Vocation Story. A mediator between the sacred and the profane
Father Abebayehu Tefera Atara, an Comboni missionary from Ethiopia, reflects on what it means to be a priest. I grew up in Haro Wato, Uraga District, Guji Zone, Oromiya Region, Ethiopia, the eldest of nine children. While my father was a farmer and quiet man, my mother was a teacher and a luz for me. […]
Madagascar. The mission with the habit
How can a monk be “missionary” if, by vocation, he is called to withdraw from the world and therefore is not in direct contact with the population? Father Christophe Vuillaume, a Benedictine of the Mahitsy monastery in Madagascar, answers. In a precise sense, the two terms “monk” and “missionary” seem to contradict each other. But […]
Tanzania, the magical mountain of the Maasai
In the north of Tanzania, there is a place suspended between poetry, infinite spaces and light: Ol Doinyo, the mountain of God for the Maasai; the still active and never-extinguished volcano that scrutinizes living beings and the arid land. It is evening in northern Tanzania. The herds return to the villages kicking up dust. They […]
Plants & Herbs. ‘Senna obtusifolia’’. A significant plant in traditional medicine
Senna obtusifolia, commonly known as Sicklepod or Coffee weed, holds a significant place in traditional medicine and culinary practices, particularly among various tribes in Uganda. In the regions inhabited by the Acholi and Kumam tribes in Uganda, it is referred to as Oyado, while in the Ateso community, it is known as Eodo. This annual […]
The Philippines. Yellow Boat of Hope
A foundation in the Philippines builds and donates yellow boats to students who must cross water to go to school. For over a decade, they have built and donated thousands of boats. In addition to boats, they also build classrooms, bridges, and educational hubs–all in yellow. Wading through and swimming in the water to get […]
Mission Diary. Colombia. Sharing life with the poor and drug addicts
“In my community, we decided that this year I would dedicate part of my time to reaching out to dozens, perhaps hundreds, of men, women and young drug addicts who wander around the Charco Azul neighbourhood in Cali. I started by approaching a bench that they built under a tree.” Father Franco Nascimbene, an Italian […]
Sister Rosita. Four Decades of Refugee Advocacy
When asked how a farmer’s daughter who became a Catholic nun ended up as one of Brazil’s most influential refugee advocates, Sister Rosita Milesi, 79, offers a simple answer: determination. Sister Rosita was awarded the Nansen Prize by the U.N. High Commission for Refugees for her exceptional work with refugees and migrants over the past […]
Vocation Story. Sharing my life
Samuel Ngugi Mwangi has just been ordained deacon. “Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine”. I feel that this word of the Lord spoken by prophet Isaiah has indeed been a prophesy fulfilled in my vocation journey. I was born on April 8th, 1991, in Gatundu, […]
Uganda. Ngabi Clan the King’s Therapists and Herd’s men
Buganda Kingdom is found in Central Uganda and it’s the largest and oldest traditional kingdom in Uganda today. This kingdom is made up of 52 clans that make up the tribe of the Baganda People. Each clan has roles and duties in the Kabaka’s Place. We look at the Ngabi clan. The Ngabi (Antelope) Clan […]
WMD 24. The universal Mission of the Church. An invitation to the Banquet
Pope Francis’ message for the 2024 World Mission Day is written in a context marked by the Church’s synodal journey as well as the preparations for the 2025 Jubilee. Pope Francis invites the Church to rediscover her missionary vocation through a reflection on the parable of the wedding feast (Mt 22:1-14), which symbolises God’s universal […]
