unity, understanding and interdependence · jesus was not a priest in the temple in jerusalem, but...

Th e Magazine of the Missionary Society of St. Columban August/September 2020

Unity, Understanding and Interdependence

Volume 103 - Number 5 - August/September 2020

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P U B L I S H E RREV. JOHN BURGER, SSC

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E D I T O RKATE KENNY

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E D I T O R I A L A S S I S T A N T SMARCI ANDERSON

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RENEA [email protected]

G R A P H I C D E S I G N E RKRISTIN ASHLEY

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REV. JOHN BURGER, SSCJEFF NORTON

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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.

C o n t e n t sIssue Theme – Unity, Understanding and Interdependence

4 a Call to save someone’s life Give Blood!

5 Casa aCogida Welcome, protect, promote, integrate

8 neW beginnings The End of Something Beautiful Signals a Beginning of New Life

9 a trip to ChunChon Formation House Field Trip

11 neW sprouts Youth of the Church in Taiwan

19 Who opened my eyes and shaped me? Growth and Reflection

departments

3 in so many Words

23 from the direCtor

memories of my 12 visit to brazil

movement that 12 Changed Korea

God Made Me Do It

All is in God and God is in all. “Why does God need priests?” The answer is “We need priests to remind us that we are in God and God is in us.” Priests, by what they do and what they say, are in our midst to remind us that we are Jesus people. If priests do not make real to us the God

that is in our lives then they have fallen down on the job. It sounds presumptuous to claim the “God made me do it” but that is actually what we believe.

Jesus was not a priest in the Temple in Jerusalem, but He did show us that God is in our midst. He was revealing God. He is saying by His words and His life, “This is what it means to be God living in our human reality.” If you are wondering what God is like follow the story of Jesus. Read the Gospels.

Columban missionaries leave their homes, their families, their cultures and all that is familiar and comfortable. There are difficulties, of course. Learning a language and engaging with people of another culture are not easily done. Why did they do it? Because they were and are characters in God’s story. Just as Jesus revealed God’s love for people of His time so God continues to use these missionaries today to show His love for the people. The result of mission may be hard to name, but one thing is for sure: all Columban missionaries develop a great understanding and love of the people. With them they all take the message of love and concern for people not their own. God’s mission is a mission on love for His sons and daughters, and He would love to see the whole family united in love. That is the dream of God for the world.

Loving the world is not an easy thing either. Ask Jesus. Because of His love for the people of His time, He was crucified. There is too much in all of us that is not loving. We become fearful or aggressive towards those who are not like us. There is pain and suffering in all of this. There is loss and grief. It is a drama of love and betrayal. For those of us who are older missionaries, hair, hearing, sight and mobility also have been lost! These losses need to be grieved properly and in that space our God resurrects and transforms us. God is always the creator. God is the source of all life. While we reflect on the past we also can look forward to an unknown but wonderful future because God is in all and all is in God.

Columban Fr. Trevor Trotter lives and works in Australia.

WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG August/September 2020 3

While we reflect on the past we also can look forward to an unknown but wonderful future because God is in all and all is in God.

By Fr. Trevor Trotter

4 August/September 2020 WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG

The grim realities here at the U.S./Mexico border of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad

Juarez, Mexico, are the twin plights migrants and poverty. We, the Columban missionaries living and working in this area, have been accompanying the migrants. We welcome, protect, promote, and integrate migrants when they arrive at the border, both in Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas. This has been my mission here throughout the years I have been working at this place where God sent me. During the years I’ve been here, I’ve heard a lot of stories of suffering from the Mexican people. They migrated from their home provinces to Juarez, fleeing from violence and poverty, to find better living and the dream to cross the border to work in the U.S.

I journey with them, cry with them, accompanying them in their joys and painful moments.

Sometimes I don’t know how to talk about God’s love for them. My presence in visiting them, greeting them whenever we meet, is a way of showing God’s love. By being here, comforting, listening and accompanying them and giving hope, I am showing them God’s love. My experience of God’s love is not about talking about it but by action. The experiences of suffering people have today made them angry with the church, God, and other people. They do not know who to trust. The action and practice of my faith as a lay missionary is to show them that there are still good people who welcome, protect, promote and integrate migrants into their communities.

Together we form community. Together we help and care for each other, and the process of healing and peace begins.

In 2018-2019 when migrants arrived from Central America, we, Columban missionaries and the community of Rancho Anapra, reached out to help our sisters and brothers from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. It was another challenging experience for me when I heard many sad and painful stories every day. I felt their suffering and pain every time I listened and cried with them. This has made me pray, pray, pray every day.

One day, as I was tired coming home, I entered the chapel and asked God, “Until when, Lord?” The tears were my prayer that day during the holy hour of the week-long adoration

Casa Acogida Welcome, Protect, Promote and Integrate

By Sai Tamatawale

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WWW.COLUMBAN.ORG August/September 5

in our parish. I felt the peace of God after that week. In faith I believe that God will listen to our cries; He will help us and is with us always. These migrants drew me closer to God and strengthen my faith.

God is with me and guides my journeys with the migrants every day to show His love to them. God loves humanity, and He uses me to show the migrants that God is with us in our sufferings and one day we will be reunited with Him, in His time.

Assisting them with presence and love is what the migrants need today,

because they have been treated inhumanely by so many people. I lose myself to be with them. Without God I cannot accompany, listen, protect, or share hope, love and faith with the people. My country, culture, tradition, language, skin color are different from them, but God’s love made me part of this family.

We are all migrants, forming a Eucharistic community of nationalities from Mexico, the U.S., Fiji, South Korea, Philippines, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras,

“Our response to the challenges posed by contemporary migration can be summed

up in four verbs: welcome, protect, promote and integrate. If we put them into

practice, we will help build the city of God and man.”

~ Pope Francis

and Nicaragua. We all live in Rancho Anapra, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. We are practicing what Pope Francis said about migrants in his 2019 World Day of Migrants and Refugees message:

“Dear brothers and sisters, our response to the challenges posed by contemporary migration can be summed up in four verbs: welcome, protect, promote and integrate.”

Originally from Fiji, Columban lay missionary Sai Tamatawale lives and works in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

“Please give blood, you can save someone’s life.” This is always the constant call of National Health Service (NHS) Blood and Transplant in front of their donation center in Birmingham, Britain.

