Feature Story

Harvest festivals are older than temples and churches. Long before theology was articulated and liturgy formalised, human beings learned to look at the soil, the rain and the grain and to recognise a simple truth: life is received, not manufactured.

Days before Christmas, a 94-year-old man from Puerto Galera passed away quietly at a Church-run home for the elderly. In the days leading to his death, visitors often found him sitting peacefully before the image of the Divine Mercy at Hapag Aruga, absorbed in silent prayer.

Speaking through bare feet, broken roads, and a wounded earth, “U Turn”, stages in just over four minutes what Laudato Si’ dares to hope: that even at the brink, “all is not lost,” because humanity can still choose again.

During the past Christmas season, we, the priests of the parish of Santi Silvestro e Martino in Milan resumed our traditional family visits, suspended for several years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. For many parishioners, the visit of a priest—offering a prayer, a blessing, a smile, and a brief conversation—proved deeply meaningful, even for those who rarely attend Mass or parish activities.

Lakhman Pradhan grew up in a devout Hindu family in Kandhamal, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. His childhood was shaped by daily puja at the family shrine—usually a small altar adorned with images or idols of deities. Worship included offerings of flowers and fruits, incense, oil lamps (diyas), and sacred ash (vibhuti), accompanied by the chanting of mantras such. Evenings were marked by the lighting of lamps and prayers before dinner.

“At my age, when I visit the USA, Canada, or Europe, former students come to meet me and show deep respect. Their love fills my heart. I feel my life as a teacher has truly been fruitful,” said Helen Rozario, the 85-year-old headmistress of St. Patrick’s Grammar School in Magbazar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

For Nevil Alphonso, a Catholic and retired Director of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Goa, southwest India, tending soil and sowing seeds is not merely good agriculture—it is a quiet act of faith, gratitude, and service to God’s creation.

A Filipino prelate has called for financial transparency and integrity in both Church and society, saying, “We cannot keep protesting corruption in government if the same happens within the Church.”

Left-Handed Girl drifts in with the kind of softness that sneaks up on you. It follows Shu-Fen, a young mother trying to stitch together a new life in Taipei with her two daughters.

For more than three decades, Sr. Wilhelma Fanumby, DSY, has quietly devoted her life to educating children with hearing loss in Indonesia—a ministry that has transformed countless lives, often far from public attention.

St. Devasahayam, the first Indian layman martyr, will be formally declared the “Patron of the Indian Laity” on January 14, 2026.

On the fifth death anniversary of Fr. Franz-Josef Eilers, SVD, two fellow SVD missionaries and a Filipino lay journalist reflect on the profound personal and ecclesial impact of Fr. Eilers’ life and work.

In this short reflection, Fr. Kasmir Nema, SVD, a former student of Fr. Eilers and currently the Coordinator for Communications at the SVD Generalate in Rome, shares how Fr. Eilers deeply influenced his life.

Fr. John Mi Shen offers a personal reflection on the life and mission of Fr. Franz-Josef Eilers, SVD, a priest, scholar, and missionary whose life profoundly shaped the Church’s understanding of communication.

“I believe killing time is the murder of creativity,” he says with a quiet smile. “COVID-19 poured time upon us like water off a duck’s back, plenty of it, yet easily wasted.”

Over the years, I have become deeply convinced of one thing: we must be aware of the movement of our hearts. The thoughts and feelings that stir within us are not inconsequential—they reveal the inner direction of our souls. I have come to believe that every good feeling—love, peace, joy, hope—flows from the Spirit of God who dwells within us. But what about those negative feelings that so often disturb the quiet of our hearts—hatred, fear, anxiety, restlessness, or sadness? They surely do not come from God, the source of all goodness. They come from the one who seeks to rob us of peace and distance us from the Father’s tender care.

Standing at the entrance of the city is a memorial monument at Finnemann Plaza in Barangay Calero, dedicated to Bishop Wilhelm, also known as William Finnemann, SVD, the first bishop of Mindoro and a martyr of the Second World War.

In our own lives, are we playing the part of Victor, creating things, relationships, or even versions of ourselves, only to abandon them when they don’t meet our perfect, prideful expectations?

Christmas, also means family reunions, long tables full of food, games with cousins, laughter that lasts late into the night, and gifts that feel magical simply because they are given with love.

Marriage is not a single moment of happiness but a journey that unfolds in stages. Each phase brings its own joys, challenges, and invitations to grow in love. Understanding these stages helps couples respond with maturity, patience, and commitment.