BLOG: Fr. Raphael Ma, CR
“Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” (Mark 1:14-15) With Palm Sunday nearing and Holy Week quickly approaching, I think it’s an appropriate time to ask ourselves: How well have I ...read more
“He was born in a new condition, for, invisible in his own nature, he became visible in ours. Beyond our grasp, he chose to come within our grasp. Existing before time began, he began to exist at a moment in time. Lord of the universe he hid his infinite glory and took the nature of ...read more
This is a Lenten Reflection that we aired as part of the S+L Magazine in 2004. These couple of days, I’ve been thinking about loss and life, growth and God’s Grace, mercy and plan, so since it’s Lent, I thought it would be good to remember these words. -Pedro This morning my son came into ...read more
What do you complain about over coffee after Mass? While we try to be positive people, let’s humbly admit that we bemoan familiar topics again and again. Sometimes it’s a closing hymn we find atrocious. Often it’s the state of the parish hall coffee itself. (The very term “church coffee” now connotes watery flavourlessness more ...read more
On this the solemnity of St. Joseph, I can’t help but think of the litany for this humble and admirable holy man. It’s in the following titles that we honour blessed Joseph, the renowned offspring of David, the light of Patriarchs, the foster father of the Son of God, and the spouse of the Mother ...read more
Well top of the mornin’ to you – it’s St. Patrick’s Day… a day in which everybody claims Irish ancestry! The upside is the fact that many people – be they Polish or Indian – celebrate this great saint. The downside is that they often celebrate it by binge drinking. There are, of course, a ...read more
Unless it’s the subject of some complex subplot in the latest episode of Grey’s Anatomy or House… it just ain’t interesting! A few months ago, I was sitting around with girlfriends talking “big” future plans, when someone blurted out the question “when you have kids are you going to store their cord blood?” to which ...read more
If you didn’t give up going to the movies for Lent, here are two suggestions: I just saw a great film: Bridge to Terabithia. What can I say without giving it away? It is a wonderful, fun, meaningful tale of friendship and hope, faith and despair, kindness, compassion, loss and growth. It is not a ...read more
Salt + Light editor extraordinaire Marc Boudignon has provided us with another blog entry from Portugal. If you missed his first one, click here. Let’s read the latest Marc has to say: I am presently writing this from Alvor, a small, picturesque seaside town just outside of Portimao. Soon Nola and I will be dining ...read more
We’re about halfway through Lent, and so I find it’s always a good time to take stock and see how well we’re doing… or how well we might not be doing. Back on Ash Wednesday I was filled with fervor – ready to accept any penance, and make every sacrifice. But in the last few ...read more