Adventures on tide Island

Transcription

1 MAGAZINE OF THE COLUMBAN MISSIONARIES Grameen Bank The Bank that Likes to Say'Yes' Adventures on tide Island Celebrating May and June's major feasts MY LIFE IN WUHAN Teaching English in China with AITECE

2 CONTENTS 04 Winding Ways Towards Education Sr Kathleen Melia explains how a pre-school set up by the Columban Sisters for Subaanen children has given rocognition their cultural uniqueness. 06 Outreach to Refugee Families in Myanmar Fr Pat Colgan reports on his visit to the boarding houses and camps for internally displaced people which the Columbans support in Myanmar. 08 Adventures on Tide Island Fr Colin McLean shares memories of the Church's celebration of May and June's major feasts on Tide Island, which lies off the coast of Salvador in northeast Brazil. 10 To Visit the Imprisoned Fr Michael J. Hoban explains how the Year of Mercy spurred his vicariate in Santiago de Chile to live out the corporal work of mercy of visiting the imprisoned. 12 A Call to Ecological Conversion The big issue facing Pakistan's 200 million people isn't terrorism according to Fr Liam O'Callaghan it is climate change. 14 My Life in Wuhan Volunteer teacher, Tadhg O'Sullivan, recalls some of his experiences teaching English in China through AITECE's programme for graduates. 16 The Bank That Likes to Say 'Yes' Fr Seán Connaughton pays tribute to the Grameen bank which operates on the belief that most of its poor borrowers can be trusted to repay their small loans. 18 Obituaries 19 Reflection 20 Columbans Who Died Violently on Mission 21 Stories from the Bible 22 Children's Section 23 Nature: Dumbledore Beetle

3 EDITORIAL THE FAR EAST Published seven times yearly by the Missionary Society of St Columban (Maynooth Mission to China). THE PURPOSE OF THE FAR EAST IS To promote an awareness of the missionary dimension of the Church among readers; report on the work of Columban priests, Sisters and lay missionaries; seek spiritual and material support for missionaries. Subscription 5 per year by post to individuals. Cheques/postal orders to be made payable to: "The Columban Fathers". To contact our Subscriptions Department: Tel: or office@solihull.co.uk Editor Sarah Mac Donald editorfareast@gmail.com Assistant Editor Sr Redempta Twomey Layout & Editorial Assistant Breda Rogers Manager Stephen Awre Original Design Gabriel Carbone Printers Southern Print, Dorset Columban Websites News, reports, reflections etc. Follow us Facebook: fareastmagazine Missionary Society of St Columban Widney Manor Road, Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands, B93 9AB. Tel: (01564) Columban Sisters 209 Quebec Drive, East Kilbride, Glasgow, G75 8BB. Tel: (013552) Front Cover The Feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated on Tide Island in Brazil's north east by a procession of brightly decorated boats such as this one. Photo: Fr Colin McLean SSC. Almost 100 years ago the Columban Fathers were established as the 'Maynooth Mission to China'. Their magazine was, not surprisingly, called 'The Far East', and for many decades the front cover showed a Chinese junk in full sail. A lot has happened since then. The last Columban was expelled from China in After a few tentative efforts to set up a 'listening post' on the edge of China in Hong Kong, an office was finally opened there in The number of personnel assigned to Hong Kong and the mainland increased from then on, leading to the creation of a 'China Mission Unit.' As China cautiously reopened to the wider world in the 1980s, Fr Edward Kelly led the efforts to renew contact with the areas in which Columbans had worked. Astonishingly, after 30 years of silence, it was discovered that there were priests, Sisters and lay people there who still warmly remembered the Columbans and welcomed them back. Since then Columban activities in China have followed two paths. One is to help the re-emerging Church in China, with its large number of youthful leaders, to get the further training they need to face the challenges of today. Columbans based in Hong Kong and the mainland have built up good relationships not only with the areas in which the Columbans worked but in other corners of that immense country. They have sponsored young Church personnel to come to Ireland. Some are studying in Maynooth a return to the roots from which the Society emerged. Since the late 1980s, a small number of Columbans have worked to support the local Chinese Church. They have also managed two organisations, one named AITECE (see in Ireland and Cultural Exchange with China ( in the UK. These facilitate volunteers to go to China and teach English in third-level institutes. Over 400 young and old have gone to different parts of China since then, enjoying immensely the experience of working with young people there. Celebrating 100 years of involvement in China has spurred the Columbans to broaden contacts between China and Ireland. There are approximately 60,000 Chinese in Ireland at present, studying or working, and many Irish people active in China. How this exchange develops remains to be seen but we look forward to your support and involvement. If you are interested in knowing more about China or serving there as a Columban or as an associate of the Columbans, contact us. We will welcome your interest in continuing a 100 year tradition. Hugh MacMahon spent most of his life in Korea and China and is now in charge of the AITECE programme in Ireland. (cf pages 14-15) FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE

4 Philippines 01 winding ways towards education Sr Kathleen Melia explains how a pre-school set up by the Columban Sisters for Subaanen children has both improved the lives of the children and recognised their cultural uniqueness as a people. The current school year began in Midsalip, Mindanao, Philippines with more than two hundred Subaanen children enrolled in the pre-school administered by the Columban Sisters. School for these children is a very happy place. They are with children of their own unique tribal culture and language, and the teachers are Subaanen like themselves. There are no culture or language barriers in these schools. When the children share their stories about snakes that fly, eagles that eat monkeys, the shy tarsiers that appear at night or the wild pigs that eat their crops, they know that their teachers will listen with wonder and appreciation. All are affirmed in their reverence for the sheltering mountains, the forest trees, and the cooling streams of their ancestral homes. All appreciate the rituals of thanksgiving to 'Megbebaya', God, that are part of their life. Gratitude and care for creation is at the heart of this pre-school programme. Learning is encouraged through play and song, dance and drama and in all of these activities the children's culture, traditions, values and spirituality are affirmed. Numeracy, literacy and writing skills are developed to the degree that, by the time the children graduate from the schools they have acquired sufficient trilingual fluency to enable them adjust to governmentrun elementary schools where English or Binisaya, the language of the lowland Visayan people, is the medium of education. When the Columban Sisters came to live amongst the Subaanen people in 1983, martial law was in place throughout the Philippines, and in Midsalip the Subaanens were struggling to survive displacement, hunger, illness and fear. Survival, not education, was foremost in their minds. Most Subaanen adults were illiterate, and although many of them encouraged their children to attend government schools that were within walking distance of their homes, the children did not persevere. They felt like outsiders because of the cultural barriers that stood between them and their teachers and classmates. There was need for a culture-based literacy programme suited to their uniqueness as a people. With the assistance of the Columban Sisters, the people's urgent need of food, medicine, shelter and security were met, and some young women and men began to participate in the Sisters' ministries amongst their people. Small steps were taken towards establishing a stable early-learning programme. Cultural leaders, keen that the stories and songs of their people would be preserved, narrated and sang at length. Culture-based education materials were prepared, almost all by hand. The dream of education amongst the Subaanen people was on its way to being fulfilled. In 2002, the programme that is followed today began under the sponsorship of the Assisi Foundation, an American-based organisation which seeks to provide education to children of indigenous 4 FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE 2017

