If I were to sum up all the little fragments that I collected to form the image of Pope Francis in my mind, all that resonates with me, it could be summed up in this one sentence: “Your life is a prayer.” ...read more

A reflection for the Third Sunday of Lent We all have some part of us that we wish was different. Something in ourselves that we wish was otherwise. Often this part of us can be a source of shame, of fear, of regret, of embarrassment. It is something we wish would just go away, that ...read more

Deacon Pedro and Richard Valenti spent a little time sharing with Richard's children about Pope Francis and his anniversary. This poem came out of that conversation. ...read more

(CNS photo above: Pope Francis updates the Roman Curia on his reform agenda during their Christmas audience in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Dec. 22, 2016) Catch an all new Perspectives on Church Reform under Francis Friday, March 17th at 7pmET & 11pmET No matter where you’re from or how you interpret the first four ...read more

Inevitably and unjustly, people tend to compare popes as they were set to fit in a certain mold. Well, there is actually a model, and I think we are all short of meeting the minimum requirements; the model is Christ, so, who we are to judge? I say this because I see no reason to ...read more

So far we’ve looked a little bit about why Lent has a baptismal character and we’ve looked at a particular component of the Catechumenate, the Rite of Election. Before we go on, let me explain a bit more why it’s important to keep Baptism at the centre of our Lent. It’s not j ust that ...read more

Dearest Papa, Happy 4th Anniversary of saying “Yes!” to your papacy! Over the past four years, you refilled energy to the Church and keep bringing the hope to the world, especially to the people in far end. Thank you for helping us meditate of the message of God from daily mass at the Casa Santa Marta. When I read your ...read more

What can I say about a man who touches my heart every time he speaks? Before Pope Francis, I very rarely read what ‘the pope’ was saying because I found it too ‘theological and complicated,’ not something I could relate to very well. But then along came Pope Francis and suddenly I found myself completely ...read more

A reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent What keeps us going through difficult times? What inspires our hope when the situation is bleak? What makes us persevere when it would be easier to give up? In the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Lent, we see Jesus ascend Mount Tabor with His three ...read more

Last week, we spoke about how Lent doesn’t just have a penitential character, but also a baptismal character. I hope that if you didn’t already know the date of your baptism, you went to find out. We should all know the date of our baptism. Part of the reason that Lent has a baptismal character ...read more