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 »
By Marivic Mercene “We need to prepare ourselves for persecution.” Fr. Brendan Kelly’s words hung in the air, heavy and unsettling. I had asked him how our two mission priorities—Biodiversity Protection and Migrants and Refugees—shape his ministry in Don Victoriano, Misamis Occidental. His answer wasn’t theoretical. It was rooted in years of living with …
Prepare for Persecution: When Mission Becomes Witness for the Earth Read More »
By Fr. Louie Ybañez In an Islamic country like Pakistan, Christmas doesn’t cause much of a stir for the majority of people. However, it does matter to many Christians, as it represents a celebration of profound faith and a proud adherence to their unique religious identity. A wedding is a different story. From December to …
By Febie Gonzales, Columban Lay Missionary in Taiwan “Compassion is a language of God” -Pope Francis. When I asked, “Why did you choose to come to Taiwan?” Adi, an Indonesian caregiver, replied, “To earn money for my family, to provide for their needs and well-being, to send my children to school, and to have …