5 peoples. This sponsorship provided funds for training ten Subaanen teachers, and contributed substantially towards the expenses of running the small schools with all that this entailed. The schools are community-based with parents taking an active role in their children's studies. They organise meals daily, help in the maintenance of the schools and prepare herbal medicines for the sick. The parents have changed from being distrustful of formal education to actively supporting their children's studies. As awareness of indigenous peoples' rights to education began to increase; Wilma Tero who co-ordinates our schools' programme, joined leaders of indigenous people throughout the island of Mindanao in an advocacy campaign co-ordinated by the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous People. The purpose of the campaign was indigenous people's right to culture-sensitive education. During this process the Assisi Foundation turned over responsibility for our schools to Midsalip Subaanen Ministry. Around the same time, in 2011, the national government issued a Policy Framework recognising the plight of indigenous people throughout the nation and committing itself to co-operating in partnership with organisations dedicated to providing appropriate culture-sensitive basic education for them. A special office was opened in the Department of Education in Manila, and by 2014 Midsalip Subaanen Ministry schools were given official recognition. Now, local authorities who, formerly, through prejudice or lack of understanding, had failed to support our efforts, were expected to acknowledge and give credit to Subaanen children who entered government elementary schools. The recognition of our little schools was a cause of great rejoicing amongst Subaanens in Midsalip. Now, our children can advance to local government elementary schools confident in their culture, academically well prepared and having the documentation required for going forward through elementary education. In 2014, the Indigenous People's officer in Manila promised that financial assistance would be made available but two years later, following national elections and with a new President in the country and new indigenous people's officers in government, this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Columban Father, Vinnie Busch, employs our teachers, when they are free, in his Subaanen Crafts project, offering seminars and helping them to produce children's books which are really works of art. The Doll's House organisation in Dublin and The Little Way Association, provide consistent support to improve the lives of so many who otherwise run the risk of being forgotten or neglected. All these generous associates in our mission continue to weave a web of kindness around our Subaanen children, enabling them to go forward in hope, blessed in their culture, their friends and benefactors, their families and teachers and blessed above all by 'Megbebaya', God. Sr Kathleen Melia from Mohill, Co Leitrim, joined the Columban Sisters in After taking her degree in UCD, she was sent to the Philippines where she taught in schools in Ozamis and Molave. Since 1983, she has been in Midaslip where her wide ranging ministry to the Subaanen people includes education, healthcare, farming programmes and the study and preservation of their culture. The recognition of our little schools was a cause of great rejoicing amongst Subaanens in Midsalip. 01. Pre-school children singing their graduation song. 02. Sr Kathleen with pre-school teachers and children To make a comment on this article go to facebook.com/fareastmagazine 02 Assault on Sr Kathleen As we go to press Sr Kathleen Melia is making a good recovery after she was violently assaulted at her convent in Midsalip on Ash Wednesday. Local police said the 70-year-old Columban Sister was about to close the window of her convent shortly before 9.30pm when she was attacked by an unidentified masked man. She fell to the ground unconscious, her leg broken. "She has been working in that area for over 30 years with the indigenous population; she was very close to the people there." Sr Ann Gray, the Congregational Leader said. But she is confident that Sr Kathleen will bounce back from the terrible incident. "She will make a recovery as she is in very good hands in hospital in Manila," she said. FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE

6 myanmar 01 Outreach to refugee families in Myanmar Fr Pat Colgan reports on his visit with Fr Jovito Dales to boarding houses and camps for internally displaced persons (IDP) which the Columbans support in Myanmar. On our visit to three Societysupported boarding houses in Banmaw town, which cater exclusively for young internally-displaced persons, we were heartened to hear that thirty-one of them had passed their Tenth Standard state exams (the equivalent of passing the Junior Cert/GCSEs). One is now a tutor for other young men at the boarding house, another is a firefighter, and another is a student of chemistry at Banmaw University. The male students sang us a lively Kachin song they had composed which expressed thanks to their Columban benefactors as well as being a plea for continued support from those benefactors. We also visited a refugee camp at Maina, near Myitkyina. This is one of the largest in Kachin State, catering for 266 families, totalling around 1,355 persons. Last December, 182 new IDPs arrived unexpectedly. The Burmese Army had been forcefully occupying new swathes of Kachin territory, with the aim of neutralising Kachin Independence Army posts. Caught in the middle of the shelling, villagers were forced to run for their lives. The majority of IDPs are either elderly or women and children, as many of the men are involved in the war. There are 375 IDP students, of whom 74 are doing 9th or 10th standard public examinations. During our visit we heard that food rations had been recently reduced by 30% by the funding NGOs. With the new wave of refugees, the local government only gave one week's rations. Since then, Caritas and the Parish Emergency Team haven been providing food assistance. There is big need for an emergency vehicle in the camp, which no agency seems to want to fund. The Columban-supported Diocesan Education Programme has provided training and a salary for nine boarding masters/mistresses at Maina, who give after-school tuition to children from grade four to eight. Myanmar's de facto President, Aung San Suu Kyi, was due to visit on 12 February 2017, so when we were there the local government was running around installing electricity in the main reception/clinic area in preparation something the IDPs had been requesting for 6 years! There is a severe water shortage in the camp in the dry season. There are 12 shallow wells, but despite written and posted camp rules, women often wash clothes or residents bathe near the wells, dirtying them further. In fact, there is a large-scale mental health issue in the camp, related to depression, antisocial behaviour, drug and alcohol use. The camp leader, a Catholic catechist, does his best to keep families and particularly young people faithful to 6 FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE 2017

