Going on Mission
In February 2020 some eighteen priests and Sisters participated in the Mission Education Program for Korean missionaries going overseas at our Center House in Seoul. It was directed by Columban Fr. Thomas Nam Seungwon and the staff at our Mission Center in Seoul.
Thankfulness, Gratefulness, Praise
A while ago I was feeling discouraged and someone reminded me that “a hundred-yard dash is not over at the 99th yard.” In other words, “don’t give up too early.” It was good advice. Now we all find ourselves heading into the last few weeks of 2020, but we should not just resign ourselves to coasting till the end of the year. Turning this strange year into a successful year means discovering the Lord’s will in the circumstances we find ourselves in each day.
Earlier this year one of my friends quipped that “the most useless purchase he ever made was a 2020 planner.” Indeed, the “at a glance planning calendar” on the wall in my office is full of crossed out commitments and dotted all over with appointments that never happened. It tells quite a story. Who could even have imagined on the first of January that we were headed for a shut-down of so much of the economy and of so many aspects of our personal lives? Who would have
Wisdom of Heart
During my vacation back home in Ireland, much of my time is spent visiting family members, neighbors and friends in the countryside.
Keeping Ancient Traditions Alive
In the Gospel of Matthew 13:52 Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as being like a householder who brings forth treasures new and old from his storeroom.
Experiencing Myanmar
It is part of our daily morning exercise routine for myself and my fellow lay missionary, Lenette Toledo, to pass by the busiest market in Bhamo. Bhamo is a city in the Kachin State in the northernmost part of Myanmar (formerly Burma).
A Dentist Is Called to Priesthood
Sharing my vocation story stirs up mixed feelings within me. On the one hand I think of a vocation as something personal and sacred, but I remember that such stories shared by priests, the religious, and lay people have helped me throughout my faith journey.
A Life for Andrea
“Hope springs eternal” goes the phrase, even in the saddest of situations, and surely none can be sadder than the case of young Andrea Alvarez.
A Heart for the Poor
There are many days when I am at home in the tribal villages in Sindh, Pakistan.
The Sunshine of the Missionary
Our mission partners and benefactors are very essential in the day-to-day life of the missionaries. They play a significant role in helping the Society proclaim the good news to the marginalized and the poor in the form of prayer, financial support or words of encouragement.
Journey to Recovery
Every Saturday afternoon, Fr. Paul drove off faithfully in the car by himself. For several years, all I knew was that he was heading to a Gamblers Anonymous meeting somewhere in the local area. There was nothing more that he said, or that I said, about this weekly outing.
Adopted at 70
It is almost impossible to describe the appreciation and love that Catholic Kachins in Myanmar have for Columban missionaries, and at times, it can be almost embarrassing.
Sailing on the Ocean of LIfe
Myanmar is far behind in terms of education, compared to other countries, having been shut off from the outside world for 50 years by the military junta. Now, they are struggling to catch up with the rest of the world. I feel that the education system here can be so oppressive.
How Life Has Changed
I had just arrived in the Philippines shortly after ordination. It was 1973 and something unprecedented was happening back home in Ireland. Limerick had made it to the all Ireland hurling final!
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.