March-April 2011

By Ivan Da Costa Pinheiro

The email below came from Ivan Da Costa Pinheiro. (The Portuguese 'nh' is the equivalent of the Spanish ‘ñ’ and is pronounced the same way. Timor-Leste was a colony of Portugal before). Timor-Leste is now the most Catholic country in Asia, with 93.20% of its population of 767,000 being members of the Church. 81.30% of the more than 90 million people of the Philippines are Catholics. In terms of numbers the Philippines has the most Catholics of any country in Asia and the third highest in the world, behind Brazil and Mexico.

Ivan Da Costa Pinheiro

Hi! I'm from Timor-Leste or East Timor. I'm studying in Manila right now. I came to know Misyon through an Irish priest, Columban Father John Keenan, a chaplain in Centro Escolar University where I was studying at the time. He introduced me to the magazine after a Mass in the chapel. At first, I felt reluctant to accept it because I had not gone through the other book that I had borrowed from the chapel. However, when I read the magazine, I found it inspiring and felt the same way as with the other book. They were inspiring, giving hope of life, answering my doubts, strengthening my faith and reminding me not to plunge into the pleasures of the earthly life.

Path Of Peace

Peace is an easy path to tread
Peace is where our fears are mislaid
Peace is beginning to restore
Peace for each man, woman and child
Peace for the troubled streets gone wild
Peace is for the old and the young
Peace in the end will overcome
Peace builds trust into a lifestyle
Peace is a friendly open hand
Peace is a place to understand
Peace in the end will overcome
Peace is for the old and the young
Peace is a legacy to leave
Peace is when we don't have to grieve
Peace is an end to all the hate
Peace is why we negotiate
Peace for all the victims of war

Paul McCann (Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, 10 March 1956; has lived in Australia for many years.) Source of poem.

By Nardelita ‘Nards’ Manangan

The author, from Bacolod City, is Coordinator of the Center for Integrated Faith Formation (CIFF), a project of the Catechetical Center of Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod.

Ten years ago I planned to go to Rome and Malta to see my two nun sisters, Marline and Gilda, Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Hearts, to see what life was like for them. Being their elder sister, I was like their second mother.

The author with Mother Flora Zippo

By Maira San Juan

On 10 August Maira renewed her commitment as a Columban Lay Missionary (photo) and has since returned to Korea.

1. When I said ‘Yes’ to the mission, I agreed to be an instrument of God’s love to His people. This is easy to say but not easy to live by. When insecurities arrived at my doorstep, I was confused and started to ask myself ‘Why am I here in mission?’ Then when compliments sat on my lap and I became comfortable with their presence. I started to think ‘I can do many things by myself’. When familiarity and accomplishments touched my shoulders I started to feel ‘I’m more blessed than others’. When the word ‘missionary’ came into my head I started to think ‘I’m much better than the other people I’m journeying with’. And when I started to put many expectations on myself I sometimes forgot the reason why I said ‘Yes’.

Maira San Juan