7 communal prayer, something very important to Kachin culture, but these are clearly not normal circumstances. The multipurpose hall, used for children's night study, prayer meetings and social/cultural activities, is in danger of falling down and being unusable. He humbly asked if I might find help for this. Spending most of my time at a desk in Hong Kong, visits like these help me to appreciate again the generosity of our donors as well as the hope a 'pleading hope' that many young and older people have in the Society, not just in Myanmar but in many other countries. A further group of Columbans arrived for language study and mission in Yangon in February 2017, and our prayers have been with them. As it was Fr Jovito's first visit to Myanmar, he was moved by the testimonies of students at Columban Fr Neil Magill's Higher Education Centre in Mandalay, and again in Kachin State. He expressed admiration for the young people's dreams and efforts to educate themselves despite all the harsh circumstances of war. He encouraged the students in Banmaw to keep dreaming, to keep thinking big, to "keep repeating those exams until you get the mark you know you are capable of!" I also related how as a young person in Northern Ireland, despite the difficulties of 'The Troubles', I took for granted my free education. Here in Myanmar, it is inspiring to see so many young people making a great sacrifice to learn. I told them that they, and not Aung San Suu Kyi or any other politician, are the real leaders of their Kachin State and the entire nation. Nelson Mandela was always convinced that education was the only force that could ultimately break the chains and shackles of the past. Learning is much more powerful than guns, hatred or war. Fr Michael Tang Gun, Caritas's Banmaw Director, thanked all Columban missionaries and benefactors for this tremendous window of opportunity they have opened for the poorest but most eager Kachin young people. Lifting their level of education will lift up whole families and communities too. Fr Pat Colgan, a native of Belfast, was ordained a Columban in 1994 and spent 18 years in Fiji before being appointed to the Society's General Council in He is a part-time chaplain to five jails in Hong Kong A testimony of A student Mary Maran Seng Ja was the first ever student at Buduza Female Boarding House. She joined it as someone who had failed her exams but wanted to try again. She is the eldest in her family and feels sad about their life in the IDP camp. She tried very hard to gain a distinction in her Tenth Standard, but at least she obtained a pass. She sees so many of her peers with no education and no future and this encourages her to motivate them too to reach out for the opportunity that the Columban donors have graciously offered. 01. Current and alumni students from the Buduza and Hla Min with Fr Pat Colgan and Fr Jovito Dales. 02. Fr Jovito with Fr Joseph Yung Wa along with the catechist and camp leader of Maina IDP Camp. 03. A Kachin refugee weaves with the hope of making some money. 04. UNHCR tents provide shelter for the new waves of refugees To make a comment on this article go to facebook.com/fareastmagazine MAKING YOUR WILL? Make a Difference! Please remember the needs of Columban missionaries and their missions. Without your help we cannot continue our work. Your gift could help some of the most marginalised and neediest. Missionary Society of St Columban, Widney Manor Road, Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands, B93 9AB. FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE

8 BRAZIL adventures on tide island Columban Fr Colin McLean shares how he celebrated some of the major religious feasts of May and June on Tide Island, which lies off the coast of Salvador, in north-east Brazil. Island life is shaped by the ocean. The weather determines whether you can cross to the island from the mainland, a jetty at São Tomé de Paripe. My usual mode of travel to the island communities, a trip of minutes, is by motorised canoe. When the weather is bad, especially when there is a strong wind, it becomes dangerous to cross. The tides determine when people can cross from the community of Praia Grande to the community of Santana and from Santana to the community of Nossa Senhora das Neves. The church of Nossa Senhora das Neves (Our Lady of the Snows) is reputedly the third oldest church in Brazil. There are six other communities on the island, all reachable by motorised canoes that take between five and eight people, and a few larger boats that can take up to 50 people. The ocean also encourages the three largest communities to hold processions using boats on the sea to celebrate major feasts. Corpus Christi (May 2016) On the morning of Corpus Christi I had a few qualms about crossing the bay in the usual motorised canoe when I saw that the sea was a bit choppy. But I decided not to call it off as I had suggested to the two communities in which we were to have the procession that they decorate the floors of their churches with designs made from sand, sawdust etc, and I didn't want to disappoint them. Oh boy, what a trip out! While I can swim and wasn't afraid of drowning, I was a bit nervous that the canoe would overturn. The three people with me though, who were from the island, sat calmly without even holding on to anything, while I was clinging to a post in the canoe so as not to fall out. Once on the island, I learned the communities had been sure I wouldn't arrive because of the rough sea. They praised my courage which allows me to say "no" the next time the sea is a bit rough and not appear a 'scaredy cat'. The Mass with the community of Praia Grande, the procession along the beach which followed, and the concluding Benediction with the community of Santana went off really well, especially considering it was the first time for them and for me. As we walked along the somewhat rocky beach (I was carrying the Monstrance with the Sacred Host), there was a bit of light rain. During the procession, I kept looking out to the sea thinking of the marvellous Salvador Dali painting of 'The Last Supper', in which the bread and wine and the physical body of Jesus all merge with the scene of natural elements outside the glass-walled room in the painting. 8 FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE 2017

9 By the afternoon, the sea was rougher, so no canoes were going back to the mainland. I was told there would be a larger boat at 6am the next morning, which I was determined to be on or I could be stranded for several days. Next morning, I got to the small jetty about half and hour before the 'larger' boat was due to arrive, so it was still dark. When it did arrive, I couldn't help thinking it wasn't that big! Due to the cold wind blowing I decided to sit downstairs on the boat. Normally, I would have sat upstairs, so that if the boat tipped, I could throw myself off and try to swim away. But the cold wind forced me into the protection of the lower deck. My God, what a trip that was! Feast of St Anthony of Padua (13 June) For months I had been suggesting to the community of Botelho that they should have a procession after Mass, but the two women leaders of the community kept saying, "Não dá certo, não" ("It won't work") meaning people won't be interested in participating since we haven't done it before. They keep complaining about the strong influence of evangelical Protestants on the island, so I insisted we needed to show that we Catholics have a strong presence here also. I virtually shamed them into a procession, saying I would carry the statue of St Anthony if we couldn't borrow a wooden processional platform from one of the other communities, even if only five people followed behind me. While I am not big on processions, when it comes to competition with the evangelicals, I can rise to the task! It was a relatively short distance and proved a great success. The only complaint was that it was too short! My response was, "Today we made history and we walked. We marked our presence. Next year we will run!" The Future Nearly all the Masses in the poor communities of Salvador at the moment are frequented mostly by women. I hope that in time we can make Jesus and his message appealing to men also, at least on the island. I am sure Jesus walked the shores of the Sea of Galilee, learned the talk of the fishermen, and entered their world before he chose some of them as disciples. We need to find a way to engage those, especially men and our youth, who do not come to church, and ask "why?" Pope Francis is leading the way, but how many of us are ready to go with him out of our comfort zones? I am hoping to start up some Bible study groups in the island communities to give a bit of sorely-needed formation. I have never really been in a situation before where one is totally dependent on the weather to get to the island, and also on the tides (to be able to walk from one community to another) on the island. My new lifestyle, "transition to retirement" began last year when I turned 70. The tides change when I turned 40; I came to Brazil, and when I turned 70; I began the Tide Island Apostolate. Columban Fr Colin McLean has worked in Brazil since Today he is the priest in charge of Tide Island and other island communities off Salvador in north-east Brazil. 01. Fr Colin McLean with local acolytes from Tide Island. 02. One of the boats used to transport the people between Tide Island and the mainland. Pic: Fr Colin McClean. 03. The community at Botelho celebrates the Feast of St Anthony 13 June. To make a comment on this article go to facebook.com/fareastmagazine FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE

10 CHILE to visit THE IMPRISIONED 01 Fr Michael J. Hoban explains how the Year of Mercy spurred his vicariate in Santiago de Chile to live out the corporal work of mercy of visiting the imprisoned. The Jubilee Year of Mercy was a unique opportunity for the Church in Chile to be missionary and to reach out to those who feel there is no place for them in society. Our vicariate in Maipo is one of seven in the Archdiocese of Santiago. It is located on the southern outskirts of the sprawling city of Santiago and includes two very different municipalities: Puente Alto (the most populated municipality in the country) and San José del Maipo (a rural municipality nestling in a canyon of the Andes Mountains). Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati invited each vicariate of the Archdiocese of Santiago to emphasise one of the corporal works of mercy and to implement that particular work of mercy in a special way. The priests, Sisters, deacons and lay pastoral agents of Maipo decided we were called to live out the corporal work of mercy of visiting the imprisoned. We based our decision on the fact that Puente Alto has a prison with 1,300 male inmates. It was built to house 700 inmates. The inmates are living in overcrowded conditions in large dormitories with bunk beds. Each bunk bed has mattresses for three men. The man on the top can touch the ceiling with his nose! The food rations provided by the prison authorities leave a lot to be desired and so the inmates rely on their families to bring them food which they cook and share among themselves. Many of the inmates come from the Columban parishes of San Matías and Santo Tomás. I carry with me a frightening memory. On 8 December 2010, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, there was a fire at San Miguel prison, resulting in 81 inmates being burnt to death. It was caused by a fight among the inmates. Some of the prisoners had built a flame-thrower using the gas canisters from their little kitchen. The flames ignited the mattresses. The fire was so intense that the gates of the prison cell could not be opened. I went to the prison and spent time consoling the families who had lost their sons, husbands or brothers in the fire. I accompanied Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz to 10 FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE 2017

11 the area of the prison where the charred bodies of the dead prisoners were being kept. The Cardinal prayed for and blessed the victims. After that experience, I could not ignore the plight of those in prison. As Pope Francis teaches us, no matter what sins we may have committed we are never excluded from the love or the mercy of God. In the prison in Puente Alto, I discovered that a small group of Catholics were visiting the prison every Wednesday. I met with them and we began to explore ways of increasing the number of pastoral agents for this apostolate. Then the merciful Lord sent us a great blessing. A new chaplain was appointed, Padre Armando Vergara. Fr Armando is a native of Iquique in northern Chile, and in his youth, he participated actively in the Columban parish of Espíritu Santo. He proudly claims he owes his vocation to Columban Fr Hugh McGonagle who accompanied him in his discernment about the priesthood while he was in the seminary and in his early years as a priest. Together with Fr Vergara, the Vicariate of Maipo organised workshops and courses on prison apostolate increasing the number of lay pastoral visitors from seven to 30. The increase in volunteers has meant that four days a week Catholic prisoners can avail of spiritual accompaniment and prayer. When Fr Vergara arrived in Puente Alto, the small Catholic chapel was in a deplorable condition. The Maipo Vicariate made a commitment to raise funds to repair and renovate the prison chapel. So far, we have raised more than $ pesos (a little less than $1,000 US) for the renovation. On 12 August 2016, Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati visited the prison and celebrated the Eucharist for the prisoners. He also blessed the chapel's new tabernacle which was donated by the Apostolic Works of Ennis, Co Clare in Ireland. Cardinal Ezzati called on the inmates not to lose heart nor lose the faith: "I want to encourage each one of you to develop all your abilities so that you can become new men, so that you can live happily with your families. Believe firmly that God can give you that possibility." We also organised our parishes to donate toiletries for the prisoners' personal use: toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, toilet paper, shampoo etc. In all our parishes there was a generous response. Last September, Sr Maria Luz Treupil came to our vicariate to work in prison ministry. She had spent many years in this ministry in the northern city of Antofagasta. While she was there, she began a choir and taught some of the younger inmates to play the guitar. Eventually, they produced a CD. Sr Maria Luz hopes to repeat that experience in Puente Alto. Fr Michael John Hoban's parents emigrated from Co Galway to the USA. He was ordained in December 1970 and assigned to Chile in March He was on the General Council from January 1983 until November He did a Masters in Fordham University and then returned to Chile in January 1991 and has been there since. Currently he is an Episcopal Vicar to the Archdiocese of Santiago with responsibility for the newest vicariate, Maipo, which includes the biggest municipality in terms of population, Puente Alto, and a rural municipality located in an extensive mountain canyon in the Andes mountains. I want to encourage each one of you to develop all your abilities so that you can become new men, so that you can live happily with your families. Believe firmly that God can give you that possibility. 01. Puente Alto prison. 02. Fr Armando Vergara (left) and Fr Michael Hoban with the tabernacle donated by Apostolic Works Ennis, Co Clare. 03. Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati, Archbishop of Santiago blesses the new tabernacle. 04. Cardinal Ezzati visits Puente Alto prison. To make a comment on this article go to facebook.com/fareastmagazine FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE

12 PAKISTAN A CALL TO ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION 01 The big issue facing Pakistan's 200 million people isn't terrorism according to Fr Liam O'Callaghan it is climate change. In March 2016, an article in Foreign Policy by Sualiha Nazar highlighted how the major issue facing the people of Pakistan is climate change and its consequences, not terrorism. But this ground-breaking article has been largely ignored across political, economic, social and religious life in Pakistan. Although Pakistan has contributed very little, in relative terms, to the build-up of human-produced greenhouse gases - the main cause of global warming and climate change - it is suffering disproportionately from the consequences of climate change. Pakistan is in fact numbered among the world's top 10 countries most affected by it. Since 2010, there have been catastrophic floods during the monsoon season, due to increased rainfall and melting glaciers in the Himalayas, displacing millions of people and causing billions in economic losses. In the south, the Thar desert, where some Columbans work, and Baluchistan have suffered severe drought, which is crippling agriculture and the economy there. Temperatures are increasing year on year; in July 2015, the hottest year the planet has known since records began in 1880 (NASA), an estimated 2,000 died in Karachi from the effects of a heat wave. Water scarcity is already a problem in many places, such as Karachi, and is projected to become much more so in the coming years. Safe drinking water is at crisis point due to pollution. According to Jehangir Shah, a senior scientific officer at the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratories Complex, 80% of all illness and 40% of all deaths in Pakistan result from contaminated water. Into this reality, the launch of Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment Laudato Si' in June 2015 came like a breath of fresh air and was warmly acclaimed and welcomed across the scientific, NGO, religious and interfaith worlds. Local churches can now no longer ignore this issue. Pope Francis challenges us to an 'ecological conversion' and to see it as our spiritual responsibility to protect the environment. Laudato Si' has been instrumental in helping other religions to come to this vision too. In Pakistan, 12 FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE 2017

