An account of Fr. Leo Distor’s Ordination

By Ray Noel “Wing-Wing “Delgado

Fr. Leo Distor could be described as a late vocation, that is, he worked as a lay missionary with the T’ Boli people in Lake Cebu before he decided to become a Columban missionary Society of St. Columban student tells the story of Leo’s ordination.

That day in Koronadal was not just an ordinary day. It was the day of the very first ordination of a member of the Missionary Society of St. Columban from the Diocese of Marbel: FR. LEO DISTOR.

Koronadal, known better as Marbel, is located in the central part of Mindanao and can only be reached by land travel. It is only a town, yet it is more like a city and it is the center of South Cotabato. Most of the visitor who came from Luzon and Visayas traveled by airplane to General Santos (formerly Dadiangas) which is only about an hour‘s ride from Marbel. It was a comfortable trio for them compared with those who came from Pagadian and Ozamis. They sailed by launch to Cotabato City in Maguindanao and then rode a jeepney for almost 3 hours.

By Fr. Eugene Docoy, SVD

Fr. Eugene was born in Bohol in 1961. He studied at the SVD Seminary in Tagaytay and was ordained in 1987. In 1989, he went to Korea to work in the Diocese of Suwon near Seoul. He speaks fluent Korean which is a great advantage when he was to mediate between Filipino Workers and their Korean employees. It is estimated that there are 30,000 Filipino workers in Korea.

One year ago Ali Sher came to Korea legally as a ‘student trainee’. At 38 years of age, he is in reality neither a student nor a trainee. He came to work and earn to support his wife, three children and a jobless uncle who lives with the family.

By: Jasmin Peralta, SSC

Sr. Jasmin is a Filipino sister who is on mission with the Columbans in Chunchon, Korea. Here she tells of her life “accompanying” the sick and dying on their journey. She does this through her special connection with the Hospice.

Hospice for the Dying
When I first came to join the hospice team in St. Columban’s Clinic in Chunchon last April, our two paid nurses kidded me about taking the night calls when the sisters in charge is away. I firmly told them that I would not, besides not being trained in the medical field, I can’t bring them back to life if ever they die.

By: Fr. Ray T. Saber, MSC

All Sea Farers
The Apostleship of the Sea is a Catholic institution based in Palazzo San Calisto, Vatican City. In many major seaports of the world this institution has branches popularly known among seafarers as “Stella Maris.” The Apostleship of the sea aims to promote the pastoral care of the maritime people. The term maritime people, means “all those who go down to the sea in ships.” This includes all seafarers.