Father Ruffino Ezama, MCCJ, has a way of turning every stranger into a friend. It’s a gift that has made him a beloved figure among the clergy and staff of the Comboni Missionaries in Anderson Township—and far beyond. Born and raised in Arua, Uganda, Father Ruffino’s early life was marked …

“Every Christian is called to be a missionary and witness to Christ.” This prompting by Pope Francis might seem like a tall order in western Ohio, but for Sarah Niekamp, a lifelong member of St. Bernard Church in the St. Henry Family of Parishes, the calling to become a missionary …

“I never intended to be a missionary.” Brother James Bok, OFM, has uttered those words numerous times over the years. As so often happens though, God had other intentions for this Franciscan friar. He returned stateside from Jamaica on Sept. 11, 2024, 16 years to the day after his arrival …

Youth ministry began at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Reading in the fall of 1998, and, soon afterwards, we began seeking opportunities for the compulsory “mission trip.” We didn’t have to look far. At the same time, our Parish Mission Commission was filing the paperwork to recognize a small …

by Ellen Gormley In 2019, St. Xavier High School students served on 12 mission trips around the U.S. and Costa Rica. While COVID-19 led to the cancellation of all 2020 summer mission trips, students and community service director, J.K. Klaiber, continue to innovate in creating service opportunities for students. Students …

by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Oct 16, 2020 / 10:02 am MT (CNA).- Vatican officials invited Catholics to participate in the 2020 World Mission Sunday with increased prayers and financial support, as local Churches around the world continue to face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. World Mission Sunday will …

St. Pope John Paul II was certainly a blessing to our Church and world. His love for God’s people blossomed in the 1970s, joining with workers as a cardinal in Communist-controlled Poland. “Solidarność” or “Solidarity” was the name of the labor union he strongly supported. He educated global supporters to …

by Eileen Connelly, OSU Their faith initially brought Brian and Kathleen DeRouen together as graduate students at the University of Dayton and ultimately let the couple to a hilltop house in West Virginia where all are welcomed with compassion and open arms. Brian originally hails from the San Francisco Bay area; Kathleen …

by Susie Bergman Twinning allows parish communities to connect the commonality of our faith across borders, various ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. These relationships allow parishes from all over the globe to embrace and grow deeper in their understanding of Christ through virtual and in-person development. For more than a decade, …

ARIZONA Sr. Zoe Brenner, SBS Fr. Blane Grein, OSF Sr. Joe Schwab, OFM CALIFORNIA Sr. Carol McDonald, MM Fr. Ken Gerth, MCCJ GEORGIA Br. Jason Muhlenkamp, GHM INDIANA Fr. Nam Quoc Joseph Vu, SVD IOWA Br. Michael Decker, SVD KENTUCKY Sr. Marge Eilerman, OSF Sr. Rosemary Esterkamp, GHMS Sr. Susan …