His robe was white as snow

As I watched:

Thrones were set in place
and one of great age took his seat.
His robe was white as snow,
the hair of his head as pure as wool.
His throne was a blaze of flames,
its wheels were a burning fire.
A stream of fire poured out,
issuing from his presence.
A thousand thousand waited on him,
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
A court was held
and the books were opened.

I gazed into the visions of the night.

And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven,
one like a son of man.
He came to the one of great age
and was led into his presence.
On him was conferred sovereignty,
glory and kingship,
and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty
which shall never pass away,
nor will his empire ever be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm 96(97):1-2,5-6,9

The Lord is king, most high above all the earth.

The Lord is king, let earth rejoice,
let all the coastlands be glad.
Cloud and darkness are his raiment;
his throne, justice and right.

The mountains melt like wax
before the Lord of all the earth.
The skies proclaim his justice;
all peoples see his glory.

For you indeed are the Lord
most high above all the earth,
exalted far above all spirits.

Gospel Matthew 17:1-9

His face shone like the sun

Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.
As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’

____________________________________________

Only Jesus

Today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, let us take a moment to listen to the voice of God the Father, who tells us, “This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.” In the Gospel, when the disciples hear the Father’s voice, they are afraid. Jesus goes to them and touches them, saying, “Stand up, do not be afraid.” They look up, and they see no one, but “only Jesus”. This is the centre of our faith: only Jesus is enough. In moments of doubt and distraction, we can find “only Jesus” by our side, and His presence is all that we need to steady us and give us courage to take the next step.

At the end, Jesus came down the mountain with His disciples, showing us that those mountaintop moments are gifts that remind us of God’s closeness to steady our hearts. Jesus leads us down to the valley where faith grows in the midst of everyday challenges like deadlines, pressures, heartaches, relationships, and struggles. It is there that He stands with us, giving us the courage to walk on with trust.

Reflective question:
What things do I get caught up in that keep me from seeing “only Jesus”?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD

By Ann Teoh

PETALING JAYA – Catholics are called to become agents of reconciliation in a fractured world by embracing discernment, walking together in synodality and collaborating in the Church’s mission, Jesuit Superior General Fr Arturo Sosa Abascal SJ said during his first visit to Malaysia.

The 31st Superior General of the Society of Jesus visited the Church of St Francis Xavier (SFX), Petaling Jaya, on Jul 18, where he met young adults, celebrated the parish’s sunset Mass and later spent the evening in dialogue with about 180 parishioners over dinner.

Fr Sosa arrived in Kuala Lumpur after visiting Kuching earlier in the week. He was accompanied by Fr José Cecilio Magadia SJ, General Counsellor and Regional Assistant for Asia Pacific; Fr Tomasz Kot SJ, who will soon serve as Delegate for Interprovincial Houses and Works in Rome; and Fr Robert Ballecer SJ, widely known as the “Digital Jesuit” for his work in technology and evangelisation.

Also present at the dinner were Malaysia-Singapore Regional Superior Fr Francis Lim SJ, treasurer Fr Sebastian Koh SJ, parish priest Fr Alvin Ng SJ, Fr Alvin Ho SJ and Br Gerard Choo SJ.

The visit marked only the second time a Jesuit Superior General has visited St Francis Xavier Church, which has been entrusted to the Society of Jesus since its establishment in 1961. The first was the late Fr Pedro Arrupe SJ during his visit in 1980.

Addressing parishioners after dinner, Fr Sosa reflected on three themes he described as essential to the Church’s mission today: reconciliation, discernment, and collaboration.

Fr Sosa observed that today’s world is marked by conflict, inequality, forced migration, environmental degradation and growing social polarisation.

Yet these realities, he said, should not lead Christians to despair.

“God is already reconciling the world to Himself in Christ. That is our starting point,” he said.

He stressed that reconciliation is not simply the absence of conflict but active participation in God’s work of healing broken relationships — with God, with one another and with creation.

This, he explained, requires personal conversion, authentic Christian witness, hospitality towards those on the margins and a renewed commitment to caring for the environment.

Ultimately, he said, the mission of reconciliation is measured by “the depth of human healing, the restoration of dignity and the cultivation of hope.”

