News & Feature
Rooted in Relationship, Carried in Mission
By Bernie Durangparang, Columban Co-worker This year marks my 30th year as a Columban worker—a journey that began in 1996 and has since become more than a role; it has become a way of life. Over the years, my work has taken shape primarily as a vocation animator, accompanying young people as they listen …
Thirteen Years of Grace and Growth in Don Victoriano
By Fr. Brendan Kelly, SSC Our Columban presence in Our Lady of Lourdes Mission Station, Don Victoriano, Misamis Occidental, is ending. It has been a blessing in the lives of the faith community. A once peripheral, marginalized, and often neglected community has been regularly served, strengthening the catechetical, Eucharistic and youth ministries. Over the …
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A Missionary in the Midst of Transition
by Edward Robert Gallagher, Co-Worker The air in the Columban Mission House was never quite still. Even in the quietest hours― when the chapel lights dimmed and the last footsteps faded into the corridors― a sense of movement lingered―as though something were unfolding just beyond sight. It was not merely the turning of days …
When Rain Becomes a Blessing
By Ana Flores, Columban Lay Missionary As a missionary in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, I came to understand in a deeply personal way how difficult life can be without something as basic as water. What I once considered ordinary, I began to recognize as a daily struggle for many. During my first years there, …
On Threats and Protection, Restoration of Ecosystems in Chile
By Lydio Mangao, Jr. Chile’s Global Ecological Significance Did you know that there are 110 identified ecosystems worldwide, and 88 out of these are found in Chile? This incredible diversity stems from Chile’s unique geography, stretching across Antarctica, South America, and the Pacific. Within its borders lies eight biomes or 15 ecological zones, ranging …
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Solidarity and Charity in Action
By Fr. Elbert Balbastro, Columban Missionary in Pakistan The ongoing war continues to impact many, with rising death tolls in Iran, Lebanon, and other Middle Eastern nations. Oil and commodity prices are increasing, affecting economies worldwide. Displaced populations add to the crisis, facing daily stress and uncertainty. Altogether, the situation creates a complex humanitarian …
Sacred Waters
By Amy W. Echeverria, Columban Central JPIC Coordinator The story of Jesus meeting the woman at the well is a deep source of hope and comfort for Christians. By encountering the Samaritan woman alone at the well and asking her for a drink, Jesus demonstrated that his love was not constrained by social norms …
Crossing Boundaries of Despair
Joys and Struggles of Mission in Myanmar By Fr. Kurt Pala When people ask me, “What is mission like in Myanmar?” I often pause. Mission here is difficult and beautiful. It is broken, yet filled with hope. It is cautiously walking along a narrow path ―between the sounds of Buddhist chants and bells, …
A Link
By John Din, Columban Lay Missionary I am a link. A link to what? A link between what began decades ago and the imagined future of a recovered and restored forest. In the early two thousands, San Columbano de Bantolinao was just a dream—a dream of a future where organic farming is enhanced and …