Canada is a “salad bowl” of cultures, and political correctness
“As a Catholic, I came out of Catholic high school barely knowing anything about my Catholic faith.”

Published on: February 25th, 2013 — 10:28 PM / OBS: SOUTH AMERICA

LIMA, PERU — What does it mean to be a Canadian Catholic? In a country that is proud to be a “salad bowl” of cultures, religions and traditions, it is becoming more and more difficult for Catholics to speak the truth. Megan Blair shares her story of growing up in Oshawa, Ontario, which is just outside of Toronto. She attended a Catholic school her whole life, but her faith formation was weak and the teachers and administrators were always walking on tip toes trying not to say or do anything that would offend others. (read more below)

Annie & Al Palmquist

Video Missionaries in … Read More »

Sodalitium Christianae Vitae Perpetual Promises
“I, Ricardo Simmonds, commit myself before God and the Sodalit community, and invite myself to keep for all the days of my life, obedience and celibacy.”

Published on: February 4th, 2013 — 1:42 PM / OBS: North America

DENVER, CO, USA — A few words must be said at the outset to set up today’s video from Holy Name Parish in the Archdiocese of Denver. It begins with Ricardo Simmonds’ quest for happiness after high school, first through the reading and study of philosophy and new age spirituality. Through that dialogue with ancient texts, Ricardo came to the conclusion that in the world there was this concept of God, or something greater than himself. He realized that pursuing this transcendent person and finding him was the only life pursuit in this world that would make … Read More »

‘It was necessary, absolutely necessary’
Whether it is the scratches in our hardwood floors or deciding on our next vacation, it often obstructs our view of Christ

Published on: October 30th, 2012 — 9:28 AM / OBS: South America

AYAVARI, PERU — Every year for the past 3 years, medical missionaries have been making their way from the U.S. and other parts of Peru to the small town of Ayaviri, Peru. For almost a week, these doctors, nurses, pharmacists and some non-medical personnel tend to the needs of the people in this high altitude town (about 4,000 meters, or over 13,000 feet) and the surrounding countryside. They brought all the medicine, vitamins, and equipment they could and tended to patients from October 16th through the 19th (2012). This medical campaign (as it is formally called), was coordinated through the … Read More »

We’re going back!!! After a brief couple months of summer work and stability in upstate New York, we’re going to Lima, Peru once more. We will stay with a family in Lima for 1 month while we discern a job offer for the both of us to teach in a Catholic school of the Christian Life Movement. After that we’re planning to go to Bolivia, a first for us and for OneBillionStories. We will continue the OBS mission all the while, so keep sending prayers our way and keep a look out for new vlogs & testimonies.

An Australian named Greg goes to Peru to begin a year of growth and learning about the Socalitium of Christian Life in Lima, Peru. He is an aspirant, meaning he aspires to go into formation and come out as a consecrated lay man that will devote his life to the apostolic work he does evangelizing the culture. Meeting the people where they are at, but not necessarily being ok with where they are, and challenging them to move to higher levels spiritually. We found him with a mission group from Boulder, Colorado that went for 2 weeks to serve the poor in a shantytown in Lima. Greg has been living in Lima for the last year and hopes to enter his formation this coming year to become a Sodalith, a consecrated lay man with the movement. We hope you enjoy … Read More »

In the outskirts of Lima, Peru we went to the shantytown of La Pamplona. It is a new community that has no running water, and very limited electricity. There are more than 1 million people living here and in the surrounding areas, all living in extreme poverty. The Christian Life Movement regularly sends missionary groups here to build stairways, build childcare centers, chapels, and give Catechesis classes. Their non-profit organization is called Solidarity in March.

Encountering the Sodalitium Christiane Vitae in South America has brought about incredible fruit for Video Missionaries Annie and Al. Their seven month pilgrimage continues into Chile, and soon Peru! Today’s testimony speaks for itself, click play to hear Mike share about exactly what happened during his discernment process through high school, college, and beyond.

Se conocieron en el colegio en Buenos Aires, pero ahora siendo universitarios, encuentren la importancia de la amistad y el apoyo de una comunidad en la fé. Hace 5 años empezaron a juntarse un grupo de barones para profundizar su fé y la amistad entre ellos. Se llaman agrupaciones marianas. Para estos chicos, este grupo resulta una cosa muy importante durante la semana para acercarse más a Dios. Quieren juntar con amigos pero no solamente para diversión, y por eso todos aprenden mucho y siguen creciendo en su fé. Además, hacen apostolados de misionar a otros pueblos y otros proyectos voluntarios con discapacitados en Buenos Aires. ¡Que sigan acercandose a Dios y el buen trabajo en el apostolado chicos!

Una familia de 8 personas cerca de Buenos Aires, Argentina comparte su historia. Ellos son miembros del Movimiento de Vida Cristiana. Están abiertos a la voluntad de Dios para su familia y como resultado, viven en su familia con mucha alegría y paz. ¡Eso es la fé en vivo!

Buenos Aires, Argentina. So much culture and passion here, we are loving it. We went to a craft market in the neighborhood Recoleta, and went to a beautiful church called Our Lady of Pilar. Argentina is similar to the US in that it is a secular society. We do not see much outward display of faith, a person’s faith is very private. For a while now I have been curious to discover the faith of Argentina, especially here in Buenos Aires where life is especially secular. We went to Pilar about 45 minutes outside of the city to spend a Saturday with the Christian Life Movement and the Sodaliths (consecrated men.) Slowly we are discovering that even in such a secular city, there are devout Catholics.