Some people are uncomfortable when they hear the word “blood.” But for Christians, our faith was founded in the blood of Jesus Christ. During the Eucharist, while partaking of the wine, we always say, “Blood of Christ. Amen!” as we pass the cup of wine to each person. Indeed! I believe Jesus gave His blood to save us all when He shed His blood on the cross. As for me, donating blood is my way of passing His love and blessing of healing to others. He is the one who inspired me to do it.

I passed that donation center a thousand times during my years in Bimingham. Ironically, it was only during a time of illness when the iron in my own blood became very low, that the sign caught my eye and attention.

Despite feeling that my energy was being drained more each day, and my concern that I may not finish my mission term, I never missed a day in my ministries; I always put on a cheerful face. Each time I passed that sign, I would say to God: “Lord, please heal me. How can I do my mission and serve you well if I am like this? Lord, when you shed your blood you saved us all. I prefer to shed my blood for a good reason too. Heal me please, I prefer to donate my blood at that donation center and save someone’s life.”

Thanks be to God, He heard and answered my cry! He healed me! I believe through the power of the

A Call to Save Someone’s LifeGive Blood!By Gertrudes Samson

prayers of my relatives and friends, water from the spring of our Lady of Lourdes from France given to me by a friend, and with the help of my doctors who prescribed me a high dosage of iron and performed a medical intervention, I became completely well.

When I started to recover my energy little by little, every time I passed that sign in front of the donation center, I would say to God, “Lord, thank you for healing me. I still remember my promise and what I said, that I would donate my blood at the donation center and save someone’s life.”

Finally, with prayers, moral support, and encouragement from my relatives and friends, I was able to gather enough courage to make my first blood donation. One of the instructions from the NHS was to bring a book or a friend on the day of the donation. I asked my friend Regina to accompany me. I thank God for giving me a supportive and caring friend to accompany me that day.

On the day of the donation, Regina and I prayed to God together that everything would go well. This was my prayer: “Lord, let the blood that flows out of me be your blood that would channel your healing and blessing for those who receive it.” I read an article that said a single blood donation can potentially save three lives. This is because the blood could be processed to separate it into its three components: red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma, which could then be issued depending upon the need of a particular patient. I was really amazed that my single donation could potentially save not just one person, but three!

Donating blood has other health benefits as well. I was amazed to learn that as I try to bless others, it will bless me in return. After donating, the blood is checked for diseases to ensure that it is safe to use. It’s like having a comprehensive health checkup each time a person donates!

After an initial blood test, the nurse told me that my blood content was really good. The staff assured me and Regina not to worry and that the process would only take about seven minutes.

I am so thankful to God that everything went very well with my blood donation which took less than the time allotted, and I felt fine afterwards. That night, I had a very good and restful sleep. A few days later, on my birthday, I received a thank you message from the NHS informing me that my blood was ready to help a patient. It was a great birthday gift and blessing from God, both for me and for those who will receive my blood. Five days later, I received another message from the NHS saying that my blood had been issued to King College Hospital. King College is the hospital where most victims of accidents in the area are taken, and the demand for blood in that hospital is always high. I was so happy to know that my blood was taken to where it was needed the most.

Since I can donate every four months, I am praying to God to keep me healthy and strong to be able to donate again.

Columban lay missionary Gertrudes Samson lives and works in Birmingham, Britain.

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CHANGE THE WORLDWith a Gift from Your Retirement Account

They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do. Galatians 2:10

Good intentions are important, especially when it comes to giving. And a planned gift—a gift you designate to start after your lifetime—can have long-term impact. If you are looking for an easy way to support the Missionary Society of St. Columban, but can’t part with assets today, consider designating us as the benefi ciary of your retirement plan assets. Retirement plan assets make a tax-wise gift to the Society. As a nonprofi t organization, we are tax-exempt and eligible to receive the full amount and bypass any federal taxes.

Your gifts helped Columban Fr. Michael Hoban run a summer program for children living in one of Santiago, Chile’s poorest areas. With your assistance, the Columban missionaries provided recreation, education and food for over 150 children during the summer.

Contact us to learn about the many different ways you can give to the Missionary Society of St. Columban.

www.columban.orgtoll-free: 877/[email protected]

Missionary Society of St. Columban1902 N. Calhoun St.St. Columbans, NE 68056-2000


In our life we are bound to experience the different stages of life, “from the cradle to the grave.”

Whether we accept it or not, there is always an end to everything. The good news is that “endings usually signal new beginnings.”

In August 2019, Aideen, Daryl and I (three founding members of the team of LIFETEEN) had a meeting to finalize our first LifeNight after the summer break. LIFETEEN was the youth ministry in Ballymum organized by Columban Fr. Eamon Sheridan with the help of a core team including three Sisters of the Infant Jesus, three local lay people, and

Aideen, Daryl and myself (Columban lay missionaries).

At the meeting, all three of us were enthusiastic about our plans for the coming year. Unfortunately, some sad news changed everything. The priests in the parish had decided that LIFETEEN should come to an end. Aideen, our coordinator, shared this news with us when we least expected it. After all the preparations in ensuring that LIFETEEN was up and running, it suddenly had to be stopped. It was like receiving a death notice. Disbelief and outrage were the dominant reactions when we heard this news. How could anyone

stop a group like LIFETEEN that offers young people the space to be themselves with their peers and to grow in their faith journey? I don’t know how the others felt, but one thing was for sure, I was upset! I was more upset knowing that Aideen was very hurt and disappointed.

It didn’t make sense that the parish priests made the decision to end LIFETEEN, but God did not let our spirits be quelled! Surely God had a plan!

A month later, the Dublin diocese began advertising a program called TEENHOPE, a new diocesan initiative for young people in all parishes. Those

Angie with Fr. Berne Steed and Fr. Oli McCrossan

New BeginningsThe End of Something Beautiful Signals a Beginning of New LifeBy Angie Escarsa

an avenue to invite the local church communities to partake in the mission of Christ through the work of Columban missionaries. For over a decade, I was on the road, visiting parishes and schools and talking at Mass. It became my life on mission, but once again, my mission came to an end.

