In this issue for March, in which we celebrate the Lenten season, World Mission focuses on the theme of spiritual discernment as a tool of growth in Christian life. The Lenten season we are living right now as Church community is an opportune time to reflect on our lives. The method of discernment is a traditional discipline to make us more aware of God’s presence in our lives. In an article for this issue, Jesuit Ramon Bautista explains how “The Examen” is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence, and discern His direction for us.

The December issue of World Mission magazine proudly features the Virgen sang Barangay, or Virgin of the Barangay, on its cover, commemorating the 75th anniversary of this beloved devotion in the Philippines. Founded by Mayor Antonio Gaston, this Marian devotion spread across the Philippine islands, encouraging prayer, community-building and piety through the Rosary. The iconic figure holds special significance in Filipino religiosity, symbolizing a deep spiritual connection within local communities. Celebrated annually on October 16, the Virgen sang Barangay serves as a unifying force, fostering a shared cultural and religious identity that resonates with countless devotees across the nation. 

This November issue of World Mission magazine focuses on the ancient Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, which attracts numerous pilgrims from various religious backgrounds, including those who do not profess any faith. We present testimonies from two individuals who have walked the Camino de Santiago. One is Fr. Vladimir, who celebrated his 30th anniversary of priesthood by walking the Camino for 30 days. For him, it was a spiritual adventure comprised of solitude, prayer, and sacrifice. The other is Professor Randy David, for whom the Camino de Santiago was a journey of reflection and immersion in the beauty of the present moment.

In this October issue of World Mission, we focus on prison ministry in our 'Special' section. This theme aligns with the Prison Awareness Sunday in the Philippines, which takes place every last Sunday of October. The author of this section is Fr. Pierpaolo Monela, a Comboni missionary who is currently serving in the Philippines. He offers counseling sessions to PDLs (Persons Deprived of Liberty) on a weekly basis at the New Bilibid Prison. One of the main objectives of Fr. Pierpaolo's prison ministry is to challenge prevailing biases against PDLs and promote a more compassionate attitude towards them. Excerpts from Fr. Pierpaolo's articles are taken from his book, Nome Loro (In Their Name), Brescia, 2023.

This September issue of World Mission aligns with the Season of Creation, a global celebration observed from September 1 to October 4. The Season of Creation brings Christians together to pray and take action for the environment. The theme for this year is “To Hope and Act with Creation,” which urges Christians to actively engage in prayer and take action to care for our planet. In this month's magazine, we shine a spotlight on the Fossil Fuel Treaty, an initiative that calls for an international agreement to gradually eliminate fossil fuel production and promote renewable energy alternatives.

In this August issue of World Mission, we focus on the Comboni Missionaries' mission in Macau and their work in the Chinese world. Recently, they celebrated 25 years of this journey alongside all who have supported and joined them in this evangelization project. The parish of St. Joseph the Worker has played a central role in this mission, having grown into a vibrant and dynamic community with a strong missionary outreach. In an interview with the parish priest, Fr. Carlos Melasquez, he expresses the parish's readiness to face new challenges and his desire to welcome more faithful followers.

In this July issue, World Mission magazine explores the global migration phenomenon. People flee criminality, poverty, climate change and unemployment. This topic has gained regular attention in the news due to the tragic deaths of countless migrants and refugees who risk their lives crossing treacherous seas in search of a brighter future. Filipino migrants, in particular, send substantial remittances to support their families back home. However, they must endure unimaginable hardships, face exploitation, and experience feelings of loneliness and separation. Similarly, in North and Central America, individuals are compelled to leave their homelands due to violence, natural disasters, and a lack of job opportunities.

Our June issue of World Mission considers what is referred to as the “Church's Best Kept Secret,” the Catholic Social Doctrine. As Fr. Joseph Caramaza puts it in his article, the Social Doctrine of the Church is a treasure that most faithful are unfamiliar with. And yet its moral principles address social, economic and political problems in view of the improvement of the welfare of people. If more widely known, recognized, and applied, the Catholic Social Doctrine can become a tool for social transformation and for advancing God’s Kingdom on earth. 

The April/May issue of World Misssion magazine brings to the fore the theme of the participation of women in the Church. In last year’s Synod of Bishops on Synodality, the issue resurfaced in the discussions with the Synod members recognizing the need to create a Church where men and women dialogue together. Certainly, the topic will be recaptured in the second session of the Synod in October this year.  In this regard, we publish an interview with Filipina theologian Estela Padilla, who participated in the Synod of Bishops on Synodality, where she shares her experiences with the Synod.

