COLUMBAN MISSIONARIES 2021 CALENDAR MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF ST. COLUMBAN Registered Charity in England & Wales (221594) and in Scotland (SCO38948) St. Columban’s, Widney Manor Road, Solihull, West Midlands B93 9AB Telephone: 01564 772096 E-mail: [email protected] Visit our website - www.columbans.co.uk Dear Columban Friend God is love and those who abide in love abide in God. 1 John 4:16 Happy New Year! It is probably fair to say that the passing from the old year to the new will carry more significance than usual on this occasion. The coronavirus pandemic has shaped our lives in ways few could have predicted. Its far reaching and devastating impact on so many people will be remembered for years to come. I pray that whatever your experience has been, you have known the consolation of God’s abiding love and you feel hopeful as we begin our journey together through 2021. Columban missionaries are inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical ‘Fratelli Tutti: on fraternity and social friendship’, which resonates with the Columban experience of mission. A notable source for the encyclical is Francis’ dialogue with the Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb and their commonly held belief that “God has created all human beings equal in rights, duties and dignity, and has called them to live together as brothers and sisters”. Francis calls us to share their dream and in their commitment to a world in which no one is isolated and all people matter. What does this mean for each one of us called to be a part of God’s mission? We draw strength and encouragement for our mission work from the Columban community of ordained and lay missionaries, together with co-workers, and people like you who remember us in your prayers and provide us with the financial assistance we need. As we begin this New Year, we are ever more grateful for the blessing of this friendship and of our responsibility to give generously in return for all that we receive. May this calendar, our prayers and all that we share with you through our magazines, website, eNewsletter and social media serve to nourish and encourage you in the challenges and joys that lie ahead. In 2020, we welcomed new lay missionaries to Britain – Roberta from Korea and Ling and Sophia from New Zealand (pictured above) – and we hope to welcome Fr. John Boles and Fr. Pat O’Beirne once travel restrictions are lifted. Please pray for this new chapter in their mission life. We plan to begin again our annual ‘visit’ to parishes for the mission appeal, in the dioceses of Shrewsbury and Southwark and in Scotland; and we are exploring alternative ways to do this when we are unable to visit in person, so we can continue to share our rich mission experience with the local Church. This year, let us pray the concluding prayer of ‘Fratelli Tutti’, printed on the back page of the calendar, and dream together of ‘a more dignified world’. Front cover: family and friends celebrate the ordination of Fr. Teakare Betero in Fiji, November 2019. Fr. Peter Hughes Columban Director in Britain COLUMBAN MISSIONARIES Tel: 01564 772096 www.columbans.co.uk www.columbansisters.org Pope Francis Peace emerges from the depths of the human heart and political will must always be renewed, so that new ways can be found to reconcile and unite individuals and communities. Message for 54th World Peace Day St. Columban parish in Santiago de Chile put faith into action by starting a soup kitchen for families experiencing hardship due to coronavirus. January 2021 31 1 2 RACIAL JUSTICE DAY First Friday 4th of Year MARY, THE HOLY St Basil the Great StPsalter John W4Bosco MOTHER OF GOD St Gregory Nazianzen 3 456 789 Psalter W2 THE EPIPHANY Most2nd Sunday Holy Name of Christmas of Jesus St Elizabeth Ann SetonOF THE LORD St Raymond of Penyafort 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 THE BAPTISM Week 1 in Ordinary Time St Aelred of Rievaulx, St Hilary OF THE LORD Psalter W1 Abbot St Kentigern (Scotland) 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 PEACE DAY 2nd of Year OCTAVE OF PRAYER St Fabian, Pope StPsalter Anthony, W2 Abbot FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY St Wulstan, Bishop St Sebastian St Agnes St Vincent 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD 3rd of Year The Conversion of Ss Timothy and Titus, StPsalter Francis W3 de Sales St Paul, Apostle Bishops St Angela Merici St Thomas Aquinas Scripture readings: Sundays - Cycle B Weekdays - Year 1 Full Moon - 28th COLUMBAN MISSIONARIES Tel: 01564 772096 www.columbans.co.uk www.columbansisters.org Rise to the challenge If we accept the great principle that there are rights born of our inalienable human dignity, we can rise to the challenge of envisaging a new humanity. We can aspire to a world that provides land, housing and work for all. Fr. Shay Cullen campaigns for the rights of indigenous tribal communities like the Aeta people in the Philippines. Fratelli Tutti #127 February 2021 1 2 3456 St Paul Miki and THE PRESENTATION St Blaise First Friday Companions St Brigid of Ireland OF THE LORD St Ansgar St Agatha (Martyrs of Japan) 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 PRAY FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING WORLD DAY OF 5th of Year St Jerome Emiliani PRAYER FOR THE SICK Psalter W1 St Josephine Bakhita St Teilo, Bishop (Wales) St Scholastica Our Lady of Lourdes 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DAY FOR THE UNEMPLOYED Ss6th Cyril of Year and Methodius, ASH WEDNESDAY (PatronsPsalter W2 of Europe) FAST AND ABSTINENCE St Colman of Lindisfarne 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1st Sunday of Lent The Chair of St Peter, StPsalter Peter W1Damian Apostle St Polycarp LENT FAST DAY 28 2nd Sunday of Lent StPsalter Oswald W2 of Worcester Scripture readings: Lent Sundays - Cycle B Weekdays - Proper Full Moon - 27th COLUMBAN MISSIONARIES Tel: 01564 772096 www.columbans.co.uk www.columbansisters.org Lord, we remember you Lord, you asked that we remember you; we do so in your walking. We remember the way you brought life by your presence and by your Word. May we never be afraid to get our feet dusty; may we walk in Your Spirit. Amen. The ‘Stations of the Cross’ in a rural village near Wuhan, China, led by Fr. Taemoon Kwon. Fr. Finbar Maxwell SSC March 2021 1 23456 First Friday St David, WOMEN’S WORLD DAY Patron of Wales St. Chad, Bishop St Casimir OF PRAYER 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 3rd Sunday of Lent SsPsalter Perpetua W3 and Felicity St John of God St Frances of Rome St John Ogilvie (Scotland) 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ST JOSEPH, 4th Sunday of Lent St Patrick SPOUSE OF THE Psalter W4 Patron of Ireland St Cyril of Jerusalem BLESSED VIRGIN MARY St Cuthbert 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 5th Sunday of Lent THE ANNUNCIATION PRAY FOR SURVIVORS Psalter W1 St Turibius de Mongrovejo OF THE LORD OF SEXUAL ABUSE 28 29 30 31 PALM SUNDAY OF THE Rededication of England PASSION OF THE LORD as Mary’s dowry Psalter W2 HOLY WEEK HOLY WEEK HOLY WEEK Scripture readings: Lent Sundays - Cycle B Weekdays - Proper Palm Sunday - Proper Full Moon - 28th COLUMBAN MISSIONARIES Tel: 01564 772096 www.columbans.co.uk www.columbansisters.org Transformed by charity Only a gaze transformed by charity can enable the dignity of others to be recognized and, as a consequence, the poor to be acknowledged and valued in their dignity, respected in their identity and culture, and thus truly integrated Volunteers led by Fr. Andrei Paz in the Philippines distribute food parcels to vulnerable into society. people left stranded by the coronavirus. Fratelli Tutti #187 April 2021 1 23 GOOD FRIDAY FAST AND MAUNDY THURSDAY ABSTINENCE HOLY SATURDAY 4 5678910 StEASTER Isidore SUNDAY EASTER OCTAVE EASTER OCTAVE EASTER OCTAVE EASTER OCTAVE EASTER OCTAVE EASTER OCTAVE 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 DIVINE MERCY 2nd Sunday of Easter StPsalter Stanislaus W2 St Martin I, Pope 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3rd Sunday of Easter St George, St Adalbert (Wales) Psalter W3 St Beuno (Wales) St Anselm, Bishop Patron of England St Fidelis of Sigmaringen 25 26 27 28 29 30 WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS St Peter Chanel St4th Mark Sunday of Easter St Louis Marie Grignion St Catherine of Siena Psalter W4 de Montfort (Patron of Europe) St Pius V, Pope Scripture readings: Sundays - Cycle B Weekdays - Proper Easter Sunday - Proper Full Moon - 27th COLUMBAN MISSIONARIES Tel: 01564 772096 www.columbans.co.uk www.columbansisters.org Discover God’s goodness Let us seek out others and embrace the world as it is, without fear of pain or a sense of inadequacy, because there we will discover all the goodness that God has planted in human hearts. Fr. Cho Sungkun Genovio from Korea began his Columban journey as a lay missionary Fratelli Tutti #78 and was ordained priest in September 2019. Please pray for our students in formation. May 2021 30 31 1 THE MOST HOLY The Visitation of the TRINITY Blessed Virgin Mary St Joseph the Worker 2 345678 5th Sunday of Easter Ss Philip and James, StPsalter Athanasius W1 Apostles The English Martyrs St Asaph (Wales) First Friday 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 THE ASCENSION 6th Sunday of Easter Ss Nereus and Achilleus OF THE LORD Psalter W2 St Pancras Our Lady of Fatima St Matthias, Apostle St Isadore 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY 7th Sunday of Easter St Christopher Magallanes Psalter W3 St John I, Pope St Dunstan St Bernardine of Siena and Companions St Rita of Cacsia 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 MARY MOTHER OF THE OUR LORD JESUS CHURCH St Bede the Venerable CHRIST, ETERNAL HIGH PENTECOST Week 8 in Ordinary Time St Gregory VII, Pope PRIEST 8th Sunday of Easter Psalter W4 St Mary Magdalene St Augustine of StPsalter William W4 of Rochester St David of Scotland de’Pazzi St Philip Neri Canterbury St Paul VI Scripture readings: Sundays - Cycle B Weekdays - Year 1 Full Moon - 26th COLUMBAN MISSIONARIES Tel: 01564 772096 www.columbans.co.uk www.columbansisters.org Faith in action Education and upbringing, concern for others, a well- integrated view of life and spiritual growth: all these are essential for quality human relationships and for enabling society itself to react against injustices… Students from Coventry campaign for climate justice in London with James Trewby, Columban Justice & Peace Education worker.