Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Luke 10:38–39
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MISSIONARIES IN IVORY COAST – Africa is Still a Mission Land
It was only in 1895 that the first missionaries from the African Mission Society (SMA) arrived in Ivory Coast. In other words, the Catholic Church, as an organized entity (let’s not forget the first attempts at evangelization carried out by priests who sailed on Portuguese caravels, from the 14th century onward) is relatively young there. Thus, Ivory Coast is still a “mission land,” with an entire hierarchy made up of bishops originating from that country’s diocesan clergy. But, as Bishop Marcelin Yao Kouadio of Daloa and president of the Episcopal Conference of Ivory Coast told the news agency Fides, “we are always open-armed and ready to welcome foreign missionaries from religious congregations (especially women) and institutes of apostolic life.”
15TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (C) – Go and Do the Same Yourself
There are four main characters in today’s Gospel parable: the victim of robbers, the priest, the Levite and the Samaritan. The priest (Hebrew Kohanim) is a direct male-line descendant of Aaron, brother of Moses, who was appointed as the first high priest. The Kohanim were the only ones who could perform sacrificial rituals in the Temple, offer incense and maintain the Menorah (the seven-branched golden lampstand inside the Tabernacle and later, in the Temple). Because of their special functions, they wore distinctive garments and avoided contact with dead bodies which would render them impure. Levites were male descendants of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (whom God renamed Israel). The Levites were not Kohanim but were given tasks to assist in the Temple in various supporting roles. For example, they served as musicians, gatekeepers, and temple officials. Even if they were not Kohanim, the Levites were also considered “holy” and set apart for God’s service.
PILGRIMS OF HOPE IN THE ETERNAL CITY – Local Catholics Travel to Rome in August
António, Ltd, a travel agency that focuses on arranging pilgrimages, is set to organize a second religious expedition to Italy in early August. Last month, the company successfully took a group of 24 pilgrims from Macau and the adjacent Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong to Rome and the Vatican.
YOUNG AND YOUNG-AT-HEART – Youth Groups Visit Nursing Homes
In the latter part of June, Macau’s Diocesan Youth Commission organized visits for two groups of local young people to nursing homes operated by Caritas Macau. The experiences aimed to foster intergenerational dialogue and enhance respect for the elderly.
CATHOLIC MINORITY OF SULAWESI – On the Paths of Dialogue and Mercy
They walk together with the Muslim population along the “paths of dialogue and mercy”. As Catholics, they live in an area of Indonesia where they make up a tiny fringe of society. But this fact does not discourage or frighten them.
SOCIETY’S CARE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE – Caritas and Sands China Tackle Food Insecurity in Macau
Biscuits, rice, vegetable oil, different types of noodles and canned goods. For the fourth consecutive year, Sands China has teamed up with Caritas to fight hunger and food insecurity in Macau. The tourism and leisure enterprise offered the Catholic relief and development agency a total of three thousand food hampers, containing 16 different food items.
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) – The Apostolic Mission
Jesus had many followers who were deeply devoted to Him, abandoning everything to serve Him and to cooperate in the fulfillment of His mission. Oftentimes we give most of our attention to the Twelve Apostles when we speak of Jesus’ first followers. But in today’s Gospel, Jesus sent seventy-two disciples to go forth to all the towns that He would soon visit. Think about that for a moment. Seventy-two is quite a few people. These would not have been casual followers of Jesus. Rather, they clearly were people who were all in and fully committed to Christ. To them, Jesus entrusted the mission of preaching and gave them authority over demons.
DIED IN THE NAME OF FAITH – Centenary of the Beatification of Korean Martyrs
On Saturday July 5 marks the centenary of the Eucharistic liturgy celebrated on July 5, 1925, in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, during which the first Korean martyrs were proclaimed blessed. We are talking about 79 Catholics who suffered martyrdom, ‘in odium fidei’, in the name of their faith during the infamous persecutions of Gihae (1839) and Byeong-o (1846). Among them was the first Korean Catholic priest, Andrew Kim Taegon, who completed his academic training in Macau and later managed to enter Korea as a missionary. However, thirteen months after his ordination, he was put to the sword in 1846, at the age of 26. He is now recognized as the patron saint of the Korean clergy.
THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF SISTER MARIA – Convert, Widow, Mother Of 4 Nuns and a Priest, Takes Perpetual Vows
Sister Maria Zhang Yue Chun made her perpetual vows on May 13,2025 at the convent of the Augustinian Recollects in Vitigudino, Salamanca province, Spain. Her prioress, Sister Berta, said she is “an example” for her community. Born in Shangqiu, Henan province, China, Maria lived without any connection to Catholicism. She was married and took care of her five children. During a serious illness, however, the support provided to her by a community of active Augustinian Recollects opened her eyes to the faith.