(January 13, 2026, marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Fr. Franz-Josef Eilers, SVD, a priest, scholar, and missionary whose work transformed the Church’s approach to communication. A pioneer in human and social communication, Fr. Eilers helped shape the Church’s vision first articulated in the Second Vatican Council’s Inter Mirifica (1963). He served as Executive Secretary of the FABC Office of Social Communication and as Consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, while his books became essential references in missiology, intercultural communication, and communication theology across Asia. On this anniversary, two fellow SVD missionaries and a Filipino lay journalist reflect on the profound personal and ecclesial impact of Fr. Eilers’ life and work.)
