Mercy and Justice

On this 100-year anniversary of the Missionary Society of St. Columban, we lift up the Gospel values of mercy and justice at the heart of Columban mission. It is with joy as well that this anniversary takes place at a time of renewal within the Church, and the call of Pope Francis to be "a poor church of the poor," ministering in the "streets" and "field hospitals" of the world, where the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth invite us to be the face of mercy, and the Gospel calls us to be the hands and feet of justice on the side of the poor and future generations.

Like Pope Francis, Columban missionaries offer a living example of mercy and justice in their compassionate embrace of migrants and refugees, in their solidarity with the poor and their struggle for dignity, in their bold invitation to hear the cry of the earth and to care for creation, and in their commitment to intercultural and interreligious dialogue as a pathway to genuine peace. In so many ways, Columbans have been at the forefront of the Church's mission to the world, crossing boundaries of country, language, culture and creed to proclaim the Gospel through witness, ministry and dialogue, listening to and hearing the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.

The Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach (CCAO) serves as a bridge between Columban missionaries and policy makers in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to work towards a more just, peaceful, and environmentally sustainable world by engaging in the political process guided by our Catholic faith and the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation priorities of the Columban mission.

In a world in which more people are on the move, crossing borders and fleeing from poverty, climate change and violence, Columbans live out the call to welcome the stranger in our midst. Around the world, Columbans minister to migrants and refugees, defending the rights of migrant workers in Taiwan, serving migrant and refugee communities in Britain and Ireland, and accompanying detained immigrant men, women and children along the U.S.-Mexico border. The CCAO advocates for policies that both respect the human dignity of migrants and refugees and address the root causes of migration.

In a world where the poor are victims of the destructive impact of global warming and changing climate patterns, Columbans work closely with poor communities to address the root causes of climate change, helping to found the Global Catholic Climate Movement and the Pan-Amazonian Church Network (REPAM) to respond to climate crisis. The CCAO strives to seek a right relationship with creation by supporting policies that protect creation, promoting sustainable renewable energy, and supporting just development models.

In a world where the divide between rich and poor is growing, and poor communities are increasingly at risk due to poverty, Columbans are called to walk in solidarity with the economically poor, and to defend their rights. The CCAO advocates for global economic policies and debt and trade agreements that address the needs of the poor and of the environment, supporting women and children, farmers and laborers in their struggles for land and work, food sovereignty and the right to water.

And in a world torn by war and violence, Columbans work to cultivate a culture of intercultural and interreligious dialogue and peace, and contribute to the work of Pax Christi International as congregational members. Today Columban missionaries serve in Japan and Korea where nuclear weapons threaten global peace and stability, in areas of conflict like Pakistan and Myanmar and with indigenous communities in Chile, Peru and the Philippines. The CCAO lifts up the call to abolish nuclear weapons and to further develop a moral framework that supports just peace and nonviolence as alternatives to war.

In addition to informing people about issues of concern to Columban missionaries, the CCAO offers a variety of opportunities for people to serve in the spirit and charism of the Columban mission.

Throughout the year, the CCAO offers an Advocacy Internship for students who spend a semester or summer learning how to advocate for social and structural change through the lens of Columban mission. Interns specialize in a priority issue area or communications and learn how policies in the United States affect vulnerable populations around the world, including many areas where Columbans serve. Daily tasks include researching and monitoring current events and legislation, representing the CCAO at coalition meetings and other events, writing reflections, and attending events and meetings on Capitol Hill.

The CCAO also promotes weeklong Border Awareness trips to the Columban Mission Center in El Paso, Texas. Columban missionaries who serve at the border facilitate contact with organizations that work on the front line of border issues, including poverty, migration, and environmental justice. Program participants have the opportunity to cross the border into Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, where Columbans serve a local parish.

The CCAO coordinates Short- Term Mission (3 – 12 months) overseas, particularly in the Asia Pacific region where Columban missionaries serve. Volunteers have the opportunity to experience crosscultural and interreligious dialogue. They will also discover how serving the poor and working for justice are an integral part of living out the Gospel call to serve. Currently, the program offers the opportunity to teach English or adult education in China, work with survivors of human trafficking in the Philippines, or work with migrants in Taiwan.

More recently, the CCAO offers a week-long Advocacy Training program in Washington, D.C., for young adults, particularly those who come from immigrant families served by Columban missionaries at the border in El Paso, in immigrant parishes in California, and Hispanic Ministry in Omaha, Nebraska. Participants learn how to advocate for structural change through immersion in the political process and meetings with our partner organizations. Program participants have the chance to share their own stories and lift up the voices of immigrant communities. The training empowers young adults to become advocates when they return to their own communities.

In all these ways, the CCAO strives to be faithful to the mercy and justice at the heart of the Gospel and Columban mission, and to live up to the words of the Columban Superior General, Fr. Kevin O'Neil, SSC in a talk given at Maynooth in Ireland on November 30, 2015:

"The source of our witness and actions is our faith in Jesus. We desire to mirror in our lives the pattern of Jesus' life, helping people of all faiths, or no faith, to gain their dignity as sons and daughters of God, loved by God … and to journey together with the people of God coming to a deeper awareness of humankind's relationship with creation."

Scott Wright is the Director of the Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach (CCAO), located in Washington D.C. The CCAO has served as the national advocacy office for the U.S. Region of the Missionary Society of St. Columban since 1988.