13 the Columbans jointly sponsored the translation of Laudato Si' into Urdu and later an abridged version was also translated to be used in parishes and schools. Around the time of Nazar's article, Bishop Samson Shukardin of Hyderabad diocese appointed me as coordinator of the newly-established ecology commission of the diocese. Since then, Columban co-worker, Danish Yakoob, and I have visited many schools and parishes giving workshops on climate change, pollution and water as well as introducing Laudato Si'. Whether in urban or rural areas, the lives of ordinary people are being severely affected by these issues and will continue to be unless major change takes place. We produce materials and liturgies to be sent to parishes and schools for major environmental international days such as Water Day, Earth Day, and Environment Day. We are identifying interested people and plan to offer them training to enable them to be active in their local areas. Tree planting is becoming a feature of some parishes and schools. An area we will work on this year is linking interfaith groups like Muslims and Hindus with other groups and NGOs who are involved in these issues, particularly around the issue of safe drinking water and climate change. This follows the lead of Pope Francis who reminds us we are all brothers and sisters in our 'common home' planet Earth. Fr Liam O'Callaghan is from Portlaw, Co Waterford. He joined the Columbans in 1989 and was ordained in He first went to Pakistan in 1994 for 18 months as part of his formation. He went back in 1998 after ordination and has worked there ever since. In he did a DMin in CTU, Chicago in the area of missiology, focusing on Muslim-Christian dialogue in Pakistan. He is currently JPIC/IRD coordinator for the PMU. 01. Mountain scenery in the area of Passu in northern Pakistan. 02. Fr Liam O Callaghan and Danish Yakoob (in the short sleeved sky blue t-shirt) talk about Laudato Si' which has recently been translated into Urdu. 03. Flood-affected children fill their water pots at drinking-water tanks in Hyderabad, Pakistan. To make a comment on this article go to facebook.com/fareastmagazine 02 FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE

14 China 01 my life in wuhan Volunteer teacher, Tadhg O'Sullivan, recalls some of his experiences teaching English in China through the AITECE's programme for graduates. The Irish non-profit agency, AITECE, offered me, as it offers anyone who has a degree, the opportunity to live and teach English in China. It has been a pleasure to teach in the compact city of Wuhan, where 12 million people inhabit a bustling metropolis, and one in every twelve is a student. In Wuhan, I was given an apartment on Hubei University s campus and health insurance for the first year at no cost. I receive a good wage for my 14-hour working week. The local Catholic Patriotic Church provides ample opportunities to make friends with other foreigners and Chinese alike. Fr Dan Troy, an Irish Columban, says Mass at this Church, which is a vibrant parish with the French and African students providing a choir of powerful voices that echo through the alcoves every Sunday and are backed up by sterling piano and fiddle music. I spent my first Chinese New Year with Fr Jin who graciously invited me to his family home outside Xian city, which boasts the Terracotta Warriors. Around the city centre stands a 17km wall. This fully restored structure is complete with four guard towers and two armories which you pass as you walk or cycle on it. You can enjoy panoramic views of the city and it hosts an annual marathon. The ancient Nestorian Stone 'stele' records the entry of Christianity to China in 635AD. It sits among hundreds of other stone 'steles' in the Beilin museum. Tasks like booking trains, setting up mobile phones and bank accounts can be difficult. However, with the aid of Sarah, Jessica and Lee, three students appointed to us by the College, these tasks were made easy... they cannot do enough for us. We have had ample travel time for taking in the sights as we get five weeks holidays for the Chinese new year, ten weeks in the summer and one week in October. The highlight for me so far was a trip to the peerless Three Gorges Dam. 14 FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE 2017

15 01. An aerial view of traffic at viaduct bridge road in Wuhan City. ( 02. Tadgh O Sullivan with friends in Wuhan. 03. Yellow Crane Tower against blue sky in Snake Hill, Wuhan, China. ( Cultural Exchange with China (CEC) in the UK operates a similar exchange scheme as AITECE in Ireland. More details on CEC are available on: 02 To make a comment on this article go to facebook.com/fareastmagazine As Mark, Nile and I explored one of the ravines, we first had to cross a bridge which had no side walls it was not for the faint of heart! Nile and Mark wandered downhill from the road to get photos of the river bank. I sat to reflect and give thanks for the moment. Then I continued walking along the road and was greeted by a local who gestured for us all to join the families who were having BBQ by the bank. We swam in the river and watched local children fishing for crabs. Many are attracted by the possibility of teaching English in China as it is an exciting adventure even after retirement. Four of my colleagues are retired and relish the job. Most keep returning year on year to teach. Our city, Wuhan has a direct flight from Paris. For part of my summer break, I offered to do volunteer work in a village outside Guangzhou city. China is growing into a prosperous nation. However, like anywhere else in the world it is not exempt from its share of health problems. Apprehensive at first about this particular work, I nervously offered my services. A French priest has built a state-of-the-art centre for volunteers and those on retreat. His pig, fish and chicken farm provides employment to local people. Learning to treat the patients at his nursing station took only two days. The illness the patients suffer from is leprosy. Yes, it has not been completely eradicated around the world. Then I worked with the patients from 9am to 12pm Monday to Friday. Volunteers, locals and priests assist the Chinese government, which funded and built the village. The people are some of the kindest you will meet in a lifetime. They make everyone feel welcome, occasionally inviting volunteers over for dinner. Children visiting their grandparents afforded me the chance to teach some English which made me feel of some service. I happily extended my stay to three weeks during the summer break and look forward to returning again. Tadhg O Sullivan is from Limerick. He studied business at UCG and taught EFL in Griffith College from 2013 to 2015 when he then went to China with AITECE. 03

16 XXXXXX 01 THE BANK THAT LIKES TO SAY 'YES' Fr Seán Connaughton gives thanks for the Grameen banking system which operates on the belief that most of its poor borrowers can be trusted to repay their small loans. The Grameen Bank was founded in 1970 by Professor Muhammad Yunus, a former professor of economics at Chittagong University in Bangladesh, as a response to the grinding poverty he witnessed which left so many families eking out an existence. He believed that banking needed to rediscover the true meaning of 'credit' which is 'trust'. In his book, 'Banker of the Poor', Professor Yunus highlights how over the years, as commercial banking has become institutionalised, it has built its entire edifice on the basis of mutual distrust. In Professor Yunus's philosophy, everyone has the right to credit. Accepting the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2006, he said, "I believe that we can create a povertyfree world because poverty is not created by poor people. It has been created and sustained by the economic and social system that we have designed for ourselves: the institutions and concepts that make up that system; the policies that we pursue." Grameen Bank provides micro-loan programmes to low-income and poor families who would ordinarily be spurned by the commercial banks and other financial institutions. Loans offered by Grameen are intended to finance incomegenerating projects and businesses of its members. The bank is based on the voluntary formation of groups of five people who provide binding group-guarantees instead of collateral required by conventional banks. Initially, only two members of the group can apply for a loan. Depending on their repayment performance, the next two borrowers are allowed to apply followed by the fifth member. Most of the loans are very small, but just a few dollars can go a long way to easing the debt-burdens and poverty of the poor. Through careful supervision and management, repayment rates are well over 90%. In 1991, Kazama Grameen was founded at Sta. Rita, Olongapo City in the Philippines by Columban missionary Fr Seán Connaughton. A year after setting it up in Olongapo City, the bank branched out to Candelaria, Zambales with the help of a parish Basic Ecclesiastical Community (BEC) known as Sambayanang Kristiyano. By the time Fr Seán reached the age of 70 in 2004 and decided to return to Ireland to take on some pastoral duties, there were about 17,000 small businesses functioning with the help of the Kazama Grameen Bank along the 400-kilometre stretch north 16 FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE 2017

