made me laugh

What Gets You Up in the Morning?

I recently went to Mindanao to gather stories for our website and newsletter and I am sharing here below one of the interviews I had with one of the Columban priests I got to know. I was fresh from college when I started working for the Columbans and in this interview you will get to see the kinds of people who mold me.

A vocation story interview with Fr Oliver McCrossan

How did you become a priest? We want to know where you started.

I was born in Ireland, in County Donegal. We are five in the family. My background is Catholic. When I was growing up in the 1960s there wasn’t enough opportunities for other work so I got interested in the Columbans. For some reason I wanted to be a missionary, not a diocesan priest because basically I was interested at that time in the Third World and I read in the Far East magazine, which we got at home, about what Columban missionaries were doing. So I was inspired by them. I wanted to go abroad and help others. I suppose it comes from my family, my mother and father were kind people. They were ordinary people, working people who struggled for life. We lived in a small rural community so I know what people have to go through. That’s the reason why I have always been interested in helping people. So I decided to join the Columbans.

How old were you when you joined the Columbans?

I was 18. I was ordained in 1975. There was a lot of turmoil then at the time of Vatican II. So many changes in the seminaries, the Church was opening up to the world, and opening up to new ideas. So I wanted to go abroad and was very happy to come to the Philippines. I was sent to Ozamiz in 1976 to study Cebuano but my assignments were in mostly in Pagadian Diocese.

How was it for you, when you first came here?

How can you prepare for another language and culture? It’s difficult. The language was very difficult at the beginning, strange food. But the priests who were here before me were experienced and gave me good advice. I wasn’t coming here as a stranger so that helped. My first parish priest in Pagadian was the late Fr Des Hartford. I had a very good experience with the priests.

Since you came here, you were never away?

I was away from 1997 until 2002 in Ireland, doing studies. I’m going away now in July [2011] for a sabbatical. I feel the need to have a break from here, visit my family and take time out. I’ve spent 30 years more of my life here and I’ve enjoyed my work. I’m very happy here.

Tell us your vocation story.

The gospel means something to me and helping the downtrodden. That is my experience here with the people. The Church here in Mindanao has been very involved with the people. I’ve been involved in small Christian communities, justice and peace, human rights advocacies here. There were many who suffered greatly because of the terrible times under Martial Law. I believe that the Church is tasked to be a Church that stands in solidarity with the poor and the oppressed. I’m scared about things like religion or devotion if it’s not contextualized in the suffering of people, if it’s just prayer without connecting with people. It should evolve in communities, like the stories you get from missionaries. I admire people who are working for and with the oppressed and the downtrodden, that kind of commitment.

My vocation, your vocation, our vocation, it’s the same in some ways. The moment that we’re baptized, we belong to the Church, and we try to live out the commitment as best we can. Your commitment, your work in your office is helping spread the gospel by spreading stories of hope. I always like to ask this question: What gets you up in the morning? Why am I here? Why are you here? Why are we here? What keeps you living? Who do you live for? What do you live for? Your family? Your friends? Your work? What kind of commitment?

For me, when you’re helping others, that’s when you get salvation in life. It’s life-giving. It’s not just about concerns with your own little needs but the needs of others. I see these fathers, these pedicab drivers trying to do their best to provide for their children. These people around me, they are the ones who get me up in the morning.

In your 30 years here as a missionary priest, was there someone, a young boy maybe who approached you and said ‘I want to become a priest like you’?

Sure, many people have come to me. We didn’t promote ourselves before. We were late in deciding that. We sent interested young men to become priests in their diocese. I’m happy to say that in Ozamiz and especially in Pagadian, some in our youth groups have become priests.

The Columbans are getting old, some going back to their home countries to retire. A lot of you have spent more than half of your lifetime here in Philippines doing projects, mobilizing people. Columbans have been our way of life. What happens if you’re all gone?

As for me and my commitment with Pedalling to Live, the reality is that it wouldn’t have started without outside help and funding from overseas that I was able to access through personal contacts and through writing up stories. That started it and we’re trying to be more self-sufficient so the reflow of the money we used for housing.

