Brazil: Committed to Helping Young People
Extending the culture of life to places affected by violence and death — this is the goal of the Legal Project. Father Saverio Paolillo, a supporter of this initiative, talks to us about it. Gabriel, one of our children, looks like he is 12; but we don’t know his real age, since his birth was never officially recorded. He […]
Myanmar: Calling Home the Spirits
The Karen people are the second largest ethnic minority in Myanmar. Because of the civil war they were spread throughout different countries in the South East of Asia, in the Unites States, Australia, New Zealand and the Scandinavian countries. To strengthen their identity and unity, each year they celebrate the “wrist-tying” festival. The month of […]
Philippines: Fighting Together
A group of religious from different congregations risk their lives opposing the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources and the violations of tribal rights in Mindanao. Sister Famita Somogod of the Missionary Sisters of Mary, 48, has been risking her life every day since she became coordinator of the Rural Missionaries’ project of the Philippines. Religious […]
Burma: Pa-O, the Forgotten People
The traditions and customs of the Pa-O ethnic group are little known and gradually disappearing. Telling children that they are descendants of a father who was a weiza, a supernatural being, and a mother who was a dragon makes for a good story; but for the Pa-O it is more than a fable. Once upon […]
Mozambique: Little by Little
A Comboni Lay Missionary has just arrived in Mozambique. She has been called to work with the youth of the school run by the Combonis in Carapira, the Industrial Technical Institute. These are some of her first reflections. 130 young people study and live here. In working with these young people, we teach them professional techniques through courses; how to […]
Philippines: The Colourful Houses for Abandoned Children
Father Vincent Borno talks about his experience of going beyond the peripheries into ‘no man’s land’ – the dark corners of humanity, filled with abuse and exploitation – to reach out to the young who have been left to fend for themselves. Since Pope Francis’ arrival, it has become fashionable to speak of peripheries. But for […]
St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, London: ‘The violence of Peacemaking’
Pan pipe music from Bolivia filled St Martin-in-the-Fields Church at Trafalgar Square and brought a flavour of Latin America to the opening of the annual Romero service in London. The ecumenical service this year marked the 36th anniversary of the martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero. The theme of the event was ‘The violence of peace-making […]
Mozambique: In the Shadow of the Baobab
One day a group of young people gathered under a Baobab tree to listen to Kibaykita, one of the most respected village elders. The old man began to speak… Baobab trees stand sporadically on the sides of roads through the Africa. They tower like steeples, pagodas, or domes. The Baobab is a burly tree, growing […]
Brazil: The Gospel of Mercy Behind Bars
Having been a Comboni Missionary for more than thirty years, Father Saverio Paolillo defends the human rights of young people imprisoned in Brazil’s youth prison. Taking advantage of a pause in the incessant autumn rains, I made my usual visit to the Educational Centre for Youth in João Pessoa, the capital of the State of Paraíba in […]
Bangladesh: Pedalling for the Poor
At the age of 78, Father Bob McCahillan, an American Maryknoll missionary, still rides his bicycle on the countryside roads of Bangladesh to meet and help sick people – especially children. He is a sign of Christian love among Muslims and Hindus. Along the roads of Bangladesh he is greeted as Bob Bhai (‘Brother Bob’ – bhai is […]