The Far East NEW deacons COLUMBAN MISSION MAGAZINE in Manila August 2021 Jerry Lohera and Elbert Balbastro were ordained deacons by Bishop Honesto Ongtioco.

PRICE $1.50 inc postage The Far East Contents

August 2021 Vol 103, No. 7

THE FAR EAST is devoted to furthering the missionary apostolate of the church and has been published by the Missionary Society of St Columban since October 15, 1920.

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Publisher: 3 From the Director 16 Mission World Fr Peter O'Neill The Church is a people The latest saint of modern India’s poor [email protected] 4-5 Constant flame of love 17 Hands of Mercy project 6-7 NEW deacons in Manila Editorial Committee: Columban Fr Martin Koroiciri Jerry Lohera and Elbert Fr Ray Scanlon explains how starting a soup Balbastro were ordained Fr Kevin O'Neill kitchen isn't enough to support deacons by Bishop Honesto the people of Chile during the Fr Jim Mulroney Ongtioco. pandemic. Mrs Maha Shawky 8-9 Like the lotus 18-19 St Peter and St Paul's Columban Sr Patricia Byrne Designer & Assistant: Embrace of Peace Mrs Assunta Arena notes how the blooming of a lotus flower resembles her 20-21 A fertile dig The Far East missionary work. NEW deacons COLUMBAN MISSION MAGAZINE Iowane Naio tells of his First August 2021 NEW deacons in Manila in Manila Jerry Lohera and Elbert Balbastro were ordained deacons by Bishop Honesto Ongtioco. Deacons Jerry Lohera (second 10 -11 World Day Against Mission Assignment in Peru. from left) and Elbert Balbastro (third from right), together Trafficking in Persons 22-23 A blessed life with fellow Columban Columban Fr John Hegerty students, walking along a 12-13 Missionaries are migrants celebrates 50 years of ordination bridge in the . Columban Fr Donal O'Keeffe to the priesthood. PRICE $1.50 inc postage Photo: Elbert Balbastro honoured as Immigrant of the Year in Korea. 23 Your Columban Legacy St Columbans Mission Property Association A.B.N. 17 686 524 625 14-15 Two communities, one Printed by Doran Printing, Melbourne Church From the Director The Church is a people

here are plenty of people saying that there is a crisis As missionaries, we see the Church in the Church. Even before the Royal Commission Tinto sexual abuse here in Australia, the bishops had in other countries as similar but been discussing how to address different issues facing the different from the Church in our own Church. How many times have we heard parents talking about the difficulty of getting children to go to Mass or home places. priests asking why congregations are diminishing? No wonder we in Australia have much to talk about at For me, these reflections help me realise that improving the upcoming Plenary Council Assembly. The agenda for the Church in Australia is not just a question of changing the meeting has been published, and there are a lot of structures, developing new policies, or improving our questions for us to consider, most of them centred on how administrative procedures. All these things are necessary we can improve the Church. if we are to help a people grow and develop, but there are While there are plenty of things wrong with the Church, other matters. For example, the history of the Church in a and we would no doubt be in better shape if we could fix particular place is extremely important. The Korean Church them, I am still left with a sense that just fixing issues is not rightly rejoices in the fact that laypeople founded it on enough. Times of crises provide us with opportunities to returning home after being in China. The Church in Latin change, to go forward. America and the Philippines has been powerfully shaped by the culture of the Spaniards who arrived centuries ago. In preparation for the Plenary Council gatherings, I have been doing a lot of reading. says the Church To describe the Church in any country is difficult. Vatican II is “a people”. When I first read this, I said to myself, well yes, emphasised that it is the people of God. It seems to me that we have been talking about the People of God for a long this is a good lens through which to look at the Church. If time, since Vatican II. There is nothing new here. Quickly I we want the Church in Australia or New Zealand to grow, realised that I had made a mistake. I needed to listen more we should ask ourselves, “How does a people grow and to what the Pope means by “a people”. develop?” A people is not a nation. A people is not a school, nor a In Australia and New Zealand, we remember the story of business, nor a parliament, nor a local Government. It is the ANZAC experience each year. This helps our countries more than these. So, also, for the Church. It is more than the grow as nations, as a people. These important stories schools, the parishes, the hospitals, the bishops, and all the contain values that we esteem. We are presented with men other activities and members of the Church. The Church is and women who have sacrificed themselves for their fellow more than these parts, in the same way that the people of citizens. This can also become our story. In earthquakes, New Zealand or Australia are more than the parts that help floods and fires, as people rally to help those in need, often to keep us alive and well as nations. we hear the spirit of the ANZACS invoked. So, too, does reading the Gospels inspire us as Christians. As missionaries, we see the Church in other countries as similar but different from the Church in our own home “If we serve the people, we save ourselves” is another wise places. Yet no matter where we go to Mass on Sunday, saying of the Pope’s. Maybe this is all I need to know. Maybe we know that we are celebrating the same life, death and this is all the Church needs to know. resurrection of Jesus. Wherever we are, when we go up to Holy Communion, we know that we belong to the same people as the person in front of us. We are all baptised, we are all one people, we Fr Trevor Trotter are all Catholics. The Church has different faces in different Regional Director of Oceania cultures, but it is one Church. [email protected]

