The Magazine of the Missionary Society of St. Columban
May 2017
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Volume 100 - Number 3 - May 2017
Columban Mission
o n t e n t s
Issue Theme – Invitation to Mission
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. Mailing Address: Columban Mission PO Box 10 St. Columbans, NE 68056-0010
A Different Summer 4 Being on Mission in Chile
Walking Together
5 Human Rights and Mission
The Poor Suffer
9 Adventures on Tide Island
Transition to Retirement
16 A Visit to Fiji
Korean Seminarians and Youth Experience Mission
18 Hearing the Cry of the Poor
The Importance of Mission Appeals
19 The Loving Father and Two Sons
A Parable Revisited
20 A Pioneer Returns
The Faith of the People
22 Redefining Communication
Retreats for Young People
Departments 3 In So Many Words 23 From the Director
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Toll-Free Phone: 877/299-1920 Website: WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG Copyright © 2016, The Columban Fathers (Legal Title) PUBLISHER REV. TIMOTHY MULROY, SSC DIRECTORUSA@COLUMBAN.ORG EDITOR KATE KENNY KKENNY@COLUMBAN.ORG EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS MARCI ANDERSON MANDERSON@COLUMBAN.ORG RHONDA FIRNHABER RFIRNHABER@COLUMBAN.ORG GRAPHIC DESIGNER KRISTIN ASHLEY EDITORIAL BOARD DAN EMINGER KATE KENNY ERNIE MAY REV. TIMOTHY MULROY, SSC JEFF NORTON FR. RICHARD STEINHILBER, SSC SCOTT WRIGHT
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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In So Many Words By Fr. Noel Connolly
The Center of the Party I once knew a priest who was the life of the party but prone to take over any party he attended. Most people enjoyed his company, but he was also said by many to “have a great welcome for himself.” I think that could be said of the history of Western mission. We often had a great welcome for ourselves. We rarely asked the people what they wanted and presumed we knew. We were, after all, carrying the Gospel to people whom we assumed were devoid of any saving relationship with God. We saw ourselves as preachers to whom everyone should listen, because we were working for and guaranteed by God. But we did not have to listen, and we did not expect to hear a Gospel word from our people. This is changing mainly because of two strong forces. First, it is no longer a credible way of doing mission in secular and plural societies. People will not listen to preachers who seem to have all the answers and a “road map to heaven.” It is just too arrogant. We have lost their trust and have to win it back. People only listen to us when we seem to believe they have something worthwhile to say. That is why Pope Francis puts so much emphasis on getting close to people, listening and conversing rather than preaching to people. Pope Francis says in his Apostolic Exhortation, “Amoris Laetitia” (The Joy of Love): “Take time, quality time. This means being ready to listen patiently and attentively to everything the other person wants to say. It requires the self-discipline of not speaking until the time is right. Instead of offering an opinion or advice, we need to be sure that we have heard everything the other person has to say.” #135 In a conversation no one preaches. Instead together we patiently and respectfully engage mutual insights, questions and doubts. Both people give and receive, evangelize and are evangelized, change and are changed. In the most effective evangelization there is a commitment to relationship and mutuality in transformation. The other major influence has been the end of colonialism and the growth of the “Southern” churches. With the end of colonialism and the growth of the “Southern” churches we have been forced to take a humbler position. In churches where previously we would have supplied the leadership we may not even know when the most important meetings are happening. And in Australia and New Zealand we now mainly receive missionaries rather than send them. As missionaries we are called to be with people, patiently waiting to discern with them what the Spirit is calling us all to. Our lives should be characterised by attentiveness, graciousness, humility and contemplation rather than frenetic activity. We are not the center of the party.
In the most effective
evangelization there is a commitment to relationship and mutuality in transformation.
Columban Fr. Noel Connolly is a member of the Columban Mission Institute in North Sydney and a lecturer in Missiology at both the Broken Bay Institute and the Catholic Institute of Sydney. WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG
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red rojo
purple morado orange naranja
blue azul green verde
pink rosado yellow cigarillo
Being on Mission in Chile Walking Together By Michael Javier
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hile is very far from my native land, with different people, language, culture, climate and food. It is a Catholic country which is very abundant in resources. During my Mission Sending Mass last year, our parish priest asked me why I was going to Chile for mission then. I just answered him, “Yes, Chile is abundant, but I’m sure there is still need for mission there.” Although, at that very moment, I really didn’t have any idea what mission will be like in Chile, and it was a big challenge for me. When I arrived in Chile, I lived with a Chilean family while studying Spanish. This is to learn not only their language faster but also to understand their culture. I had many opportunities to share stories with them about our cultures, and even about native food common in the Philippines and in Chile. I observed how they normally gather during the night and have ‘once’ (night snacks). Usually they would have tea and
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maraquetta, a kind of bread that is famous here. One of the things I like most about their culture is the way they always greet one another with a simple “Hola!” (Hi or Hello!), “Buenos Dias” (Good Morning!), “Buenas Tardes o Noches” (Good Afternoon or Evening), “Chao” (Bye!). And they would take time to also ask, “Como Estas?” (How are you?) with a hug and kisses. It was not easy studying the language because it was very confusing. I felt comfortable staying with a host family despite not understanding their language because they had been very warm and welcoming to me. I would often ask a lot of questions especially whenever I watched the news or experienced certain situations. Fortunately, my Chilean family and language instructor helped me understand what I wanted to know whenever I asked. I felt I have found a family in this foreign place. They showed me love
and care and made me feel like I was part of their family. After finishing my language studies, I moved to my place of assignment at the St. Columban parish. In the beginning, I still didn’t have the confidence to speak with locals, because I was afraid of making mistakes. Every time I spoke, others tried to understand what I said, and I would thank God when we were able to understand each other. Although there were some who would criticize or laugh at my words or the way I pronounced them, in the end, they helped me learn and improve my language. In the parish, there are only a few churchgoers and most of them are elderly. As part of my ministry, I accompany adulto mayores (senior citizens) in the community. I’ve learned that some of them were abandoned by their families; some are even sick living on their own. There are those who are more fortunate because they’re still with their loved ones. WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG
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I also noticed that there are very few children who go with their grandparents or parents to the church. Out of curiosity, I began to ask people where the young ones are, and why young parishioners aren’t attending Mass regularly. I was told that there are several reasons why they don’t go to church such as the elect of the dictatorship, issues related to the church, and some people were just busy with work. It is very sad to know that although they have a great number of Catholics, many are not actively involved in the church. Since then, I’ve been forming acolytes in the parish and accompanying the youth, trying
to apply what I’ve learned from my experience. I also go home for visitations. Getting to know and sharing our experiences with their families has a very big impact for me as I was able to gain their trust. I also found out that there are Filipino migrants who work as nannies in the community who were not treated equally by their employers. They even had to “bargain” for their salary and at times had nothing to eat. Their employers take advantage of their inability to speak Spanish. This is why I also try to teach them what I’ve learned from language class using my old books and hopefully, someday, they can give voice to what they want to say to their employers.
