Columban Affiliates: Partners In Mission
Columban Affiliates are men and women who gather four to six times a year for a faith-sharing reflection with others possessing the mission spirit.

Many Catholics want to answer God’s calling for them to become missionaries, but don’t see themselves making a life-long commitment to overseas cross-cultural missionary work.

That’s why the Missionary Society of St. Columban has established the Columban Affiliates program in the United States.

Columban Affiliates are men and women who gather four to six times a year for a faith-sharing reflection with others possessing the mission spirit. This allows Affiliates to experience the spirit of mission within their situation and social reality while deepening their understanding of mission spirituality of Columban missionaries worldwide.
 
To learn more, write to Columban Affiliates Executive Coordinator Ariel Presbitero by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . You can learn more about the Columban Affiliates program by visiting our Columban Affiliates page.

Here is the story of a Columban Affiliate in Los Angeles and how she has answered God’s call in her occupations and work with Columban missionaries.

A Call To Care For The Elderly

By Mindy Miñoza

Mindy Miñoza is a Columban Affiliate in Los Angeles who works full time as a caregiver to elderly patients. Mindy is a native of the Philippines who has been involved with the Columban Affiliates program since December 2006, participating in Christmas caroling, the Affiliates’ “Dancing for the World” event and other Affiliates’ activities. She also assists Columban Father Peter Kenny in promoting Columban Mission magazine in the Los Angeles area.

“If only people could care more—and perhaps many don’t know how—we would not need paid caregivers like me in the first place,” I told fellow Columban Affiliates at one of our gatherings in Los Angeles.

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At home in L.A. Mindy Miñoza is a native of the Philippines who has been a Columban Affiliate in Los Angeles
since December 2006.
When I become a caregiver to an elderly patient, my first obstacle is building a relationship with him or her. I must build a bridge from the unknown to the familiar. Establishing this relationship opens the door to the types of care I need to provide.

My most-recent patient is not unique. Like most patients I have worked with for nearly a decade, she suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. The illness is all-too-common for elderly people, who suffer from memory loss, irritability, impatience, mood swings, sleeplessness and disorientation. Because I know of the difficulties associated with Alzheimer’s, I know how important it is for me to establish a good relationship with the patient.

Dealing with seemingly impossible cases is not new to me. An incident I will never forget was when a patient yelled at me and asked me to leave her home because she was annoyed that someone was around.

Perhaps she was confused because of her illness or she simply wanted to be on her own.

But, I couldn’t just leave her, so I walked to another part of the house for a few minutes and then returned. When I came back, she asked me where the other lady was. There was no other woman, of course, except me.

The Challenge Of Unconditional Love
Sometimes in these situations, you need to be tough. You have to accept the impossible, because caring for these people is your job, and they are not physically and psychologically well. You must understand them, and they will not understand you. To sustain such a relationship is a daily challenge. Just to be present for somebody who is in need makes a lot of difference in giving meaning to life.

But I’m only human. I am going to be hurt no matter how confused or disoriented the patient is. The only thing I can do is to hold on to God. Sometimes, I look out the window and ask God to give me more patience and understanding to do my job.

There are moments that are so difficult to handle, but I pray for God to give me more strength and courage to continue. I cannot complain, because I know God is always there with me and the people with whom I work and live.

I’m so grateful to God that I can make a difference in people’s lives. Sometimes I ask myself why I am doing this. They are not my family, and, yet, I find a home with them. The last few years of their lives become significant for me up until their last days. I am there entrusting their frail human bodies to God, and I pray for an easy passage to eternal peace for them as their souls rest with Him.

I have received awards and recognition for being faithful about what I believe is the best care I can give. But I hold tight to the basic and fundamental philosophy in life beyond these praises, which is unconditional love needed to serve my patients well. I am happy when I see patients improving and enjoying the last years of their lives. To see them happy and healthy motivates me to give them the best quality care.

Caring for the elderly is my God-given mission. I don’t work just for money; I work for God by being able to care for people in nearly impossible situations. I see myself being a missionary to people with whom I work. They need care, assistance and love, especially at this latter stage of their lives.

These people gave so much during their prime, so now it is time for them to receive well-deserved care and live dignified and happy lives. Each day, this is my challenge.