China's state examination for senior high school students is seen a major event in life, not only for the students but also for the extended families of the students. As Lily Zhang awaits the results of her recent exams, the news that will arrive very soon is seen by...
While Ukrainians are welcomed to Britain, dark-skinned asylum seekers are deported, like 160,000 Irish, writes Fr Shay Cullen. Colonial crimes and atrocities are always with us. Colonial rulers have stamped their cruel laws and vices on the occupied and exploited...
In Wuhan, central China, where I live, I frequently visit the Sisters of Our Lady of Hanyang, a diocesan congregation founded by Bishop Edward Galvin, co-founder of St Columbans Mission Society, writes Fr Dan Troy. Their convent is located right beside St Columban's...
Although all Columbans may not agree with me, I think our life as Columbans has three important hallmarks. Community The first of these is our community life; despite living quite separately, we are a brotherhood. Many of us have lived alone in isolated places for...
Fr Tim Mulroy writes about the bright red flowers of Royal Poinciana, more commonly known as the Flame Tree, and sees a resemblance between its astonishing flowers and the tongues of fire through which the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles. The morning after...
Three significant events keep niggling in my head as I reflect on life over the last few months: the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the presidential election in the Philippines, and the Synodal process in the Church, writes Columban lay missionary, Angie Escarsa. There...
Fr Eamonn O'Brien from China Church Solidarity writes: Pope Benedict XVI designated 24 May, as a Day of Prayer for the Church in China. Please remember also Cardinal Zen, the emeritus bishop of Hong Kong, and his four colleagues who were recently arrested under...
Communicating in difficult new languages can result in some bloopers cautions 90-year-old Columban missionary, Fr Barry Cairns. Did St Francis Xavier have the gift of tongues? I think not! Yes, he could speak his native Basque, Spanish, Portuguese and French. He was a...
John Din, Columban Regional Coordinator for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation in the Philippines, reflects on the outcome of the election and the campaign of misinformation waged against Leni Robredo. After decades of elaborate work to rebrand the Marcos name...
Arriving at Wuhan's Holy Family Church shortly after 6 o'clock on Sunday morning, I felt quite unsure about what to expect. A message that had been circulated a couple of days earlier was quite clear in announcing that there would be no Mass on Sunday due to local...