We come at last to the fourth week of Advent….with Christmas on a Sunday, this year’s Advent (four full weeks) is as long as it could be). Advent really stirs our hearts & minds, gently yet deeply and leaves us within the normal setting in which we find ourselves in home, in work, relaxation and …
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice! That is our mantra for the Third Sunday which is also known as “Gaudete” or joyful Sunday. I love the symbolism of the rose vestments that might be worn at the liturgy, the blend of gold or white with the lavender of Advent. This signifies …
Fr. Stanley Rother, a priest of the Oklahoma City archdiocese served for nearly 15 years in Guatemala. Fr. Rother was murdered there in 1981 and the Vatican has just declared that he is a martyr who died for his faith and is now one step closer to being recognized as a saint. The work of Fr. …
Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, recently closed the extraordinary Year of Mercy with the end of the Ecclesiastical Year on the glorious feast of Christ the King, November 20. Captured in our readings and reflection on that day is the Lord, king of heaven and earth, “Jesus shows Himself to be lordly, not through beautiful …
On World AIDS day the statistics can be overwhelming. 34 million HIV-positive people worldwide. More than one million adults and children die every year from HIV/AIDS in Africa alone. Over 36 million have died from an HIV-related cause. To Mission Doctors, this day is about more that statistics, it’s about people, people like Emmanuella a …
We stand at the threshold of yet another year in the Church’s liturgical life. Advent is a time of preparation. Celebrated from the fourth century AD, it is a season of hope. Isn’t that what we need now, hope? With all that has happened in the last couple of weeks in our national elections, we …
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It always has been. Not because of the meal that I’ve been preparing since I was 18 years old! (Although I am partial to dressing and rutabagas!) But because we can be together with those we love, share history and stories, laugh and even sometimes cry over memories. What a …
Bringing together the leaders of volunteer programs, both domestic and international, the Catholic Volunteer Network held their National Conference on Faith Based Service last weekend, in Los Angeles. It was an opportunity to share strategic ideas in the area of recruitment, support for volunteers, fundraising and so much more. More than this however, it was …
Jim and Terry Hake, our Mission Doctor dynamic duo, just returned home from a short-term trip to St. Martin de Porres Mission Hospital in rural Cameroon, West Africa. They are one of our Communication Director’s favorites because they always share the beautiful stories that make us all feel closer to the patients served at St. …
The Pope said today, as Christian saints have done throughout the ages, Christ’s followers are called “to confront the troubles and anxieties of our age with the spirit and love of Jesus.” New situations require new energy and a new commitment, he said, and then he offered a new list of beatitudes for modern Christians: …