Some Marists specialise. Others are general practitioners. Fr ‘Aliki Langi is both a general practitioner and a specialist, bridging the gap between Christian and Moslem.
A Tongan Marist, and having worked in the Philippines for twenty years, Aliki will soon leave the Philippines and take up another international Marist appointment.
Arriving in the Philippines, and after time in language school, ‘Aliki headed for his new Parish among the gold-mines in Dewilwil, a maze of tunnels snaking below the earth, non-existent safety measures, with Uzzi machine guns the real law above the ground.
Aliki brought a special humanity to this Mission as he tended 100,000 parishioners, eking out their living among rough mercury-drenched hillside claims, hoping to strike it rich.
Some died. Most remained poor.
His next challenge was a remote mountain parish in the Diocese of Bukidnon with few roads and no electricity.
On food, Aliki moved among the tribal minorities, plunged into the 20th century with little education. He personally planted rice to support this community and show the dignity of manual work.
This last decade has seen Fr Aliki in Moslem Cotabato. Here, in prisons, leprosarium, a hospital, street kids and the mixed Salimbao Parish community of Christians and Moslems, Fr Aliki found his gift for inter-faith diaogue.
Moslems even volunteered to help build a chapel in this dangerous area.
His respect among Moslems was such that a Marist Old Boy Moslem Mayr-cum-warlord, issued an edict to protect his friend.
“Kidnap or harm Fr Aliki and you will be dead by sundown!”
Aliki used his “insurance” to complete an MA in peace studies.
His present assignment is Timanan Parish where one of his recent predecessors was kidnapped. Aliki successfully uses community social development projects to bridge the divide between Christian and Moslem: farm-to-market roads, hydro-power and water systems, medical clinics open to all in need.
Source: Marist Mission Newsletter