I am constantly reminded of how small the world truly is, and in particular, how the Catholic world is even smaller. A few days ago I was reading a monthly Catholic magazine which covers issues and concerns of eastern Christians.  I always enjoy its articles, in particular when they cover the difficult situation faced by Iraqi Christians. This month as I read through the magazine I saw the picture below.  I couldn’t believe it. Dressed in brown was one of... Read more

Santa Claus visited Sacred Heart School on Friday, the last day of school before Christmas break.  When I arrived to this classroom, one student asked me if I had seen Santa’s sleigh outside.  I didn’t want to lie, so I told him Santa had probably parked at the back of the school and I had come in the front! At the teacher’s request, I also had my picture taken with Santa.  This may be the first one of my whole... Read more

During Advent we prepare to receive the Lord. We are alert and watchful, we make straight the path for the Lord, we repent of our sins to make a worthy dwelling for the Lord in our hearts. At the same time, we acknowledge that it is the Lord Himself who prepares us to receive Him.  It is He who initiates all movements and graces within our hearts. These two previous statements lead to a logical question: How do I prepare to receive the Lord... Read more

Along with Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint John of the Cross is one of the great Western Christian mystics.  I find it sad when I see at a bookstore under the “Spirituality” genre only works of eastern spirituality and philosophies.  At times I feel the West has turned its back to its rich mystical spirituality which includes the works of Saint John of the Cross. The Enlightenment and a desire to rationalize all things in western thought has led to a disdain towards... Read more

Here are four beautiful pictures of the Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with Bishop Hartmayer at the Perry Fairgrounds.  Thank you to Moises Velez from Que Pasa Georgia for the pictures. To view more pictures of the event by Moises Velez, click here.       Pictures are mine, all rights reserved. Read more

The Virgin Mary appeared four times to Saint Juan Diego on December 1531, only ten years after the defeat of the Aztec empire in Mexico. This time period marked the integration of Spanish and native cultures which ultimately gave rise to a unique people and culture which continues to flourish today throughout Latin America. Mary’s words to Juan Diego were soon recorded in the work called Nican Mopohua written in Nahuatl, the language of the natives. Her words for this... Read more

Today the parishes of Sacred Heart, Warner Robins and Saint Juliana, Fort Valley celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with Bishop Hartmayer, Bishop of Savannah. An estimated 1300 faithful from Middle Georgia attended the event at the Perry Fairgrounds.  To read my homily (in Spanish) click here.  If you missed this celebration, you missed a beautiful expression of Catholicity in Middle Georgia!  It was amazing. Below are some pictures and a video from the event.  Many more of both... Read more

  Cuando la Madre de Dios, la Virgen María, bajó del cielo al Tepeyac en 1531, pronunció un mensaje de amor y esperanza para un pueblo que se encontraba en medio de cambios e incertidumbres. Todo había cambiado. La llegada de los españoles había revolucionado la vida y las creencias de los indígenas. El descubrimiento de un mundo nuevo y pueblos nuevos había confundido y puesto en duda muchas creencias europeas. La Santísima Virgen pidió en sus propias palabras, que... Read more

This is a beautiful Mariachi Marian song titled “The Angel from Heaven” which narrates the annunciation of the incarnation of Our Lord.  The Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano sings this song in the video below in a 2002 Mariachi documentary hosted by Placido Domingo.  The Mariachi that plays at Sacred Heart each year plays it as the entrance song for the Mass of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  The words are below in both Spanish and English. Spanish El ángel... Read more

The celebrations for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe began immediately after the Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th.  The lay preacher Horacio Trujillo from Los Angeles delivered a message on the family for those gathered. Last night at 6:45pm was the blessing of the Aztec Dance.  Each member of the group placed his or her crown by the altar to be blessed.  Afterwards they entered into the church dancing in pairs to the sound... Read more