In the lead up to our centenary celebrations, we invited our supporters to share their ‘Columban Story’ with us. We have been overwhelmed with the response, and some-what humbled reading the stories from our committed supporters.
I was born and grew up in Greymouth, NZ. My parents always had the Columban calendar in their house.
As a young boy, I was an altar server. One Sunday night 8-10 servers were lined up in pairs in the sacristy waiting for the priest to ready himself for Benediction. I was in the front row fooling with the server beside me. Next thing I was clipped over the ear by a senior boy in the rear line, Jim Rathbun. Beside him was Dennis Hanrahan. Years later Jim was a Columban Missionary priest and Dennis became a Diocesan priest and ultimately Bishop of the Canterbury Diocese. Both now deceased. RIP.
About the same time, I was selling race books outside the Greymouth racetrack. A patron gave me two entrance tickets valued at 2/6d each. I sold them to a racegoer who was only too happy not to have to line up at the turnstiles with his wife.
When I got home and told mum where I had got the extra 5/- she made me take the money the following Monday to the secretary of the Jockey Club.
He explained to me the money was not actually the property of the Jockey Club, but to reinforce the message my mum was making to me, he suggested we put the money in the Columban Mission box on his desk. Never forgotten…
Jim’s priesthood was my inspiration to become a regular benefactor. I now keep the Columban Calendar in my home.
Pat, Rangiora NZ
Related links
- Read more from the current eBulletin
- Read more "Your Columban Stories" from other benefactors.
