The Far East - St Columbans Mission Society

The Far East May 2021

COLUMBAN MISSION MAGAZINEDestruction of housing in Pakistan Hundreds of families left homeless after Government Officials bulldoze their homes.

PRICE $1.50

Funerals in Fiji Columban Fr Pat Colgan writes about the communal nature of funerals in Fiji.

Of such legends are made

From COVID Philippines to COVID Brexit Ireland

12-13 22-23

14-15

6-7

12-13

Contents

4-5

St Columbans Mission Property Association A.B.N. 17 686 524 625

Printed by Doran Printing, Melbourne

Publisher:Fr Peter O'[email protected]

Editor:Mrs Janette [email protected]

Editorial Assistant:Fr Ray Scanlon Designer & Editorial Assistant:Mrs Assunta [email protected]

AUSTRALIASt Columbans Mission Society69 Woodland StreetEssendon Vic 3040Postal address:PO Box 752, Niddrie Vic 3042Tel: (03) 9375 [email protected]

NEW ZEALANDSt Columban's Mission SocietyP.O. Box 30-017Lower Hutt 5040Tel: (04) 567 [email protected]

THE SOCIETY was founded in Ireland in 1918 as a society of secular priests dedicated to the evangelisation of the Chinese people.SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15 per year (AUSTRALIA)

The Far EastMay 2021Vol 103, No. 4

THE FAR EAST is devoted to furthering the missionary apostolate of the church and has been published by the Missionary Society of St Columban since October 15, 1920.

Mission World Pope Francis calls for clean drinking water and sanitation for all

3 From the Editor 16

17 From the Director The significance of the liturgical seasons

8-9 EasterEaster ceremonies leave a lasting impact on a small boy of five.

10-11 Chaplaincy to the Chinese diaspora in Ireland

4-5

I left Peru in a wheelchair Columban Fr John Hegerty writes a heartbreaking reflection.

18-19

23 Your Columban Legacy

6-7 Destruction of housing in Pakistan Hundreds of families left homeless after Government Officials bulldoze their homes. With gratitude to the

Columbans A former member of the Columban Supporters’ Group in Korea writes a letter of gratitude to Columban Fathers.

20-21

14-15

22-23

A man on a mission Disadvantaged children’s lives transformed in a poor area of Lima, Peru.

From the Editor

The Far East May 2021

COLUMBAN MISSION MAGAZINEDestruction of housing in Pakistan Hundreds of families left homeless after Government Officials bulldoze their homes.

PRICE $1.50

Destruction of housing in PakistanHomes bulldozed in Pakistan leave thousands in crisis.Photo: Eric Siraj

The Far East - May 2021 3

uring the Easter Vigil last year Pope Francis prayed: "May the hearts of those who have enough be open to filling the empty hands of those who do not have the

bare necessities." He went on to say that Easter is a time of hope in our troubled world.

In this issue of The Far East magazine the message of hope for the world is reflected in articles from many countries where Columbans work.

We lead with a story of hope and generosity in Peru where Columban Fr Tony Coney's concern for disadvantaged children has transformed many young lives in a poor area of Lima.

In Pakistan, we learn of hundreds of homes bulldozed by Government officials because they were making the cities of Hyderabad and Karachi more flood-prone. The Rome-based Bureau Chief of Crux magazine recently interviewed Columban Fr Robert McCulloch about the crisis. Fr Robert hopes that some church land can be donated to rebuild the homes.

In the reflection Fr McCulloch recalls his experiences of attending the Easter ceremonies as a small boy of five in Australia, followed many years later conducting Easter ceremonies himself in the Philippines, Pakistan and Rome.

After working in Hong Kong as a nurse for 40 years, Columban Sr Mary Greaney returned to Ireland where she set up a chaplaincy to the Chinese community.

This year commemorates 500 years since the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines. As part of acknowledging this milestone, Columban Fr Jim Mulroney explains the significance of festival and dance where the small statue of the kingly boy Jesus has become one of the symbols of the Christian faith.

D On his return to Australia, Columban Fr John Hegerty writes a heart-breaking reflection on leaving the people of Peru in their dark night and of his fear that only God can lead them out.

Pope Francis, on World Water Day, has asked for a call to action for those who do not have access to clean water and sanitation.

In his column, Fr Trevor Trotter talks about the significance of the liturgical seasons. He asks the question, “What is the liturgical year telling me about my life by having Easter and Pentecost?”

Back in Ireland, Columban Fr Michael (Mickey) Martin gives us an insight into what it was like spending more than half a century in the Philippines and the challenges he faces settling in back home.

A former member of the Columban Supporters' Group in Korea, Kim Chong-hwan, now living in Australia, writes of his heartfelt gratitude to the Columban Fathers for their friendship and support both in Korea and upon his arrival in Australia.

From Fiji, Columban Fr Pat Colgan writes about the burial of a parishioner and compares the communal nature of the ceremony to how it used to be in Ireland.

In response to the Easter message of new life and hope, let us pray that our hearts will be open to fill the empty hands of those who need our care and mercy.

Janette Mentha [email protected]

4 The Far East - May 2021

or me, life began at 40”, laughs Fr Tony Coney, remembering how he arrived in Lima on his 40th birthday. (In addition, the date was August 30,

providentially the Feast Day of the city’s patron, St Rose of Lima.)

Tony came as a man with a mission. For years he’d dreamed of setting up a project to help needy children. He knew all about children, coming as he did from a family of seven. However, his interest in disadvantaged children sprang from his experiences as a newly ordained priest working in his native Belfast during the early 1990s where the poverty and violence of the Northern Irish “Troubles” had taken its toll especially on the young.

Tony was also inspired by the writings of pioneer Scottish educationalist A. S. Neill who, in his seminal work “Summerhill”, had advocated a completely new approach to rearing “difficult” children. “The idea was for those children to be given freedom, the scope for self-expression. This really resonated with me”, Tony recalls.

In Peru, he found himself in a huge parish on the northern outskirts of the capital where shantytowns sprawled endlessly over the barren hills. Here, the children suffered from poor diet, poor housing, poor education, poor everything.

Tony’s chance came in 1997. “A house became available. I bought it with my ordination money.” He made it into a day centre for needy youngsters. “We started with six volunteers and about 100 children. In a few months, we had 300. After a year, we had to extend. Irish Aid paid for the extension.”