The Far East - August 2021 3 Constant flame of love AMY WOOLAM ECHEVERRIA

nniversaries frequently have symbols associated dialogue from the standpoint of solidarity with the poor and with them - like silver for 25 and gold for 50. When the integrity of creation … It means supporting the struggle of Athe Columban Missionaries celebrated 100 years the poor against injustice and for real participation in society of witnessing God's love through our relationships with … to thirst for God's justice and (be) peacemakers enamoured people, especially the vulnerable, and with the wounded of true God-given community. Earth, I was curious about what might represent 100 years. Moving beyond the pages of theory, Columban Justice, A quick internet search revealed no symbol for 100 years, Peace, and Integrity of Creation is flesh and bone, heart presumably because it is such a rare event. However, one and soul, hands and feet. Our commitments to issues comment about the diamond (60th) anniversary fits. like migration, climate change, peace, and inter-religious Diamond means unconquerable and enduring. Many dialogue are because behind each issue there are countless people believe that the fire in the diamond symbolises people with names, faces, and families that are marginalised the constant flame of love. It occurs to me also that the economically, socially, politically, and/or religiously. Human diamond is a stone known for its stunning and even overconsumption has wounded the natural world. blinding refractions of light. These images of fire and light Joining with national and international networks such that reflect a constant love seem most appropriate for 100 as Global Catholic Climate Movement and Pax Christi years of Columban Mission and illumination into the future. International, Columbans are helping to shape and It is fair to say that love was the spark that inflamed the implement Catholic Social Teaching through encyclicals hearts of our founders. One of my favourite quotes about like Laudato Si': On Care for Our Common Home, and Columbans in the early years comes from a book written by the Catholic Nonviolent Initiative. We lend our voices Fr James McCaslin called, The Spirituality of Our Founders. He to dialogue happening in national governments and writes in a section titled “Love and Service to the Poor”: This international institutions like the United Nations. We strive option in favour of the poor was in no way limited to this or to be links between local realities and structural change. that Columban. The cry of the poor has been in Columban ears We invite people to learn about Justice, Peace, and Integrity constantly from the beginning. They were acutely aware of of Creation through experiential educational opportunities the massive structural injustice. They could not change unjust like our advocacy internship in Washington DC, short-term structures, but they did their best to alleviate the misery of the volunteer service, and mission exposure experiences to the victims. For the love of God. United States-Mexico border and other countries around the world. Today, we can see this constant flame of love in the Columban commitment to Justice, Peace, and Integrity Let me share with you a recent experience where I of Creation. Identified as a formal ministry in 1976, we encountered Columbans’ constant love for the poor and Columbans have included work for structural change as an the wounded Earth. I visited our mission in Myanmar where integral part of our missionary endeavour for more than Columbans formally returned after about 35 years of exile. 40 years. Vatican II, which opened the window for Justice, One of the pressing concerns in the country is the conflict Peace, and Integrity of Creation, affirmed we Columbans in between ethnic minorities and the Burmese majority. what we knew from the beginning: that poverty, oppression, Columbans, both historically and contemporarily, are violence, and exploitation are interconnected and structural. concentrated in Kachin State, where much of the country’s We began to see more clearly and articulate more loudly most intense fighting plays out. One of the consequences the link between the economically poor across the globe of this civil war is the internal displacement of thousands of and the wounded Earth, on the one hand, and national and people from their land and homes into Internally Displaced international economic, social, and environmental policies, on Persons camps. the other. I had the opportunity to visit several IDP camps while in Accordingly, we hold in our Constitutions that being Myanmar. The conditions were heartbreaking, with entire Columban means: Striving to have the Kingdom of God families living in one 12 foot square bamboo room with permeate the lives and cultures of all peoples, we proclaim the no running water, limited electricity, poor health and universal message of salvation through witness, ministry, and sanitary conditions, and only limited access to education.

4 The Far East - August 2021 IRELAND MYANMAR

Columban Lay Missionaries, Lenette Toledo (left) & Catharina Son Seon-Young (right), at a camp for displaced persons in Myanmar.

However, I was heartened to see that Columbans, the It is easy to be inspired by these encounters with people dioceses, and international Catholic aid agencies were all who carry in their hearts sparks of love, light and hope for working together to respond to this reality in some way or the future that shines, as St Paul wrote in his letter to the another through offering resources, education and pastoral Corinthians: Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of accompaniment. the Lord is, there is freedom. Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si' invites us to hear the All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth. As Columbans, we are being transformed into the same image from glory to find ourselves listening to those cries every day. While in glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit. one camp, one man shared with me his longing to return For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made to his village so that his children would know the land of his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the their roots and be able to live peacefully as their ancestors knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ (2 had done for generations. In another camp, when word Cor 3:17–18; 4:6). was out that Columbans were visiting, one woman aged 98 years came quickly to greet us. She was affectionately called Adwi Gungai was a living witness to the constant flame Adwi Gungai, or Grandmother. With warmth and emotion, of love that the Columbans have tried to live for over a she spoke of knowing the first Columbans who arrived in century. As we look towards the next century, may Adwi Myanmar in the early 1930s. She would have been a young Gungai be a reminder to us all of our hearts burning to be in girl at the time, and it was clear that she had carried a relationship with each other and the wounded world. May constant love for Columbans all her life - she was happy to the diamond of today be our fire for tomorrow. be reunited after decades of separation. Amy Woolam Echeverria is the International JPIC Coordinator for St Columbans Mission Society. Photo: Amy Echeverria The Far East - August 2020 5 NEWdeacons in Manila FR JIM MULRONEY

wo boys from the farm in the southern echelons of the Philippines knelt before Bishop Honesto Ongtioco in Tthe bright and airy chapel of the Columban Student House in Manila to be ordained deacons on June 27 this year. After nine years of study, prayer and guidance, Jerry Lohera and Elbert Balbastro took their first major step towards priesthood and the living of a dream that had taken seed on the quite different paths their lives had taken since leaving school. Both Jerry and Elbert describe the circumstances of their upbringing as poor, but tempered by the loving atmosphere of family within which they learned the values of service to others. Jerry remembers that when he was in grade two, he told his classmates he was going to be a when he grew up. “I did not understand what that meant at the time,” he says, “but they all remembered it and often talked about it.” Blessed with the opportunity to study after high school, Jerry went into the sale and provision of medical equipment to hospitals and clinics; but the little quip he had uttered in his childhood never strayed from his mind. Elbert followed a different path carving out a career in computer science. He readily admits his dream was to become rich, and he took the plunge that some millions of his country people have taken seeking a better future in a foreign land. He went to Seoul in South Korea, plying the considerable computer skill he had built up at home for a purpose of little interest to him other than his salary. However, life was to change. Living alone in a foreign land sent him searching for a taste of home. There are several Church-sponsored centres for migrant workers in Seoul that provide a place of relaxation where they can speak their own language with their own country people and receive advice about the various problems they encounter. He stumbled across one of these centres in his search for company and was struck at the sight of priests and sisters freely giving their time and energy to serve the workers that came seeking some solace. Their attitude was so different from his own. He has a vivid memory of realising they were not doing it for money, but simply out of compassion for people that had need of their service.

