I am now based in Lisbon editing Além-Mar, the missionary magazine published in Portugal by the Comboni Missionaries. As I open and go through the pages of World Mission, memories of the past and deep feelings of pride come to my mind and heart. As I look at the photos, stare at the beauty of the pages and overall layout (always clean and harmonious) as I read the texts and see the timeliness of the topics and articles, I consider and say to myself: World Mission has indeed gone far, affirming itself as a mission magazine in the Filipino Church and, at large, in Asia, and becoming every month a valid instrument of missionary awareness.
The memories of its beginning come flowing like a river of fresh waters: our arrival, in July 1988, at Roosevelt Avenue, in New Manila; the setting of a small office at No. 282, just one room, with one small computer for the works – writing, correcting, doing the layout; contacting the first collaborators and contributors; searching for the printing press; and then, the editing and printing of the first issue, in March 1989. Unlike the current issues with glossy paper and colored photos, the paper, then, was rough and brownish, newspaper style; the photos were black and white. But, then, World Mission magazine made a difference with its layout style and, especially, its mission-minded contents, its vision of a global and missionary Church.
World Mission – the name chosen for the magazine – was inspired by the slogan “The Philippine Church Open to the World” to build up awareness of a Church that is truly Catholic, open to the world, missionary in its nature and action. Since that historic month of March 1989, editing, publishing and distributing World Mission every month has been a miracle of God’s providence and of human creativity. Since I left the country, in 1995, several editors have taken over the task of keeping World Mission going.
I am grateful to World Mission for updating me about the church in Asia and its missionary thrust, as I am grateful to God for making me an instrument in the launching of the magazine. World Mission nurtures in me an interest in and a love for Asia that linger on in my missionary journey.
Twenty-five years have passed. They added more white to my hair but to World Mission, they brought beauty, youthfulness, intellectual vigor, a new generation of editors, writers and layout artists. Long live World Mission magazine and the Comboni Missionaries in their task of fostering missionary awareness among the Asian local churches!
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