A new book by Columban historian, Fr Neil Collins, gives the first comprehensive overview of the history of the Society over its 100 years and the product of thirteen years’ research.
Speaking ahead of the launch of ‘A Mad Thing to Do – A Century of Columban Missions (1916-2016)’ Fr Neil said he believed a general reader, would though its pages “meet a group of men and women, some brilliant others average, who believed that they were called by God and dared to follow that call for their whole lives”.
“Their experience may lead that reader to recognise and admire the people they met around the world, heroic Chinese Catholics, Protestant missionaries, Muslim friends and many others.”
He also underlined that this is a history for the whole Society. “I hope to introduce young Columbans to an inspiring story, to thank our parents and supporters, and even to bring good news to others.”
The Co Derry-native explained that he has been researching the book since 2004. It follows his very well received history, ‘A Splendid Cause’.
Explaining some of the challenges involved, he said, “Even before I began I was aware that Columbans worked in many different cultures and that it would be difficult for me, coming from the Philippines, to grasp the realty of mission in a place like Japan. Later, I was struck by similarities between the Mindanao context and that in Peru and Chile. A trip to Latin America revealed, however inadequately, some of the differences, and even alerted me to the contrasts between Lima and Santiago.”
He said what intrigued him greatly was the British intelligence reports he found in the National Archives, Kew on the beginning of the Society.
“The sections of Columban documents on Protestant schools in China that were highlighted in the archives of Propaganda in Rome were also fascinating. However, some of the people were much more interesting – the reaction of young women in Pakistan to the free lifestyle of a Filipina lay missionary, the response of Muslims in Mindanao to Rufus Halley, or the dedication of housewives and farmers in the small Christian communities.”
Fr Neil believes there is still more material to research and explore in the archives. “There is much more information in the archives. I have barely touched on the home regions, the work of the magazines, the promotion teams and the fund raising. And there are areas of controversy to be explored.”
Asked to sum up the Columban contribution to the Church and society over the past 100 years, he commented, “One of my companions described the Columbans as pragmatists. They promoted schools and served the victims of floods and war. In more recent times they prized justice over cultural values and promoted care for the earth.”
As to the challenges for an historian like himself in trying to preserve the history of a religious organisation like the Columbans, he explained that many members of groups like the Columbans are workaholics and have little time or energy for historical research.
“That can lead to rather anecdotal accounts of the story. An historian, even giving one person’s version and understanding of what happened, can challenge the myths. Yet he needs to look out for and follow the clues that may be buried in even inaccurate memories. It would be wonderful if others were spurred to write. Each region and mission unit could celebrate the centenary by commissioning its own history.”
‘A Mad Thing to Do – A Century of Columban Missions (1916-2016)’ was launched on St Columban’s Day (23 November 2017) by the Superior General, Fr Kevin O’Neill, SSC.
‘A Mad Thing to Do – A Century of Columban Missions (1916-2016)’
This is the story of an extraordinary missionary movement which began in Ireland in 1916 and quickly reached the United States and Australia. Inspired originally by the plight of countless millions of pagans in China it later spread to many other countries in the East, to Latin America and to Oceania. From the beginning, it has been marked by certain constants – a commitment to work with the poorest, the most needy and oppressed, and fidelity to the people, characterized by a willingness to stay with them through wars, revolutions and natural disasters. As a result, twenty-three Columban priests and one Columban Sister have died violent deaths while on mission.
Over the century members of the Society have made a huge contribution to the growth of the local churches in which they served, building up parishes and dioceses to the point where they could be staffed by their own priests and bishops. Starting from a traditional parish-based model, inspired by the signs of the times, by the documents of the Second Vatican Council, and papal encyclicals on Justice, Care for the Earth, and Dialogue with other Religions, members have moved to more specific ministries in service of the local church.
Their missionary charism has been widely shared. Men and women from China, Korea, the Philippines, Fiji and Tonga, Perú and Chile have joined them. Others continue to evangelize in their own churches.
Note on author
Neil Collins was born in Swatragh, Co Derry on 5 December 1938. He studied in St Columb’s College, Derry and joined the Columbans in 1956. Ordained on 21 December 1962 he read Literae Humaniores in Oxford before going to the Philippines in 1967. There he taught in St Mary’s Minor Seminary, ministered in several parishes in the Diocese of Pagadian and acted as the local Columban superior in Mindanao. In preparation for his present assignment as historian of the Columbans he produced a thesis in NUI Maynooth which he published as The Splendid Cause, The Missionary Society of St Columban 1916-1954.
‘A Mad Thing to Do – A Century of Columban Missions (1916-2016)’ is published by Dalgan Press and costs €15. It can be bought online at www.columbans.ie or by telephone: 00353 46 9098275 or by emailing [email protected]