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The image of Our Lady of the Barangay depicts a Virgen with distinctly Filipino features and attire. According to Antonio Gaston, “this is the only picture of Our Lady with the Infant Child holding and offering the beautiful devotion of His mother.”
As he reflects on his journey leading up to the 75th jubilee of the enduring devotion to the Virgen sang Barangay, Fr. Christopher discovers that the Virgen had been guiding him all along, revealing her maternal love in every step of his spiritual path.
In 1949, Mayor Antonio Gaston founded the Virgen sang Barangay, a Marian devotion that spread across the Philippines. The movement encouraged prayer, community-building, and devotion through the Rosary. This year, it is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
After nearly two decades of hesitation, Professor Randy David finally embarked on the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage he had long dreamed of. This journey offered him a rare chance for reflection, connection, and immersion in the beauty of the present moment.
Fr. Vladimir celebrated the 30th anniversary of his priesthood by walking the Camino de Santiago for 30 days. He describes his experience as a spiritual adventure that included moments of solitude and camaraderie, as well as opportunities to offer prayers and sacrifices for the cancer warriors of his diocese.
The ancient Camino de Santiago attracts numerous pilgrims from different religious backgrounds including people who do not profess any religion. This surge can be attributed to a growing desire for personal renewal, connection with the divine, and a break from the world’s distractions.
An unexpected circumstance led the author to a direct experience of the difficult living conditions of a prison setting and to a brief moment of deep solidarity with the PDLs.
This story shows how someone could undergo a profound human transformation ‘thanks to’ circumstances that an ordinary person would never choose in order to grow.
According to recent data, there are about 180,000 PDLs (Persons Deprived of Liberty) in the entire Philippines. What are some common thoughts, views, and prejudices about PDLs? Which attitudes can ordinary citizens and Christians cultivate towards them?
We pray that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth and the victims of natural disasters and climactic change, and that all will care for the world in which we live.
The child Jesus came for everyone. In Him, God wants to be present in every aspect of our human condition and reality to redeem it and make it more human and divine.
The “Pact for the Future” is a plan of action to restore dialogue between nations in the face of increasing global conflicts and inequalities. The UN and its members have been commissioned to make this plan work.
On the last Sunday of October, the Catholic Church in the Philippines celebrates Prison Awareness Sunday to raise consciousness on the welfare of prisoners as well as help people understand the challenges faced by PDLs.
The more demanding task before us is to continually insist that elected officials make it their priority to protect the lives, and promote the dignity, of the poor and vulnerable everywhere. Promoting these moral values is our duty as Catholic citizens.
The brave Filipinos who love their country are committed to helping the poor and the exploited and are changing the culture of corruption and injustice that pervades our nation are being killed and arbitrarily arrested. Good people must support them and demand an end to the violence against them.
Brother Christopher Villanueva, a member of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), harnesses his creativity in painting to restore and strengthen hope among victims of conflict and natural disasters. He wishes his painting can also encourage the people to grow more in faith.
Pope Francis published a new encyclical calling for a renewed understanding of devotion to the Sacred Heart in the modern era. Archbishop Bruno Forte said the encyclical expressed “the inspiring motive of the whole magisterium of Pope Francis.”
From Mary hastening to help her cousin Elizabeth to Joan of Arc plunging into the defense of her people, women have always been on the frontline serving the common cause. Taking the initiative is leadership.
The Catholic social doctrine is based on the social mission of the Church, as Pope Francis maintains that there’s a “social dimension of evangelization” (Evangelii Gaudium, 176-258). The social mission of the Church is based on the social ministry of Jesus.
A comprehensive list of Vatican Council II documents provides a brief overview of each document, shedding light on how Vatican II reshaped the Church’s mission, structure and relationship with contemporary society.
With this simple but pregnant sentence, Saint Augustine speaks of our Baptismal Priesthood and its relationship with the ordained task of being a Bishop that the Lord has given him.
The vocation of the prophet Isaiah helps us discover the secret of good discernment: knowing how to contemplate and listen to the voice of the Lord. Faced with God’s irrevocable call, he responds promptly and generously: “Here I am, Lord! Send me!”
When a vocation opens up, plans are changed, new encounters take place, and discoveries are made. Fr. Pierpaolo has experienced this and shares some personal thoughts.
World Mission Magazine Channel
Published work from the World Mission Community
Published work from the World Mission Community
The articles and content from the November Issue
The articles and content from the June 2024 Issue
The “Pact for the Future” is a plan of action to restore dialogue between nations in the face of increasing global conflicts and inequalities. The UN and its members have been commissioned to make this plan work.
The ancient Camino de Santiago attracts numerous pilgrims from different religious backgrounds including people who do not profess any religion. This surge can be attributed to a growing desire for personal renewal, connection with the divine, and a break from the world’s distractions.
Fr. Vladimir celebrated the 30th anniversary of his priesthood by walking the Camino de Santiago for 30 days. He describes his experience as a spiritual adventure that included moments of solitude and camaraderie, as well as opportunities to offer prayers and sacrifices for the cancer warriors of his diocese.
After nearly two decades of hesitation, Professor Randy David finally embarked on the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage he had long dreamed of. This journey offered him a rare chance for reflection, connection, and immersion in the beauty of the present moment.
Aboard his flight from Singapore to Rome, after his pastoral visit to Asia and Oceania, Pope Francis referred to the two main candidates in the U.S. presidential election, stating, “Both are against life.” His words underscore the moral dilemma that Catholics face in their choices.
In his latest apostolic visit to the Asia-Pacific region, Pope Francis delivered a message of peace, dialogue, and tolerance between religions and warned against extremism. Much of the hatred and violence has been disseminated through social media platforms under the guise of “freedom of speech”.
