It was a grace-filled and joyful celebration at the St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier Theological House of Formation at Metro Manila as Innocent Letasi Phiri and Nathan Symon were solemnly installed as Lectors during Holy Mass on March 05. The Eucharistic celebration was presided by Fr Manuel Hernandez and Concelebrated by Fr Alejandro Campón.

The rite marked an important step in their formation and vocation, as the ministry of lector calls them to faithfully proclaim Sacred Scripture and to deepen their love for the Word they share with God’s people. Through prayer, formation and service, they are entrusted with helping the faithful encounter Christ through the Scriptures.

May Innocent and Nathan remain faithful to the Word they proclaim, allowing it to shape their hearts and lead them ever closer to Christ as they continue their path of formation and service to the Church. Let us keep them in our prayers as they grow in their vocation and commitment to the mission of the Gospel.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Joel Jeremiah

Junior Apprentice

Metro Manila [Philippines]

Yesterday, we joyfully celebrated the anniversary of our beloved founder, Fr. Francisco (Paco) Andreo, with prayer, remembrance, deep gratitude and a shared community spirit.

The celebration began with the blessing of Paco’s grave, a solemn and touching moment that invited us to reflect on his life and vision, and the legacy he left behind. Following the blessing, an avocado tree was planted at the graveyard site to symbolize life, growth, nourishment, continuity and turning Turkana into a garden. This is a living reminder that the seeds Paco planted through his mission continue to grow and bear fruit in the lives of many.

The day continued with a beautiful mass presided by Fr. Victor Otieno. It was both uplifting and reflective, centred on thanksgiving for the gift of our founder’s life and the enduring impact of his work. The church was filled with children, youth, men and women who came together to celebrate the life of our founder.

In his homily, Deacon Stephen Iyerio, echoing the words from the Letter of James, exhorted us to “find joy in our trials” because endurance in the midst of our trials produces perseverance, and perseverance leads to steadfast faith. Trials are not obstacles to our growth, rather the engine for our growth. God uses the heat of life to burn away the superficial and make us rooted in truth and wisdom.

The MCSPA members present in many countries are living examples of endurance in the face of many trials and challenges who, through perseverance in their faith, are held together and are able to continue their work around the world. This is a habit that Paco instilled in us.

A particularly touching moment during the Mass came when Dr. Ana Mañas, Paco’s oncologist, shared a moving account of her first meeting with Paco as a new patient. He told her that he was a missionary and that being in Africa makes him feel better, and so wished to return back to Kenya to die and be buried behind a beautiful Church.

Through all these memories, we were reminded not only of Paco’s role as a true shepherd but also of his missionary work and compassion.

After the mass, we distributed bread and juice to the children, continuing our founder’s tradition of caring for the children and the most vulnerable. The smiles and joy shared during this time reflected the true spirit of the celebration.

The day concluded with a wonderful lunch shared among the members, apprentices and visitors. It was a time of fellowship, unity, laughter and strengthening the bonds within our community and to welcome those who joined us in commemorating this special day.

May we continue Paco’s legacy and inspire more young men and women to follow Christ.

By Agostinho Barros de Deus

Senior Apprentice,

Nariokotome Mission [Kenya]

And Maggy Gitau

Senior Apprentice,

Kokuselei Mission [Kenya]

Today at Muketuri, we celebrated the 13th anniversary of the passing of our dear Paco.

We gathered at the Holy Family Ecumenical Chapel with the youth, women and children from different faiths to remember and celebrate the life of the Founder of MCSPA, Fr. Francisco “Paco” Andreo.

We began with the Liturgy of the Word, led by Blanca and followed by Esther, who shared a reflection on Paco’s life. She reminded us how Paco guided the members of MCSPA, how he chose a simple life, and how deeply he loved Africa.

After the celebration, we planted a fig tree to mark the day.

Paco always insisted on planting fruit trees and vegetables, so that our surroundings could become like a garden than is able to feed people.

And finally, we shared a meal together with everyone who attended.

May Paco’s life continue to inspire us all!

By Tigist Mekonnen

MCSPA Apprentice

Muketuri Mission [Ethiopia]

On paper:

A person under the age of 18 who, due to their stage of development, needs care, protection, guidance and a safe environment in which to grow up.

And in real life?

In some parts of the world:

the one who has no name until the age of seven years;

the last one to partake of the meals;

the one who is placed to look after the animals, or younger siblings, to do the cooking …

In other parts of the world:

the untouchable, the one who can even report his or her parents to the police … the other end of the pendulum.

The dignity with which a child grows up often depends on the society and culture into which he or she is born.

Training in child protection allows us, at and in our respective missions, to transform this pendulum into a culture with concrete expressions of love, justice and respect for human dignity.

