From the Editor - Passing over and exoding out of

At Easter we celebrate the beginning of the "passover" from and the "exodus" out of a world alienated from God, loss in sin, selfishness, slavery and darkness. Now, through the Easter events of Christ's Passion, Death and Resurrection, if we choose, we can now be born anew, reconciled to God and freed from death. We now are able to participate in God's Kingdom here on Earth and fully in the next life. This "Hope" arising from Christ's resurrection is the core of our faith. We are all invited to bring the light of the Risen Christ and the hope it gives into our world.

In this April issue of The Far East magazine there are many stories demonstrating how Columban missionaries participate in the passing over from and exodus out of concrete situations of darkness, slavery and sin into the light and hope arising from Christ's resurrection. They participate alongside the local peoples and the local Church in the countries where they work, often learning from them, sometimes acting as agents of changes, other times being pro-active with them in developing projects to answer concrete needs.

Columban Fr Leo Donnelly RIP was always there for those in Peru in need, offering hope and light in situations of darkness and despair. Young people from troubled families where in most cases alcohol and drug addiction is prevalent, are offered the means to pass over and out of this situation into the loving, nurturing and empowering home, "Balay San Columbano," which was set up by Columban Fr Donald Kill in the Philippines.

Columban Fr Chris Saenz in Chile writes how young people who love to participate in pilgrimages are drawn through the Sacrament of Reconciliation to exodus out of sin and selfishness towards living the values of God's Kingdom.

This Easter exodus from self-centredness and self-absorption towards a life centred on God and care and concern for others, especially those in need, is symbolized in the ceremony of the washing of the feet during the Holy Thursday Liturgy. Columban Fr Barry Cairns shares with us the reflection of Mrs Tanaka, one of his parishioners in Japan on ways that we can symbolically wash other people's feet.

Columban seminarian Kurt Pala has recently returned from a two year mission experience in Fiji, which is a part of his seminary training. He gives a very good description of the process missionaries go through as they begin to engage with different cultures and thus become a part of their Easter story.

Columban Fr Peter Hughes is the executive secretary of the Department of Justice and Solidarity of CELAM (the Latin American Bishops' Conference) based in Bogotá, Colombia. In an interview, he shows how the Church can be a voice that denounces situations of sin, exploitation and oppression. This voice can then lead an exodus towards bringing about God's Kingdom and its values in our world.

Columban Frs Barry Cairns and Sean McDonagh share with us the different ways that darkness threatens Japan. They also share with us different ways and concrete examples that the hope and light emanating from the Risen Lord can pass over from this darkness.

Easter is a time for passing over and exoding out of situations of sin and oppression towards a participating in God and His Kingdom of love, justice, peace, solidarity, freedom, care and concern for all.


Fr Dan Harding
TFE@columban.org.au


Read more from The Far East, April 2014