Africa: Puppet Theatre
The roots of puppet shows in Africa are as old as the myths and legends. Today, they are used very much in education but also as a way to condemn political power and corruption. According to a myth of the Ibibio people of south-east Nigeria, the puppet theatre was born in the land of the […]
South Sudan: Reconciliation Paths
In a country ravaged by war, forgiveness is the contribution Christians can offer to a society divided along ethnic lines and rivalries. A missionary in South Sudan shares a couple of stories on how his teaching brought about pardon, mutual acceptance and peace. In the eastern region of South Sudan, there are people who live […]
Mexico: “I Could Be Killed Anytime”
Commitment to work side by side with migrants. A Church up and running. The testimony of Fr. Tomás Gonzalez. “I have received many threats. I know I could be killed but I am not afraid. I have dedicated my entire life to the defence of the weakest. I always ask myself what Jesus would do […]
Africa: Amulets For Luck And Protection
Amulets are an important part of an African’s life, from birth to death. They are obligatorily worn in some stages of life and are considered sacred objects in African culture. Rebel groups have used amulets to make child soldiers believe they were invulnerable. Traditional medicine has always been an integral part of African culture. It […]
Missionary Botanist: Camellia Tea
Pharmacist, botanist and missionary, the Moravian Jesuit Brother Josef Kamel (1661-1706) left the Hapsburg Empire to go to the Philippines where he continued his work and research. He was so successful that Carlo Linneo, the famous Swedish doctor and naturalist, named the genus Camellia after him. Tea is one of the simplest and most natural […]
Kenya: Pökot Marriage
The Pökot people live in West Pökot County and Baringo County in Kenya and in the Pökot District of the eastern Karamoja region in Uganda. They are estimated to be around 700,000. Like many other people they are going through a profound transformation. Boys and girls meet at dance parties or at communal work or […]
FIFA World Cup & AfricaL The Road to Russia
The 2018 FIFA World Cup, which is to be held in Russia, will be the greatest sporting show on earth this year. Between the 14th June and 15th July, 32 teams will make billions of people dream, enjoy and weep. Africa will be represented by five nations. Because of the political and military involvement in […]
Vocation Story: Why Not Me?
Fascinated by a priest and his style of life, I decided to be like him. Then, I met the Comboni Missionaries. Immediately I understood that that would be my life. Father Anane Joseph Nhyirana tells us his story. The desire to be a priest began to grow in me when I was in senior high […]
Middle East & North Africa: New Displacements
According to a new report from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), almost 4.5 million people fled within their own countries to escape conflict and violence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in 2017. Key findings from the Global Report on Internal Displacement (GRID 2018) show that the region accounted for 38 per […]
Philippines: Feeding Street People
For the last five years, a retired engineer and his wife have been feeding poor people on the streets almost every week on Kamias Road in Quezon City. Nobody knows about it – neighbours, family members, and friends. “We do not advertise or brag about it”, Imelda said. “It is our expression of faith or […]
