Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Working Together To Build Something Better

HAVE THEM SIT DOWN IN GROUPS OF ABOUT FIFTY

Lord, you called two very different personalities, Peter and Paul, each with his own gifts and flaws, to carry on your mission of love. As we remember their journey, may we listen for your call in our own lives, and better appreciate how we also fit into the community of missionary disciples whom you rely on today to continue the mission of love. Amen.

Think of a time when you had to work with someone very different from you. Maybe your personalities clashed or you didn’t see eye to eye. But somehow, by working together, you were able to accomplish something neither of you could have done alone.

Founders of Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Fr. James Anthony Walsh and Fr. Thomas Frederick Price with Mother Mary Joseph Rogers, founder of Maryknoll Sisters

Maryknoll began with three very different individuals united by one bold vision: to bring the Gospel to the world’s margins. Father James Anthony Walsh, a fiery Boston diocesan priest, dreamed big and spoke even bigger. He launched The Field Afar magazine in 1907 to stir U.S. Catholics toward global mission. In contrast, Father Thomas Frederick Price, gentle and mystical, hailed from North Carolina and quietly believed the South had something to offer the world. He joined Walsh in 1911 to form the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America— what would become Maryknoll. Their official foundation day, now celebrated as the beginning of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, is June 29, 1911, the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul. Meanwhile, in Boston, Mollie Rogers, a Smith College graduate and natural trailblazer, was drawn to both intellect and faith. She began helping with The Field Afar and soon gathered a circle of women who would become the Maryknoll Sisters. Where Walsh challenged, Price prayed, and Rogers organized, a shared hope carried them forward—Christ’s mission across cultures.

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:13-19

The solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul reminds us that they weren’t alike. Peter was impulsive and outspoken; Paul was sharp, intense, and driven. They didn’t always agree, but they shared a deep love for Jesus and a bold commitment to the mission. The Church wasn’t built by people who always thought the same—it was built by people who were willing to work through differences for something bigger. Their example teaches us that, just as their collaboration united and built up the Church, we too are called to create spaces where strong personalities and our identities can flourish, where our differences are not obstacles, but sources of strength, and where we work together to build the Church that responds in love to a hurting world in need.

Where in your community or parish do you see diverse voices coming together for a shared purpose? How can you help make that happen?

Listening is one of the most powerful tools we have. This week, pay close attention to conversations—especially with people whose perspectives or personalities are different from yours. Focus less on how you’ll respond, and more on understanding what the other person is really saying. At the end of the day, reflect: What did I learn from these conversations? How can I use that insight to grow in how I live, lead, and love?

God, thank you for the reminder that we don’t need to be the same to serve the same mission. Help us listen well, work together with compassion, and celebrate the unique gifts each person brings. Guide us as we keep building your kingdom, side by side. Amen.