Past Magazine Stories

When I was younger, people often noticed my hands. Some would remark that they were smooth, unmarked, even beautiful. Others assumed that perhaps I did not help with…

It had been a long time coming. After about thirteen years of active fund-raising, planning, prayer, and hope, the new church of St. Mary’s in Fontana, California, was…

In the “Kingdom” at 94, I am a senior citizen. Sometimes I have an experience like this: I see something that triggers images of an event or of a person from long ago. Do…

During a mission in the Narulang community of Barra in Misamis Oriental, Mindanao, I met many people, especially women, who face various problems and hardships. Many…

I live in a neighborhood where migrants and asylum seekers dwell side by side. One section has already been vacated due to redevelopment, and all access routes have been…

Before entering the seminary, I was interested in studying architecture. And I still enjoy looking at buildings. I think that the first step in doing a painting is…

Ciudad Juarez, located on the U.S.-Mexico border across from El Paso, Texas, has become one of the most significant transit points for migrants attempting to enter the…

Faith traditions are living streams, handed down from generation to generation, shaping not only what people believe but also how they live, hope, and love.

My encounter with patients during a visitation helped me reflect on my relationship with God as I look at my own journey as a person of faith and a Columban missionary. It…

Greetings once again to all who are reading this magazine. As I reflect, what comes to mind is the picture of an ancient couple that I visited in their home in a run-down…

For several months, Columban Fr. Alvaro Martínez has lived in El Paso, Texas, and has had the opportunity to learn about the missionary work that the Columbans carry out…

I live in the center of Yokohama, Japan, a city of 3.8 million. I am surrounded by concrete and tall buildings. I see little natural greenery. But on a window shelf in the…