How to Embrace a New Culture

 Called from the River Lee to the Sepik

 Reading in a language different from your mother tongue is a rewarding challenge. I recently completed my first book in English, gaining valuable skills and insights that I would like to share in this blog article.

"Called from the Fields" is a captivating book by Father Michael Donovan, an Irish priest who arrived in Papua New Guinea in 1981. He has spent the past 44 years there as a missionary with the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD), a Catholic religious community dedicated to spreading the gospel in remote areas worldwide.

Father Donovan's journey, both in his book and his religious life, began with writing. At the age of 24, he had a profound spiritual experience and wrote a letter to the SVD, inquiring about late vocations for the priesthood. Following his training in Ireland, the UK, and other parts of Europe, he was sent to Papua New Guinea, a land of sago palms, dense forests, and extraordinary cultural and biological diversity, where people live "hand in hand with nature."

 

Saint Paul contributed 13 letters to the New Testament, offering valuable advice on how to enhance our spiritual lives. "Called from the Fields" includes over 135 letters in which Father Michael recounts his daily experiences with the local people, allowing readers to observe the development of his spiritual journey. Each letter offers new insights into his community and pastoral work, from his early years in the rural Sepik region, enduring swarms of mosquitoes, to his later life as a senior priest in Port Moresby. 

The book illustrates the generosity and resourcefulness of the people. In one village, Father Michael was gifted one hundred coconuts- one from each person in the community. For the Sunday collection, villagers often donated vegetables, fish, live chickens, and even toilet paper. In contrast, in another village, a young man once lit his cigarette from a church candle during Easter, and on another occasion, a respected elder attended Mass while holding a cow’s tail to fend off mosquitoes.

The book is full of fascinating cultural encounters. One of the most delightful experiences is Father Michael’s participation in wedding celebrations. In one village, he officiated seventeen marriages, with many brides arriving by canoe across the river. Canoes are the main mode of transportation, even for attending religious services. On one occasion, the number of canoes was so great that Father Michael wondered if a canoe traffic jam was forming on the Sepik River.

 

Preaching the gospel while respecting cultural traditions is no easy task. Father Michael developed a strong bond with the local communities. For a celebration, a native church leader once invited him to wear traditional attire, including a necklace made of pig’s teeth and a two-foot headdress made from animal skins and feathers. On another occasion, local elders dressed him as a traditional chief with an ancestral headdress and carried him shoulder-high through the village before he blessed a new church in Timbunke. Community members often told him, “You are one of us.”

 

Throughout his time in Papua New Guinea, Father Michael embraced the culture while remaining devoted to his spiritual mission. His compassion and dedication enabled him to connect deeply with the people, inspiring them to explore new spiritual paths. He accomplished impressive work with indigenous communities, prisoners, and students, particularly in Port Moresby, which is his final posting mentioned in the book.

"Called from the Fields" is not just a spiritual memoir; it is also a valuable historical document for the SVD and other religious communities, detailing the challenges and rewards of missionary work. In addition to gaining cultural insights, readers learn about the country’s transformation, as tourism, modern transportation, mobile phones, and the internet have begun to change life in Papua New Guinea. Father Michael himself admits that he now communicates via email instead of traditional letters.

Though he keeps up with news from Ireland, including sports like Gaelic football and hurling, and still enjoys Barry’s tea, Papua New Guinea has truly become his home. To better connect with the people, he learned the local language and adopted sago as a staple in his diet. The Sepik region seems especially close to his heart. In one of his letters, he writes, “Right now, every bone in my body tells me I belong here. The people, the river, the farm, the trees, and the mountains tell me I belong.” This sentiment is understandable, given that he has spent 44 years in Papua New Guinea, returning to Ireland only 14 times.

 

As a non-native English speaker, I found some beautiful expressions in the book. Instead of saying someone has died, Father Michael refers to them as having "met the Lord," "met their Maker," or "received their eternal reward." These nice expressions used to refer to death make both the loss and mourning more bearable.

Father Michael’s mission of evangelization has been remarkably successful. At the beginning of the book, he shares a profound experience where, while in the fields, he saw an image of Christ carrying the cross. Christ raised two fingers and beckoned him to follow. I wonder if similar experiences have recurred in his life. This maybe a fascinating topic for him to explore during retirement. Writing about these reflections could be a meaningful way for him to share his spiritual legacy and inspire others.

“Called from the fields” is available on Amazon. Click HERE to check it out.