Feature Story

To mark the Jubilee Year and celebrate the election of a new pope, the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in Singapore has added a Jubilee Cross, a Jubilee Logo, and a banner to its structure.

Artemio B. Manuben, a Filipino member of the Third Order of St. Francis (OFS), walks daily through cramped villages in Manila, past topless, tattooed, and tough-looking men smoking on the streets. Clad in the brown habit of the Franciscans, he pushes a cart filled with a Bible, candies, and food to teach vatechism to young people involved in drugs, pickpocketing, snatching, and other crimes.

Looking back on my pilgrimage over the years, I see a journey of grace, though once lost in darkness for over a decade, I was never without a guiding light. That light, ever present, led me forward.

Bramie T. Tayactac, a laywoman from the Diocese of Parañaque in the Philippines, has led many non-Catholics to the faith through her years of teaching catechism. Among her converts is a forty-something former member of a Protestant church.

The Holy Family Sisters, a women religious order in India, celebrated their 90th Foundation Day on June 16th, on the theme “Seeds of Grace Resonating Hope.”

West Papua, one of the world’s most resource-rich and culturally diverse regions, continues to endure decades of political repression, economic exploitation, and cultural erasure under Indonesian control.

From the lush and culturally rich province of Palawan, hailed as one of the most beautiful islands in the world, emerges an inspiring story of resilience, faith, and identity. Merlisa Alnaan Buntang, a proud member of the Palaw’an Indigenous community in Ransang, Rizal, Palawan, Philippines, overcame discrimination and adversity to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher.

Indigenous Mangyan Marcelino Pedro, 91, walked down the mountain early in the morning, “excited and feeling safe to exercise his right,” as he cast his vote at a school in Baco town during the recent mid-term elections for national and local leaders.

Among them, the Honorable Anton Parao of Pina Parish, Catholic Diocese of Wabag, stands out as a pioneering figure whose integrity, foresight, and unwavering dedication helped shape the nation’s democratic foundations.

As one catechist from Yaramanda LKK in Wabag Diocese said, "We may not know books, but we know prayer and we know our God. In the Prayer House, we gain strength."

Fr. Khim J. Caermare is the founder and spiritual director of the Ministry with the Deaf in the Diocese of Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte. He studied theology at the University of Sto. Tomas (2021), Filipino Sign Language at De La Salle College of St. Benilde in 2019, MA in Pastoral Ministry at Ateneo de Manila University (2018), and AB in Philosophy at St. Vincent College Inc. (2013). He was ordained on May 25, 2022. RVA News met him to find out more about his ministry.

Anna Etapae motto remains simple but powerful: “If God gives you knowledge, use it to build bridges, not walls.”

SK JV Galigao, a youth leader from Mindoro island, despite being tired from a weeklong mission that culminated in a civilian-led “Concert at Sea for Peace and Solidarity” by the Atin Ito Coalition last week of May month, is grateful for experiencing the plight of fishers and a deeper understanding of asserting sovereignty through peaceful and creative means at the West Philippine Sea.

“When Yainanda returns, our forests will sing again, our rivers will run sweet again,” says Tultul Arnold Etapae. “He is more than stone — he is our breath.”

In the remote highland heartland of Papua New Guinea, the ancient village of Yarra Mander stands as a symbol of cultural resilience and sacred continuity.

Face of the Faceless, a 2023 feature film about the life of Sister Rani Maria, has garnered 100 international awards.

Pope Leo's Gospel-centered approach insists that technology must serve humanity, not the reverse.

Oral histories and emerging archaeological perspectives trace their roots back an astounding 75,000 years, making them more than just custodians of the land. They are a living link to humanity’s deep past.

In the mist-veiled mountains of Enga Province, far removed from the bustle of modern cities, lies the ancient land of Yampu—sacred to the Malipin Angalean Yaramanda people.

The Daughters of the Sacred Heart sisters doing ministry in the Philippines are all foreigners, hailing from Malta, India, Kenya, and Vietnam.