Looking back, I have a better understanding why I was sent here. I feel called to be here for others, sharing myself, my faith, talents, and culture. The poverty that people experience here is not only from material things — they suffer from loneliness, abandonment, injustice, lack of knowledge. There is poverty in spirit and poverty within the Church. But in our poverty, we can also feel richness in the people who surround us, willing to help one another and walk together on our journey of life with Christ. CM Columban lay missionary Michael Javier lives and works in Chile.
Human Rights and Mission The Poor Suffer By Fr. Donald Kill
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he Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, was the result of the experience of the Second World War with all of it inhumanity. However, in spite of this Declaration, a lack of respect for the rights of all people as human beings is evident in so many places around the world. I have lived and worked in the Philippines since 1972, arriving in Manila just one week after then President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law and instituted a reign of terror which lasted until his ouster in 1985. For thirteen long years the people suffered under his demonic reign of terror wherein no one had any rights and thousands were murdered and WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG
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tortured, imprisoned and/or caused to disappear simply because they spoke out against the policies of that administration. After the fall of the Marcos dictatorship a succession of elitist Presidents ran the country succeeding in re-establishing in some fashion the rule of law and order while at the same time re-establishing the economic system that demanded that the poor of the country continue to suffer in dire poverty while the wealthy continue to grow unbelievably rich. Corruption in government was commonplace and seldom prosecuted. Millionaire senators and congresspersons stole many more millions through corrupt practices and outright theft. Those who tried to stop this soon found themselves on the outside or else in the very prisons
to which they had tried to send the corrupted officials. In the May 2016 election, a lot of people who were tired of the elitist system decided that it was time for a real change. They chose a President who promised no corruption in government and also promised to rid the country of the scourge of drug addiction. Little did they know that they were opening the door to another reign of terror for the people of the country. Since the current President took over administration of the country on June 1, 2016, thousands of poor people have been slaughtered under the guise of a “War on Drugs.” This war began even before the official installation of the new President. Police and other armed groups were told, “Kill as many as you want; kill May 2017
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1000 if you can. I have your back.” I have found it striking that none of those who have been murdered and shown in the news reports had shoes on their feet. That is because they are the poor, the oppressed and those without a voice. When criticized by human rights groups in the Philippines, the President replied, “Do you want me to declare martial law?” When criticized by human rights groups from outside the country they were disregarded or called “bleeding hearts.” When criticized by officials of foreign governments, the President told them to stop trying to interfere in the internal affairs of the country. The foulness of the mouth of the current President is just another indication of his lack of respect for the dignity of other people. It is seldom that he gives a speech that is not filled with obscenities. On the international front this administration is selling out the sacrifices of friends to foreign powers
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who threaten the life and livelihood of the fishermen of the Philippines. In China, the current President recently promised a “separation” from the United States both “militarily and economically.” This statement alone has caused the flight of dearly needed investment from the country and sending shockwaves to the very foundations of the economy of the country. All of this, and the current administration is now in power for only one year. It is with a sad heart that I now see history repeating itself bringing a sense of hopelessness once again among the poor. What can I do as a foreigner and a missionary? My first duty is to speak out against the immorality of the means used to gain a seemingly good end— ridding the country of the scourge of drugs. This I have done and faithfully continue to do at every chance I get. But there are also more subtle ways
also to speak out against such abuse. At every Mass I celebrate, I pray for the widows and children of those who have been slaughtered in the “War on Drugs.” I encourage people to help these poor women and their children as they struggle to find hope in their situation. I also continue to work with those who are addicted or have been addicted to drugs and alcohol as a spiritual director. In this way, I am hopeful to help these men and women to find God, a God who is powerful enough to free them from the chains of addiction and loving enough to show them the compassion and mercy so eloquently proclaimed by Pope Francis as the core of the Gospel Message. In the words of one of our founders, I go on to “do what I can” for if I remain silent, the very stone will cry out for justice and for peace. CM Columban Fr. Don Kill was first assigned to the Philippines in 1972.
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Leave a Legacy. Include the Missionary Society of St. Columban in your estate plan. Thanks to the prayers and financial support of our benefactors, Columban missionaries proclaim the Good News in word and deed among peoples throughout the world. The mission of Jesus takes us across the frontiers of culture and language, and moves our supporters to make sure we lack nothing essential for living out this call. Mission is the very purpose of the Church’s existence, and our benefactors have shared in this mission from our founding in 1918.
Your Legacy Gift brings hope and healing into the lives of people mired in poverty and violence, through projects such as: • Building vibrant faith communities; • Providing religious education programs for children and faith formation programs for adults; • Operating vocational and educational centers for developmentally challenged children and adults; • Overseeing projects for the unemployed, ill and the elderly; • Providing education and training for seminarians and lay missionaries. A legacy gift to the Missionary Society of St. Columban makes certain that your material support of our mission of hope and love continues even after your death, while bringing real economic savings to you and your family. An estate gift to the Columban missionaries: • Eliminates or reduces federal income tax on your estate; • Is a visible sign of the generosity you have shown throughout your life. You can choose from among several gift planning opportunities, adjusted according to your financial situation in order to partner with the Columban missionaries, leave a legacy and help others in the future. For a confidential discussion about leaving a legacy gift or to personally discuss various giving opportunities, please contact our Donor Relations staff at: Columban Fathers P.O. Box 10 St. Columbans, NE 68056-0010 Toll-free: 877-299-1920 Email: donorrelations@columban.org
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Adventures on Tide Island Transition to Retirement By Fr. Colin McLean
The Ocean’s (Atlantic) Influence Island life is shaped by the ocean. The weather determines whether you can cross to the island from the mainland, a jetty at São Tomé de Paripe, and the tides determine when people can cross from the community of Praia Grande to the community of Santana, and from Santana to the community of Nossa Senhora das Neves. The church of Nossa Senhora das Neves (Our Lady of the Snows!) is reputedly the third oldest church in Brazil. There are six other communities on the island, all reachable by motorized canoes that take between five and eight people, and a few larger boats that can take up to 50 people. My usual mode of travel to the island communities, a trip of 40-45 minutes, is by motorized canoe. When the weather is bad, especially when there is a strong wind, it becomes dangerous to cross from the mainland to the island, especially in the small motorized canoes. The ocean also induces the three largest communities to have fluvial processions to celebrate major feasts. Most of my Sunday Masses at the six chapels on the island have been standard Catholic Masses, apart from the vernacular language here of Portuguese (the Portuguese colonizers made sure that local indigenous and WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG
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African languages would not survive as national languages), and the exuberant singing! During my time here I hope to be able to introduce a few changes to the usual routine. So far I have had a couple of successes and a couple of failures.