Our starting point is in deeply human, local values and practices, such as community upbringing, the sense of the extended family, or the constant skin-to-skin contact, which give African children a strength and a unique sense of belonging, to address other unconscious issues, taboos and normalized practices that, due to ignorance or tradition, can put their integrity at risk.

Training in child protection does not mean imposing external models or mistrusting families and communities, rather it means looking at them with greater awareness. It means also learning to distinguish between tradition and harm, authority and abuse, correction and violence. It means equipping ourselves with the necessary tools to prevent, detect and act when a child is not being protected as he or she should be.

At MCSPA, protecting children is a shared responsibility. Training ourselves in this area is the first step as the way we care for and educate today will build the humanity of tomorrow.

By Maria Vidal – Aragón

MCSPA Apprentice

Mizan Teferi Mission

[Ethiopia]

On 14 January, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Paderborn (Germany), Most Rev. Matthias König, together with a group of five others, visited our mission at Muketuri, Ethiopia. The visit was a grace-filled encounter that has strengthened faith, hope and missionary commitment. Bishop Matthias’ visit was a great encouragement to both the members of MCSPA and the community whom we serve.

Bishop Matthias visited the St. Joseph Child and Mother Centre with its teachers, cooks, and workers together with the 400 kindergarten students. The students sang songs of welcome and proudly showed the visitors their handiwork. The group also met mothers and their underweight babies enrolled in the program, and they spent time in the Special Education classroom, listening attentively to the stories of the baby-sitters and 15 children living with disabilities. The words of comfort from the visitors were much appreciated.

Bishop Matthias expressed deep gratitude for the missionaries’ dedicated service to the most vulnerable and for the compassion shown in their daily outreach of serving others.

At the Eucharistic celebration, Bishop Matthias also encouraged the MCSPA members to live with missionary zeal and prayed for the people of the area. After the Mass, which was celebrated at the Holy Family Ecumenical Chapel, Bishop Matthias blessed the special-needs children one by one. It was a very meaningful moment of sharing in the suffering of special-needs persons and their families, often deeply marginalised in society.

The visitors also visited one of the community dining rooms in a village called Jebene, 23 km far from Muketuri where they saw people fetching clean water from the taps of a drilled well, the community vegetable garden and the dining room, where daily efforts to provide nourishment and care to 60 children were evident.

The visit concluded with lunch at the MCSPA house at Muketuri – “Bete Mariam” or House of Mary. We were all filled with renewed inspiration and gratitude. The visit reminded us of the call to serve with love, unity and perseverance in mission and reinforced the long commitment between the Archdiocese of Paderborn and the MCSPA.

Esther Kerubo

Muketuri Mission

[Ethiopia]

For more than 35 years, the Mission of Nariokotome has served the people of Turkana through essential projects such as drilling boreholes, digging dams, building schools and health centers, and supporting women’s empowerment programs. These efforts have been vital in responding to the daily challenges of life in a remote and difficult region.

Beyond these fundamental efforts, something quieter and perhaps less visible is taking place next to the mechanic workshop at Nariokotome: a carpentry workshop where furniture for churches, homes, and mission projects is made. What makes this workshop unique is its focus on wood carving. Here, craftsmanship goes beyond function and becomes an expression of care and creativity.

Two local men from Turkana were trained by an experienced wood-carver from Tanzania. Under his guidance, they developed their skills and now create beautifully-carved doors for churches and chapels, finely crafted benches, and pieces commissioned by the diocese.

This work reflects the vision of Fr. Paco, the founder of the community, who often said that building a dam with love is different from building one without love. The same is true for a door or a table. Carving is not just about producing an object, but about infusing it with intention, patience and care.

Missionary life in remote areas is often focussed on survival and utility. When art finds its place, it is a sign that the mission is thriving and making room for aesthetics. At the Nariokotome carpentry workshop, love is carved into every piece of work. And through this beauty, hearts are lifted and drawn closer to God.

Amanda Falgas

MCSPA Apprentice

Mizan Teferi [Ethiopia]

“Hello, what is your name?”

“Maria”

A grin from ear to ear: “Just like the one we are celebrating today!”

This was my welcoming greeting in Kangatem, a refugee camp for the Murle tribe of South Sudan – December 25, 2025.

It is Christmas! Joy is in the air: drums are beating, children are vibrating with excitement, women are dancing, and men are singing. The sun is scorching, and the vivid colors of the fabrics—and of the bodies scarred by war—tell stories through their gazes…

Years have passed since the last time they were able to celebrate Christmas. Threatened by bloody riots first in South Sudan and then in Gambela (Ethiopia), they “lived” trapped, hidden, and paralyzed by fear in the camp established by the government in Gambela.

In the midst of such darkness, the flame of their faith shone brightly; it grew every day as they prayed to God to liberate their people.

Until, as they tell it, He answered!

He led them to a safe area in the Omo Valley, 70 km from our Prince of Peace mission in Nyangatom.