Turning to discernment, Fr Sosa reminded parishioners that it is far more than making decisions based solely on reason.
Instead, discernment begins by creating space for prayerful listening to the Holy Spirit.

“It is about making time to pause and ask: ‘Where is the Holy Spirit moving?’” he said.

He encouraged Catholics to root discernment in the Eucharist, Sacred Scripture and the daily Examen, while recognising that discernment is both personal and communal.

Communities, he said, grow when people pray together, listen deeply to one another and seek God’s will even amid differing opinions.

Fr Sosa also emphasised that the Church’s mission belongs not only to clergy and religious but to every baptised person.
“The time of the lone hero is over,” he said. “The challenges of our times are too interconnected and too complex.”

He also called for greater collaboration among clergy, religious and laity, as well as with people of goodwill beyond the Catholic community, particularly within Malaysia’s diverse society.

Describing synodality as “the way Jesus lived His mission,” Fr Sosa said parishes must become communities that pray, listen and discern together, rather than simply administer program.

Parish councils, ministries and committees, he noted, should become places of spiritual conversation where the wisdom of senior parishioners, families, young adults and those on the margins is genuinely heard.

“The local bishop gives guidance, but it is the Holy Spirit we must listen to, speaking through each and every one,” he said.

Fr Sosa concluded by challenging parishioners to measure success not by numbers or activities but by transformed lives.

“Jesus measures success by transformation,” he said. “Do people encounter mercy? Do relationships heal? Does justice take root? Does hope grow?”

Encouraging the faithful to persevere in their baptismal mission, he prayed that the Church would continue to walk together “not as isolated individuals, but as a synodal Church — listening, discerning, collaborating and working for reconciliation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.” – Herald Malaysia

First reading Jeremiah 31:1-7

You shall be rebuilt, virgin of Israel

I will be the God of all the clans of Israel – it is the Lord who speaks – they shall be my people.

The Lord says this:
They have found pardon in the wilderness,
those who have survived the sword.
Israel is marching to his rest.
The Lord has appeared to him from afar:
I have loved you with an everlasting love,
so I am constant in my affection for you.
I build you once more; you shall be rebuilt,
virgin of Israel.
Adorned once more, and with your tambourines,
you will go out dancing gaily.
You will plant vineyards once more
on the mountains of Samaria
(the planters have done their planting:
they will gather the fruit).
Yes, a day will come when the watchmen shout
on the mountains of Ephraim,
‘Up! Let us go up to Zion,
to the Lord our God!’

For the Lord says this:
Shout with joy for Jacob!
Hail the chief of nations!
Proclaim! Praise! Shout:
‘The Lord has saved his people,
the remnant of Israel!’

Responsorial Psalm Jeremiah 31:10-12,13

The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.

O nations, hear the word of the Lord,
proclaim it to the far-off coasts.
Say: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and guard him as a shepherd guards his flock.’

For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,
has saved him from an overpowering hand.
They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion,
they will stream to the blessings of the Lord.

Then the young girls will rejoice and will dance,
the men, young and old, will be glad.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console them, give them gladness for grief.

Gospel Matthew 15:21-28

The Canaanite woman debates with Jesus and saves her daughter

Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said ‘because she is shouting after us.’ He said in reply, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said ‘help me.’ He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.

____________________________________________

God’s constant love

In the first reading, God through the prophet Jeremiah declares, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, so I am constant in my affection for you.” He first spoke this to the exile people of Israel who felt far from home and hopeless, and it still speaks to us today. God’s love is active and can rebuild what is broken in our lives and turn our sorrow into real joy. Today, let us ground ourselves in God’s constant love and trust that He is already working in our lives, even when we feel stuck or worn out.

In the gospel, Jesus shows love by reaching out to a Canaanite woman, an outsider in Jewish society. At first, it looks like He is turning her away, but her persistent faith leads Him to grant her request. This shows us that God’s constant love goes beyond status, mistakes, reputations or titles. Today, let us bring our needs to Jesus, even when His answers seem slow. Let us also open our hearts to welcome those who are often ignored and make space for them in our lives. Just as God’s love is inclusive, so must ours be.

Reflective question:
Where have I recently experienced God’s constant love?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD

Oleh Clarence Dol

TAMBUNAN – Gereja St Joachim, Kampung Lintuhun telah mengadakan majlis sambutan Pesta Kaamatan pada 27 Jun 2026.

