Columban Mission History - Chile
Columbans went to Chile in 1954 and began their work in Santiago. Since then about 100 have worked in Chile.
Parish and Pastoral Responsibilities
At present there are 23 priests in the region, nine Associate priests,
and three lay missionaries. In general the work of the Columbans and Associates
has been to staff parishes and follow the Pastoral Orientations of the
Chilean Bishops' Conference. The Pastoral Orientations 1996-2000 draws
attention to the growing gap between rich and poor and is critical of
the neo-liberal economic system which creates "an insensitivity to the
poor and an ignorance about the world in which we live." In 1979 the first
move to work outside Santiago was made by accepting responsibility for
a pastoral area in the city of Arica on the border with Peru, working
with rural communities and migrants. A later undertaking in southern Chile
in is in Puerto Saavedra among the Mapuche, the largest indigenous group
in Chile.
Associate Priests' Contribution to Mission
Noteworthy in the history of Columban mission in Chile is the contribution
made by Associate priests. The first arrived in 1963 and to date 52 have
come from 22 dioceses in England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and
the Philippines, volunteering for periods of six to ten years.
Specialist Contributions to the Chilean Church
Four Columbans have had national posts in the areas of Youth Work and
the Charismatic Renewal. In Santiago one Columban is Episcopal Zonal Vicar
and another is the first Archdiocesan Director of the Pontifical Mission
Societies.
Involvement with Justice and Peace Issues
There was keen involvement in many social issues during the years of Pinochet's
dictatorship from 1973 to 1990 - parish soup kitchens, participation in
protest marches and the Sebastian Acevedo anti-torture movement. Many
Columbans were harassed and held overnight in jail during those years
and one Columban and two Associates were expelled from Chile. The arrest
of Dr Sheila Cassidy from the Columban House in Santiago, resulted in
the building being raked by machine gun fire killing the housekeeper and
the imprisonment and torture/expulsion of Dr Cassidy.
Lay Missionary Programme
The programme has been in place for receiving and sending lay missionaries
for a few years now. 15 members have been received under Columban auspices:
three from Australia and 12 from Ireland. Their work to date has been
principally with Youth and Women's' groups. In 1993 a team of four Chileans
left for mission in the Republic of the Philippines. Four went to a Spanish-speaking
area of southern USA. A group of five was sent on mission to Fiji in October
1995.
Local Vocations
There are five seminarians in the programme at present and two of these
are on overseas training in Pakistan. Since the programme began in 1987
15 students have participated in it. Two Columban priests are involved
in this work.