone and that we need the GA group. Again I returned to my mission, but this time with the intention of establishing GA groups. The Columban leadership supported me, so I became the pastor of a parish near the capital of the country and started Gamblers Anonymous. I also hired a man to give me classes in language. He also helped me with the GA
work. We worked well together for about twelve years, setting up GA groups, which have continued and increased to 43 weekly meetings all over the country in response to a seriously felt need in that country. Fifteen years ago, after 37 years a missionary in that country, heart disease prompted me to return home for good, and since then I have continued with GA and keep my heart going with numerous pills, golf and other things. In the strength and vitality of youth I may have dreamed of achieving great things, but in fact my main contribution to God’s Kingdom on earth has come out of my struggle against my addiction to gambling. So, I say with St. Paul: “Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:10) CM Editor’s Note: The Columban Father about whom this article is written needs to remain anonymous as per the guidelines of Gambler’s Anonymous. February 2013
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The Truth What is that? By Fr. Patrick Colgan
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uring Holy Week, I had the privilege once again of joining the 100 or so Fijian youth who carry a heavy cross 150 kilometers down the potholed, sizzling hot and (this year) flooded roads of Fiji to the Khriist Jyoti Ashram retreat center near Fiji’s international airport in Nadi. All the elements of previous years were present, the blisters, the laughter and the tears, but this year the floods which devastated the western division of the country not once but twice brought an added poignancy and grief to the experience. Two places, one a Catholic parish and the other a Methodist village, that have traditionally received the walkers for the night, could not do so this year due to no electricity and piped water in addition to the devastation caused by trees and mud. In another parish, the walkers arrived to find the hall full of stranded flood evacuees, so the youth had to sleep on concrete verandas and in the church itself. Hearing of their plight, there were frantic phone calls going on between the traditional chiefs of the province, all of them Methodist, trying to arrange alternative halls, schools or anywhere for the youth with their precious “cargo” to spend the night at almost no notice. In addition, local people and groups were asked to provide meals, water and a community to receive them. 20
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Raising the cross
Miraculously, there is no other word, places were found, new friendships were forged, and the cross reached the Ashram on time for Good Friday. For the other youth group walking with their own cross and scheduled to meet in the Ashram on the same day, it was even worse. They were stranded for four days in a village in which there were yet again no Catholics and plans kept changing as to where they would stay, food and whether they could even continue. But continue they did, at the end, not walking, but running the cross to the Ashram. The scientific mind might consider all this to have been foolish and even dangerously risky, but the walkers themselves saw it as a demonstration of God’s power that they reached their destination on time and brought the symbol of God’s suffering love to places and people so most acutely living it. My own small contribution to the walk, apart from being there,
were the requests for confessions constantly coming at me on the road, off the road, in the dark, in the light, as well as the small meditation I was able to share about the part of Jesus’ Passion where He was alone with Pilate, and it is not really clear if Jesus, despite appearances, is really the one on trial, or whether it is Pilate/ the Jews/Peter/you and me, who are the people who have to answer Pilate’s haunting question: “The truth, what is that?” (John 18:38) The young people on the cross walk have certainly shaken up my idea of the truth! Apparently, it is not as simple as listening to weather forecasts! CM Recently elected to the Columban General Council, Fr. Patrick Colgan now lives and works in Hong Kong.
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Woman of Courage In pain, in tears, The women came, To gather every scattered part Of a broken body, Given for life. And in the sand, Your precious blood Has flown. Leaving a heart So full with love. For food, for health, That water may be ours, You took the path of peace, And gave your all. Another death at thirty-three. A thousand times redeemed, In every lowly woman Who rises again To run the race Of pain and hope. The Infinite horizon Calls your name, a million echoes ring: ‘Malena’, ‘Malena’, You cannot be killed. ~ Columban Sr. Mary Neylon, Peru.