Tony also increased the services on offer, employing psychologists, speech therapists and social workers. The latter staffed a “defence desk” to cater for children at risk. “Nowadays we receive up to 400 kids a day, from a weekly pool

"F

A man on a mission FR JOHN BOLES

How Irish Columban Fr Tony Coney’s concern for disadvantaged children transformed many young lives in a poor area of Lima, Peru.

of 1,200.” As to the day-to-day activities, Tony has adopted the “A. S. Neill system”. “The kids do whatever they want - arts and crafts, play, homework, reading, theatre, music, dance, computers, and the lot. There are no ‘closed doors’. Children get the chance to BE children, with no adults telling them what they have to do.” Instead, the children themselves come together to agree on their own norms and rules.

Tony called it, St Bernadette’s Children’s Centre. Why choose St Bernadette? “After buying the house, I had no money to renovate it, so I wrote to my home parish in Belfast - St Bernadette’s. Theirs was the first donation I ever got, so I adopted their name.”

Unfortunately, from the outset, there was a problem which perhaps vexed Tony more than any other, and that was the ugly matter of child sex abuse. It soon became clear that this was rife in the area. Worse still, the abuser was often living under the same roof as the child. “The subject was ‘taboo’, no-one wanted to listen. Meanwhile, the kids remained in abusive situations”. Consequently, “the idea arose that we needed a residential home, where the child could be separated from the situation and get therapy until the legal set-up in the family could be resolved”.

And so, it was that a second centre was born, St Bernadette’s Home, with a 36-place capacity. “Now, attitudes have changed”, explains Tony. “People are more conscious of the problem and open to doing something about it. We work with the Government. They refer cases to us. We still meet with resistance, from the police for instance, but that’s where our defence desk comes in. We more or less force them to act.”

Meantime, St Bernadette’s Child Protection Programme seeks to combat the threat of child abuse in the wider community. “We go into schools, do formation courses for pupils, teachers and parents, get them to set up protection

Photos: Asociación Civil Santa Bernadita, Atonio Saula Seeto


PERU

teams.” Up until now they’ve gone into some 30 schools and prepared thousands of children. “In 2019 we reached exactly 10,016 children”, adds Tony proudly. But, as you address one issue, another appears. Tony’s team quickly noticed that many of the youngsters in the day centre displayed learning difficulties not necessarily because they weren’t bright, but because of the emotional difficulties they were experiencing at home. This awareness moved Tony to found a third premises, St Bernadette’s Remedial School.

Here, he explains, children can “attend for a year or so, come up to standard and go back into mainstream education, given that they’ve often been thrown out of the state system because of low grades.” Up to 120 pupils at a time reap the benefits of this initiative. Taking stock after over 25 years, Tony’s dream has realized itself in the form of three centres, 65 paid staff and a child protection outreach programme, almost all financed by overseas donors (many of whom are The Far East magazine readers). He says that the priority now is, “to sustain all this. The goal is to make it permanent. We’ve achieved a lot, but…a way to go yet!”

Tony’s life may have begun at 40, but a great many people in Lima are hoping it’ll go on for a long time yet.

Columban Fr John Boles has worked in South America for the last 25 years.

In the words of a student:

For many years, Christina has been connected with St Bernadette’s Day Centre. This is what she told us.

“When I started school I went every day to the library in the Centre, where the staff helped me with my homework. They were very patient and I was able to go on learning. In the workshops, I learned how to make bracelets, necklaces, keyrings and many other things.

At home, though, often I felt very lonely and sad because my parents separated and my Mum had to go out to work. Even now at times, I feel sad because I have several brothers and sisters and I have to look after the smaller ones and feel as if I’m the mother who has to do everything. It’s because of this that in the Children’s Centre I can forget all my sadness and problems.”

Photo (left): Overview of all three Centres in Lima, Peru. St Bernadette's Children's Centre is the yellow triangular construction on top of a hill.

Fr Tony Coney in Lima, Peru.


Destruction of housing in PakistanIn March the houses of 450 Catholic families in Pakistan were destroyed and those of 1,000 Christians will be bulldozed by Government officials in upcoming days.

olumban Fr Robert McCulloch who worked in Pakistan for 34 years was interviewed about this human disaster by Inés San Martín, the Rome Bureau

Chief for Crux (an independent news service covering the Vatican and the Catholic Church).

Christians from Kali Mori in the city of Hyderabad in Pakistan suddenly found themselves without a home after the Supreme Court ruled that municipal officials had to free encroached lands both in Hyderabad and in Karachi. They ruled that the homes are on state-owned land and that their presence makes the cities of Hyderabad and Karachi more flood-prone by blocking the path of rainwater to the sea and obstructing access to canals connected to the Indus River.

The houses were first built 40 years ago and are legally connected to the public electricity, gas and water grids. “This is a civic crisis and human tragedy. Municipal authorities are responding to the civic crisis, but not to the human tragedy” said Australian Fr Robert McCulloch, the Rome-based Rector of Collegio San Colombano who lived in Pakistan from 1978 to 2011.

He told Crux that there has been a perennial encroachment problem in Pakistan, with people occupying Government-

C owned land. This, he said, has been a reality for the past 30 or 40 years, when people from the northern province of Punjab moved towards the growing cities in the south of the country to seek jobs. Most were peasant farmers working the land of feudal landlords and living in villages that had reflected their culture and pattern of life for several centuries.

The ongoing mechanization of agriculture in the early 1970s disrupted both the structure of land-tenure and its use and the traditional patterns of rural life. This led to a major demographic change in Pakistan as people moved from the land to the cities. This process of mass movement happened just after Hyderabad and Karachi in the south had been able to adjust to the problems created 30 years earlier. At that time in 1947, the influx of several million Muslim refugees from India to Pakistan after communal rioting afflicted the newly emerged nations of Pakistan and India. This new mass movement of people has caused unplanned large-scale urbanization that continues even now. It was and is characterized by the absence of town planning and by social crises and civil breakdown.

When people first began to arrive in the 1970s, Christians, mostly Catholics, began settling in fringes around


PAKISTANINÉS SAN MARTÍN

Hyderabad and they settled in temporary shacks that eventually became permanent homes.

“There is no doubt that the land they’re on is encroached,” Fr McCulloch said. “But they have long been connected to the water and gas grids, which gave a sense of stability to the people living there. The fact that they were all paying taxes to representatives of the municipal council in their areas, either over or under the table, made them believe they had some sort of legal claim over the land.”

Fr McCulloch said that the community saw Government officials providing them with public services and no one told them they illegally inhabited the land.

This continued for decades until the homes became a liability. “Some 450 Christian families, in a particular area that I know, lost their homes in the past six days and when they complained to the police and officials who were there to oversee the destruction, they were told that they were encroaching,” said Fr McCulloch.

The people, whose homes in Kali Mori have been destroyed due to encroachment, bitterly comment that Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan, also built his mansion on encroached public land at Banigala near Islamabad but his home has not been bulldozed. Even though encroachment is happening all over the country some encroachers can get away with it.

