Father Michael Schmitz addresses SEEK21

Last updated on: February 6, 2021 at 10:43 pm By Father Pablo Migone

Father Michael Schmitz has become a highly recognized Catholic speaker over the past few years. A priest of the Diocese of Duluth, he has become known mostly through his online presence. Most recently along with Ascension Press, he launched a podcast titled “The Bible in a Year.” It quickly became the number one ranked podcast. Tonight, Father Michael addressed the thousands of SEEK21 participants from the University of Minnesota Duluth where he is the chaplain. I was reminded of his... Read more

SEEK21 Launches with 20,000 Catholic Students

Last updated on: February 5, 2021 at 12:20 pm By Father Pablo Migone

The 2021 SEEK Conference organized by the Fellowship of Catholic College Students (FOCUS) started tonight. Usually held every two years at a prominent city in the USA, this year the event is being live-streamed. An estimated 26,000 from throughout the world are attending, half of which are college students of which most are in one of 200 college campuses where FOCUS has a presence. Sister Miriam, SOLT and Bishop Robert Barron were the keynote speakers tonight, preparing the students for... Read more

New Saint Memorials added by Pope Francis to Calendar

Last updated on: February 4, 2021 at 9:44 am By Father Pablo Migone

Pope Francis approved two decrees this week instituting new memorials for Saints in the universal liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus will be celebrated on July 29, while Saint Gregory Narek will be on February 27, Saint John of Avila on May 10, and Saint Hildegard of Bingen on September 17. I love that Martha, Mary and Lazarus will be remembered together in this single Memorial. The Pope’s decree noted the “important evangelical witness they... Read more

Father Peter Whelan, the Angel of Andersonville

Last updated on: February 3, 2021 at 5:55 pm By Father Pablo Migone

Father Peter Whelan is best remembered for two things in South Georgia: 1. He served the spiritual needs of Confederate Irish soldiers at Fort Pulaski near Savannah, was captured, and became a Union prisoner of war in New York for six months. He refused to leave captivity until all the solders were exchanged. 2. He served as chaplain at Camp Sumter near Andersonville, Georgia (now Andersonville Prison) where many Catholic Union solders were kept. Conditions were appalling and deadly. He... Read more

Una muerte no anunciada

Last updated on: January 29, 2021 at 4:57 pm By Father Pablo Migone

La vida puede cambiar en un abrir y cerrar de ojos. “Quédate despierto, porque no sabes ni el día ni la hora”, dice Jesús después de compartir la parábola de las diez vírgenes. Si hay una constante en la vida, es la presencia constante del cambio. Recientemente celebré las misas dominicales en una parroquia en el sur de Georgia. Después de saludar a los parroquianos al concluir la Misa (a la distancia, por supuesto, y con una máscara), regresé a... Read more

An unannounced death

Last updated on: January 28, 2021 at 3:47 pm By Father Pablo Migone

Life can change in the blink of an eye. “Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour,” says Jesus after sharing the parable of the ten virgins. If there is one constant in life, it is the constant presence of change. I recently celebrated the weekend Masses at a parish in South Georgia. After greeting the faithful outside the church (at a distance of course, and wearing a mask), I continued back into the sacristy to remove... Read more

Cardinal Cupich criticizes Bishops on President Biden

Last updated on: January 20, 2021 at 10:19 pm By Father Pablo Migone

News outlets reported this morning that Rome had put a stop to the publication of a statement by Archbishop Gomez as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops where he congratulated President Biden while offering strong words in regards to where Biden and the Church disagree. The statement was published anyways, and Rome issued a friendly statement to President Biden later in the day. After the USCCB published the statement of Archbishop Gomez, which I found fair and... Read more

Bishops Statement on the Inauguration of President Biden

Last updated on: January 20, 2021 at 9:58 pm By Father Pablo Migone

Archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose Gomez, issued a statement today on the inauguration of President Joseph Biden. I quote below the “pertinent” paragraphs. Of the whole statement, these words are the ones most Catholics will be interested in reading. Gomez speaks clearly with the mind of the Church. He welcomes the new president, yet speaks resolutely on the issues where absolute disagreement exists: abortion, contraception, marriage and gender. “I look forward to working with President Biden and his administration, and the... Read more

A door into a new year

Last updated on: January 19, 2021 at 10:01 am By Father Pablo Migone

Among the gods of the Roman Empire was Janus, god of doors, gates and passageways. As god of these, it is reasonable that he was also the god of transitions, of beginnings and ends. He was portrayed as having two faces, each one looking in the opposite direction: one looking to the past and another to the future. Oftentimes Janus also held a key in his hand, signifying his authority over doors and transitions. It should be no surprise that... Read more

La puerta a un nuevo año

Last updated on: January 18, 2021 at 5:43 pm By Father Pablo Migone

Entre los numerosos dioses del Imperio Romano se encontraba Jano, el dios de puertas, portones y pasillos. Como patrón de estos, tiene sentido que también fuera el dios de las transiciones, de los inicios y los finales. Jano era retratado con dos caras, cada una mirando en la dirección opuesta: una mirando al pasado y otra al futuro. A menudo, Jano también tenía una llave en la mano, la que representaba su autoridad sobre las puertas y las transiciones. No... Read more