God of my life,
I welcome this new day.
It is Your gift to me,
the first day of the rest of my life.
I thank You for the gift of being alive this morning.
I thank You for the sleep which has refreshed me.
I thank You for the chance to begin life all over again.
June 2, 2017
June 2, 2017
In 1982, the Columban General Council made the monumental decision to officially allow and encourage vocations from mission countries.
June 1, 2017
Veidrala is located on the Northeast of Vitilevu under the province of Nakorotubu in Ra. It is a 2 ½ hours bus ride from Suva, the capital of Fiji, followed by another 45-minute boat ride to reach Veidrala.
The Village
June 1, 2017
When was the last time I said "I love you" to my dad? Have I thanked him lately? How long has it been since I prayed for him? I don't know about you, but I personally ask myself these questions and sometimes I can't even answer them myself.
June 1, 2017
The summer mission appeals starts in June and finish by the end of August. In 2016, I felt so blessed that everyone was so accommodating and flexible in terms of the parish visiting schedule.
June 1, 2017
Merciful Lord, who prayed that there be one flock and one shepherd,
I ask the light of faith
for those who do not know You in Your Eucharistic Presence.
Give them the joy of Your protecting presence.
Bring them into the one fold
of which You are the master and Lord.
Forgive them their sins and teach them the way of repentance.
May 31, 2017
Lord God Almighty,
who has safely brought us to the beginning of this day,
defend us in the same by Your mighty power,
that this day we may fall into no sin,
but that all our words may so proceed,
and all our thoughts and actions
may be so directed as to do always
that which is just in Your sight.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
May 30, 2017
I’m writing this memo and updating it as necessary as the violent situation evolves or devolves in Mindanao. This on-going account will try to provide some context to what is happening and how it touches the Church people I know and the Subanens whom I work with. Marawi city is only 30 miles away from my residence in Ozamiz City, but to get there I would need to ferry across a bay and then travel a circuitous route first on a coastline road to Iligan Cityand then up a winding road to the highlands where Marawi City lies next to lake Lanao. Lake Lanao is the source of hydroelectric power for much of Mindanao. Marawi is populated primarily by Maranao Muslims.
May 30, 2017
Chile is very far from my native land, with different people, language, culture, climate and food. It is a Catholic country which is very abundant in resources. During my Mission Sending Mass last year, our parish priest asked me why I was going to Chile for mission then.
May 30, 2017
Most Holy Virgin and Mother,
your soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow
in the passion of your divine Son,
and in His glorious resurrection,
you were filled with unending joy in His triumph!
Obtain for us who call upon you,
to be such partakers in the adversities of holy Church
and in the sorrows of the Sovereign Pontiff
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.