Writing this farewell article, the final one of my journey as a Columban lay missionary, is not easy. As my mission comes to a close, I feel both sad and emotional, yet my heart is full of gratitude—to God, to the Columbans, and to all the people I have journeyed with.
I remember when Kush, my partner, and I were once asked by a Catholic priest, “If you could choose a bible reading, what would it be?” Before I could answer, Kush said it was “1 Corinthians Chapter 13!” This was exactly what I had in mind too! Although Kush is not a Christian, I was so happy that our thoughts were in agreement!
Since high school, this chapter of the bible has been my favourite. It was even featured in Red Lily, our school news magazine, in one February edition. On becoming a lay missionary, it remained my favourite, as it spoke to me about my journey and what remains in me—especially now, as my time as a Columban lay missionary comes full circle.
Taking time to reflect on almost 16 years of service, just like my favourite Bible chapter says, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love,” I realize that these three remain in me:
1. Faith
Looking back, when I told my mother I would join the Columban Lay Missionaries, she cried and wailed as if someone had died. “Nanay (Mum), why are you crying like that?” I asked. She said, “Ger, this is not my dream for you. My dream is for you to get married, settle down, and have a family.”
I told her, “Mum, that is also my dream. Lay missionaries can get married. If I am meant for that, it will happen.” She replied, “But how can you get married when your companions are always priests and nuns?”
I must admit I was in a dilemma during my final retreat before accepting my mission assignment. God’s call to serve Him in cross-cultural mission remained clear: “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1). Yet my Mum’s words lingered in my mind, and I asked God many questions about them.
God answered me through a pamphlet of the Infant Jesus of Prague I found in a souvenir shop, and a Divine Mercy picture of Jesus at the altar of the retreat centre. There was a small pink chair for a child beside the picture. I sat on it and asked, “Ok God, what do You want to tell me?”
As I gazed at the pamphlet and the Divine Mercy picture, with the inscription, “Jesus, I trust in You,” I felt God say, “Ger, trust me with a childlike trust. I cannot give you all the answers right now, but it will unfold in the future.” I finally said, “Ok, Jesus, I trust in You.”
I said yes to God, taking a leap of faith and beginning my missionary journey. Over the years, my faith has matured and strengthened, growing hand in hand with my love for Jesus.
In February this year, I was blessed to visit the Infant Jesus of Prague with Kush to offer thanksgiving for helping me discern my mission, and for all the blessings that came with it. Kush calls Him Baby Jesus and said, “He is so cute.” He also learned about the Infant Jesus story in connection with Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist.
For me, one sign of the Infant Jesus’ miracles—beyond healing and special favours—is in the weather. Prague is beautiful, and we were blessed with pleasant weather despite visiting in the middle of winter. Locals said we were lucky; it had not been like that before we arrived. In that sense, one of our wishes had already been granted. Jesus truly is the God who can calm storms in our lives.
2. Hope
When I arrived in Birmingham to begin my mission assignment, my bus to my ministry always passed a Church with a poster that said, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4). It had been there for many years. Every time I saw it, I said in my heart, “Yes, Lord, I delight in You, but when will You give the desires of my heart?”
As a missionary, I witnessed how God can be a source of hope and miracles when everything seems hopeless—both in my life and in the lives of those I have served, asylum seekers and refugees, especially at times when prayer seemed the only option. Indeed, with God, nothing is impossible. He is the God of Resurrection; there is no dead end for Him. Miracles happen if we hold on and do not give up.
I recall many moments: asylum seekers receiving papers after years of waiting and repeated refusals; those who fell gravely ill and recovered against the odds; a pregnant woman told her baby could not survive, but a week later, the scan showed the baby was perfectly healthy. In these moments, tears of sadness turned into tears of joy.
Now, after almost 16 years, I realize that God is full of surprises. As I delight in the Lord, God prepared to give me the desires of my heart. Amid my busy work, my ministry commitments, and intercultural and interreligious environments, God brought me Kush—first as a friend, and eventually as a partner. God listens to the prayers of our hearts, answering them in His perfect timing.
3. Love
As my journey as a lay missionary ends, I feel deeply sad and emotional because I love this life so much. I love the ministries I have done and continue to do. I love working with God and serving the poor and marginalized who became my friends. I love being a Columban, and I am proud of it.
Perhaps it is because I love it so much that I feel this sadness—but loving it is how it should be. As 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 says: “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” That bible chapter states in the end, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love”.
Now, these three remain in me: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. Jesus’ example of love in the Gospel has sustained me over the years, especially during challenging times. Indeed, love should be the reason why we do everything, following Jesus, who loves everyone unconditionally.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
Thank you, God, for teaching Kush and me to love—and to love beyond boundaries of culture, faith and race, to love our neighbour. As we embark on the next chapter of our journey, please help us always to put into practice what we have learned from You about love: in our daily life together, with the people in our lives, and with those we are yet to meet, including the multicultural and interreligious communities around us. Please continue to journey with us always: guiding, helping, protecting, and blessing us. Give us the grace to always trust You with a childlike trust.
