The new and the old editor on the latter’s most recent birthday

Your editor took over from the late Fr Niall O’Brien, the founding editor of MISYON, as it then was, a printed magazine, on 1 October 2002. However, the last issue that came out under Father Niall’s editorship was that of January-February 2003. In those days each issue was planned out well in advance and sent to the printers long before the date of publication.

March-April 2008 was the last printed issue of MISYON. Now it is MISYONonline.com and while deadlines still have to be met they are not quite as urgent as they used to be. That is what the current editor says, anyway, as he edits his final issue.

The new editor, Ms Arlenne Villahermosa, who takes over in June, is from Talisay City, Cebu, and joined the Columban Lay Missionaries in 2001. She went to Korea the following year and since then has served also in the Philippines and in Myanmar. She brings to her new job a wide experience of involvement in the mission of the Church, not only as a Columban Lay Missionary but also in the Archdiocese of Cebu. She brings too her experience of working in a bank and of teaching in the University of San Carlos, Cebu City.

Mary Joy Rile and Anne B. Gubuan

Mrs Anne B. Gubuan, the assistant editor of MISYONonline.com, will also be leaving after nineteen years of service. Ms Mary Joy Rile, the editorial assistant, will continue on the editorial staff as the office moves to Manila. Anne has brought continuity, dedication and creativity to the magazine and, as she helped the current editor when he was new to the job, she has been helping Arlenne to prepare to take over. Joy will bring to Manila her wide knowledge of how the internet works, her insights as a teacher and her faith commitment.

The whole purpose of MISYONonline.com is to further the mission given by Jesus to the Church: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’ (Matthew 28:19). From its very beginnings a century ago the Missionary Society of St Columban has seen the importance of magazines where Columbans tell their stories of bringing the Gospel to the ends of the earth and stories of people accepting and living out the Good News of Jesus Christ, often heroically and in extremely difficult situations.

As Pope Francis frequently requests for himself, please pray for the editorial staff, with gratitude for the many blessings received from God since 1988 and for the many blessings that will be given in the years ahead.