As we thank God for all of these faithful Columbans we ... - Misyon
As we thank God for all of these faithful Columbans we ... - Misyon
As we thank God for all of these faithful Columbans we ... - Misyon
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No 2 Advent-Christmas 2008<br />
From the Desk <strong>of</strong> the Regional Director<br />
Warm greetings to <strong>all</strong> our friends who will be reading this second edition <strong>of</strong> Columban<br />
Mission.<br />
<strong>As</strong> you know from the last edition, 2008 is a special year <strong>for</strong> the <strong>Columbans</strong> as <strong>we</strong><br />
celebrate 90 years as a missionary society. We had a Mass <strong>of</strong> <strong>thank</strong>sgiving at St Columban’s,<br />
Singalong, Manila, on 29 June attended by Columban Priests, Sisters, Lay Missionaries and<br />
Students as <strong>we</strong>ll as our staff and family members <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> the students. We had a double<br />
reason to be grateful to <strong>God</strong> – our 90 years <strong>of</strong> service to Mission and the acceptance into the<br />
Society <strong>of</strong> two new members, Ruben Lobo and John Arga, who had completed their probation <strong>of</strong> two years. <strong>As</strong> <strong>we</strong> gave <strong>thank</strong>s<br />
to <strong>God</strong> <strong>for</strong> what has been and <strong>for</strong> the ‘new life’ visible in the vocation <strong>of</strong> John and Ruben, <strong>we</strong> also remembered with gratitude <strong>all</strong><br />
our benefactors who have <strong>faithful</strong>ly supported us in so many ways over the years. They, too, have been a visible sign <strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong>’s<br />
blessing on our ef<strong>for</strong>ts to try to put into practice what Jesus commanded his disciples to do: ‘Go out to the whole world and<br />
proclaim the Good News to <strong>all</strong> creation’ (Mark 16:15).<br />
By <strong>God</strong>’s grace <strong>we</strong>, as <strong>Columbans</strong>, have a history <strong>we</strong> can be proud <strong>of</strong> and grateful <strong>for</strong>. But this does not mean that <strong>we</strong> can<br />
now sit back. On the contrary, especi<strong>all</strong>y at this time when the world is <strong>all</strong> the more in need <strong>of</strong> Jesus and his Word <strong>of</strong> truth and<br />
love, our priority must be to strive even more to be <strong>faithful</strong> missionaries and to encourage others to join with us and support us in<br />
that ef<strong>for</strong>t. In this edition <strong>of</strong> Columban Mission you will read more about <strong>all</strong> this and hopefully come to know more about us,<br />
young and old alike! And, as you read, know that you, our benefactors and supporters, are very much part <strong>of</strong> it <strong>all</strong>. Without your<br />
interest and support <strong>we</strong> would not be able to do what <strong>we</strong> do.<br />
<strong>As</strong> <strong>we</strong> begin Advent and prepare our hearts to <strong>we</strong>lcome the Christ<br />
Child more deeply into our lives this Christmas, <strong>we</strong> will <strong>thank</strong> Jesus in<br />
a special way <strong>for</strong> each <strong>of</strong> you and your families and ask him to continue<br />
to bless you abundantly. We ask you, in turn, to pray <strong>for</strong> us, especi<strong>all</strong>y<br />
<strong>all</strong> the Filipino Columban Missionaries who are so much part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
new life <strong>of</strong> our Society. We also ask you to continue to support us in<br />
other ways: through encouraging others to read our magazine which is<br />
available online at www.misyononline.com as <strong>we</strong>ll in two CD <strong>for</strong>mats<br />
and, <strong>of</strong> course, with your financial contributions, no matter how sm<strong>all</strong>.<br />
