The Far East - March, 2008
Contents
The Far East magazine is published by St Columban's Mission Society. It features articles and photographs by Columban missionaries from those countries where the missionaries work. The magazine was launched originally to promote mission interest in Catholic homes in Australia and New Zealand. The Far East magazine in Australia was published for the first time on 15th October 1920 and sample copies were sent to every parish and school in Australia and New Zealand.
Editorial - The burdens of a Bishop
01.03.2008My decision to review our Columban missionary efforts during the last 90 years by taking stories from The Far East has been rewarding. read more
How do the missions stand?
01.03.2008This year St Columbans Mission Society celebrates its 90th year as a Catholic missionary organisation. In The Far East, March 1, 1930, Bishop Edward J Galvin wrote this letter to Columban missionaries. It indicates how dangerous and uncertain life was in China in the 1920s. read more
Floods and famine in the Yangtse Valley
01.03.2008May God pity us and our poor people - we are in a dreadful plight these past few weeks. The Yangtse is 53 feet above its normal level today and the floodwaters have reached heights far above all previous records. read more
Healing scars with music
01.03.2008Her haunting melodies and soft voice sooth and her rhythmic body movements, like a gazelle poising to spring, lulls her audience as her voice fades into the sacred sound of her bamboo flute. read more
The Men's Club
01.03.2008One of the things that has impressed me in Fiji is the involvement of men in the activities of the church. In Chile, where I come from, it's unusual for men to be involved like this. It's mostly the women who are involved in the activities in the church. read more
The buds take shape
01.03.2008About 25 years ago, Fr John O'Connell asked me, "Leo, how long is Mission?" I responded, "Fifty years, I'd reckon." At the time I had no idea where this answer had sprung from and it certainly surprised Fr O'Connell and myself. read more
Reflection - Feeling the light
01.03.2008It was still dark when Mary Magdalen went to the tomb after the terrible days of the Lord's passion and crucifixion. This was more than the darkness of the early morning. She saw that the stone had been moved and straightaway ran back to Peter and the other disciples. read more
Good Friday: Stations of the Cross
01.03.2008The Stations of the Cross are a traditional Lenten prayer. The Presbyterian scripture scholar, Rev. William Barclay, said... read more
Can you believe this?
01.03.2008St Elizabeth's Hospital is owned by the Catholic diocese of Hyderabad, Pakistan and is run on its behalf by the Medical Board of the diocese. It was established in 1958 and initially staffed by personnel from the Netherlands. read more
Fasting revisited
01.03.2008Fasting is part of the web of life in Pakistan. It's a natural topic to discuss because the Muslims have their Ramadan month of fasting and we Christians have Lent. Christians in Pakistan are deeply influenced by the Muslim way of fasting from sunrise to sunset. read more
Mission World
01.03.2008That Christians persecuted because of the Gospel in various parts of the world and in various manners may be sustained by the strength of the Holy Spirit and continue to bear witness courageously and openly to the Word of God. read more
From the Director - A vision worth living for
01.03.2008There is a computer programme called "Photoshop" that publishers use to improve their photographs. They can brush out inconvenient truths with it and make a scene gentler and softer. We have done something similar with Jesus. read more
A shared sadness
01.03.2008I remember 1978 as the year of the three Popes. Pope Paul VI died and was succeeded by Pope John Paul I who died unexpectedly after only one month in office. Then the long Pontificate of the late Pope John Paul II began. I also remember 1978 for a different and more personal reason. read more
Was it prayer or Brian Lara
01.03.2008The West Indies cricket team was in decline even if Brian Lara was still scoring runs and Courtney Walsh was taking wickets. read more
The bridge of sorrow
01.03.2008The Tumen River runs south and is about 50kms from the city of Chanji, the capital of Jilin Province in north- eastern China. It's famous for many things, but mostly because it marks the border between China and North Korea. read more
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