My new assignment is working at the Columban Center in Dublin with Columban Sisters Monica and Lucia and coworkers Michael and Claire. This work is a new beginning and a renewed commitment as a Columban missionary after my sabbatical. As my new mission unfolds, I will open my heart to this new phase in life and embrace what this journey may bring.

Columban lay missionary Angie Escarsa lives and works in Dublin, Irleand.

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involved in youth ministry were invited to join the training program to pilot TEENHOPE in their parishes. Aideen and I were the first to take the leap of hope for our youth and went to the training.

Perhaps this was God’s plan all along. Just as the Gospel says, unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground, it will remain a grain of wheat. If it falls and dies, it will bear much fruit. I am hopeful that even though LIFETEEN ended, the TEENHOPE program will bring a new beginning for our young people.

When I finished my sabbatical course, I was ready to return to my ministry. Although I wasn’t expecting to be asked to continue with my work in mission promotion, when my new appointment came, I felt a sense of loss and became aware of facing a new beginning, a new

phase in life. I had been doing mission promotion for over ten years in Ireland, and I had come to love my ministry and commitment throughout the years.

I vividly remember how I was pulled out of my pastoral ministry in Navan parish. I was happy and delighted to practice my profession as a religion teacher and catechist preparing children for Communion and Confirmation in seven primary schools. Then came the change. Our regional director requested that I help the mission promotion team. I was honored to be asked, but at the same time, I was sad to leave my parish and my ministry. Sad or not, I needed to go where I was asked to go.

And so that began my love affair with mission promotion, a ministry I came to understand as an important aspect of Columban mission as it is

At the entrance to the chapel in the Columban formation house hangs a

large picture that shows all the areas where Columban missionaries were martyred, including the photos of the seven priests martyred during the Korean War. A number of those priests are interred in the diocesan cemetery in Chunchon City, Korea. While I saw those photos every day I really did not know much about these martyrs. Recently however, together with our formation priests and other seminarians, I had the opportunity to visit the city of Chunchon where these men ministered and are now buried. To vist Soyangro and Chungrimdong churches we took the “springtime”

A Trip to ChunchonFormation House Field TripBy Kim Jin-uuk, Columban Seminarian

train from Chungyanyri and arrived in Chunchon after a ride of one hour.

I found that the Soyangro church at the end of the steep road was cozier than I had imagined. Fr. Kim Hyun-jun [Julio], the parish priest who had close connections with the Columbans from his youth, greeted us warmly and spoke in great detail about the history of the church. In 1956, Columban Fr. James Buckley, the third parish priest of the parish, built the present church in honor of the martyred Columban Fr. Anthony Collier. Fr. Collier was ordained a priest in Ireland in 1938 and arrived in Korea the following year. He served as a curate in Kangnung church [presently Imdangdong church] before becoming

parish priest in Hwengsun. He was appointed the first parish priest of Soyangro in 1950. However, in that very year war broke out on June 25.

While he could have escaped, Fr. Collier decided not to leave the parish but to remain with his people to protect them. He continued to say Sunday Mass and to pray with the Catholics each evening. When the bombing raids became more severe he encouraged his curate and the Catholics to escape to safety and told them that he would remain to protect the church. On the afternoon of June 27 when the situation became worse and while he and his alter boy Kim Kyung-ho [Gabriel] together with his Sunday school teacher were on


their way to Chungrimdong church they were questioned by members of the citizens’ army. They tied up Fr. Collier with ropes and dragged him along before fi ring the fi rst shot at him. They then proceeded to fi re two more shots at him. Fr. Collier lost his life right there and then. While this was happening Kim Gabriel and the Sunday school teacher were able to escape as they had not been tied up. At the age of 37, Columban Fr. Anthony Collier became the fi rst martyr in the diocese of Chunchon.

Soyangro church is built in a semi-circle with the altar in the center and the seats fanning out around it which allows the believers to be very close to the priest celebrating Mass. While it is much smaller than the other churches in the city it has a special beauty that cannot be seen elsewhere. The atmosphere was such that I immediately felt like praying. Meeting the altar servers that had gathered around the church and seeing all the fl owers in the church yard as well as the nicely arranged stone signs to the martyrs and the general scene around the church, I could feel that even some

75 years afterwards, the Catholics still remember the late Fr. Anthony Collier and are praying that they might be able to imitate his faith. Another sign of this were the placards announcing special prayer meetings for the war martyrs.

We moved from there to visit Chungrimdong church. Columban missionaries served here also building the present church in 1956. This stonework church with its central tower is magnifi cent and unique. Behind the church is the diocesan cemetery where Fr. Anthony Collier and the seven martyrs of the Korean War are buried. Columban Frs. Frank Canavan, Patrick Reilly and James Maginn; Chunchon Diocesan priests Kim Kyo-myung (Benedict), Peck Ung-man (Thomas), and Lee Kwang-jae (Timothy). There is also the grave of Bishop Thomas Quinlan who was arrested by North Korean soldiers, forced to endure the “March of Death” and miraculously returned South. There is also a memorial grave for Bishop Thomas Stewart, the second bishop of the diocese as well as the graves of Frs. John Lynch

and Thomas Comerford. There was a gentle breeze blowing and a warming sun shining that appeared to be welcoming us as we celebrated Eucharist in the graveyard.

On the return journey to Seoul I found that I was wondering why these priests left their homelands and spent their youth in this faraway foreign land of Korea, laying down their lives while fervently ministering here? I fi gured that these priests had experienced God’s love and mercy and wanted the believers to be able to have similar experiences.

As Jesus had a special place in the hearts of these missionaries, they longed for their believers to have the same. I began to look at my personal relationship with Jesus. I refl ected on what I needed to do as a believer to get to know Jesus better and to become more like Him. This trip to Chunchon was an important time for us students who dream of becoming missionaries and offered us a unique opportunity to grow a step closer to Jesus.

Kim Jin-uuk is a Columban seminarian.

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from different parts of Korea lived in our parish as they had come to fi nd employment in the area. I remember how rich the sharing was as people shared their varied experiences. I recall that it was a time of great grace as we put God in the center when we met to share.

