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Stories from Columban Missions

Three crosses on a hill with the setting sun behind them.
The Last Wanaurny

“I’m the last of the Wanaurnys in the USA” …. a chuckle …. “and maybe the last in the entire world!” Th is was how Fr. John Wanaurny mused from…

Columban Fr. Donal McIlraith with newly Ordained Fr. Vincent Tawake
Fr. Vincent's First Mass

On Saturday, August 19, 2023, Deacon Vincent Tawake CM was ordained priest by the Archbishop of Suva, Dr. Peter Loi Chong. Some 30 priests…

Young People celebrate World Youth Day in Myanmar
Hope and Light

It has been a while since the parish youth ministry prepared for a big event. After arriving back in Myanmar (formerly Burma) from my home…

School children gather to say thank you
Spring in the Jungle

In 2020, Fr. M was looking forward to celebrating his 25th ordination anniversary. Ordained in 1995, he was one of the first priests from Myanmar…

Diary - In So Many Words
The Mysteries of Life

Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem.

Parishioners with Fr. Carlo (left) and Fr. Tim
Visit to Labasa

Even though it was my first time to visit to Fiji, my short stay in Holy Family Parish in Labasa felt like a homecoming! Situated among the…

Elderly man teaches young girl to plant flowers
Meaning in Life

Some words in Japanese are hard to translate. The reason is that there are many, many years of cultural feeling and experience behind the words.…

Setting sun shines through two hands making the heart sign
Go Home

Racism is a specific form of discrimination and exclusion faced by minority groups. It is based on the false belief that some races are inherently…

A mosque silhouetted against a setting sun
Dialogue

Pope Francis’ pastoral visit to Iraq in the midst of the pandemic as a Pilgrim Penitent and as a Pilgrim of Peace put me thinking. Age and…