Fr Robert said that in the coming weeks there will be another 1,000 Christian families who will lose their homes, as the bulldozers and tractors continue to bring down the homes.

“Had their grandfathers and fathers been told when they arrived that they couldn’t settle and to instead go a little bit further out in the city where there was available and fairly cheap land to buy, they would have done so. Most of those who arrived back then didn’t know how to read and write, which made them more gullible to believe whatever civil authorities told them" said Fr McCulloch.

“From their point of view, they asked if they could put their homes there and were told yes. But from that minute they were told to pay taxes” he said. “The people who enabled them charged them taxes of one sort or another instead of telling them not to build their homes there.”

Making an already bad situation worse, the thousands who have overnight found themselves homeless are having trouble finding homes to rent in both Karachi and Hyderabad because of the sudden increase in demand and soaring rents.

The situation is made worse by the fact the Government is not likely to do anything to help those affected.

In 2011 St Elizabeth Hospital in Hyderabad set up the Bethlehem Shelter Society to buy land and build homes for the many people who lost their homes in the massive floods that year and in 2010. Eight hundred and seventy five families, mainly Hindu, received help and are now safely housed. Fr McCulloch said he hopes to buy land that the Church can donate to these newly affected homeless Christian families so that they can begin rebuilding with the certainty they will have title to the land.

Inés San Martín is an Argentinian journalist and Rome Bureau Chief for Crux news service.

Photos: Eric Siraj

Easter


holy memory from my childhood remains with me. I was 5 years old. I remember going with my father through the mud and slush of early 1950’s

suburban Melbourne to St Patrick’s Church in Mentone. Morning, a long ceremony. Much later on, I realized that I was attending the Easter Vigil ceremonies that were then celebrated in the morning of Holy Saturday. Was I as a small child experiencing what the Russians felt when they came to Constantinople in 988AD searching for faith and found it in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy? Who says children don’t know?

Fast forward to Talisayan in 1972, a smallish but mountainous rural parish of 25,000 Catholics in the southern Philippines. After the 3 pm Liturgy on Good Friday the statues of the Passion were outside the Church on small carriages waiting to be drawn in a procession in sadness and tears of mourning through the town.

Each statue was surrounded by its devotees ready to push the carriage, especially the statue of the Virgin Mary draped in black and with her heart pierced by a sword. The carriage with the statue of the Dead Christ was left alone. But, as the procession moved off, several black-clothed men with bowed heads came and began to push this carriage. They were the thugs, the social trespassers, the havoc-makers of the town. The age-old traditional custom drew them to push the carriage and to publicly ask forgiveness from their Crucified Christ and the townspeople. No one in the procession said anything but everyone knew that this was the time of soul-healing and forgiveness. I began hearing confessions in the Church immediately after the procession. After about 9 pm when the church seemed to be empty and was mostly dark, I am sure that it was these same violent social trespassers who came for the sacrament of reconciliation. The town had already forgiven them as they pushed the Dead Christ through the town and now they came to the church to confess and be forgiven by their Christ.

Fast forward again to Easter 1980 in Narowal, a big rural parish in northern Pakistan, up where Punjab meets with India and Kashmir. After three celebrations of the Easter Vigil ceremonies on Holy Saturday night and Masses all through Easter morning, it was then out on a motorcycle for the next eight days of the Easter Octave. Three or four Masses each day, for a few Catholic families in one place and for 100 families in another place. “Thank you, Father, for coming. How could we celebrate Easter without Holy Mass?”

AFR ROBERT MCCULLOCH

The carriage with the statue of the Dead Christ was left alone. But, as the procession moved off, several black-clothed men with bowed heads came and began to push this carriage.

Fast forward again to Easter in the Sindh at Badin in south-east Pakistan in 1985. Most Catholics were agricultural labourers whom the Muslim landlords would allow only one day for an Easter holiday. They were able to come to the Church on Holy Saturday evening and they came in their hundreds with catechumens who would be received into the Church that night and with many seekers and inquirers.

All through the evening and night of Holy Saturday the ceremonies and events from Holy Thursday until Easter were celebrated in one continuous rite, together with catechesis, film, rest periods (we provided everyone with a thin mattress and a quilt as the night weather was always cold at Easter time in Badin on the fringes of the Thar Desert), and a good meal, as was shared by Our Lord with his apostles on Holy Thursday night, and tea.

Everyone’s feet were washed during the commemoration of the events of Holy Thursday, women by the Sisters and catechists’ wives, men by the priests and the catechists. Profound silence, tubs of muddy water continually replaced as most people had walked in bare feet. And later, the lighting of the Easter fire and the Easter Candle with drums beating and fireworks exploding and shouts of joy. And then the catechumens received into the Church with their commitment and promise to present someone else for instruction during the coming year and reception at the next Easter.

Now fast forward to Rome since 2011. Although I have never much cared to go to St Peter’s for the Holy Week and Easter Vigil ceremonies, coming on Easter Sunday to St Peter’s Square at noon with hundreds of thousands of cheering Romans and fervent pilgrims to receive the Urbi et Orbi blessing from the Holy Father is not to be missed.

I much prefer to go to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and join with the ordinary Romans as they celebrate the


REFLECTION

Columban Fr Robert McCulloch is the Rector of Collegio San Colombano, Rome.

Photo: bigstockphoto.com/Sidney de Almeida

I much prefer to go to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and join with the ordinary Romans as they celebrate the Holy Days and Easter in “their basilica”. The organ seems to play more loudly, the trumpets seem to blast more joyously, and the choir seems to sing with more gusto...

Holy Days and Easter in “their basilica”. The organ seems to play more loudly, the trumpets seem to blast more joyously, and the choir seems to sing with more gusto and verve at Santa Maria Maggiore to celebrate Easter with the people of Rome.

As a consultor since 2016 to the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments at the Vatican, I think this is about the sensus fidelium, the mind of the faithful, how the people of God in many places and conditions know instinctively that these Holy Days and Easter should be celebrated and know how to celebrate them. Even a little five-year-old boy, many years ago.


rish missionaries have a long history of leaving their footprints in many countries worldwide. When I returned to Ireland some years ago, I responded to

the promptings of the Spirit to reach out to the Chinese community in Dublin. I had worked as a missionary with the Chinese in Hong Kong for over 40 years and so I was familiar with their culture, language and customs.

Most of them were students but some were restaurant workers and others, casual workers in various places and, of course, some were illegal migrants. My first call to mission

Chaplaincy to the Chinese diaspora in Ireland Columban Missionary, Sr Mary Greaney, has been instrumental in establishing a flourishing parish for the Chinese community in the Archdiocese of Dublin. She explains how it all came about.