In memory of Maria Elena Moyano, murdered by the Shining Path, February 15, 1992 in Lima, Peru. WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG
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Truth Shall Spring Out of the Earth Justice Shall Look Down from Heaven By Amy Woolam Echeverria
I recently had dinner with a longtime friend and Columban who has been a beacon in the Columban Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Ministry. As we were catching up on the latest news, the challenges and struggles that face our world, the words love and fear bubbled to the surface. I asked him what the opposite of love is to which he responded: injustice. This brought to mind the 1971 Synod of Bishops, Justice in the World in which the Church said, “Justice attains its inner fullness only in love.” This month we begin our journey with Jesus to the Cross which is essentially a journey of love. For the forty days of Lent, we are reminded of God’s radical and all-encompassing love that is revealed in the body of Christ. Two thousand years ago, Jesus’ message of love, justice, and peace, was scandalous for the people of His time. His challenge to law and order threatened the security of the powerful, wealthy, and educated elite. His invitation to the weak, vulnerable, and marginalized upset the established social structures. And so He was tortured and nailed to a Cross. We know that is not the end of the story, and Mary Magdalene is the first to tell us, “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18) What a revelation! Imagine her emotion in seeing the Beloved after standing 22
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at the foot of the Cross just a few days before. Moved from fear to love, from grief to joy, she was impelled into the world having had a personal encounter with Christ, offering the perfect model of a missionary life, proclaiming to all people the Good News through word and action. The Columban Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) is one way we echo Mary’s song, “I have seen the Lord!” in our world today. Dedicated to rolling back the tomb’s stone, we shed light on the root causes of human suffering and the exploitation of Creation so that the last will be first and all will have their place at the Table. Guided by our mission experience in some of the world’s poorest and
most marginalized communities, we seek to break down systemic barriers that keep all of Creation from knowing the fullness of life. (John 10:10) This year we celebrate the Year of Faith. This is a special invitation to not only deepen our relationship with God through prayer but also to renew our commitment to being God’s witness in a world where Love and faithfulness, justice and peace, meet together. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. (Psalm 85:10-11) CM
Amy Woolam Echeverria is the director of the Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach in Washington, D.C.
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Year of Faith
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aith was in the air I breathed while growing up in the remote countryside of Ireland in the 1970s. My family, neighbors and teachers valued deeply the gift that had been passed down to them and fervently desired to pass it on to us their children. They expressed their faith through devotion to the family rosary and Sunday Mass, as well as in their caring for family members and neighbors. They had a profound sense of gratitude for the many blessings God had given them, and bore their crosses stoically. Since 99% of the people I knew were practicing Catholics, back then I never thought seriously about my faith and simply assumed it as part and parcel of life. However, when I was in my mid-twenties
FROM THE DIRECTOR By Fr. Tim Mulroy I spent two years in Japan as a Columban seminarian and returned later as a missionary priest. What a surprise is was to encounter a people of whom less than one percent were
What a surprise it was to
Christian! It was a complete reversal of my childhood world. During my stay there I had the privilege of accompanying a small number of adults on their journey to baptism. They were people of various ages, men and women from different walks of life. Since many of them had no background knowledge or experience of Christianity, it was necessary to guide them from the most elementary level. This was a major challenge for me as I had to examine for the very first time the fundamental building blocks of my own faith and find a way to convey my message in broken Japanese. I experienced a deep sense of surprise and relief when I realized that despite my deficiencies, many catechumens eagerly embraced their new faith and rejoiced in the fresh perspective and sense of purpose it gave to their life. There were moments when I was amazed at the commitment of the newly baptized to sharing their faith with others. I knew with certainty that I could not claim credit for any of these developments; they were clearly the fruit of the Holy Spirit. As we celebrate this Year of Faith, I look back with gratitude to those Japanese people who helped me unwrap with a profound sense of awe and wonder the gift that God had given me through my family and neighbors as a child.
encounter a people of whom less than one percent were Christian!
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COLUMBAN FATHERS PO BOX 10 ST. COLUMBANS, NE 68056
NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID COLUMBAN FATHERS
Journey with Jesus Journey With Jesus is a supplementary Catholic mission education curriculum for grades preschool through eighth grade from the Columban Fathers. Five lessons per grade containing: • Opening and closing prayers • Video presentations • Original songs on CD • Activities • At Home Connections • Posters Journey With Jesus is available free on loan or for purchase. Visit the Columban Mission Education website at: www.columban.org/missioned for more information and how to order the program.
An Invitation Calls for a Response We are but clay, formed and fashioned by the hand of God.
That is to say, we are weak and vulnerable but with God’s grace we are capable of great generosity and idealism. Is God calling you to spread the good news? To a life of ministry among those who are less fortunate and more vulnerable than you are?
We invite you to join this new generation by becoming a Columban Father or Columban Sister. If you are interested in the missionary priesthood, write or call…
If you are interested in becoming a Columban Sister, write or call…
Fr. Bill Morton National Vocation Director Columban Fathers St. Columbans, NE 68056 877-299-1920 Email: vocations@columban.org Website: www.columban.org
Sister Virginia Mozo National Vocation Director Columban Sisters 2546 Lake Road Silver Creek, NY 14136 626-458-1869 Email: virginiamozo@yahoo.com Websites: www.columbansisters.org www.columbansistersusa.com
Japan + Korea + Peru + Hong Kong + Philippines + Pakistan + Chile + Fiji + Taiwan + North America
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