As 2015 comes to an end and I begin to consider some of the most significant moments of the year, the beatification of Archbishop Oscar Romero quickly emerges in my mind as one of the most significant events I took part of in 2015. After a quick visit to Guatemala and El Salvador three years ago, a fellow priest and I made a promise that we would attend the beatification of Archbishop Romero whenever and wherever it happened. We were... Read more
Earlier this year, I had the tremendous blessing to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. About thirty pilgrims crowded into the small crypt beneath the main altar of the ancient basilica where a silver star placed by Crusader knights marks the place where Jesus Christ was born. For seventeen centuries, the Basilica of the Nativity has safeguarded the location where one of the most frequently told stories of humanity occurred. A story that has sparked faith,... Read more
Este año tuve la enorme bendición de celebrar misa en la Basílica de la Natividad en Belén. Treinta peregrinos nos apachurramos en la pequeña cripta debajo del altar de la antigua basílica donde una estrella de plata edificada en tiempos de las cruzadas marca el lugar donde nació Jesucristo. Durante diecisiete siglos, la Basílica de la Natividad ha protegido el lugar donde ocurrió una de las historias más frecuentemente contadas de la humanidad. Una historia que ha despertado fe, inspirado... Read more
A few weeks ago, after having dinner with two priests at a local restaurant, I suggested we walk around Daffin Park in Savannah before going our separate ways. The mild temperature and gentle breeze made selling the walk very easy. Middle school students played football, joggers ran past us in both directions, and many lay on the grass enjoying the perfect fall day. After going around the park once, we cut through a neighborhood on the way back to our... Read more
While in college, a professor once pointed out how at home he could choose from over two hundred television channels. However, he also pointed out, that most of the time, though he had two hundred channels to choose from, there was absolutely nothing to watch. We have all experienced this, at least before the days of Tivo and On Demand. Sitting in front of the television, remote control in hand, ready to go, but nowhere to go. There is nothing... Read more
I am convinced that if possible, every person prefers to remain in the country where he or she was born. There are only a few things more disruptive in a person’s life than being uprooted from everything that is familiar and attempting to replant those roots elsewhere. I will never forget the day in 1991 when my mother told my sister and me that we would leave our homeland, Peru. Bombs blasted daily in Lima, kidnappings, blackouts, murders and... Read more
Every year as a priest I have looked forward to the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Popular devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe varies in intensity from country to country in Latin America, and nobody can match the love and fervor of the Mexican people. She has been part of their history as a people and nation since 1531. Though at the parish this celebration always required much planning and careful attention to details, I prepared... Read more
Como sacerdote he aprendido que al pueblo mexicano se le puede narrar la historia de las apariciones de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe una y otra vez. Todos los años para su fiesta, hago una breve reseña de las apariciones, y cada año todos la escuchan con la misma cuidadosa atención. Anoche tuve la oportunidad de predicar en una celebración de la Virgen de Guadalupe en un centro de detención de inmigración. Más de 400 hombres recibieron con tanta alegría y... Read more
Soon after wishing us a good evening on the evening of March 13th, 2013 from the Loggia of Saint Peter Basilica, Pope Francis made a statement that immediately caught my attention and I used in my Sunday homily. During the first days of his pontificate, he publically repeated this phrase, “God never tires of forgiving, but at times we get tired of asking for forgiveness.” In his first Angelus address four days after his election, he stated that “God’s face... Read more
Poco después de desearnos las buenas tardes el 13 de marzo de 2013 desde la logia de la Basílica de San Pedro, el Papa Francisco hizo una declaración que me llamó la atención inmediatamente y la utilicé en mi homilía dominical. Durante los primeros días de su pontificado, el Papa repitió públicamente la siguiente frase, “Dios no se cansa de perdonar, somos nosotros los que nos cansamos de pedir perdón.” En su primera charla al rezar el Angelus cuatro días... Read more
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