Elbert and Jerry prostrating while the Litany of the Saints is sung by It was in these surroundings that he first met the Columban students. Columbans, and the seeds of a religious vocation were

6 The Far East - August 2021 PHILIPPINES

Columban Fr Finbar Maxwell (left), Jerry Lohera, Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, Elbert Balbastro and Columban Fr Paul Glynn (right). sown. Their witness began to dispel his own dream of a friendship to grow between the two. In 2017, they left wealth and the realisation that things other than money together for Pakistan and two of the most challenging years could bring self-fulfillment sowed the seeds of a desire to of their formation, tasting life in a foreign country. use his own talent in the service of others. The seed began Studies of the Urdu language, the dry and dusty environs to germinate within his imagination. so different from the lush farmland of their childhood or But seeds take time to poke their heads above the earth the hustle and glitter of Seoul or Manila required so much and riches still beckoned. He returned home and was able adjustment and patient learning. to achieve part ownership in an American company. He was Different customs of hospitality, ways of going to church, on the way, but the Korean experience kept nagging, and in celebrating marriage and mourning death provided much 2012 he tossed the business in and succumbed to another to absorb, appreciate and come to enjoy. It was a time of call, joining the Columban Formation Programme. persistence, but with each day bringing a little advance, Meanwhile, Jerry was prospering in his work, albeit on their feeling of belonging strengthened. a more subdued platform, but he too was beginning to The two are now preparing for ordination to the priesthood dream of using his talent differently and his little quip with the hope that the COVID-19 pandemic will allow them about being a priest of so many years previously returned to receive the sacrament in their home parishes. Jerry looks in a more serious way. He knew the parish where he had forward to celebrating with his parents, along with five grown up had been staffed by Columban priests in the sisters and brother, as well as his classmates from grade past, as his parents occasionally spoke about them, so as his two. Elbert prays his family can be with him and that he search became more serious, he took his enquiries in their can take the opportunity to thank the community that has direction. supported him so faithfully in his long journey. Years spent as students in Manila saw the seeds sown in the past nurtured, then flourish into a bloom that allowed Columban Fr Jim Mulroney resides in Essendon, Australia.

Photos: St Columbans Mission Society The Far East - August 2021 7 Like the lotus SR PATRICIA BYRNE

oing on mission to Hong Kong in 1976 was both For a number of years, together with two Jesuits, I worked an exciting adventure and a shock to the system. in Xavier House. Most of those who come are laypeople, GMoving from the wide-open spaces and the peace both Catholic and Protestant. and tranquillity of a small Irish town to the closely packed In our garden at Xavier House, at a certain time of the year, high-rises, the noise, and the over-crowded streets of Hong the lotus rises in glorious bloom from the depths of the Kong was a new experience for me. small pond. It glows deep pink in the sunshine. I like to think Studying and struggling to speak one of the world’s most of this as a symbol of my work. difficult languages was an added stress. It was, therefore, The pond is deep and often murky, like the inner depths of with great relief, six months later, that I found myself on the human person. The sun is like the bright light of God one of the outlying islands at Xavier House for my annual encouraging us to go deep within. And when we do this, retreat. there are moments in the sunshine of his presence when Xavier House, a Jesuit retreat centre, was a total contrast to our inner beauty, made in God’s image, blossoms forth in all the busy life of the city. Quiet, situated on the edge of the its loveliness. South China Sea, with space to walk, and lots of trees and I have discovered this time and time again with the people exotic flowers, it was a place to be refreshed and renewed I direct. They come here stressed out from their busy lives before returning to the city and the busy workday. as teachers, housewives, priests, office workers, etc. They It was with a sense of wonder that I found myself in October are glad to be in a quiet place, but they carry the anxieties 2000 back in Xavier House, this time as a member of the of their lives and share these anxieties with me in our initial staff. I was invited - the first woman and the first sister - to meetings. However, as they get in touch with nature - the be part of a new team in Xavier House. In preparation, I took sea, the trees, the song of the birds - they are absorbed by some studies in spirituality and spiritual direction. the beauty of the creator, who has shared all this with us.

8 The Far East - August 2021 HONG KONG

Slowly they let go of the cares and anxieties and listen to God speak to them through nature and the Scriptures. They discover that the important thing for them is to be with God and know that God loves them and wants to be with them. In these moments they discover with wonder the beauty of God and, like the lotus, the beauty rising from the depths of their own lives. In our garden at Xavier House, at a When I meet people as their spiritual director, we talk about how they are relating with God. We talk about their life certain time of the year, the lotus rises and their relationships with family and with other people. in glorious bloom from the depths of We talk about what makes them happy or sad - what gives them life and what takes away their energy. I often marvel the small pond. It glows deep pink in at the great privilege that is mine and all that I receive the sunshine. I like to think of this as a through the openness and trust of the people who share with me. symbol of my work. It’s hard to switch off all the voices and all the choices that clamour for our attention today. However, if we do, we may gradually fill with wonder as we discover the presence of God within us and allow that presence and that love to shine, like the lotus, through all we are and all we do.

Columban Sr Patricia Byrne was assigned to Hong Kong in 1976. Photo: bigstockphoto.com/Nataliya Hora Columban sisters left Hong Kong several years ago. The Far East - August 2021 9 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

n 2007, during one of my weekly visits to the Hsinchu City police station to seek help to retrieve their stolen wages Immigration Detention Centre in Taiwan, I met Ani and Siti and return home to Indonesia. One morning they packed I(not their real names), two young women from Indonesia their simple belongings and ran from the house until they who were working as carers for their Taiwan employer’s came across the detention centre thinking it was a police elderly parents and in-laws. I was deeply concerned as to station. Since they didn’t want to return to their employer’s how Ani and Siti had ended up in the detention centre. Sr house the director of the detention centre allowed them Rosa, the Diocesan Migrant Centre’s Indonesian caseworker, to stay at the centre until they were able to secure their translated for me. passports, which their employer had confiscated. I learned that Ani and Siti had, before departing Indonesia, At the end of our conversation, I asked Sr Rosa to help Ani each borrowed money from the bank at an interest of 18% and Siti write down their story in detail, which we then had to pay the Indonesian Government’s regulated placement translated into Chinese. I met with the director and welfare fee of AUD $2,600 to their employment agency. It would officer of the centre explaining to them that Ani and Siti have taken them at least one year of salary deductions to were victims of human trafficking. At that time, there was pay this debt bondage. no law in Taiwan to protect the rights of trafficked people. With the support of the director, we were able to convince Upon arriving in Taiwan, besides caring for the elderly the immigration police to allow Ani and Siti to stay in our parents and in-laws, cooking and cleaning for the whole migrant centre’s shelter while we lobbied the Ministry of family, and taking care of their employer’s children, Ani and Labour to have them transferred to new employers and to Siti were forced by their employer to work illegally in the help them retrieve their stolen wages. Four months later family restaurant for 12 hours a day with no day off. When they moved to their new employers to work as carers. they complained to their employer about not receiving their full salary and the long hours of arduous work, he Ani and Siti, along with other victims of human trafficking threatened to send them back to Indonesia. living in shelters across Taiwan, gave permission for their stories to be used to advocate for the implementation After slaving away for six months, Ani and Siti thought the of a law to protect the rights of trafficked people. only way of escaping this horror was to run to a nearby

10 The Far East - August 2021 FR PETER O'NEILL TAIWAN

Pope Francis, who frequently speaks out against human trafficking, says, “Human trafficking is an open wound on the body of contemporary society, a scourge upon the Body of Christ. It is a crime against humanity.”

