In his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), Pope Francis put his finger on one of the principal obstacles to spreading the Good News of the Gospel.
February 6, 2019
God of heaven and earth, Creator of all,
Be always by the side of Your Ambassador Pope Francis.
Guide him in his words and actions,
Sustain him as an instrument of Your peace and compassion,
Give him the wisdom and strength to do Your Will,
Protect him from all evil,
Help him to shepherd the flock of the Church, to bring it to salvation,
February 5, 2019
Columban Fr. Tomas King was among the celebrants at the blessing of St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Nagarparkar, Sindh Pakistan in April 2018. Bishop Samson Shukerdin of the Catholic Diocese of Hyderabad presided over the ceremony.
February 5, 2019
O God, Who among the other marvels of Your power,
has granted the victory of martyrdom;
mercifully grant:
that we who celebrate the Heavenly birthday
of blessed Agatha, Your Virgin and Martyr,
may, by her example,
draw nearer to You.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your Son who lives and reigns world without end.
Amen.
February 4, 2019
I met a very courageous and determined girl sometime in 2005 in Ozamiz City, Philippines. Maryjoy Tabuco is the eldest among the four siblings. She was born on September 8, 1992, in San Jose, Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur. Her father was killed by Maryjoy's uncle in Tambulig while they were having fun with the family for no reason.
February 4, 2019
O Heavenly Father, I pray
that You enlighten my mind,
inflame my will,
purify my heart,
and sanctify my soul.
Amen.
- Pope Clement XI
February 3, 2019
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary,
in this tragic hour of the world's history,
we entrust and consecrate ourselves to your Immaculate Heart,
our only refuge, our hope, our salvation.
Have pity on this world,
torn by the most terrible conflicts,
burning with the fires of hate, victim of its own sins.
May your Heart be moved at the sight of so much ruin,
February 2, 2019
O Mary, for you, nothing is impossible.
You can raise even those who are in despair
to a hope of salvation.
There more powerful you are,
the greater should be your mercy.
February 1, 2019
Travelling to strange places and leaving familiar things behind entails a mixed feeling of excitement, joy as well as fear. Although I do not like to travel, travelling makes me courageous and motivated.
February 1, 2019
The closing of the Columban centennial in Myanmar was held in Myitkyina where Columbans worked for decades until 1979 before being expelled by the military government. Thousands of Kachin people came mostly on foot for the closing Mass [which lasted almost three hours with liturgical dance], for their traditional Manaw dance [two hours] and for the open air concert at night.
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.