Grassroots Empowerment

What Would You Do? is a classic American hidden-camera television program that I have enjoyed watching in the past, hosted by John Quiñones, that explores human ethics, moral choices, and bystander intervention in everyday situations. John is a motivational speaker and journalist working for ABC News in the United States.  In many ways, this weekend’s […]

As part of its ongoing commitment to expanding access to quality education for disadvantaged children, the Grassroots Access to Empowerment Foundation (GATE) conducted a project visit to St. Joseph Catholic Parish/Mark Unegbu Memorial School, Awarra, located in Ohaji Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Engr. Dr. Chigozie Offurum, the foundation’s chairman of the board,

The readings for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (7/19/26) reveal a profound truth about the heart of God when it states that justice and kindness are not opposing forces but inseparable siblings. The Book of Wisdom reminds us that although God is all-powerful, He governs with mercy and judges with clemency (Wisdom 12:13, 16–19).

Life always has lessons for us every day. If we are willing to listen, we will hear; if we truly hear, we will understand; and if we understand, we will learn. This progression is beautifully reflected in the readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, as the Church leads us through Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm

This Sunday’s first reading, the Book of Zechariah (9:9-10), may initially sound somewhat exclusive in its language, given its direct call to the daughter of Zion to rejoice, even though both men and women equally experience the joys and burdens of a nation’s political and social realities. In the Gospel, however, Jesus broadens the invitation

The story of Elisha and the couple from Shunem (2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a), together with Jesus’ teaching in today’s Gospel (Matthew 10:37-42), provides context for my reflection with you this weekend. Although the readings appear to emphasize acts of kindness toward the messengers of the Gospel, such as prophets, priests, and religious men and women,

On this weekend of the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, I find myself reflecting on what gives us, as Christians, confidence in the face of adversity. What sustains our courage amid persistent challenges? One answer emerges clearly from today’s Gospel, clarifying that just as Jesus Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12), we

In the past few weeks, I have not shared my reflections with you because I have focused on publishing my study with ProQuest. In those moments, I paused several times to appreciate how special I am in God’s eyes. This experience is not merely a feeling; it is real, and I have encountered the truth

The Book of Psalms (47:6) echoes the spirit of today’s celebration of the Ascension: “God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.” This proclamation captures the distinctive character of Jesus’ Ascension as he is lifted to the highest heavens. Unlike in many parts of the world, especially in

At times, perhaps shaped in part by insights from Feminist Theology, I find it difficult to confine God strictly within human gender categories. If you have seen The Shack, a movie that premiered around 2017, you may recognize a similar spiritual intuition, suggesting that the attempt to encounter God goes beyond limited human constructs. Today,

I have often reflected on how the Church has endured across centuries, growing in number and witness despite persecution, internal tensions, and cultural shifts. One compelling answer, brought into sharper focus in recent years through Pope Francis’ emphasis on synodality, is that the Church, at her core, is a listening Church. The phrase synodal Church,

I center my reflection today on the moment when John departs for Jerusalem, leaving Paul and his companions to continue their missionary journey into different parts of Asia (Acts 13:13-25). Amid the broader movement of the passage, that brief note of departure stands out to me on several levels. It reflects a familiar turning point