17 of Manila. Modern technology has enabled Fr Seán to continue to play a part as an external auditor from his base in Ireland. According to Fr Shay Cullen, trusting the poor pays in lending. In his view, the Grameen concept of micro-credit is the "most effective and empowering financial system to help the poor overcome crushing and devastating poverty". When he set up the Preda Human Development Centre in the Philippines, Fr Cullen turned to Grameen bank to help the villagers around Subic Bay and throughout Zambales. In a tribute, Fr Cullen said Fr Seán had established a "well managed and disciplined Grameen micro-finance loan project that has helped thousands escape poverty". For example, remote villages had no stores and families had to cross the bay in their flimsy boats, or traverse the mountain to get salt, cooking oil, garlic and other basic needs, to repair their fishing boats or other necessary items. Mostly, they had to borrow from loan sharks at usurious rates that crippled them and drove them into even greater poverty and despair. When Fr Connaughton brought in the Grameen loan system most of the women set up small businesses that served the community. One woman became the supplier of salt and oil, another brought a sewing machine and made clothes for the village, and another became the maker of brooms. Another set up a fishing-supply business. All of these were based in their own homes. Angelina's story became a member of Grameen in My first loan was 1,500 I pesos (c. 25) to be paid back in 12 months. With that I was able to sell fried bananas every day. After that I got 3,000 pesos and bought a sewing machine. This was a huge investment for me but it made a big difference to the family. When my son Bong was old enough, we got a loan to buy a welding machine that cost 12,000 pesos. In 1999 we borrowed 10,000 pesos to buy the pots and pans and all the rest to set up a catering service, while Bong continued as a welder. My most recent loan was for 50,000 pesos and I repay 2,500 pesos every week. I have been elected president of the local centre (25-30 Grameen members) on a few occasions. I have been strict with my weekly repayments. If not, those on the waiting list would not be able to get their loans. My children are now finished college and although my husband died recently, the family earns a good livelihood A regular weekly meeting of Kazama Grameen Subic branch in which repayments are made and those who wish to get a loan discuss their proposal. 02. Grameen's M. Randy Quinit pays a visit to one of the borrowers at her stall. 03. Fr Seán Connaughton addresses members of Kazama Grameen head office in 2010 on the organisation s annual report. To make a comment on this article go to facebook.com/fareastmagazine Fr Seán Connaughton served for many years in the Philippines and now serves as assistant in Castletown-Finea, in the Diocese of Meath. He would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who helped the Kazama Grameen over the last 26 years including Irish Aid, COAF (Australia), Columbans worldwide, supporters, family and friends in Ireland and the UK for their non-stop fundraising. Grameen supporter in the UK Ninety-year-old Mary has been a Grameen supporter since She recently sent 60, which will buy a second hand sewing machine or a small pig for someone. She explained to Fr Seán how she raised the money: Dear Fr Seán, I have sent Fr Peter 60 and asked him to send it to you for the Philippines. My late husband bought me a lovely handbag but it got little use. I felt guilty about it. My granddaughter has a shop on Ebay, so I asked her to sell it saying the money was to go to the Columban Fathers. She said she got a very good response it raised 60 so I am very happy. I know there will be some little ones you can help. FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE

18 Obituaries REST IN PEACE Fr Michael Harrison Sr Bernadine Rush Fr Tom Parker Fr Michael Harrison died rather suddenly in the Dalgan Nursing Home on 17 January Born on 21 March 1924 at Bunaduff, Castlegal, Co Sligo, he was educated at Castlegal NS and Summerhill College, Sligo. He came to St Columban's, Navan in 1942 and was ordained a priest on 21 December The following year he undertook graduate studies in the USA. In 1952, he was appointed to the Philippines as Far East correspondent of the National Catholic Welfare Conference, a post he held until He was then called back to work in the Omaha Central Offices. He spent the next fifteen years there and was credited with organising the mail operation to new levels of efficiency. From 1972 to 1975 he was editor of Columban Mission. In the years that followed he served in the Columban houses in West Chester PA, in Quincy, MA, in Philadelphia and in Westminster CA. In 1984, he was appointed secretary to Central Administration in Ireland for three years. There followed appointments to Los Angeles, Omaha and Bristol, RI. He left Bristol for Ireland in The variety of the tasks entrusted to Michael over the years are an indication of his many gifts, his discretion and his quiet competence. Congenial, wise and never judgemental, he was deeply appreciated by his colleagues. He transferred to the Dalgan Nursing Home at the end of Sr Bernardine Rush died peacefully in Magheramore, Wicklow on 31 January Aged 94, she had been a Columban Sister for more than 70 years. Born in Dublin, she was one of a family of seven. After her secondary education, she entered the Columban Sisters in Cahiracon, Co Clare. After studies in UCD, Bernardine was sent to Burma. She joined the community in Myitkyina, northern Burma, now Myanmar. Over the following eight years she worked among the Kachin people in the school run by the Sisters. A dedicated teacher, she loved the children, and as well as the curriculum she taught them music and singing. It was a devastating blow when the military junta took over the school in A short time later the Sisters were deported, forced to leave the people they loved so well. Bernardine was then sent to the Philippines where she taught and worked in school administration before being appointed as Regional Superior. Later she was elected to the Central Administration of the Congregation. A deeply committed missionary, she undertook each task with great zeal, enthusiasm and unwavering faith. A gifted communicator and a wonderful singer, she radiated joy in all she did and attracted people of all ages and backgrounds to help the missions. At the age of 70, she went to Peru where, embracing a new culture and language, she spent the following 10 years. On her return to Ireland, despite lessening energy, she whole-heartedly undertook mission promotion work and with an excellent team of lay people organised the annual Sale of Work. She was also committed to Burma Action Ireland, speaking to various groups about that country and helping to raise funds. In 2003, she rejoiced when a small group of Columban Sisters were able to enter Myanmar and work in the same area where the first group had been. Her last years were spent in the Nursing Home in Magheramore where, she lived quietly until the Lord called her home on 31 January She is buried in Magheramore. Fr Tom Parker died peacefully on 31 January Born in Glasson, Co Westmeath on 28 March 1924, he was educated at Glasson NS and St Finian's College, Mullingar. He came to Dalgan in September 1941and was ordained priest on 21 December After a year in pastoral work in Galway, he was then assigned to Korea in 1950, but with the onset of the Korean War he and other colleagues were assigned to Japan later that year. Those were very difficult years in Japan: reaching out to people who had little interest in Christianity. For the next 17 years Tom served in Fukuoka, Gobo, Hashimoto, Montana, Kamogawa, Shingu and in Wakayama City. Assigned then to the USA over the following twenty years he served in Omaha, Quincy, MA, San Francisco and Los Angeles. An excellent host, his friendly, open personality made him very effective on promotion work. When his health deteriorated he returned to Ireland, and entered the Dalgan Retirement Home in Tom was a dedicated missionary priest. Asked in an interview what kept him going over the years he replied, "Well, I suppose saying one's prayers, and all the prayers offered for us by people at home and in many other places you can't explain what kept you going a miracle, really, when you look back at it now." May they rest in peace. 18 FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE 2017