Many <strong>thank</strong>s and every blessing.<br />
Death <strong>of</strong> Great Columban Friend in Bacolod City<br />
Mrs Salvacion Valderrama Tinsay, a great friend <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>Columbans</strong> <strong>for</strong> many years, died peacefully at her home in<br />
Bacolod City early in the morning <strong>of</strong> 8 August. Most <strong>of</strong> her family<br />
<strong>we</strong>re with her, including her daughter Marisa, who lives in Belgium,<br />
with her husband Kris and their three children. ‘Salving’, or ‘Tita<br />
Salving’ as she was known to many, had turned 76 in April. She<br />
had been battling with cancer <strong>for</strong> some time. I anointed her about<br />
a <strong>we</strong>ek be<strong>for</strong>e her death.<br />
Salving became involved with the Deaf when a young Deaf<br />
Peace Corps volunteer stayed in her home back in the 1980s.<br />
Not long after that she met the late Columban Father Joseph<br />
Coyle who had become aware <strong>of</strong> how marginalized Deaf people<br />
COLUMBAN MISSION December 2008<br />
see COLUMBAN FRIEND, page 4<br />
By Fr Patrick O’Donoghue www.columbanmission.net<br />
Every October since 2004 Mr Jay Nanagas <strong>of</strong> United<br />
Hills, Parañaque, visits the <strong>Misyon</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice in Singalong<br />
to deliver the contribution to Columban Mission which<br />
he and his wife, Nona, have saved inside a yellow<br />
teddy bear. In the photo above Cathy de Leon, then<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Misyon</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice staff, assists Mr Nanagas to<br />
extract the coins, totaling P13, 659.00 <strong>for</strong> the year<br />
2007, from the teddy bear.<br />
1
Mary Doohan RIP and The Little Way<br />
A<br />
great supporter <strong>of</strong> Columban and other missionaries throughout the world,<br />
Mary Doohan, died in England on 29 August at the age <strong>of</strong> 91. She has two<br />
brothers who are <strong>Columbans</strong> in the Philippines, Father John and Father<br />
Michael. At the time <strong>of</strong> this writing Father John is very ill. He has been in the<br />
Philippines since 1948, initi<strong>all</strong>y in Mindanao and from 1950 in Negros until his<br />
retirement more than 50 years later to the Columban house in Singalong. Their<br />
sister, the late Columban Sister Philomena, worked in Burma, the Philippines<br />
and Chile.<br />
The Doohan Family are from Mullagh, County Clare, Ireland. While working<br />
in the Civil Service in London Mary responded to a plea from Father John to<br />
help rebuild his church which had been destroyed by a typhoon. This eventu<strong>all</strong>y led her to founding<br />
The Little Way, an organization inspired by the spirituality <strong>of</strong> St Thérèse <strong>of</strong> Lisieux that continues to raise money <strong>for</strong> the<br />
Church’s missionary work throughout the world. One <strong>of</strong> many such projects is the Little Way College Seminary <strong>of</strong> the Diocese<br />
<strong>of</strong> Kabankalan.<br />
The Word, the magazine <strong>of</strong> the SVD missionaries in Ireland, had an article on Mary by Fr Liam Dunne SVD in October.<br />
We’ll have an expanded version <strong>of</strong> that in the May-June issue <strong>of</strong> <strong>Misyon</strong>, www.misyononline.com . Father Dunne ranks her<br />
with such outstanding Irish missionaries<br />
as Frank Duff, founder <strong>of</strong> the Legion<br />
<strong>of</strong> Mary, Fr Patrick Peyton CSC, ‘The<br />
Rosary Priest’, and Bishop Edward<br />
2<br />
Lord, <strong>we</strong> <strong>thank</strong> you <strong>for</strong> 90 years<br />
Of crossing boundaries <strong>of</strong> country,<br />
Culture and class to preach<br />
the Gospel<br />
And <strong>for</strong> <strong>all</strong> the blessings our work<br />
Has brought us.<br />
