There are many stories told about Columban Fr. Dick Pankratz, who passed away recently. Fr. Dick was from Wisconsin. He worked in the Philippines for many years. He was known for his flamboyance and creative energy.
Some years ago, Columban priests from various missions gathered in Korea for a retreat and meeting. It was held in a Benedictine retreat center, ordinarily a setting of quiet and serenity. The center was run and served by Korean Benedictine nuns. But the tranquility of the monastic setting did not last long. Fr. Pankratz was there.
On the first morning Fr. Dick seated in the dining area needed honey for his breakfast cereal. So, he strode into the kitchen area in search of same. He spoke no Korean. The Sister doing the cooking spoke no English. No problem for Dick!
Dick placed his right hand under his right shoulder and his left hand under his left shoulder and began flapping his arms as fast as possible, while making a loud buzzing sound. What to Dick was a superb imitation of a bee (and thus his need for honey) was to the Sister a wild-eyed foreigner who was obviously having difficulty adjusting to monastic life in Korea. She came flying out of the kitchen seeking protection. Eventually one of the Columban priests, who spoke Korean explained the situation. The cook was pacified. Fr. Dick got his honey. Everybody was happy.
The next day father Dick needed some milk. You guessed it. He went into the kitchen, making the motions of milking a cow. The cook responded by mimicking father Dick’s performance about bees. From then on it was a contest in creativity. The Benedictine nun gave as good as she got.
There are many ways to overcome cultural or language differences. Fr. Dick certainly had his own unique ways to doing just that.
Columban Fr. Brendan O’Sullivan lives and works in the U.S.