Turut hadir memeriahkan sambutan tersebut adalah Ketua Bahagian Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah N.39 Tambunan, Dato’ Victor Peter Paut. Beliau telah menyumbangkan dana berjumlah RM10,000 kepada Gereja St Joachim.

Sumbangan itu bertujuan untuk menaik taraf dan membaik pulih gereja bagi meningkatkan keselesaan, keselamatan dan kemudahan gereja untuk kegunaan umat menjalankan aktiviti kerohanian serta program kemasyarakatan.

Victor menegaskan komitmennya dalam menyokong pembangunan komuniti melalui bantuan kepada rumah ibadat dan kemudahan awam. Beliau berharap dengan sumbangan itu dapat meringankan beban jawatankuasa gereja serta memberi manfaat kepada seluruh penduduk Kampung Lintuhun.

Menurutnya lagi, semangat Kaamatan perlu diterjemahkan melalui amalan saling membantu, memperkukuh perpaduan dan memelihara nilai kerjasama serta keprihatinan.

Penduduk dan jawatankuasa gereja turut merakamkan penghargaan, menyifatkan bantuan tersebut sebagai bukti keprihatinan pemimpin terhadap kebajikan rakyat serta pembangunan komuniti yang harmoni dan sejahtera.

Dalam satu majlis yang lain pula, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Bingkor merangkap Pembantu Menteri Kewangan, Dato’ Sr. Mohd Ishak Ayub, menghadiri Perayaan Ulang Tahun Keuskupan Keningau Ke-33 Zon Apin-Apin di Kampung Kirokot Baru, Apin-Apin pada 28 Jun 2026.

Majlis itu menghimpunkan komuniti Katolik dalam suasana penuh kesyukuran, sekali gus mengeratkan persaudaraan dan memperkukuh perpaduan masyarakat.

Dalam ucapannya, beliau menekankan kepentingan nilai kasih sayang, hormat-menghormati dan semangat melayani masyarakat sebagai asas keharmonian negeri, sambil menyifatkan institusi keagamaan sebagai pemangkin pembentukan masyarakat yang bersatu padu, harmoni dan berakhlak.

Herald Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR – Fifteen couples from parishes across the Klang Valley stepped away from the demands of everyday life to invest in something often overlooked amid life’s busyness — their marriage.

The participants attended the Marriage Encounter Weekend (ME194), organised by the Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) Selangor/Wilayah Persekutuan at Days Hotel & Suites, Fraser Business Park. Joining them for this experience was a priest from the Diocese of Malacca Johore.

For decades, the WWME movement has helped married couples strengthen their relationships through a simple yet effective method of loving communication. The programme encourages husbands and wives to listen deeply, express their feelings honestly and rediscover one another with Christ at the centre of their marriage.

Set in a peaceful environment away from the pressures of work, family commitments and digital distractions, the weekend allowed couples to focus exclusively on each other.

Many participants described the experience as transformative.

Mark and Christine, from the Church of the Holy Rosary, Kuala Lumpur, said the structured communication process was one of the weekend’s greatest gifts. “It was more than a retreat; it was a new beginning for us,” they shared.

Phillbert and Caron, from the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Klang, said the sessions helped them reflect more deeply on their marriage while strengthening their communication and appreciation for one another.

Others echoed similar sentiments.

Kenny and Fiona, from the Church of St Ignatius, Kelana Jaya, said the weekend restored their sense of togetherness with God at the centre of their relationship. At the same time, Ignatius and Beatrix, from the Church of St Jude, Rawang, spoke of gaining a deeper awareness of themselves and each other, providing a stronger foundation for their future together.

For Prasant and Marlene, also from St Jude Parish, the weekend offered practical tools to work through issues they had struggled to resolve.

“We learned to communicate better, listen more intentionally and understand each other more deeply,” they said.
Gabriel and Jackie, from the Church of the Divine Mercy, Shah Alam, described the weekend as an invitation to make their relationship a priority once again.

“No matter how many years you have been married, it is never too late to deepen your relationship, renew your love and transform a good marriage into an even better one,” they reflected.

Melvin and Roanna, from the Church of Jesus Caritas, Kepong, said the weekend renewed both their marriage and their faith.

