Snoring and Lending Money
I have been attending a training of trainers at the Methodist Conference Center. I was unhappy with the sleeping arrangements. I had hoped to have a private room because previous companions have told me that I snore.
My Wonderful Missionary Journey in Ireland
My missionary journey in Ireland was the highlight of my entire career and my greatest accomplishment in life. Giving up a good and secured career to be a Columban Lay Missionary to cross boundaries of culture, race and creed was the most excellent decision I had ever made.
Parish Priest for the Day
The parish church of Jimenez is considered a national heritage building one of only two from Mindanao, the Philippines, the other is in Jasaan (next stop). It is said to be the best preserved heritage church in Mindanao. This unique church (so much different compared to the typical Spanish era churches in the rest of the country) is listed as one of 26 colonial churches considered as National Cultural Treasure and one of two from Mindanao (the other is in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental). Constructed by the Augustinian Recollects in the second half of the 19th century. It’s patron is St. John the Baptist and the parish is part of the Archdiocese of Ozamiz.
My Journey in Korea
My journey in Korea as a Columban Lay Missionary can be compared with my first experience of the FOUR SEASONS – Spring, Summer, fall, and winter. It was April 2007 when we arrived in Korea. It was really a sudden change of climate for us, having come from a tropical country. Although the coldness was around us, we were warmly welcomed by our Columban family here. We started immediately with our language study, awed at first at the big compound of Korea University. We had great enthusiasm for our Korean classes. The spring
The Sacred Cow
After spending over a year in India from February 1979 to March 1980 I began to understand the reverence that Hindus gave to the cow and the importance for them of not eating beef. In a densely populated country the cow was very important. It gave nourishing milk.
Children in Jail
We entered the so-called Bahay Pagasa, “House of Hope.” It turned out to be a children’s jail. We brought snacks and drinks to share with the young people in the cells. About twenty-five girls were crowded into one room.
Immigrant Spouses Journeying Towards Empowerment
The presence of immigrant spouses in Korea, together with the even larger population of immigrant laborers, has challenged the long-held homogeneous Korean society. With the recent rise in multi-cultural families, the government’s assistance program has helped foster acceptance of diversity and integrate multi-cultural families into the mainstream society.
They All Sound the Same!
I have been studying the Fijian language for almost 3 months now. It is great to have a chance now to learn the Fijian language and culture. It has been decided that I should spend Holy Week helping Fr. Seamus McMahon at Naililili.
Home-Based Palliative Nursing at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan
In Pakistan, terminally-ill patients are treated as sources of income by the medical profession and the hospital culture. Their illness is not relieved, and the financial situation of their families is wrecked as they seek a cure or pain relief.
Reflections on the Journey
As a Columban lay missionary, I have been working and living in a community in Puente Alto near Santiago, Chile. I worked in a parish named after St. Andrew Kim, the first Korean saint. I lived in a house with two other lay missionaries, Kata from Fiji and Jenny from England.
They All Sound the Same!
I have been studying the Fijian language for almost three months now. It is great to have a chance now to learn the Fijian language and culture after spending three years working with the Hindi language and Indian culture. It has been decided that I should spend Holy Week helping a Marist priest, F. Seamus McMahon, at Naililili Parish.
A Parable from the East
Once upon a time a young prince has an extensive and beautiful garden. Above all he loved “Bamboo’’ in his grove and used to visit him frequently. Bamboo reveled in his master’s attention. A slight breeze would come and bamboo would gracefully sway with sheer joy. The prince would experience peace of heart when he saw Bamboo’s graceful dance.
In the Light of the Gospel
I suppose what really attracted me to become an associate with the Society of St. Columban as a lay volunteer was conviction and commitment to the same message that Jesus had started 2,000 years ago, to the same vision of Jesus in building the kingdom. It is not building the kingdom for the Columbans, but the Columbans building the kingdom for Jesus. Being a disciple and apostle of Jesus one has to take a definite position on for whom, what and why we exist as missionaries.
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.