Oxford Street in London is the busiest shopping thoroughfare in Britain and one of the most famous in the world. At the top of Oxford Street, by Marble Arch, you have to cross a traffic island, where most passers-by will have their eyes fixed on the pedestrian traffic lights. However, if they were to glance down at the pavement under their feet, they’d see an innocuous-looking blue plaque indicating that this road island doesn’t just have a traffic management purpose, but also marks a spot important in history and sacred to Catholics.
For this is the site of the infamous ‘Tyburn Tree’ gallows, London’s main place of execution in Tudor and Stuart times. Amongst the numerous victims who suffered cruel deaths here were over a hundred who are recognized as martyrs by the Catholic Church, and who died for the faith during Reformation times between 1535 and 1681.
A little bit further along, in front of Hyde Park, if you keep your eyes peeled you’ll see another plaque, this time on the wall pointing out the entrance to Tyburn Convent. Here, since 1903, a community of Sisters (the Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) have maintained perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praying for all people but especially those of England and Wales, keeping alive the memory of the Tyburn Martyrs.
For some 25 years, Columban Fr. Tom Ryan has served this community. He, more than anyone, is aware that present-day Catholics in this country come from a long tradition, a tradition sometimes only preserved by brave women and men giving their lives for their beliefs. It is this knowledge which inspires us to guard these beliefs and sometimes share them with people in other countries.
Tom did this for nearly twenty years in the shanty towns around the city of Lima in Peru. During much of this time, I had the privilege of performing the same ministry in a neighbouring area. Together with other Columban priests, Sisters and Lay Missionaries we were engaged in helping poor people build up Church communities from scratch.
For me, this sums up Columban mission. Conscious of the noble tradition we have come from, inspired by the stories of those who went before us and often suffered for Christ, we go out to disadvantaged parts of the globe to share the Gospel by the example of our lives. We are able to do this, thanks to you, our supporters and donors.
