Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass for Ash Wednesday at the Basilica of Santa Sabina on the Aventine hill in Rome. In his homily, the Holy Father said Lent is a path that “leads to the triumph of mercy over all that would crush us or reduce us to something unworthy of our dignity as God’s ...read more

A reflection for the First Sunday of Lent It seems almost scandalous to think that Jesus experienced temptation. We think of temptation as something shameful, something that only happens to us and not to others, something that distances us from God. But in the Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent we see Jesus tempted ...read more

When you think of Lent, what do you think of? Do you think of feasting or fasting? Do you think of partying or penance? How many of you, when you think of Lent, think of Baptism? Surely the Catechumens, those preparing for Baptism at Easter, who do their final preparations during Lent are thinking of ...read more

Last week I mentioned that I enjoy praying with the Psalms. In fact I enjoy praying with Scripture. Scripture is good because, not only does it always give us the words that we may need, but it always is the Voice of God speaking to us. Since prayer is not just a one-way conversation (what ...read more

It is indeed that time of year again. For those of you who partied-hard over the past two days, (Pancake Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Mardi-Gras etc…) to prepare for the next 40 days, and are now just wondering what to give up for lent, you’ve come to the right place. Here is a great article that’ll help you think about ...read more

Last week we defined prayer as relationship. If our relationship with God is a love relationship (and it should be), then prayer is how we relate with our loved one. When I was a little kid, my mother taught us that prayer was just talking. That’s why I’m not so much into the standard prayers; ...read more

Saints would be the first ones to declare that prayer is a battle. But a battle with who and what? Well, they would say, with ourselves and with whatever is keeping our eyes fixed on God. “The great figures of prayer of the Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints, ...read more

Read Pope Francis’ message for Lent 2017 below: The Word is a gift. Other persons are a gift. Dear Brothers and Sisters, Lent is a new beginning, a path leading to the certain goal of Easter, Christ’s victory over death. This season urgently calls us to conversion. Christians are asked to return to God “with ...read more

I think everyone who’s been through the tortuous process of starting and/or running a prayer group can attest that it’s not easy to persuade people to attend. Maybe some of you have stories about this that you can share with us. I’ve also been part of fledgling prayer groups that last for a couple months ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For February 2017, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Comfort for the Afflicted – That all those who are afflicted, especially the poor, refugees, and marginalized, may find welcome and comfort in our communities. Daily Offering Prayer God, our Father, I offer ...read more