”Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Knowing what God wants of us… that’s the challenge for every person of faith.  And I am one of them.

Sometimes life tests us more than we would like—and that’s when our relationship with God can change.  We’re convinced we have the answers as is “I know what’s best for me, Lord. Are you listening?”  Today’s gospel reminds us with a bit of urgency that God’s ways aren’t always our ways.  When Jesus foretold his own suffering and death, Peter became agitated and rejected all such talk.  Jesus immediately reminded him that he was thinking the way human beings do.  Not as God does.   

Honestly, I have some sympathy for Peter.  After all, who among us can think like God?  But what Jesus is saying is that God’s plan may be beyond our comprehension.  We must have faith that God’s way is always better than our own.  Our role is to be open to our special calling, and to serve others with the gifts we were given, especially the gift of salvation in Christ.  And that means sharing our hope of eternal life in the face of happiness as well as sorrow.   

Friend, conforming to the expectations of the modern age isn’t always a winning formula, as St. Paul reminds us.  But placing our trust in God is.  So always have hope.  Believe that you are in God’s hands.  Answer your call to serve with grace, and you will gain new life just as Jesus has promised.   

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 5th Sunday August 30, 2020

To You we lift our minds and hearts,

Lord God of mercy and compassion.

Raise us up beyond our limits

and call us out of our small world

that we may see Your plan and Your will

for ourselves, for others, and for the earth.

Help us hear Your voice

in the cry of the poor and

see Your face in those

who suffer oppression.

Let not the noise and tumult

of this passing world

make us deaf to Your truth

or blind to Your presence

in creation, in others, and

in ourselves.

Into Your hands, Lord,

we commend our spirit,

our efforts and our projects.

Use them according to Your will

and make us coheirs and

co-creators of Your kingdom on earth.

Amen.


Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

ABOUT MARYKNOLL

We are a Catholic Society of priests and brothers based in the United States. We are dedicated to missionary work overseas in over 20 countries. Additionally, we animate Catholics in the United States to follow their own baptismal call to share God’s compassion and love with the poor, the sick, and all those in need.

OUR GENERAL COUNCIL

L-R Tom O'Brien, Ray Finch, Joe Everson, Russ Feldmeier

(Fr. Lance P. Nadeau, Fr. James M. Lynch, Fr. Timothy O. Kilkelly, Fr. Juan Montes Zúñiga)

The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers is overseen by our General Council, led by Superior General Rev. Lance P. Nadeau, M.M.

OUR FOUNDERS

L-R Tom O'Brien, Ray Finch, Joe Everson, Russ Feldmeier

(Our Co-Founders Father Price and Father Walsh)

PLACES WE SERVE

EVANGELIZATION, PARISHES, AND PROJECTS

USA

STORIES OF MISSION

(Africa) Education and Formation of African Clergy

The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Africa Region will provide tuition assistance to African clergy, male and female religious at institutes of higher education or specialized training. Read More

Stories of Our Global Mission

The calling of a lifetime

The life of a Maryknoll missioner is challenging, fulfilling, and deeply rewarding. Follow your baptismal call to mission by sharing God’s compassion with the poor, the sick, and people most in need.

Dear Friend in Mission,

With hearts full of hope, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers joyfully welcomes the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. In this historic moment for the universal Church, we give thanks to God for the gift of a new pope—chosen to succeed Pope Francis and guide us forward in faith, love, and missionary zeal.

Pope Leo XIV brings with him a deep commitment to dialogue, peace, and global solidarity—values that echo the very heart of our missionary vocation. A seasoned pastoral leader and thoughtful theologian, he is known for his compassionate outreach and dedication to the spiritual and social needs of the Church, particularly in regions experiencing hardship and need.

His years of missionary service in Peru, working among underserved communities, reflect a profound dedication to the Church’s mission of presence, accompaniment, and evangelization. His firsthand experience on the peripheries of society has shaped his vision for a Church that listens, serves, and uplifts—all grounded in Christ’s love.

As missionaries, we have been deeply inspired by Pope Francis’s call to go to the peripheries, to serve the poor, and to be instruments of God’s mercy and peace. We now look with prayerful anticipation to Pope Leo XIV, confident that the Holy Spirit will continue to lead the Church through his words and witness.

We invite you to join us in praying for our new pope, asking the Lord to bless him with wisdom, courage, and compassion as he begins his ministry as the Vicar of Christ and visible sign of unity for the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.

Thank you for walking with us on this missionary journey. Together, in communion with the successor of St. Peter, we remain committed to proclaiming the Gospel and witnessing to Christ’s love around the world.

In gratitude and peace,

Father Lance Nadeau, M.M. signature

Reverend Lance P. Nadeau, M.M.
Superior General

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