Latest News, Blogs & Articles
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15th May 2012
Pentecost 2012
Recently, I saw interviews with some of the 8000 inspirational people chosen to carry the Olympic Torch during its 70 days’ journey throughout the country before the Games begin in London next July. All spoke of the honour and privilege of carrying the famous symbol of the Olympic movement with its ideals of respect and friendship among the nations of the world.
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13th May 2012
Columbans support vigil to ‘Save Jeju’
Columban JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) joined around 60 people holding a vigil on 9 May outside the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Central London to urge that construction of a military base on the Korean island of Jeju be halted.
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9th May 2012
Birmingham Sikh leader becomes a papal knight
History was made at St. Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham on 22 April when a Sikh leader in the city was invested as a papal knight. Dr Bhai Mohinder Singh was recognised for his “dedicated work to Roman Catholic-Sikh relations and for his enthusiastic commitment to working for peace among people of all faiths”.
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8th May 2012
Ecumenical Walk of Witness in Birmingham
Rose Basada is a Filipina Columban Lay Missionary based in Birmingham. Here she writes about an ecumenical Walk of Witness which she participated in during Good Friday.
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8th May 2012
Migrants must not become scapegoats
Bishop Patrick Lynch of Southwark Diocese has urged Catholics to speak out on behalf of migrants, asking God “to give all of us the courage to speak out prophetically and do what we can to prevent migrant workers from within or outside the European Union becoming scapegoats and targets of popular frustration with the economy”. He was speaking at the homily of a special Mass for Migrants at Westminster Cathedral on Bank Holiday Monday, 7 May, the Feast of St Joseph the Worker. The main celebrant was Bishop Thomas McMahon of Brentwood, and more than 50 priests concelebrated, primarily from the ethnic chaplaincies.
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3rd May 2012
Engaging with the signs of the times
Two forthcoming Catholic People’s Weeks will help participants explore some of the key issues of our times – how Christians can live sustainably, and engage with the world of finance and investment.
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26th April 2012
Celebrating Earth Day in the Southern Philippines
Sean Martin, a Columban priest based in the Midsalip area of Mindanao in the Philippines, participated in an Earth Day rally and celebration there on 23 April. It involved around 500 people, many of them Catholics from the parishes of the area who have been active in trying to stop large-scale destructive mining in the region.
The following letter was handed out at the rally and read out from the platform: -
26th April 2012
Columban priest addresses Pakistan’s diplomats to the Vatican
The following is an address given by Columban Father Robert McCulloch on 11 April in Switzerland to Pakistan’s diplomats to the Holy See. It followed a dinner given by Mr. Muhammad Saleem Bhounr, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Holy See, to honour Fr McCulloch’s reception of the Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Pakistan’s highest civilian honour. The Irish ambassador to Switzerland and papal nuncio to Switzerland were present.
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25th April 2012
Multifaith celebration in Birmingham schools
Fr. Jim Fleming, the Columban parish priest of St. Catherine’s parish in Birmingham, reports on the Interfaith week celebrated in both St. Catherine of Siena Primary School and Priory Edgbaston Catholic Independent School during March. He worked for several decades himself in Pakistan.
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21st April 2012
Formation and fun at Catholic People’s Weeks 2012
Catholic People’s Weeks (CPWs) follow a formula of study and reflection, liturgy and social activities. Nine have been arranged for 2012 covering a range of themes such as ‘Sensing God in Creation’, ‘Richer than Gold’ and ‘Knowing the Unknowable God’.
Columban Missionaries in Britain
We are a group of Columban ordained and lay missionaries, who see ourselves being called to be a missionary presence in Britain, encouraging and listening to the local Church in its efforts to reach out beyond its boundaries for the sake of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Sharing our Columban mission experience, we respond to our call in Britain by
- raising awareness of and eliciting support for Columban missions;
- working, in solidarity with the poor and the exploited earth, for justice, peace and the integrity of creation;
- promoting life-giving relationships between peoples of different cultures and religions;
- facilitating the exchange of personnel and resources between Britain and other places where Columbans work.
Seeking the signs of God’s Spirit at work in our situation, we engage in mission in cooperation with others of like vision and in openness to what God is doing among us and in our world.
Publications
Far East
Magazine
A Columban Publication that reports on the work of Columban Missionaries, seeking spiritual and material support for our Missions around the world.
Vocation for Justice Magazine
Vocation for Justice is produced by the Columban Justice and Peace (JPIC) team in Britain covering a wide range of issues including Environmental Justice, Patenting Life, Migrants, Mining and UK Poverty.
Dates for your diary
Click here for a list of mission appeals, conferences and other events where Columban missionaries are involved in the near future.