As we prepare for a new century of mission to the world, we recall what inspired the early Columban pioneers and what they achieved, reflect on how their successors responded to the monumental changes in church and society since then and thank, or tried to thank, the hundreds of thousands of people whose sacrifices over the first one hundred years made it all possible. Now, we look to the future and the next 100 years of Columban mission.
In September 2018 the Society gathered in Taiwan for our General Assembly where we elected new members to our General Council. It is with profound appreciation that we thank Fr. Kevin O'Neill, Fr. Aturo Aguilar, Fr. Patrick Colgan and Fr. Darwin Bayaca for their work on the Council since 2012. We wish them well as they return to mission assignments.
We are pleased to announce Fr. Timothy Mulroy as Superior General, Fr. Brian Vale as Vicar General, and Frs. Joseph Kang and Alvaro Martinez as the Third and Fourth Councilors, respectively. Please join us in prayer as they begin this new phase of missionary endeavor.
In the United States, we thanked Fr. Timothy Mulroy for his six years of faithful service and leadership as the Director of the U.S. Region, and wished him well as he begins his new ministry as Superior General.
What hasn't changed is our commitment to reach out and transform all strata of human life through our evangelizing work, opening up the horizons of humanity to the living mystery of God's kingdom, and responding to the poor and suffering where ever they may be found.
Columban mission calls us to a spirituality of listening, a life of prayer and community centered on Jesus whose presence nurtures and empowers us with a spirit of dialogue and boldness, understanding and reconciliation. We grow in contemplation and action with the support of Columban priests, sisters, lay missionaries, our companions in mission and friends, and all those whom we touch and who touch us with the gift of God's saving love.
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.