Misioneros Columbanos
 Carta del Director  Carta del Director |
90th AnniversaryLong haunted by a desire to be a missionary, Father Edward Galvin traveled to China in 1912, only three years after his ordination. In China, Fr. Galvin was appalled at the poverty he found, but he was even more shocked by the spiritual poverty. Here were millions of people who knew nothing of Christ because of the lack of missionaries. Despite great enthusiasm and dedication, there was only so much one priest could do on his own. More missionaries was the answer.
He wrote letters to his friends back home in Ireland seeking help. In 1916 two priests joined him, but they soon realized that if they were to have any lasting effect, they needed to set up an organization. So they urged him to go home and organize a new mission society. In June 1916, Fr. Galvin traveled to the United States and visited priest friends and bishops, sharing his plans with them. In August, he sailed to Ireland where he got his first recruits. By October, the new society numbered eight priests. St. Columban was chosen as the model of mission for the new society. That humble beginning became an abundant fountain of grace within the Church as the Columban Missionaries have grown in ways that could not have been foreseen ninety years ago. It was only two years later, on June 29, 1918, that the Society of St. Columban was formally approved, with the blessing of Pope Benedict XV. Since then, the Columban family (priests, sisters, lay) has produced abundant fruit as a great host of people have become involved in this work of love which has spread to fourteen countries of the world. "This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes" (Ps 118:23). From the very first our missionary society was driven by the desire to obey Christ's mandate to "go and teach all nations" bringing His message of hope and salvation to the poorest among the poor, never forgetting the Lord's own words: "As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me" (Mt 25:40). This year marking our Ninetieth Anniversary is certainly an occasion to give thanks to the God of all mercies both for the gift of the Lord's call and for the abundant spiritual harvest, which has come to the Church and the world through our work. Mission is a story about people of faith on fire with the love of God and Columban Missionaries are privileged to be a part of this story. But the story is far from over: more chapters are to be written through the lives of future missionaries. My prayer is that you might join us in being missionary in whatever form is right for you. Gratefully yours in Christ, Fr. Arturo Aguilar |