Columban Fr Nguyen Van Hung and I joined the Taiwan Anti Trafficking Alliance Watch formed by civil society and faith-based organisations to advocate and lobby for the Human Trafficking Prevention and Control Act, which would eventually pass in the Taiwan Parliament in June 2009. Over several years, Government agencies invited me to participate in their education campaigns to conduct awareness-raising seminars on human trafficking for immigration, foreign affairs and local police, labour officials, and detention centre staff. Just like Ani and Siti, there are millions of domestic workers across the globe who are vulnerable to human trafficking. In 2010 and 2011, I was a member of the Migrant Forum in Asia delegation to the International Labour Organisation Conferences in Geneva to advocate for the adoption of its Convention 189 Decent Work for Domestic Workers. With the adoption of this Convention, domestic workers were finally recognised as entitled to labour rights and protections equal to all other workers. Ten years later, only 29 United Nations Member States have ratified this Convention, and Australia is not one of them. Victims’ Voices Lead the Way is the theme for this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (July 30). It puts Ani and Siti and other victims of human trafficking at the centre of the campaign and highlights the importance of listening to and learning from survivors of human trafficking. Pope Francis, who frequently speaks out against human trafficking, says, “Human trafficking is an open wound on the body of contemporary society, a scourge upon the Body of Christ. It is a crime against humanity.” People ask me if there is human trafficking in Australia. Yes, there is. Just recently a Melbourne couple was found guilty of keeping a Tamil woman as a slave for eight years. The maximum penalty is 25 years. This is just one of many stories that have appeared in the Australian media. Human trafficking is often hidden in plain sight, even right next door to us.

Columban Fr Peter O'Neill is the Columban Leader in Australia. Migrant volunteer from the Diocesan Migrant Centre at a rally in Taiwan.

Photo: Hope Workers' Center Taiwan The Far East - August 2021 11 Missionaries are migrants

s a Columban priest and a missionary, Fr Donal O’Keeffe crossed the seas from the home of his Afamily in Ireland to what to him was a land of strange customs, unknown language and a religious tradition quite foreign. That was in 1976, but during the ensuing 45 years, he worked to embed himself in the daily lives of the people by serving the last, the least and the lost of Korean society. His contribution to the most marginalised has not been forgotten, as shown on May 20 this year when it was recognised by the government with the conferring of a presidential citation by the Justice Minister, Park Beom-gye. Donal was honoured as Immigrant of the Year on the internationally celebrated People of the World Day. It is a recognition of outstanding service to the community and while the government of today may honour and laud the manner in which Donal involved himself in the lives of the marginalised, there were times in the past when that was not the case. Years spent learning to talk to and understand his new neighbours on the south-western island of Heuksan and later Mokpo, enabled him to move to the industrial area of Bucheon in Gyeonggi province, where he made his first structured commitment to the workers in the nation’s burgeoning industrial complexes, first joining forces with the Young Christian Workers (YCW) and later a group of religious sisters in running a drop-in open house. Columban Fr Donal O'Keeffe after receiving the presidential citation for Immigrant of the Year. This was a brave move, as it was an era when South Korea was under the military dictatorship of Park Chung-hee and forming associations of any kind was forbidden. It was a time of tension and many people suffered imprisonment “We made an environment where they and even death for their involvement with the workers or could freely express themselves and their movements for social justice. “Church groups were the only organisations able to get share any stories about their lives. In involved with workers,” he told The Korea Times, as Church addition, through studies on labour law gatherings were the only ones permitted. Blessed with a gentle disposition and a tranquil spirit encouraging comfort and educational programmes on critical in his presence, Donal was able to provide spaces where thinking and self-development, many of workers, often as young as 15, that had moved from city slums or the countryside could be relaxed with each other the workers became key people in the and make friends in a world that felt as foreign to them as formation of labour unions in the late the surrounds Donal himself had stepped into from the 1980s,” he told The Korea Times. plane that brought him from Ireland some years previously. “Most of them had abandoned their studies after middle school. They were people who felt terribly inferior, because they had not studied, with very low self-esteem due to social Photos: The Korea Times/Yonhap 12 The Far East - August 2021 FR JIM MULRONEY KOREA

