BLOG: Current Affairs,Faith Education,United States
Last time we saw how the Eucharist is rooted in the Jewish celebration of Passover. Christ is the new Passover Lamb that was sacrificed in atonement for our sins. We also looked at how the Eucharist is not just a Sacrament in that it makes Christ present, but in the Eucharist, Christ is truly present. ...read more
Today, Pope Francis released a new papal document - Gaudete et Exsultate: On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World. The Latin title, Rejoice and Be Glad, comes from Matthew 5:12, part of the Sermon on the Mount - Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. The Sermon on the Mount figures heavily into the document, providing a sort of 'roadmap' to holiness. Here are a few points to keep in mind as you read through the document: ...read more
We have begun the Easter Season and what a better time to explore the meaning of the source and summit of our Christian life: The Eucharist. We’ve just come out of a time of repentance and conversion and have gone through Holy Week and the Easter Triduum and that’s a good lead into speaking about ...read more
A reflection for the 4th Sunday, Lent, Year B. The readings are 2 Chronicles 36:14-17a, 19-23; Psalm: 137, Ephesians 2:4-10 and John 3:14-21. Picture it: Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a religious leader; perhaps a member of the Jewish Council, the Sanhedrin. It’s the Feast of Passover and Jesus is in Jerusalem. All eyes are on Him. Nicodemus is ...read more
If you’re Catholic you do it all the time. If you’re not Catholic, you probably have noticed us making this sign: right hand to our forehead, then down to our chest, then over to the left shoulder and ending with the right shoulder as we say the words: “In the name of the Father, the ...read more
Lent is just around the corner! The annual desert journey calls Christians back to their most intimate and essential selves as children of God. It is a time to pray, fast and give alms, insofar as these traditional practices open within us a humble honesty about the current trajectory of our life’s journey, and serve ...read more
Last time we concluded that Baptism welcomes us into the family of God and after Baptism we belong to God. Now let’s look at the baptism ritual. All Sacrament ritual includes three moments: anamnesis (remembering), epiclesis (coming of the Holy Spirit), doxology (praise). In Baptism we remember the healing waters, we remember Christ’s death and ...read more
Why do we baptise babies? How can a baby decide to become a Christian? Where does this tradition come from? Deacon Pedro explains. ...read more
I remember about 5 years ago when we went to the Easter Vigil Mass for the first time in about 12 years (that’s what happens when you have kids) how amazed I was at the beauty and meaning behind this the greatest of all liturgies. I guess I’d forgotten; or never realized it. In particular, ...read more
It’s probably safe to say that no one really likes to go to Confession. We may know it’s good for us, like eating our vegetables, but we don’t like doing it. Who likes telling someone else all the bad things they did? But do you ever wonder what the experience is like for priests? To ...read more