I

Members of the Chinese community in Dublin at the Rite of Election in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, with Fr Damian McNeice of the Archdiocese of Dublin’s Liturgy Resource Centre.

at that time was an invitation to visit and befriend the Chinese illegal immigrants in Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison. This was a very special mission and a much-needed ministry entailing regular visits.

At the time, there were seven young priests from China studying in the national seminary in Maynooth, sponsored by the Columban and Jesuit Fathers. These priests used to celebrate a Mandarin Mass twice a month in Myra House on Francis Street in inner-city Dublin with a small group of Chinese lay people and a few Legion of Mary members in

Photo: John McElroy


CHINAIRELANDSR MARY GREANEY

Columban Sr Mary Greaney is from Galway. She worked in Hong Kong as a nurse for 40 years. She also worked with prisoners and was very active in the Legion of Mary. Since retiring to Ireland she has been working with the Chinese Community in Dublin as well as visiting Chinese people in prison.

attendance. For me, this was very symbolic. Myra House was the home of the Legion of Mary. It was here that the Legion was founded in September 1921 by Frank Duff.

Frank Duff had a great love and appreciation of China. The Irish Columban Missionary, Fr Aedan McGrath, spread the Legion of Mary over the vast country of China in the mid-twentieth century. Many young Chinese legionaries gave their lives for the Legion because they refused to sign a document saying the Legion was a ‘Subversive Organisation’. So, when I attended the Chinese Mass, I imagined Frank Duff smiling down on this fledgling Chinese community in gratitude for an unexpected blessing for Myra House and the Legion.

At this stage, my dream of setting up an outreach to the Chinese community became very real and I discussed it with the Chinese group. They were very excited and saw it as a great need and offered to help me in whatever way they could. I approached the Archdiocese of Dublin for permission and support. The Vicar General, Mons. Lorcan O’Brien, was very interested, supportive and willing to help in any way he could. A plan of action was approved by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, with the remit that I find a Chinese chaplain from among the group of Chinese priests completing their studies in Maynooth. Fr Anthony Xiao offered his services and obtained the necessary permission from his bishop in China. He was sponsored by the Archdiocese of Dublin, becoming the first Chinese chaplain to the Chinese community in the city. Our first base was Corpus Christi Church, Drumcondra.

I became the liaison person between the Diocese and the Chinese community. We set up a small team of Chinese and Irish volunteers under Fr Anthony’s leadership to help us get our project off the ground, keeping evangelization as the main focus of our mission. At this time too, Sr Lucia So, a Chinese Columban Sister from Hong Kong, was assigned to Dublin to help this young community. Fr Anthony, Sr Lucia and Anita, a committed laywoman from Hong Kong and long-time resident in Ireland, formed the first Pastoral Council. Their mandate, evangelization, was high on the agenda and was very evident in all their outreach work.

The bi-monthly Masses continued in Corpus Christi Church and soon the community began to grow. A Catechumen Class was organised and received an amazing response. We had an average of twenty young Chinese adults

baptised every year at the Easter Vigil Mass in Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral. Archbishop Martin was delighted with this blessing of new life in the diocese. It never ceased to amaze me how many young Chinese adults were eager to join our catechumen class. I asked one of them why she was interested in becoming a Catholic here in Ireland. She told me, “Sister, here we are free to follow Jesus.”

After five years Fr Anthony was recalled by his bishop to his home diocese in China. He was replaced by Fr Anthony Hau, a young Chinese priest nearing completion of English language studies in Dublin. About this time we began to search for more space for meetings, classes and social gatherings than Corpus Christi Parish could supply. We decided to approach the diocese again to request a more permanent place with more facilities - a place that would be a home away from home for our growing community.

The Diocese graciously responded to our request and arranged for us to move our chaplaincy to St Andrew’s Church in Westland Row. This offer was way beyond my expectations. Apart from the lovely church in a very convenient central location, there is lots of extra space for spiritual and social gatherings as well as comfortable accommodation for Fr Anthony.

Fr Anthony is a hard-working and dedicated chaplain. Our group has quite a number of young children as we have had lots of marriages in recent years. The community is now well settled and catechumen classes and faith-sharing gatherings continue as well as aftercare for the newly-baptised. We have a committed Chinese Pastoral Council and a Chinese choir. So we are well integrated into St Andrew’s Parish and the Archdiocese of Dublin.

I will be eternally grateful to God for this special mission to the Chinese here in Ireland. It seems like my Columban missionary call has come full circle and my faith has been truly enriched through this meaningful outreach to a great group of people here in Dublin.


FR JIM MULRONEY

carving out of wood with little artistic merit, yet adorned in robes of kingly magnificence, the Santo Niño is a source of religious myth and fable dating

back to the sowing of the first seeds of Christianity in Philippine soil just half a millennium ago.

Celebrated in festival and dance, the small statue of the kingly boy Jesus has become a symbol of the Christian faith opening its arms to embrace the disparate cultural and language groups that populate the Pearl of the Orient Seas and an expression of the bonds that connect the Christian people with their Muslim sisters and brothers.

Housed in Cebu behind tight security for the past 400 years of its turbulent existence in the Basilica Menor del Santo Niño, the Santo Niño has an annual outing through the streets of its hometown on the third Sunday of January.

In pre-COVID-19 times, the city played host to crowds from across the country jamming the thoroughfares to catch a glimpse and a blessing, as well as make merry in the conviviality of a major fiesta.

The festival honours the Santo Niño with the centuries-old dance known as the Sinulog. It is performed to a haunting drumbeat so foreign to the modern ear that keeping the rhythm of its one-step forward, half a step backwards challenges even the most dexterous of stalwarts.

Religious commentators say that people live somewhere between the dream of the Santo Niño and the reality of the crucifixion. Filipino, Sister Aida Casambre, puts it this way, “At times we identify with the Santo Niño when we express the joy of the child within us and at other times we face the hard realities and become closer to the crucifixion.”

However, while the dance may be soaked in tradition, the statue’s fame peppered with earnest supplication and drenched with care and respect, the popularity of its annual celebration is relatively new.

Seized upon in the 1980s by the then-minister for Sports and Youth Development, David S. Odilao Jr., it was slated as a good expression of Cebu’s cultural history. Odilao gathered a group of young people to dance the Sinulog around the basilica.

However, while sport and culture may have their own benefits, the then-mayor, Florentino S. Solon, saw financial opportunity as well and his eye for the dollar has given the up-until-then exclusively religious ritual a new life as a high rolling tourist attraction.

AOf such legends are made

Displaying a replica of the Santo Niño in preparation for dancing the part of Queen Juana at the festival.


