In the USA the Columbans have established the Columban Affiliates program. The executive director is Ariel A. Presbitero from Sta Ursula Parish, Binangonan, Rizal, who worked as a Columban lay missionary in Brazil and Peru. The Columbans worked in Ariel’s parish for many years. His email address is ariel15brasil@yahoo.com (please note the‘s’ in ‘Brasil) . Many Catholics want to answer God’s call for them to become missionaries, but don’t see themselves making a life-long commitment to overseas cross-cultural missionary work. You can learn more about the Columban Affiliates atwww.columban.org/content/view/257/1.

Below are the stories of two women from the Philippines who work in Los Angeles and who see their professional work as an expression of their being missionaries.

A Call to Care for the Elderly

Mindy Miñoza is a Columban Affiliate in Los Angeles who works full time as a caregiver to elderly patients. Mindy is from San Antonio Village, Cebu City, and has been involved with the Columban Affiliates program since December 2006, participating in Christmas caroling, the Affiliates’ ‘Dancing for the World’ event and other Affiliates’ activities. She also assists Columban Father Peter Kenny in promoting Columban Mission magazine in the Los Angeles area.