In 2008 it was Father Paul's third visit to the Eucharistic Convention, and the humble Marist has been one of our most popular Convention speakers ever. In his last visit in 2004, he provided brilliant commentary around our theme of 'forgiveness'. This year, Fr Paul has agreed to launch his new book, "Tony Glynn: like a Samurai," which honours his late brother, who was also a Marist.
According to Australian media reports, "During his four decades in Japan, Tony Glynn made many friends and helped establish aged-care centres and kindergartens. He also worked to reconcile the former WW II enemies by bringing cultural displays to Australia and persuading Australian ex-soldiers to return the samurai swords captured during the war. Modest to the end of his life, Tony was awarded many honours, including the Order of Australia and Japan's Order of the Rising Sun, presented to him by the Emperor."
Fr Paul, who is based at the Marist house in Hunter's Hill in New South Wales, was parish priest of the Marist Mission in Yamoto, Takada City from 1955 to 1980. Together with his older brother Tony, he worked tirelessly for reconciliation between Australians and Japanese, linking cities between the two countries and leading pilgrimages of reconciliation and holding prayer services in St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney for Australian and Japanese soldiers. Thanks to donations from Australia and New Zealand, Fr Paul established the 'Goodwill Kindergarten' in Takada City, the first Japanese kindergarten to teach both in English and Japanese. In 2005, the government of Japan awarded the OAM (Order of the Rising Sun and Silver Rays) to Fr Paul in recognition of his work in strengthening relations between the two countries.
Father Paul was ordained an Australian Marist priest in 1955. In Australia, he has served as Chaplain at St Joseph's Boarding College, Hunters Hill, and as an active retreat Master. He is an enormously gifted writer and speaker with a great love for God's suffering people, especially those in post-war Japan and more recently in the Third World. He is a man that exudes hope, forgiveness and peace.
Fr Paul urges Catholics to give their loved ones spiritual books. He notes that St Ignatius was at one time a faithless, wounded soldier. But after reading a single spiritual book, his life was forever changed and he went on to become a great saint. Father Paul's books have contributed over $1 million to the poor, but perhaps their greatest gift is conversion.
In this video Father Glynn talks about "HOPE IN FUTURE GENERATIONS"
