The Ocean's (Atlantic) Influence Island life is shaped by the ocean. The weather determines whether you can cross to the island from the mainland, a jetty at São Tomé de Paripe, and the tides determine when people can cross from the community of Praia Grande to the community of Santana, and from Santana to the community of Nossa Senhora das Neves.
May 8, 2017
I usually spend my summer break walking the sands and enjoying the beach but this time around I decided to walk the hills of Don Victoriano Chiongbian, a town of Misamis Occidental, the Philippines, and enjoy the cool river waters of Salug.
May 8, 2017
O Blessed Lady of the Fields,
who loved the land of your native Galilee,
who watched the tiller of the earth and the shepherd of the flock
go out and return from Nazareth,
who lived with and loved the rural folk of the village,
look down graciously upon the fields and pastures of this,
your adopted land.
May 7, 2017
Remember, O most pure spouse
of the Virgin Mary,
my beloved Patron,
that never it has been heard
that anyone invoked your patronage
and sought your aid
without being comforted.
Inspired by this confidence I come to you
and fervently commend myself to you.
Despise not my petition,
O dearest foster father of our Redeemer,
May 6, 2017
O Most Holy Virgin Mother,
we listen with grief to the complaints
of your Immaculate Heart
surrounded with the thorns placed therein
at every moment by the blasphemies
and ingratitude of ungrateful humanity.
We are moved by the ardent desire of loving you as Our Mother
and of promoting a true devotion to your Immaculate Heart.
May 5, 2017
Holy Mary, my patron,
I ask you to pray for me to Jesus your son.
Through your constant prayers,
may God continue to guide my paths
and help me to follow Jesus in love.
Holy Mary,
pray for me
and for all the people of God.
Amen.
May 4, 2017
The Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso, Texas, marked its 30th anniversary with a fundraising dinner, and presented its "Border Heroes" awards this year to the Hon. Veronica Escobar, El Paso County Judge, and Father Bob Mosher, priest of the Missionary Society of St. Columban.
May 4, 2017
Columban Fr. Shay Cullen is set to receive another prestigious international award in recognition of his work against child sexual abuse and sex trafficking.
In November, the missionary, who is based in the Philippines, will receive the 2017 Martin Buber Award.
The honor reognises his work, through the PREDA Foundation, helping children and women.
May 4, 2017
Mary, Mother of God, at your request,
Jesus worked His first miracle.
He changed water into wine for the wedding guests at Cana in Galilee.
Over the centuries you have not ceased
to obtain countless signs and wonders for the poor,
exiled children of Eve.
May 3, 2017
Inspire us, O God, with a love of all men,
and especially for those who suffer and are persecuted;
teach us to go in Your name,
as Christ-bearers, to bring love where there is hate,
light of Christian principles where there is darkness of error;
help us for Your honor and Glory to renew the face of the earth.
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.