“It allowed us to step away from the busyness of life, rediscover one another and freshly encounter God,” they said. “We returned home with renewed hope, grateful hearts and a deeper commitment to continue choosing each other and placing Christ at the centre of our marriage and family.”

Organisers said the ME Weekend continues to play an important role in strengthening marriages by helping couples grow together in love, communication and faith.

Married couples interested in future ME Weekends may contact James (019-356 2321), Mandy (012-371 8756) or email wwmeselwil@archkl.org for further information – Herald Malaysia

By Vatican News, in collaboration with DCYIA — Panama City, Panama

The First International Conference on the Sexual Abuse of Deaf Children has brought together Church leaders, safeguarding experts, survivors, and Deaf advocates to strengthen protection for Deaf children and vulnerable persons.

Held Jul 8–11, 2026, under the theme “Changing the Culture of Abuse Together,” the Deaf Catholic Youth Initiative for the Americas (DCYIA), CEPROME, and the Archdiocese of Panama, led by Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, O.S.A., organized the congress.

Delegates from Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, the United States, Venezuela, and the Vatican gathered to address a painful reality: many Deaf survivors of abuse have long remained unseen and unheard because of isolation, communication barriers, and lack of accessible reporting channels.

A call to conversion

Opening the congress with Mass, Archbishop Ulloa described the gathering as “a path of conversion” that requires the Church to learn a new way of listening. “For many years, we thought that Deaf people had to adapt to our pastoral structures. Today, we understand that the Gospel asks us to do the exact opposite. It is the Church that must learn the language of encounter.”

The congress also drew support from Church leaders who joined its liturgies, including Archbishop John Kennedy, Secretary for the Disciplinary Section of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith; Cardinal José Luis Lacunza Maestrojuán, O.A.R.; Father Basil Ikechukwu Mbah, Secretary to the Apostolic Nunciature in Panama; and Archbishop Ulloa.

Accessibility at the heart of safeguarding

Keynote presentations brought together Deaf and hearing experts in pastoral ministry, canon law, psychology, legal advocacy, and survivor support. Speakers included Maryann Barth, MA; Laureen Lynch-Ryan, MSW; Daiana Gisel Lizarraga; Nancy Cortez, ILSA; Deborah Pizarro, ILSA; Mg Lic Gema Lara Lanteri; Dr Oscar Gerardo Barrera; Dra Patricia Espinoza Hernandez; Archbishop John Kennedy; Dr Consuelo Manero Soto; Dr Daniel Portillo Trevizo; and Fr Joseph Mulcrone. Topics included Deaf culture, the history of abuse, the Próvolo Institute cases in Argentina, canonical accountability, diocesan safeguarding protocols, and long-term pastoral healing.

A defining feature of the gathering was full communication access. Sessions were conducted in four sign languages—Argentine, Mexican, Panamanian, and American Sign Language—alongside English and Spanish.

Fr Joseph Mulcrone said the multilingual and multisign-language format sent a clear message: “The Deaf community is not merely an object of care, but an active, indispensable partner in safeguarding.”

Interpreting teams provided access across formal sessions, meals, informal gatherings, synodal discussions, and after-hours conversations, allowing Deaf and hearing participants to engage more fully and setting a strong example for ecclesial accessibility.

Listening through synodality

Participants also took part in Synodal Tables, small-group discussions where Deaf and hearing participants, survivors, and canonical experts shared experiences and proposed practical safeguarding solutions.

The process emphasized that safeguarding cannot be separated from listening, language access, and the active participation of those most affected.

A commitment beyond Panama

Participants described the Panama Congress as a turning point for faith, safeguarding, and disability advocacy, affirming that Deaf sign languages must be recognized and Deaf dignity protected. The gathering also set a new benchmark for Church governance and Deaf-led advocacy by showing that Deaf people are not only recipients of protection, but partners in building safe environments.

Fr Mulcrone linked the congress to the wider call of Catholic social teaching:

By building bridges across language barriers, the Panama Congress launched an international network committed to ensuring that no child or vulnerable person, in any language, is left unprotected or unheard. – Vatican News

By John Singarayar

Migration is not only a political issue. It is a spiritual test. It asks what kind of people we are becoming and whether we can still recognize the stranger as a neighbor.

