COLUMBAN INVITATION

Following is a copy of a message posted by Ariel Presbitero in BCHS Batch 83 Yahoo Group. It is an open invitation to all from the Columban Fathers:

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Dear kababayan at kapitbahay,

We have long tradition of the Columban Fathers in our parish of Santa Ursula. They are not there anymore, but their friendship and missionary service stayed within us. Some of us were baptized by the Columbans, married by the Columbans, taught by the Columbans, friends of the Columbans, altar servers of the Columbans, etc. These names may sound familiar with you: Fr. Kieran White, Fr. Sean Harrington, Fr. Barney O'Connor, Fr. Vic Gaboury, Fr. Brendan Lovett, Fr. Colin McLean, Fr. Vincent Lyons, Fr. Bob Clarke, Fr. James McCarthy and a lot more missionary priests who became part of the life of Santa Ursula Parish. They still continue as missionaries although some already retired, semi-retired, live in nursing homes and others had gone back to the Lord. All Columban priests who had visited the Philippines especially Binangonan, Rizal they are very delighted to know that I'm from Binangonan. They tell so many wonderful stories about their experiences visiting the barrios, masses in Talim Island, the fiestas, the famous Good Friday procession, Sepulchro devotees, people they have known, etc. It was a very humbling experience listening to these stories that they are truly missionaries even before I was born. These stories had shaped my faith who am I at present. I became a Columban Lay Missionary serving the poor people in South America (Brazil & Peru) for the last 12 years. I'm definitely sure what you have learned from them you carried it with you until now. This is the connection I was talking about. What they have taught us still stayed within us and they are part of our being.

Then, the history changed when they turned over the parish to a Filipino priest. The first Filipino priest as far I remember was Fr. Arsenio Bautista in 1970. Since then Filipino priests followed up to the present who is our kababayan, Fr. Dave Onilongo from Darangan. Changing history is good to give equal opportunity for our local clergy to experience what mission is all about and what missionaries had gone through. There's one important person that I would like to mention even the Columbans had gone long time ago, that she became faithful in making this connection. No other than our school principal, Miss Herminia Manez. She is a promoter of our MISYON magazine until now and dearly loved by the Columbans for dedication and commitment to propagate our Catholic faith in our school, BCHS. She is retired now but still very active in her vocation and helping the missionaries promote mission. We are very grateful for her examples.

I'm inviting you to take a moment to know more about the Columban Fathers by visiting our website, knowing more what the Columban missionaries are doing, writing to our missionaries, keeping in contact, praying for them and if you would like to receive our Columban Mission magazine (in the US) and MIYSON (in the Philippines) they are also available. In this way, we can continue making connections. They became part of our lives when we were young and we don't want to lose it. If you know somebody, a friend or a relative who wanted to have a mass, house blessing, car blessing, santo nino blessing, etc. let us know by calling the contact number below. We have available priests for this kind of services. You are also most welcome to visit our Columban house in Los Angeles. You can do mass offering too because we have mass everyday in our chapel. If you want to have a mass in our house, you can come anytime and we will be available for you.

Thank you so much for taking time in reading this letter invitation.

God bless.

Ariel Presbitero
Coordinator
Columban Affiliate Program

Please take a moment to visit our website:
www.columban.org (US Region)
www.columbanmission.net (Philippine Region)
www.misyononline.net (MISYON Magazine)

Columban Fathers
2600 N. Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Tel. 323-665-4289
Fax. 323-664-7160

P.S.
You can forward this message to anybody. We would be delighted to be hearing from you.