The Cooperative and the people in it have been doing very well. They have a very good track record so it’s in good hands and I feel I can leave it. It’s not about me, it’s about these people involved in the work. We cannot determine the future, we have to let it go. The Columbans are gone here, everything dies, and things move on, everybody passes off. It’s not forever. The Columbans have left a good memory here generally. We give thanks for that, we think of all the works here, the little projects there, here and all over Mindanao. Even if we are very small we still have an active role.

That’s what we quoted you for recently, you used the word ‘tapestry’ in describing the works of the Columbans.

You know, it’s a small drop in the ocean. But every drop counts. That’s what inspires me, that’s what inspired my commitment. I’m grateful for the people I’ve worked with until now. They are the people who have the faith. They have vocation. Those are the people who continue to struggle as they live. As priests, as missionaries, we move and move and move. It’s the ordinary people who are living out the Church’s message more than the priests. I have to go down there and visit and meet the ordinary people, their homes and see their shocking conditions, otherwise I become out of touch. There is a need for a pastoral commitment. And everybody needs it. You also need to be involved, that’s the reason why you have to come here and see people, meet them.

In all these things in your missionary life, what image of Christ can you relate yourself to?

He was in Nazareth speaking about serving the poor. And he forgave sinners. He always was forgiving sinners and he went and visited the houses of the so-called sinners and the downtrodden. I’m touched by that message, that commitment. You know the Beatitudes, blessed are the poor in spirit? I’m touched by those things. The life that he lived. That’s what inspires us. He gave his life for others. That’s the essence, that’s the central message. So how do we follow that? We carry our cross. That would be my particular emphasis. What’s the point of speaking if you’re not doing it to action? Our words are useless if we’re not actually involved. We preach the gospel but even more so we live it. And that’s the challenge.

In one sentence, what can you tell me about priesthood, something that I could tell my 5-year-old son right now?

Living life to the full. To be a priest is not a lesser life. It means to bloom where you are, use your talents and your gifts, for others. That would be my particular emphasis.

I need the courage to live a life I deserve, not the life others expect of me...

On this day of your life, Nanay, we believe God wants you to know ... that the most common regret is not living a life true to yourself.
	Have the courage to live a life true to yourself, not the life others expect of you. You can start small, but do start honoring at least some of your dreams. Save and publish this message to your wall

'human zoo'?

This is just plain cruel.

Outrage over 'human zoo' on Indian islands

Rights campaigners and politicians Wednesday condemned a video showing women from a protected and primitive tribe dancing for tourists in exchange for food on India's far-flung Andaman Islands.

British newspaper The Observer released the video showing Jarawa tribal women -- some of them naked -- being lured to dance and sing after a bribe was allegedly paid to a policeman to produce them.

Under Indian laws designed to protect ancient tribal groups susceptible to outside influence and disease, photographing or coming into contact with the Jarawa is illegal.

The tribe, thought to have been among the first people to migrate successfully from Africa to Asia, lives a nomadic existence in the lush, tropical forests of the Andamans in the Bay of Bengal.

India's Tribal Affairs Minister V. Kishore Chandra Deo promised to take action over the incident, terming it "disgusting" on Wednesday, and the home ministry has sought a report.

Survival International, which lobbies on behalf of tribal groups worldwide, said the video showed tourists apparently enjoying "human zoos."

"Quite clearly, some people's attitudes towards tribal peoples haven't moved on a jot. The Jarawa are not circus ponies bound to dance at anyone's bidding," said Stephen Corry, the group's director, in a press release.

In June last year, Survival International accused eight Indian travel companies of running "human safari tours" so tourists could see and photograph the Jarawa.

The London-based lobby group called for tourists to boycott the road used to enter the reserve of the Jarawa tribe, who number just 403 and are in danger of dying out.

The Andaman and Nicobar tropical island chain is home to four other rare tribes -- Onge, the Great Andamanese, the Sentinelese and the Shompens, each numbering fewer than 350 members.

