Author name: Jessica Franks

Today is World Malaria Day with it’s World Health Organization theme “Ready to Beat Malaria” and the fight against malaria seems to be at a crossroad of sorts in this campaign to control and eliminate the disease. In 2016, 91 countries reported a total of 216 million cases of malaria with 445,000 deaths; two-thirds of

I am often asked what is involved with the Discernment weekends for those thinking about going on a long-term mission with MDA. First – it is held at the Mission House in Los Angeles, the location of the four month formation program. I think having time to see the location, stay over a few nights, and

(Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35; 1 John 5: 1-6; John 20: 19-31) Divine Mercy Sunday is a relatively new addition to the Church’s liturgical year. In 2000 Saint John Paul II designed the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday (flowing from a devotion to Christ’s Divine Mercy by a Polish nun, St. Maria Faustina

Because of Easter we can pray: “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen!” The past few years we have said good bye to many friends of Mission Doctors Association.  I guess this should be expected with an organization about to turn 60.  Many of

Genesis 1:1-2:2; Genesis 22: 1-18;  Exodus 14: 15-15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14;  Isaiah 55: 1-11; Baruch 3:9-15; 32-44; Ezeckiel 36: 16-17a; 18-28;  Romans 6: 3-11; Mark 16:1-7 The celebration of our reason for being Christian begins. Christianity is not about lovely music at Sunday liturgies (though that is nice and, no doubt, brings many closer to God)

[Isa. 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42] Good Friday, once again? What makes it good- I mean if someone close to me died it would be insane to label it a ‘good day’. Why does the Church view the day during which Jesus was tortured, publicly humiliated and died as ‘Good Friday’? Didn’t seem like

Today’s Gospel reading from Mark tells us about Jesus’ grand entrance into Jerusalem only days before his Crucifixion.  High drama with colts, palms, and cheering crowds, what is not to like, huh? But we know the rest of the story don’t we, as only a few days later these cheering fans will be jeering Jesus

Today is World Water Day. There are approximately 7.4 billion people in the world today; 2.1 billion of them live without safe drinking water at home. It is fairly easy to forget this when you turn on the tap and can reasonably assume that something safe to drink will come out into your glass. Today would be

[Jeremiah 31: 31-34; Hebrews 5: 7-9; John 12: 20-33] In today’s Gospel reading from John we are told that some Greek Jews approached the Apostle Phillip asking simply: “We want to see Jesus.” Aside from the fact that Phillip is portrayed as the ‘go-to man’ in this reading, the request to see Jesus is central

[2 Chronicles 16: 14-16; Ephesians 2: 4-10; John 3: 14-21] Fourth Week of Lent – how is it going? Even if not so well,  remember it is never too late to begin focusing on prayer, fasting and giving to the poor. This may seem overwhelming or just another list of things to do, but, in