More than three decades ago, Arturo and Esperanza Monterrubio left their homeland of Mexico to start a new life in the United States. Esperanza had a degree in dentistry, and Arturo planned to obtain a master’s degree in chemical engineering. They arrived in Kingsville, Texas with their children Daniela, Omar and Fátima. The family’s first ref...
Fall 2024
Bridges to Healing International
As a result of cerebral palsy, 8-year-old Gabriela could only get around by dragging herself across the ground. After working with a physical therapist over the last couple of months, Gabriela is up and walking for the first time in her life. Her smile as she moves independently is so beautiful! Gabriela is cared for at St. Justin’s Centre in Mus...
Being There: A Brother in Mission
ShareTweet it!LinkedinEmailPrint Ryan Thibert entered the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers formation program at age 29. Born in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, he has a twin brother and an older sister. His parents, Rox-Ann and Larry, and his parish, All Saints in Strathroy, Ontario, fostered his vocation. After taking his perpetual oath on May 31, 20...
The Trauma of Memory in Chile
As I took my seat on line 1 of the metro in Santiago, Chile, where I serve in mission, my mind wandered through the myriad activities of the past year. Music, poetry and theatre events commemorated the anniversary of a very sad time in Chile’s history. Last year marked 50 years since a violent military coup led by Augusto Pinochet installed a dic...
Challenging Assumptions in Bolivia
At 14, Jhon Alex Muñoz is the size of a 7-year-old. He tires easily, has difficulty walking and cannot fully control his arms and hands. No school exists for his special needs in his home town of Entre Ríos in central Bolivia. Jhon Alex’s mother, Doña Benita, is a single parent who ekes out a living by working in her neighbors’ fields. Besid...
A Synodal Church is Missionary
The idea of synodality at the heart of the Synod of Bishops that meets for a second session in October harkens back to the early days of the Church, and at its core synodality reflects the Church’s missionary spirit, says Maryknoll Father William LaRousse. Father LaRousse, who is based in Thailand and serves as the assistant secretary general of ...
Carrying the Flag of Mission
A stirring call to worship in Swahili, ululations and Kenyan drums brought the spirit of Africa to the Maryknoll campus in Ossining, New York, for the ordination of the two newest Maryknoll priests, Joshua Maondo and Charles Ogony, from Kenya. Maryknoll missioners and attendees of different countries, languages and cultures packed Our Lady Queen of...
Missioner Tales, Fall 2024
Here in El Salvador, where I serve as a Maryknoll lay missioner, I am starting a children’s library at the school where I tutor. I’ve been using my free time to sort through books including a generous donation of new ones.The school day had ended, and after three English lessons, I was feeling unmotivated as I faced piles of books. Then a smili...
From the Editor: Sent to Heal
Please join me in congratulating our newest Maryknoll priests, featured in our cover story. Fathers Joshua Maondo and Charles Ogony were ordained on June 8 at Maryknoll’s Our Lady Queen of Apostles Chapel in Ossining, New York. While ordinations are already joyous occasions, the presence of the two men’s Kenyan compatriots lent an especially fe...
Prayer for Vocations, Fall 2024
The Road Unfolding Traveler, there is no road, the road is made by walking. — Antonio Machado Oh guiding Spirit of lightEnlighten the path we are to follow asmissionary disciples of Christ Inflame within our hearts the fire of divinecompassion to embrace all the worldthrough the vocation you give us Lead us in the missionary call as Maryknollp...
Readers’ Responses, Fall 2024
SHARE PRAYER I wanted to comment on the beautiful “Prayer for Vocations” written by Deacon (soon to be Father) Charles Ogony in the Spring 2024 edition of your magazine. We are blessed with good and holy priests in our parish, and I pray for them, for those in formation and for those who struggle to be the salt of the earth and light to the wor...
‘The Sun Is Burning Up the Forest’
Father Enrique Bustamante, a companion on our missionary journey in the Amazon, called me a year ago with distressing news: “The sun is burning up the forest.” The missionary priest continued, “My avocado plant was healthy and green. A couple of hours of intense sunshine has burned it up. The forests are burning everywhere here. People are ve...
