“Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation” (Mk. 16:15). Such was the final command of the Risen Jesus as he sent out his disciples as bearers of hope. This same message has been echoed by the late Pope Francis who, in this 2025 Jubilee Year, called us all to be “Pilgrims of Hope”.
We Columbans have always sought to bring hope to the people we serve, thanks to our supporters and friends who help and inspire US through THEIR prayers and donations.
A month ago, I was privileged to attend the funeral of my friend and predecessor as Regional Director in Britain, Fr. Peter Hughes, and there can have been few more “hope-filled” pilgrims than him. Born in Ireland, he was ordained in 1977 and “sent out” to Chile in South America, then under the yoke of the cruel military dictator, General Augusto Pinochet. The worst suffering was felt by the poor, in disadvantaged sectors of the capital, Santiago, where the Columbans worked. Peter had a quiet and gentle way with him and so gave much support and comfort to his parishioners until the dark days of the dictatorship ended in 1990.
In 2004 he was “sent out” again, this time to Britain. Inspired by his time in Chile he led our Justice and Peace team, and then served as our Regional Director until 2021. As his successor, one of my first duties was to care for Peter as he tragically succumbed to illnesses which left him virtually blind and immobile – crosses he bore with remarkable courage and cheerfulness until he died.
It is people like Peter that inspire us. But Peter is not alone. Today, ordained and lay Columban missionaries continue to shine a light of hope in the darkness of our troubled world. It is for this reason that I am appealing once more for your help.
John Din is a Columban Lay Missionary in the Philippines. For almost a decade, John has lived out his calling as a Columban Lay Missionary, leading the Laudato Si’ Movement Pilipinas and advocating for care for our common home. From prayer vigils and street protests to inspiring the local Church to heed the cry of the earth and the poor, his mission has always been one of faith in action. Now, his journey continues at San Columbano de Batang and the Sanctuary de San Columbano in Negros Occidental—where he works to restore over 70 hectares of land through reforestation, agroecology, and eco-spirituality.
For John, walking barefoot, planting trees, growing fruit and vegetables and composting are more than just tasks; they are sacred acts of ecological conversion—a return to the land, embracing the wisdom that we are not separate from creation but part of it. Inspired by Jubilee 2025, he demonstrates what it means to be a Pilgrim Of Hope, showing that mission is not just about stewardship but deep belonging and renewal.
In the spirit of Pope Francis’ 2025 Jubilee, we celebrate Febie Gonzales as a Pilgrim of Hope, living her faith through compassionate action in Taiwan.
For seven years, Febie has dedicated herself to caring for individuals with physical and mental challenges, journeying alongside orphans, the sick, and the marginalised. She lends her hands to feed, guide and support those in need, her ears to listen and her heart to bring comfort to their suffering.
Febie’s journey is one of selfless service, deep empathy and unwavering faith. She embodies the Gospel’s call to love and care for the most vulnerable and reminds us that being a Pilgrim of Hope is about seeing Christ in others, responding with tenderness and building a world where no one is left behind.
We are ALL pilgrims of hope. Here in Britain, young people entered our Jubilee Year Schools Media Competition to share their vision of hope for our world (the winning entries are published in the May issue of the ‘Far East’ magazine) and you will have the opportunity to join a “pilgrimage for our common home” in the Salford diocese on 25th September 2025.
