2022-03-28T11:09:47-05:00

Cuando era niño, recuerdo preguntarle a mi mamá durante la Misa justo antes de la comunión, ¿“se le acaban las hostias al Padre?”  Me respondió de manera rápida y bastante callada, “no, nunca se le acaban.”  Mi mente de niño escuchó estas palabras con gran incredulidad y admiración.  ¡Al sacerdote nunca se le acaban las hostias!  ¡Dios debe colocarlas milagrosamente!  En mi pensar, me imaginaba a ángeles depositando más hostias en el ciborio asegurándose de que haya siempre suficientes. Aunque... Read more

2022-03-26T21:28:19-05:00

We are all familiar with the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  There is a risk whenever we hear this Parable proclaimed, or any other well-known Parable, that we stop listening closely as soon as we recognize the passage.  So I have a test question: At what moment was the younger son forgiven by the Father?  Was it when he made the decision to return to his father’s house?  Or was it when the Father embraced the son and kissed him? ... Read more

2022-03-24T09:24:43-05:00

The Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, recently addressed the families of those killed in these past few weeks of war.  The Ukrainian government last estimated that 1,300 soldiers have died along with 3,360 civilians – the actual numbers are significantly higher.  “We want to be close to our suffering and hurting people.  This is one of the ministries that the Church wants to give to her people today, assuring that we have been,... Read more

2022-03-22T21:54:52-05:00

Pope Francis has formally invited every Bishop in the world to join him in an Act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary this upcoming March 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation.  This is a cry to heaven for peace in the world, in particular between these two countries.  I understand some have criticized Pope Francis for various reasons, yet I firmly believe this is a beautiful and concrete act by the Church for the... Read more

2022-03-18T22:17:01-05:00

On Thursday, March 17th, a statue of Our Lady of Fatima arrived from Portugal to the city of Lviv in Western Ukraine.  It will remain there until April 15th. The official page of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church reported that the Metropolitan Archbishop of Lviv, His Excellency Ihor Voznyak, C.SS.R., welcomed the statue along with many faithful and clergy at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.   “This is a big event for our city.  We... Read more

2022-03-06T21:33:26-05:00

When I was a brand-new seminarian, I had to choose a local outreach location where for two or three hours each week I would serve others in some capacity.  I picked the Urban Mission in downtown Steubenville, Ohio, and once per week I drove to a Methodist Church with another student to help at the soup kitchen.  Sometimes I helped in the kitchen cooking, other times arranging cans in the pantry, but every week without fail I assisted in serving... Read more

2022-03-03T13:10:49-05:00

When I was a kid, I remember asking my mother once at Mass right before communion, “does the priest ever run out of hosts?”  She gave me a quick and hushed response, “No, he never does.”  My mind registered her answer with utter amazement.  The priest never runs out of hosts!  God must miraculously keep putting hosts in there!  In my little mind, I imagined angels dropping hosts into the ciborium to make sure there were plenty of them. Though... Read more

2022-03-02T22:05:45-05:00

As the invasion of Ukraine continues, Pope Francis has asked that today be a special day of fasting and prayer for peace in Ukraine.  “I invite everyone to make March 2, Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting for peace,” he said. “I encourage believers in a special way to devote themselves intensely to prayer and fasting on that day. May the Queen of Peace protect the world from the folly of war.” My Parish Christi in Pooler, Georgia, held a... Read more

2022-02-26T09:48:07-05:00

The Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) was the first Catholic institution of higher learning to open in an ex-Soviet nation after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.  Tracing its origins to 1929 when Ukrainian Archbishop Josyf Slipyj founded the Greek Catholic Theological Academy which was closed by the Soviets in 1944, US-born Father Boris Gudziak led the reestablishment of the Academy in 1992 which eventually became the University. Now Archeparch of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia, Father Boris Gudziak... Read more

2022-02-25T09:18:58-05:00

Yesterday, a Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Yaroslav Pririz, issued instructions to the Priests of his Eparchy of Sambir-Drohobych in western Ukraine.  It expresses both love for the faithful and love for Ukraine.  It captures the anxiety of the Ukrainian people as they face the onslaught of the Russian army. Here is a translation: In connection with the Russian military aggression and the imposition of martial law in Ukraine, I oblige the Pastors of the Sambir-Drohobych Eparchy to the... Read more




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