When he looks back now, Fr. Frank Pintac remembers that he was fascinated by the wall charts and shapes of toys when he first went to school. Soon after that his mother died when he was seven, and he went to live with relatives in Aurora in Mindanao in the Southern Philippines. It was there that his associations with the Columbans began and two of his childhood friends and guides were Frs. Joe Murtagh and Martin Noone. He got as far as London on his way to visit the latter when he heard of his death last February.

Priesthood

He studied for the priesthood for the diocese of Pagadian and after ordination worked in a parish and on the seminary staff. Later he did post-graduate studies in Organization and Management with a view to bring more expertise to the organization of Basic Christian Communities.

Volunteer Missionary

Seven years ago he volunteered to join the Columban Priest Associate programme and was assigned to Brazil and the diocese of Juazeiro. A few years ago, a fellow Columban missionary, asked him if he would try his hand at painting Bom Jesus, the good Lord Jesus the image of Christ much venerated in Brazil’s Northeast, on a wall in his parish. He had never painted murals but he decided to have a go at it. Painting has now become part of his missionary work.

Teaching in Painting

People now flock to see his paintings. Even some Evangelicals, who normally are not over enthusiastic about images, come along to view. One of the favorite saints, Anthony Padua, is there in bright colours, Frank’s pictures beautify, they also teach. For people who think Mary as only a queen it is a surprise to see her like themselves, with a brush in her hand. Their own lives in the fields may not be so different to that Joseph at his carpenter’s bench.

Bible and Paint Brush

There are other reasons too why he uses the brush as well as the Bible to preach gospel.  The landscape around his parish of Casa Nova is brown and dry. Color brings brightness and joy. And, as in ages past, were there is a high percentage of illiteracy, pictures are still worth a thousand words [Far East]