Mags GarganThe Filipino cardinal tipped by many as a possible successor to Pope Francis has described Irish missionaries as a blessing for their work with the “poorest people in the Philippines”.
Cardinal Luis Tagle was visiting Ireland last week to conduct the clergy retreat for the Diocese of Meath and during his stay he paid a short visit to the home of the Irish Columban missionaries in Dalgan Park, Navan. Many of the Irish Columbans served in the Philippines and Cardinal Tagle took the opportunity to thank the missionaries in person for their work for the poor and the marginalised, and the positive legacy that they have left in the Philippines.
“The work of the Columbans in the Philippines, even when I was growing up, was centred on the southern part of the country, where you also have some Muslim communities and the poorest people in the Philippines. In the Manila area and other parts of the North the Columbans took mission places that were quite difficult,” he told The Irish Catholic.
Witness
“They were always caring pastorally for the poor and the indigenous ethic communities, and these are the images of the Irish missionary that we have – dedicated, immersed in the realities of the poor and the neglected and willing to suffer. Some of them have been kidnapped and some of them died violent deaths, so we are very blessed to have the witness of the Irish missionaries,” he said.
“I hope they could be the Good News, the Gospel proclaimed here too.”
One of the highlights of Cardinal Tagle’s visit was meeting Fr Conal O’Connell, who was spiritual director to the Student Catholic Action Programme in which the cardinal was a member as a teenager growing up in the Diocese of Imus.