On Being Comforted
"Where do you find comfort", you asked,
and I found myself at a loss for an answer.
I am accustomed to comforting others
and now, when I need comforting,
where do I find it?
Merry Christmas!
May you and your loved ones, experience the gift of “God with us,” as you share food, companionship and joy in celebration of His coming. May your New Year be filled with the blessings and peace of His presence.
Interfaith Keeps Us All Safer
When Columbans began working in the parish of Greentown, Lahore, Pakistan, in 2007, I tried to build up Christian-Muslim relations, for example hosting Iftar dinners during Ramadan. The local Catholics were largely resistant to these efforts, given the negativity they normally experience from Muslims, and Muslims, on their part, were usually disinterested and/or suspicious of such encounters. However, there were exceptions and we persevered. One was the local Police Superintendent who had addressed an interfaith meeting, and when suddenly, in 2014,
Let Them Guess
Columban Fr. Ed Quinn began the major work of building a new parish center in the bush at Vudibasoga. He has gone on holidays leaving Fr. Theo and myself holding the fort. Both of us are trying to improve our grasp of the Fijian language, and we have plenty of opportunity here. We take turns looking after Nabala and camping out at Vudibasoga. We say Mass there for the parishioners who are planting and building.
Columban Sisters' Christmas Letter Exerpt
We are united with you in heart and prayer during this very special time of year. This has truly begun as a very graced Advent for us in Myanmar. The coming of the Pope was a really joyful event and a time of celebration for all. It was very affirming for our small Catholic community in Myanmar. As one old woman said there have been 226 Popes but this is ...
Iftari
Ramadan is the Holy Month for Muslims. This takes place during the ninth lunar month of Ramadan. Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink from dawn till sunset. Last year this happened to be in the very hot summer days.
In Thanksgiving
"The joy of the Gospel is for all people: no one can be excluded" — Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium
Reconciliation in the Indian culture
My friend Prabhu Dass arrived at the Naleba church just as I finished my meager breakfast. "Father, Let's go to my uncle's house to persuade the old man to come to a funeral in Lagalaga today."
Ask, See, Knock
In January 2015 I began a new ministry in Payatas, the Philippines, known as the second Smokey mountain. I am assigned with Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) center for special children. In the center, the physical therapy and learning program are offered to the children three times a week.
The Migrants that Seek a Welcome
Let us look at ourselves as human beings with dignity, values, and inalienable human rights. We are persons not like the animals that see enemies and rivals all around them in the wild and they fight and kill for food and survival.
The Angelus Bell
I am half way through my two months stay in Nacemaki Village after my course in the Fijian language. The villagers are very welcoming and friendly. I eat with different families every day. I swim, go to the gardens occasionally, and I have visited the koro makawa (earlier site of the village). Best of all, I have the opportunity to say Mass in Fijian every evening and to preach at Mass on Sundays.
My Ocean
I am flying like a bird across the ocean
Sometimes I feel debilitated and depressed
I am trying and flying with my wings
Fighting the worst weather
I have to cross that ocean to be alive
I still have hope
Though I have difficulties
Serving People on the Edge of Life
About 18 months ago, after leaving the parish of St. Catherine’s, I felt called to go and explore opportunities of volunteering with groups which are responding to the various needs of the communities in Birmingham, England, and in particular in the Saltley, Alum Rock area of East Birmingham.
Beware of Hot Curry after Strong Yaqona*
Last night Fr. Theo and I decided to visit separate Indo-Fijian families in the same settlement about five miles from town. We borrowed the parish van. I dropped him off at the family which was hosting the mandali (prayer meeting), promising to pick him up later that night. I drove about a mile further and climbed a steep winding lane to a house on a hill top. Here a Catholic woman lived as one of two wives of a Hindu man. Her brother had appealed to me to visit them. This was my first visit.
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.