Dan has been Columban priest for 25 years. Last year he ran in the London Marathon

"Life will not be the same for their loved ones again, and not for the Christian community, not for other minorities, and not for the majority of peace loving Muslims in Pakistan."

On 22 September two suicide bombers exploded their bombs in All Saints Anglican Church as worshippers were leaving after services to get a free meal of rice offered on the front lawn killing 85 and wounding 141 people.

Militants linked to Pakistani Taliban have said they carried out the bombing in the city, which lies in what was formerly known as the North-West Frontier of Pakistan.

Source

• Columban Missionaries Britain
• Image: columban.org.au

There are close to 50 kiwi pilgrims, representing all the dioceses in New Zealand, making the 19 day World Youth Day pilgrimage.

It began with 5 days in Santiago, Chile, where the pilgrims were billeted in local parishes, giving them an introduction to Chilean cuisine and culture.

During their stay in Santiago they were hosted by the St Columban's Mission Society and were given a taste of the work the Columbans do with the poor and under-privileged throughout the city. They had an opportunity to visit the shanty towns.

The pilgrims arrived in Rio for orientation, and the opening Mass which took place on Tuesday in the cold wind on Copacabana beach and was attended by an estimated 400,000 pilgrims. Rio Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta was the presiding celebrant.

On Wednesday and Thursday the focus was on Catechesis with the Bishops

On Thursday evening (New Zealand time) there was be a Papal Welcoming Ceremony at Copacabana.

On Saturday they will take part in a Vigil Sleep Out at the Santa Cruz Air base before attending the final Mass on Sunday at Campus Fidei.

The Christchurch World Youth Day web page says that the pilgrims will begin the journey home on Monday 29, stopping off in Buenos Aires in Argentina where they will have a time of "retreat and recreation" allowing them to "unwind and reflect on the amazing past days in Santiago and the Rio WYD week."

"We will have times of prayer and reflection while soaking up all that this city has to offer."

On Thursday 1st August they will board the plane for New Zealand arriving on Saturday 3rd August.

Source

• NZCBC
• The Diocese of Christchurch
• The Catholic Herald

"There are a lot of challenges that the missionaries face when they go on missions and the Columban Companions in Mission supports their cause through prayers and other methods," say Father Frank Hoare.

"It is compulsory for those travelling abroad to serve missions to learn the language of that particular country and most of them find it hard leaving the comforts of their homes, adapting to the food and even learning the culture."

The Columban Missionary organisation is a governing body of the Columban Companions in Mission. It is represented in 14 different countries world-wide, with most of its missionaries travelling to Asia, Europe and other continents sharing their faith.

Columban Companions in Mission believe in these goals:

* The responsibility of all Catholics for world mission
* The exchange of faith experiences among local churches
* The challenge of the Gospel vision of justice and peace

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Columban Fathers
• Image: Columban Fathers

He studied Korean for two years before being sent to Wonju, Gangwon Province, where he met Bishop Ji Hak-soon, well-known for his pro-democracy activities, who was in charge of the local church.

He spent 17 years working in the eastern coast city of Samcheok and the mining city of Jeongseon, where one of the notable things he did in Jeongseon was to set up a credit union. Nonghyup, the banking unit of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, which was the only financial service provider working in the village, was drawing complaints from community leaders for what they saw as excessive interest rates charged to the town's many low-income earners.

Source

• The Korea Times
• Image: The Korea Times