frontier. peripheries. mission. jesuit. π
“In 1906 a Leper Colony was established by the Philippine Government on the Island of Culion. The Society was asked to undertake the spiritual care of this ‘Isle of Sorrow’.
The first church at Culion was part of the old Spanish fort which was an outpost of defense against the Moros who during the 17th and 18th centuries raided and plundered the Christian Filipino towns south of Manila. The old fort made a poor church, yet it served for 28 years.
In 1935 there were two Jesuit priests and a brother at Culion; and about 7500 lepers. The Society built two private hospitals on the island, supported by alms.
Until 1921, it seemed that the Society was the only organization interested in Culion. The Philippine Government made an annual appropriation for the colony’s support, but politicians did not hesitate to cut it, in order to build up a little graft for themselves. General Leonard Wood, as governor-general, visited the island and saw the condition of things; and though he was not able to overcome the opposition of the politicians, he personally founded a fund made up of private subscriptions, known as the “Philippine Anti-Leprosy Society,” to care for the comfort and personal welfare of the lepers. More than that, Doctor Wood realized that little progress could be expected toward the eradication of leprosy at Culion unless special research work was provided for.
In 1925 he started a campaign in the United States for a fund to support this work. After his death, the fund was named “The Leonard Wood Memorial for the Eradication of Leprosy.” Since then Culion has been a brighter place, and so many cases have been cured there that the age-old concept of leprosy as an incurable disease is gradually being changed.”
~ Thomas B. Cannon, S.J., “Jesuits in the Philippines” (at Culion, Palawan)
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