Thank you <strong>for</strong> <strong>all</strong> the different<br />
peoples in our lives.<br />
The people at home,<br />
Who have loved, encouraged<br />
And supported us.<br />
The people overseas,<br />
who have shared<br />
Their rich cultures, their Gospel<br />
And sometimes their poverty.<br />
May <strong>we</strong> in the spirit <strong>of</strong> Christ,<br />
Paul and St Columban Ccontinue<br />
To become more human and<br />
Christian together.<br />
Fr Noel Connolly<br />
Regional Director<br />
Australia & New Zealand<br />
Galvin and Fr John Blowick, founders<br />
<strong>of</strong> the <strong>Columbans</strong>.<br />
In recognition <strong>of</strong> her work and <strong>of</strong><br />
the work <strong>of</strong> the <strong>As</strong>sociation, Mary was<br />
twice honored by the Church. In 1979<br />
she was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et<br />
Pontifice medal. In 1996 Pope John<br />
Paul II awarded her the ‘Damehood<br />
<strong>of</strong> St Gregory the Great <strong>for</strong> her work<br />
<strong>for</strong> the missions’. The only privilege<br />
knights and dames <strong>of</strong> the Pontifical<br />
Equestrian Order <strong>of</strong> St Gregory the<br />
Great have is that they may ride a horse<br />
in St Peter’s Basilica. None, least <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>all</strong> Mary, have exercised that right <strong>for</strong><br />
a long time and Father Michael, her<br />
brother who has used horses <strong>all</strong> his<br />
missionary life, was unaware <strong>of</strong> the<br />
unusual if unused right that his sister<br />
had.<br />
Mary was buried in her native<br />
County Clare, a particularly beautiful<br />
part <strong>of</strong> Ireland. <strong>As</strong> <strong>we</strong> say in Irish, ‘Ar<br />
dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam uasal’,<br />
‘May her noble soul be at the right hand<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>God</strong>’.<br />
COLUMBAN MISSION December 2008
Columban Students Take<br />
Oath <strong>of</strong> Membership<br />
On 29 June, the Solemnity <strong>of</strong> Sts Peter and Paul and the 90 th anniversary <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficial approval by the Vatican <strong>of</strong> the Missionary Society <strong>of</strong> St Columban as a<br />
society <strong>of</strong> apostolic life <strong>of</strong> pontifical right, John Arga <strong>of</strong> Iba, Zambales, and Ruben<br />
Lobo, <strong>of</strong> Subic, Zambales, took their oath <strong>of</strong> membership <strong>of</strong> the Society during<br />
Mass in St Columban’s, Singalong St, Manila.<br />
COLUMBAN MISSION December 2008<br />
John, left, and Ruben taking<br />
their oath <strong>of</strong> membership.<br />
John (near camera) and Ruben receiving<br />
their mission crosses from Fr Patrick<br />
O’Donoghue, Regional Director.<br />
Five <strong>of</strong> our students - Erl Tabaco<br />
(Cagayan de Oro City), Kurt Pala<br />
(Iligan City), Louie Ybañez (Tagaloan,<br />
Misamis Oriental), Mike Buctot (Tangub<br />
City, Misamis Occidental) and Etuate<br />
Tubuka (Suva, Fiji) began their Thirty<br />
Day Ignatian Retreat on 27 October in<br />
Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat and<br />
Sprituality Center, Novaliches, Quezon<br />
City. Their director was Fr Michael<br />
Moh<strong>all</strong>y<br />
Mission Art Contest Winners<br />
The winners in this year’s art contest organized by the Mission Awareness Team<br />
in Cagayan de Oro led by Fr Richard Pankratz are:<br />
Gold: Sosante M. Pajarillo III, Fourth Year Section Jumo, Gingoog City National High School,<br />
Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental.<br />
Silver: Gilbert <strong>As</strong>inero, Third Year Section Mark, Agusan National High School, Agusan,<br />
Cagayan de Oro City.<br />
Bronze: Riza A. Perez, Fourth Year Section Loyalty, Christ the King High School,<br />
Maranding, Lala, Lanao del Norte.<br />
