The 2011 Church Statistic Yearbook was released a few days ago.  Here are a few interesting and hopeful statistics:   – The number of Catholics in the world increased from 1.196 million in 2010 to 1.214 million in 2011, an increase of 18 million faithful.  The greatest growth occurred in Africa where Catholics increased by 4.3%. – Catholics make up 16.0% of the population of Africa, 48.8% of the Americas, 10.9% of Asia, 23.5% of Europe and 0.8% of Oceania.... Read more

Governor Deal of Georgia passed a law at the end of April that may make it impossible (or at least much harder) for the undocumented to marry in the Church. In order to receive the Sacrament of Marriage in the Church, the couple must secure a wedding license at the local courthouse or present a legal marriage certificate.  Since it is not necessary to show one’s legal status to get a marriage license, most undocumented immigrants have used their passports... Read more

Ever since celebrating First Communion at my parish last Saturday, I’ve been remembering my own First Communion.  It happened on April 20th, 1991, at Santa Maria Reina Parish in San Isidro (Lima), just six days before leaving Peru.  My parents had already decided we would leave Peru, but chose to stay till after my first communion so I could receive it with my friends from school. On the last page of a book with my first communion pictures and memories I wrote... Read more

  Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. Today’s first reading tells of the first major controversy faced by the disciples of Jesus in apostolic times: should baptized Christians observe the Law of Moses or not?  Should Christians follow the prescribed laws of the Old Testament, primarily circumcision?  In order to resolve the troubles, the apostles gathered in Jerusalem to pray, and guided by the Holy Spirit, reached a decision: Christians were only to abstain from meat sacrificed... Read more

April has come and gone. April always marks an important anniversary in my life.  On April 26th, 1991, my parents, my sister and I boarded a midnight American Airlines flight in Lima, Peru with Miami as its destination.  Home Alone was the movie aired during the flight. We left because our home country no longer welcomed us.  Remaining home meant at best the kidnapping of my father or a family member, at worst, the murdering of one of us.  Any exercise... Read more

  Hay un poema donde Dios Padre y Dios Hijo entablan una conversación.  Dios Padre le propone a su Hijo darle “una esposa que lo ame, que por tu valor merezca tener nuestra compañía, y comer pan a una mesa del mismo que yo comía.” El hijo responde, “mucho lo agradezco, Padre, a la esposa que me dieres.  Yo mi claridad daría, para que por ella vea cuanto mi Padre valía.  Reclinarla yo en mi brazo, y en tu amor... Read more

  There is a poem where God the Father and God the Son are having a conversation. “My Son,” states God the Father, “I wish to give you a bride who will love you.  Because of you she will deserve to share our company and eat at our table.” The Son replies, “I am very grateful.  I will show my brightness to the bride you give me, so that by it she may see how great my Father is.  I... Read more

This afternoon Bishop Hartmayer blessed the recently completed rectory at Saint Joseph, Augusta.  The bishop, about twenty priests and a few parishioners gathered outside the rectory to pray. The bishop then immediately blessed the rectory both outside and inside.  It was a beautiful day and all were thankful for the delicious meal served.                             Pictures courtesy of Astrid Soto, all rights reserved.   Read more

In a portion of a letter dated April 22, 2013 and signed by His Grace, Bishop Basil, Secretary of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America to all member hierarchs, prayers were requested for two Syrian hierarchs who had been abducted earlier that day.  The text of the letter reads as follows (below): “Metropolitan Paul Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo (brother of His Beatitude Patriarch John X of the Great City-of-God Antioch and... Read more

En la última cena Jesús oró fervorosamente por sus apóstoles y quienes creerían en él a través de su predicación. Oró para que ellos sean una cosa, como él y el Padre son uno. Viviendo en el sur de este país, solo tenemos que pasear por cualquier calle por cinco minutos para darnos cuenta de que los discípulos de Cristo no están unidos. Rápidamente observamos una variedad de iglesias.  ¡Qué escándalo, que los discípulos de Cristo no estén unidos!  A... Read more