Way of the Cross, 2016: I had planned to dramatize a modern Way of the Cross (based on the Brazilian Bishops annual Lenten Social Action theme) in the community of Praia Grande on Good Friday morning which we had marked for 7a.m. (later than that and the mothers are already cooking the fish for the traditional family get-together at Good Friday lunch, a big deal here in Salvador). After one night’s rehearsal, all the actors arrived eagerly for the presentation at 7 a.m. on Good Friday. Unfortunately, no one arrived to accompany them in the procession, so we decided to call it off and reschedule it for the following Friday night, since various people told us they had a prayed version of the Way of the Cross during Lent on Friday nights and this would be better. So, Friday night, a good group of about 25-30 people arrived to accompany the Way of the Cross, but only two of the actors arrived! We
called it quits and decided to plan it better for next year.
Corpus Christi, May 2016 I had three very different days over the Corpus Christi (Body and Blood of Christ) feast! On the morning of Corpus Christi (May 26, 2016), I had a few qualms regarding crossing the bay in the usual motorized canoe when I saw the sea a bit choppy. But I decided not to call it off, as I had suggested to the two communities between which we would have the procession that they decorate the floors of their churches with designs made from sand, sawdust, etc., and I didn’t want to disappoint them. Oh boy, what a trip out! While I can swim, and wasn’t afraid of drowning, I was a bit nervous that the canoe would overturn. The three people with me, though, who were from the island, sat calmly without even holding on to anything, while I was clinging to a post in the canoe so as not to fall out! Once on the island, where I learned the communities had been almost sure I wouldn’t arrive because of the rough sea, they praised my courage, so I got brownie points for that! It also allows me to say “no” next time and not appear a “scaredy cat” if the sea even seems a bit rough. Anyhow, the Mass May 2017
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in the community of Praia Grande, the procession along the beach, and the concluding benediction in the community of Santana went off really well, especially considering it was the first time for them and for me. As we walked along the somewhat rocky beach (I was carrying the monstrance with the eucharist), there was a bit of light rain, not really bothersome, but I couldn’t repress a smile when someone opened an umbrella to protect me and the monstrance – more the monstrance than me I suspect! During the procession, I kept looking out to the sea, thinking of the marvelous Salvador Dali painting of The Last Supper, in which the bread and wine and the physical body of Jesus all merge with the scene of natural elements outside the glass-walled room in the painting. By the afternoon, the sea was rougher, so no canoes were going back to the mainland. I was told there would be a larger boat at 6 a.m. the next morning, which I was determined to be on, otherwise I might be stranded for several days. The next morning, I got to the small jetty about half an hour before the “larger” boat was due to arrive, so it was still dark. When it did arrive, I couldn’t help thinking it wasn’t that big! Due to a cold wind blowing, I decided to sit downstairs on the boat. Normally, I would have stayed upstairs, so that if the boat tipped, I could throw myself off and try to swim away. But the cold wind forced me into the protection of the lower deck. My goodness, what a trip that was! The boat lurched from side to side, and at times I was looking straight at the waves just inches below the small open windows. If the water came in, we wouldn’t be able to get out fast. Meanwhile, the island people aboard were totally unconcerned, and one elderly woman actually dozed! That gave me a bit of confidence— 10
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they were probably used to this. When we got within sight of the mainland, the engine stopped, and we drifted 180 degrees before they got it going again. You can imagine my relief to finally get onto the jetty at São Tomé (mainland). I do not get seasick, but I was a bit concerned, maybe even “scared,” you could say. But being up on top would have been worse, because the lurching would been felt even greater. So I called those two trips (going out in the motorized canoe and returning in the “bigger” boat) my “baptism of fire” by the ocean. The day after that traumatic boat trip, I had another Mass in another island community called Botelho. The sea was still a bit choppy, and had I been alone, I probably would have chickened out. However, I was with two guys from Paripe parish, who often accompany me, so we decided to go ahead. Coming back after the Mass, the sea was still a bit choppy, but not too bad. We got back okay, but as I was about to disembark, I put my left hand on the side of the boat to secure myself as I stood up. Right at that moment, due to the sea being a bit agitated, the boat slammed against another one with my hand between the two. Result? A finger on my left hand was split open. It looked worse than it was, since I was literally looking at the inside of my split finger! It was hypnotically fascinating but yucky at the same time. The two guys with me drove me to a nearby hospital, where I got five stitches in the finger, so I called that my “baptism of blood.” In three short days I was baptized by fire and by blood! Not bad going, eh?
Feast of St. Anthony of Padua, June 2016 At least I had a plus for the feast of Santo Antônio. For months I had been suggesting the community of Botelho
have a procession after the Mass, and the two women leaders of the community kept saying, “Não dá certo, não” (“It won’t work” meaning people won’t be interested to participate, since we haven’t done it before). They keep complaining about the strong influence of evangelical Protestants on the island, so I insisted we need to show that we Catholics have a strong presence there also. I virtually shamed them into a procession, saying I would carry the statue of St. Anthony if we couldn’t borrow a wooden processional platform from one of the other communities, even if only five people followed behind me. While I am not big on processions, when it comes to competition with the evangelicals, I can rise to the task! It was a relatively short course, and it was a great success. The only common complaint was that it was too short. My response was “Today we made history, and we walked, we marked our presence. Next year we will run.” which got a great ovation. So it was nice to have a couple of successes from my suggestions, despite the trials I had to go through to have them! For July 3 (Feast of St. Peter) this year, I’m trying to organize a special Mass in honor of the fishermen and sailors who pilot the motorized canoes. It will be in the main square of the community of Santana. I intend to use a canoe for the altar, which will be in front of a small hall the fishermen use for meetings and functions, so I am hoping the weather will be kind to us. If the weather is bad, and I cannot get out to the island, we will just reschedule the Mass.
