Irish order moves to Hong Kong

HONG KONG -- The Missionary Society of St. Columban, which has had headquarters in Ireland since the society's founding in 1918, has moved its offices from Dublin to Hong Kong to reflect that its vocations come primarily from Asian and Pacific Rim countries.

"We have so many members coming from Korea, Fuji, the Philippines. To relocate the headquarters to the Pacific side is to reflect this emerging reality," said Fr. Tommy Murphy, superior general of the society. The Hong Kong offices opened May 1.

Murphy said the decision to move to Hong Kong was not made lightly. "The move reflects the society's 90-year commitment to cross-cultural Catholic mission work," he said.

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