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 […]
World Mission Day. Pope Francis: “Come to the banquet”
This year, World Mission Day is part of the final phase of the “Synod on Synodality” being held in Rome. The theme chosen by Pope Francis is “Go and invite everyone to the banquet” (Mt 22: 9). In his message, Pope Francis gives a special meaning to World Mission Day, which is celebrated on October […]
Zambia’s Copper and Cobalt. Raw Materials for the Future
To avoid a climate catastrophe, we need to switch our oil and gas-based economy to sustainable energy sources such as solar and wind. Copper and cobalt play an important role in the production of electric motors and batteries. Both metals are mined in Zambia’s Copperbelt. Zambia became independent from Great Britain in 1964 under the […]
Herbs & Plants. Ageratum conyzoides. A remedy for myriads of disease conditions
It is an erect, branching, soft, slightly aromatic, annual herb with shallow fibrous roots. The plant has a goat-like smell and hence the common name “goat weed”. The genus name Ageratum is derived from the Greek words ‘a geras’, meaning non-aging, referring to the longevity of the whole plant. Ageratum conyzoides (Family Asteraceae) is a […]
Vocation Story. To share our faith and charism
Influenced by missionaries in his local parish, Edgardo decided to become a missionary at the age of 17. He tells of his vocation journey and his missionary experience. I am Fr. Edgardo Alfonso Vizcarra, a Comboni Missionary born and bred in the very heart of Manila, Tondo. I am the youngest of seven siblings, and […]