Another tribe called Bo died out in January 2010.

The Andaman police downplayed the video, calling it "old" and blamed the British journalist for forcing the Jarawas to dance for the tourists.

"It is obvious that it is the videographer who is breaking the law of the land and who is inciting the tribals to dance," senior Andaman policeman S.B. Deol said in a statement.

What Are Words

Most men I know, they would wander and look at other women when they keep saying they love their wives. I have grown resentful of men hearing countless stories of women suffering neglect and emotional if not physical abuse -- all simply because these men say the words they don't mean at all.

Kudos to this great guy. I pray my own son will grow up to be like him.

"Most men feel the need to love a thousand women at the same time. Real men love one woman a thousand times."

On this day of your life, Nanay, we believe God wants you to know ... that most important decisions are not to be made with the mind; they are to be made with the heart.
	So when you have an important decision to make, check in with how you feel, not how you think.

If only I am not inside this cage...

On this day of your life, Nanay, we believe God wants you to know ... that you are you not meant for crawling, so don't.
	You have wings. Learn to use them and fly. You were born with potential. You were born with goodness and trust. You were born with greatness. You were born with wings. Save and publish this message to your wall

Everything Japanese

A few months back I had the privilege to be invited to give a short talk to a small number of Japanese peace advocates. I was to talk about the life of my mentor, Fr Niall O'Brien. In spite of the language barrier, I was delightfully surprised that my talk came out okay. Well, by that I mean, at least I knew I was understood. I boastfully repeated the few Japanese words I know and the one that brought smiles to my Japanese friends was my futile attempt to say "Haji mi Mashite" meaning "nice to meet you". It felt almost providential to be invited to give that talk as I have been brooding, mulling, moping over the possibilities of migrating and starting a new life, being enculturated in this very interesting culture.

By the end of my talk they gave me a couple of presents which I am bringing with me wherever I go these days. I was greatly touched by the gesture as it gave me a sneak peek at the Japanese culture and tradition, the strong yet gentle characteristics of its people.


I didn't imagine I would be having a great time meeting and actually "conversing" with real Japanse. Growing up all I could remember was hearing my history teacher talking about war with the Japanese invader. My own talk has opened my mind to the reality that those stories are definitely water under the bridge and that this group I met proved that with desire for peace and everything that it consists, will prove every possibility for breaking down walls around the world.

Nonviolence is not cowardice

Whatabout Conflict ?

Our existence as human beings is continually fueled with the desire to find meaning – in our experiences, in our survival, in our aspirations. In the pursuit of meaning, man explores all possible causes and effects, all possible reasons and answers. He has to see why, to know why, and he actually needs to elaborate it, to actualize it, make it more tangible. There has to be a proof of his discoveries. That’s why legends were born, folklore, traditions. These are proofs of man’s capacity to conceive ideas, to dream, imagine, eventually to invent – stories, plans, technologies. To quote George Eliot, “The world is full of hopeful analogies, and handsome, dubious eggs called possibilities.” These possibilities provide opportunities for man to discover new things everyday, and also probabilities for him to fail.

From these experiences of man, his successes and failures, his realizations and disappointments, despair and hope, histories are being woven. These are man’s cultural history, its laws, religions, norms, standards, tenets. They become landmarks along the road to man’s civilization. They are signposts that would lead to the next bend, to the next curve. History then defines the person, the society, for that matter, and this would attempt to determine its future, to build the character of the people.

However, we are unique individuals, with unique minds. One can look at a flower and say it’s beautiful while the other one can look at it, smell it and say it smells bad anyway. Conflicts are born out of this -- people reacting to different stimulus, different situations, interpret them, name them, make their choice whether to live them out, practice them, or refuse to do so and behave otherwise.

Society’s tenets are supposed to be designed to make people behave in a certain way, this is in the view of bringing about peace and harmony. But because of our individual differences, this doesn’t prove to be plausible. They’re like bandage on the bruise. Nevertheless, I don’t think a society without a commandment is possible.