Feast of St. Peter, July 2016 With the two companions who were with me when my finger was crushed, I set out to celebrate the Mass of St. Peter for the fishermen in Santana WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG
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on Sunday. During the week I had called a contact on the island, who assured me that all was well, that the fishermen’s cooperative was okay with us celebrating Mass in front of their meeting hall, with a small canoe as the altar. If it was raining we could celebrate inside the hall. We preferred outside if possible so as to attract more attention from those who normally don’t frequent the church. When we arrived on the island, the hall was closed, and no one was around, so we headed for the church. An older woman was there doing some cleaning, and she told us nothing had been finalized with the fishermen’s hall, and that even some of the younger women who organized the usual Sunday Masses in the church had left the island for the day. We were prepared to leave for the mainland when a group of people from the nearby Praia Grande community arrived to participate in what was to have been the historic St. Peter fishermen’s Mass. After some discussion, guided by our departure plans at 11 a.m., we decided on WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG
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a Celebration of the Word with Communion. As we were finishing, some of the younger people, who usually prepare the Mass in that community, arrived and were upset at the miscommunication all round. No one was more mystified than the three of us from the mainland. I had bought an image of St. Peter for the Mass, thinking we could have a procession afterwards! No go. We decided I would bless the image of St. Peter at the feast Mass of Santana (St. Anne) on their feast day, July 26, and that the image will stay in that community until next year, and that we will have a raffle to decide which community will host the feast of St. Peter next year. There are so many fishermen and motorized canoe pilots on the island that I am determined to reach out to them via the fishermen’s feast of St. Peter.
The Future Nearly all the Masses in poor communities of Salvador at the moment are frequented mostly by women. I hope that in time we can make Jesus and His message appealing
to men also, at least on the island. I am sure Jesus walked the shores of the Sea of Galilee, learned the talk of the fishermen, and entered their world before He chose some of them as disciples. We need to find a way to engage those, especially men and our youth, who do not come to church, and ask “Why?” Pope Francis is leading the way, but how many of us are ready to go with him out of our comfort zones? Next month I am hoping to start up some Biblical study groups in island communities to give a bit of sorely-needed formation. I have never really been in a situation before where one is totally dependent on the weather to get to the island, and also on the tides (to be able to walk from one community to another) on the island! So my new lifestyle, “transition to retirement,” began last year when I turned 70. On reflection, it is interesting that when I turned 40 I came to Brazil, and when I turned 70 I began the Tide Island apostolate! CM Columban Fr. Colin McLean lives and works in Brazil.
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A Different Summer Immersion and Exposure By Fr. Kurt Zion Pala
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usually spend my summer break walking the sands and enjoying the beach but this time around I decided to walk the hills of Don Victoriano Chiongbian, a town of Misamis Occidental, the Philippines, and enjoy the cool river waters of Salug. After about six weeks of parish life as a deacon in my home parish of the Immaculate Conception in Iligan City, I left Iligan with a full heart. My jump-off point was the city of Ozamis where I stayed with Fr. Sean Martin, a Columban involved in various environmental issues like mining in the area. Before reaching Don Vic, as it is popularly called, I went to Midsalip, a town of Zamboanga del Sur where Reynante a former Columban student resides. Midsalip used to be a Columban parish but is now under the Spiritan Fathers. A lone Columban Sister resides near the parish church. She works with the Subanen people, an indigenous group living along the Zamboanga peninsula and the neighboring towns. Midsalip is rich in minerals, and the Church, which includes the Subanen, has been actively protecting the environment from big-scale miners. The town is surrounded by the majestic mountains with Mt. Pinukis hovering over the smaller mountains. The watershed supplies water to the rich rice-fields below the mountain range. It is also sacred to the Subanen people. After spending two days in 12
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Midsalip, Reynante dropped me off at Molave to meet up with another Columban priest, Fr. Brendan Kelly, who is the parish priest of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Don Vic. Fr. Brendan is involved in the Subanen ministry of the Columbans but is also working for the Episcopal Commission for the Indigenous Peoples. He can speak and understand Subanen, Cebuano and even Tagalog. The parish used to be under the supervision of the Vincentians. It is part of the province of Misamis Occidental. On our way to the parish, Fr. Brendan shared that last year there
Ruel’s farm is almost a cliff that sits on the side of the mountain and their house is on top of the mountain. I can’t imagine the difficulty of climbing up and going down the mountain to bring their products to town. were a number of people killed mostly related to politics in the area. One of them was an active catechist of the parish. Like most towns in the area, one finds a mixture of Subanen and Visayan people. The Visayans mostly occupy the lowland, or patag, while the Subanens live on the hills and mountains surrounding the valley. I was introduced to three young Subanen farmers Rene, Ruel and
Jonel who recently graduated from a 6-month course run by the MASIPAG organization. MASIPAG is a farmerled network of people’s organizations, NGOs and scientists working towards the sustainable use and management of biodiversity through farmers’ control of genetic and biological resources, agricultural production and associated knowledge. Their mission is to improve the quality of life of resource-poor farmers. With the idea of immersion and exposure, Fr. Brendan sent me to the mountains with these farmers. I took the challenge—and what an experience it was. Two hours of walking, climbing and at times crawling took a toll on my not-so-young knees. On the first day we were able to cover the farms of Rene in Sitio Balanacan. Ruel’s farm is almost a cliff that sits on the side of the mountain and their house is on top of the mountain. I can’t imagine the difficulty of climbing up and going down the mountain to bring their products to town. It was already dark when we were able to return to the parish. The next day, Jonel was excited to bring us to his farm. Jonel is the youngest of the three. He is fun and a bit short so people nicknamed him Dagul. He told me that the trip will be a lot easier compared to the trip we had yesterday. Trusting him, we left the parish at three in the afternoon. The journey started out easy, but as we progressed the difficulty also progressed. I wish it were just like WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG
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Fr. Kurt (pictured front row in black shirt)and Subanen youth
Lalud, a distant village of 50 families
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Pulling onions
playing “Candy Crush.” We had to cross one river three times. The water flow was fast and strong in most parts of the river so they had to assist me every time we encountered a river. At the last river crossing, I wanted to give up and just remain there. But by trusting them, I was able to cross the river again. The last stretch of the journey is a climb where one is almost facing the ground. When I saw the first house I was relieved and happy that we finally arrived. We rested and prepared our dinner for the night—some freshly-picked vegetables mixed with a big can of sardines and noodles. The village sits on top of a hill between two mountains. The wind was cold and chilling. The next day after breakfast we went out to help WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG
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The water flow was so fast and strong in most parts of the river [that] at the last river crossing, I wanted to give up and just remain there. But by trusting them, I was able to cross the river again. Jonel and his family pick onions. The harvested onions will be bundled into “bangan” which will sell for around 30 pesos to buyers in town but will be sold at a higher price in markets in Ozamis City. Jonel had to carry these bundles tied to a “bukag” all the way down the mountain into town. On the way we took some time to take
a dip into the chilling waters of the river. I have so much admiration and respect for farmers because of my experience with these three young Subanen farmers. They want to practice what they learned and someday encourage their fathers and more young people to practice natural organic farming. Many of these farmers today are like slaves to various companies who have enriched themselves by preying on farmers with their designer seeds that first need fertilizers to grow, flower and eventually bear fruit. Then plants require more products like weed killers. These plants mostly have terminator seeds, which means that whatever seeds produced can no longer be replanted. The farmers have May 2017
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Fr. Kurt catches his first fish!
