Fr Gary Walker SSC

Fr Gary Walker was elected Regional Director of St Columbans Mission Society for Australia and New Zealand in 2011. He commenced his initial three year appointment on the 23 November, 2011, the Feast Day of St Columban, and was re-elected for another three year term in 2014. Upon accepting his appointment, Fr Gary said one of the biggest challenges ahead will be "to engage young people in the missionary arm of the Church". Fr Gary also looks forward to working in collaboration with Lay People and other Congregations.

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From the Director - My last column

Oct 12, 2017
I have been ‘in the office’ at Columban Mission Centre (CMC) for 14 years. It has been a challenge from the first day.
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From the Director - A father's love

Sep 13, 2017
I clearly remember two incidents where fathers obviously had opposing beliefs on the merit of when and how to give praise.
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From the Director - The woman with the umbrella

Aug 22, 2017
The ringers may not have entered a church, they might have even been afraid of, or contemptuous of it, but Mary knew that credibility came when ‘Sister’ umpired a cricket match on Friday afternoon in the ‘sizzling’ heat.
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From the Director - Christian persecution in the world

Jul 12, 2017
I believe that a picture is worth a thousand words; seeing and meeting people struggling in poverty is the best place to begin understanding aspects of Columban Mission.
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From the Director - Finishing his tour of duty

Jun 16, 2017
I believe that a picture is worth a thousand words; seeing and meeting people struggling in poverty is the best place to begin understanding aspects of Columban Mission.
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From the Director - Never give up, never give in

May 16, 2017
“I am with you”. In the tough times when we feel the absence of God, we have to remember that Jesus knew hard times himself. We have to hold onto this truth that He knows what we go through and is with us.
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From the Director - Easter is a success story

Apr 21, 2017
Easter teaches us to have hope, to be resilient, to live fully and most of all to have a pure heart.
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From the Director - A poor woman in Chile says…

Mar 14, 2017
She added that there is nothing worse than Christians who have lost their flavour; a Christian without the flavour of Jesus and the gospel is merely going through the motions.
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From the Director - Lord to whom shall we go?

Jan 16, 2017
I ask you to pray for the Columbans who are returning home and for those who have chosen to retire in the countries where they have been on mission for many years. May they enjoy peace and tranquillity in this new stage of their lives.
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From the Director - The work of Christmas

Nov 24, 2016
Christmas is a holy feast when we contemplate the amazing fact that Jesus Christ was sent by God to come and live with us and change the way we look at the world.
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From the Director - Beware of the fundamentalists!

Oct 13, 2016
If Asia Bibi is found innocent of the charge of blasphemy, the Christian community will brace itself for retribution from mobs of extremists who will rampage through their areas.
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From the Director - Is it time for the Church to try another way?

Sep 14, 2016
Change will not negate the need for military defence but the Church especially needs to explore the nonviolent resistance way.
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From the Director - After all these years we are still afraid

Aug 19, 2016
It is my burning desire that, during this Jubilee, the Christian people may reflect on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
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From the Director - When the unexpected breaks through our defences

Jul 20, 2016
I found it incredibly painful to witness the grief of the widow who sat silent with her heart breaking, and to listen to the young children who prayed for their father.
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From the Director - To go or stay

Jun 14, 2016
Ultimately, people of faith leave their decisions, once made, in God’s hands. Who knows where the decisions we make will lead us?
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From the Director - Part of the bargain

May 10, 2016
Some of those killed were unfortunate victims of robbery or a kidnapping that failed, but some were ‘martyrs' in the true sense of the word; they were killed because they were Catholic priests.
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From the Director - After Easter

Apr 11, 2016
Easter is a wonderful celebration of the surprising nature of God. Who would have predicted or expected the resurrection of Jesus?
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From the Director - A new life in China?

Mar 07, 2016
Easter is the most important feast day in the Catholic calendar and people in all parts of the world will celebrate the belief that death is conquered by Jesus Christ.
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From the Director - Violence ‘up, close, and personal’

Feb 04, 2016
Our Columban Christmas Appeal last year was on the theme of ‘Jesus is the light’ linked to a project to supply light to a village in Sindh Province, Pakistan, to poor people who have never had electricity at night in their homes.
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From the Director - There is room at the inn

Nov 30, 2015
Our offer to accommodate some refugees will not be determined by their faith. The family may be Catholic or Muslim. In any case I am thrilled with this turn of events. Why wouldn’t we do this?
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Fr Gary Walker SSC