pressures. We started with personal growth programmes, created groups where young people could make friends or engage in various activities, from learning to play the guitar to walking in the mountains,” The New Straits Times reported Donal as saying. In a culture where Confucianism ranked the educated at the top of the totem pole and inspired despise for those who lived by the sweat of their brows, Donal’s accepting hospitality allowed the menial workers to flourish, grow in self-confidence and begin to take control of their own lives. “We made an environment where they could freely express themselves and share any stories about their lives. In addition, through studies on labour law and educational programmes on critical thinking and self-development, many of the workers became key people in the formation of labour unions in the late 1980s,” he told The Korea Times. As time passed, conditions for workers gradually improved, but even though the military dictator had already been assassinated, the lethargy of government and exploitation Columban Fr Donal O'Keeffe receiving the presidential citation for Immigrant of the Year at the award ceremony in Seoul on May 20, 2021. of the poorer echelons of society remained. While the 10 years he spent in Bucheon saw a resolution to many of the problems faced by the beleaguered factory “The future of the world looks bleak if we do not change to a workers, other issues attracted his missionary attention and lifestyle which is sustainable,” he commented, while adding in 1992, together with Columban Fr Chuck Lintz, he turned that he has faith and confidence in the laity of the Church in his eyes towards the city and became involved in the Urban South Korea to address the problems of the present as they Poor Apostolate in Seoul. did in the past. After all, the Korean Church is one founded by lay people, not the clergy. Commentator Noel Mackey describes it this way, “Large construction companies were being allowed to appropriate, In a surprising and touching moment at the awards by fair or foul means, portions of lands on which they would ceremony, the Minister for Justice asked Donal to stand and build high rise apartments… the poor renters were being left take a bow. He then revealed that he had lived as a poor on the side of the street with their few belongings. Neither the person in the very same shanty town where he had helped construction companies nor Seoul’s authorities were willing to establish a tenant’s association. assist them in any way.” Mackey relates the minister then confided that after his The two Columbans gradually got to know people, ran day- graduation as a lawyer, he had established a workers care centres and study rooms in cooperation with a number counselling centre in the town where many years previously of Christian Church leaders in the shanty town. They ran Donal had worked at the open house for young factory educational programmes to help the tenants become workers. aware of their rights enabling them to demand their rightful When Donal began his apostolate to workers, there compensation during the redevelopment process. must have been moments when problems seemed Today, the political and social environment of South Korea insurmountable, but the day he was honoured by the may be much more stable and far more prosperous, but government affirmed that seeds sown in fertile soil sprout the now-70-year-old Columban still sees issues worthy of in many unexpected ways. As the minister remarked, “When attention. He points to the environment and the scourge I walk alone I can go fast, but when I walk with others then I of climate change. He joined a major campaign against the can go further.” construction of a United States naval base in the south of the country that threatens the delicate natural marine life. Columban Fr Jim Mulroney resides in Essendon, Australia.

The Far East - August 2021 13 Two communities, one Church FR KEVIN O'NEILL

Columban Fr Kevin O’Neill with Chinese sisters who are medical doctors.

he in China today continues to be a about 8:00pm. Sundays are a day of rest where more time is vibrant witness to God’s love. Whether in large cities spent around the church catching up with each other. Tor rural villages, Catholics of all ages are active in their In the cities, Catholics gather for Mass on Sundays, with local Church communities spread across the 146 Dioceses in many having to travel on crowded buses and trains for over China. an hour to get to their parish church, but there are daily The Catholic population of approximately nine million is Masses for those who live close to the church and wish to tiny compared with the total population of 1.4 billion. The attend Mass during the week. city of Wuhan where I lived has a population of 12 million City parishes also have Masses for the foreign Catholic people with only three Catholic churches, but in the rural community. In Wuhan, the foreign community is made up areas, it is quite common that a whole village is Catholic. mainly of university students from Africa and Asia. Every Catholics rise at about 5:30am, making their way from their Sunday, approximately 200, mostly university students, homes through the narrow alleyways of their village to the gather for the Mass in English. church for morning prayers, which are chanted and often Parishes in China have various activities for their led by one of the lay leaders in the parish. After about 30 parishioners, such as bible study or prayer groups, the Rite minutes, everyone returns home for breakfast before the of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and social outreach day’s work begins - parents work in the family plot of land, groups to assist the poor. Dioceses have pastoral centres for tilling the soil, planting or harvesting, depending on the adult formation, and many have retreat centres. Dioceses season, and the children go to school. The elderly folk stay and religious congregations of sisters also run hospitals and at home taking care of the infants. clinics, aged care centres, orphanages, centres for people After a day’s work, everyone returns home for their evening with special needs and the homeless, as well as services for meal, and the day finishes with Mass in the parish church at people living with HIV/AIDS.

14 The Far East - August 2021 CHINA

Columban missionaries first went to China in 1920, but in On several occasions, the young adults of a particular the wake of the 1949 revolution, the ruling Communist diocese invited me to gather with them. They belong to Party expelled all missionaries, with the last one in 1954. both the open and underground communities. On Sunday Columbans were able to return to China in the late 1980s mornings, they gather for Mass with their parents in their with some teaching English at universities. Today, they respective communities and then on Sunday evenings continue to facilitate the placement of English teachers come together at the cathedral of the open Church in universities across China through the Association for community for their weekly meeting. International Teaching, Educational and Curriculum Exchange In recent years, people in one rural Catholic village that has (AITECE) organisation, which the Columbans founded along both communities decided to come together to build a new with others in Hong Kong. church, which is used by both communities. Currently, both Columbans also work with people with special needs, teach communities have their Masses in the new church, however, in seminaries, assist with the ongoing formation of sisters at different times. The hope among some in the village is and priests, run retreats and help coordinate programmes that the two will one day gather together for Mass. for training in spiritual direction and hospital chaplaincy. While any reconciliation between groups of people can take Through the generous donations of our benefactors, the time, given their different histories and experiences, we Columban Mission Society is also able to offer scholarships pray that the Spirit will continue to guide the Catholics in for priests, sisters and laypeople to study in China or China on the path of reconciliation. abroad.

Within the Catholic Church in China, there are two Fr Kevin O’Neill is a member of the Peace, Ecology & Justice Office, communities. One is commonly known as the ‘open Church Columban Mission Centre, Essendon. community’, and the other as the ‘underground Church community’. Both communities belong to the universal Church, and both are loyal to the Pope. Why are there two communities in the Catholic Church in China? When the Communist Party came to power in China in 1949 it wanted all religions to be supervised by the Government. The Religious Affairs Bureau was set up and organisations within the Bureau supervised Christianity (Catholic and Protestant), Buddhism, Taoism and Islam. In 1957, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association was set up to supervise the Catholic Church. As the years went by, some bishops chose to work with the Catholic Patriotic Association to give the Church a public face, while others opted to steer clear of Government supervision in a search for religious freedom. The part of the Church that chose to work with government became known as the open Church or official or registered Church. The part that chose not to work with the association and not register with the government, became known as the underground, unofficial or unregistered Church. In 2007, Pope Benedict wrote a letter to the Catholics in China. He said there is one Catholic Church in China, and it has two communities. While acknowledging the history that has led to their being two communities, Pope Benedict encouraged Catholics in China to journey on a path of Columban Fr Kevin O’Neill with a Catholic woman in front of her reconciliation. parish church in rural China.

Photos: Fr Kevin O'Neill SSC The Far East - August 2021 15 Ph oto: iStock.com/RoyFWylamoto: Mission World We ask your prayers: The prayers of our readers are requested for the repose of the souls of friends and benefactors of the Missionary Society of St Columban who died recently and for the spiritual and the temporal welfare of all our readers, their families and friends. Mission Intention for August Let us pray for the Church, that She may receive from the Holy Spirit the grace and strength to reform herself in the light of the Gospel.