The House of Representatives bill seeking the legalization of absolute divorce in the country passed the third and final reading in May 2024. The approved bill was transmitted to the Senate in June for review and concurrence. Today, the Philippines is the only United Nations (UN) member state with no divorce law. The Vatican, which is not a member of the UN, does not have a divorce law. As the debate on the divorce bill continues, Sr. Gina Rama reechoes the stand of her congregation on the issue.
We belong to each other. We must not act as though we have no resources and energies to count on. Our intellectual heritages and spiritual traditions provide enormous valuable assets on which we can build. We are not helpless.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is literally at “the edge of the world,” while Indonesia and Singapore are spiritually on the periphery. Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation on the planet. Pope Francis, the shepherd, decided to be with his flock.
This chronology of the Second Vatican Council traces key events, from its inception to its legacy, highlighting pivotal moments, papal actions, and significant theological developments that shaped modern Catholicism.
The pandemic has led to a vigorous debate on whether people should be vaccinated against COVID-19. But now that we are in the post-pandemic period, we should focus more on children’s health care regarding their annual vaccination.
Saint Augustine is the greatest of the Western Fathers. He is mostly known for his sentence from the Confessions: “You have created us, Lord, for yourself and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
Despite his family’s financial constraints, the young Victor worked through college, gaining valuable work experience and joining the seminary. His calling as a missionary took him to Guatemala. Now in the Philippines, he reflects with gratitude on 15 years of missionary and priestly life.
In preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year “As Pilgrims of Hope,” 2024 has been designated as a Year of Prayer. World Mission has been publishing prayers by saints in line with this initiative (courtesy of Aleteia). The prayer for this month is a moving prayer known as “Learning Christ” by St. John Henry Newman.
The Vatican has announced the theme for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea: “Take courage! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). “This theme resonates deeply with the challenges confronting today’s youth,” wrote Bishop Paul Kyung Sang Lee, general coordinator for WYD Seoul 2027.
Pope Francis appointed Comboni Missionary Fr. Victor Hugo Castillo Matarrita (in photo) as Bishop of Kaga-Bandoro in the Central African Republic.
In a significant address to parish priests gathered for the International Meeting “Parish Priests for the Synod,” Pope Francis issued a heartfelt appeal for priests worldwide to engage in the ongoing synodal process actively.
In a meeting with representatives of Popular Movements marking the 10th anniversary of their first encounter at the Vatican, Pope Francis encouraged the participants to fight against social injustices, reiterating his proposal for a Universal Basic Income and higher taxes for billionaires.
The goings-on happening in the world today.
The goings-on happening in the world today.
New statistics from the Vatican’s Agenzia Fides news agency revealed that while Europe’s Catholic population decreased by nearly half a million in 2022, growth occurred in other areas. Globally, the Catholic population reached approximately 1.39 billion, an increase of over 13 million. Catholics now make up about 17.7% of the world’s population.
The success of the just concluded Synod on Synodality hinges on the Church becoming more welcoming, even to non-Catholics, Cardinal-designate Pablo Virgilio David (in photo) said. Speaking to CBCP News at the end of the month-long second session of the Synod of Bishops’ 16th general assembly, the bishop of Kalookan said this was his hope for the particular churches, or dioceses and eparchies, across the world.
The ongoing war in Sudan, stemming from a power struggle between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has led to severe humanitarian crises, with thousands killed, millions displaced, and widespread atrocities, yet it remains largely overlooked by global media.
Religious leaders in Mindanao have reaffirmed their commitment to peace and sustainable development during the Mindanao Religious Leaders Conference (MiRLeC), held in Davao City.
In a meeting with representatives of Popular Movements marking the 10th anniversary of their first encounter at the Vatican, Pope Francis encouraged the participants to fight against social injustices, reiterating his proposal for a Universal Basic Income and higher taxes for billionaires.
In a significant address to parish priests gathered for the International Meeting “Parish Priests for the Synod,” Pope Francis issued a heartfelt appeal for priests worldwide to engage in the ongoing synodal process actively.
Pope Francis appointed Comboni Missionary Fr. Victor Hugo Castillo Matarrita (in photo) as Bishop of Kaga-Bandoro in the Central African Republic.
The Vatican has announced the theme for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea: “Take courage! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). “This theme resonates deeply with the challenges confronting today’s youth,” wrote Bishop Paul Kyung Sang Lee, general coordinator for WYD Seoul 2027.
Jan Havlik (in illustration), who died at the age of 37 from the consequences of torture in Soviet-era prisons, was proclaimed blessed in recognition of his faith and suffering. Jan Havlik, born in 1928 in Dubovce, Trnava region, Slovakia, was a member of the Missionary Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Since the Rohingya crisis began in August 2017, over 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar to escape violence, seeking refuge in Bangladesh.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation announced the 66th Ramon Magsaysay Award recipients.
The ancestral house of the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin in New Washington in Aklan province on Panay Island has been converted into a museum in honor of the influential religious leader instrumental in the 1986 people power revolt that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.
In the past, missionaries were sent from various European countries to the continent of Africa to proclaim and spread the Gospel. Yet, the “roles have shifted, or at least have begun to,” according to Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark in the UK.
The Vatican’s Synod Office published the Instrumentum Laboris or “working document” for the forthcoming Synod of Synodality in October which will focus on “the identity of the synodal People of God in mission.”
Since the announcement of the papal visit from September 6 to 9, parishes and communities have strived to offer the faithful moments of prayer and catechetical and formation meetings to help Christians understand why the head of the Catholic Church will visit not only the capital, Port Moresby, but also Vanimo, a small town of just under 10,000 inhabitants where there is a thriving Catholic community, rich in missionaries, several of them Argentines.
