Witnesses of Africa: Isidore Bakanja – A life without compromises
Isidore Bakanja, a young man from Congo, died as a martyr at the hands of a hate-filled atheist colonialist. The testimonies of many of his compatriots make it clear that he died for being a Christian. Although he knew that his boss resented Christians, Bakanja insisted on wearing a scapular and saying the rosary in […]
Mexico: Poblano chili here we come
When most people think of Mexican food, the first thing that comes to mind may be chili peppers and fiery hot dishes that threaten their taste buds. Although chilis are essential in Mexican cuisine throughout the country, they are not necessarily added for spiciness. More often than not they are used to enhance flavour. Many […]
Bolivia: The sacrifice of the white lamb
The ceremony of the offering to the Pachamama to restore balance in the family. A simple ritual but full of symbology. The offering to the Pachamama for the protection of the family may be performed according to tradition in order to maintain harmony with the God of life, with the human community and the cosmos. […]
Brazil: Horizons of hope
A place where children find understanding and dignity. Comboni Missionary Father Padre Saverio Paolillo explains. In the Marcos Moura quarter, in the outskirts of Santa Rita, a town in the state of Paraíba in north-east Brazil, an initiative called Project Legal is in action. A group of men and women take in children and maladjusted […]
African Witnesses: St. Josephine Bakhita
Nine-year-old Bakhita (c. 1869-1947), playing in the fields near her home in Sudan, was captured by slave traders. She had been warned by her parents to be careful, since her older sister earlier had been captured and enslaved. During the next ten years, the captive Bakhita passed through the hands of five different slave owners. […]
Oral Literature: The Well
A long time ago, there were four families who lived in a small village in Somalia. The first family would argue all of the time, the second family were very greedy, the third family were always away from the village exploring because they were never happy with what they had or where they lived. But […]
Bolivia Textiles: Symbolism of the Andean Wisdom
The original handcrafted clothes made with sheep, llama, alpaca, vicuña and other animals’ wool are not just garments made of valuable fabrics showing great combinations of meaningful colours, but they also symbolise the prestige of the original Andean dignity and identity. The weaving process begins with the extraction of wool from sheep, alpacas, llamas, vicuñas and […]
Ethiopia: Solidarity in the shadow of Debre Libanos
About 700 Ethiopian refugees survive thanks to the work of an Orthodox priest of the Debre Libanos monastery. The initiative of Abba Kefyalew stands out considering the limited commitment of his Church to the less fortunate. The Great Rift Valley is a canyon of almost 5,000 kilometres that splits the Horn of Africa into two […]
Bishops from Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia call for disarmament of herders
Catholic bishops in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia are calling for coordinated and peaceful disarmament in a common border region, where an estimated 8 million illegal small and light weapons can be found among the herder communities. The border triangle is the homeland of the Turkana and the Pokot of Kenya, the Karamoja of Uganda, Daasanach […]
Vocation Story: From cigarette’s seller to priest
“I really believe that a missionary priest is a person called by God to meet the overwhelming gratuitous love of God for humanity.” A Comboni Father Placide Majambo Lutumba Petir from Congo tell us his story. I grew up in a fairly quiet and peaceful atmosphere, but also very Christian. My mother sang in the […]
