35 years as a missionary in Pakistan

Br. Remigous Fernando hails from the beautiful Island of Sri Lanka. It was in the year 1958 that he took his vows in the Marist Brothers Congregation. Having done his essential studies and formation, Remi became the first Marist Missionary Brother to Pakistan in the year 1966.

I feel honoured to write these few lines about Remi, in gratitude to his faithfulness to his Vocation as a Brother for 50 years, and more over, I feel, obliged to pay tribute to his faithfulness and strong commitment to his Missionary work in Pakistan for the past 35 years.

Pakistan is an Islamic country with current Taliban issue and bomb blasts. It becomes still worse for a missionary to stay in Pakistan. Most of the people are Muslims, and Christians are equal to the yeast in the dough. It is a quite easy to do Missionary work where people are from the same religion, but I feel, real missionary work is where it is hard, challenging and frightening to follow Christ. So, Remi has done well, in Making Jesus and Mary Known and Loved, in the foot steps of Marcellin Champagnat. Well Done Remi!

I would like to thank Brother Remi for his faithfulness to his Missionary Vocation and for the contribution towards the education of youth in Pakistan. Bro. Remi, may God bless you with many more years of Service as a Marist Brother and as a Missionary in Pakistan. Thank you!

_______
Br. Paul S. Bhatti, FMS
Marist Formation House, Faisalabad, PAKISTAN