From COVID Philippines to COVID Brexit Ireland

“Home is where you are understood," says the prophet, and we missionaries claim to have at least two homes: one in our country of birth, and another in our country (or countries) of adoption.

Fr Mickey Martin. Photo: Fr Michael Martin SSC

Fr Mickey Martin. Photo: Fr Michael Martin SSC

Born and reared in Ireland, at 26 years of age and armed with the Church’s social teaching and the documents of Vatican II, I enthusiastically said my good-byes as I left the Ireland I loved in 1966. I expected that I would be blessed with fraternal support from my fellow Columban Missionaries and hoped that I would enjoy a warm welcome from the Filipino people. I certainly received both.

My mother, like many young Irish at that time, emigrated to Canada, fulfilled her year’s contract and moved south to New York and worked there for another five years before deciding to come home and get married to an Irish neighbour. They reared us seven children on a small farm where hard work, frugality and love nourished our family lives.

My experience there increased my sensitivity to hungry and impoverished farmworkers in the sugarcane fields of Negros, Philippines. A three-year survey in Kabankalan showed that more than 50% of all funerals were of children who did not live until their third birthday.

Half a century after I arrived in the Philippines - 54 years in fact - I met with our Superior General, Fr Tim Mulroy, on his visitation to Malate, just as the alarms were going off that COVID had entered the Philippines. He listened carefully as I shared my story: I have enjoyed my life as a missionary, frequently faced with challenges beyond my capability, but helped along by my companions and fellow believers to trust the Lord and see God’s hand and fingerprints in everything. “We belong to Christ, not to ourselves” -is St Columbans wonderful summary.

I had 22 years of ministry in Negros, followed by six years in Manila developing Columban Lay Mission in and out of the Philippines. This was followed by another 25 years of ministry in Malate Parish. I will be 80 years old in May. I had three close encounters with death: neurosurgery in Dublin in 1988, a heart attack in Manila where two stents were inserted in 2008 and a blocked stent when in San Francisco in 2012.

I have enjoyed ministry. People have inspired me and God has positioned and empowered me to share the joy of the Gospel with many others. My family have been extraordinarily close too, and supportive of God’s mission which is my mission and Columban Mission. I am thankful that we Columbans have been given the time and the encouragement to avail of sustained ongoing formation. I regularly availed of these to keep in touch with a rapidly changing world.

I am asking for time to be with my sister and my five brothers. I would like to get to know them and their families better. I want to thank them for their support and for regularly sharing their blessings with those most in need.

While the internet has revolutionized communication between us all, most people live anxiously, fearing that COVID will gain entry to their homes and families. The vaccines are becoming available and I hope to be a recipient very soon. And, if I continue to have reasonable health and energy to assist with Columban priorities in Ireland, then of course I am willing to do what I can.

I lived under lockdown in Malate for five months, only going outside to visit the doctor. I enjoyed seeing Fr Leo Distor, our current Pastor, empowering communities in celebrating, sharing, caring, surviving – and providing for victims in coordination with the wider Church services. I saw that happening in Malate, and now, seven months in Ireland, I have seen similar outreach programmes happen in our parish in Tyrone.

We thank God for the many alternatives which are opening our eyes and challenging us to respond in new ways in today’s world. We have a variety of liturgies and sporting events giving us options online - audio and visual apps which allow us to see and hear each other and interact with our families and friends despite COVID at little or no cost. We can make time for solitude and contemplation, time for more prayer, time for admiring creation and indeed the beauty of God’s creation, the biodiversity, the interconnectedness of all living beings. Keeping distance and wearing masks are absolute demands for us who see life as God’s gift and who claim to be Christians, disciples of Jesus.

Pain is part of life. Filipinos have integrated this into their worship and prayer. The Nazareno is the dead Christ. The Dolorosa is the Sorrowing Mother. Leaving the Philippines with little time or opportunity to say goodbye was indeed painful for me as it has been for many missionaries.

Irish families generally have a sense of belonging, similar to Filipinos: “Where do you come from?” is a common greeting in both lands. And, migration of people is for both, pain and pleasure. There is little need to emphasise whether or faith or family or relatives overseas or heavenly blessings. These are all part of the baggage (and heritage) we bring with us from both countries!

I realize that I have had a lifetime of immersion in Philippine life and the people's struggle for survival and freedom while my knowledge and appreciation of modern Irish personalities in the social and political arena would be quite superficial. The Philippines truly became my second home, my country of adoption. If we Irish excel in celebrating death (and funerals), Filipinos are brilliant in celebrating life (and birthdays). I miss them! At least I can pray for the health and the opportunity to visit again post COVID.

I have watched many Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) games online and on TV since my arrival in August. I enjoy visiting Dalgan where I had spent time recovering from illnesses. I feel close to many who had retired after a lifetime on mission. I gradually settled and am getting to know TG4 (an Irish TV channel) and its excellent commentaries on our country and culture, our history and heritage, our families, fears and friends.

Filipinos taught me a few of their languages and basic greetings. I wish I knew more Irish! Maybe I can learn a little more. Being mostly with family members helps me learn about them, their commitments, their work, lives, and livelihoods.

While dealing with frost and snow in the hills is a small issue that can be important and sometimes urgent, we know that Brexit and a border down the Irish Sea are becoming bigger issues. Finally, big these issues may be for us all right now, 11,000 scientists worldwide have warned us that catastrophic environmental deterioration is infinitely more threatening to civilisation than are the combined issues from Trumpism, Brexit and COVID-19 - a truly daunting challenge as to what we must try to do, both as individuals and collectively, to find the most effective way to catalyse action.

Columban Fr Michael Martin served in Columban parishes in Negros and Manila for over 50 years. He now resides in Ireland.

Listen to "From COVID Philippines to COVID Brexit Ireland"

Related links

The Far East - New Subscription

Code : 4

In Stock | MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION

$6.00  

Annual subscription to The Far East magazine, published by St Columbans Mission Society 8 times per year. It features mission articles and photographs by Columban Missionaries from the countries where they work.

 

See all products