Salug River
Young Subanen farmers and Fr. Kurt (pictured far right)
Ready to farm
taught me that I can make choices just as they had chosen not to become slaves of these companies. On the last day of my stay, I joined Brendan on his visit to the Chapel of San Isidro in Petia-anan. This place is along the border of Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Sur so that to get to the place it is closer to pass through Josefina where Don Vic used to be a part of a former Columban parish. Earlier that morning Brendan asked me if I would like to give the homily. I was hesitant, but I obliged since it was an opportunity for me to share what I learned about my trip to Don Vic. After the Mass, we had lunch and went home carrying the offerings of the people—bananas, coconuts and rice. 14
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[These three young Subanen farmers] want to practice what they learned and someday encourage their fathers and more young people to practice natural organic farming. Fr. Brendan dropped me off in Ozamis. There I went to meet Fr. Vincent Busch whose work involves Subanen crafts which are products of Subanen scholars. They make mandalas, dreamcatchers, necklaces and cards. He is also involved in various environmental protection and indigenous peoples’ concerns.
The Columban priests I met on my journey are my inspiration. They showed me that even if you are a stranger in a place, one can become at home if one begins to embrace the people—particularly their culture and their language, but I also found that it is specially important to embrace their struggles and their joys. Then one is no longer a stranger but a friend to them. I will forever remember the lessons I learned during this summer. I am grateful to the people I have met along the way. Let us support our farmers and indigenous peoples. They carry the burden of feeding us and treasuring our traditions. CM Columban Fr. Kurt Zion Pala lives and works in Myanmar.
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God depends on you to carry out His plan for the world. Please consider becoming a Columban mission sponsor today! As a Columban mission sponsor, you play a vital and important role in bringing Christ to the people of the Pacific Rim, South and Central America. You may not be able to go where our Columban missionaries go, and you may not be able to do what we do, but together we can bring Christ, in word and in sacrament to the people of the world. What Columban missionaries achieve is as much your work as theirs. When you choose to make sustaining gifts as a Columban mission sponsor, you help secure the future of mission!
What does being a Columban mission sponsor involve? Daily Prayer Columban mission sponsors pray daily for the success of our missionaries. The Gospel is spread through the power of God, not merely by human effort. For mission efforts to be fruitful, they must be accompanied by prayer. Sacrifice Offer whatever crosses, suffering and pain you experience each day for the success of our mission activities. Sacrifice is the inseparable compliment to prayer. A Monthly Offering Columban mission sponsors give a specific amount that they choose each month for the work of the missions. These sustaining gifts live up to their name by maximizing giving over the long term and provide a secure future for vital programs and ministries.
What are the personal benefits for you? Becoming a Columban mission sponsor is one way of saying “Thank You, Lord” for all of God’s goodness to you, especially for the gift of Faith. You can be sure that, in return, God will never be outdone in generosity toward you or your loved ones. By helping bring Christ to others, you will find your own faith immensely enriched. To start your monthly giving today, visit us online at: www.columban.org/sponsors. Or, for your convenience, fill out the form below and use the postage-paid envelope in the center of this magazine. _____ I would like to learn more about giving via automatic bank withdrawal. Please call me. _____ I would like to begin my monthly giving by check. Enclosed is my gift of $____________ (We will send a reminder each month unless you direct us otherwise) Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ City: _______________________________________________________________ State: ___ Zip: __________ Phone: ________________________________ Email: ______________________________________________
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A Visit to Fiji Korean Seminarians and Youth Experience Mission By Andrew Kwangbae Lee and Columban Fr. Seung Won Joseph
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he following is an account of a visit by Columban Fr. Seung Won Joseph and some Korean youth – including Columban candidates and seminarians – to a number of Columban parishes in Fiji during July 2016. We began our first full day at Navala village, which is an inland mountaintop area of Christ the King Parish, Ba, on the Western side of Fiji’s main island. Navala was sweet. We were so tired after the long trip from Korea, but it was still “sweet”— not in the sense of “candy-sweet,” but the feeling of peace—like a part of heaven. We went to Navala holding hands for protection in a truck which rocked and jumped over and around innumerable potholes. Nevertheless, we sang many songs and told funny stories with the group. At last, we arrived at the village. It was very quiet. There’s no paved road, just a natural village. Houses are built with soil and leaves, but the people seem very happy. A yaqona ceremony was going on when we arrived. This would occur at every village we visited. Yaqona is the Fijian native word for the kava plant (piper methysticum). Fijians make it into powder and mix it with water. After drinking a cup of yaqona, our eyes automatically closed to half their size! The chief of the village put some yaqona powder into the antique bowl which looked like a Korean traditional
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sundial, and he spoke words of greeting and blessings. We were together sitting in the high position as guests. At first, Fr. Joseph Kang was offered a bowl and drank it after clapping once. This single clap means that the receiver is ready to drink. He must say “Bula Vinaka!” (“Hello”) and then clap a further three times. After drinking, he says “Vinaka vakalevu.” (Thank you very much). It was very difficult to remember all these new rules at first. I had to ask the one next to me many times, but eventually it became really natural to do it.
Traditional Home Stay I did a home stay with two Korean vocation candidate brothers just like me. The host treated us to a cup of lemon grass tea. I was a bit worried about its sour flavor, and I said that
Andrew, in the blue hat, at a Ba market with yaqona root seller
“it’s odd lemon!” to which they replied that it was the not lemon fruit, but the juice of lemon grass! Another of the many new experiences in store! The brother of the hostess said jokingly, “I heard a girl is coming, where is she?” I didn’t know what to say! My friend Verano said “It’s only three of us (boys).” The guy looked very disappointed! If I were him, I would be disappointed too! They said for us to have a short rest before having a meal – meaning to lie down and sleep right there on the floor. The coconut leaf mat on the floor was wonderfully cool. I wondered if trees in tropical areas were all cool like this. It was meal time at last! It was fish, coconut leaves, and some root which looks like white radish. It is the staple food, and it’s slightly stimulating. There was also rice and curry. Because
The entire group at Ba Parish Church
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Andrew with new friends at Namosi village.
