Keep on Walking Columban Covid outreach - ARCHBISHOP PAUL GRAWNG - Columban Missionaries
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MAGAZINE OF THE COLUMBAN MISSIONARIES
ARCHBISHOP
PAUL GRAWNG
Keep on THE PASCHAL
CANDLE
A Great Friend to
Walking Hope and the Promise
the Columbans Columban Covid outreach of Freedom
in Peru
CONTENTS
04 A Great Friend to the Columbans
Fr Neil Magill pays tribute to
Archbishop Paul Grawng of Mandalay,
a great friend to the Society and
successor of Columban Bishop John
06
Howe in Myitkyina.
Commodifying Hope
Fr Bobby Gilmore writes about the
desperation of trafficked people and
04 06
asks why are the destitute used to sow
fear and resentment by political leaders
promoting their own popularity.
08 Human Trafficking: A Scourge on
Humanity
Adults allow the sexual exploitation and
trafficking of children warns Fr Shay
Cullen as he reveals how the Preda
Foundation is trying to counter this
scourge.
10 Keep on Walking
Columban Fr Dylan Tabaco in Peru
tells Fr John Boles about his Covid-19
outreach to someone who walked
across half a continent in search of
work.
12 This Candle
The Paschal Candle symbolises the
risen Christ. Fr Tim Mulroy recalls a
particular candle with its own unique
story about prison and freedom, as well
as hope and promise.
14 Were You at the Rock?
Sr Victoire Ryan pays tribute to the
people who took huge risks to practise
their faith and pass it on to future
20
generations in Penal times.
16 The Martyrdom of Fr Tony Collier
Gabriel Kim’s sworn account of the
last days of Columban martyr Fr Tony
Collier, outlining the circumstances of
his death.
18 Sharing Food and Building
Friendships
08 10
Columban Lay missionary Kim Sun-
Hee Sunny considers how food can be
a means to learn and understand the
uniqueness of each other’s culture.
19 Obituaries
20 Reflection
21 Stories from the Bible
22 Children’s Section
23 Nature: Outstanding Octopuses
16 18
01
editorial
THE FAR EAST Reflecting
Published seven times
yearly by the Missionary on the
Society of St Columban
(Maynooth Mission to China). Pandemic
THE PURPOSE OF THE
FAR EAST IS
To promote an awareness
of the missionary
dimension of the Church
among readers; to report
on the work of Columban editorial
priests, Sisters and lay
L
missionaries; and to seek
spiritual and material ast October, Pope Francis published a expression in xenophobia and in contempt
support for missionaries. very important encyclical entitled Fratelli for the vulnerable. Digital connectivity is not
Tutti. Due to the focus on the Covid-19 enough to build bridges. It is not capable of
pandemic, the international media paid uniting humanity.”
relatively scant attention to it. One of the effects of the pandemic
In his encyclical, Pope Francis wrote, “It is my and its lockdowns is a greater degree of
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desire that, in this our time, by acknowledging silence which offers an invitation to prayer
Contact the Mission Office: the dignity of each human person, we can and reflection. St Patrick reminds us that
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contribute to the rebirth of a universal kidnapped as a youth by Irish pirates, he
Email: fareast@columbans.co.uk
aspiration to fraternity.” (Fratelli Tutti Article 8) found himself in an involuntary ‘lockdown’,
Editor Some early sections of the encyclical caring for sheep on the harsh slopes of
Sarah Mac Donald concern the pandemic and are well worth Slemish Mountain. The Saint wrote, “When
editorfareast@gmail.com
quoting. They include Article 32: “True, a I had come to Ireland, I tended herds every
Assistant Editor
Sr Abbie O’Sullivan
worldwide tragedy like the Covid-19 pandemic day and I used to pray many times during the
momentarily revives the sense that we are a day. More and more my love of God and my
Layout & Editorial Assistant global community, all in the same boat, where reverence for him began to increase. My faith
Breda Rogers
one person’s problems are the problems of all. grew stronger and my zeal so intense that in
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Stephen Awre
Once more we realised that no one is saved the course of a single day I would say as many
alone: we can only be saved together.” as a hundred prayers, and almost as many at
Original Design Elsewhere, Pope Francis writes in Article night.” (Patrick in His Own Words by Joseph
Gabriel German Carbone
ggcarbone@gmail.com 35: “If only this may prove not to be just Duffy, Veritas Publications, Dublin 1975)
Printers
another tragedy of history from which we May the experience of this pandemic help
Walstead Bicester, Oxfordshire learned nothing… If only we might rediscover us to realise, “… that our lives are interwoven
once and for all that we need one another, with and sustained by ordinary people
Columban Websites
News, reports, reflections etc. and that in this way our human family can valiantly shaping the decisive events of our
www.columbans.co.uk experience a rebirth, with all its faces, all its shared history: doctors, nurses, pharmacists,
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hands, and all its voices, beyond the wall that storekeepers and supermarket-workers,
Follow us we have created.” cleaning personnel, caretakers, transport
Twitter: @fareastmagazine We have been forced to rely more and workers, men and women working to
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fareastmagazine more on social media to communicate with provide essential services and public safety,
one another during the pandemic. Although volunteers, priests and religious…They
Missionary Society of
St Columban we are grateful that modern technology understood that nobody is saved alone.”
Widney Manor Road, Solihull, has provided us with this valuable means of (Fratelli Tutti Article 54) Like St Patrick, may
West Midlands, B93 9AB.
Tel: (01564) 772 096
keeping in contact with each other, we can we be helped by the silence and isolation to
see clearly that there is no substitute for face- grow in prayer and reflection. •
Columban Sisters to-face contact.
6/8 Ridgdale Street, Bow,
London E3 2TW. In Fratelli Tutti, the Pope also lists some Fr Cyril Lovett
Tel: (020) 8980 3017 of the problems of social media. “Digital
Front Cover relationships, which do not demand the slow Fr Cyril Lovett is the former editor of the Far
Columban missionary Fr Dylan Tabaco
at a local market in Lima, Peru during and gradual cultivation of friendships, stable East magazine and served on mission in the
the Covid-19 pandemic. Image: Juan
Diego Torres, Communications Officer
interaction, or the building of a consensus Philippines and Brazil.
for the Columbans in Peru. that matures over time, have the appearance
of sociability. Yet they do not really build 01. Pope Francis and Bartholomew I, Patriarch of
Constantinople, attend an inter-religious ceremony
community; instead they tend to disguise promoted by the St Egidio Community in Piazza del
and expand the very individualism that finds Campidoglio, Rome in October 2020. Image: Shutterstock.