Remembering all those encouraging experiences that I had had in Korea I enthusiastically began Gospel sharing meetings with the youth of the diocese of Shinju only to experience many challenges. I was often frustrated by my inexperience in conducting meetings as well as some language diffi culties. While I started out with the specifi c goal of establishing youth social meetings in every parish, I had to adjust my plan and be satisfi ed in setting up just one group for each district. While there were many complications in trying to get those groups up and running I can proudly say that they are still running one year later. Through the grace of God they are still functioning even though at times I have had to lower my expectations of them. When I look at the work of the youth ministry in the diocese I see that it is gradually progressing and that new shoots of the Lord’s love are growing slowly. At diocesan, district, and parish levels new volunteers are being trained and lots of effort is being put into developing a combined program. The youth ministry is alive and active even though progress is slow. My prayer is that the youth ministry in the church of Taiwan will continue to grow with the love of God and that it will put down deeper roots.

Columban lay missionary Kim Sun-hee (Maria) lives and works in Taiwan.

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social groups. I visited all the parishes and explained the nature of the planned social groups and met the students one on one inviting them to join these groups.

I had many great memories of the activities of the youth groups in Korea. The group sharing after Mass was always good, and they got involved in things like making candles for the Easter and Christmas celebrations. These were truly blessed times for us as we tried to be of service to the church. Many young people


When Maria was fi rst appointed to Taiwan in 2014, she immediately

became involved in prison ministry. She worked with both youth and adults that were confi ned. Since 2018, she has been a member of the youth ministry coordinating team in the diocese of Shinju. She says that when she returned to Taiwan for her second term she received an invitation from Fr. Francis Rex who was in charge of the youth ministry for the diocese. He was hoping that she would join the coordinating team, believing that as a lay person she could become more invovled with her fellow laity. Fr. Rex was a priest that valued the role of lay missionaries, and he believed that the ordinary Catholics would relate better with their fellow lay people like her. She relates her story below:

I thought that it was rather unfortunate that only a small number of young people attended Sunday Mass and that they disappeared as soon as Mass was over. I saw this as my opportunity to become involved with people I was interested in and was only too happy to accept Fr. Rex’s invitation.

As soon as I joined the youth coordinating team I began to visit all the parishes which helped me get to know better the situation of the Catholic diocese of Shinju. The diocese is divided into four districts or areas, Daowon, west and east Shinju as well as Miaori. The youth ministry comprises the Sunday School Program [kindergarten, elementary and secondary], the youth leaders among the secondary school teachers, and the university student’s social groups. However as the number

of believers are quite small and the number of youth even smaller not all parishes have all of these sections functioning which means in many cases they are combined as one and run as one group. The number of youth in the university social groups is extremely small as after they graduate from secondary school they enter universities in different parts of the country with few of them returning to their original parishes. Having obtained permission from the diocesan youth team, I started a Gospel sharing meeting with the university students’

New SproutsYouth of the Church in TaiwanBy Columban lay missionary KimSun-hee (Maria)

I had many great memories

of the activities of the youth

groups... I recall that it was

a time of great grace as we

put God in the center when

we met to share.


September 2019 was very special as I had the opportunity and privilege to visit Brazil for the

first time. In visiting a vast country like Brazil for a short time there is the real danger that one could do a real injustice to a country rich in culture and heritage.

During my first four days, I visited Rio de Janeiro, a city of 6.7 million people. In a real sense I was a tourist in Rio and did the touristy things by visiting the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian with its unique architectural design. It can seat five thousand people and can cater for 20,000 standing. I was also able to visit the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer. It draws huge numbers of tourists each day. It captivates locals and visitors in its monumental 124.6 feet of height. As I travelled to the summit by train and through the wooded vegetation I got wonderful

glimpses of the city. Another of Rio’s great attractions is the Sugarloaf mountain and the centenarian cable car. In addition to the statue of Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf is one of the most sought after attractions for both locals and visitors. From both places one gets amazing panoramic views of Rio and beyond. I also had a four-hour guided walking tour of the Old City and its environs.

A Tour of the Iguacu FallsEvery country in the world has its own natural beauty and scenery, and Brazil is no exception. I was able to visit the Iguacu Falls from both Brazil and Argentine. It was a marvellous experience. It was a happy coincidence that my visit to the Falls coincided with the month of Creation. The Falls are a place of real beauty. Sadly, while experiencing such beauty there was

very little mention of the devastating fires in the Amazon. One of the tour guides was very apologetic for the blockage of information on the fires and said that people have had to depend on international news to get the real picture. Being on my own did have its advantages as I was able to meet with some very interesting people from different parts of the world. I met one couple, Michael and Marguerita, from Bulgaria. He is an engineer and now lives in Kansas City. They told me how oppressive life was under the Communist rule, and they were both in their early forties before they were able to leave the totalitarian regime to start a new life for themselves and their family in the U.S.A.

SalvadorThe main purpose of my trip to Brazil was to link up with and

Memories of My Visit to BrazilCulture and HeritageBy Fr. Patrick Raleigh

Columban Frs. Colin McLean and Patrick Raleigh

officially abolish slavery in 1888. It has the highest percentage of people of African descent. It is estimated that Brazil received forty percent of enslaved Africans. While slavery has been officially abolished it still exists today in Brazil as it does in so many other countries but in more subtle, devious and oppressive forms.

A Visit with Antonio CabralDuring my stay in Salvador, together with Fr. Colin, I visited the home of his friend Antonio Cabral, his family and members of the community. It was very interesting and enlightening to listen to Antonio share his deep insights into Afro Brazilian religion. Antonio explained the meaning of Candomble in Brazil, which is the name given to a variety of African religious traditions established in Brazil during the nineteenth century.


spend some time with my friend and fellow Columban, Fr. Colin McLean, originally from Melbourne, Australia. We were both assigned to the Philippines many years ago after ordination. It was so good to catch up with him after so many years and have the opportunity to spend quality time with him. He is the only Columban left in Brazil after the Columban group sadly had to leave in 1999. He has certainly kept the name and priorities of Columban mission very much to the forefront in his 34 years in the Archdiocese of Salvador. It was in Salvador that the Columbans opened a new mission in 1985.

Salvador, a major port, was the first official capital of Brazil. It was to Salvador that slaves were brought to Brazil from Africa by the Portuguese over a period of 350 years. Brazil was the last country in the world to

It has been continually nourished by its contacts with Africa, and its priests and priestesses have been dedicated to maintaining the purity of its African roots. The city of Salvador da Bahia is famous for its disciplined fidelity to the ways of the “old Africans,” and it is from here that the models for Afro-Brazilian religions radiate. By word, rhythm and gesture, Candomble seeks to incarnate the ancestors, forging the link between the royal powers of Africa and their children in Brazil. Candomble spirituality is shaped by the legacy of the slave trade.

Candomble is at once a space, a dance, and a community. It is a consecrated, privately owned area within the environs of Bahia, often walled or hedged where ceremonies to the spirits take place. It may be a large compound of many acres containing numerous shrines and sacred sites, or


a simple building and yard screened from a city street as is the case of Antonio’s house and community. This was all very new to me.

Fr. Colin’s Invaluable InsightsHaving Fr. Colin as my guide was invaluable. From his many years in Brazil he shared with me some very valuable insights into Brazilian culture and religion. He sees the value of using theater, Afro drama and circus arts as integral to his life as a Columban missionary and as vehicles for social change.

Fr. Colin lives in a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Salvador. His home is only a short walking distance from the beach which is extremely beautiful, particularly at sunset. Sadly, due to pollution, swimming is not encouraged. Fr. Colin is the founder of a non-government organization (NGO) called Scene One, dedicated to presentations that highlight social injustices especially in the reality of Afro and indigenous Brazilians. During my visit I had

the pleasure of visiting Scene One theater where I met some of the artists in various rehearsals, one of which included a drama centred on the Gospel story of the beggar and the leper and the lack of response from representatives of the Church who turned a blind eye to the harsh reality of life for so many people living in poverty. Drama is a very good vehicle for creating awareness of the situation in which so many people find themselves today. With Fr. Colin, I also attended a performance by Bale Folclorico Da Bahia, a professional dance company in Brazil who outlined some of the most important expressions of the Bahian folklore through some dances of the Candomble, African religion in which music and dance are the main factors.

The Many Faces of SalvadorSalvador, like many other big cities, is a city of great contrasts. There is the very wealthy section looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean. The ocean plays a big part in the lives of the people.

Added to the beauty of the ocean are imagined scenes of indescribable horror and suffering of the “middle passage,” as the Atlantic crossing was often called during the 350 years of the slave trade. There are many hills dotted all around where many of the poor live, some very precariously. There are many beautiful, ornate Churches and narrow cobbled streets. It is said that Salvador has 365 churches, one for every day of the year. One such church is the Church of St. Francis which is one of the best models of the first stage of the Barque style or as it is usually called “the colonial style.” It is located opposite the Cathedral. It was in this area where many of the slaves from Africa were beaten and tortured.

One can only look in awe at the wonder and beauty of the sunsets. The many beaches are very popular for the people not just for swimming or cooling off, but they are places of great social gatherings where people congregate on the sand to sit and consume beer at umbrella-covered


tables. They immerse themselves in the spontaneous and infectious samba rhythms of the drums and tambourines or else watch others play football (soccer) and volleyball. Salvador is a city of fiestas. One would need to spend far more time in Salvador to soak in the its history, its culture and its vicious history of the transatlantic slave trade where people were sold as commodities. Sadly, this is still happening today in so many countries.

Sunday LiturgyI had the pleasure of attending a very lively Sunday liturgy at the parish church where the Columbans first served. It was led by Fr. Colin who was its pastor until quite recently. He received a very warm welcome. He spoke to the people of the importance of appreciating God’s creation, and he highlighted this by referring to the encyclical of Pope Francis, ‘Laudato Si’. He made particular reference to the destruction taking place in the Amazon. After the Mass people

chatted and mingled around and loved to have their photos taken. The icing on the cake for me was visiting the little home of John and Francesca, friends of Fr. Colin. Sipping coffee with them was special, and even though I do not speak Portuguese, Francesca, through Fr. Colin, told me that I would be always welcome in their home and to treat it as my home.

The Medical Missionaries of MaryA very fitting end to my short stay in Salvador was to visit the Medical Missionaries of Mary. This was formerly the Columban Central House. When the Columbans left in 1999 the Medical Missionaries bought it. Fr. Colin and I were treated to a lovely lunch by Srs. Nilza from Brazil and Jacinta from Nigeria. It was a symbolic way to conclude my visit as the Medical Missionaries of Mary and the Columbans have so much in common, being two of the Missionary Societies founded in 1918 (the Columbans) and 1937 (the Medical Missionaries of Mary). It also gave

me the opportunity to remember the Columbans who worked in Brazil. I am very grateful to Fr. Colin for giving me his time and helping me to have a better appreciation and understanding of the terrible sufferings endured by the African slaves. This continues today disguised in other forms. I think particularly of the Amazon and what is being done there to its indigenous people all in the name of progress?

I conclude with a quotation from the late Maya Angelou: I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel. The people of Salvador da Bahia have suffered so much over so many centuries. It is now necessary to make them feel that they are no longer slaves but a people with a rich culture who need to be treated with dignity and respect. I am deeply grateful for having had the chance to visit Brazil, even if it was only for a short time.

Columban Fr. Patrick Raleigh lives and works in Ireland.

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May 2020 was the 40th anniversary of the Gwangju Democratic Movement, an

event that has shaped modern Korea history. Following the assassination of the dictatorial president Park Chung-hee in October 1979, the spring of 1980 was a time of great hope and expectation for democracy in Korea. The country was preparing for free elections, and people were holding public rallies demanding change.However, on May 17 martial law was declared, and leaders of the opposition

were arrested. This led to widespread demonstrations and rallies especially in Gwangju, the capital city of Jeollanamdo and the home province of the main opposition figure Kim Dae Jung. The army was sent in, the city isolated, news censorship imposed, and the movement was brutally suppressed with hundreds of people dead and injured.

Now, 40 years later, the country is still searching for the truth and for the bodies, and the military commander at the time Chun Doo-

Hwan is presently undergoing a trial for his role in the killings.

In 1980, seven Columban priests worked in the city and another ten in the surrounding areas. The Foreign Ministry ordered that all foreigners should leave the province, but the Columbans had decided to stay with the people. Columban Fr. Dan O’Gorman worked in a parish of Yeong Kwang just outside Kwangju city. He and a diocesan priest, Fr. Francis Kim Songyong, were instrumental in getting the news of

The Movement that Changed KoreaThe Role of the ColumbansBy Fr. Donal O’Keefe

with the military for about 4 hours, but it was futile. We returned to the provincial office to report. A decision was made to get the news out to the rest of the country. I was asked to go to Seoul but I was conflicted – I was the spokesperson and now just leaving. But people advised me to go so I sent a message to the archbishop and left.”

The problem was how to get out of the city – it was under lock down. Fr. Francis went to on the back of a motorbike to the Songjungri where he heard the story about Fr. Dan being there earlier. “There and then I got the sudden feeling that if I get to Yeong Kwang, Fr. Eun (Dan’s Korean name) would get me out. He would be “my guardian angel.” They arrived after dark at the Church.

Fr. Dan then takes up that story: “There was a knock at the door and who was there but Fr. Bangjigo (Francis) Kim Song-yong, with another man – a press man. They said they wanted to go to Seoul. So we got into the jeep and I dressed up Bangjigo. I put some flour on his hair to make him look grey. I had some sunglasses and gave him a leather coat which I had and make him look quite foreign.”

It was agreed that Fr. Dan would do the talking in English if they were stopped and introduced Fr. Francis as a visiting priest who got ill during his trip to Songjungri. Fr. Francis continued with the story again: “We passed through 2 checkpoints each time [with] Fr. Dan speaking English only so we were waved on. But close to the provincial border we were stopped again and there were soldiers and a tank – and also people in a cage – people caught trying to escape. One of the soldiers came up and asked Fr. Dan “Who are you?” You are not supposed to be here – all foreigners are told to get out of the province.

laid dynamite which they were threatening to blow up if the army came in.

On Monday, May 26, the word came that the army led by tanks were coming into the city and Fr. Francis, at this stage a spokesperson for the group, led a small band hoping to prevent a major clash. He said, “Let us go to where the military are lining up and so we walked and when we reached them we tried to get the military to back off. Foreign reporters called this ‘the Death March’ because we walked straight to where the soldiers had guns pointed at us and the tanks were lining up. I was prepared to die then. We negotiated


the suppression and killing out to the world. Last summer I met with Fr. Dan in Ireland, and in January this year I met with Fr. Francis in Korea and heard their story. Their story has the makings of a movie!

While meeting Fr. Dan in Dalgan, he recalled that Monday in May 1980 when he decided to drive into the city to get the latest news about his confreres. “On Monday (May 26, 1980), I decided to drive into the city but only got to the outskirts – Songjungri where I noticed lads on the roofs with guns. I stopped, got out of the car, held up a white handkerchief. Then a few of them came down to see me and said that they were expecting the army to move in and they told me to get out of there… the next thing I heard the tanks coming in so I jumped out of the jeep and went into the house there. The people told me to keep down and lie on the floor, that I would be all right.

A loudspeaker said, ‘everyone inside come out.’ I went out first, and they had their guns on me there. Then I saw that my jeep was turned on its side with two lads behind it from the army with guns. Just then a young guy came out (of another house) and said there were guns inside so the lads came out with their arms up. The next thing the army personnel went after them with their guns, put them up against the wall and beat the heck out of them I said, “why are you doing that? They said they are the enemy. So finally I got into my jeep – the soldiers turned it over – and they escorted me part of the way to Yeong Kwang.”

Fr. Francis, as pastor of Namdong parish in downtown Gwangju, was witness to what was happening in the city. He came out for Sunday morning Mass on May 18 only to hear that martial law had been imposed nationwide the previous night.

During the following days he witnessed the soldiers arresting people – often for no reason – stripping them down to their underwear and mercilessly beating them with clubs. Testimonies, photographs, and internal records attest to the use of bayonets. This brutality led to demonstrations and further reprisals. The worst day was May 21 when over 50 people were shot dead by the military. The archbishop and the priests found themselves at the fore in trying to negotiate a solution to what was rapidly hurtling towards a major disaster. The younger people had seized guns and occupied the Provincial Office where they

“Foreign reporters called this

‘the Death March’ because we

walked straight to where the

soldiers had guns pointed at us

and the tanks were lining up.”

– Fr. Francis


Fr. Dan replied “I am from Yeong Kwang parish.” And the soldier asked, “Who is that with you pointing at Bangjigo?” “I said it was a man called Jack Quinn. Then they asked Bangigo in Korean and garbled English what was he doing? I said the poor man is not able to speak – he is not well. I said he had just come into the country (in fact Jack Quinn another Columban had entered the country a few days previously). They went away to check and said it was okay. I suppose they phoned immigration or the airport – they knew that Jack was there anyway. After that they said you can go. They also asked who was the other and he showed him his ID from a pro Government Press Publication and they said you are okay too.”

Fr. Francis went on to tell how he got to Seoul and met the cardinal and so the news of Kwangju was sent

to Japan and from there all over the world. Fr. Dan went back on the next bus, picked up his jeep and returned to Yeong Kwang. “Why did I go back? I suppose because it was my parish… Banjigo you know called me

his ‘guardian angel’ – he went to jail because of his role but was released for the Pope’s visit in 1984 – a fantastic man.”

Today, the Gwangju Democratic Movement is seen as a key moment in modern Korean history, a time when the people stood up to an armed dictatorship and laid their lives down for freedom. It was also a time that the Church stood with the people and supported them.

And, as in all movements, certain individuals will put their lives on the line and play key roles. In May 1980, Frs. Dan O’Gorman and Bangjigo Kim Songyong played their part and contributed in a very concrete way to the society and the Church as we know them today in Korea.

Columban Fr. Donal O’Keefe lives and works in South Korea.

Today, the Gwangju

Democratic Movement is seen

as a key moment in modern

Korean history, a time when

the people stood up to an

armed dictatorship and laid

their lives down for freedom.

It was also a time that the

Church stood with the people

and supported them.

CM

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f– that there would be an English Listening Test. Never in my life had I listened to English audio recordings.

To make my story short, we were told the results would be out in about three weeks. I felt that I had no hope to be chosen out of 150 applicants from twelve different dioceses. The day came, and I was accepted. Sr. Anny informed me. I could not believe my ears because the listening test had killed my chances, I thought. Fortunately, it was not an admission error, but it might be because I was the only male applicant among six from Hakha Diocese that year!

I went back to the H.E.C in the first week of January 2017 to begin the new academic year. To add to my

The way to Mandalay was full of wonders. The first thing that amazed me was the endless flat plain of the Sagaing Region where Kalay town lies. In Chin state the only flat area we normally have in villages is the football (soccer) field. What struck me next were the two big rivers – the Chindwin and the Ayeyarwaddy since what I have seen in my place was just mountain streams. Before entering Mandalay City, the economic and religious hub of upper Myanmar, I crossed the never ending, as I thought, Sagaing Bridge. Then, in an hour, I arrived at the H.E.C. which has become my second home.

Now, I had seen what I had never seen before. On the following day I would hear what I had never heard


On Monday morning, September 26, 2016, Sr. Anny, a St. Joseph Religious

nun, asked me if I wanted to study in Mandalay. “I will be studying in the second biggest city of our country, Hooray!” I said to myself. She repeated, “I am asking you. Do you want to study in Mandalay?” “Of course, Sister,” I replied. She continued to tell me to start preparing for the entrance examination of the Mandalay Archdiocesan Higher Education Center (H.E.C.). I had a bit more than two months for preparation. I started looking for my old English grammar notebooks. I studied. I was ready. Full of excitement, I left my native village in December and headed to Mandalay.

Who Opened My Eyes and Shaped Me?

Growth and ReflectionBy a student from the Mandalay Archdiocesan Higher Education Center

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excitement, there was a special mission for which I was included to carry out. The mission was hunting rats! Truth be told, rats were running wild at the H.E.C. during the absence of the students. The students were on holiday for three months – from October to December – for their University of Distant Education examination. Rat hunting was one of my favorite hobbies. I even called myself “the rat hunter” when I was in my village. This rat-hunting mission immediately made me feel at home at the H.E.C. I believed I was a hero to Fr. Neil Magill as I heard he was terribly afraid of rats.

Classes started. The teachers were amazing. The ways they taught us were totally different from the ways I got used to when I was in public schools. There was no more rote learning or parrot learning. I did not need to memorize written texts. However, this was when I got stuck because I was not able to write even a short simple sentence of my own.

The second day of the first week of the academic year included computer time. Of course, I have seen computers but this was the first time I touched and used a computer with my very hands. Though I was good at rat hunting, I found myself terrible at holding a computer mouse. As months passed, because of the clear instruction of my lovely teacher, Tr Swezin, my computer skill improved. I also dared hold the mouse from its long tail.

Ethics was one of the subjects I liked most. Wow! I learnt so much from it. I was really grateful to our charity sister, Sr. Vincenza who taught us that subject. Because of this subject, my wild mentality was turned into a tame one. On the other hand, I had also become a critic. I became fond of criticizing others, even my subject teachers. I criticized Sr. Vincenza

because I thought she did not practice what she taught us. The more I know about ethics, the more I tended to criticize others. How immature I was!

Grammar was another interesting subject. I had no problem at the beginning, but later on the grammar rules became more and more complicated. It turned out to be the cause of my headache. I did not want to hear even the footsteps of our teacher, Fr. Marcus. When it came to grammar learning I was known as the lazybones among my classmates, but I was not one who easily gave up. As a result, I can write grammatically correct sentences after help from my grammar teacher. I could not help admiring him for his patience and kindness.

We also had music class. In fact, it was the most boring class for me because I had no ear for music. Music was, truth be told, a dirty word for me. I was the only student who got scolded on a regular basis by our music teacher, Sr. Maddalena, another charity sister. However, because of her, I can now sing confidently doh, re, mi, fa,…even in my sleep. I can read music notes. I have a feeling now for songs. Thank you, Sr. Maddalena.

What is next? We also had a Buddhist teacher who taught us listening. She was so graceful in her Myanmar dress. I was indeed impressed by the way she dressed herself up. By seeing her, I could feel

the importance of a dress code. Although our school is a Catholic school, there were three qualified Buddhist teachers. Our listening teacher was one of them. As it was the scariest subject, I found it super hard. I could not understand what I listened to. They spoke too fast, I thought. In fact, our teacher, Tr Hnin Yu Naing told us that in the audio

lessons we had listened to, the speakers spoke slower than their normal speed. Oh my gosh! Then, I realized that my problem was lack of vocabulary not my ears.

Tr John was also a Buddhist teacher we had. He spoke English so fast and fluently that I could not catch a word when he spoke. He taught us reading. I improved both my listening and reading skill a lot because of him. Thank you teacher John. Three other Buddhist teachers were Tr Khin Mya Kywe who taught accountancy to second and third year students, and Tr Tar Tar Zan who taught third year students photoshop. Tr Nicole taught English literature. I always felt small in her presence. She is very tall. I heard they were excellent teachers. I could not wait to be one of their students in second and third year.

Another subject we had was writing. On the first day of our writing class, our teacher, Tr Ambrose, who spoke Burmese and English with a strong Chin accent, told us to write a short paragraph on “My Father.” I wrote twelve sentences altogether. I handed it in. He returned it the next day. I opened my book and found his comment, “This is not a paragraph.” This confused me. I wrote my best, but it turned out to be the worst in my teacher’s eyes. Therefore, I made a resolution, to write in a journal every day to improve my writing skill. As an outcome of journal writing and my teacher’s advice, my writing skill is not

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so bad as you can guess by reading this story.

A month had passed, but there was still on thing I dared not do – to have a conversation with Columban Fr. Neil, the founder, fundraiser, and the director of the school. He was the only foreigner from European countries I had ever seen in the flesh. Many a time I decided to speak with him. I memorized several phrases and sentences to use, but every time I approached him they vanished like summer clouds. Once, I came across Fr. Neil at one corner of the school building; he greeted me, “Good morning, Paul.” My response was no more than repeating his words, “Good morning.” How I wished I could have longer conversation with him. I had more English than “Good morning.” By the way, Fr. Neil was our spoken English teacher.

On another occasion, when I asked permission to go to the bank to draw some money for school contribution, Fr. Neil said to me, “Are you bringing a gun with you?” My prompt answer was “Yes.” I was naïve. What he asked me, I thought, was if I had my NRC with me (National Registration Card, only with which we are allowed to draw money from banks in Myanmar). He laughed and said, “Go, go. You may go.” How shy I was when I found out what a gun is. I later realized that Fr. Neil liked pulling our legs to make us happy.

How time flew! It was September, the month I hated the most. I hated it for two reasons: Final examinations are held in this month every year. As usual, I had to cram for the examination. I knew cramming was not good but I could not get rid of that bad habit. My laziness had a big influence on my conscious mind. Luckily though, I had a good short-term memory which usually saved me

in my monthly tests.The second reason I hated the

month, September, was because our senior third year students were graduating and leaving the HEC for good. To admit, that was not my genuine reason to hate that month. It was because I fell head over heels in love with one of the older students. I tried many times to tell her that I loved her, but in reality, I did not have the guts. Whenever I was near her, I controlled myself so that she could not hear my heartbeats. To my amazement, for some reason I usually found myself near to her whenever we had school activities. Maybe this is what they call “the power of love.”

One-sided love is painful. Despite my conscious mind that repeatedly told me not to fall in love with anyone, I proclaimed Margarete was my first love (without her knowledge). I hoped our planet earth is just a small world for us. Therefore, on graduation night that year it was full of joy and sorrow.

Oh, I almost forget to tell about my perspective on religions. I am a born Catholic, and my parents are strong Catholics. They are not just Sunday Church goers. At home we never went to bed without saying our night prayers together. Being raised in a pious family, I thought other religions and denominations were just nothing until we had a seminar on “Interreligious Dialogue.” Speakers

at the seminar were a Muslim, a Buddhist monk, a Catholic priest and a Columban Sister. We also visited our Cathedral, a Buddhist temple and a mosque. It was an invaluable experience. I became more broad-minded on religions. Thank you, Fr. Neil for the seminar.

Most importantly, I had cultivated the habit

of reading. How fortunate we were to have a library with many Burmese and English books. The types of books ranged from books for kids to books for professionals; from self-help books to reference books. The library was the place where I relieved my stress and where I could feed my mind with nutritious food to become a mature, educated and learned person. It is great to have such a good library built up over the past ten years.

Looking in the rearview mirror, my first year life at the H.E.C. in 2017 was truly nostalgic, especially for me because I was able to stay with different ethnic groups under the same roof as brothers and sisters of a family. And these were just a few blessings among many. I am sure we all became more mature after we came to the H.E.C. Personally, I became better in socialization, better in group work, better in my personality and character, better in everything. I was so excited to become a second year H.E,C, student. From the depth of my heart, I thank those who sent me to the H.E.C, who accepted me, who opened my eyes and shaped me, and lastly but not the least I would like to say that I am indebted to our donors and benefactors of the H.E.C, our second home. God bless!”

A student who wishes to remain anonymous shared his story with Columban Fr. Neil Magill.

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LIGHT FOR THE WORLD

1% of Your Estate Continues the Mission Work

One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed. Proverbs 19:17

Good intentions are important, especially when it comes to giving. And a planned gift—a gift you designate to start after your lifetime—can have long-term impact. By designating just 1% of your estate as a gift to the Columban Fathers, you insure that the work you have supported during your lifetime will continue.

Columban lay missionary Noh Hyein, better known as Anna (pronounced En-na), a teacher by profession, lives and works in the Philippines. After getting to know the women in her parish, and realizing how desperately poor they were, Anna, with the help of Columban benefactors, launched a candle making livelihood project called “Light the Life.” The women make candles and earn income for their families. The program also helps in the holistic development of the women, making them value their own self-worth. The women in the program make candles that light the homes of others, but they are lighting their own paths as well.

Contact us to learn about the many different ways you can give to the Missionary Society of St. Columban.


www.columban.orgtoll-free: 877/[email protected]

One of Pope Francis’ most famous quotations is that those of us who are priests, we “shepherds,” should have

the “smell of the sheep.” What a great, pungent image! Taking on the smell of the sheep will not be achieved by distancing ourselves from our people and their daily struggles. Sadly, there are probably no truer words in the Bible than, “the poor you will have always with you.”

Earlier this year, across the country, we were asked to practice “social distancing” for the good of everyone. Many priests used the telephone and email and social media and live streaming to be present to their people. But the poor do not have much access to cell phones or computers.

How could we manage to stay close to people and abide by that “almost quarantine” at the same time? It is daunting to live and minister in such

challenging times, is it not? First of all, we need to take care of our own

inner selves, and, as St. Paul advises, “Let the peace of Christ control your hearts.” Contemplation and action need to stay in balance. That is indeed half the battle.

In this year’s pandemic, it was so easy to become short-sighted and only attend to what was immediately in front of us. Nevertheless, some people in that time of trial strengthened their faith. For others their feeble flame of faith started flickering in violent winds of worry.

From the Director

By Fr. John Burger

In this year’s pandemic, it was

so easy to become short-sighted

and only attend to what was

immediately in front of us.

How many of our worries turn out to be unnecessary and how many times in the Gospel does Jesus in various passages say, “do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me?” When we look back over the last few months, can we see a pattern of combating our anxieties through trust in Jesus? Or were we fearful?

They say there are only two emotions on Wall Street; the first is greed, and the second is fear. Certainly, in March fear was in the driver’s seat and took us for a wild ride. So many felt anxiety as they first watched with horror and then could not bear to look at their shrunken portfolios. Colleges and religious communities saw their endowments get smaller.

A friend wrote to me these encouraging words, “We build churches, and send missionaries all over the world, to convert people into changing their lives I can’t imagine God isn’t going to help us figure out something so all this won’t go to waste. I can’t believe that at all!”

Looked at in another way, in the world that gives off the stink of greed, fear, indifference and downright injustice, the followers of Jesus should bring the fragrance of trust in Christ.

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

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World…Give HopeColumban 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 $15 donation or more, you or a friend or loved one can share in our baptismal call to mission and the Columban Fathers’ 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:


“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.

If you are interested in the missionary priesthood, write or call…

Fr. Bill MortonNational Vocation Director

Columban FathersSt. Columbans, NE 68056

877/299-1920Email: [email protected]

Website: www.columban.org

If you are interested in becoming a Columban Sister, write or call…

Sr. Carmen MaldonadoNational Vocation Director

Columban Sisters 2546 Lake Road

Silver Creek, NY 14136716/934-4515

Email: [email protected]: www.columbansisters.org

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