Grassroots Empowerment

The Sacred Scriptures set apart one spectacular description of discipleship. That description, as seen today from Luke’s Gospel (10:1-12; 17-20), is that discipleship is not a call to comfort but a mission marked by trust, simplicity, and vulnerability. When Jesus sent forth the seventy-two disciples ahead of Him, He offered no illusions of safety; the […]

Mother Church invites us today to reflect on the lives and times of Peter and Paul, popularly called “The Princes of the Apostolic College.” Without the conflicts of authority, Peter was the leader of the Apostolic College and the first Pope. Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles and Peter’s partner. Together, they sojourned in

As a priest, my reflection guide follows the Church (Catholic) pattern and seasons unless a different need suggests otherwise. Last Sunday, we concluded the Easter season with the celebration of Pentecost. However, even with our return to the Ordinary Time in the Church’s liturgical year, we keep our heads up for the weekly celebrations of

So much is going on right now in the world, making many people jittery about waking up and heading to the streets to work or do other things each morning. Our world is overwhelmed by fear, division, and uncertainty, while the deep-seated need in the human heart is for divine peace and loving unity. The

I want to begin by reminding everyone that renewal, the ministry of active transformation of lives and the entire world, is ongoing. Today’s celebration of the Ascension invites us to pause and reflect on the final earthly moment of Jesus’ visible presence among His disciples. As the Book of Acts (1:1-11) recounts, Jesus did not

Today’s celebration comes with a small but meaningful shift. In the U.S., the Solemnity of the Ascension is transferred from Thursday to Sunday, which slightly adjusts our readings, particularly the second reading and gospel, so we align with the liturgy for the Seventh Sunday of Easter. That change is more than a liturgical tweak; it’s

It’s not usually my style, but I chose to follow this route as I began my weekend reflection with some beautiful and meaningful words drawn from today’s first reading. My short but meaningful starter derives from the powerful interactions between Paul, Barnabas, and the early Christian community members.The Scripture says that after Paul and Barnabas

  This Sunday, May 11, 2025, holds a profound significance for us. First, it is our weekly commemoration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, an anthem of our faith that brings renewal and hope to all believers. Adding to our usual Sunday meetings is the historic election of Pope Leo XIV this last

The entire book of the Acts of the Apostles is a record of post-resurrection events and the marvels God did through the apostolic mission of the followers of Jesus Christ, heralding a new dawn that has stretched to our time. The Easter event is so huge that its celebration goes beyond a day into the