The latest saint of modern India’s poor

he death of Fr Stan Swamy, a prisoner of the state who constitutionally recognised voice to defend their rights in died of COVID-19 in a hospital in Mumbai, India, on July their own chosen way. T5, is being mourned across the country by politicians, Indian media are accusing the state of conspiring to bring religious leaders, social advocates and most especially about Fr Swamy’s death. Charles Cardinal Bo, the president the voiceless tribal peoples and those at the bottom of of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences said in a economic pile. statement, “His last month of custody on a hospital bed… is the The Jesuit priest was described by the Indian Express as a most heart-wrenching tragedy of an innocent man persecuted tribal rights advocate who worked for over three decades for doing good.” promoting access to land for the poor, labour rights and the From the earliest months of his detention his appeals for equitable use of natural resources. The main thrust of his bail were rejected, although no charge against him was lifetime’s work was the establishment of a Tribes Advisory ever proven. Suffering from Parkinson’s disease his health Council with members chosen solely from among the deteriorated quickly and for some months he was even indigenous people of the sub-continent. denied a straw for drinking, although his shaking hands There was outcry when he was arrested on October 8, 2020 could no longer hold a cup without spilling the contents. on charges of conspiring with Maoists to murder political Reluctantly, the government allowed his transfer to hospital leaders. Fr Swamy consistently denied the charges believing shortly before he died. that the real reason for his arrest was a petition he had filed Cardinal Bo described his legacy as being set free by his with the High Court demanding a speedy and fair trial for all death, adding that it has inspired thousands in every part of prisoners facing charges. He had also publicly attacked the India and the world. “His mission will never succumb to evil,” government over policies he believed weighed heavily in the cardinal said. favour of big corporations and the rich and powerful. Comparing Fr Swamy with Mahatma Gandhi, who was Fr Swamy said in a statement at the time of his arrest, “This, arrested under British sedition laws, Cardinal Bo described I believe, is the main reason why the state is keen to put me out him as the latest saint of modern India’s poor. “He has of the way. The most feasible way is to implicate me in serious redefined his priesthood, extending his altar to the streets and cases and stall the judicial process to give justice to the poor…” hills of those obnoxious corners of injustice, breaking the bread Born in 1937 in Tamil Nadu, Fr Swamy’s life is being described of good news of human dignity and justice, especially among as one of relentless advocacy for human rights and his fate the indigenous people.” as an institutionalised maiming of a voice raised on behalf The cardinal described him as shining a damning light on of the poor. In his lifetime he studied in both the Philippines injustice that is becoming a norm in the world. “Tribals and and Belgium, gaining a doctorate in social studies in order indigenous people are expendable to corporate interests and to equip himself for his lifelong vocation of opposing their political leaders,” he said. arbitrary acquisition of land by corporate and state interests. His big push was for the oppressed of the nation to have a This article was written on behalf of St Columbans Mission Society.

16 The Far East - August 2021 CHILE Hands of Mercy project FR MARTIN KOROICIRI

s the momentum of the coronavirus pandemic gained pace and the devastation became evident from the Anumber of infections and deaths, the indirect effects also became apparent. Many people were without income and were going hungry. They needed help. In our parish of San Columbano in Santiago, Chile, we started a successful soup kitchen project, but this was not enough. We learned that many families were not coming for food because they were embarrassed at finding themselves in such a predicament. They worried about what the neighbours would think. But their reality was grave, and many had more needs than just food. Some families had babies and children up to five-years-old and no milk or winter clothes to protect them from the cold. Columban Fr Martin Koroiciri with the women in the soup kitchen, Chile. With the help of financial aid provided by benefactors, we were able to deliver food and clothing to more than 50 families, including those who had contracted coronavirus The emotional gratification we saw and were in isolation. Taking the recommended precautions, we delivered the groceries and tried our best to help those in their eyes was such a satisfying in isolation. feeling that it encouraged us to keep The emotional gratification we saw in their eyes was such a striving to help more of those in our satisfying feeling that it encouraged us to keep striving to help more of those in our community that were in need. community that were in need.

Once the project was running well, we began receiving small donations of baby clothes from nearby families. This was immensely helpful and showed that the people were standing in solidarity with their brothers and sisters to break the chain of embarrassment. Their action has lit a fire of hope within our communities, and it is our prayer that eventually we may learn to stand together rather than tear each other apart. This positive outcome resulted in naming our project “Manos de Misericordia” (Hands of Mercy). The name depicts a project where the initial help came from outside, but the healing came from within. We hope to learn one day that mercy is not just a word, but a way of living and understanding our reality and helping each other build a community of God where we can set our differences aside and stand together as one.

Columban Fr Martin Koroiciri works at the parish of San Columbano in Santiago, Chile. Soup prepared by the women in the soup kitchen, Santiago, Chile. Photos: Fr Martin Koroiciri SSC The Far East - August 2021 17 St Peter and St Paul’s Embrace of Peace

