Before I become a lay missionary, I was a full-time volunteer at Jesuit Volunteer of the Philippines (JVP). One of JVP's aims is to send volunteers for a year of service to marginalized communities and areas with greatest need.
July 2, 2018
Apart from my General Council work, I have found myself unofficial chaplain to foreign inmates in five Hong Kong prisons. Many are Christians from Africa and South America, but there are a significant number of Muslims too from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
July 2, 2018
Catholic Church leaders have spoken out to condemn the brutal killing of a young priest, Father Mark Anthony Ventura, 37, from Gattaran town in the province of Cagayan on April 29, 2018. Father Mark was shot by an assassin on the outskirts of Gattaran town after celebrating the Eucharistic Mass. He was blessing children and chatting to the members of the parish choir when he was shot dead.
July 2, 2018
My God, I believe in You;
please strengthen my faith.
All my hopes are in You;
please secure them.
I love You with my whole heart;
teach me to love You daily more and more.
If I I have offended You; increase my sorrow.
July 1, 2018
It all started about three months ago when catechist Timoci Matakiviwa turned up on our doorstep offering to compose a Centennial Meke for us. The Meke is the traditional Fijian dance. Columban Frs. David Arms and Ioane Gukibau were there that day, and we together determined that this would indeed be a fitting addition to our Centennial celebration so we said yes.
July 1, 2018
Lord, I believe in You: increase my faith.
I trust in You: strengthen my trust.
I love You: let me love You more and more.
I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.
I worship You as my first beginning,
I long for You as my last end,
I praise You as my constant helper,
and call on You as my loving protector.
June 30, 2018
Blessed are you,
Mother of my Lord,
For you have believed the Word of God.
In faith and love,
You have pondered the Words and actions of God
In your life and the life of God's people.
With Jesus we call you mother.
Pray for us,
And ask your Son to lead us to the Father.
Amen.
June 29, 2018
O holy Apostles, Peter and Paul,
obtain for me, I pray you, lively faith,
firm hope, and burning love;
patience in adversity, humility in prosperity,
purity of heart and resignation to the will of God.
So, by means of your intercession and your glorious merits,
I may be able to overcome the temptations
of the world and the devil,
June 28, 2018
Lord – I am so often … what’s the word?
… frustrated by the poor results
of my efforts to get to know You.
Like the rich young man, I can say,
“All these things I have done since my childhood.”
- Mass, prayers, attempts at talking to You
and listening to Your – the lot.
June 27, 2018
O Lord, put me on guard against my human weaknesses.
Let me cherish Your love for me,
keep Your law, and come at last to Your salvation.
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.