Some years ago, on Christmas morning, I met an old woman in an Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camp in Myanmar. This is her story. Three times in her life she was forced to flee for survival. Firstly, during World War II, when she was just a couple of months...
The glorious colours of early autumn’s fruitfulness now give way to muted tones as the last of the leaves fall from the trees, leaving the bare branches stretching heavenwards like arms lifted in supplication. The wind blows colder and the dark nights grow longer....
St Columban’s Feast Day 23rd November In his address of a General Audience in June 2008, Pope Benedict XVI said: “I would like to speak about the holy Abbot Columban, the best-known Irishman of the Early Middle Ages. Since he worked as a monk, missionary and writer...
‘There is a season for everything, a time for every purpose under heaven’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1) We human beings like to mark special moments in time – a birthday, a wedding anniversary, a golden jubilee, a centenary. This year as we, Columban Sisters, mark 100 years...
Last April I sowed wildflower seeds – I just raked the ground and scattered the seeds, as did the Sower whom Jesus talks about in the Gospels. As I let them go, the seeds sank into the dark earth where I would not be able to see what was happening to them. It was a...
Out of 3,558 Catholic churches in the Philippines, more than 800 have the Blessed Virgin Mary as their titular patron. She is a familiar face in almost every Catholic home. Her image or the rosary grace markets, buses, cars, jeepneys, boats and even motor cabs....
Le caoinchead ó / With permission from Coiscéim (coiscéim.ie) agus / and Leo Ó Murchú Rugadh an t-údar i gContae Chiarraí, oirníodh ar 20 Nollaig 1967 agus d’éag sa Choiré ar 4 Meán Fómhair 2020. The author was a Columban priest from County Kerry, ordained on 20...
Following a long period in recovery after hip surgery, I finally succumbed to medical advice to formally retire to the Columban Nursing Home in Dalgan, writes Columban Missionary Fr Michael O'Loughlin. Prior to that I had been enjoying helping out in my local...
Let Him Easter in Us The song, ‘The Dance of the Cherry Trees’ by John Spillane sets the tone for Spring, New Life and Easter whereby the “cherry tree puts on the most outrageous clothes” and sings and dances saying, “we have travelled all around the sun that has...
Celebrating 100 years of the Missionary Sisters of St Columban is one of the most significant milestones for me since I joined the Congregation 27 years ago. Reflecting on what our Centenary means for us as a Congregation, my thoughts were immediately directed to...