Catholic Church in Laos. Little by little.
There is a small Catholic community in Laos, with no foreign personnel. It is a community that gives hope for the future. In the four apostolic vicariates existing in the country (Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Savannakhet, Paksé), there are about 50,000 Catholics spread across a territory with diverse ethnic groups, languages, and cultures, among a population […]
Witnesses of the Jubilee. Bishop Christian Carlassare. Bearing witness to hope
As head of the Diocese of Bentiu, Bishop Christian Carlassare is called to start over from scratch, in a context devastated by conflict and floods. Where, most of all, people’s souls must first be rebuilt and reconciled. Bentiu is a place on the edge of nowhere, in the northern part of South Sudan, on the […]
Bible and Mission. Ruth: Persevering In Love
Ruth is a Moabite woman, who, after the death of her husband, decided to take care of her mother-in-law and, to do so, abandoned her land and immigrated to Israel. A faithful woman of great faith, she will be a fruitful mother in Israel and will play a fundamental role in salvation history. At the […]
Herbs & Plants. Vitex doniana. Multipurpose Tree
Vitex doniana (Family Verbenaceae) is a useful, multi-purpose tree providing food, medicines and timber to a number of communities. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree which is widespread in the savannah regions of Africa, especially in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Niger, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The plant grows […]
Africa. Mission in the digital age
The Church’s work in many countries is being supported by more advanced means of communication, digital channels and social media, especially among younger generations. A notable example is the Communications Network of Catholic Sisters in Kenya. Today, the Catholic Church of Kenya represents an established presence in Africa, having experienced uninterrupted growth in terms of […]
Vocation Story. Father Bienvenu: A Servant of the Gospel
Father Djasgombaye Gokam Bienvenu, a Comboni missionary priest, recounts his vocation journey from his multifaith upbringing in Chad to his work in the Diocese of Lodwar in Kenya. I am the firstborn in a family of two boys. I grew up in a large extended family, and our household included grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and […]
Bible & Mission. With Moses, We Are One!
Reflecting on Moses’ vocation, a song comes to mind by its title: We are One! In fact, Moses was a bridge, connecting God to the people and the people to God, neither denying his faith in God nor denying the people he was a part of. Moses was born with a death sentence. At that […]
Herbs & Plants. Pelargonium sidoides, a medicinal plant for respiratory diseases.
It is a small, geranium-like plant commonly known as the ‘South African geranium’, or ‘Umckaloabo’ in Zulu. Traditional healers hold it in high regard as one of the most important medicinal plants. The plant grows in a rosette pattern and forms thick and very dark brown underground roots that grow up to 15 cm in […]
Reflection. Economy Must Have a Human Face
The economy has its importance; however, economic success cannot be the ultimate goal in human affairs. It cannot be allowed to entice and enslave human beings, erase cultures, and ruin the environment. The economy, on the contrary, must have a human face. One of the strongest causes for anxiety in today’s world is ‘corruption’ that […]
Panama. The Black Christ of Portobelo
Every year, on October 21, tens of thousands of pilgrims travel to Portobelo, a fishing town in Panama, to pray to the black-skinned, sad-eyed Christ who captivates everyone with his gaze. On October 21, 1658, one of the three legends about the origin of the Cristo Negro de Portobelo began: a ship coming from distant […]
