Australian to lead international missionary society

Thursday 27 September 2012

GEELONG-born Columban priest, Father Kevin O’Neill has been elected as the new Superior General of the Missionary Society of St Columban.  Father O’Neill was elected at the Society’s thirteenth General Assembly which was held in Los Angeles from August 24 to September 21. 

Other members of the leadership team are Vicar General, Father Arturo Aguilar and Council Members, Fathers Pat Colgan and Darwin Bayaca.  This group will be responsible for the governance of the Society until 2018.

Following his election, Father O’Neill said, "I am both humbled and honoured to be called forth by my fellow Columban missionaries to lead our Society for the next six years. Our world is still in need of missionaries who cross boundaries of country, culture and religion, and who in their own small way help to build bridges between their home countries and the countries to which they have been sent."

Elections for the new Columban leadership team came after three weeks of intense discernment by the delegates who had gathered from the Society’s thirteen regions.  Thirty one delegates and three female lay missionaries engaged in a process of deep listening to the signs of the times, and the reality of Columban life and mission in places as far flung as Fiji to Korea and Peru to Pakistan.  The Assembly developed a Society-wide plan of action which to focus energy and resources for the coming six years.

The missionary spirit is in the O’Neill family.  Father Kevin has a twin brother, Peter who is the leader of the Columbans in Taiwan and his sister Kate is the leader of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in the Philippines.

Reflecting on the fractured world in which the Columban missionaries minister, Father O’Neill said, "During our Assembly we came to a greater awareness that we are called to communion for the life of the world. Being made in the image and likeness of God, our goal is communion with the same Triune God. For while God created the world to be one, it is now divided by conflict, alienation and misunderstanding. Many boundaries divide us, the many languages and cultures can lead to misunderstanding. The gap between the rich and the poor and the exploitation of the earth are sins against communion. The different religions and beliefs are often seen as grounds for violence and war. As missionary disciples of Jesus, we are called to heal, reconcile, build bridges and to create mutual understanding through prophetic dialogue. The Columbans have become a much smaller group of lay and ordained missionaries from many different cultures."

Father O’Neill observed that “Partnership between lay and ordained is our way of being on mission.” He also noted the Columban tradition of "commitment to interculturality, inter-faith dialogue, solidarity with the poor and the exploited earth is a participation in the Mission of God, calling us forward into communion with our triune God. Our proclamation of the gospel of Jesus challenges us to build communities of peace. While continuing to work in all the countries where there are Columban missionaries, for the coming six years we have decided to strengthen our presence in China and our engagement in Christian-Muslim dialogue."