Lesotho: The Problem of Water
The wealth generated by the abundance of water has not prevented the increasingly vulnerable country from suffering for decades from land degradation. The government, civil society, and rural communities, with the technical and financial support of the international community, is trying to tackle the problem. Lesotho is known as the Kingdom of Heaven. Two-thirds of […]
More than 50 thousand people have lost their lives during their migratory journey
According to a new IOM report, more than 50,000 people worldwide have lost their lives during their migratory journeys since IOM’s Missing Migrants Project began documenting deaths in 2014. “While thousands of deaths have been documented across migration routes each year, very little has been done to address the consequences of these tragedies, let alone […]
Vocation Story: Br José Eduardo – The Spirit of closeness
Brother José Eduardo Macedo de Freitas is a Portuguese Comboni missionary working as a nurse in the hospital of Kalongo, Uganda. He tells us how his missionary vocation came about and what he is doing in the field of healthcare in Africa. I was born in Santo Estêvão de Briteiros, a village in the municipality […]
Filipino Christmas Traditions
Church bells chime with one of the traditional Christmas songs signalling the special birthday of the Infant Jesus. “Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright. Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild. Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Christ the Savior is born.” The most distinct Filipino Christmas tradition […]
Oral Literature: The Maasai – The origin of cattle
Naiteru-Kop, one of the gods of the Maasai, walked the earth at the dawn of the world and he found it already held some inhabitants. He found a Dorobo (a member of a hunting people, also known as Okiek), a snake and an elephant living together. After Naiteru-Kop had passed by, the Dorobo found a […]
Vocation Story: Br. Alberto Parise, an architect turned brother
As a student of architecture, he came to Africa. The humanity of the people left a deep impression on him. The experience not only broadened his horizon but also opened up a new way in his life. A Comboni missionary, Brother Alberto Parise talks about his vocation and missionary journey. First, I came to Africa […]
Cuba: The old Saint Lazarus – The devotion of a people
Every year thousands of people go to pay homage to Saint Lazarus in El Rincón, a few kilometres from the capital Havana. “Only Cubans know the mysteries that Saint Lazarus hides.” Pilgrims arrive breathless crawling on their knees along the path that leads to the National Sanctuary dedicated to Saint Lazarus in El Rincón. The […]
Christmas traditions around the world
Every December and in every country on the planet, people celebrate Christmas. The ways of celebrating Christmas are endless because the holiday proclaims the universal desire for peace on earth and goodwill to all. Here are some Christmas traditions from around the world. Mexico. At midnight on Christmas Eve in Mexico, festivities are interrupted by […]
Reflection: Freedom of religion – a touchstone of human rights
All rights are equal but some rights are more equal than others. FIFA and the Qatar authorities are justly under fire for restrictions on LGBT rights and their treatment of migrant labourers. But nothing is said about the abuse of rights to religious freedom, a worldwide problem as well as one local to Qatar and […]
Oral Literature: The qualities of a Tuareg sheikh
At the foot of the Atlas Mountains, a mountainous massif in the Western Sahara, there was a powerful kingdom ruled by a sheikh as wise as he was good. He had married the princess Hamida, which means gazelle. The young queen deserved that name because of her grace and fragility. A year after the wedding […]