PHILIPPINES

As the boy Jesus clothed like a king, the Santo Niño stands as a symbol of the transition from the religion of the natural world to Christianity. Shrouded in myth and fable, historians mostly believe it was presented by the Portuguese explorer sailing under the flag of Spain in 1521, Ferdinand Magellan, to Hara Amihan, later known as Queen Juana, consort to Cebu’s raja, Humabon, as a baptismal gift.

Magellan’s records suggest that about 800 people received the sacrament of baptism between his arrival on April 7 and his death three weeks later, which resulted from an altercation with the raja of Mactan, Lapu-lapu, on April 27.

The remnants of Magellan’s crew managed to get back to Spain, but it was another 44 years before the Spanish returned to Philippine shores. A contingent of conquistadors, akin to pirates in government uniform, arrived on 28 April 1565 under the command of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi.

In the marauders’ usual friendly manner, they sprayed the village with cannon fire from their ships and later one of them, Juan Camus, discovered the statue of the Santo Niño stacked in a box along with several other idols when searching the smouldering ruins.

Historians claim that during the intervening 44 years the people continued to dance their traditional Sinulog, no longer in honour of their former idols, but in recognition of the Santo Niño.

The statue was ultimately enshrined in the church of San Augustin, later renamed in honour of the religious relic.

Popular mythology illustrates the determination of the Filipino people to claim the Santo Niño as their own. It is said that on two occasions it was shipped to Spain as a present for the king. However, when the box was opened in Madrid, it had miraculously fled and reappeared in its home in Cebu.

Another attempt was made to present it to the pope, this time under lock and key, but once again, it hot-footed back and was safely ensconced in its rightful home when Vatican officials received the package.

In order to curtail its movements, a frustrated priest cut off the statue’s foot, and some say that is why, to this day, the Santo Niño looks a bit lop-sided!

Other legends attribute the statue’s existence to a deal done with Chinese traders by Spanish Franciscans, but a more attractive one claims that a log of wood was fished Columban Fr Jim Mulroney resides in Essendon.

out of the water by a hapless fisherman. Locals discovered that the log could dispel birds ravaging their crops, make it rain and increase fishing hauls, so they carved it into the Santo Niño.

Such stories notwithstanding, today the Sinulog is danced in churches as a symbol of religious linkage and heritage. Those privileged to carry a replica of the statue in procession often dress as a Muslim woman to illustrate the interreligious relationship between Christianity and Islam.

“In Cebu,” they explain, “we are Christians and Muslims working together to live in harmony. The Santo Niño is an expression of this.”

Preparing to dance the Sinulog at a festival to honour the Santo Niño.

Photos: Fr Jim Mulroney SSC


I left Peru in a wheelchair

left Peru in a wheelchair arranged by my solicitous Columban brothers to ensure that this post-op, half-blind exile would reach his assigned destination.

So, I rode the chair in Lima, Los Angeles and Sydney airports and was safely delivered into the bus destined for the Radisson Hotel and 14 days of very peaceful quarantine.

It is not the leaving of Lima that grieves me, but the leaving of a sad and sorry Lima that is now fit for a wheelchair.

I arrived in Peru early in 1972 in the middle of the reformist military dictatorship of Juan Velazco.

Being military, it was repressive and, being reformist, gave some hope for at least the first few years. People had dignity and rights for the first time.

Then came the 20 years of terror, destruction and death, thanks to the ideology and pretentions of the brutal Shining Path. Seventy thousand were killed and millions were displaced. The people lived in constant fear.

The next wave was one of corruption, lies and betrayal, in favour of big business and against small business and people on the margins. The fat cats got fatter and the quality of life for the vast majority worsened - working longer hours, with no rights and no security.

Into that scene rode COVID-19 on March 16 last year. Now a year on and 110,000 deaths later (more than in the War of the Pacific or under the Shining Path) and the scene has not improved.

There is still no oxygen because of a monopoly and more victims are dying in the corridors waiting for access to ICU than those dying in ICU.

There is a new fully equipped hospital lying idle because the paperwork has not been completed.

The vaccine has been delayed while the politicians prioritize personal power over public health.

There has been one bonus in the year and expectations that a population that is 80% informally employed can observe lockdown and this lack of realism is to preserve the country’s reserves.

Peru is at war! The authorities either don’t know or don’t want to know. They certainly have not declared it, for all the rhetoric. They are too busy promoting their political futures in an absurd electoral campaign.

It is Peru in a wheelchair, and that is the wonderful Peru I left behind after 49 years of love and laughter, dust, sweat and tears.

I left with a very heavy heart.

These beautiful people deserve and need something much much better.

They are in their dark night, and I fear only God can lead them out.

I

In March, Columban Fr John Hegerty returned home with a heavy heart to Australia after 49 years in Peru.

Columban Fr John Hegerty has newly retired to Australia after 49 years in Peru.

Into that scene rode Covid 19 on March 16 last year. Now a year on and 110,000 deaths later (more that in the War of the Pacific or under the Shining Path) and the scene has not improved.


PERUFR JOHN HEGERTY

Photo: Joel Salvador/shutterstock.com

Mission WorldWe ask your prayers: The prayers of our readers are requested for the repose of the souls of friends and benefactors of the Missionary Society of St Columban who died recently and for the spiritual and the temporal welfare of all our readers, their families and friends.


Photo: iStock.com/RoyFW

ylam

Linda Bordoni, Vatican News, www.vaticannews.va, March 21, 2021

Mission Intention for MayLet us pray that those in charge of finance will work with governments to regulate the financial sphere and protect citizens from its dangers.

Pope Francis calls for clean drinking water and sanitation for all

ope Francis called for clean drinking water and sanitation for all on Sunday, remarking on how clean water is something “too many of our brothers and

sisters do not have access to.”

Speaking after the Angelus prayer, the Pope looked ahead to the annual observance of World Water Day marked each year on March 22.

“World Water Day invites us to reflect on the value of this wonderful and irreplaceable gift of God. For us believers ‘sister’ water is not a commodity: it is a universal symbol and a source of life and health" he said.

Highlighting the fact that so many people across the world have little access to water, which is, perhaps, even polluted, the Pope said: “It is necessary to ensure drinking water and sanitation for all.”

A call to actionThe Pope went on to thank and encourage those who through their different professional capacities and responsibilities “work for this very important purpose.”

He highlighted the example of Argentina’s University Institute for Water and Sanitation, located in The Palace of Water in Buenos Aires that aims to be a significant player in Water and Sanitation education in the country and the region.

“I think of those,” the Pope continued, “who work to carry this work forward” and raise awareness regarding the importance of water: “Thank you very much to you Argentines who work in this Water University!”

