I am fascinated with the Internet. When I was a college seminarian, I would sneak out of the seminary to check my e-mail almost every day. I searched Divine Word Missionary websites and dreamed of creating my own some day. I discovered that many people were posting their prayer intentions online, and I became a member of the "Prayer Warriors" ministry. I also began receiving prayer intentions from people around the world. It was the start of my missionary journey online.
Driven by my newfound interest, I began a program of self-­study in blogging, web design and media presentations. Last year, I launched my personal website, my blogsite and also uploaded my media presentations via "YouTube." At first, I just wanted to establish online communication with my friends, but eventually my circle of contacts grew. I began to exchange ideas with new friends on matters of faith.
I received messages from Norway, Italy, Korea and other parts of the world. I also received inquiries regarding vocations to Divine Word Missionaries. To my great surprise, the Divine Word Generalate in Rome acknowledged my website on their official website. It really inspired me to do even more.
My missionary journey online has been very challenging.
On a few occasions, I encountered some hostility from people who only wanted to quarrel about religion. I tried to engage them in an interfaith dialogue. I have had the opportunity to dialogue with Catholics and people of other religions. Even people of religions unknown here in the Philippines have become my dialogue partners with just a click of the mouse. It is truly a dialogue with the world!
For now, I am maintaining three blogsites, four websites and three social networking accounts. Indeed, I am con­vinced that the Internet can be very powerful means of conveying our message and witnessing to the Word. I believe that, if he were alive today, St. Arnold Janssen, our Founder, would also use websites, e-mails and blogging to spread the Word of God.
The "Decree on the Instruments of Social Communication" (Inter Mirifica) from the Second Vatican Council says that the Church "believes that its task involves employing the means of social communication to announce the good news of salva­tion" (par. 3). The Pastoral Instruction "On the Means of Social Communication" (Communio et Progressio) was published by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and approved by Pope Paul VI. This document also talks about our mission in the Church to announce the full truth "by the means of social communications, so as to give a true picture of the Church and her life" (par. 123).

My blogsite Felmar's Missionary Journey has opened my communications with people who are known to me and with peo­ple all over the world, regardless of their geographical location and religion. It is a daily opportunity to widen my horizons, understand other peoples and religions more fully and build healthy, living relationships which are beyond borders. (Felmar Castrodes Fiel SVD, Divine Word Missionaries Magazine, Winter 2007). To read more...