Fiji was a colony of the British Empire, there were many immigrants from India bringing their own culture and food. We heard that sometimes there is occasional conflict between Indians and Fijians.
Being Natural with Nature The most attractive aspect of life in Navala was living in harmony with nature. Despite being still a bit worried about the young man complaining about no girl guests in his house, he became a good friend for us. Taking a walk to surrounding villages, he showed us the marvelous sunrise every morning. Sunlight comes slowly over the mountain. The chilly winter night – even in a tropical region – gets brighter with warmth each dawn – like my mood! I hope that my life will be shining like the sun. Sometimes I don’t see brightness or warmth in my life, so this trip has helped me to decide to seek the present wisely. I said “Wow, this village is really good!” many times and our friend said that “the village men will build you a house, you can live here!” Although it’s really attractive suggestion, I have too many things in my hands which I can’t let go, just at the moment.
Heaven Is Also Here! We then moved to Namosi Village, right in the center of Viti Levu. Namosi looks like a Taoist WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG
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hermitage. There are clouds over the mountaintop. People there live just for the moment. I realized that God’s world is much better than any humanistic or ideal world we might think to create. Everyone in Namosi smiled and said “Bula!”(Hello). That made me smile too. It was really ordinary, in contrast to Navala Village which is decorated to be shown like a folk village to the tourists.
Yaqona Ceremony in Namosi As I said, there’s always a yaqona ceremony on arriving in any new village. Actually I got diarrhea in Fiji, because of different water or food, perhaps. Anyway, I was cured after coming to Namosi! Was the reason the natural medicine or feeling so close to God here? Now I was looking forward to drinking yaqona and hearing the welcoming words of the chief. After the ceremony, a woman called me Andrea (the Fijian version of Andrew) and then took me home. In Korean, my Christian name is often also pronounced as Andrea, and people used to laugh when I stayed in England a few years ago. They said, “That’s a girl’s name.” I felt embarrassed. Anyway, I (Andrew/Andrea) entered the house, drank lemon grass tea, with lots of jokes. It was a house with one child of 4 or 5 years, really cute. About the time I arrived was when the village stops the generator
each night. The host lit a candle just for me. The little boy wanted to get the candle and was angry with his dad. So he lit one more candle and gave it to him. I asked “Isn’t it dangerous?” He answered “If he touches the hot thing, he will not touch it again.” Direct experience is the real education! Korean parents generally warn their children saying “Do it like this, no no, not like that,” but in Fiji, parents let their children freely try every experience. I believe the reason is the Fijian peace of mind. I was so envious! I talked more with the host of the house than with anyone else. It was memorable. He said that they rest if they are tired and spend much time with their children. Women make food in the outside kitchen. They are a community with warm hearts. I was reminded of the reality of South Korea. Koreans work so hard to make money putting up with their boss’s harsh words, but it’s not humane. They don’t have enough time to laugh with their family. Sometimes we Koreans can be greedy for material wealth. I hope that the Korean society can be happy with less money but more community. Of course global capitalism is the big problem. Happiness is seeking God in each heart. For that I will always be grateful to my friends in Fiji, even if I am a boy and not an attractive female tourist! Thank you, and God bless you always. CM May 2017
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Hearing the Cry of the Poor The Importance of Mission Appeals By Sr. Virgie Mozo
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ne of the many gifts and blessings I experience in the United States as I travel during the summer for the church appeals is the universality of the Church and meeting people from the different ethnic groups from Eastern Europe, Latin and Central America and Asia. Last year I received a letter from a nine-year-old girl named Savana that read in part: “I wanted to give you the last of my birthday money.” Savanna was aware of the difficulties and sufferings of the people around the world, after she heard my own invitations and the impact of my talk to the parish that weekend. She could have purchased a box of chocolates, a bag of popcorn, a pair of earrings or pair of shoes for herself, but she opted to hear the cry of the poor, those who are in need, people she never met, but heard their plight. For her it was an awareness and realization about being part of this universal church, because she is a missionary, too. It brought me back when I was about the age of this girl, during the Vietnam War. Charity groups asked in our school for donations of money, clothes, medicine 18
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and non-perishable food. I asked my mother to give me an extra allowance, clothes and food for the children who were in need those days. Little did I imagine that those were the early days of my preparation for this ministry. It’s a Joy of the Gospel, not a job to accomplish, which gives me fulfillment as I represent each of the Sisters and the people whom they are serving, near or far, on these mission appeals. It’s the virtue of generosity that allows us to become fully human, for by nature, we are made to love. We love our neighbors who are beyond our own language, culture and even our own comfort zone. Not only we are to be generous with our financial resources but also we are invited to be generous in everything that we do. Before I entered the Columban Sisters, my father said that I would be a beggar like some of the local nuns outside Quiapo Church, a very popular church in Manila. I responded to my father that over my dead body, I would not beg. After so many years, here I am in the United States, taking the challenge of my father, as I respond to be part of the yearly Archdiocese or Diocese mission cooperation plan. Missionaries are invited to come and to share the work of the Gospel being accomplished in the missions. It’s a delight to hear from the people how grateful they are to be part of the missions of Christ even they don’t go to the mission territories. Through their financial support and prayers, the mission of Christ continues until the ends of the earth. CM Columban Sr. Virgie Mozo recently began a new assignment in the Philippines.
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The Loving Father and Two Sons A Parable Revisited By Fr. Barry Cairns
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ifty years ago I was pastor of an “old Christian” community on Amakusa Island in the far south of Japan. By “old Christian” I mean that a Jesuit missionary, Fr. Luis Almeida, founded the parish in 1566. Then the Tokugawa daimyo government expelled or executed all missionaries. The Amakusa community went into hiding remaining faithful for 240 years. This persecution officially ended in 1873 by Imperial decree. The old Christians emerged from hiding and became fervent members of the restored church. However, the attitude of persecuting Christians was deeply embedded. The parish on Amakusa Island was a small village, one third being old Christians. Nearly all were very poor fishermen. When World War II came those slumbering antagonisms against Christians resurfaced. During the war the Catholic community suffered blatant discrimination and mischievous slander even in the school classroom. Christians were regarded as doubtfully loyal towards the Emperor who was regarded as a living god. One day, 20 years after the end of World War II, a woman (I will call her Mrs. Tanaka) came to the rectory door and said to me: “My husband is dying. He has cancer. He would like to see you.” So I went with her to a small house where the sick Mr. Tanaka was lying on the tatami mats. We talked together for a long time. It emerged that Mr. Tanaka was a baptized Catholic from an “old WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG
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Christian” family. However he had not been near the Church for over 40 years. “Is it possible for me to return?” he asked me. I replied: “Most certainly! Jesus gives people like you a very special warm welcome back.” And so he received the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I told him I would be back on Sunday afternoon with Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion. I left that house with a man at peace.
