Even today, Columbans undertake remarkable journeys following an old tradition that dates back to when we were founded in 1918, and young Irish men were assigned to China. As in the past, these journeys still bring us Columbans into contact with calamities, wars, famine, and floods.

This brings me back to Myanmar where Fr Eamon Sheridan, who was presenting Francis Xavier Nbwi la Aung for ordination back in May, was writing, in early July, about a flood that hit the Columban Rebirth Rehabilitation Centre in Myitkyina in Northeast Myanmar. As the rains fell at 2 am and he could hear people yelling, Eamon initially wondered whether the civil war that is being fought in Myanmar had finally come to their city. But he was soon to discover that the mighty Irrawaddy River had broken its banks. It was chaos. People are trying to save animals and computers and electrical equipment. Food was being stored on the second floor of local houses. Fortunately, everyone was safe in the centre, which houses people caught in the prison of addictions. Now, they were seeking to safeguard what they had as they endured the effects of these floods.

Nearby, in the Philippines, another place where Columbans have been since the 1920s, Columban missionaries are involved in a whole range of different ministries. Much of this work would be familiar to Fathers la Aung and Naio since they did priesthood formation in Manila. Presently, 13 students are coming from 8 different nationalities. As part of their training, these students work alongside Columban lay missionaries in the Deaf-Mute Ministry in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City, Feeding program, Women and Children Ministry, the work of Basic Ecclesial Communities, Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) projects, Vocation and Mission Promotion, Communications and Publications and Finance.

This then brings me back to another long-standing tradition. We have always depended upon our donors’ and supporters’ prayers and outstanding generosity. From the days when Columban missionaries first went to China, where they endured floods, wars, famine and other natural disasters, they could rely upon support from family and friends back in Ireland.

This is what characterizes Columban service. We are directly in touch with the people affected by floods or wars. We can ensure that your generous donations are properly and effectively used to help people recover from the floods in Myanmar and continue carrying out the various ministries in the Philippines.