For the Church, this is not an abstract debate. It reaches into worship, teaching, public witness, and the everyday habits that form Christian life.

A Church on the Way

Christian faith has always carried a sense of movement. Scripture speaks often of exile, journey, and return. God’s people are rarely described as settled in the deepest sense; they are called to live as pilgrims, dependent on grace and open to encounter. That is why migration matters so much for the Church. It is not simply a social issue to comment on from a distance. It mirrors something already true about the Christian life.

The Church itself is a people on the way. It does not belong to this age in a final or absolute sense, and that should make it humble. A church that remembers its own unsettledness will be less likely to fear those who arrive from elsewhere. It will also be more prepared to see the stranger not as a problem to manage, but as a person through whom God may still be speaking.

Welcome and responsibility

This does not mean the Church should speak vaguely about kindness and stop there. Migration is shaped by real pressures: war, poverty, climate stress, family separation, and the search for safety. Governments have serious duties here. They must maintain order, protect the vulnerable, and create laws that are fair and workable. The Church should support that task, not undermine it.

At the same time, the Church must be honest about what good migration policy should look like. Legal pathways should be clear. Asylum should be handled fairly. Families should not be torn apart unnecessarily. People should not be left in long uncertainty, unable to work or belong. Order matters, but so does mercy. A policy that values one and ignores the other will not serve the common good for long.

The power of metaphor

Metaphors matter because they shape how people see the world. If migration is described only in terms of pressure, burden, or threat, then fear quickly becomes the default response. But if migration is also seen through the lens of pilgrimage, hospitality, and shared humanity, then a broader moral imagination becomes possible.

That is one reason the football image remains so useful. A national team made up of players from different places can show something simple but important: difference does not destroy unity. It can deepen it. People with different backgrounds, accents, and histories can still learn to trust one another and work toward a common goal. That is not just a sports lesson. It is a social one, and for Christians, a deeply theological one.

What the Church must say

The Church should not reduce migrants to statistics or slogans. It should speak plainly about dignity. Every migrant is first a human being made in the image of God. That truth comes before economics, politics, and utility. Yes, migrants often strengthen the societies they join. They bring work, creativity, care, and new energy. But the Church should be careful not to make usefulness the main reason for welcome.

That temptation is subtle. It is easier to defend migrants when they are seen as contributors. It is harder when they are poor, tired, or dependent. Yet Christian teaching does not allow human worth to rise and fall with productivity. The stranger is worthy of welcome even before any benefit is measured.

What policy requires

Countries need migration policies that are firm, fair, and humane. That means secure borders, but also decent procedures. It means border control, but not cruelty. It means recognizing that people fleeing danger are not the same as those seeking advantage through deception. It also means that integration is not optional. If nations receive migrants, they should also invest in language, work, education, and belonging.

The Church can support this by being practical, not only prophetic. Congregations can help with language learning, legal referrals, friendship, and job support. They can create spaces where migrants are not treated as guests forever but as members who belong. Real welcome requires more than warmth. It requires structure.

A deeper witness

If the Church lives this way, it offers a quiet rebuke to the politics of fear. It says that hospitality is not weakness and that order does not have to be cold. It says that community grows stronger when people are received with dignity and given room to contribute. It also says something more spiritual: that the Church trusts God enough to make space for the stranger.

That witness will never be perfect. Churches will disagree about policy. Communities will struggle with limits. There will be tension, and there should be honest debate. But the Church loses something essential when it lets fear speak more loudly than faith. Welcome is not a side issue. It is one of the ways the gospel becomes visible.

Migration teaches the Church to see more clearly. It reminds us that belonging is not something we own absolutely and that grace often arrives in an unfamiliar form. The stranger can unsettle us, but the stranger can also teach us. If the Church listens well, it will discover that welcome is not only an act of kindness. It is a form of truth. – UCA News

*The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.

By Sr Christine Masivo, CPS

The Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives, also known as the Trinitarians, is celebrating 100 years of missionary presence in Madagascar, commemorating a century of evangelization, pastoral service, and witness to the Gospel that has profoundly shaped both the local Church and the Trinitarian Order.

