News & Feature Archives - Page 2 of 8 - Missionary Society of St. Columban

Prepare for Persecution: When Mission Becomes Witness for the Earth

Leave a Comment / JPIC / MISSION PRIORITIES, Mission Promotion Articles, News & Feature / By Marivic Mercene / June 4, 2025

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 …

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Rites and Catechism

Leave a Comment / Mission Promotion Articles, News & Feature / By Marivic Mercene / May 29, 2025

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 …

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A Humble and Compassionate Caregiver

Leave a Comment / Lay Mission Articles, Mission Promotion Articles, News & Feature / By Marivic Mercene / May 14, 2025

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 …

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From the Tomb to New Life: An Easter Reflection

Leave a Comment / Gospel Readings & Reflections, News & Feature / By Marivic Mercene / May 9, 2025

By Lum Zawng Dominic Reflection on Luke 24: 1-12 “He is not here, but he has been raised.” This is a time of great rejoicing as we proclaim the glorious truth: Our Lord Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! He conquered death, and this is the Good News for us all…Jesus is alive. …

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Rekindling “Care for the Earth”: A training on Regenerative Agriculture/Soil Regeneration

Leave a Comment / JPIC / MISSION PRIORITIES, News & Feature / By Marivic Mercene / April 25, 2025

By Fr. Oliver McCrossan, SSC A training on Regenerative Agriculture/soil regeneration was conducted and held at Living Soils Farm, Sitio Kakawan, Patrocenio, Claveria, Misamis Oriental on February 22-23, 2025. The training was attended by no less than 10 key leaders of organizations from different places in Mindanao. These key leaders from peoples, farmers, and …

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Fr. Brian Gore, SSC

Leave a Comment / JPIC / MISSION PRIORITIES, News & Feature / By Marivic Mercene / April 22, 2025

FR. BRIAN GORE, SSC Brian Gore was born on 6 January 1944, in Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia, to Frank Gore and Thelma Edwards. Brian joined the Columbans in 1960. He completed his seminary formation in Sassafras, Victoria, and Turramurra, NSW. He was ordained in Fremantle on 29 June 1968, the 50th anniversary of the …

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The Easter “Salubong”

Leave a Comment / Mission Promotion Articles, News & Feature / By Marivic Mercene / April 16, 2025

By Fr. Vinnie Busch, SSC Fifty years ago, during my first parish assignment in Mindanao, I was struck by how frequent the people use statues in their spiritual lives. Almost every home had an altar with statues of their patron saints. During Holy Week and fiestas, parishioners would join long procession, often under the …

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Giving a Chance to Change

Leave a Comment / Lay Mission Articles, Mission Promotion Articles, News & Feature / By Marivic Mercene / April 6, 2025

By Ana Flores, Columban Lay Missionary I met these women sometime 2011-2012 when we relocated some families affected by typhoon Sendong to the Mother of Divine Mercy Village in Opol. Some belonged to the TISAKA or Tingog sa Kasanag (voice of enlightenment) organization. From time to time, these women faced serious problems, and I often sought …

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“Those Crazy Columban Colliers”

Leave a Comment / Mission Promotion Articles, News & Feature, Vocation Articles / By Marivic Mercene / March 31, 2025

By Fr. John Boles, SSC “If Columban Mission is a “mad thing to do,” then nothing could be madder – or more inspiring – than three members of the Collier family.” Let me tell you why. When Jesus’s own family heard about this, they said, “He’s out of his mind” (Mk. 3:21). It’s not surprising that …

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Father Roque and the CBR Legacy

Leave a Comment / Mission Promotion Articles, News & Feature / By Marivic Mercene / March 25, 2025

By Mavic Mercene, Communications Team Member In February of this year, Regional Director Fr. Leo Distor, Mission Promotion Coordinator Fr. Rolly Aniscal, Mission Promotion Animator Evelyn Sabate, and I had the privilege of being warmly welcomed by Fr. Roque C. Villanueva, the parish priest of St. Joseph Parish in Olongapo City, Zambales. As we …

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