For the past eight years, John O’Donoghue has been serving at a men’s shelter run by the Missionaries of Charity in Cochabamba, Bolivia. For John, it has been a “homecoming” of sorts, since almost 30 years ago he worked with St. Teresa of Calcutta, the founder of the Missionaries of Charity.
In this video interview, he talks about his work in Cochabamba and his many decades of serving marginalized people around the world with works of mercy and compassion.
Meinrad Scherer-Emunds is Maryknoll Lay Missioners' director of communications.
What a gift you are to the people of Cochabamba! God bless you for your good works.
Thank you for all that you do to serve others. You are a great missioner. Your compassion, empathy, love and generosity are phenomenal. God bless you.
John is one of those rare individuals I have the privilege of knowing of whom I could say – they are few. They are selfless, compassionate, caring, loving, so giving, embracing humanity to such a degree that it is literally part of their DNA. “Blessed are the poor”…and blessed too are those who embrace their sisters and brothers every day of their lives in living their own “life of service.” Yes, the quiet, simple, unassuming saints who let the rest of us know the essence of Christianity and its message of love. By living it. Humbly, quietly helping to transform a world, one person at a time. Blessings John!!!
Is there anyone in place to take over John O’Donoghue’s present position, when he does retire? I have been contemplating getting involved in Mission work for a couple of years now. It’s funny, because I have prayed about where the Lord might want me to serve him, and then I watched John’s video. Could this be my calling?
God bless,
Edward Giroux
What an inspiring guy, John O’Donoghue is! I had the pleasure of meeting him recently during his brief visit to El Paso. He was a breath of fresh air, with his dedication and lively Irish spirit. His example encourages me to think that I could be doing more.