The winning entries will be featured in the March-April issue <strong>of</strong> <strong>Misyon</strong>, www.misyononline.com<br />
3
COLUMBAN FRIEND<br />
from page 1<br />
are in the Philippines. With Salving’s<br />
support he eventu<strong>all</strong>y opened Welcome<br />
Home, a residence <strong>for</strong> out-<strong>of</strong>town<br />
Deaf students in Bacolod. She<br />
gave the last t<strong>we</strong>nty years or so <strong>of</strong> her<br />
life to the Deaf, apart from running a<br />
nursery in her own home <strong>for</strong> babies left<br />
on her doorstep. She and her late husband<br />
Bert raised <strong>these</strong> as their own<br />
and <strong>for</strong>m<strong>all</strong>y adopted some <strong>of</strong> them.<br />
When Father Joe died on 18<br />
December 1991 everyone was<br />
devastated but Salving not only<br />
continued the work he had begun but<br />
expanded it to places such as<br />
Kabankalan, Pontevedra, Escalante,<br />
<strong>all</strong> in Negros Occidental, and to<br />
Malaybalay, Bukidnon, where the<br />
family has business interests.<br />
I celebrated Mass in Villa<br />
Valderrama chapel the evening <strong>of</strong><br />
Salving’s death and Frs Terence<br />
Bennett and Brian Gore concelebrated<br />
at the funeral Mass on 11 August. May<br />
this dear person, a lady in the fullest<br />
sense <strong>of</strong> that word, rest in peace.<br />
Columban Lay Missionaries in Ireland<br />
The members <strong>of</strong> ‘RP-17’, the five Columban lay missionaries who <strong>we</strong>nt to Ireland<br />
earlier this year, have now been given pastoral assignments there.<br />
From left to right they are: Lenette ‘Nette’ Toledo <strong>of</strong> Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat,<br />
and Marivic ‘Ivic’ Quilab <strong>of</strong> Ozamiz City, to <strong>As</strong>hbourne-Donoughmore parish,<br />
Diocese <strong>of</strong> Meath, Virgie ‘Gie’ Tanate from General Trias,Cavite, to Navan parish,<br />
Diocese <strong>of</strong> Meath, Lorelei ‘Lalay’ Ocaya from Cagayan de Oro to B<strong>all</strong>ymun<br />
parish and Marife ‘Epie’ Padao from Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte, to the<br />
neighboring Columban-administered parish <strong>of</strong> Balcurris, both in the Archdiocese <strong>of</strong><br />
Dublin.<br />
COSE Award to Columban Friend<br />
By Richelle H. Verdeprado<br />
Sister Felicitas B. de Lima DSA, a great friend <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Columbans</strong>, was among<br />
the ten awardees <strong>of</strong> the Coalition <strong>of</strong> Services <strong>of</strong> the Elderly (COSE) at St Paul<br />
College, Quezon City, on 5 October.<br />
Sister Etat, as the 74-year-old founder <strong>of</strong> the Daughters <strong>of</strong> St Augustine is<br />
known, got to know the <strong>Columbans</strong> sometime in 1990 when Fr Brian Gore was<br />
doing vocation work in the Bicol Region. <strong>Columbans</strong> have been visiting ever<br />
since.<br />
The COSE award cited The Foundation <strong>of</strong> Our Lady <strong>of</strong> Fatima <strong>for</strong> Human and<br />
Development Inc, or Fatima Center, a charitable institution which Sister Etat c<strong>of</strong>ounded<br />
and is situated in San Agustin Village, Iriga City, Camarines Sur. Since<br />
1974, Fatima Center has been able to implement various programs and services<br />
<strong>for</strong> the improvement <strong>of</strong> the living conditions <strong>of</strong> orphans, street children, victims <strong>of</strong><br />
violence, abandoned children, persons with disabilities, single parents, cultural<br />
4 COLUMBAN MISSION December 2008
Fr Pankratz awarding Blaise<br />
minorities and the<br />
disadvantaged. It has<br />
an orphanage <strong>for</strong> 150<br />
poor children, and a<br />
public elementary<br />
and high school <strong>for</strong> the<br />
local community, as<br />
<strong>we</strong>ll as a shelter and<br />
