The mission journey of Columban Fr Tomas King has led him from the rolling, verdant green hills of his native Galway, Ireland, to the mostly hot, dry desert of Pakistan. (St Columbans Mission Society)

As an impoverished and underdeveloped country, Pakistan has suffered from decades of internal political disputes, poor foreign investment and a costly and on-going confrontation with India.

The challenges faced by ordinary Pakistanis are great, and Columban missionaries view their task there as one of building reconciliation, working in solidarity with local people who face economic and social injustice, and supporting in particular the small Christian community who face particular hardships.

Before leaving for missionary work in Pakistan. Fr Tomas acquired pastoral experience working with the marginalised traveller community in Ballybane, Galway. This experienced helped to strengthen his commitment to working with people who faced economic and social discrimination.

Fr Tomas is fluent in Urdu, the official language of Pakistan, which he studied before his ordination in 1992. He was appointed coordinator of the Columbans’ Pakistan Mission Unit in March 2008.

FULL STORY

Working in Pakistan (St Columban’s Mission Society)