19 reflection and Find Freedom They are not saying the injustice done is all right; it is not, they know it is wrong. But by refusing to be caught in a cycle of bitterness, they have let go and forgiven. They are free. The story is told of a good and prayerful woman who claimed to have had a vision of Christ. She went to see the bishop. "Did you talk to him?" he asked. "Yes," she replied, "I did." "Well," said the bishop, "the next time he appears to you ask the Lord this question: 'What was the bishop's greatest sin before he became a bishop?'" About three months later she returned. When she came in the bishop asked her, "Did you see the Lord again?" "Yes," she replied. "Did you ask him the question about my sin?" "Yes, I did." "And what did he say?" She smiled as she answered, "The Lord said, 'I don't remember any more.'" Like the story of the prodigal son, embraced by his Father, the bishop's sins were not held against him. Nor are ours. So often it is we ourselves who hold on to the memory of our transgressions and lacerate ourselves, refusing to trust the mercy of the Father. Worse still, we harshly bind others, clutching the hurt they caused us, subtly or overtly reminding them of their offence. How much pain there is in life from this accusatory, unforgiving attitude. How much pain when we refuse to let go and forgive ourselves, when we stop short of forgiving others. Some hurts alas, go back generations and are nursed and kept alive through the years. It is often seen as a matter of family honour not to forget, not to forgive but to fuel the resentment by retelling the story. Today, in an era of visual overloads, we are fed a daily diet of violence with stories that invite our harsh condemnation. How seldom we hear the stories of grace and forgiveness! But when we do, and hear of the parents who forgive the motorist who killed their little child, or the people who hold no grudge against those who bombed their community are we not touched to the heart? They are not saying the injustice done is all right; it is not, they know it is wrong. But by refusing to be caught in a cycle of bitterness, they have let go and forgiven. They are free. The Dalai Lama tells a story of a Tibetan monk who had spent eighteen years in a Chinese prison. When he escaped and eventually met the Dalai Lama he asked him what he felt was his biggest threat or danger while in prison. And the monk, who had suffered so much, gave an astonishing answer. What he feared most, he said was losing his compassion for the Chinese. Forgiveness is at the core of Jesus' message. He cuts through the 'eye for an eye' mentality and tells his (shocked) followers that they must forgive and forgive and forgive. We are his followers today. Let us, with the grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, forgive our enemies, our friends, ourselves. Sr Redempta Twomey FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE

20 Fr John Keenan was part of a pilgrimage group of Columban priests, lay missionaries and co-workers, who joined four relatives of Fr Francis Vernon Douglas in visiting places associated with the missionary's death. columbans who died on MISSION Fr Francis Douglas Fr Douglas' niece Verna receives communion from Fr John Keenan having travelled from New Zealand with her husband Cliff. Fr Douglas' nephew Vernon Douglas and his son Brendan were also on a pilgrimage to honour their martyred family member. Pope Francis has said that there are more martyrs for the faith in modern times than in the early Church. One such martyr is Fr Francis Vernon Douglas who was martyred by Japanese soldiers in July 1943 in Paete, Philippines. Born in Johnsonville, Wellington, New Zealand on Sunday 22 May 1910 to Catherine Gaffney from Ireland and George Douglas from Australia, Francis Vernon Douglas was the fifth of eight children. In his youth he excelled at rugby and cricket, and later he studied for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Wellington. He was ordained on 29 October After an enjoyable and successful year as an assistant priest in New Plymouth, he felt God wanted him to become a missionary. He joined the Society of St Columban and arrived in Manila in His first assignment was as parish priest of Pililla, where he struggled with the Tagalog language. The parish was run-down having been 40 years without a resident priest. With the local people, he gradually renovated the church and through liturgies, and catechesis, they gradually built a loving Christian community. During World War II, many of the people in the hills resisted the Japanese military police known as the Kempeitai. Fr Douglas tried to remain neutral between the Kempeitai and the Filipino- American guerrillas. But in the eyes of the Japanese he was 'an enemy alien' and was suspected of collaborating and spying for the guerrillas. On 25 July 1943, the people were looking forward to their annual fiesta in honour of St James the Apostle. However, this was abruptly interrupted when the Japanese Army decided to zone off the area. No one was allowed to leave. All males from fourteen upwards were rounded up and incarcerated. For several days, some 250 men were interrogated and tortured, deprived of sleep and mercilessly beaten until they gave information or died. Fr Douglas was abducted from his parish on Saturday, 24 July 1943 and brought by truck to the parish Church of Paete, Laguna, some 30 kilometers away. It was used as a concentration camp for some 1,700 men and youths held in atrocious conditions. The sacristy was used as a torture chamber and many prisoners died there. Here Fr Douglas was severely tortured. He was given the dreaded water cure but still refused to give any information. Later he was tied to the altar rails and further beaten. Later he was manacled to a post under the choir loft. He was left to stand for two days and two nights and allowed neither food nor drinks even though the people had brought some for him. His eyes, swollen and bloody were fixed on the tabernacle while he fingered his rosary beads. Realising that the end was near he asked to see the local parish priest, Fr Nicomedes Rosal, to whom he made his last confession. As night was falling, he was bundled into the back of a truck and driven off into the night in the direction of Sta Cruz (capital of Rizal Province). He was never seen again. The speculation is he died from the effects of the beatings and torture, or that he was killed and buried in an unmarked grave in a rice-field in the vicinity of Sta Cruz town. Fr Vernon's faith, courage, commitment and fidelity to the end are an inspiration and example for all of us. Devotion to him is growing in his home parish in New Zealand and especially in Paete where he suffered so much before being killed. Fr John A. Keenan is from Scardaune, Claremorris, Co Mayo. He has served in the Manila area of the Philippines since 1966, apart from ten years spent in Ireland, England and Scotland. 20 FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE 2017

21 bible Story The Ascension For forty days after the Passion, Jesus continued to appear to the apostles on many occasions. Then one day he took them out as far as Bethany, instructing them not to leave Jerusalem just yet. "Wait for what my Father has promised," he told them. "As I told you before, John baptised with water, but in a few days time you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit." But they were still slow to understand. Now that he had returned to them, the disciples still thought that one day Jesus would triumphantly establish the kingdom for which they all longed. "Lord," they asked him, "has the time come for you to restore the kingdom to Israel?" Jesus told them that his heavenly Father would decide these things. In the meantime, they had an extraordinary mission to undertake. "You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit when I am gone," he said. "Then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judea, Samaria and, in fact, right to the end of the earth!" Then he raised his hands to bless them. And suddenly, while they watched, he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of sight. They were still staring upwards, long after he had gone, when two men in white were suddenly standing beside them. "Why are you men from Galilee all looking up into the sky?" they asked the disciples. "Jesus has been taken up into heaven. One day he will return in the same way as you have seen him go." The disciples praised God and went back to Jerusalem with their hearts full of joy. Read also Acts 1:1-22 Illustration by Val Biro, from One Hundred Bible Stories for Children published by Award Publications Ltd.

