Legacy Gift of Irish Priest, Columban Missionaries Help Build New Church in Pakistan

A legacy gift from the late Irish priest Fr. Brendan McMullan, together with the longstanding pastoral commitment of the Missionary Society of St. Columban, has enabled a small Catholic community in southern Pakistan to build its first permanent place of worship.

Bishop Samson Shukardin of the Diocese of Hyderabad blessed and inaugurated St. Brendan's Church in Golarchi, Badin Parish, in the southeastern coastal district of Sindh Province on June 28.

Around 150 faithful from the local Punjabi and Parkhri Christian communities attended the celebration. They were joined by the Badin parish ministry team of Columban priests Fr. Pat Visanti and Fr. Elbert Balbastro, as well as Columban missionaries serving in other parts of Sindh.

The new church will serve around 10 local Catholic families who, for years, had gathered for prayer in temporary shelters while hoping for a permanent house of worship.

The celebration began with Bishop Shukardin cutting the ceremonial ribbon and blessing the new church before presiding over the inaugural Eucharistic celebration.

"This is a historic day for our people who have prayed for a proper house of worship for years," the bishop said during his homily.

He emphasized that a church is far more than a building.

"A church building is more than just brick and mortar; it is a center of hope and spiritual growth for marginalized communities. This new sanctuary ensures that our people have a dignified space to express their faith and gather as a family," he said.

Bishop Shukardin also expressed his gratitude to the Missionary Society of St. Columban for its decades of missionary service in the diocese and for its continued commitment to communities in remote areas.

"We are profoundly grateful to the Columban fathers, both here in Badin and globally, whose tireless efforts and partnership with local communities continue to bridge gaps and bring vital resources to the remote areas of our diocese," he said.

Following the Mass, Fr. Dan O'Connor and catechist Master Shaukat recounted the history of the project. They explained that the local Catholic community had acquired the land more than a decade ago but lacked the financial resources to construct a church.

The turning point came through the generosity of the late Fr. Brendan McMullan, an Irish diocesan priest from Belfast in the Diocese of Down and Connor in Northern Ireland. Through a financial legacy he left to the Columban missionaries, the long-delayed project finally became a reality. His estate executor, Mr. Philip O'Rawe, oversaw the transfer of the funds to Pakistan.

In recognition of this extraordinary gift, the parish named the new church St. Brendan's Church, honoring both Fr. McMullan and the renowned fifth- and sixth-century Irish missionary, St. Brendan.

The local Catholic community also announced that it will celebrate the Feast of St. Brendan each year on May 16 as a lasting expression of gratitude and as a reminder of the bonds of faith that unite Catholics across nations and cultures.