Columban priest reflects on peace

Father Elbert L. Balbastro, a Columban priest working in Pakistan, shared reflections on how small acts of service can foster peace amidst global and local conflicts. In a missionary reflection titled Pathway to Peace, Balbastro noted that while wars in nations such as Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, and Myanmar cause widespread suffering for the poor, peace can also be built through quiet, ordinary actions.

As the person in charge of a small tuberculosis clinic in Pakistan, Balbastro described how medical care serves as a bridge between different groups. The clinic welcomes Hindu, Muslim, and Christian patients without distinction, using respectful and tender care to build trust and lower social walls. Balbastro cited the work of the clinic's in-house doctor, Dr. Zakir Hussein, a Shia Muslim, as an inspiration for this approach to service.