2026 Columban Mid-Year Appeal
"Whoever has received much… should use it for the benefit of others."
Pope Leo XIV
Across the world, Columban missionaries serve in fifteen countries, walking alongside people whose lives are marked by hardship, courage and hope. From Korea, where our lay missionaries accompany migrants and asylum seekers facing uncertainty and displacement, to other communities in Asia, Oceania, Europe and America, we are present where the need is greatest.
In places where families struggle to find safety, dignity and belonging, Columbans offer practical support, shelter, friendship and faith. Often, it is the simple acts of welcome and compassion that bring light into lives overshadowed by fear and isolation.
San Columbano de Bantolinao
Columban Fr Rolly Aniscal (left), Columban lay missionaries John Din, Beth Sabado and Arlenne Villahermosa (right) at Mass. Photo: Lilibeth (Beth) Sabado.
San Columbano de Bantolinao began as a dream in the early 2000s, inspired by members of the Negros Nine who envisioned integral human development, care for the poor and restoration of creation. What was once a bald mountain watershed in Negros Occidental is now a thriving forest, nurtured over two decades by community effort, organic farming and perseverance through typhoons, drought and hardship. Today, the land sustains itself, with birds and native trees renewing life. As Columban missionaries and partners, we stand as a link between past sacrifices and future hope, continuing the journey of renewal by caring for both people and the Earth.
>Living the Gospel Among Migrants
Columban lay missionary Lee Kyung-Ja Christina on an outing on Nami Island and making Kimbap with migrant mothers and their children. Photo: Lee Kyung-Ja Christina
In Korea, Columban Lay Missionaries live among migrants and asylum seekers facing uncertainty from rising rents and redevelopment that force many to relocate. In this fragile environment, they visit neighbours, listen to their stories and offer companionship across cultures and faiths. One missionary rents a small two-bedroom unit to provide temporary shelter for those in urgent need. A woman who fled threats in her homeland found safety there, despite injuries and hardship that made survival difficult. Living together was not always easy, but through patience, prayer and shared daily life, hospitality became a sign of God’s love. In offering welcome, dignity is restored, hope is renewed and the Gospel is lived through simple acts of compassion.
St Bernadette’s Children’s Centre
Children from St Bernadette’s Children’s Centre happily spend time playing together. Photo: Fr Tim Mulroy SSC
Columban Fr Tony Coney reports that St Bernadette’s Children’s Centre in San Martin de Porres, Peru, has been protecting vulnerable children for nearly three decades. What began as a simple day centre has grown into a network of care that offers safety, education and hope to children facing abuse, neglect and poverty. Today, the residential home cares for 30 children who have suffered sexual abuse, providing shelter, food, schooling and vital psychological support to help them heal. Although referred by the government, their daily care depends largely on donations. Your support will help provide a safe home, restore dignity and give these children the chance to rebuild their lives.
Your generosity to this Mid-Year Appeal will help to sustain these mission efforts in the fifteen countries where we serve. Together, we can continue to stand with the poor, the vulnerable and the forgotten, sharing God’s love and restoring hope in communities worldwide. To donate to the 2026 Columban Mid-Year Appeal, please use the options below.
Kind Regards,
Fr Patrick McInerney
Regional Director of Oceania
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