Ángel celebrated the Christmas Mass and shared with us that the light of the Baby Jesus—who became flesh to share in our pain—would always be with us in our hearts. He reminded us that whenever we feel alone, lost, or afraid, we should look for that light.

The love and respect with which they took Communion is beyond words.

We sang, we gave thanks, we prayed, we smiled, and we shared bread and goat meat. Peace, faith, and ecumenism were the themes of the day during our conversations with the elders. It was a dialogue of hope that brings this year of pilgrimage to a triumphant close.

As long as there is a heart thirsty for peace, there will be hope—and that day in Kangatem, more than 2,000 hearts were beating in flames.

Maria Vidal-Aragon

MCSPA Junior Apprentice

Mizan Teferi [Ethiopia]

Today, at Ave Maria Catholic Mission in South Sudan, love truly filled the air as the Church celebrated the Feast of the Holy Family in a deeply moving and life-giving way. The Family Life Group, in Ave Maria and St Thomas parishes concluded a two-day workshop under the theme: “Marriage: God’s Design for Love, Friendship and Life.”

It was not simply a workshop, it was a pilgrimage of hearts. Over the two days, couples were gently led back to the heart of Christian marriage, as taught by the Catholic Church. Marriage is a sacrament, a covenant and a vocation rooted in God’s own faithful love. Through rich teachings, couples reflected on marriage as a journey of companionship, sacrifice, forgiveness and shared mission. Special emphasis was placed on rekindling love, nurturing friendship between spouses and rediscovering joy even after years of shared struggles.

One of the most touching moments was listening to couples share their love stories: simple, honest, and deeply African in spirit. Stories of long walks, patient waiting, family negotiations, prayers under the stars, and love tested by hardship reminded everyone that true love grows not in haste, but in commitment.

Recognising that love also carries wounds, the workshop courageously addressed trauma healing and mental health, affirming the Church’s teaching that caring for the soul includes caring for the mind and emotions. Couples were encouraged to heal together, to speak, to listen and to walk the journey of restoration, hand in hand.

The climax of the celebration was nothing short of sacred and joyful. One couple received the Sacrament of Matrimony, sealing their love before God and the community. Ten couples celebrated their Silver Jubilee, giving thanks for 25 years of faithfulness, perseverance, and grace. Thirty four couples renewed their marriage promises, standing once again before God to say “Yes”, not because life was perfect, but because love had endured.

Today at Ave Maria Catholic Mission, the Church did not only speak about marriage, it celebrated it, healed it and renewed it. Love was in the air, faith was in action, and God’s design for family life shone brightly among His people.

By Ben Maketa

MCSPA Apprentice

Ave Maria Mission [South Sudan]

Much was prepared for Christmas Day, both spiritually and materially, with decorations, choir, food and dance activities. It was a great gathering of parishioners from different outstations for a warm and communal celebration of Christmas.

When the clock struck 7:00 pm, the celebration of Mass began. The Mass was presided over by Fr. Steven Ochieng, assisted by Fr. Fernando Aguirre as con-celebrant and Deacon Dominic as the serving deacon. The joy of the night swelled with the welcoming of catechumens who received their First Holy Communion and Baptism. This signified the growth of the Church and the living witness of the Gospel.

Christmas is not only about having the best dishes or dancing to sweet melodies; it is about remembering the birthday of Jesus Christ, who was born for us. As the Deacon emphasised in his homily, the meaning of Christmas lies in the very heart of our faith in the mystery of the Incarnation, God-made-flesh dwelt among us. It is a time to renew our love for one another, to forgive, and to share with the poor and needy, just as Christ shared His love with the world.

Mass concluded with the Christmas dance, a beautiful chaos of devotion and order as parishioners expressed their joy before the altar.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

By Louis Mkweza

MCSPA Apprentice,

Benga Mission [Malawi]

Furrows in the Desert (FID) held its 23rd graduation ceremony on 11 December 2025 at the FID Training Centre Hall, marking another important milestone in strengthening agricultural skills and food security in North Turkana.

The event was well attended by the Lobur community, demonstrating strong local support and ownership of the programme. Distinguished guests included Sister Joy, the Guest of Honour, and Father Joseph, Parish Priest and MCSPA representative, alongside community members.

During the ceremony, FID management congratulated the graduates for their dedication and encouraged them to apply the skills acquired to improve food production, household income, and nutrition within their communities. Appreciation was also extended to all donors and benefactors, with special recognition given to MCSPA for its continued support.

All trainees were awarded certificates of completion, and the community presented gifts to the graduates in celebration of their achievements.

FID reaffirmed its commitment to empowering local farmers, strengthening food security, and transforming livelihoods across North Turkana through sustainable agricultural development.

By Maque Falgas

MCSPA Secular Branch

Lobur Mission [Kenya]