Democratic Republic of the Congo: towards new life
On a hill in the city of Bukavu in the south of the DR Congo, a centre has been built to take in girls accused of witchcraft. Her face is serene and smiling as she holds the hand one of the little girls she looks after at the Ek’abana house on one of the hills […]
Nigeria: telling their tales of suffering
Boko Haram continues on its path of violence and destruction. Stories of suffering and pain. The Church stays by the side of the people. There are some days that are carved into memory and never leave us. The memories keep coming back with their anguish and pain. It was on a Thursday, 18 January of […]
Oral literature: the buffalos’ friend
Once upon a time, a boy was called buffalos’ friend because he was getting close to buffalos without any fear. One day he met a cattle keeper whose calves got lost in the bush and joined a group of buffalos. The cattle keeper asked him to recover the calves and promised cow fetlocks as a […]
Brazil: the new report denounces the advance of miners in the indigenous territory
Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed 318,000 people across the country, illegal activity never stopped – on the contrary, suggests a new survey on the expansion of mining in the indigenous territory. Produced by Hutukara Yanomami Association (HAY) and Wanasseduume Ye’kwana Association (Seduume), the report “Scars in the Forest – the growth of […]
India: the apostle of the lepers
Fifty years in India alongside the lepers. Curing their wounds but also rejoicing with each one for new found life. This is the story of Sister Bertilla Capra, 82, an Italian Consolata Missionary. It was in June 1970 that she arrived in Andhra Pradesh, her first appointment. “Before leaving,” she recounts “I went to Fontilles, […]
Reflection: in the silence of our loneliness
Many of us may feel lonely and abandoned in these challenging times. Gatherings in church, at home, or in Christian communities are discouraged or considered risky. Praying with the family is possible if the rules of how to protect ourselves against the Coronavirus are observed. Nevertheless, we can continue to experience God’s presence in prayer. […]
Vocation Story: Father Mubangizi, “God has given me so much”
As a boy, he wants to be a priest. Twice he writes an application to enter the seminary, but his wish does not come true. He continues his studies, graduates, and gets a job that satisfies him. But he wants more. Father Mubangizi John Bosco, a Comboni missionary from Uganda, tell us his story. I […]
Oral Literature: Why Warthog has Small Tusks
Amongst the Baila people, a story has been passed on through the oral tradition to explain why Warthog has small tusks. There was a time, long, long ago, when Elephant’s nephew, Warthog, had handsome long, curved tusks and Warthog’s uncle, Elephant, had shorter tusks that curved upwards. Both Elephant and Warthog lived harmoniously together in […]
Vocation Story: Sister Angelina Nyakuru, “to serve God and the poor”
She grew up in Uganda. Her father died when she was just eight years old. “Life was difficult, but my mother always encouraged us,” she says. “I prepared for my First Communion with the nuns and priests at the mission station of the Comboni Missionaries from Italy. There I met Sister Paola, who was a […]
Fasts and Feasts in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tradition
The most important period of the year for Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia is the Lent fast leading up to the Easter feast. Easter, known as Fasika, will fall on 2 May this year corresponding to 24th Miyazya 2014 in the Ethiopian Calendar. Fasting is central to Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity with some 250 fasting days during […]
