MANILA, November 15, 2009—Missionary Society of St. Columban regional director Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue said people worldwide are rejoicing with his congregation and the Filipino faithful for “returning Fr. Mick Sinnott to us!”

In his homily at the concelebrated Thanksgiving Mass he presided Saturday with fellow Columban missionaries, Fr. O’Donoghue said “Truly, God has done good things these past few weeks—and on Thursday morning took the most precious gift of all when Fr. Mick walked to freedom in Zamboanga City.”

He said he was told of Fr. Sinnott’s release at 4:30 A.M. through a phone call from Ireland and after an hour, he was able to talk with his newly-released confrere on mobile phone.

“Now we can see how God granted our prayers in more wonderful ways than we could ever imagine,” he said.

O’Donoghue said he is also thankful for Fr. Sinnott’s safe release “secured through understanding, negotiation and compassion.”

“From the beginning, I believed the captors were capable of compassion and I believe now, they were and that’s what I remember them for,” O’Donoghue said.

He said Fr. Mick has “spent his life seeking peace through justice.”

“I believe, now, that God in his providence, listening to our prayers for Mick’s peaceful release, is now answering in a much louder way—as Peace Process in Mindanao seems to have gained ‘newer life,’” the congregation’s director said.

He called on the congregation to pray for the peaceful end to all the present kidnapping incidents as he appealed to the faithful to “put the entire peace process into the lands and heart of Our Lady of Remedies.” (Melo M. Acuña)