A century of missionary witness

The anniversary recalls the departure of the first five Trinitarian missionaries from Rome on Jun 4, 1926, shortly after the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Accompanied by the then Minister General, Fr Francis Xavier of the Immaculate Conception, they set out to establish the Trinitarian mission in Madagascar after the order withdrew from Somalia in 1924. They learned the Malagasy and French languages before settling in Miarinarivo, the mission territory entrusted to them.

Reflecting on the centenary, the Minister General, Fr Luigi Buccarello, told the Vatican’s Fides news agency, that the first missionaries demonstrated “the evangelical courage” to cross cultural, linguistic, and religious borders in response to the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Their journey, he noted, was not merely an expansion of the Order but an expression of its enduring missionary identity.

An apostolate of evangelization and human dignity

Inspired by the charism of St John de Matha and St Felix of Valois, the Trinitarian mission has always united the proclamation of the Gospel with the defense of human freedom and dignity. Founded during a period marked by conflict and slavery, the Order originally dedicated itself to aiding captives, a mission that continues today through service to those living on the margins of society.

In Madagascar, the missionaries centered their apostolate on extensive pastoral visits to remote villages, ensuring that scattered Christian communities remained connected to the life of the Church, which they invested in the formation of catechists and pastoral workers through a Catechetical Formation Centre, equipping local leaders for evangelization. At the same time, they built churches, schools, and multipurpose centers while restoring places of worship to support both spiritual and social development.

Throughout their ministry, the Trinitarians sought to respect local cultures and traditions while accompanying communities in faith. Their work contributed not only to evangelization but also to education, pastoral formation, and the strengthening of Christian communities across the island.

Flourishing mission to the future

The Trinitarian mission in Madagascar has grown remarkably over the past century, fulfilling its goal of building self-sustaining local churches. Beginning with the establishment of the Apostolic Vicariate of Miarinarivo in 1939, the first ecclesiastical territory in Africa entrusted to the Order, the mission later expanded to Tsiroanomandidy and Ambatondrazaka.

Today, the Trinitarians serve in twelve of Madagascar’s twenty-two dioceses, with flourishing local vocations, missionaries serving abroad, and five Trinitarian bishops emerging from the Malagasy Church.

Marking the centenary, Fr Buccarello described the anniversary as a call to renew the Order’s missionary commitment, especially to the cultural, social, and spiritual frontiers of today’s world. As the Trinitarians give thanks for generations of missionaries who served with dedication and sacrifice, they celebrate a century in which a small missionary presence has grown into a vibrant Church that continues to proclaim the Gospel as a sign of hope, freedom, and mercy. – Vatican News

By Cécile Mérieux

It is a tune that will echo the minds of an entire generation of young Catholics. The official theme song for the next World Youth Day (WYD) has been unveiled, exactly one year ahead of the event. The hymn will set the tone for this upcoming international gathering of Catholic youth, who will gather in Seoul from Aug 3 to 8, 2027.

An hymn for all nations

The theme song is entitled Confidite, Ego Vici Mundum and takes up the theme chosen for WYD 2027: “Take courage! I have overcome the world,” a verse from John’s Gospel (16:33). An international hymn, the song is performed in several languages, including Korean, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.

The song opens with this invitation: “Come follow me, sleeping heart, wake up and walk”. Two versions have been recorded, the first (which can be seen at the top of this article) in a more classical style, featuring a choir and orchestra, while the second is a remixed pop version (which you can view at the bottom).

Singing of communion

One aim of this song is to offer a foretaste of the event. Above all, however, it will serve as the permanent soundtrack for participants as they prepare for the gathering. Each edition has its corresponding melody, carrying with it a wealth of memories for the participants.

The hymn is the result of an open contest. The task was to create an original composition that translated the WYD theme, “Take courage! I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). The initiative was a success, drawing 434 submissions, including 294 from abroad. The selected song was then submitted for approval to the Holy See’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

A Korean WYD

The theme song was composed by Korean musician Francis Jiyoon Kim, who gave it the flavor of his country and culture. Sung largely in Korean, the vocals blend with local traditional instruments in a contemporary arrangement. The music video showcases the landscapes and iconic sights of Seoul, offering a first glimpse of what awaits participants next summer.

As is tradition, the “Days in the Dioceses” will precede the main gathering in the capital. From Jul 29 to Aug 2, 2027, fifteen Korean dioceses will welcome pilgrims into parishes and families, offering them an immersion into the life of the local Church prior to the celebrations in Seoul.