1918 - 2021
OVER 100 YEARS OF PUBLICATION FAR EAST - MARCH/APRIL 2021 3
myanmar
A Great Friend
to the Columbans
I
n 1970, I was a theology student at our Bishop Howe's successor.” I was happily
Columban missionary Fr Columban seminary in Ireland and in surprised as it was the first time I had met
Neil Magill pays tribute the college we had a book shop. I was a bishop so simply dressed with no ring on
to Archbishop Paul one of the shop assistants. One afternoon his finger. We hit it off and enjoyed some
Grawng of Mandalay, Bishop John Howe came in and asked me great chats over the next three days.
a great friend to the to send some theology books every three When I returned to Ireland, we kept in
Society, who succeeded months to a Paul Grawng in Myitkyina. That contact and in 2003 he told me he was
Columban Bishop John was 50 years ago and that was the first transferred to Mandalay as Archbishop.
Howe as Bishop of time I heard the name of Fr Paul Grawng. I A few months later he emailed to say he
Myitkyina. had to wait another 32 years before I had was going to Rome to receive the pallium,
the privilege of meeting him. symbol of an archbishop’s authority, and
In 2002, I visited Myitkyina in Myanmar would like to stop over in Ireland. This
and on arriving at St Columban's was great news and he spent some time
Cathedral I met a man outside. I thought in Dalgan and met those Columbans
he was either a farmer or someone who still alive who had worked in Myitkyina,
had dropped in to say a prayer. He Frs Colm Murphy, David Wall, Paddy
was wearing slippers, grey Conneally and others.
trousers and a casual shirt. That weekend I was going to visit my
01
He approached with elderly parents in Derry and asked Bishop
outstretched hand Paul if he would like to come with me.
and a genuine smile. He jumped at the idea and stayed with
I introduced myself my parents for three days. He offered the
as a Columban and weekend Masses in my home parish and
he invited me in for spoke about the importance of the family,
coffee. He gave me something very dear to him. I took him to
a room and told me visit friends and he made a big impression
to stay as long as I on people.
wished. One 80-year-old lady gave him a
Over coffee he 30-minute talk on the ills and injustices in
mentioned several the world. Bishop Paul listened attentively
Columbans who and when she had finished told her,
worked in Kachin State “You should be the Prime Minister.” She
and told stories about was chuffed and took delight in telling
them. I wondered how her friends and neighbours what the
he knew so much about Archbishop thought of her. From then until
the Columbans and still, his death people around my home place
not knowing who he was, I would always ask me, “How is wee Bishop
innocently asked, “And Paul.”
what is your name?” Bishop Paul knew I was finishing my
He gave a gentle term on the Columban General Council
smile and said, in Ireland in 2006 and he invited me to
“I'm Bishop come to Mandalay to teach in the pre-
Paul, major seminary. In early 2007, I went to
Mandalay and my friendship with Bishop
Paul grew stronger. To be appointed as
Archbishop was a great honour but he
remained a simple shepherd.
Both of us were interested in
4
02
Fr Neil Magill was ordained
in 1973 and went on mission
to Taiwan where he founded
the New Life Workers’ Centre
(NLWC) helping workers get
to know their rights through
educational programmes. He
is now missioned in Myanmar
where he founded the Mandalay
Archdiocesan Higher Education
Centre which provides high
quality third level education to
students from disadvantaged
backgrounds. The aim is to help
them achieve their potential and
become leaders in both their civil
and church communities.
01. Archbishop Paul Grawng of
Mandalay. Image: Sarah Mac Donald
02. Collage of images from the
funeral and burial tomb of
Archbishop Paul Grawng.
03. Bishop Paul (second row, second
from left) with Fr Neil Magill
(second row, third from left)
with some of the students from
Mandalay Higher Education
Centre (HEC) students.
education and in young people so, after
a lot of planning, we started the Higher
Education Centre (HEC) in Mandalay. This
was not without difficulties and headaches
but we preserved and opened the HEC in
2010. It is a three-year residential course to
train teachers.
Bishop Paul very frequently came to the
HEC, offered Mass, chatted with the 150
03
students and on Sunday nights joined the
students for their social night of drama,
singing and disco dancing. He was always
out on the floor dancing to the great joy Our friend, Archbishop Paul Grawng
and amazement of the students. He would died on 24 October 2020; he was 81.
say “life begins at 75.” This meant so much Words which come to mind about this To make a comment on this article
go to:
to the students as Bishop Paul debunked great shepherd are: saintly, encourager,
the image of pomp and ceremony cheerful giver, prayerful, simple lifestyle facebook.com/fareastmagazine
associated with bishops. and patient. He loved everyone and had a
My greatest joy was in early 2017 when special place in his heart for the youth and @fareastmagazine
Bishop Paul asked me if we could give him believed in their potential. The Church,
a room at the HEC. We prepared a small Myanmar and all of us are much better
sitting room and bedroom for him and because of Bishop Paul. What a blessing
we were all happy that he was now a fully he was to all of us!
fledged HEC family member. He is always in our hearts. •
1918 - 2021
OVER 100 YEARS OF PUBLICATION FAR EAST - MARCH/APRIL 2021 5
01
Ireland
Hope
Commodifying
T
his is an extract from a letter written limits commerce are called “traffickers”.
Fr Bobby Gilmore writes in Jamaica by a young teenager, Their activities are frowned on in this
about the desperation Karoline Wulf, to a German age of so-called civility. In the past such
of trafficked people and newspaper in 1836. She was a member of a people worked on behalf of European
asks why are the destitute family trafficked from Germany to Jamaica. governments. They were “slavers” who
used to sow fear and “My fellow-countrymen, under no managed the slave trade from West Africa
resentment by political circumstances must you come to this land to the Caribbean on behalf of European
leaders promoting their called Jamaica. The temperature here is states and business interests.
own popularity. extremely hot and five crowns will only buy As the Abolition of Slavery in the
you five potatoes. For ten days after my Caribbean loomed in the early 1830s the
arrival I felt so ill that I could not walk… Let Jamaican plantocracy with the consent of
no one deceive you, do not let yourselves the then colonial government hired two
be persuaded to emigrate to this place recruiting agents to go to Europe to entice
unless you want to starve to death and be poor white people to come to Jamaica.
dragged down, like us, for ever. I felt I had They were promised farms in the Jamaican
to write to warn you, because we, unlike highlands. The plan was to force the
you, had no choice. The emigration contract freed slaves to the lowlands so the sugar
was given to us on the ship, when we had plantations would continue to have cheap
already left port. And what could we do in labour.
those circumstances except sign it?” Recruiting agents targeted poor areas in
Traffic, trading and transfer are words Germany. There they recruited Germans,
that seem to have a lot in common. They families and single people, five hundred in
can be used in many contexts in the area of all, promising them a new life in the United
commerce and in respectable interchange States. However, the ship, The Olbers, on
of goods and services. In the recent past which they were passengers docked in the
a new word “trafficking” has emerged port of Rio Bueno on the north coast of
to denote events that happen in twilight Jamaica. The passengers thinking it was a
and shady zones of crime associated with United States port disembarked. The ship
illegal drugs, the movement of people sailed on leaving them stranded.