services <strong>for</strong> battered<br />
women and<br />
indigenous Aeta<br />
people.<br />
You can read more<br />
about Sister Etat in the March-April 2009 issue <strong>of</strong> <strong>Misyon</strong>,<br />
www.misyononline.com<br />
COLUMBAN MISSION December 2008<br />
ESSAY CONTEST 2008 WINNERS<br />
2nd Prize Winner:<br />
Norhanisa Dimarangun Rangaig<br />
4th Year - Einstein,<br />
Iligan City National High School<br />
Principal: Mr Abundio P Saadvedra Jr<br />
Values Education Teacher:<br />
Laurence D. Librado<br />
Michelle with Fr Dick Pankratz<br />
and Mrs May Flores<br />
<strong>Misyon</strong> recently held its third annual essay competition with the theme:<br />
‘You will receive po<strong>we</strong>r when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;<br />
and you will be my witnesses’ (Acts 1:8).<br />
Out <strong>of</strong> 411 entries from 23 different schools, ten winners <strong>we</strong>re picked by<br />
our judges. Three main prizes and seven consolation winners.<br />
1st Prize Winner: Blaise Sy Piecco del Bando<br />
- 2nd Year St. Bartholomew,<br />
Lourdes College High School, CDO<br />
Principal: Sr Ma. Marilou E Pabatao RVM<br />
Christian Living Teacher: Jhonas P. Dela Torre<br />
3rd Prize Winner: Michille Rose Tabamo<br />
Jovita - 4th Year San Juan del Castillo,<br />
Xavier University High School<br />
- Ateneo de Cagayan, CDO<br />
Principal: Fr Stephen T. Abuan SJ<br />
Christian Living Teacher:<br />
Fr Stephen T. Abuan SJ<br />
Sr Etat, center, Fr Brian Gore at back<br />
Norhanisa with Wilbert A. Torres <strong>of</strong><br />
Columban Mission Awareness, CDO, and<br />
Mrs Estrella C. Leong, Dept Head-Values<br />
CONSOLATION PRIZES:<br />
4 th Praxides Patangan Gamotin<br />
4 th Year Rizal<br />
Iligan City National High School<br />
Principal: Mr Abundio P Saadvedra Jr<br />
Values Education Teacher:<br />
Ms Maria Tita Y. Bontia<br />
5 th Arlo L. Poletico<br />
4 th Year no specified section<br />
9000 Cagayan de Oro City<br />
Principal: Anele P. Gonzalez<br />
Christian Living Teacher:<br />
Liv Marie U Gakyramon<br />
6 th Kenneth John Aguinaldo Punla<br />
4 th Year St Bernard <strong>of</strong> Clairvaux<br />
Columban College<br />
Principal: Mrs Corazon M. Amarille<br />
Christian Living Teacher:<br />
Mrs Judith S. Edquilane<br />
7 th Debbie Mae F. Dizon<br />
3 rd Year Our Lady <strong>of</strong> Mercy<br />
Fatima College <strong>of</strong> Camiguin<br />
Principal: Ms Dina B Guinitaran<br />
8 th Acut, Janeth May Illana<br />
4 th Year St Peter<br />
Xavier High School<br />
Principal: Mrs Teresita R. Suarez<br />
Christian Living Teacher: S. Emie V.<br />
Ceb<strong>all</strong>os<br />
9 th S<strong>we</strong>eny Malate Bumagat<br />
3 rd Year Shakespeare<br />
Angelicum Learning Centre<br />
Principal: Lemuel Parantar<br />
10<br />
5<br />
th Donica Gadian Igot<br />
4th Year St John Vianney<br />
Sacred Heart Academy<br />
Principal: Sr Mary Conception Perejan RSM<br />
Home Room Teacher: Realisa G Sanayo
Columban Jubilarians<br />
This year four Columban priests and one Columban Sister who have served in the Philippines celebrate their Diamond<br />
Jubilees, while five priests and four sisters celebrate their Golden Jubilees, the priests <strong>of</strong> their ordination and the<br />
sisters <strong>of</strong> their final pr<strong>of</strong>ession.<br />
Diamond<br />
Fr Michael Harrison:<br />
Manila<br />
Fr Kieran Heneghan:<br />
Luzon<br />
Fr Patrick Hurley:<br />
Negros<br />
Sr Rose O’Mahony:<br />
Mindanao<br />
Fr Thomas Revatto:<br />
Negros<br />
Sr Ann Breen:<br />
Mindanao<br />
Sr Joy Carmody: Luzon<br />
Sr Ita Hannaway:<br />
Mindanao<br />
Fr Peter Kenny: Luzon<br />
Fr John Dennehy: Luzon<br />
Golden<br />
Sr Patricia McGuinness:<br />
Mindanao<br />
Fr Bernard O’Connor:<br />
Luzon<br />
Platinum<br />
Fr Aodh O’Halpin:<br />
Mindanao<br />
Though they never served in the Philippines, <strong>we</strong> <strong>of</strong>fer our very<br />
special <strong>thank</strong>s and congratulations to two Columban priests<br />
who celebrate the Platinum Jubilee <strong>of</strong> their ordination in<br />
December 1938.<br />
Fr Francis G<strong>all</strong>agher:<br />
Korea, USA and Ireland<br />
Fr Patrick O’Herlihy:<br />
Luzon<br />
Fr Thomas Hanahoe:<br />
Ireland, USA, Rome and<br />
Australia<br />
<strong>As</strong> <strong>we</strong> <strong>thank</strong> <strong>God</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>all</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>these</strong> <strong>faithful</strong><br />
<strong>Columbans</strong> <strong>we</strong> toast them with the old Latin<br />
phrase, ‘Ad multos annos’, ‘May you have<br />
many more years’.<br />
6 COLUMBAN MISSION December 2008
Since our first issue <strong>of</strong> Columban Mission six Columban priests who served in the Philippines have died.<br />
Fr Liam Heffernan, born in<br />
Ireland on 15 March 1923,<br />
ordained on 21 December 1947,<br />
served in Mindanao from 1948<br />
till 1950 when he was assigned<br />
to the new mission in Negros. A<br />
quiet, conscientious and<br />
dedicated pastor, he served<br />
there in, among other places,<br />
the parishes <strong>of</strong> Ilog, La<br />
Castellana and Aguisan, his last<br />
assignment be<strong>for</strong>e retiring to the Columban house in<br />
Batang, Himamaylan, four years ago. Last year he returned<br />
to Ireland because <strong>of</strong> his health and died on 6 July.<br />
Fr Malachy Toner died in<br />
Ireland on 9 August 2008,<br />
one <strong>we</strong>ek short <strong>of</strong> his 92 nd<br />
birthday. Ordained on 21<br />
December 1939, he spent<br />
the War years promoting<br />
the <strong>Columbans</strong> in Ireland.<br />
In 1946 he <strong>we</strong>nt to China<br />
but because <strong>of</strong> the<br />
advance <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Communists there was<br />
transferred to the<br />
Philippines in 1949. He worked in Student Catholic Action,<br />
becoming both National Director and Director in the<br />
Archdiocese <strong>of</strong> Manila. In 1954 he moved to Mindanao<br />
where he worked in parishes in Ozamiz, Magsaysay,<br />
Marawi and Lopez Jaena. From 1984 till 2004 he was<br />
chaplain to two communities <strong>of</strong> religious be<strong>for</strong>e retiring.<br />
Father Malachy was a talented and dedicated missionary,<br />
an accomplished preacher, a man <strong>of</strong> strong independent<br />
views, and also a man <strong>of</strong> considerable charm.<br />
Fr Paul J. O’Rourke, born in Providence, Rhode Island,<br />
USA, on 6 October 1934 died in Bristol, RI, on 28 October.<br />
He was the brother <strong>of</strong> the late Fr Hugh O’Rourke, also a<br />
Columban, and <strong>of</strong> Columban Sister Claire O’Rourke. Father<br />
Paul and Sister Claire, now based in Boston, both served<br />
in Mindanao.<br />
COLUMBAN MISSION December 2008<br />
Ordained in December<br />
1961, Father Paul came<br />
to the Philippines in 1962.<br />
After five years he joined<br />
the US Navy as a<br />
chaplain and was<br />
assigned to Vietnam in<br />
1968 where he was<br />
injured a year later in a<br />
mine explosion. He<br />
returned to Mindanao in<br />
1971 where he was very enthusiastic<strong>all</strong>y involved with the<br />
Christian Communities Program (CCP). After five years<br />
he was appointed to the <strong>for</strong>mation staff <strong>of</strong> the Columban<br />
college seminarians in St Paul, Minnesota, but returned to<br />
Iligan in 1980 and was there <strong>for</strong> four years.<br />
Father Paul was then assigned to a Spanish-speaking<br />
community in Las Cruces Diocese, New Mexico and, ever<br />
the missionary, <strong>we</strong>nt to Jamaica in 1991 where the<br />
<strong>Columbans</strong> had a mission at the time. Four years later he<br />
was appointed superior <strong>of</strong> the Columban house in New<br />
York City. After two years he moved to Bristol, RI, but his<br />
health gradu<strong>all</strong>y deteriorated.<br />
Fr Joseph Bradley was<br />
born in Ireland on 15 October<br />
1923 and died peacefully at<br />
St Columban’s, Singalong,<br />
Manila, on 28 October after<br />
a long illness.<br />
Ordained on 21 December<br />
1947, Father Joe arrived in<br />
Manila in May 1949 and, after studying Pangasinense, <strong>we</strong>nt<br />
to Sual, where he stayed till 1961. From then till 1978 he<br />
was based in Singalong in Society administrative work<br />
be<strong>for</strong>e returning to Pangasinan. He was parish priest <strong>of</strong><br />
Labrador <strong>for</strong> four years be<strong>for</strong>e returning to Sual where he<br />
stayed till 1996 when a stroke incapacitated him. For the<br />
last few years he was bed-ridden and cared <strong>for</strong> with great<br />
love by a team <strong>of</strong> nurses. The manner in which he bore<br />
his suffering during the last years <strong>of</strong> his life is a testament<br />
to the man and an example to <strong>all</strong> <strong>of</strong> us.<br />
7
Fr Robert Stack was born 13<br />
April 1921 in Ireland. He was a<br />
member <strong>of</strong> the class ordained on<br />
21 December 1946, many <strong>of</strong><br />
whose members made an<br />
enormous contribution to the<br />
Church in Mindanao. After one<br />
year in Ireland, Father Bob spent<br />
54 years there. In his early years<br />
he worked in Aloran and Iligan be<strong>for</strong>e serving as Columban<br />
superior in Mindanao from 1962 till 1968. After that he<br />
served in Lugait, Oroquieta, Balabagan, Medina and in<br />
Agusan and Bugo, two parishes in Cagayan de Oro. He<br />
retired to Ireland six years ago. A strong man <strong>of</strong> unfailing<br />
good humor, he had a great love <strong>for</strong> the poor and was very<br />
supportive <strong>of</strong> his fellow priests. This ‘good and <strong>faithful</strong><br />
servant’ died on 10 October.<br />
May he rest in peace.<br />
Fr Michael Donohue died<br />
suddenly on 18 October after<br />
a heart attack while attending<br />
a funeral. He had turned 88<br />
only a month be<strong>for</strong>e. Ordained<br />
in December 1945, he was<br />
assigned first to China but<br />
around the time <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Communist takeover he was<br />
transferred to the Philippines<br />
where he was to work <strong>for</strong> 50 years. Apart from a term as<br />
Regional Director, beginning in 1959, when he was based<br />
in Manila, he worked in Mindanao in places as diverse as<br />
Tangub, Molave, Marawi, Mahinog, Linamon and Corpus<br />
Christi, Iligan. A very kind man with a great human touch<br />
who hated not being up to date on Columban news, he<br />
was what is known as a ‘character’ and stories about him<br />
have brought a laugh and a smile at many a Columban<br />
gathering.<br />
PUBLISHER:<br />
Fr Patrick O’Donoghue<br />
Regional Director<br />
Editor:<br />
Fr Seán Coyle<br />
<strong>As</strong>sistant Editor:<br />
Anabelle Gubuan<br />
Editorial <strong>As</strong>sistant:<br />
Mary Joy Rile<br />
Contributing Editor:<br />
Lourdes de Guzman<br />
Mission Awareness Coordinator:<br />
Father Richard Pankratz<br />
Office Manager:<br />
Father Dominic Nolan<br />
Mass <strong>for</strong> Fr Robert Stack RIP<br />
Mass was celebrated in Holy Rosary Church,<br />
Agusan, Cagayan de Oro City, the only remaining<br />
Columban parish in the Archdiocese <strong>of</strong> Cagayan de Oro,<br />
<strong>for</strong> the soul <strong>of</strong> Fr Robert Stack who died in Ireland on 10<br />
October. He had served in the parish.<br />
In the photo is Jessica Revaca, a very active<br />
parishioner <strong>for</strong> whom Father Stack had bought a<br />
wheelchair.<br />
May <strong>all</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>these</strong> ‘mighty men’, as<br />
older Irish <strong>Columbans</strong> might<br />
describe them, rest in peace.<br />
PLEASE DELIVER TO: