this month inside World Mission


Vol. XVIII × No. 3

MARCH 2006

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VOCATION
Teresa of Calcutta
The call of a cry

-Interview by Jose Rebelo

God speaks to us in many different ways. If we look into our lives, we will discover that there are many signs which will bring us to our mission in life: people, books, events, sickness, failure, almost anything can lead us to a new path. Just a cry for help was enough to make Mother Teresa find hers. Read

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This Month inside World Mission

CHINA - AFRICA

Ties grow and tip global balance

Beijing imports oil, metals and agricultural products, too. It makes funds available and exports merchandise, manpower and technical expertise. Political ties are intense, even in the face of opposition from Europe and the US. More than 700 Chinese companies are at work in 49 African countries. The global balance is shaking.

FILIPINO FOCUS

Migration of Muslims Spurs Inter-religious Dialogue

In the Philippines, there are 1.6 million Muslims in the capital region alone. In this "Catholic" city, an inter-faith movement is trying to spur an inter-religious dialogue. The goal is to fight intolerance and promote cooperation and unity in Muslim-Christian communities.

WM SPECIAL

Desertification Land Impoverishment

ANA GLORIA LUCAS Journalist

The United Nations has declared 2006 as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. The phenomenon, which affects more than one billion human beings, is "one of the most striking forms of environment degradation." Moreover, it is also a poverty factor.

FIRST ASIAN MISSION CONGRESS

Points of Departure

-Msgr. Gilbert A. Garcera National Director, Pontifical Mission Societies Executive Secretary, Episcopal Commission on Mission (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines)

Migrant remittances worldwide exceeded $232 billion in 2005. Of this, developing countries received $167 billion, more than twice the level of development aid from all sources. Philippines stands in the “Top 5,” with $11.6 billion. According to a World Bank’s report, the money sent back home will rise in the coming years which can be an important tool in helping poor nations to develop. But there is also a dark side to the trend.

SOCIETY

BANGLADESH

A hut by the railway station

- By Fr. Bob McCahill
Maryknoll missionary in Bangladesh

At the beginning of my stay in Gaibandha, ten persons offered to let me build a hut on their land. One of them, Sohel, welcomed me with the understanding that I need not pay rent: the only reward will be to share in the blessings Allah bestows on me for helping the disabled. Thus, have I settled just across the tracks from the railway station.

TODAY

CAIRO

FRATERNITY AMONG THE GARBAGE

Mansheya is one of the poorest neighborhoods of Cairo, the capital city of Egypt. Here, a Comboni Missionary has started a project for the zabbaleen, the people who live out of gathering and recycling garbage. His initiative goes beyond the diversity of religious beliefs. He unites Christians and Muslims.