and objects not sanctioned by the formal News spread of the plight of these
economy. Germans. A plantation owner, Lord
The people who carry out such off Seaford, offered them five hundred
6 FAR EAST - MARCH/APRIL 2021
1918 - 2021
OVER 100 YEARS OF PUBLICATION
acres on a mountainside in the parish exploitation and the depravity that Fr Bobby Gilmore was ordained
of Westmoreland. There they used their accompanies it. It was a constant in the in 1963 and assigned to the
skills to survive. They built temporary faces of both descendants of the African Philippines from 1964-78. From
shelters and went about tilling the land slaves and the trafficked Germans. Their 1978-92, he was Director of
to produce basic food. Most of the men ability to recognise the goodness in each the Irish Emigrant Chaplaincy in
were tradesmen and ex-soldiers having other’s plight was the community balm that Britain and chaired the campaign
little knowledge of cultivation and no nurtured hope making life tolerable. for justice for the Birmingham
knowledge at all about farming in the This is an extract from another Six. He was a founding member
tropics. The women were skilled and anonymous letter written to the German of Village of Hope, Montego Bay,
resourceful, quick to adapt tropical food magazine, Der Sprecher-Rheinisch- Jamaica, where he worked from
production and innovative in household Westfalicher Anzeiger, in 1835 by one of 1992-99. In 1999, he returned
maintenance and management. the trafficked Germans in Jamaica. to Ireland where he established
The years after their arrival were “At the beginning, when we arrived in the Migrant Rights Centre
extremely harsh. Some died of malnutrition this distant land, we were very happy. The Ireland.
and disease. Initially, they depended on natives welcomed us very warmly. Then 02
the goodwill, kindness and welcome of we were taken to the
the recently freed slaves. There was no place appointed for us,
Catholic presence in the area. Those among and we immediately
the Germans who were Catholics built a saw that the firewood
temporary chapel. Others who were of the was unusable and the
Lutheran faith associated with the Baptist water undrinkable. Over
and Anglican local churches. the following weeks we
The Catholics elected a lay leader to realised that it would be
lead their Sunday worship. He later went to impossible to grow food
Kingston to inform the church leadership of on these mountains,
their presence. He requested arrangements but we were ordered,
to have liturgical celebrations. The church nevertheless, to build our
leadership in Kingston was surprised to huts on that poor, infertile
hear of a vibrant Catholic community in soil. Now we never have
the heart of Westmoreland and formed enough food to eat. And
a pastoral plan for it. The parish became we continue to suffer.”
known as Seaford Town. As I read and watch media images 01. St Mary’s Parish Church in Port
Maria, Jamaica, built in the 19th
The late Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini of tired, exhausted and worn out men century. Image: Shutterstock.
speaking at the World Conference for the women and children, families, stumble on 02. A worker labouring in the fields
Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees to beaches, clamber over fences, crawl to harvest sugar cane at Siloah,
in 1992 said, “The history of salvation under border wire, then separated from St Elizabeth, Jamaica
Image: Shutterstock.
has known unpredictable and mysterious each other, I ask myself, has anything
integration of peoples, cultures and races.” changed? Why are the destitute used
However, the human desperation of to sow fear and resentment by political To make a comment on this article
trafficked people can never be quantified. leaders, in promoting their popularity? Are go to:
As the pastor of Seaford Town in the we experiencing a global disorder in which facebook.com/fareastmagazine
1990s I was constantly reminded of the migration is a crime, the victim a criminal
resilience of the human spirit to overcome and welcoming the stranger subversive? • @fareastmagazine
MAKING Make a Difference!
YOUR
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Missionary Society of St Columban, Widney Manor Road, Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands, B93 9AB.
01
Philippines
Human Trafficking:
A Scourge on Humanity
H
uman trafficking and child sexual provided vital information and assisted
It’s adults that allow the abuse are still thriving in the in the recent rescue of trafficked women
sexual exploitation and Philippines. Online sexual abuse of and minors in the Barretto night club
trafficking of children children is everywhere, it seems, and more district. The four minors were referred to
warns Fr Shay Cullen. has to be done by the telecommunication the Preda Home for Girls where they are
He reveals how the corporations to stop it. This heinous safe from the sex mafia and the families of
child sex abuse business crime against small children, to satisfy the the human traffickers. At the Preda home,
continues to thrive in the depraved lust of foreign paedophiles, is they receive full support, affirmation,
Philippines and what abhorrent. Shame on all who allow it to counselling, emotional release therapy
measures the Preda happen with impunity. and education as well as values-formation
Foundation is taking to The Philippines has become a hub to prepare them to have a normal, happy
counter it. for such crimes. The National Bureau of life.
Investigations (NBI) in Olongapo and The Preda home will assist the minors
Manila rescued 18 women and children in bringing charges against their abusers
and arrested three human traffickers and traffickers. Together, we win several
recently. In Angeles City in November, two convictions of traffickers and child rapists
children were rescued and two pimps, both every year. In 2018, we had 18 convictions.
minors, were arrested and turned over to In 2019 we helped the children win 20
the social workers. A US national, Nicholas convictions leading to life sentences. Last
Pyant, was arrested by the Philippine year, 13 convictions were secured. There
National Police in a room with children and would be more but due to the pandemic
is due to be charged with sexual assault the courts were closed.
and the rape of young children. Pyant Fighting for justice is a very important
was under surveillance for weeks and is healing therapy for the children who testify
allegedly a known child predator. in court what their abusers did to them.
In Barrio Baretto in Olongapo City Most victims/survivors are teenagers,
minors are brought to sex hotels to be but some victims are just three years old.
sold as sex slaves to paedophiles. The sex They can feel secure knowing that their
industry exists for the sexual gratification of traffickers and rapists are behind bars and
paedophiles, foreign sex tourists and rich can abuse no more children. Some of the
locals. It earns huge profits for the foreign teenage child victims of human trafficking
and local owners of these sex bars and also want to be advocates for children’s
hotels. rights and to speak out. They volunteer
Preda Foundation’s social workers are and sign up to be children’s rights
very active in intelligence gathering. They advocates, a brave and courageous action
8 FAR EAST - MARCH/APRIL 2021
1918 - 2021
OVER 100 YEARS OF PUBLICATION
to take. While we adults do everything to
protect their identity, we cannot stop them
from exercising their human and civil rights
to speak out against human trafficking
and advocate children’s rights. The
#MeToo movement is a way for women 02
and children to fight for justice and many
young survivors want to be part of it.
It is adults that allow the sexual That’s how journalists and child rights Fr Shay Cullen is from Dublin.
exploitation of children in the first place. campaigners fighting for the dignity of He was ordained in 1969 and
The horrific child sex abuse business that is the Filipinos were dealt with. However, missioned in the Philippines. He
a scourge today in the Philippines is due to I won my case, was found innocent established the Preda Foundation
the former presence of the US Naval Base and continued my work protecting in Olongapo City in 1974 and
at Subic Bay, Olongapo City. Thousands of human rights from my base in the Preda has being rescuing children and
women and children were exploited and Foundation. When the city officials said women from sex slavery ever
abused in hundreds of sex bars catering to they would close the Preda home for since. He set up Preda Fair Trade
the US Navy personnel. It was a wonderland children, I said it would be better to close to alleviate poverty, support
of sex abuse. Paedophiles flocked there the US Naval Base. An idea was born and indigenous people and support
and the sex mafia systematically and I started a ‘Life after the Bases’ campaign his charitable projects to promote
efficiently allowed them to sexually to close the US military bases and convert human rights, justice and peace.
exploit, rape and abuse children. The local them to civilian economic zones. It was
authorities allowed it and the rich made amazing then how many people in the
millions of dollars. Catholic Philippines were hostile and 01. Columban missionary Fr Shay Cullen
established the Preda Foundation
In 1983, I discovered a child sex abuse negative to that vision of hope and help. in Olongapo City in 1974 and has
syndicate selling children as young as However, against all opposition, I being rescuing enslaved children
nine years old to US sailors. I broke that promoted that idea and it caught on and women ever since.
story in the media and instead of being and a coalition of civil society members 02. Fr Shay with a young resident.
“Fighting for justice is a very
recognised for taking a stand for justice and was formed that eventually persuaded important healing therapy for the
truth and child protection, I was vilified by the Philippine Senate to vote against the children who testify in court what
local government officials at the time. I was continuation of the US military bases. their abusers did to them.”
brought to trial at the Bureau of Immigration The conversion plan I formulated was 03. Preda Foundation in the Philippines
provides sanctuary and healing
to be deported. The charge was that my eventually implemented and Subic Bay is for children traumatised by sexual
child protection work and writing was now a thriving industrial area giving jobs abuse.
bringing Olongapo City and its officials with dignity to thousands of Filipinos.
into disrepute. They felt I was blaming them Human trafficking never really ceased To make a comment on this article
go to:
for the child sex industry. They denied all and years later it began to make a
responsibility despite a high-profile military comeback as tourism was promoted. So, facebook.com/fareastmagazine
court case in Guam that brought a US officer today we are still fighting this scourge
to trial for child sexual abuse in Olongapo against humanity and protecting Filipino @fareastmagazine
City. A sad state of affairs indeed. children. •
03
To support Fr Shay Cullen’s
work see: www.preda.org
1918 - 2021
OVER 100 YEARS OF PUBLICATION 9
“Keep on
Peru
01
Walking”
T
he Covid pandemic has brought Chief among them was Fr Gerry Markey,
Columban Fr Dylan hardship and tragedy to countless now working in Britain, who gave the
Tabaco tells Fr John numbers throughout the world, but young Dylan a rosary and taught him the
Boles how he thought he it has also brought out the best in many word, ‘missionary’. Dylan carries the rosary
knew all about walking people and connected up remarkable with him to this day.
until he came to Peru individuals who otherwise might never Whilst in our Philippines seminary
and met someone who have met. he lived an event he describes as,
had walked across half a That was the case for two young men “unforgettable”. His spiritual director, Irish
continent. from totally different backgrounds but Columban Fr Mick Mohally, decided to
with one thing in common: walking. One is send the students off on a six-day hike,
Dylan Tabaco, a Columban priest from the with no money in their pockets apart from
Philippines. The other is Rafael Yovera, a their return bus fare.
Venezuelan refugee. Their unlikely point of “It was a 160-kilometre walk. We had
contact was the city of Lima, Peru. no food for the journey, and just relied on
Dylan hails from the island of Mindanao the providence of locals we met on the
in the far south of the Philippines. (His way. That experience helped deepen my
father was a fan of Western folk music, vocation as a missionary. I felt the struggles
hence ‘Dylan’, after the famous Bob Dylan.) of those who have less in life, not knowing
He grew up in a Columban parish, where if they can survive for another day with a
generations of Columbans helped inspire starving stomach and no place to stay.”
his own vocation to missionary priesthood. Memories of his epic trek were revived
02 03
10a dozen years later. By that time, he had Venezuela, he discovered that the “travel Fr Erl Dylan Tabaco is from the
been ordained and apointed to the agency” he’d paid to get him to Lima had Philippines. He was ordained a
Columban parish of Santos Arcángeles in swindled him. They’d kept his money, all Columban in April 2018 and is
Lima. It was here he met Rafael. that he’d had for the journey. Broke, he’d now serving in Lima, Peru.
Rafael was born in Barquisimeto, walked most of the way through Colombia,
Venezuela, in 1995. At that time, Venezuela Ecuador and the north of Peru, hitch- Fr John Boles is a Columban
was the richest country in South America. hiking when he could, sleeping rough and Missionary from England and has
Today, it is the poorest. Ruined by years surviving by begging and selling the odd worked in Peru for over 25 years.
of mismanagement, corruption and bag of sweets.
authoritarian rule, the economy has Finally arriving at his friend’s house in
collapsed, the rate of inflation is the world´s the Peruvian capital, things looked up.
highest, unemployment has soared and He got a job, met and married a local girl
the shops are empty. Rafael is one of over Angela, had a child, little Alhai, rented a To make a comment on this article
two million Venezuelans who decided they small home, started sending money back go to:
had to emigrate in order to survive and to to his father…until the pandemic came facebook.com/fareastmagazine
support family members back home. In along. Suddenly he was destitute again,
Rafael’s case, an aged and infirm father. but now with three mouths to feed, not just @fareastmagazine
Half a million Venezuelan refugees one.
turned up in Peru. Many settled in Lima, What really touched Dylan was that
including in Dylan’s parish. “A lot found Rafael rounded off his tale with the words,
jobs washing cars, selling things on the “Life is difficult… but beautiful!”
streets or doing low-income tasks,” Dylan “Then,” Dylan recalls, “he smiled at me. It
recalls. Slowly they managed to improve was such powerful statement coming from 01. Columban missionary Fr Dylan
Tabaco chatting to Rafael Yovera,
their lives and send more and more money someone who’d gone through so much a Venezuelan refugee in Lima,
back home. but never succumbed to hopelessness.” Peru. All images: Juan Diego
Then Covid struck. Soon, they were in Maybe this was the moment when Dylan Torres, Communications Officer
for the Columbans in Peru.
an unimaginable situation. Hunger and remembered his walk and his poverty all
02. Rafael Yovera’s wife Angela and
homelessness became a daily reality for those years before. Recognising in Rafael their daughter Alhai chatting to
them. The parish began organising an a “fellow traveller” in more senses than Fr Dylan.
emergency relief programme to help one, Dylan used the parish network to 03. Fr Dylan’s parish began
cover some of the refugees’ basic needs. get the family back on their feet again. By organising an emergency relief
programme to help meet some
One day, as Dylan remembers, “On my the time I met them, Rafael and Angela of the refugees’ basic needs such
way home after doing food distribution were working in a telesales office and had as food.
I met a young Venezuelan father with his moved into a small flat. 04. Fr Dylan with some of Lima’s
baby girl, sitting outside a shop, trying to “If there is one good thing that refugees.
sell biscuits. He was cold and starving. I happened to me during this pandemic,” 04. At a local market during the
Covid-19 pandemic.
saw in his eyes how desperate he was to Dylan told me, “it would be my encounter
have something for his daughter.” This was with our Venezuelan brethren. I
Rafael. remembered those stories in the Gospel
Dylan bought them a meal and they where the marginalised of those times
got talking. Rafael explained how he’d were so grateful when Jesus helped them.”
left home a couple of years before, but Rafael was more succinct in his
as soon as he’d crossed the border out of summing up. “Dylan saved my life.” •
04 05
11Philippines
D
uring the celebration of the Easter
Candle
Vigil last year, this verse from the This is th
Exsultet resonated deeply within when Chr
me. As the Paschal Candle, signifying the
risen Christ, was raised high, I imagined the prison-b
the radiance of his glory dissolving the and rose vict
steel bars encircling the prison of death.
Thanks to Christ’s profound love for
the unde
us prisoners, held captive by our own
This
selfishness and shame, we have been
set free in order to begin a new life filled
with hope and promise.
As I continued gazing on the Paschal
Candle, I also became aware that this
particular candle had its own unique
story to tell about prison and freedom,
about hope and promise.
Latai Muller is from the island kingdom
of Tonga in the South Pacific. In 2015,
she became a Columban lay missionary
and was assigned to the Philippines.
After learning the Cebuano language,
The Paschal Candle she joined the ministry team that visits
symbolises the risen the men’s prison in the city of Cagayan
Christ. Fr Tim Mulroy de Oro. In addition to attending to the
recalls a particular candle spiritual needs of the inmates in that
with its own unique overcrowded facility, the ministry team
story about prison and also offers pastoral support to their
freedom, as well as hope families.
and promise. The prisoners shared with Latai their
feelings of loneliness, frustration and
depression. They also shared about
how much they miss their families, as
well as their longing to make a
new start in life. As their release
day approached, they became so Columban lay missionary colleagues had a
excited, delighted – and scared! candle-making livelihood project for poor
While they cherished great hopes, women in the capital city of Manila, Latai
they also realised that there were decided to go there and learn about it.
many obstacles on the path ahead: Some weeks later, having received
a lingering sense of shame, distrust not only an understanding of the candle-
01 by others, and a lack of job skills. making process, but also encouragement
Hearing such stories over and and support, Latai returned to her prison
over again, and seeing how some ministry in Cagayan de Oro. There, with a
former prisoners had fallen shoestring budget and the use of a vacant
quickly back into their old way room at the archdiocesan centre, she
of life and were soon returned started a similar candle-making project
to prison, Latai realised with a small group of former prisoners.
that something needed A year ago, I had the privilege of visiting
to be done to help them the Philippines and seeing this livelihood
make a new start. Since project and meeting Latai and her co-
one of her workers. In my conversations with them,
I learned how this project functions as an
important bridge between prison life and
the outside world. It provides the workers
with a weekly wage that prevents them
from falling into poverty and desperation,
12 1918 - 2021
OVER 100 YEARS OF PUBLICATIONThis is the night, when Christ broke
he night, the prison-bars of death
and rose victorious from the
rist broke underworld.
bars of death Therefore, O Lord,
torious from we pray you that this candle,
hallowed to the honour of your name,
erworld.
may persevere undimmed, to
overcome the darkness of this night.
Receive it as a pleasing fragrance,
and let it mingle with the lights of
heaven.
As I listened, I rejoiced in solidarity with 01. Columban missionary Fr Alvaro
Martinez Ibañez celebrates Mass
Latai and her co-workers in Cagayan de
for the General Council in Hong
Oro because of our shared belief that the Kong flanked by the Paschal
risen Christ, whom the Paschal Candle Candle referred to by Fr Tim
Mulroy.
signifies, had freed all of us Christians from
02. Paschal Candle. Image: Shutterstock
the prison of sin and death, and given us a
03. (L-R) Columban Lay Missionary
new start filled with hope and promise. Latai Muller from the island
Sadly, due to the sudden illness of a kingdom of Tonga in the South
family member, Latai Muller had to return Pacific. In 2015, she was assigned
to the Philippines and joined the
home to Tonga late last year. However, ministry team at the men’s prison
Gilda Pates, the Prison Ministry Volunteer in Cagayan de Oro. She is seated
Coordinator for the Archdiocese of beside Naanise Mo’unga (Lay
Mission Coordinator) and Mereani
Cagayan de Oro, continues to oversee Nailevu (Fiji). Photo Columbans
the candle-making project. Six other Fiji.
Columban Lay missionaries continue to
minister in the Philippines. •
Fr Tim Mulroy is Society Leader of the To make a comment on this article
go to:
Columbans. Originally from Meelick, Swinford,
Co Mayo, he was Regional Director in the US facebook.com/fareastmagazine
02 between 2012-2018. He worked in parish
ministry in Japan from 1995 until 2002 and @fareastmagazine
thereby giving them much-needed afterwards served in parish ministry at St Pius X
stability as they continue to reintegrate Parish in El Paso, Texas.
into society. The livelihood project also
helps them to forge new and different
kinds of relationships, which in turn
strengthens their self-worth and facilitates
networking that slowly opens up new 03
horizons for them.
When the time came for me to say
goodbye, Latai and her co-workers asked if
I had any empty space in my suitcase, and
then presented me with a Paschal Candle
to take with me back to Hong Kong. Since
the season of Lent had just begun, I could
not have imagined a more practical and
meaningful gift.
A few weeks later, as my Columban
companions and I gathered in our small
chapel to celebrate the Easter Vigil, we
found a new depth of meaning in the lyrics
of the Easter Exsultet by the light of that
Paschal Candle.
1918 - 2021
OVER 100 YEARS OF PUBLICATION FAR EAST - MARCH/APRIL 2021 1301
Ireland
Were You
at the Rock?
“ Be Not Afraid. I am With You through very difficult times, kept their faith
Always.” alive. The people had profound devotion
I
to the Eucharist.
n the countryside where I grew up, Because of the danger involved in
Sr Victoire Ryan pays there was a Mass rock within walking those Penal days, the Eucharist (Mass) was
tribute to the people who distance of our farm on the way to the celebrated secretly in desolate, out the
took huge risks to practise hills beyond us. The rock reminded us of way places, in forests or inaccessible caves
their faith and pass it on what our ancestors endured to preserve by the seashore. As people gathered
to future generations in their faith. to pray, others would act as ‘lookouts’
Penal times. People were forbidden in Penal days to to protect them as they shared in the
gather for the celebration of the Eucharist, Eucharist in hiding.
and there was a price on the head of Many beautiful texts were written about
anyone who dared to arrange such a this tragic time and different images and
meeting. Any priest who was captured was symbols were used to disguise what
executed as were those who harboured the writer was saying and to protect the
him. There was even a special reward of £30 people involved.
for anyone who betrayed a priest in hiding. One such piece is called, ‘An Raibh Tú
Despite this, the love of the Eucharist saw ag an gCarraig?’ (‘Were you at the rock?’).
priests and people take risks in order to The rock was code for the Mass rock which
attend Mass and preserve their faith. was the meeting place for Catholics and
Reading Fr Liam Lawton’s book, Where the altar. The song appears to be a love
God Hides, I was deeply impressed with song. ‘Were you at the rock, and did you
the chapter, ‘A Time to Share’. see my love?’ This was a reference to the
Here, Fr Liam highlights either the priest or the host.
02
how our ancestors,
living Were You at the rock?
Or did you yourself see my love,
Or did you see a brightness,
The fairness and the beauty of the woman?
Did you see the apple,
The sweetest and most fragrant blossom?
Or did you see my Valentine?
Is she being subdued as they are saying?
Oh, I was at the rock
And I myself saw your love,
Oh, I saw a brightness,
14The fairness and the beauty of the woman
Oh, I did see the apple
The sweetest and most fragrant blossom
And I saw your Valentine
She is not being subdued as they are
saying.
At first glance, ‘An Raibh Tú ag an
gCarraig?’ appears to be a series of
questions and answers about a young
woman, but in reality, it is a coded
message:
I was at the Mass, I saw the Virgin Mary,
I received Communion, and said the rosary
I saw the chalice, 03
And saw the sacrifice of the Mass
And I practised the faith; prayers before the Lord that like our 01. A Mass rock in a forest in Ireland.
We are not being subdued as they are ancestors they too will have the grace and Image: Shutterstock
saying. courage to remain faithful. • 02. Mass rock in County Donegal,
Ireland. Image: Shutterstock
People went to great lengths to protect
03. Protest following the Supreme Court
their faith and to hand it on to future Sr Victoire Ryan entered the Columban Sisters decision to acquit Pakistani Christian
generations, so great was their love of in 1953. She served on mission in Peru and Asia Bibi of blasphemy after eight
years on death row. (Lahore on 2
God. These people lived out the words of Hong Kong before retiring back to Magheramore
November 2018). Image: Shutterstock
St Peter: “To whom Lord shall we go? You in Ireland.
have the word of eternal life.”
Sad to say that in some parts of the
world Christians are still being persecuted To make a comment on this article go to:
for their faith. Let us keep them in our facebook.com/fareastmagazine @fareastmagazine
A message of solidarity from the Columbans
“
The self-sacrifice
of those caring for the most
vulnerable during the pandemic
is a strong antidote to the
individualism and self-centredness
which too often lead to the
neglect of suffering
humanity today.”
Fr Tom O’Reilly,
Columban
missionary
1918 - 2021
OVER 100 YEARS OF PUBLICATION FAR EAST - MARCH/APRIL 2021 15Korea 01
This is the sworn account
of Gabriel Kim of the last
days of Columban martyr
The Martyrdom of
A
Fr Tony Collier, outlining
ccording to the request of Your Excellency, I Gabriel, describe here briefly what I saw
the circumstances of his
and felt during the martyrdom of Fr Anthony Collier.
death. Gabriel Kim was
shot while tied to Fr Tony On 25th June 1950 we met some refugees after Sunday Mass and were informed
and was buried alive with that the roaring of the guns we had heard earlier that morning was that of the invading Red
him. After three days in Army. The shells began to strike the streets in the afternoon, but the church was still safe since
the grave he managed it was under Mount Bong Ui. We had Evening Prayers with several Catholics who lived near
to escape. It is thanks the church, and though we did not know it, it was to be our last Benediction.
to Gabriel Kim that we On 26th June 1950 after Mass the shells began to strike spots nearer and nearer to the
know the circumstances church, and Fr Collier, who had said, “If anything happens, I must remove the Blessed
of how Fr Tony was Sacrament,” consumed it. After lunch, we moved from the kitchen into the shelter in the
killed and where he was backyard of So-Yang-Dong parish church to escape the danger of bombardment. A shell
buried. struck the kitchen soon after we had left it; nobody was hurt.
Father said, “It’s just as well I removed the Blessed Sacrament” and added, “It’s dangerous
here. You should move on. I will watch the Church.” At that time James, Therese and I were
there with Fr Anthony. His decision was so firm that Therese and I left Father and went home
during an interval in the bombardment.
Having told my parents who live in Hyo-Ja-Dong that I would go back to Fr Anthony, I left
for Juk-Rim-Dong Church to see Your Excellency - Bishop Quinlan. After reporting the news of
So-Yang-Dong parish I said goodbye to Your Excellency, who had been wounded on the face.
When I went back to So-Yang-Dong parish I told Fr Anthony about Juk-Rim-Dong church and
the situation. He was glad to hear the news, and worried about Your Excellency’s wound.
The shelling continued all night long.
02 On the morning of 27th June, we knew that all the South Korean Army had
evacuated the position near our church and we saw the Red Army
advance along the road. At about 1pm, I recommended Father
go to Juk-Rim-Dong, instead of staying alone at So-Yang-
Dong church. To his enquiries about the local Catholics,
I replied that everybody had safely escaped from the
town.
Having finished the Breviary, he said it might be better
to go to Juk-Rim-Dong where Your Excellency was and we
left. I can’t help but feel sorry that I recommended him to
go to Juk-Rim-Dong as there were other possibilities for his
safety.
After we left our church, we saw nobody on the streets
16 1918 - 2021
OVER 100 YEARS OF PUBLICATIONof Chunchon, until we came across two Communist soldiers at the Rotary in the main street 01. At the age of 37, Fr Anthony
of Chunchon. They held us up, stole everything we had and bound our hands together. They Collier became the first martyr in
the diocese of Chunchon, Korea.
asked Fr Anthony, “Who are you?” He replied, “I am a priest.” They asked again, “Aren`t you a
02. South Korean forces run into
spy?” and he answered calmly, “I am a Catholic priest, a missionary.” Then we were taken to the refugees fleeing south from
post office which was about 100 meters from the place where we had been arrested. There North Korean forces on 25
August 1950. Image: Everett
were many Red Army military cars there.
Collection/Shutterstock.
The two soldiers reported to a man, who seemed to be a Commanding Officer, that they
03. Soyangro Catholic Church in
had caught two spies. Fr Anthony declared again that he was not a spy but a priest. The officer Chunchon, South Korea. In 1956,
ordered them to take us somewhere, but I could not hear clearly where. They ordered us to go Columban Fr James Buckley
built this church in honour of
to the nearest river, and we walked along a road behind the Chunchon High School towards the
Fr Anthony Collier, who was
downtown section. I guess Fr Anthony already knew he was on his way to his death. We came appointed as Soyangro’s first
across several groups of Red Army soldiers, who mocked us, but Fr Anthony walked on calmly. parish priest in 1950. War broke
out on 25 June that year.
I thought I would soon be in Heaven also, since I was with Fr Anthony, who had devoted his
life to Our Lord, so I asked him to forgive me for all my faults in the past. He said, “Yes.” When
he started to continue speaking, the soldiers shouted to us to keep quiet. So we walked on in
silence.
FR Tony Collier
When we arrived at Kyong-Chun Road they ordered us to go into a lane. We stopped in front
of a small empty sloping garden at a distance of about thirty meters from Chunchon Revenue
Office. The soldiers said to Father, “If you have any family or relations we will send them news, so
speak up.” Father replied, “I have not.” They asked Father, “Will you make a will?” Father said “No.”
They proposed covering his eyes, but Father refused and they shot him in the back. I did not
know what kind of gun they used as they had three kinds of guns,
a rifle, a pistol, and a magazine-rifle. They fired five times and the
first, fourth and fifth shots were aimed at Father. It was about two
o’clock in the afternoon. Father fell down without any words.
The state of my mind was so serene that I had no dread of
death. At the moment of hearing the shots, all my mind was filled
with the hope of Heaven, since I thought I would be dying with
Father, who had sacrificed his life for Our Lord, and there was no
room for any other thought about this world.
Considering that such a worldly person like myself possessed
such a state of mind, at that time, I do believe that Father, who had
spent all his life for Our Lord, had a mind full of love for Our Lord,
which made him walk on the way to death with no complaint or 03
refutation, but with a calm attitude and even a smile.
I lost consciousness when the Red Army left the place. When I first regained consciousness,
Father was still breathing, and the sun was still high. When I came to my senses again, he had
stopped breathing, he was covered with a straw mat, and the sun was setting. There were bullet
wounds on Father`s face and arm. I left the place on the morning of 29th June.
I attended as a witness at the exhumation of Fr Anthony’s remains by UN soldiers on 9th To make a comment on this article
October 1951. The place was correct, and they were indeed Fr Anthony’s clothes. The body go to:
had wounds on its face and arm and there were three medals which Father always wore. After facebook.com/fareastmagazine
prayers for the dead, the remains were removed to Juk-Rim-Dong Cathedral.
The next day, 10th October, the Requiem Mass and Final Absolution were held by Fr Tji, at the @fareastmagazine
partly ruined Cathedral, and the funeral took place behind the Cathedral.
I swear that all of the above about Fr Anthony Collier is true.
Signed: Gabriel Kim Kyong Ho
After signing the original document in Korean, Gabriel Kim took an oath that it is all true,
in my presence in Chunchon, 5th October 1968.
Thomas Quinlan, Tit. Bishop of Boccorica, 13th January 1969. •
1918 - 2021
OVER 100 YEARS OF PUBLICATION FAR EAST - MARCH/APRIL 2021 1701
Philippines
Sharing Food and
Building Friendships
W
ho would have imagined that strange, we enjoyed eating it and all had a
Columban Lay missionary I would be cooking food and big laugh. One mother joked, “If today was
Kim Sun-Hee Sunny ministering to people? I was a someone’s birthday, she/he would not live
writes about how food total stranger to cooking before joining the long!” I also learned that sotanghon varies
is a means to learn lay missionary orientation programme in greatly according to its quality. I should
and understand the Korea. All I could cook was instant noodles. have bought a better brand!
uniqueness of each When I was told that my teammates and What was most impressive that day was
other’s culture. I had to cook our own food during our that the mothers asked lots of questions
orientation, my mind went blank. about the Korean holiday we were
At the beginning, even deciding on a celebrating: what was the significance of
menu was daunting, but thankfully I got the holiday, what Koreans do and eat on
used to it as time passed. Funny enough, I the holiday, what are the names of the
now enjoy cooking. dishes in Korean and so on. Answering
Developing an interest in cooking has their questions I felt their attention
helped me on mission not just to survive overlapped with my efforts to try to learn
01. Japchae - Korean stir-fried but in other ways too. There is nothing the Filipino language and to learn about
noodles and vegetables. like talking about food or recipes to start the Filipino culture. I thought it was only
Image: Shutterstock.
a conversation to break the ice. Through it me who had to learn to adapt to a new
02. Columban Lay Missionary Kim
Sun-Hee Sunny. I can make small talk and build a rapport culture – but in reality we learn from each
with people naturally. other.
Not long ago I made japchae (Korean I am always amazed by the influence of
noodle dish) to celebrate a Korean food. As we accept food, the door to the
national holiday with the mothers in my heart is open to the people who cook and
ministry. It is cooked with Dangmeon with whom we share it. It gives us a golden
02
(Korean noodles). However, I cooked opportunity to learn and understand the
it with sotanghon (Filipino noodles) to uniqueness of each other’s culture.
pursue the fusion of Korean and Filipino I am grateful to experience this joy of
food culture. I was pretty sure that it was a friendship through sharing hearty meals
good attempt, but the result was that the with people from another culture. •
noodles were short and overall it was not
what I was expecting. Kim Sun-Hee Sunny is a Columban Lay
Although this ‘fusion japchae’ looked Missionary from Korea who has been on mission
a little in the Philippines since 2011.
18 1918 - 2021
OVER 100 YEARS OF PUBLICATIONOBITUARIES
REST IN
Fr Terence (“Terry”) Bennett was born in Gregory’ s parish in ‘Koreatown’, Los Angeles
Omagh, Co Tyrone on 15th December 1926. his ministry spread north to communities in
He was educated at Loreto Convent PES, and the San Fernando Valley. The next stage of
PEACE CBS Omagh. He came to Dalgan in 1944 and
was ordained a priest on 21st December 1950.
Appointed to the Philippines, he was
among the pioneer Columbans who worked
growth was to develop Mission Education and
Mission Promotion in the Korean communities
and then to hand the communities over to the
care of US-born Korean priests.
ceaselessly to restore the neglected parishes When ill health obliged Tony to return
of Negros Occidental. After 17 years in to Ireland and later to the Nursing Home
Negros, he spent six years in Student Catholic in Dalgan that did not mean the end of his
Action in Manila. This was followed by eight enthusiasm for mission. No meeting was ever
years seeking vocations and promoting the complete without his persistent challenge to
Columbans in Britain. us all: What are the Columbans going to do
In 1975 he was happy to return to Negros about it? He died peacefully in Dalgan on 20th
and worked as parish priest first of Sipalay November 2020.
and then of Tabugon. He spent two years on
full-time vocations work, 1992 to 1994, based Sr Elizabeth Doyle was born on 19th June
in Negros and covering the islands of Negros, 1931 in Dublin. She had one sister and four
Fr Terence Bennett
Panay, Cebu and Bohol. brothers, two of whom became priests.
His last parish appointment was to Holy Elizabeth entered with the Columban Sisters
Family Parish, City Heights, Bacolod City, in Cahircon in 1953 and she made her Final
where he served from 1995 until 2008 when Profession in 1961. She did a BA in English
he retired to the Dalgan Community. Terry and Spanish and a HDip at University College,
loved parish ministry and was loved by the Dublin.
people in each of his assignments. Her first appointment was as Assistant
While in Dalgan he was delighted to serve Novice Mistress in the Columban Sisters’
as Spiritual Director to the local branches of Noviciate in Boston. Her first missionary
the Legion of Mary and was an enthusiastic appointment was to Peru. Elizabeth asked
participant in every community activity. the local people what they wanted her to do
A man of prayer, he lived a frugal life, with for them. They answered “educate us”. She
Fr Anthony Mortell a special care for the sick, the poor, and the founded a Special Education Centre for the
dispossessed. Terry died on 12th November disabled and the deaf. She wanted them
2020 peacefully at St Columban's Retirement to take their place in society and become
Home, Dalgan. independent. She also taught in the Women’s
University of the Sacred Heart and was
Fr Anthony (‘Tony’) Mortell was born in involved in teacher formation.
Mallow, Co Cork on 28th August 1935. He was After 20 years in Peru she moved to Chile
educated at the Patrician Brothers, Mallow where the parish of Camino had no resident
before coming to Dalgan in 1954 where he priest. Elizabeth performed liturgies and
was ordained a priest on 21st December 1960. ministered in 10 villages and was fondly
Appointed to Korea in 1961, he was known as “our beloved parish priest”. She said
assigned to Kwangju archdiocese and later that her time in Camino was when she
became familiar with parishes like Hampyong, felt most like a missionary. She spent 14 years
Sr Elizabeth Doyle
Tamyang and Cheju City. Further experience in Chile.
in parishes in Namdong and Mokpo followed Elizabeth then spent some years on
before his first home vacation in 1967. promotion work and fundraising in Ireland,
That break gave Tony the opportunity to England and Scotland. She also spent time
do studies in mass communication. Within in Tallaght and Ballymun in Dublin where
a year he was given responsibility for radio she was involved in catechetics and music
programmes and managed to establish them ministry and prepared some migrants for the
as a part of the diocesan ministry before Sacraments. She finally retired to the Nursing
being appointed to the Korean Apostolate Home in Magheramore in 2016 and died
in the USA in 1979. Language and cultural there peacefully on 16th December 2020.
differences prevented most new Korean She is buried in the Convent Cemetery in
arrivals from quickly integrating into America Magheramore.
and even into parish life.
Beginning with the Korean community in St May they rest in peace.
1918 - 2021
OVER 100 YEARS OF PUBLICATION FAR EAST - MARCH/APRIL 2021 19REFLECTION
S
pring is the season of new beginnings. The is always interceding for us? After His death
www.shutterstock.com
earth comes to life again after its Winter Jesus’ body was buried in a rock tomb sealed
sleep. Everything in Nature is changing with a large boulder. In her rush to the tomb
and promising new life. The long dark months Mary Magdalene wondered, “How am I to roll
of Winter have faded. The days get longer and back the stone?” As she hurried along at the
the nights shorter. The natural world comes to break of day, she heard her name being called,
life and the air is full of expectation. Birds and “Mary”. Then she knew all was well. It was
animals reappear and are busy building their Jesus resurrected. All obstacles were taken
nests and burrows. Our native birds are laying away. The tomb was empty.
claim to their territory and migrant birds begin Like Mary, Jesus calls each one of us by
to increase the volume of their sweet song as name. His care and concern for us is personal.
the temperature warms up. Hibernating animals His invitation is issued to each of us in our own
begin to emerge and scurry here and there. circumstances. He addressed everyone when
Woodland wildflowers He says, “Come to Me
come into bloom giving you who labour and are
new life and beauty heavily burdened and I
to pastureland and will give you rest.” Why
hedgerows. Mad March then do I weigh myself
hares are performing down with fear, anxiety,
their eccentric leaping guilt, dissatisfaction or
and boxing and lambs are any other negative feeling
frolicking around while that pulls me down? As
their anxious mothers I know the past is over
keep an eye on them. and will not return. The
Blossoms dance in the future is not yet and still
wind and carpet the earth unknown. All I have is this
beneath. All is excitement present moment. But the
and expectation. present moment is the
March and April are most precious of all. Jesus
certainly months of whispers “Come to Me.
Resurrection. They come Don't be afraid”. Behind
to us as times of change every moment the Spirit
and of new beginnings. of Life waits. In the Now
And what greater of life is everything we
mystery have we than have ever been and ever
the Resurrection of the will become. The present
Son of God, our brother is what takes us into the
Jesus Christ. He came to centre of ourselves. Let
us born of the Blessed us then drop our burdens
Virgin Mary our Mother. and leave them behind.
He lived among us as one In his book ‘An
of ourselves, doing good to all and healing Astonishing Secret’ Daniel O'Leary tells us
everyone who put their Faith in Him. When that the central doctrine of Christianity is the
someone needed healing Jesus asked them, Mystery of Resurrection. Spring and Easter
“Do you believe that I can heal you?” When therefore explain the continuing resurrection
they said “Yes, I believe” they were restored to of all creation. What God promises is “A new
health. Jesus has told us “Ask in My Name and Heaven and a new Earth”. In one of his Easter
you will receive.” Homilies Pope Benedict XVI describes the
If we ask with conviction, we will not be Resurrection of Jesus as a “leap in the history of
disappointed as Jesus is full of compassion. evolution and of life in general towards a new
Faith is not just saying “I believe”. It is the future life”. Iris Hesselden tells us:
profound conviction and unshakeable surety As Spring returns across the land,
that God is all in all to me. On Mount Calvary It brings new hope to wake the earth
Jesus gave His mother to us to be our mother. It touches all with healing hands
She is the one who tells us “Whatever He says Lord, touch the soul in me. •
to you, do it.” How can we go wrong if she Sr Abbie O’Sullivan
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