Altar on Calvary, Jerusalem If we want to experience more profoundly how much Jesus loves us, how much he desires to be with us, we need to meditate more closely his suffering and his death. Today’s readings speak of the sufferings of Jesus, but most importantly they relate to us that his sufferings have an infinite value in the eyes of God.  His passion and death are not meaningless acts of violence and suffering, but quite the opposite, they are... Read more

Press Release The Diocese of Savannah has filed suit in federal court seeking to block the Health and Human Services mandate that would force religious employers to provide medical services in violation of their religious beliefs. The Archdiocese of Atlanta, Christ the King Catholic School in Atlanta and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Atlanta joined in the lawsuit. Named as defendants are the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department... Read more

Press Release The Diocese of Savannah has filed suit in federal court seeking to block the Health and Human Services mandate that would force religious employers to provide medical services in violation of their religious beliefs. The Archdiocese of Atlanta, Christ the King Catholic School in Atlanta and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Atlanta joined in the lawsuit. Named as defendants are the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department... Read more

  Octubre es un mes especial en mi país natal del Perú, en particular en la capital de Lima.  Crece el fervor religioso, muchas personas visten hábitos morados con gruesos cinturones blancos, procesiones se llevan a cabo y se saborean comidas especiales.  Todo esto para conmemorar al patrón de la ciudad, al Señor de Los Milagros, el cual desde 1715 ha sido el patrón oficial de Lima y desde el 2010 el Patrón del Perú, como fue proclamado por el... Read more

Today the Church remembers the first bishop of Paris, Saint Denis, martyred in the third century during the reign of Emperor Decius.  Saint Denis is easy to identify in Christian art since as seen above, he is always depicted holding his head with a bishop’s miter on top.  It is said that after being martyred by decapitation at Montmartre, the highest hill of Paris, Denis arose, picked up his head and walked several miles outside the city to the place where he... Read more

October is unique in my native country of Peru, especially in the capital Lima.  Religious fervor increases, many people wear purple habits with thick white cinctures, processions take place and special foods are eaten.  These commemorate the patron of the city, El Señor de Los Milagros (The Lord of Miracles), who since 1715 has been the official patron of Lima and since 2010 the Patron of Peru as proclaimed by ex-president Alan Garcia. The Lord of Miracles is a simple... Read more

When reflecting on today’s first reading from Job and today’s feast of Saint Francis, I had a realization: We oftentimes feel sorry for Job losing all his possessions, yet Francis chose the life of Job willingly.  Job had no choice in losing everything he had, but Francis in contrast gave up everything he had in order to become more like Christ who was poor. This dramatic renunciation of wordly goods by Francis is seen concretely in his meeting with the bishop of... Read more

  Today’s readings provide us with a very challenging examination of conscience by presenting us with a convicting truth: Whoever leads another person astray from Christ will be punished, and whoever helps another find the way to Christ will be rewarded. There is a short story by the well-known American author O. Henry where a young girl whose mother has died is starved for her father’s attention, but the father is always tiered and does not want to be bothered... Read more

Where do you encounter God?  When in your daily routine do you come into the presence of God? Some encounter God through the beauty of nature, silently admiring majestic mountains or a beautiful sunset.  Others experience God’s presence when they contemplate with gratitude the wonders of creation or the mystery of life.  As Catholics, we have a definite encounter with God at the Eucharist where we gather to hear his Word and receive the body and blood of his Son.... Read more

[Homilía del Vigesimoquinto domingo de Tiempo Ordinario] Una vez un señor que estaba muriendo de cáncer al pulmón y cirrosis del hígado me decía: Padre, ¿Por qué Dios me castiga de esta manera? ¿Por qué Dios me hace sufrir así y no escucha mis oraciones? ¿Se habrá olvidado  de mí? Conociéndolo bien, le conteste yo, “Juanito, no le estés echando la culpa a Dios, bien sabes cuantos cientos de miles de cigarrillos te haz fumado durante tu vida y sabes... Read more