Pope Francis to the Comboni Missionaries: “Sharing with you the passion for Evangelization”
On the morning of Saturday 18th June, Pope Francis received the participants of the General Chapter of the Comboni Missionaries. Here is what he said to them. I am happy to meet you. I thank the Superior-General for the words he has addressed to me on behalf of all of you who participate in the […]
The Youth Corner: Crises and Opportunities
Vocation opens doors to becoming a fully realized person. It is also a meeting point between God and humanity. Vocation challenges us from the first moment we think of it: be it the very concept of vocation, or all the dynamics proper to the vocation. On the one hand, vocation is a call from God; […]
Oral Literature: Hippopotamus and Elephant, test their Strength
In days of old when animals roamed more freely across the African continent, Elephant, Hippopotamus and Hare chose to live on an island. Elephant was an old bull who lived alone in the woodland area on the west side of the island, where grass, bushes and trees were plentiful. Hippopotamus preferred to live on the […]
Uganda: Luwombo, a Traditional Dish Cooked in a Banana Leaf
Among the Baganda people living in the area north and northwest of Lake Victoria in south-central Uganda, Luwombo is one of the most popular dishes. It is prepared for a specific occasion by specific people. It is a stew steamed in banana leaves; it has been considered to be a very special dish that was/is […]
Mauritania, the mysterious and solitary Nemadi
A small people of Mauritania were compelled to change their lifestyle to survive. They once lived in the desert where they hunted wildlife and gathered wild fruits and herbs. Today they raise dromedaries. Despite being relegated to the margins of society, the Nemadi have never lost their liberty. To the south of Oualata, one may […]
The Philippines: The Feast of St. John the Baptist
On the Feast Day of St. John, the Baptist (June 24), everyone on the streets is splashed with buckets of water. Aside from the usual dousing with water, the Filipinos feast on lechon and have a mud parade, a water party and a grand boat parade. Communities throughout the Philippines have festivals celebrating St. John […]
The Youth Corner: Vocation is a Blessing from God
Vocation is a blessing from God and this is seen when we change the way we look at ourselves and reality. When we look around us, sometimes we feel impelled to curse everything or admire the beauty and goodness that still reign in the world in which we live. We often look at reality with […]
Oral Literature: Wildebeest and Zebra’s Friendship
It was dawn and the first birds signalled the transition from night to day. Their calls were carried by a brisk wind that whipped the leaves of the acacias, and skimmed the surfaces of the pools that had formed after the heavy rain. Zebra and his herd emerged from the shadows and trotted towards the […]
Mozambique: Bazaruto’s enchanting waters
Off the southern coast of Mozambique, there lies an uncontaminated paradise of six islands surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The union of land and sea has its own special magical alchemy. The habitat is uncontaminated, a place where land and ocean embrace according to the cycle of tides or the blowing […]
Africa: The Sound of Drums
Drums play an important role in the life of African people. Traditionally, drums represent the soul of the community. They are used for celebrating ceremonial events and rituals within the community. Here are some popular African drums. The Karyenda comes from Burundi and used to be the main symbol of the country. It also represented […]