Rufus Halley
Encyclopedia
Rev. Rufus Halley was a Roman Catholic missionary of the Society of St. Columban
who spent more than 20 years promoting ecumenical dialogue between Christians and Muslims in Asia. A native of Butlerstown, County Waterford, Ireland
, he was appointed to the Philippines
shortly after his ordination to the priesthood in 1969, living with and ministering to the rural poor.
In 1980, he moved to Mindanao
in the south of the Philippines and volunteered to engage in dialogue with Muslims. In a bid to break down the mutual distrust and mistrust, Fr. Halley integrated with both Christian and Muslim communities by learning two local languages and worked for many years in a store owned by a Muslim selling rice and corn.
. Both communities kept vigil by his coffin and hundreds of Muslims attended Halley's funeral and burial.
made a posthumous award to Father Halley for his contributions in Lanao del Sur, Philippines
. According to the citation, Fr. Halley “went beyond the ordinary call of a missionary as he exhibited unfailingly the zeal of senseless armed conflict”. The Archbishop of Davao
, Fernando R. Capalla
described Fr. Halley as “a tireless and compassionate peacemaker and shepherd of the flock”.
Missionary Society of St. Columban
The Missionary Society of St. Columban , also known as "The Columbans", is a missionary, Catholic religious order, founded in Ireland in 1916 and approved by the Vatican in 1918. Initially it was known as the Maynooth Mission to China...
who spent more than 20 years promoting ecumenical dialogue between Christians and Muslims in Asia. A native of Butlerstown, County Waterford, Ireland
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
, he was appointed to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
shortly after his ordination to the priesthood in 1969, living with and ministering to the rural poor.
In 1980, he moved to Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
in the south of the Philippines and volunteered to engage in dialogue with Muslims. In a bid to break down the mutual distrust and mistrust, Fr. Halley integrated with both Christian and Muslim communities by learning two local languages and worked for many years in a store owned by a Muslim selling rice and corn.
Death
Father Halley died, aged 57, on August 28, 2001. He was shot and killed on his way home to his parish. He was mourned by both Christians and Muslims in MindanaoMindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
. Both communities kept vigil by his coffin and hundreds of Muslims attended Halley's funeral and burial.
Posthumous
The Auroro Aragon-Quezon Foundation in ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
made a posthumous award to Father Halley for his contributions in Lanao del Sur, Philippines
Lanao del Sur
Lanao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Its capital is Marawi City and borders Lanao del Norte to the north, Bukidnon to the east, and Maguindanao and Cotabato to the south. To the southwest lies Illana Bay, an arm of the Moro Gulf...
. According to the citation, Fr. Halley “went beyond the ordinary call of a missionary as he exhibited unfailingly the zeal of senseless armed conflict”. The Archbishop of Davao
Davao
Davao refers to several closely related places in Mindanao in the Philippines. The term is used most often to refer to the city.*Davao Region, an administrative region*Davao del Norte province*Davao del Sur province*Davao Oriental province...
, Fernando R. Capalla
Fernando Capalla
Fernando Robles Capalla is a Roman Catholic archbishop of the Archdiocese of Davao. He was born on November 1, 1934 in Leon, Iloilo Province.-Early years:...
described Fr. Halley as “a tireless and compassionate peacemaker and shepherd of the flock”.