On Saturday evening there was a meeting of the parish council. I told them about my recent visit to Mr. Tanaka and his return to the Church. Wow! There was a united human volcanic eruption with red
hot lava flowing! “You cannot take him back. He is an apostate. Only a few years ago during the war he cooperated with the thought-police and persecuted us.” Old wounds thought healed came to the suppurating surface. This is where Providence stepped in. The Lenten Gospel for the Sunday was the parable of the loving father with two sons, the parable of the Prodigal Son. Without mentioning Mr. Tanaka by name, I spoke about the elder, unforgiving son who wanted punishment rather than forgiveness for his younger prodigal brother. God our Father’s mercy and compassion is for everyone. This elder brother was bathed in the father’s love but took it for granted. His younger brother made a terrible mistake. In suffering he later realised the depth of his father’s love. He returned to him and received a warm, unconditional welcome back. He was hugged. At the end of Mass I announced that there would be a house prayer gathering at Mr. Tanaka’s home that afternoon at 3 p.m. I left it at that. It was with anxiety I approached Mr. Tanaka’s house that Sunday afternoon. I left my shoes at the door, opened the sliding door and entered a packed room. There in the front row talking to the sick man was my entire parish council. I choked up with emotion and just said to them: “I am proud of you.” CM Columban Fr. Barry Cairns lives and works in Japan.
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A Pioneer Returns The Faith of the People By Sr. Mary Ita McElwain
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t was a great joy for me to be invited, two years ago, to return to Santiago, Chile, to celebrate 40 years of the Columban Sisters’ mission in that beautiful country. Sisters Gemma Shelley, Kathleen Mary Riordan and I pioneered the mission there in 1974. This was during the early days of the oppressive military regime when life was very difficult for people. They suffered greatly. Almost daily we would hear stories of people being hauled away, some were never to be seen again. We had great Church leaders under Cardinal Raul Silva who inspired and strengthened us all by his great faith, his unceasing work for justice, his concern for the poor. The Church, though suffering, was alive and vibrant and it was our joy and our privilege to be part of these growing Basic Christian Communities. Our celebration of 40 years was a time of thanksgiving to God for having accompanied us through those decades as we lived with the people in the emerging communities around Santiago, the capital, and later in San Antonio on the coast. We also went to Copiapo and Iquique in the north and Loncoche, near Temuco in the south. Friends had come from all these areas to celebrate and give thanks with us. Our pastoral ministry embraced Family Catechetical and Christian Community Development. Members of the catechetical group were eager to hear the Gospel. Vibrant youth groups emerged and were keen to share the good news with their contemporaries. Family catechesis was a major part of our work when we helped 20
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prepare people for the Sacraments such as Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation, Confirmation and Marriage. Young couples were instructed and they in turn helped in the formation of their peer groups. Preparation for First Communion continued for two years. Parents, once they were well formed in the faith, were the ones to prepare their own children. Sr. Kathleen Mary Riordan has worked for many years in the National Pastoral Programs, caring for people suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction. For several years too, Sr. Angela McKeever has worked in a prison, helping to mend the fractured
She was so successful that she was offered openings in operas and musical shows. It was felt that she could become a famous diva. But Daisy’s heart was elsewhere. lives of the victims of drugs. Some of the men have AIDS and are in need of constant care, as are their families. With minimal resources and oftentimes a lack of understanding, this is an uphill struggle. There was a crying need for medical care as people had few resources. We helped in the formation of health teams to care for the sick in their own homes, and used herbal medicines. People suffering from alcoholism–and there were many– were met and encouraged to attend programs to combat the abuse.
Chile had one of the highest rates of cirrhosis of the liver so it was no easy task. The same could be said about the victims of drug addiction. But the commitment of the people in the Christian communities, up against huge difficulties, always inspired us. Despite many failures, when the victims fell back into their old ways and often ended in prison, the volunteers, many of them from the youth group, never gave up hope, never failed to reach out. Another ministry was the formation of teams to do summer missions in the Northern Andean regions and the remote regions of the South. Here, amid spectacular mountain scenery, the people seldom saw a priest or missionary. We travelled, the catechists, the youth and ourselves, through miles of empty terrain, meeting the occasional lone shepherd, usually a red-skirted woman, looking after a herd of llamas. We stayed in rudimentary lodgings in the villages and met the people for faith sharing and life enhancing exchanges. Oftentimes we were there for the fiesta of the patron saint of the community and delighted in the celebrations. Pope Francis has spoken warmly of this expression of faith, the “Popular Religion.” Our catechists and youthful missionaries became evangelizers of their own people and this experience strengthened their own faith and convictions. They in turn became Christian leaders in their own communities. One of these young missionaries was a 16-year-old called Daisy. Her parents were catechists and were very active in their parish. As a small girl, Daisy used to visit our house to chat and pray in our tiny oratory. She had a lovely singing voice and one of the Sisters taught her how to play the guitar and sing. Daisy used her talent well and played the guitar at the local Sunday Mass. She was an ardent young missionary who impressed me WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG
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Sr. Mary Ita in the 1970s on the left and more recently on the right.
with the ease with which she could communicate her message when visiting the houses during the summer missions. Unable to afford higher education she did various jobs like craft making. A local school asked her to help them prepare the children for First Communion and seeing her ability, other schools soon followed. One day a music inspector observed her as she sang and conducted the school choir. He was so impressed he offered her further training at a school of music in the city. But alas, the family couldn’t afford the fees. When we heard of her predicament we were able to WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG
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get a scholarship for her. She was so successful that she was offered openings in operas and musical shows. It was felt that she could become a famous diva. But Daisy’s heart was elsewhere. She loved the liturgy and decided to offer her services to the small Christian communities where she felt at home. She participated in the Archdiocesan music seminars and in time was offered a position in the education office, preparing programs for schools and training the youth. So now fast forward to the Liturgy of Thanksgiving for our 40 years of Mission. Daisy, who is now married with three children, was the one to
conduct the choir. How my heart filled with joy and my eyes with tears as her beautiful clear soprano voice filled the huge church when she intoned: “O all you works of the Lord, O bless the Lord!” Truly we all blessed the Lord that day and felt deeply His blessings on us as the great psalm rang out. Our ministry in Chile may be ending, but God’s mission lives on in the faith of people like Daisy and the communities we helped to birth. To God be the glory! CM Sr. Mary Ita McElwain now lives in the Columban Sisters Central House “Magheramore,” County Wicklow, Ireland.
