Stories of Mission
Wise Use of Material Goods, Journey of Faith
Our Gospel today from Saint Luke centers around the theme of possessions—both earthly and heavenly. Twice Jesus gives some clear, focused advice: “One’s life does not consist of possessions.” “Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not...
Knowing God as Compassionate Father, Journey of Faith
Knowing God as Compassionate Father Christian creeds address God as “the Father, the almighty.” Calling God “Our Father” is a personal address, asserting his care for all creation, especially for all humanity. God is called “Father” 170 times in the Gospels...
Living an Integrated Life in Mission, Journey of Faith
Today’s Gospel from Saint Luke, also used for the feast of Saint Martha, probably reflects a typical scene from the life of Jesus. He had a very close friendship relationship with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, often going to their home in Bethany to relax, enjoy...
Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality, with Matthew Fox
Matthew Fox is an internationally acclaimed spiritual theologian, Episcopal priest, and activist. He holds a doctorate, summa cum laude, in the History and Theology of Spirituality from the Institut Catholique de Paris and has devoted 45 years to developing and...
Mercy: The Heart of Mission, Journey of Faith
Two of Jesus’ parables are known worldwide by people of all faiths and traditions; they are the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. Both narratives speak of the universal value of mercy. The good Samaritan treated the wounded stranger with mercy and...
Mission: The Heart of the Gospel, Journey of Faith
Mission permeates the entire New Testament. Today’s Gospel from chapter ten of Luke narrates a key event, where Jesus chooses seventy-two additional followers and sends them out on mission. We should conclude that mission is for all of Jesus’ disciples—all baptized...
Pope Francis is a Missionary Pope
We in Maryknoll admire Pope Francis because he expresses so well what a Maryknoll Missioner is all about, namely service to God’s mission in the world. He is a missionary pope who says we should “smell like the sheep”. On Holy Thursday several years ago he said:...
Maryknoll Ordains a New Priest
On June 3, 2022 His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples ordained Deacon John Siyumbu to the priesthood. Maryknoll Superior General, Father Lance P. Nadeau, was concelebrant. During his homily,...
The Maryknoll Mission Bell By Fr. Rodrigo Ulloa M.M.
The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers had the first mission departure on September 7, 1918. At eight o’clock the ringing of the mission bell announced the departure of our first four men to the Orient. This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation...
Of Walking Sticks and Wonder – The Apostolic Life By Mr. Greg Darr
Spiritual author, Fr. Richard Rohr OFM once remarked, “Transformed people transform people.” It’s the chemical equation of a spiritual life – when one person encounters another through love, a transforming reaction takes place changing both lives, making each more...
The First Four Maryknoll Missioners Sent to China In 1918
The first Maryknoll Missioners sent to China in 1918: Newly ordained and future Bishop James Edward Walsh is pictured sitting on the left with Co-Founder Fr. Thomas F. Price in the middle, newly ordained and future Bishop Francis X. Ford on the right and standing Fr....
Our Missionary Call from Jesus, Journey of Faith
In today’s Gospel, Saint Luke presents Jesus “resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.” As Jesus proceeds on his missionary path, he invites others to follow him. Then we hear of many excuses for either delaying or even rejecting the call. Honestly, we are...
Corpus Christi – Remembering Sunday, Journey of Faith
Special names are often given to significant feasts within the Church’s liturgical year. Following Easter we have Divine Mercy Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday; last week we celebrated Trinity Sunday. Today is the feast of Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ. I believe...
Trinity – A Community of Dynamic Love, Journey of Faith
Today, as the Church celebrates Trinity Sunday, we are invited to reflect upon a great truth of the Christian faith: we believe in a Trinitarian God: one God in three persons. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, living a life of communion and perfect mutual love. We...
Holy Spirit: “Giver of Life”, Journey of Faith
Today, Pentecost Sunday, is an opportune moment to deepen our appreciation of the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church. We can be guided by the profound thought of our Spirit-filled Pope Francis. Early in his pontificate, Pope Francis gave a three-part...
