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Philippines

The Creation Mandala (A Poem)

By Fr. Vincent Busch

Fr. Vinnie is a Columban priest from the USA who has been serving in Mindanao, Philippines since his arrival in 1975. His great interest in Creation Spirituality brought him to appreciation of life and the cosmos expressed in different forms of art including poetry. He initiated a handicraft project with the Subanens in Zamboanga del Sur in 2001. To see the crafts and cards of the Subanens visit their website, www.subanencrafts.com.


The Birth of the Universe

In the beginning the Spirit said:
"From my fire and its warmth
Let all creation come flaring forth.
Let matter and energy converse
To weave the tale of the universe,
And through the course of time and space
I'll cherish all in my embrace."


Celebrating 100 Years of Mission in the Philippines

By Arlenne Villahermosa

With gratitude to God in our hearts, the Missionary Society of St. Columban launched the year-long Centenary Celebration in November 2017 and will culminate in November 2018. The Columban Society was founded on June 29, 1918 by two young Irish diocesan priests, Fr. Edward Galvin and Fr. John Blowick, who answered the invitation of Christ to: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt. 28:19).

Multiplying Oneself Through Columban Mission

By Franklin Hidalgo

Frank is an electrical engineer who has managed his own business for 30 years. He is a native of La Paz, Iloilo City but has settled in Las Piñas with his family for many years.

When my wife, Liberty, made contact with the Columban Missionaries in the late ‘90s, she started receiving Misyon magazine, then, later, the Columban Mission newsletter. I did not bother to read them. When she left for the US to take care of our very young, one and only grandson, I was left behind. The newsletters continued to come to the house. So I started reading them and got to know about the Columban Missionaries. I was inspired to learn how they cared for my countrymen; for the many years of sacrifices they had made to help the poorest of the poor. I had probably been to these far distant places where the Columban Missionaries went. It made me realize the difficulties that these missionaries experienced and yet they gave their lives and their hearts to serve the people. How noble it is!

From the Editor

By Arlenne Villahermosa

As the Missionary Society of St. Columban continues the celebration of its 100th founding anniversary this year, Misyononline.com features in this issue stories and testimonies of people who have been touched by the love of God as their lives intertwined with the faith-witnessing journey that the Columban missionaries had lived-out through the years. This issue also includes insights and reflections on mission by a Columban lay missionary and a Columban student who is currently on his First Mission Assignment to Pakistan.

A Love Story with the Columban Fathers

By Msgr. Crisostomo A. Cacho

Msgr. Cacho, from San Marcelino, Zambales, is the Vicar-General of the Diocese of Iba, a position that he has held since 1978 when Bishop Henry Byrne was the Ordinary of the Diocese. He is the President of Columban College since 2007, and the fourth priest to be ordained for the Diocese of Iba, one of the first fruits of the Columban apostolate to put up a diocesan clergy.

My love story with the Columban Fathers started when I studied in a public elementary school at Linasin, San Marcelino, Zambales. I would often see them at the convento, but my first close encounter with them was with Fr. Vincent Lyons. Father Lyons brought catechists to our school to conduct catechism classes.

To Search Is To Find

To Search is to find

I remember enjoying the sight of beautiful ladies and lads parading during Santacruzan in the month of May when I was still a kid. But for more than a decade now, I didn’t get a chance to witness such event again. It’s a shame maybe but I must admit that I never understood its significance as I observed rather that people are more busy dressing up and taking pride as it seemed to be a beauty pageant. It was only a few months ago that a good friend told me that it is something Marian and a religious practice? Will somebody enlighten me please?

Our Hideaway

A Privilege and a Pleasure

By Ma. Criselda A. Mendoza

Crissy started working with the Columban Missionaries in Singalong in 2013.

“Didn’t you do Creative Writing?” – A question Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue, aka Boss #1, asked me while coaching me on writing a letter for him.

The big thing about working as a Secretary to the Regional Director is that, not one day is the same as the last day or the day to come. It is an aspect of the job that I love and, on the really bad days, detest. There is always something different to do, someone new to meet. Sometimes you get surprises, like you get asked to write an article for Misyononline and you find yourself picking up old, rusty skills, talents or tricks, and it gives you a bit of a thrill, a touch of risk. I’m not really complaining, though. I have expected this unpredictability from the start, when I accepted the job. And I wouldn’t really have it any other way.

“Sharing with the Poor is Always a Grace - a HOPE”

By Fr. Jude Mirasol Garceniego

The author wrote the article My First Fiat To God's Call when a seminarian, which we published in Misyon (then a magazine) May-June 2007 issue. Fr. Jude was ordained priest in 2013. He founded SPAG-Asa on September 22, 2016 while doing further studies in Rome, Italy. You may visit the Facebook Group of SPAG-Asa here.

I was baptized by Rev. Fr. Donal Hogan, a Columban Missionary, on February 10, 1985, a day before the Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, in Candoni, Negros Occidental. I was then two months and one day old. I finished my secondary education in Our Lady of Lourdes High School of Candoni established by the Columbans, and attained my bachelor’s degree in Kabankalan Catholic College, also a Columban school. Furthermore, I finished my five years of Philosophy in the Little Way College Seminary, as one of the pioneering seminarians, supported by the Little Association – a group closely connected with the Columbans Missionaries. Presently, I am a priest of the Kabankalan Diocese assigned to the Parish of St. Paul in Cauayan, Negros Occidental. This was the last Columban parish in the Diocese of Kabankalan. Fr. Michael Doohan served as the last Columban parish priest in this parish. Fr. Seán Coyle confirmed this in his message to me during my transfer on September 2, 2017.

Celebrating the Gift of Vocation in Mission

By Joan Yap

Joan is a Columban lay missionary assigned to Taiwan. Here is what she shared during her renewal of commitment with the CLM along with RP 19 on February 12, 2018.

Today is a special day as we celebrate the gift of lay vocation - a celebration of thanksgiving for Sherryl Lou Capili, Reina Mosqueda and me. We finished our second-term as Columban lay missionaries in Taiwan having learned many new things and having had memorable experiences of joys and challenges.

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