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 …
Reflections from My First Year as Secretary to the Regional Director By Edward Robert Gallagher When I began my journey as the Secretary to the Regional Director of the Missionary Society of St. Columban, I walked in with both excitement and apprehension. It was a dream fulfilled to be working not only with the …
By Marivic Mercene “To be a missionary is to be with the people,” Fr. Enrique Escobar reflects. “You walk with them, you eat with them, you suffer with them, and you rejoice with them.” Looking back at his journey—from a diocesan priest in Peru shaped by the missionary spirit of the Maryknoll Missionaries to …
By Fr. Kurt Zion Pala, SSC It has been two years since we last hosted the Student Leadership Camp, and much have changed since then. While most parts of the world have already recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Myanmar (formerly Burma), sadly, has not. While the world is slowly recovering, Myanmar …
By Fr. Shay Cullen, PREDA Founder The election of Cardinal Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old Augustinian missionary to Peru, as pope on May 8 signaled a clear desire among his fellow cardinals for continuity in the urgent reforms and renewal of the Catholic Church initiated by his predecessor Pope Francis. Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, …
The Migrants’ Son and Missionary Who Became Pope Leo XIV Read More »