Joyful Witnesses of Good News, Journey of Faith
Today’s Gospel for the feast of Christ’s Ascension notes that after Jesus “was taken up to heaven,” his disciples “returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” They had experienced many remarkable events, ranging from Jesus’ public ministry, his passion and death to...
Jesus’ Comforting Promises, Journey of Faith
Jesus’ Comforting Promises Our Gospel today is taken from Jesus’ “Last Supper Discourse” (John 13-17); it might be called “Jesus’ Farewell Address.” Several significant events have preceded Jesus’ words we hear today. He washed his disciples’ feet...
The Feast of the Epiphany, Prayer Guild January 2022
The Feast of the Epiphany Lord Jesus Christ,may Your Word rise like a guiding starin our hearts and mindsto lead us through the darkest nightsand show us the waywhen we seem lost or far from You. May we always follow Your stareven to foreign lands and unfamiliar...
“AS I” True Measure of Authentic Love, Journey of Faith
“AS I” — True Measure of Authentic Love Today’s Gospel reading is taken from the “Last Supper Discourse” of Jesus in John’s Gospel; it extends for five full chapters (13-17). We hear Jesus saying: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have...
Lord, Shepherd Me, Journey of Faith
Lord, Shepherd Me “Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life” is the refrain from a liturgical song by Marty Haugen. Frequently heard at Masses as the refrain of the responsorial psalm, it reflects the theme of today’s...
Be Not Afraid, Journey of Faith
By James H. Kroeger, MM What is the opposite of “faith” in the sacred scriptures? Many responses are possible: doubt, disbelief, mistrust, uncertainty, hesitation, skepticism, apprehension. You might even assert that the antonym of “faith” is “fear.” To be...
Easter Encounters with the Risen Lord, Journey of Faith
Today we celebrate the Resurrection, the greatest of our Church’s feasts. That makes it the perfect opportunity to think about what I call “faith encounters.” There is a rich variety in the different Evangelists’ scriptural accounts of that first Easter. ...
Rising, Learning from Women’s Leadership in Catholic Ministries, Interview with Carolyn Y. Woo, PhD
Robert Ellsberg sits down with Author, Carolyn Y. Woo, to discuss Rising, Learning from Women’s Leadership in Catholic Ministries. Through reflection on first-person narratives of a range of women involved in leadership positions in Catholic ministries (social...
Walking in Solidarity with Jesus, Journey of Faith
Walking in Solidarity with Jesus On Palm Sunday we begin our intimate Holy Week journey with Jesus. On this occasion I recall a moving experience from the Philippines, where I spent 52 years in mission. It was during the visit of Pope Francis in January 2015. He...
Supplement your faith with virtue, Journey of Faith
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. If these...
An Easter Message from Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, from Fr. Lance Nadeau, M.M.
Hello everyone, my dear brothers and...
Martin Luther King and The Trumpet of Conscience Today, Interview with Régine Michelle Jean-Charles
Martin Luther King and The Trumpet of Conscience Today wrestles with the parts of King’s vision that have historically been the most uncomfortable for white Americans. The lectures that comprise “The Trumpet of Conscience” are a powerful critique of the triple...
Earth Day – April 22nd
Earth DayCare of Creation Africa - KenyaFr. John Waldrep, M.M.The reforestation project will take place in 20-30 outstations of St. John the Baptist Parish. Two types of drought-resistant trees will be planted. The trees will bring various nutritional and...
One does not live by bread alone, Journey of Faith
“Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of...
What Makes Education Catholic: Spiritual Foundations, Interview with Thomas Groome
In this readable and timely work, Thomas Groome explores the basis of Catholic education, from the historical Jesus to figures like Augustine and Aquinas, Angela Merici, Elizabeth Seton, and Mary Ward. Groome shows how these foremothers and fathers of Catholic...