The March issue of World Mission magazine presents the main religious activities practiced by Filipino people over the season of Lent, Holy Week and Easter. Writer Michael Delos Reyes discusses briefly some of the traditions where faith and culture intertwine. From the street processions, going through the pabasa and senakulo and ending up with the salubong Catholics participate with great reverence and solemnity manifesting their faith and devotion to Christ and his mother Mary. The various traditions reflect the deeply rooted and cultural significance of Holy Week and Easter in the Philippines. 

The February issue of World Mission focuses on the great sub-continent of India, the world’s largest democracy. It starts by asking the question of whether India can be regarded as a super-power on the world stage thanks to its impressive development. However, its human rights record and religious freedom are at their lowest since the Bharatiya Janata Party took the reins of power. According to Jesuit priest and activist Fr. Cedric Prakash, Christians, and religious minorities are at the mercy of an ideology that is inspired by Nazism, fascism, and apartheid. 

Our January issue of 2024 covers a topic so dear to Filipino people: the Santo Niño. The image of Santo Niño de Cebu was one of the gifts of Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese Navigator who arrived in the Philippine Islands in 1521, to the ruler of Cebu and his chief consort for their Baptism. The small statue of the infant Jesus, dressed up as king, has such an iconic and historic value in so far as it functioned as a catalyst for the evangelization of the Philippines. Ever since the Santo Niño has marked the soul of Filipinos and shaped them to be a Catholic nation. 

The front cover of this December issue features the statue of Our Lady of La Vang from Vietnam. The Special of the current issue of World Mission discusses how devotees from other faiths, such as Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, venerate the Mother of God, especially in Asia.  For instance, in Singapore, Muslim and Hindu devotees bring their petitions to Mary. In Taoism, in the Origin of Self theory, Mary appears as the one who meditated things in her heart, gave birth to a higher being, and did not die like us. In India, Hindu devotees go to Our Lady of Velankanni to pray and make vows. 

The Special of the November issue of World Mission comprises three texts devoted to the short-lived and yet extraordinary life of the young Carlo Acutis, recently declared blessed by Pope Francis. Carlo Acutis’ closeness with Jesus through the Blessed Eucharist, his use of digital means for evangelization, and his jovial spirit in the face of the acute illness which led to his early death makes him an icon for Christians. In an interview, the mother of Blessed Carlo testifies to the “extraordinary ordinary life” of her son whose testimony of life led to her conversion. He is a saint for this age and a source of inspiration for young and old alike. 

The October issue of World Mission magazine is about evangelization. Evangelization consists in the proclamation and handing on of the Gospel of Jesus. To carry out the mission of evangelization, we need a strategy. Bishop Robert Barron in the first article of the special gives us some simple and practical strategies for evangelization. Father Joseph Caramazza, in his article, presents St. Paul of Tarsus as a missionary who reached out to all to promote change and as an evangelizer who preached the Gospel. Fr. James Kroeger in the last article of the special, recalls the 500 years of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.    

The September issue of World Mission magazine is dedicated to creation. Our relationship with creation provides us with a lot of benefits among which are mental and physical health. How can we turn to creation and benefit from its healing power? That is the main topic of the first article of the Special. The second article of the Special is about how seaweed can be used to fight global warming. The third article of the Special is a call for responsible usage of water as a step towards safeguarding humanity. The World Mission magazine editorial team and collaborators wish you a happy reading!     

The August issue of World Mission magazine highlights the theme of sexual abuse of minors in society and in the Church. In our three-article Special, we pinpoint the various facets of the problem, namely, the internet as a tool of exploitation of children, abuse of children perpetrated by close relatives and members of the clergy who have sexually mistreated minors. All abusers and enablers of sexual crimes against children should be held accountable and face justice. In particular, the clergy, as men of God, who have practiced these abuses should be penalized and incur the penalties of canon and civil.

The July issue of World Mission reflects on a crucial issue for humanity: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robots. The technology is already in our midst, promising to revolutionize societies, economies, and human behaviors. The potential and benefits it brings are there for everyone to see and experiment, especially in the field of medicine. However, the risks are enormous. Leading experts on AI are warning of threats it poses to the survival of the human race. They advocate that it should be taken on par with the climate change and nuclear weapons menaces.  

In this June issue of World Mission, we look at Pope Francis’ 10 years pontificate. Elected on March 13, 2013, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was coming “from the ends of the world” as he called his native Argentina. Pope Francis presented a new style of being pontific right from the start.  In the three-article “Special” devoted to Francis’ decade as pope, we highlight the reformist agenda he ushered in to the Church. Pope Francis believes the Church must both remain faithful to the Gospel and embrace radical reform if it is to fulfill its mission of evangelizing the world. 

This double issue of April/May of World Mission features the newly signed “provisional agreement” between the Vatican and China concerning the nomination of Chinese bishops. It has not been an easy ride for the Church in China. Christians in general and Catholics in particular, have been struggling with an ever-more authoritarian government cracking down on the activities of the Church and her pastors. The Pope is well aware of these difficulties; nevertheless, he wishes to continue along the path of dialogue hoping for better results for the good of the Church in China in a not long distant future.  

In this issue for March, in which we celebrate the Lenten season, World Mission focuses on the theme of spiritual discernment as a tool of growth in Christian life. The Lenten season we are living right now as Church community is an opportune time to reflect on our lives. The method of discernment is a traditional discipline to make us more aware of God’s presence in our lives. In an article for this issue, Jesuit Ramon Bautista explains how “The Examen” is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence, and discern His direction for us. 

In this month of January of the New Year 2023, World Mission offers two articles by Archbishop Menamparampil of India on how peacemakers must work hard at knowing the diverse causes of conflicts so as to eliminate them and thus eradicate violence. This is a lifetime struggle that demands self-abasement. The teachings of every religion on reciprocity and fraternity can have a decisive contribution to peace in an age of merciless completion and cultivation of self-interests. In an interview, Archbishop Menamparampil speaks of his lifelong commitment to peacebuilding in the troubled region of Northeast India. 

In this December issue we bring out two inspirational reflections about the “three comings of Christ.” Advent is the season when we prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas. Christ comes in three ways: He came in the past, He does come right now and He will come in the future. A third meditation draws spiritual insights from admiring the charming miniature Nativity scenes which trigger sentiments of solidarity and prayer for peace, reconciliation and justice in our broken world. As we celebrate Christmas this year, may the signs and symbols around us invite us to rejoice with grateful hearts. 

The November issue of World Mission brings to the fore the theme of online games amongst young people. Online gaming has shown to have a variety of advantageous consequences. It allows gathering in groups, either virtually or real-life. Nonetheless, virtual interaction with others oftentimes becomes more important than real-life relationships which can lead to gaming disorders. Parents should try to achieve a balance between tech time and games in their homes and find creative ways for their children to balance tech and outdoor activities.

In the October issue, World Mission magazine features a Filipino Comboni missionary in South Africa, who is developing his painting skills and engaging in social media platforms to announce God’s love for humanity. “I use the artworks to express my own faith and my life as a missionary, abstract as they may be,” he says. Art conveys the intangible stories of our faith; therefore, it is an effective means of teaching and enhancing devotions and prayers. 

The September issue of World Mission features the care of the environment and creation in harmony with the Season of Creation that runs from September 1 to October 4. This is an initiative spearheaded and promoted by Christian Churches worldwide, including the Orthodox as well as the Catholics. Under the theme “Listen to the voice of creation,” this year’s Season of Creation invites us to listen to the songs of praise to our Creator, and to the distressing voices lamenting the abuses committed against our common home.  

The August issue of World Mission features the prospects of a return to in-person classes after nearly a three-year closure of schools because of COVID-19 which had devastating repercussions on education. After facing countless challenges with a hybrid model of face-to-face and distant learning, the Philippines will resume in-person learning this school year. Students, teachers, and parents must be fully prepared for new adjustments. 

The July issue of World Mission focuses on the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the distribution of food supplies and the increase in the cost of basic commodities worldwide. By interrupting the supply chain of grain and fertilizers for agriculture, the war is creating a global food crisis for hundreds of millions of people. Prices of fuel, bread, and gas have gone up, affecting the budgets of families and individuals who are having a hard time making ends meet. The poorest countries that depend on wheat produced by Ukraine and Russia to feed their populations are more at risk. 

The June issue of Word Mission reflects on the economic as well as social inequalities that impair our world today.  This disparity causes harm to us all, especially to the poor. Christian Tradition has denounced unequivocally this unfair status quo. A Christian outlook on economics focuses on the dignity of the human person made in the image of God. It proposes solidarity, fair wages and a just redistribution of the material resources so that no one may lack the basic conditions to lead a dignified life. No one should live in poverty nor should there exist accumulation of unimaginable wealth in the hands of a few billionaires. 

The double issue April/May offers its readers the synthesis of an original research into the archives of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, in Portugal, of the thousands of letters addressed to the Virgin Mary. The messages reveal a profound and familiar relationship the believers have with Our Lady. From Portugal to Asia, from Ireland to the USA, from Latin America to Africa, people from all walks of life address the Heavenly Mother as “dearest mother,” “good mother,” and “dear mama.” In the letters, the devotees fervently beg for peace in the world, request health and wellbeing for their relatives and even confess crimes they have committed. 

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World Mission Philippines - February 2023

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