Mission-Sendings and Renewals

This is an update about lay missionaries renewing their contracts with the CLM, and those who left and were sent for mission.

RP 18 Renewal of Commitment

Rose Basada, Gertrudes Samson and Jayjay Enterina renewed their commitment with the Columban Lay Missionaries on June 28, 2017. They have been assigned to the Region of Britain since 2010, working with asylum seekers or refugees. Rose is presently assigned to the US region while Gertrudes and Jayjay are hopeful to renew their visas within the year. At mass, Jayjay expressed their gratitude, while Ger expressed the challenges they faced in mission. With the present difficulty in renewing their visas, it didn’t occur to them that they were to experience the kind of pain that the refugees are experiencing. We pray with Gertrudes and Jayjay for the grace to listen and be open to the leadings of the Spirit.

Coming back to the Philippines brought another sad news – the war in Marawi, the fleeing of Maranaos. We continue to move forward with hopes and prayers for the people of Marawi, as well as for the two worlds – Britain and the Philippines.

PH 21 Renewal of Commitment

Jenanydel Nola and Luda Egbalic renewed their commitment (2nd term) on September 18. They have been re-assigned to Korea. At mass, Jen shared, "I found happiness even if I was alone". And Luda said, "It was challenging but there was also comfort in the midst of discomfort". They left for Korea on September 20, 2017.

PH 24 Mission-Sending and Signing of Agreement

Lily Faunillan, Jennifer “Jake” Lunor, and Evangeline “Jinky” Ucol signed up for a three-year mission in Fiji on August 14.The mission-sending masses happened in their respective home parishes.

Lily, 28, a teacher, is from Moalboal, Cebu. She obtained her bachelor’s degree at the University of San Carlos and her master’s degree at the University of the Visayas. Prior to joining Columban Lay Missionaries, she was a college instructor at Rizwoods Colleges and an on-call examiner at the Center for Educational Measurement. Lily had her mission-sending mass at San Juan Nepomuceno Parish, Moalboal on August 6.

Jake, 31, is a nurse graduate from the University of the Visayas. She is from Talamban, Cebu City. She became a full-time volunteer paramedic nurse and firefighter of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, Cebu City. Later, she worked as a nurse at House of Hope, a Christian drug rehabilitation center in Lapulapu City, where she learned about the Columban Lay Missionaries from Marivic Quilab, a returned lay missionary assigned to Ireland. Jake’s mission-sending mass on August 6 was at Immaculate Conception Parish, Oslob, Cebu.

Jinky, 38, is from Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro. She graduated in Religious Education at Stella Maris College, Cubao and has studied at Mother of Life Center in Novaliches. She worked in a parish for two years and taught at Marikina Catholic School for almost eight years. She was the Christian Living Education Coordinator at Stella Maris College before joining the Columban Lay Missionaries. Jinky’s mission-sending mass took place at Parokya ng Mabuting Pastol, Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro on August 27.

THANKSGIVING

We thank God for sending us Ana Flores (Peru), Anna Noh Hyein (Korea) and Sun Hee Kim Sunny (Korea). Their presence and the contributions they have made are valuable to the region and the people they journey with. We pray for each of them for grace and abundance as we await for their return.

We welcome Lilibeth Sabado as the new Coordinator of the Columban Lay Missionaries-Philippines. Beth is from Pagadian City and has joined the Columban Lay Missionaries in 2002. She was assigned to Taiwan and China and as the Coordinator of the Lay Missionaries Central Leadership Team in Hongkong. We thank Beth for her generosity in accepting the role.