The editor of The Far East magazine, Fr Dan Harding is returning to Chile where he worked previously for 21 years. The June edition of The Far East is his last production since his appointment to Chile is from September 1st, 2017 and it takes some time to pack up and clear the desk, have a break, say farewells to family and friends before heading back to Chile where his heart really is.
In addition to being editor, Fr Dan has also been promoting The Far East magazine in the Archdiocese of Adelaide as well as being involved in pastoral work there.
His appointment to the Australia/New Zealand Region was for four years but he has given us an extra year of his time. We try to operate on a rotation scheme of Columban priests returning to their home country for four years to promote the missionary work of the Society, then returning to their missionary work overseas. One of the reasons too, is to have a missionary priest back in his own culture for a time, to keep in contact with his origins.
Fr Dan has finished his ‘tour of duty’ and is returning to Chile. We wish Dan well and thank him for his hard work, his dedication to the priesthood and his enthusiasm for mission.
Welcome our new editor, Mrs Janette Mentha who is our first lay editor, our first woman editor, she is breaking the mould. The other Columban magazines from Ireland and the USA also have women as their editors. Janette’s first edition will be the July edition of The Far East.
Janette worked for the Archdiocese of Melbourne for 20 years in the areas of liturgy, youth ministry and communications and brings a lot of experience to the role. She has worked for Columban Mission now for 10 years. The preparation and induction of co-workers into working with our missionary society is something we take seriously. Janette has visited Fiji, the Philippines, Chile and Peru to broaden her understanding of Columban mission. I believe that a picture is worth a thousand words; seeing and meeting people struggling in poverty is the best place to begin in understanding some aspects of Columban Mission.
We wish Fr Dan well in his new role in Chile and welcome Janette as the new editor.