do not usually enjoy explaining my artwork. I would This was not so surprising as many of my paintings in the rather have the artwork itself relate to those gazing on it past have been portraits, images of human figures. But then Ibecause words are never enough. In this article, however, the question was: “Whose figures should they be?” I looked I try to share and reflect on the process I went through to for suggestions and ideas from my fellow Columbans. One arrive at the symbolism of the mural I painted on the doors of them gave me the encouragement to follow my own of the Martyrs Chapel in the Columban Formation House heart, which was the advice I followed. and Lay Mission Centre in Seoul, Korea. The title of the After some reflection, the figures of Saints Peter and painting is St Peter and St Paul’s Embrace of Peace. Paul came to mind. One might wonder why it was not a The Process St Columban or St Patrick of Ireland or one of the other great missionary saints such as St Francis Xavier. The first The idea of a painting on the chapel's double doors came Korean priest and martyr, St Andrew Kim Tae Gon, would from the Columban Formation House community. The goal be another strong candidate. Also, our Columban founders, was to make the doors, which could have been the entrance Bishop Edward Galvin and Fr John Blowick would not be to any room, into something that would distinguish them out of place there. as doors welcoming people into the chapel, the place of prayer. It was a challenge for me in many ways. They are How, then, did these two founders of our church, Sts Peter large doors with a metal surface. I needed suitable paint. and Paul, come to the fore? One explanation would be that I needed the skill to execute the painting and, most of all, I I always like to have a personal connection or relationship needed an appropriate, meaningful theme! with the subject of my works of art. The feast of Sts Peter and Paul, namely, June 29, was the day of my diaconate The challenge was overwhelming. However, after some ordination in 2014. Perhaps of greater significance is the fact thought, reflection and prayer, I decided that if I saw my art that Rome officially recognised our Mission Society of St as a ministry and believed that God had given me artistic Columban on this same feast day in 1918. talents for the church's service and its mission, I had to trust that God’s guidance would be with me. My decision to choose these two apostles led to more research that opened my eyes to countless artworks I had not been given a theme or a subject to paint. It was by myriad artists depicting these two great apostolic- up to me to decide what would be suitable and what I missionary figures. could successfully portray. Fortunately, the moment I saw the double-door entrance to the chapel, the image of two Symbolism human figures came to my mind. The mural is rich in symbolism by which I tried to convey certain messages and feelings. However, the symbols do not replace the artwork itself or the meanings it may draw out for its viewers. First, St Peter and St Paul’s Embrace of Peace show Peter and Paul greeting each other with a Holy Kiss of Peace, an expression of love and peace in the early Christian communities. It has been interpreted many times and in different ways by various Christian artists. In some of his epistles, the apostle Paul instructed Christians to “Greet each other with the holy kiss of peace” (Romans 16:16). Later, this expression, derived from the Hebrew Shalom Aleichem - May peace be upon you - became the Sign of Peace we share at every Mass today. Secondly, the colours used in the mural represent the Church’s colours for all the liturgical seasons. They symbolize cultural and religious virtues, such as red for Columban Fr Jason Antiquera preparing the chapel doors for painting. courage and martyrdom, purple for passion and zeal, yellow

Photos: Fr Jason Antiquera SSC 18 The Far East - August 2021 FR JASON ANTIQUERA KOREA

and orange for warmth and light and green and blue for life, hope and serenity. Thirdly, the faces of Peter and Paul are touching, but their eyes do not meet. This symbolises the relationship between the two apostles. One of them is a fisherman. The other, an educated Roman citizen. In many ways, two very different personalities whose expressions of faith, Gospel and church could differ and be unique, but one in their following of Christ, their teacher and saviour. Lastly, there is the symbol created by people entering and leaving the chapel through these doors. We usually relate to art by standing in front of it and gazing upon it. However, the St Peter and St Paul Embrace of Peace mural invites us to enter the image itself and join with the tradition of these two missionaries and fathers in the faith. With them, we enter into the space of prayer and worship as fellow missionaries, like them, called by Christ to preach the Gospel to the nations. Reflection I started to paint the mural on July 1, 2020, and completed it seven months later. When I look at it now, I relate to it in new unintended and unexpected ways. I can’t look at it without remembering, aside from some back pain, my various feelings and experiences during the period of its creation. In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, I kept painting, whatever my mood, whether I was sad or happy, anxious or calm, annoyed or pleased, lonely or joyful, bored or excited. I kept painting as I mourned the deaths of three Columban missionaries who died in Korea that year, Frs Pat Murphy, Kevin O’Rourke and Frank Ferrie. While painting in solitude, I was keenly aware of, and also confronted by, what was happening in our world, in the Society of St Columban, and myself. I believe that all of these events and the emotions they gave rise to are part of this mural and my connection with it. So I will let this mural or work of art speak for itself to all its viewers, in different ways, at other times. One sister, upon seeing it, said that it looks like a male counterpart of a well-known painting of the visitation of Mary to her cousin, Elizabeth. I remember a professor of art once reminding me that the worst thing you can do to art is to try to explain it. Let the art speak to us the way God speaks to us. Finally, I will leave you with a quote from a Croatian artist: “Art speaks its language, heart to heart, soul to soul”.

Columban Fr Jason Antiquera is assigned to Korea.

St Peter and St Paul's Embrace of Peace mural. The Far East - August 2021 19 A fertile dig Iowane Naio enjoying the fruit of his labour. “Hola a todas y todos, saludos muy cordiales desde Lima, Perú.” "Hello everyone, cordial greetings from Lima, Peru."

eru has been a challenging but rich experience for More than this, the sight of the vulnerable people me despite the pandemic limiting our participation suffering around us frustrated me. I began to ask myself: Pin parish activities and closing our churches. Many As missionaries, why are we not doing more to help these people are suffering because they do not have jobs and, people? I reasoned that this was the time the people really whilst it is not possible to help them all, we are trying our needed our accompaniment. I tussled with this question best to do something for those most in need. and, as usual, offered it to God during my prayer. I could not keep this tension within myself, so I shared it with two of my I want to share a little of how I have been coping with this companions. I found out they were feeling the same way. situation. In the beginning, I was quite calm, because I thought that the coronavirus would be quickly overcome, This brought me to a deeper reflection, and I came to realise just like similar threats. But after three months of lockdown, that the situation was new to all of us. None of these priests I began to worry about my health and the value of my first had ever gone through an experience like this. All of us mission experience, as the churches were closed and I was were trying to make sense of it. We began to talk about the not having much interaction with the people. I was worried situation and then decided to meet once a week as a group about how I would experience Columban missionary work. to reflect on our experience. These weekly meetings helped

