President Jimmy Carter started his Bible Study asking those present to raise their hands once they grasped the theme of the Scripture passage he was about to read. He began, “beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God.” He looked up as his lips stretched forming a gentle smile, his eyes sparkled just a bit as he looked out into the congregation. A few hands rose. He continued, “everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows... Read more
En el centro de la Plaza de San Pedro en Roma hay un gran obelisco egipcio. A pesar de ser muy antigua la basílica, este obelisco es aproximadamente 3.500 años más viejo, y ha permanecido cerca de la Colina Vaticana por unos 2.000 años. El emperador romano Calígula transfirió este obelisco de la ciudad de Heliópolis a Roma y lo instaló en medio del Circo Vaticano en el año 37 d. C. Esta nueva arena deportiva fue construida al lado... Read more
I delivered this homily at Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church in Darien, Georgia for the 422th anniversary of the death of the Servant of God Friar Pedro de Corpa and Companions. I have always thought that if God chose and called Saint Paul to play a foundational role in the early Church, God can definitely choose and call whoever he wishes to do whatever he needs to get done. Paul was not seeking Jesus, but was killing his disciples.... Read more
An Egyptian obelisk stands in the middle of Saint Peter Square in Rome. As old as the Basilica is, the mighty obelisk is approximately 3,500 years older, and has stood by the Vatican Hill for 2,000 years. The Roman Emperor Caligula transferred this obelisk from the city of Heliopolis to Rome and installed it in the middle of the Vatican Circus in AD 37. This new sports arena was built on the side of the Vatican Hill outside the city... Read more
I have only seen a sign forbidding visitors to smile or laugh in a public place once in my life. The site had no guards actively enforcing the rule, but the simple recounting of the horrific acts that unfolded at the site was enough to keep a person from smiling. What horrible thing could have happened in a place that forbids smiling and laughing? The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum was built as a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and... Read more
Cuando fui ordenado sacerdote nunca me imaginé que estaría tan inmerso en el tema de la inmigración. Anticipaba que serviría a mis compañeros inmigrantes y que trabajaría con católicos de habla hispana ya que yo hablaba español. Lo que nunca imaginé fue que como sacerdote pagaría la fianza de feligreses para que salgan de la cárcel, actuaría como mediador entre el departamento de policía y mis parroquianos, los organizaría para que participen en marchas en Atlanta y Washington, sería citado... Read more
When I was ordained a priest I never imagined that I would become so immersed into the issue of immigration. I knew that as an immigrant I would serve fellow immigrants, and I anticipated working with Spanish-speaking Catholics since I spoke Spanish. I could not imagine however that I would be bailing parishioners out of jail, serving as mediator between the police department and my parishioners, helping parishioners go to marches in Atlanta and Washington, that I would be misquoted... Read more
Esta mañana escuché en la radio un fascinante reportaje sobre el funcionamiento de la mente humana. El científico que fue entrevistado describió un reciente estudio que realizó el cual produjo resultados sorprendentes: las personas que toman decisiones concretas e irrevocables son más felices que aquellas que prefieren mantener varias opciones abiertas sin elegir definitivamente una cosa sobre otra. El científico quedó tan impresionado con los resultados de su investigación que inmediatamente le propuso matrimonio a su novia con quien había... Read more
This morning I listened to a fascinating story on the radio about the inner workings of the mind. The scientist interviewed described a recent study he conducted that yielded shocking results: people who make concrete, irrevocable choices are happier than those who prefer leaving their options open and fail to choose definitively one thing over another. The scientist was so surprised with the findings of his research that he went home and proposed to his girlfriend with whom he had... Read more
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From Slavery to Justice in Montgomery
I recently visited The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, as well as The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration in Montgomery, Alabama. The somber memorial stands in remembrance of over 4,400 African American men, women and children who were lynched between 1877 and 1950 in the United States. These victims were hanged, burned alive, shot, drowned, and beaten to death by white mobs that ignored the rule of law and oftentimes acted in response to fabricated charges. The... Read more