Witnesses of Jubilee. Card. Van Thuan. Hope in Prison
Cardinal Van Thuan was arrested in 1975 and spent 13 years in prison, nine of them in solitary confinement in Hanoi. He used his time not only for personal prayer but also to write a reflection that continues to inspire. Van Thuan had been appointed as Coadjutor Archbishop of Saigon just seven days before South […]
Reflection. Training to Toughness
Preparedness for a tough life is the foundation for achievement. Very many great men from humble backgrounds rose to high levels of performance precisely because they adopted the tough path. We read of Abraham Lincoln striving to complete his studies and walking some 50 miles to consult a book in the nearest library. Lal Bahadur […]
Mission Diary. Alive with thankfulness to God
“Teaching is a wonderful experience. I try to give my life for others through education”. Comboni Sister Beatriz Cristina Mata, who has been in South Sudan for twenty-five years, shares her experience. After the terrible earthquake that hit my native Mexico, in 1985, I had to reconsider many things and this led me, after a […]
Vocation Story. Fr. Jude: “I took off my sandals”
In the family he learned to be a Christian. In the parish he learnt to serve God and the Church. He became a diocesan priest and worked in areas where only Afrikaans was spoken. He eventually joined the Comboni Missionaries. He worked in Malawi and Zambia. Fr Jude Eugene Burgers talks about his vocation and […]
European Bishops call for European unity and solidarity with Ukraine’
In light of the increasing complexity and geopolitical uncertainty surrounding peace in Ukraine, the Presidency of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) released a statement on 4 March 2025, expressing strong support for Ukraine. COMECE stated: “Ukraine’s struggle for peace will also be decisive for the fate of Europe and […]
Witnesses of Jubilee. Bakhita. A beacon of hope for those trapped in modern slavery
As the Patron Saint of victims of human trafficking, Saint Bakhita’s legacy serves as an inspiration to millions around the world. Pope Francis said that “as the Jubilee focuses the Church on the theme of hope, we must also ask ourselves how we can nourish that hope for the millions of people who are trapped […]
Herbs & Plants. Rauvolfia vomitoria: A multipurpose medicinal plant
It is a versatile plant with a wide range of uses. Its role in traditional medicine has led to its integration into the pharmaceutical industry. The plant, which belongs to the Apocynaceae family, is commonly known as “devil’s pepper”, a name that reflects its potent properties and peculiarities. This shrub or small tree, which can […]
Vocation Story. “It is worth it to be a missionary”
Hermann Mahunan Djimini is a young Comboni Missionary from Cotonou, Benin. He was ordained a deacon on 9 February. He shares with us his feelings and his dreams. I am the second of six children in a Catholic family. I was introduced to the faith by my parents from an early age. We used to […]
Towards the Jubilee of Youth with Pope Francis
From July 28 to August 3, 2025, young people are invited to meet and experience the Jubilee together. The four paths lead to the Jubilee of Hope. In recent months, Pope Francis has spoken out several times, inviting young people to believe in hope. The “hope that does not disappoint” with these words the Pope […]
Bishop Carlassare. “We can be pilgrims of hope wherever we are,”
Bishop Christian Carlassare of Bentiu in South Sudan shares four keywords to get involved in the Jubilee from wherever we are. Pilgrimage is a journey – The first keyword about the Jubilee Year is a pilgrimage. Pilgrimage is a journey. Not merely a physical journey, but most of all a spiritual journey to encounter the […]