Many months ago I posted on the incredible amount of trash that exists in cyberspace.  I commented on the aggressive and negative comments people write, especially when reacting to news articles.  This morning however while reading an article on Pope Francis, I was shocked to discover that every single comment was positive.  Is Pope Francis bringing civility and light into cyberspace? I was so impressed that I have copied and pasted all the comments of this news article below (without... Read more

Yesterday Archbishop Dolan of New York wrote a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner stressing the urgency of immigration reform.  Archbishop Dolan does not state anything new in presenting the Church’s pastoral concern for the undocumented, yet the timing of this letter is crucial.  The House has the ability to debate and pass immigration reform before the end of the year.  Dear Mr. Speaker: On behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I write to you on... Read more

They’re so good, they have memorized all the notes!   Maybe not! Pictures are mine, all rights reserved Read more

This past week a priest told me about a man he met some months ago. The man was an alcoholic who was fully aware of his illness.  Fifty times he was admitted into an institution to help him stop drinking.  The man was experiencing the devastating effects of alcohol: a broken family, difficulty keeping a job, health problems, but was simply unable to stop drinking. After the fiftieth time that he was admitted into an institution, the man stopped drinking... Read more

Almost 1,000 years ago, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux asked himself why it is that we celebrate and remember the saints. He wrote, “why should our praise and glorification, or even the celebration of this feast day mean anything to the saints?  What do they care about earthly honors when their heavenly Father honors them by fulfilling the faithful promise of the Son?” Saint Bernard answered his own question, “calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, a... Read more

No hay nada que haga terminar una conversación como yo decirle a una persona, “soy sacerdote católico.”  La conversación inmediatamente se desinfla. Por otra parte, no hay nada que haga iniciar una conversación intensa, interesante y larga como yo decirle a una persona, “soy sacerdote católico.” Son las mismas palabras, comunican la misma realidad, pero la reacción es completamente contraria.Recuerdo estar en un taxi conversando con el taxista por un largo rato, hablamos de todo.  Yo no andaba vestido de... Read more

[Homily for the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C] I once heard a story about a young woman who died and was received at the gates of heaven.  She had not been very good in this life, but Saint Peter decided to give her another chance.  He said to her: “I’ll allow you into heaven under one condition.  You must return to earth and bring back the one thing God values above all other things.”  The woman accepted the... Read more

Yesterday at Our Lady of the Americas Catholic Mission in Lilburn, Georgia, Peruvians gathered for the celebration of El Señor de los Milagros.  I celebrated Mass in a packed church at 4pm and it was followed by a procession. Ayer en la Misión Latinoamericana de Nuestra Señora de las Américas en Lilburn, Georgia, peruanos se reunieron para la celebración del Señor de Los Milagros.  Yo celebré la Misa con la iglesia llena a las 4pm y luego se continuó con una procesión.... Read more

Click here for English Durante mi segundo año en el seminario conocí a una hermana religiosa en la oficina litúrgica de Roma. Era secretaria de Monseñor Marco Frisina, director de la oficina. Yo había ido a esta oficina con una carta del obispo Boland para solicitar una reliquia de San Francisco de Sales para la escuela Mount de Sales en Macon, Georgia. Charlando con la hermana, me di cuenta que vivía en el barrio junto al seminario, una zona con... Read more

During my second year of seminary I met a religious sister at the liturgical office of Rome.  She was the secretary of Monsignor Marco Frisina, director of the office.  I had gone there with a letter from Bishop Boland to request a relic of Saint Francis de Sales for Mount de Sales High School in Macon.  Chatting with the sister, I realized she lived in the neighborhood by the seminary, an area with many elderly people and troubled youths (picture... Read more