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Redefining Communication Retreats for Young People By Lorelei Ocaya
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s part of the on-going formation and education of Columban lay missionaries, I was privileged to take a six-month course on facilitating retreats for young people. The course has given me an in-depth understanding on the psyche and culture of young people in this modern time. In the course, I learned that there are two major factors among other aspects that contribute and influence the behavior of almost all teenagers today. Number one is the internet and/or social media which has replaced the conventional ways of social interaction. Sadly, most teenagers think the internet/social media is the cooler way to establish relationships. It is sad to realize that the games we used to play as a form of social interaction have been replaced by a gadget – the smaller it is, the cooler it will be. Yes, teenagers might be knowledgeable about things around the globe yet very ignorant of what’s going on in their own homes or neighborhood. The other major factor reveals that most adolescents create some sort of society and/or sub-groupings to help them cope with pressures and issues surrounding adolescence such as identity, autonomy, belonging, acceptance from peers, self-belief, achievements and role models. These societies develop their own rules and regulations to compete and dominate over other societies and thus maintain
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power. In a way, this is an opportunity for some to shine, to develop friendships and camaraderie. However, these sub-groupings can also be a source of bullying to young people who do NOT fit in to the categories that these sub-groupings define. Government programs and funding for the development of the young people are mushrooming all over the place. They provide venues for young people to become involved in community work, opportunities for personal and skills development and opportunities for them to be listened to by peers and adults. Different youth clubs and after school programs are established to address young peoples’ issues and problems in the hope that they will be better persons for themselves, to others and the community. Pope Francis in his exhortation the “Joy of the Gospel” points out (#64) that “we are living in an information-driven society which bombards us indiscriminately with data—all treated as being of equal importance—which leads to remarkable superficiality in the area of moral discernment. In response, we need to provide an education which teaches critical thinking and encourages the development of mature moral values.” (#74) What is called for is an evangelization capable of shedding light on these new ways of relating to God, to others and to the world
around us, and inspiring essential values. I think as Christians it is imperative for all of us to pursue what Pope Francis has challenged us. For me, there is an urgent need to redefine our approaches in helping the spiritual formation of the young people to truly address their issues and concerns. Evangelization must include stimulating the minds of the young people of what is the truth, real beauty and God. I believe that young people have so much to contribute in renewing and building up our basic institutions such as media, schools, church and families. For me, what is needed is to make young people genuinely feel they are accepted and that they belong in these institutions so they can have ownership thus become accountable and responsible in its development process. During the last retreat, I was so amazed by how honest the young people are on how they see and relate to God in their lives. They have many questions and doubts about God’s existence yet somehow believe that there must be a Being that is beyond their comprehension. For me, this moment is very critical. I hope that the retreat has given that venue and opportunity for young people to be who they truly are thus believing they can make real changes in their lives and the wider society. CM Lorelei Ocaya is a Columban lay missionary.
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The Mysterious Journey
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s a teenager I browsed whatever reading materials were left around my home: Sunday newspapers that my father enjoyed; novels that my older brother and sisters considered worthwhile; and religious magazines that my mother read at the end of her busy days. These materials expanded the horizons of my world and beckoned me to explore the strange but fascinating world that adults inhabited. Stories about missionaries in far-off lands that I occasionally read in the religious magazines were uniquely fascinating. They awakened in me a sense of awe and adventure. Whatever the circumstances, missionaries everywhere seemed to face with courage and excitement the challenges that came their way. Their way of life had great appeal to my youthful sense of heroism, and so I found myself wanting to follow in their footsteps. Moreover, in addition to adventure, I would have countless opportunities to change the world for the better. From
From the Director By Fr. Tim Mulroy
my teenage standpoint, there were no clouds anywhere on the horizon of my future! However, as I moved into adulthood I found myself wondering to what extent I should allow God to be part of my future. Did I simply seek His approval for what I had already decided and planned for my life? Or would my life become an even greater adventure if I were to surrender to His dream for me? Besides, the more I experienced the complexity of the world, the less sure I felt about my own plans to make it a
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Thirty years later, God continues to invite me to let go of my own plans in order to fulfill His dream for the world. better place. Up until then I had been content to allow God to be a front seat passenger in my life, but at that point it seemed that He was asking permission to be in the driver’s seat! It took several years for me to arrive at the decision to enter the pathway that led to Columban missionary priesthood. However, much to my surprise, that major step, rather than producing a ceasefire, intensified my wrestling matches with God. Confronted with various decisions along the path to missionary priesthood, I had to choose over and over again between self-reliance and learning to lean on God. Thirty years later, God continues to invite me to let go of my own plans in order to fulfill His dream for the world. I am gradually coming to understand what scripture means when it says, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). My vocation as a missionary still remains an adventure, a mysterious journey not only to the ends of the earth, but also into the deepest recesses of my own heart where the Spirit of God continues calling me to leave everything and follow Christ.
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Columban Fathers PO Box 10 St. Columbans, NE 68056
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Transform the Lives of Others…Enrich the World…Give Hope Columban Mission magazine is published eight times each year and tells the stories of our missionaries and the people they are called to serve. Columban missionaries live in solidarity with their people and, together, they move forward to improve their social, economic and spiritual lives, always with Our Savior as their guide and their eyes on God’s Kingdom. For a $10 donation or more, you or a friend or loved one can share in our baptismal call to mission and the Columban Father’s mission work around the world through Columban Mission magazine. To begin receiving your Columban Mission magazine or to provide a gift to a loved one, simply visit our website at www.columban.org, call our toll-free number 877-299-1920 or write to us at: Columban Mission Magazine Subscription Missionary Society of St. Columban P.O. Box 10 St. Columbans, NE 68056
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“Said Jesus to Simon, ‘do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching people.’”— Luke 5:10 Indeed, if you feel called to help with Jesus’ nets, do not be afraid to call us and discuss a life of mission service.
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… Fr. Bill Morton National Vocation Director Columban Fathers St. Columbans, NE 68056 877-299-1920 Email: vocations@columban.org Website: www.columban.org
If you are interested in becoming a Columban Sister, write or call… Sr. Carmen Maldonado 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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