More than thirty years after Manila in 1995, this WYD will be only the second held in Asia. It marks the first time the event has been hosted in a country where Catholics are a minority. In South Korea, Catholics represent roughly 12 percent of the population, in a society marked by significant religious pluralism.

Next steps

Pilgrim registrations will open in Oct 2026, offering various packages based on the length of stay and selected events. A mobile app and an integrated logistics system are also being developed.

As in previous editions, hospitality will largely be provided by families and parishes across the Archdiocese of Seoul. Around 230 parishes are already actively recruiting and training host families so that young people can experience the daily life of the Korean Church.

“We will make every effort to ensure that WYD Seoul 2027 is a celebration of hope and a testament to the hospitality and solidarity of Korea and Seoul,” said Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Seoul and President of the Local Organizing Committee. Teams have been preparing the event for three years now, and they are now entering the home stretch before welcoming hundreds of thousands of young people from around the world. Nearly 30,000 volunteers are expected to be mobilized, with several hundred already at work. – Vatican News

First reading Jeremiah 30:1-2,12-15,18-22

Your wound is incurable but I will heal you

The word addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord: the Lord, the God of Israel says this: Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.

Yes, the Lord says this:
Your wound is incurable,
your injury past healing.
There is no one to care for your sore,
no medicine to make you well again.
All your lovers have forgotten you,
they look for you no more.
Yes, I have struck you as an enemy strikes,
with harsh punishment
so great is your guilt, so many your sins.
Why bother to complain about your wound?
Your pain is incurable.
So great is your guilt, so many your sins,
that I have done all this to you.

The Lord says this:
Now I will restore the tents of Jacob,
and take pity on his dwellings:
the city shall be rebuilt on its ruins,
the citadel restored on its site.
From them will come thanksgiving
and shouts of joy.
I will make them increase, and not diminish them,
make them honoured, and not disdained.
Their sons shall be as once they were,
their community fixed firm in my presence,
and I will punish all their oppressors.
Their prince will be one of their own,
their ruler come from their own people.
I will let him come freely into my presence
and he can come close to me;
who else, indeed, would risk his life
by coming close to me? – it is the Lord who speaks.
And you shall be my people and I will be your God.

Responsorial Psalm 101(102):16-21,29,22-23

The Lord shall build up Zion again and appear in all his glory.

The nations shall fear the name of the Lord
and all the earth’s kings your glory,
when the Lord shall build up Zion again
and appear in all his glory.
Then he will turn to the prayers of the helpless;
he will not despise their prayers.

Let this be written for ages to come
that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord;
for the Lord leaned down from his sanctuary on high.
He looked down from heaven to the earth
that he might hear the groans of the prisoners
and free those condemned to die.

The sons of your servants shall dwell untroubled
and their race shall endure before you
that the name of the Lord may be proclaimed in Zion
and his praise in the heart of Jerusalem,
when peoples and kingdoms are gathered together
to pay their homage to the Lord.

Gospel Matthew 15:1-2,10-14

Any plant my Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots

Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus and said, ‘Why do your disciples break away from the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat food.’ He called the people to him and said, ‘Listen, and understand. What goes into the mouth does not make a man unclean; it is what comes out of the mouth that makes him unclean.’
Then the disciples came to him and said, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were shocked when they heard what you said?’ He replied, ‘Any plant my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them alone. They are blind men leading blind men; and if one blind man leads another, both will fall into a pit.’

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A cleansed heart 

In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “Listen, and understand. What goes into the mouth does not make a man unclean; it is what comes out of the mouth that makes him unclean”, inviting us to move from appearance to what lies within the heart. God looks beyond external appearances and actions, but He sees our inner thoughts and motives.

We often want to appear good and stick to familiar routines to feel secure and safe. However, when our love for image and habit replaces true love, our actions and words become mere performances rather than expressions of quiet fidelity. Today, let His Word purify our hearts so that our outward actions are motivated by love. May love shape every word we speak and every deed we do. Let us honestly ask Jesus, “What is in my heart that needs to be purified? Is it pride, envy, or anger?” Let us choose to be more intentional in how we show our love throughout our day.

Reflective question:
What change do I need to let God work in me so that love will guide me today?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD