MISSION News & Views

Autumn 2016

In this issueMid-Year Appeal 2016

Cyclone Winston had no mercy

• Cyclone Winston had no mercy Fr Donal McIlraith

• Working remotely The Far East Editor works away from the office.

• Columban Prayer Books ORDER Online

• Another Pilgrimage August 2017 ‘In the Footsteps of St Columban’ What some pilgrims said

• What an achievement!

• Order TODAY! - Booklet Reflections on mission Fr Noel Connolly

• War never again Anne Lanyon

Donate onlinewww.columban.org.au

Open our eyes - Pope FrancisIn the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis asks us to open our eyes and see the misery of the world. Recently, we have been confronted by the suffering of the people of Fiji who lost their lives, their homes and their livelihood. We thank God for the support of Columban benefactors.

Photo: © U

NICEF/U

N011244/Hing

Photo: AAP Image/Leca Vunibobo

Photo: AAP Image/Naziah Ali, Mai Life Magazine

On the 20th and 21st February, 2016 the Fiji Group of Islands was visited by Tropical Cyclone Winston - but it had no mercy on us whatsoever. It wreaked havoc throughout this little Island nation. The only Columban parish to be badly hit was Ba which is 106 kilometres North West of Suva. The three schools in the parish were extensively damaged. St Teresa School, Ba lost about five classrooms including the IT room and its computers. The presbytery lost most of its windows and louvers. The Parish hall was used as an evacuation centre and sheltered a number of families. Trees were uprooted all around the compound and one of them came down and crashed onto the roof of the Lay Missionary house which is also in the church compound. We thank Columban benefactors for their financial support and prayers during this very sad time. Fr Donal McIlraith, Regional Director, Fiji.

2 Mission News & Views

“I keep telling people how wonderfully well organised the tour was and the serenity and beauty of the people in the group made this pilgrimage a once in a lifetime experience.”

“We are certainly a group of joyful pilgrims. It’s the best pilgrimage we have ever participated in. We are still talking about it.”

“We would like to congratulate you all, including Fr Tommy for this memorable journey-good company, good food, good wine, and most of all to come to know St Columban’s spirituality and his work.”

“My best comment would have been the wonderful humour, kindness and compassion of our pilgrims and priests.”

What some pilgrims said....“I am heartened to see the love and spirit of St Columban and the Holy Spirit at work. I saw devoted people which has enlightened me and given me hope for our faith.”

“I have been a Chaplain on other pilgrimages but this was the best pilgrimage that I have been on. I am going home with a peaceful heart and a new song.”

“The last visit to the crypt in Bobbio is where I felt spiritual and peaceful in my heart. I didn’t expect that.”

“I came to find out more about St Columban. And the more I found out, the more I found out about myself. Leave it to God and trust Him”. “We feel we will never get over what a wonderful pilgrimage it was!”

Another Pilgrimage August 2017

Due to the popularity of the 2015 pilgrimage, In the Footsteps of St Columban, there will be a similar pilgrimage travelling through Europe in August 2017.

The itinerary will have minimal changes which will incorporate additional time in Ireland to learn more about St Columban and where he set out from.

As there will be some Mercy personnel travelling with us, there will be time allocated in Dublin to learn more about Catherine McAuley, the Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy.

Finalised itinerary and costs will be available in September. Limited spaces available.

BOOK NOW E: jmentha@columban.org.au Ph: (03) 9375 9475

Working remotely

Columban Prayer Books

The Far East Editor works away from the officeFr Dan Harding is living in the Archdiocese of Adelaide and wears many hats.

In 2015 Fr Dan Harding moved to Adelaide to promote Columban Mission and The Far East magazine in the Archdiocese of Adelaide. This role takes up most of his weekends.

With the co-operation of staff at the Columban Mission Centre in Essendon, Fr Dan manages to remotely produce 10 editions of The Far East magazine each year. As if he is not busy enough, last year Fr Dan set up the Adelaide Cathedral Parish Youth Group. He also says Mass at the Cathedral on a regular basis and has managed a three week trip back to his beloved Chile where he worked for 22 years.

In the Footsteps of St Columban

Pilgrims from the 2015 Pilgrimage, ‘In the Footsteps of St Columban’.

Beautifully photo-illustrated Prayer Books available for

purchase individually (see website for prices) OR in sets of four ($12.10) and eight ($22.00).

ORDER Online at:

www.columban.org.au

R

Lord, I need your healing touchPrayers in time of illness

Missionary Society of St Columban

What an achievement!

Mission News & Views 3

“To our St Christopher’s Community, thank you for your continued support of this amazing initiative. We are truly humbled by your generosity, compassion, care and kindness.”

“

Presentation assembly, St Christopher’s Primary School, Airport West.

Order TODAY!

PURCHASE ONLINE: www.columban.org.auPHONE: (03) 9375 9475 OR RETURN back coupon

On Friday, 18th March, at the school assembly, the staff and students from St Christopher’s Primary School, Airport West presented a cheque to Fr Gary Walker, Regional Director for Australia and New Zealand for $36,935.32. The funds were raised for their sister school in Lima, Peru, Manuel Duato, whose students have a range of complex issues including intellectual disabilities, hearing impairments and Down Syndrome.

Among other things, the funds help to provide occupational therapy which gives students a chance to participate in workshops that give them life skills for their adult years.

In the past St Christopher’s has raised enough to purchase a bus to transports the students to and from school. To date they have helped to raise over $100,000 – as they say “for the betterment of our family in Peru”.

Every couple of years, including during the Easter holidays this year, two teachers from St Christopher’s travelled to Peru to meet up with Columbans and teachers and students at Manuel Duato.

The following thanks was recently sent from the Manuel Duato School Community: “To our St Christopher’s Community, thank you for your continued support of this amazing initiative. We are truly humbled by your generosity, compassion, care and kindness.”

Jemma Mc Veigh (Left), Principal Adrian Glasby, Maria Tasevski and Fr Gary Walker (Right).

Columban News

War never again

My father was in World War II and his uncle died in World War I. Just thinking about the effects of violent war on the families today in war torn places like Syria makes me ache in empathy. We must insist, “War never again!” It is never the solution.

“To seek peace, deep peace rooted in justice, shalom – not a mere absence of war, but the fullness of life for all – that is the Christian vocation and way of life. As followers of the One who is Peace, who on the cross overcame the violence of our world and who then called for peace and modelled forgiveness, we are called to help move our broken and violated world toward the full flowering of the New Creation, repeating Jesus way of active, non-violent, persistent, risky, creative peacemaking.”

These words were the opening of the rationale for an international conference on Non-violence and Just Peace which was held in Rome on April 11-13 in this Year of Mercy. Catholic practitioners of non-violence and practical peacemaking from countries around the world, including places of current and recent wars gathered at this event, appropriate at this time after the grievous bombings in Brussels, the headquarters of Pax Christi International. The conference convened by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Pax Christi, was opened by Cardinal

Turkson. Its aim was to initiate a conversation about Catholic teaching on war and peace that rejects “just war” and engages in the spirituality and practice of non-violent peacemaking, lived and taught by Jesus. We ask you to pray that the outcomes of this conference will be positive.

Anne Lanyon, Coordinator for the Centre of Peace, Ecology and Justice Columban Mission Institute, North Sydney.

COLUMBAN MISSION CENTREPO Box 752 Niddrie Victoria Australia 3042

Email: info@columban.org.au Ph: (03) 9375 9475 Fax: (03) 9379 6040

Web: www.columban.org.au

St Columban became ‘A Wanderer for Christ’. One of his greatest sayings

summarises his life and his work, ‘Let us be of Christ not of ourselves’.

Support Columban MissionPO Box 752 Niddrie Victoria Australia 3042 info@columban.org.au

NAME ON CARD (PLEASE PRINT) SIGNATUREEXPIRY DATE

/

Please accept my: Credit Card (Fill in details below) Money Order Cheque

Please debit my VISA MASTERCARD

MNV

Aut

umn

2016

The Far East “SUBSCRIPTION” ($15 p.a.)

Gift to Columban Mission

MONTHLY I wish to help on a regular basis: QUARTERLY

TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED

$Please send........2017 Calendar @ $11.00 each (inc GST & postage)

Please send........Reflections on mission booklet @ $7.50 each (inc GST & postage) $

$

$

$

$

YOUR DETAILS:

Title: Name: Last name:

Street:

Suburb: P/Code:

Country: Mobile:

Email:

To seek peace, deep peace rooted in justice, shalom – not a mere absence of war, but the fullness of life for all – that is the Christian vocation and way of life...”

“

Photo: vladacanon/Bigstock.com