22 Bible Quiz number 64 1 In Genesis ch. 25, which twin was born first, Esau or Jacob? 6 In 2 Samuel ch. 24, who was the mother of King Solomon? 2 In John ch. 11, who was the sister of Jesus' friends Lazarus and Mary? 7 In Genesis ch. 25, which patriarch gave his brother lentil broth? 3 In I Samuel ch. 14, who was King Saul's father-in-law? 8 In Luke, ch. 1, whose baby 'leaped in the womb' when her cousin Mary came to visit her? 4 In Genesis ch. 11, who was the father of Haran? 5 In Exodus ch. 2, what was the occupation of Moses' father-in-law? Name: Address: PRIZE 10 VOUCHER! Vouchers for the first two correct entries received! Consult your Bible, answer the questions above and send your entry to: Bible Quiz Nº 64, St Columban's, Widney Manor Rd, Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands, B93 9AB, before 30th June KIDZONE When I was tellin them at home bout our educashional tour to the airport the other day I told them bout the simulator a kind of pretend video game we tried and how we were very sad cos it cud'nt go up in the air at all like real flying...and all old aunt Mamie said we should be all thankful to the Lord for that. And the next day back in skool I was tellin my fren Bump and the others that our unkil Edward's new traktor is a lot better than that simulator thing cos it has a whole lot of knobs and buttns and switches and clocks and buzzers and squeelers and it'll even tell you when its time for yur Pudsy's Diry dinner. And whas more it can go frontways and sideways and backways and even stand on its hindlegs kinda like and its real super. And they all said yeah but it can't fly. And I said course it can fly cept that's fierce sekret and you hafta know a whole lot of sekret codes jus like magic words and when I'm on my hols unkil Ed is goin to be teaching me and itle be just fab entirely. An they all said reely an why dus'nt he bring it to our school and we'll all go for spins in it. I sed mebbe he will he's ver busy now and has no time. Well I had to make some excuse had'nt I... Bible Quiz N o 62 Winners: Mrs Maureen Dickinson, Carlisle, Cumbria and Mrs Judith Francis, Keyworth, Nottingham. WIN! Help Pudsy correct his spelling and grammar. Send your entry to Pudsy's Diry, St Columban's, Widney Manor Rd, Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands, B93 9AB, before 30th June PRIZE 10 VOUCHER! HA! HA! 1. When is it bad luck to see a black cat? 2. What should a dog do if it loses its tail? 3. Where do fish keep their money? 4. Why are elephants so wrinkled? 5. Why are ghosts bad liars? 6. What do computers do at lunchtime? 1. When you re a mouse! 2. Go to a re-tail store. 3. In a river-bank! 4. Because they take too long to iron! 5. Because you can see right through them! 6. Have a byte to eat! Samuel Webb Enfield London Competition Winners January/February 2017 Abigail Littlewood Guiseley Leeds Colpaint - Age 8 and Under Colpaint - Over 8 Rebecca Cartin Litherland Liverpool Pudsy's Diry 22 FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE 2017

23 W rdle By Elizabeth McA Colour the drawing and send it with your name and address to: COLPAINT, St Columban's, Widney Manor Rd, Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands, B93 9AB, before 30th June Winners receive a 10 Colpaint VOUCHER! hen you hear the word Dumbledore, I guarantee that the wise old wizard from Harry Potter will immediately come to mind. However, the real Dumbledore is not a wizard at all but an awesome black beetle. The word Dumbledore comes from an old word for slow or blundering and dore refers to a large flying, winged insect. Indeed, the Dumbledore beetle can fly well, most frequently on warm summer evenings. They are found in pastures and meadows and wherever there are grazing herbivores. Because they excavate vertical burrows under cowpats to rear their young, this practice has earned them the additional name of dung beetle. Before you say yuck and stop reading, consider that this beetle is one of the most important creatures on the planet. In the course of their day to day activities, they recycle the nutrients from dung back to the soil. This maintains a healthy soil fertility on which all of life depends. Also, by breaking up cow pats and animal waste they greatly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas produced and released into the atmosphere. Therefore, the Dumbledore beetle plays a large role in combating destructive climate change. Another very important task they perform is simply clearing up all the animal waste from the countryside and turning it into usable material for bacteria and fungi. If they did not provide this service, it would constantly build up and what would we do then? The consequences do not bear thinking about. In short, we cannot do without them. In the world of small creatures there are many real celebrities and they deserve our attention and respect for the indispensable, unnoticed work they do. The Dumbledore beetle is chief among these and God in His wisdom has ensured that all creatures have their valuable place in the great scheme of life on earth. The Dumbledore Beetle PR IZ ES FO AN R U D ND Name: Age: AG OV E E 8 ER R! Address: FAR EAST - MAY/JUNE

24 What is Your Columban Story? Columban mission celebrates 100 years in Over those years, the Far East magazine has shared with you many stories of faith, hope and love about people and places encountered on the journey. We are humbled by your generous support for and faith in what we do. You are part of the Columban family and we are fascinated to know more about your link to the Columbans, why you contribute to Columban mission, how you first encountered the Columbans, when you started reading the Far East magazine and who you share it with. Perhaps you have met or known Columbans. Many of you will have a story to tell and we invite you now to share it with us. Knowing your story will make saying thank you more meaningful. What is more, your story can delight and inspire others and we ask below your permission to share what you send us, anonymously if you prefer. Sue McGovern and Carol Beck, Blessed Robert Grissold parish In 1998, we decided to support Columban Father, Ed O'Connell, who had recently returned to work in Lima, Peru. Our Millennium Project continues to this day with regular breakfasts after Mass, well supported by parishioners and a large Coca-Cola bottle for loose change which never seems to empty! Sean Maloney, Sheffield A visiting Columban Priest spoke at our Sunday Mass. He said something that really grabbed me: "We go to the Missions. You give so that we can go to the Missions. We are a true Missionary Partnership. I realised then that as Columbans we have a key role in helping in God's salvation plan. Use the space below to share your story in brief and send it to: Your Columban Story, Columban Missionaries, Widney Manor Road, Solihull, West Midlands B93 9AB. Alternatively, to submit a longer story, you can write a letter or to: yourcolumbanstory@columbans.co.uk If you wish, you can put a face to your story by sending us a photo. YOUR COLUMBAN STORY THANK YOU for sharing your Columban story! Please tick as appropriate to confirm the following: I am happy for my story to be shared in the Far East magazine / Columban UK website / Facebook / Twitter I would like my story shared anonymously Name: Postcode: Telephone: