I believe I may have shared this before, but we always tell those in Formation that one of the blessings of being in mission is that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. There are fewer distractions and demands on time and treasure. Â Little is done or expected in a gift exchange, Â it is about …
Micah 5: 1-4a; Hebrews 10: 5-10; Luke 1:39-45 With Christmas only two days away our minds are spinning with the various things which need to be done before Christmas: there are gifts to be wrapped; cards and packages to be mailed and food to be purchased for family feasts. With so much to do it …
Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Phil. 4:4-7; Luke 3: 10-18 The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday (Sunday of Joy) because two of the readings focus on joy. Joy- a word which we do not hear mentioned much in our frantic world and when it is casually dropped in small talk the speaker usually equates it …
It is true for people living and serving in their own communities, as it is for those who travel to distant countries – we must follow the example of Jesus, who came into the world as a child to lead us to live lives of service. How we do this in the present time, must …
(Baruch 5: 1-9; Phil. 1:4-8, 8-11; Luke 3: 1-6) The Second Sunday of Advent has come upon us- how time flies- and we are introduced in the Gospel of Luke to John the Baptist, preaching in the desert. Now often John comes across not as the saintly precursor to Jesus but as a strange, grouchy …
Approximately 77 million people have become infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic. Today, there are approximately 36.9 million people currently living with HIV, and tens of millions of people have died of AIDS-related causes since the beginning of the epidemic. While these are staggering numbers, there are some reasons for optimism. ·        940,000 people …
The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) is celebrated in our Catholic Faith on Nov 2nd. On this day we remember both those who have recently passed and those who have left many years ago. I remember as a child my mother recalling the life and passing of an Aunt who had died …
Daniela traveled over an hour by bus, through the Andean highlands of Ecuador. Taking time away from family, children, and grandchildren, and even the $2 round trip bus fare was a strain, yet she felt she should not wait any longer to see a doctor. She made her way to the Hospital del Dia Virgen …
This summer was filled with a great deal of news from every corner-tragic news in the world, divisive news in our country. And, in our Church, our haven of hope, the news has been, at times, overwhelming. Archbishop Gomez called this the “summer of sorrow for the Catholic Church in this country” When I turn on the news I can …
I headed out this morning to exhibit at the Catholic Medical Association Annual Conference in Dallas. I am looking forward to meeting with some of our Mission Doctors who have served in Cameroon, Guatemala and Peru. Â I will also will have the opportunity to meet with a former MDA Board member, those who have applied …