20 The Far East - August 2021 IOWANE NAIO PERU

We missionaries need to have the attitude of a farmer. Farmers are always full of hope and are people of commitment. They are considerate, do not surrender, are humble, generous and full of patience. me reflect on my missionary vocation and identify new we do to it, good or bad. Even if we spit or pour hot water ways of being Church. Most of all, I knew I was not alone. I onto the soil, it never gives us stones. When we plant understood that this situation was deeply challenging, but I potatoes, we get potatoes. If we relate closely with God, trusted that God was inviting us to be more practical in our we are always at peace despite the usual ups and downs faith; maybe we had been focusing so much on loving God of daily life. Similarly, if we relate well with the soil and that we had neglected to love our neighbour. remain closely connected with her, we know we will have something to harvest despite the ups and downs. The soil The pandemic invited us to find a middle ground, a balance never takes revenge on us and it is the same with God. between our love for God and our love for our neighbour. I realised that we cannot separate these two great Working with the soil also teaches us patience because time commandments that define true humanity; they coexist is always needed before we can harvest. It teaches us to be in nature just like the two sides of a coin. It is impossible to mindful of the seasons and the resources available to us love our neighbour without experiencing the love of God before we start. It makes us more sensitive to things around ourselves. us. Relating with the soil requires commitment, and we need the same attitude when relating with God. Working As restrictions gradually eased, we could at last move with the soil helps us let go of the things that are out of our around the community. With the help of the chapel control, accepting what is there and moving forward with it. coordinators, we identified the vulnerable families and, following all the safety precautions, began to distribute We missionaries need to have the attitude of a farmer. grocery packs to them. These activities enabled me to Farmers are always full of hope and are people of adjust to this new situation and to accept new routines. At commitment. They are considerate, do not surrender, are this stage, I began to feel more content as I realised that humble, generous and full of patience. not everything was out of my control - now, at least, I could For me, gardening is a kind of therapy because it has control some of my simple routines, unlike at the beginning inspired me to look into my own “soil” and work on it while of the pandemic when I had felt so helpless. cultivating the actual soil. Working at the Manuel Duato Special Needs School has been one of my favourite experiences during this pandemic. At Columban seminarian Iowane Naio is from Fiji and is currently on his one of our Zoom formation meetings with Columban Fr Ed first mission assignment in Lima, Peru. O´Connell, I was surprised when he suggested we create a garden at Manuel Duato. Hearing this, I joined together with Antonio, another Fijian seminarian here with me, and set to work. The space was big enough, but dusty and dry; however, a water tap installed nearby gave us some hope that things would grow. We began digging a few plots, laid some manure, and planted. The first three plots yielded disappointing results, but we did not give up, and after more planting, composting and watering, potatoes grew. I love working on the farm and with soil! The soil is significant for me because, before the seminary, I spent most of my time on a farm. Some of the characteristics of the soil can be compared with God. For example, God is so loving and never hates or neglects us regardless of how The vegetable garden located at the Manuel Duato Special Needs sinful we are. In the same way, the soil accepts everything School, Peru. Photos: Juan Diego Torres - Communications Team Peru The Far East - August 2021 21 A blessed life

n ordination day is one to look back on, but a 50th anniversary demands more than a cursory recall. AWhile neither the beginning nor the end of a dream, 14 August 1971 was a day that set a course for John Hegerty that defined the term of his natural life. John looks back on his half-century as a priest with a profound sense of gift and challenge. He cherishes his upbringing on a farm in provincial Victoria. “I have deep gratitude for the people and the nature that surrounded me,” he says. “The people that showered me with great love and the nature that embraced my senses both helped me face the challenge of accepting the many blessings offered in later life.” He reflects on being a Columban as a major part of that blessing. “They provided me with all I needed to understand what God wanted for me,” he reflects, calling it a time of learning to return the love that had been so freely given to him since his childhood. During a life lived between Peru in Latin America and his homeland of Australia, John touched and was touched by many people. After years of formation in the seminary at Sassafras in the Dandenong Ranges and then the outer suburbs of Sydney, he was ordained in Melbourne prior to setting sail not just to the other side of the world, but to a new culture, language and way of life in surrounds he could not have imagined. Columban commitments in Peru lie in the squatter settlements huddled around the capital city of Lima. Crowded with desperate people seeking to eke out the living their rural surrounds had denied them, John was surrounded by a poverty he had never witnessed, with a language he had never spoken and challenges he had never faced. Much was being demanded of the newly ordained priest. He believes it is the gift of his upbringing; the gratuitous love he had been showered with that steeled him to meet these challenges and armed him with the ability to accept the love offered in a different way by the people among whom he found himself. “We lived, danced, sweated and struggled together,” he recalls. “I am forever grateful I was able to appreciate and respond to that love. In many ways, my early life made it easy.” Having experienced his student days with gratitude, he deeply appreciated his own opportunity to guide students in their early years in the seminary in Sydney during the 1980s. He describes this time of walking with young men in their own search for what God wanted for them as one of Fr John Hegerty SSC intimate freedom in the spirit of prayer and discernment. 22 The Far East - August 2021 PERU AUSTRALIA

He then took on the same challenge back in Peru, but this in Peru brought challenges of leadership, with his greatest time in his adopted Spanish language within the milieu satisfaction seeing a new parish being totally founded by of his adopted culture, but in the same intimacy with lay people, for lay people. “It was wonderful to witness the God’s spirit, as his new charges dived into the challenge of great courage of those who volunteered to take on something seeking what God wanted for them. It was not without its they had never done before, as well as the generosity of those human satisfaction. It was a time when accepting students who accepted their outreach with great trust and the courage for the Columbans from the countries of commitment was a to be involved in what they had never seen,” he reflects. controversial issue. It arose from the belief that the mission This highpoint indicates how much has changed during lands had reached a maturity, and the time had arrived his 50 years as a priest, but the love and generosity of when they should send their own missionaries, but as with people, the beauty and life-giving power of nature and all breakthrough decisions not all were in agreement. the openness to accept and enjoy both has seen his It worked, and John describes it as a time when the ministry develop as a blessing for many that is well worth ambiguity and richness of cross-cultural mission were on celebrating and giving thanks for. Congratulations John! full display, a rare privilege to have been involved in. A further experience as the director of the Columban region This article was written on behalf of St Columbans Mission Society. Photo: St Columbans Mission Society

Your Columban Legacy “Do what you can” Bishop Edward J Galvin

Remember the Columbans in your Will We cannot take our earthly possessions with us, but we can so dispose of them that our good works will continue after we are gone. By leaving a gift to Columban Missionaries in your Will you become a partner in our work and you are leaving a lasting legacy for the future. Why not speak to your lawyer about it? FORM OF WILL “I give and bequeath the sum of $...... to the Columban Leader of Australia (NZ Wills: Columban Leader of New Zealand) of St Columbans Mission Society to be used for that Society’s general purposes as the Columban Leader of Australia (NZ Wills: Columban Leader of New Zealand) sees fit. AUSTRALIA: PH: (03) 9375 9475 E: [email protected] www.columban.org.au NZ: PH: (04) 567 7216 E: [email protected] www.columban.org.nz YOUR COLUMBAN LEGACY Will information request Australia: PO Box 752 Niddrie Victoria Australia 3042 New Zealand: PO Box 30-017 Lower Hutt New Zealand 5040 Please fill in your details below if you would like to receive further information about Your Columban Legacy:

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