Building Friendships By Sr. Minerva Dangaran, SSC In 2016, I spent three months studying at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute. Located in the Occupied Territories, south of Jerusalem, it is possible to see Herod’s Hill in the distance from Tantur. I recall the Palestinian workers who would sit along the Hebron Road near our school …
By Jao Resari, CLM in Taiwan Last December, I received a message from Mark (not his real name), a foreign worker who arrived in Taiwan just a few months earlier. He was inquiring about where and how to take an HIV-antibody test. I arranged a time for us to go to the hospital so …
A Personal Poem By Mosese Yacalevu, Columban Seminarian Good day, siblings in Christ. As we say thank you In every possible way For the Lord is with us every single day. Dear friends, A window is always open. When the going gets tough And the road gets bumpy and Often covered by dust. …
By Marivic Mercene In the Philippines, fair skin is often seen as the standard of beauty. From whitening soaps and lotions to countless advertisements, the beauty industry thrives on the idea that being maputi (fair-skinned) means being more attractive or successful. This mindset traces back to our colonial past, when lighter skin was associated …
By Marjorie Engcoy One of the last things I remember doing in Fiji was starting a livelihood program for women – though quite unintentionally. Unintentionally, I say, because it wasn’t something I planned for, not even remotely. I was pressured into it by expectations; in other words, I was forced. My heart was not …
A Reflection on The Miracle of Five Loaves and Two Fish Read More »
By Fr. Rex Rocamora, SSC The MiRLeC (Mindanao Religious Leaders Conference) multi-sectoral dialogue held on August 5, 2025, at Notre Dame University, Cotabato City, carried the theme “Faith and Peace in Action, A Multi-sectoral Dialogue for Peaceful BARMM Elections.” More than just a gathering of leaders, it became a moment of shared introspection and …
A Blueprint for Peace: From Dialogue to Action for the 2025 BARMM Elections Read More »
A reflection on First Mission Assignment By Lydio Mangao, Jr., Columban Student in Chile Each week, I make it a habit to visit the nine chapels of the Columban parish of San Mathias in Bajos de Mena, Santiago, where I have been sent, choosing one or more at random. Riding a bicycle, I would …
By Mosese Yacalevu, Columban Seminarian As a steward of God’s majestic creation in all Her boundless beauty and wonder, I remain ever grateful for the natural flow of life around us. Here at the Columban International House of Studies in Manila, one thing that continues to amaze and inspire me is what I fondly …
By Michael Javier, Columban Lay Missionary The Columban house in Myitkyina, Kachin state, is located within the compound of Eden. It is surrounded by bamboo and a variety of trees that provide more than enough shelter for the different kinds of animals, including birds, snakes, bees, and more. There is also space for growing …
