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

This whole week, beginning today, we will be listening to post-resurrection narratives from the Gospels (and from the Book of Acts). We'll hear about Mary Magdalene and the other women running to tell the disciples. We'll hear about a gardener who turns out to be Jesus. We'll also hear about two disciples whose hearts were burning within them as they walked along the road with a stranger. We are going to hear about how the disciples were scared, troubled and confused. ...read more

Read Deacon Pedro's reflection on the meaning of Martyrdom. ...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

Recently, I had some Jehova’s Witnesses come to my door. I am usually nice and gracious to them. They read a passage of scripture to me (they are so courageous), something I think we should all do (read scripture, that is) and left two issues of their publication, The Watchtower, with me. One of the ...read more

What's the connection between Lent and Baptism? Do you even think of Baptism during Lent? Do you know that Baptism is what Lent is all about? ...read more

A reflection for the 6th Sunday, Ordinary Time, B. The readings are Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46, Psalm 32; Corinthians 10:31 – 11:1 and Mark 1:40-45. “If you want, you can make me clean” says the man. “I do want” Jesus says to the man. “I do want.” This year I have noticed in particular, how in 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