By: Pilar Tilos

Pilar Tilos, a Columban lay missionary in Pakistan spent many years in every type of parish ministry in her home town in Hinobaan, Negros Occidental. Here she tells us of the struggle she had to break the language barrier before she could begin her new mission ministry in Pakistan.

Starting Straight Away
October, 25th, 1990, four days after we arrived in Lahore, Fr. Pat Raleigh, in-charge of the language studies, gave us an orientation for the language program. We were told to study Punjabi (the local language of the people) because we would be working in the rural areas. The language course was to be for a full calendar year and the classes were to be held in the house where we lived in Iqbal town.

An Experiment Inspired by the Early Christians

Fr. Filomino Mahusay, from La Castellana, Negros Occidental is surely one of the longest serving member of the Missionary Society of the Philippines. Here, his confrere tells us of Fr. Fil’s touching and unique apostolate from which we can all learn that it is not number that count.

Enchanted Lake
There is a pond lying deep in a village called “Dong” in the province of Chaiyaphum some 479 kms. Northeast of Bangkok. Most times of the day this pond lies placid with colorful lotus plants and floating lilies. But in the late afternoons, during feeding time, this man-made lake seethes with fish romping around.

By: Fr. Paulino C. Sarac.

A young Filipino priest tells the steps he took which brought him to Chile, in Latin America as a volunteer missionary working with the Columbans.

39 Steps
I’m Fr. Paulino C. Sarac. I was ordained in 1978, and belong to the Vicariate of the Mountain Province, Luzon, Philippines. In 1985, I went down to Pagadian Diocese, Zamboanga del Sur, Mindanao for a vacation. There, the Columbans as if I could take charge for sometime of San Pablo Parish. It’s a parish that was vacant for a while after Rev. John Wanaurny was transferred to Brazil. I accept and took care for almost two years. While there, Rev. Dan O’ Malley, who was the superior, asked if I was interested in an overseas mission. My reaction was yes, but first to ask the permission of my bishop. My bishop at that time was Msgr. Emeliano Madanggeng. The answer was positive, we made all necessary arrangements like psychological test, contract, passport, and visa. After these things, I flew to Australia for a Missiology course- a Latin America; then to Cochabamba Bolivia, for five months, to learn Spanish.

By: Sr. Ma. Therecilla, RVM

The RVM sister uses skills learned working in Mindanao to enhance family life in Brong Ahafo, Ghana

Friend of Joeker
Father Joe Panabang, the Joker has said much about many happenings, funny as well as sad experiences in his mission work here in Ghana. I am in the same Diocese with Fr. Joe but we are far from each other. I’m sure this Chrism Mass he’ll come as all he priests are expected to come.