P

Photo: Indian women carrying water, Alberto Buscató Vázquez (September 10, 2018, India), CC BY-SA 4.0

Pope Francis reflects on World Water Day celebrated each year on March 22, saying it is an occasion for reflection and a call to action as many, across the globe, do not have access to clean water and sanitation.

World Water Day 2021

World Water Day this year celebrates water and raises awareness of the global water crisis. A core focus of the observance is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.

The theme of World Water Day 2021 is valuing water: “The value of water is about much more than its price – water has enormous and complex value for our households, food, culture, health, education, economics and the integrity of our natural environment. If we overlook any of these values, we risk mismanaging this finite, irreplaceable resource. SDG 6 is to ensure water and sanitation for all. Without a comprehensive understanding of water’s true, multi-dimensional value, we will be unable to safeguard this critical resource for the benefit of everyone.”


The significance of the liturgical seasonsFrom the Director

Fr Trevor Trotter Regional Director of Oceania

[email protected]

he liturgical year is a picture of our lives. Most of the time we do not have anything special happening. Our lives being quite ordinary. This liturgical year, we have

33 weeks of Ordinary Time. The readings and the prayers of those Sundays and the weekdays have much for us to absorb and reflect upon. They help us to understand what it means to live an ordinary life. We get insights into the wonder of being an ordinary person living an ordinary life.

At this time of the year, we are in the midst of a busy liturgical season. We have had Lent, Holy Week and Easter. The next stop is Pentecost before we get back to Ordinary Time again. The question I am asking myself is, “What is the liturgical year telling me about my life by having Easter and Pentecost?” What aspects of my life do these feasts represent? Where are the Easter moments or the Pentecost moments of my life?

If we go to the readings and the prayers of these two important seasons, we can learn a lot about our lives. We start to wake up to some of the wonder in our lives. We become more aware of God’s action in our lives, in our world.

On Easter Sunday we read the story of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. He appeared to many but there was something different about him. Not everyone recognised him straight away. Maybe we are like the disciples in that we do not recognise the Risen Jesus in our lives either.

Every year when Easter comes around, we are celebrating not only the Resurrection of Jesus but also the fact that each of our bodies will also rise from the dead. We will have the same bodies as we have now, but they will be risen bodies, or as St Paul calls them, “spiritual bodies”.

The next step is to remember that our bodies are connected to the whole universe. We need the rest of the universe for light, energy, food, breath, interaction with others by speech, music, etc. We are not going to lose all these connections by moving into death and resurrection. I have no idea how this happens, but it is connected to the fact that the whole of the universe will also be transformed by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

God created the universe and continues to create it. It seems strange that annihilation would be the end of the story for the universe created out of love. Everlasting life is for all life.

T This is the big story about resurrection. What about the more mundane experiences of resurrection? When do I see or feel the power of resurrection working in my own life, or my community? Healing is a good example of resurrection. When our bodies or our psyches are under stress or have been wounded, where does the power come from that brings us back to health? It is that same power that raised Jesus from the dead. It is the Holy Spirit.

Now we are dealing with Pentecost. Individually and collectively, we are often gifted by the Spirit of God. There may not be tongues of fire or a big rush of wind. But often we have this sense that we need to stop and stand in wonder. We want to stop and look at the sunset, at the baby who is asleep in the pram, or our hearts reach out in compassion to the suffering of the world. In those moments we are being touched by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is very busy.

Sometimes we find ourselves in conversations where there is a lot of energy. We are very enthusiastic and excited which may be unusual for us. Often this can be a sign of the working of the Spirit in our lives. These are Pentecost moments. There may not be tongues of fire, but we can be “fired up” about something. It is good to reflect and pray about such experiences. Let us ask ourselves, “Is God trying to lead me, trying to nudge me into something new and life-giving?”

When we look at these Resurrection or Pentecost moments, we start to see that our ordinary lives are not so ordinary after all. These liturgical seasons help us become more aware of our loving God drawing all of us into a fuller life.


From COVID Philippines to COVID Brexit Ireland

orn and reared in Ireland, at 26 years of age and armed with the Church’s social teaching and the documents of Vatican II, I enthusiastically said my

good-byes as I left the Ireland I loved in 1966. I expected that I would be blessed with fraternal support from my fellow Columban Missionaries and hoped that I would enjoy a warm welcome from the Filipino people. I certainly received both.

My mother, like many young Irish at that time, emigrated to Canada, fulfilled her year’s contract and moved south to New York and worked there for another five years before deciding to come home and get married to an Irish neighbour. They reared us seven children on a small farm where hard work, frugality and love nourished our family lives.

My experience there increased my sensitivity to hungry and impoverished farmworkers in the sugarcane fields of Negros, Philippines. A three-year survey in Kabankalan showed that more than 50% of all funerals were of children who did not live until their third birthday.

Half a century after I arrived in the Philippines - 54 years in fact - I met with our Superior General, Fr Tim Mulroy, on his visitation to Malate, just as the alarms were going off that COVID had entered the Philippines. He listened carefully as I shared my story: I have enjoyed my life as a missionary, frequently faced with challenges beyond my capability, but helped along by my companions and fellow believers to trust the Lord and see God’s hand and fingerprints in everything. “We belong to Christ, not to ourselves” - is St Columbans wonderful summary.

I had 22 years of ministry in Negros, followed by six years in Manila developing Columban Lay Mission in and out of the Philippines. This was followed by another 25 years of ministry in Malate Parish. I will be 80 years old in May. I had three close encounters with death: neurosurgery in Dublin in 1988, a heart attack in Manila where two stents were inserted in 2008 and a blocked stent when in San Francisco in 2012.

B

“Home is where you are understood," says the prophet, and we missionaries claim to have at least two homes: one in our country of birth, and another in our country (or countries) of adoption.

I have enjoyed ministry. People have inspired me and God has positioned and empowered me to share the joy of the Gospel with many others. My family have been extraordinarily close too, and supportive of God’s mission which is my mission and Columban Mission. I am thankful that we Columbans have been given the time and the encouragement to avail of sustained ongoing formation. I regularly availed of these to keep in touch with a rapidly changing world.

I am asking for time to be with my sister and my five brothers. I would like to get to know them and their families better. I want to thank them for their support and for regularly sharing their blessings with those most in need.

While the internet has revolutionized communication between us all, most people live anxiously, fearing that COVID will gain entry to their homes and families. The vaccines are becoming available and I hope to be a recipient very soon. And, if I continue to have reasonable health and energy to assist with Columban priorities in Ireland, then of course I am willing to do what I can.

I lived under lockdown in Malate for five months, only going outside to visit the doctor. I enjoyed seeing Fr Leo Distor, our current Pastor, empowering communities in celebrating, sharing, caring, surviving – and providing for victims in coordination with the wider Church services. I saw that happening in Malate, and now, seven months in Ireland, I have seen similar outreach programmes happen in our parish in Tyrone.

We thank God for the many alternatives which are opening our eyes and challenging us to respond in new ways in today’s world. We have a variety of liturgies and sporting events giving us options online - audio and visual apps which allow us to see and hear each other and interact with our families and friends despite COVID at little or no cost. We can make time for solitude and contemplation, time for more prayer, time for admiring creation and indeed the beauty of God’s creation, the biodiversity, the interconnectedness of all living beings. Keeping distance

The Far East - June 2020 19

IRELANDFR MICHAEL MARTIN

and wearing masks are absolute demands for us who see life as God’s gift and who claim to be Christians, disciples of Jesus.

Pain is part of life. Filipinos have integrated this into their worship and prayer. The Nazareno is the dead Christ. The Dolorosa is the Sorrowing Mother. Leaving the Philippines with little time or opportunity to say goodbye was indeed painful for me as it has been for many missionaries.

Irish families generally have a sense of belonging, similar to Filipinos: “Where do you come from?” is a common greeting in both lands. And, migration of people is for both, pain and pleasure. There is little need to emphasise whether or faith or family or relatives overseas or heavenly blessings. These are all part of the baggage (and heritage) we bring with us from both countries!

I realize that I have had a lifetime of immersion in Philippine life and the people's struggle for survival and freedom while my knowledge and appreciation of modern Irish personalities in the social and political arena would be quite superficial. The Philippines truly became my second home, my country of adoption. If we Irish excel in celebrating death (and funerals), Filipinos are brilliant in celebrating life (and birthdays). I miss them! At least I can pray for the health and the opportunity to visit again post COVID.

I have watched many Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) games online and on TV since my arrival in August. I enjoy visiting Dalgan where I had spent time recovering from illnesses. I feel close to many who had retired after a lifetime on mission. I gradually settled and am getting to know TG4 (an Irish TV channel) and its excellent commentaries on our country and culture, our history and heritage, our families, fears and friends.

Filipinos taught me a few of their languages and basic greetings. I wish I knew more Irish! Maybe I can learn a little more. Being mostly with family members helps me learn about them, their commitments, their work, lives, and livelihoods.

While dealing with frost and snow in the hills is a small issue that can be important and sometimes urgent, we know that Brexit and a border down the Irish Sea are becoming bigger issues. Finally, big these issues may be for us all right now, 11,000 scientists worldwide have warned us that catastrophic environmental deterioration is infinitely more threatening to civilisation than are the combined issues from Trumpism, Brexit and COVID-19 - a truly daunting challenge as to what we must try to do, both as individuals and collectively, to find the most effective way to catalyse action.

Columban Fr Michael Martin served in Columban parishes in Negros and Manila for over 50 years. He now resides in Ireland.

Fr Mickey Martin

The Philippines truly became my second home, my country of adoption. If we Irish excel in celebrating death (and funerals), Filipinos are brilliant in celebrating life (and birthdays).

PHILIPPINES

Photo: Fr Michael Martin SSC


With gratitude to the Columbans

was baptised in the parish of Haksong-dong in Wonju City, Korea, at Christmas 1971. The following year I met Columban Fr Noel Daly. He had produced a catechetical

programme that was used for Sunday school children in many parishes in the Diocese of Wonju. He created separate lesson plans for each of the six grades, developing a curriculum for all six levels. Using a steel nib, he wrote each lesson on a stencil and then used a simple mimeograph to make thousands of copies one at a time. At the end of the year, he bound them into books for each grade. I regularly witnessed him beavering away late into the night to complete this task.

I

"When I was experiencing major difficulties in my life, I was greatly consoled and encouraged to keep going by several Columban priests. As I recall my meetings with those priests, many memories come back to me and I want to convey my gratitude to you."

Kim Chong-hwan with his family and Columban Fr Noel Daly on his 70th birthday.

By the time he returned to his native Ireland in 1984, Fr Noel had not only created these catechetical textbooks, he had also been involved in activities aimed at bringing about democracy in Korea. At a time of political upheaval, he helped students who were in hiding and experiencing difficulties. He was harassed by police and kept under surveillance.

I met Columban Fr Peter Kelly in 1973. While he was mostly involved in counselling students and teaching English, I can also recall how he helped struggling people dealing with the after-effects of flooding in remote villages all over the province of Kangwon.

Photo: St Columbans Mission Society


KOREAKIM CHONG-HWAN

Kim Chong-hwan (Ignatius), a member of the Columban Supporters' Group, was the president of the Melbourne Korean church but now resides in Sydney. Translated by Noel Mackey, a former Columban and a resident of Seoul, Korea.

After I graduated from University I met Columban Fr Sean Conneely when I was working in Seoul. He spoke in the Cholla dialect having served as a parish priest on the island of Heuksan. Being a warm-hearted person with a wonderful sense of humour, he counselled hundreds of high school and university students at the Columban Student Centre in Wangshipri, Seoul. He was always willing to listen to students' worries and helped them to find new confidence.

In the 70s and 80s university student activities were severely restricted as the police were watching their every move. Fr Conneely provided a safe haven where students could discuss the burning issues of the day and overcome their difficulties. He was totally committed to them and their dreams.

In April 1984, I arrived in Australia as an overseas student on a Government visa. I attended Mass at the Concord Church in Sydney where the Korean Catholic community gathered. There I renewed my acquaintance with Fr Peter Kelly. He celebrated Mass in the Korean language and provided the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Back in his own country, he continued to work hard serving the Korean community. On one occasion he explained that he was allotted a restricted amount of time by the parish to devote to celebrating Mass and hearing confessions for the Korean community. "There is an out-station not very far away. I could celebrate Mass there and I think that would be a better place for us to meet," he suggested.

The out-station Fr Peter prepared for us would later become what is the present-day parish of Korean Catholics in Sydney, having developed enormously in the meantime. Columban Fr James Duggan who retired back to Sydney from Korea, has also helped out in this parish many times and often celebrated the Sunday Mass in English for the youth and students there.

After living for some time in Sydney I moved to Melbourne because of work commitments. The area I was living in was a long distance from the parish church and due to my limited language abilities, it was proving difficult for me to receive the Sacrament of Confession. But the Columban priests in Melbourne heard of my situation and invited

me to go to their chapel where they celebrated Mass and the Sacraments in the Korean language. I am very grateful to all of these Columban Missionary priests including Frs Raymond Scanlon, Frank Ferrie, Paul Carey and Michael Gormly.

All of these priests had been appointed to the distant country of Korea as soon as they had been ordained. They spent much of their youth working hard on mission in Korea. After their return to Australia, despite having lots of work to do in their native country, they generously gave of their time to the Korean community, providing it with Mass and the Sacraments and never tired of doing so. I thank these Columban priests who consoled us migrants when we were feeling homesick and struggling with life and work or study in a strange culture. I thank them for making it possible for us to continue to gather as Korean Catholic communities and pray and develop our life of faith.

Dearly beloved Columban Fathers, I wish you good health and long life. I pray for you all.

I thank these Columban priests who consoled us migrants when we were feeling homesick and struggling with life and work or study in a strange culture.

In the 70s and 80s university student activities were severely restricted as the police were watching their every move. Fr Conneely provided a safe haven where students could discuss the burning issues of the day and overcome their difficulties. He was totally committed to them and their dreams.

rom time to time, priests in rural parts of Fiji are asked to officiate at funerals when the catechist makes a special request or when the priest finds himself free

to attend. This was the case on a sunny Friday morning in July when I accepted Catechist Epeli’s request to come to Toge village to celebrate the resurrection Mass for Mr Elia Niulele, a quiet, hardworking and very faithful member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish community there.

While serving in Ba 16 years ago, I remember Elia as a very steady, unassuming man, but more particularly his brother, Vakavuvuli (Catechist) Rafaele of nearby Balevuto, who was the life and soul of every party and who sadly passed away five years ago.

It would have been improper for me as celebrant to take too many photos, but I couldn't resist taking some, particularly of the women cooking and our long walk to a grove of trees where we laid Elia to rest. I was astounded by the colours and sounds.


Funerals in Fiji FR PAT COLGAN

F

The communal nature of funerals in Fiji reminds Columban Fr Pat Colgan of how funerals used to be in Ireland. Here he writes about the burial of a member of the parish community in Toge village.

I heard from my parents that it used to be like that in Ireland when all the community would walk, dig and fill the grave together. It is certainly still the case in Fiji. While the women are unrestrained in tears, it is less common for Fijian men. So, when a nephew of Elia, married and working in Nadi, wailed and sobbed heartfeltly at the graveside, I could hardly hold myself back.

Fijian funerals are communal, expensive, exhausting but ultimately healing and I found myself thanking God - even while standing in the hot sun while the grave-digging proceeded - for the privilege of being with these people in their hour of loss and their many occasions of joy and festival.

At the time of writing, Fiji has miraculously avoided a single case of community transmission of COVID-19. God forbid it were ever to happen, given the very dilapidated state of our medical system, but also the communal nature of eating, drinking, funerals and Mass-going here, where

Digging and preparing the ground for burial.

FIJI

Remember the Columbans in your Will

“Do what you can” Bishop Edward J Galvin

Your Columban Legacy

AUSTRALIA: PH: (03) 9375 9475 E: [email protected] www.columban.org.au NZ: PH: (04) 567 7216 E: [email protected] www.columban.org.nz

FORM OF WILL

“I give and bequeath the sum of $.............. to the Columban Leader of Australia (NZ Wills: Columban Leader of New Zealand) of St Columbans Mission Society to be used for that Society’s general purposes as the Columban Leader of Australia (NZ Wills: Columban Leader of New Zealand) sees fit.

We cannot take our earthly possessions with us, but we can so dispose of them that our good works will continue after we are gone.

By leaving a gift to Columban Missionaries in your Will you become a partner in our work and you are leaving a lasting legacy for the future.

Why not speak to your lawyer about it?

YOUR COLUMBAN LEGACY Will information requestAustralia: PO Box 752 Niddrie Victoria Australia 3042

New Zealand: PO Box 30-017 Lower Hutt New Zealand 5040

Please fill in your details below if you would like to receive further information about Your Columban Legacy:

Title: First Name: Last Name:

Address:

Suburb: State: P/Code: Country:

Phone:

TFEB

EQM

AY21

www.columban.org.au

Email:

www.columban.org.nz

Columban Fr Patrick Colgan is the Parish Priest of Christ the King Parish - Ba.

plates, cups, chalices, bowls, cigarettes, etc are shared and handed around freely. We have had ‘border cases’ of Fijians returning home bringing the virus with them, but they have been intercepted at the airport, which remains largely closed.

It has decimated the tourism industry (40% of GDP) and occasioned tens of thousands of job losses, in a country where there is no furloughing or compensation, and where the government has been depleting the pension scheme as a form of short-term aid.

May Elia, and indeed the many who have passed on in our world in these tragic months, rest in peace.

Photos: Fr Pat Colgan SSC

Fijian mats cover the coffin.

www.columban.org.au/shop

SHOP ONLINEAustralia Britain Chile China Fiji Ireland Japan Korea Myanmar New Zealand Pakistan Peru Philippines Taiwan United States

www.columban.org.au www.columban.org.nz/shop

AUSTRALIA return coupon to: St Columbans Mission Society, PO Box 752, Niddrie VIC 3042 E: [email protected]

NEW ZEALAND return coupon to: St Columbans Mission Society, PO Box 30-017, Lower Hutt 5040 E: [email protected]

[email protected]

TFEMAY21DONATE and SUBSCRIBE securely online at: www.columban.org.au www.columban.org.nz

Thank you for supporting COLUMBAN MISSION $

$My gift to the Columbans:

$40 $70 $120 $240 Other $______

The Far East Subscription ($15.00 per year)

I wish to donate on a REGULAR BASISMONTHLY QUARTERLY

$

Total Amount Enclosed

AUS 2022 Columban Calendar (*$13.00 inc. GST & postage) Additional calendar *$10.00 each - AUS ONLY $

QTY

$

NZ 2022 Columban Calendar (*$16.00 inc. postage & handling) Additional calendar *$13.00 each - NZ ONLY $

Please send me information on Columban legacy I have included the Columbans in my Will

Your Columban legacy:I send my gift by: Cheque Credit card

Card holder name:

Expiry date: Signature:/

Credit card number:

An acknowledgement will be sent by email.

Email:

PLEASE FILL IN YOUR DETAILS BELOW:

ID: Title:

First Name:

Last Name:

Address:

Suburb: State: P/Code:

Mobile:

AUSTRALIA: www.columban.org.au/donationsDONATE ONLINE

NEW ZEALAND: www.columban.org.nz/donations

www.columban.org.nz

www.PayPal.Me/StColumban3040

PRE-ORDER

The Far East - St Columbans Mission Society

Documents

Transcript of The Far East - St Columbans Mission Society