Pilgrim progress- a disciple on a journey!

Today we celebrate a beautiful feastday: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary or as it is also known: the Feast of Maria Bambina. Mary’s name, therefore, is really more than just a name. It’s a prayer in and of itself. As Disciples of the Divine Master, we receive the name ‘Mary’ when we make our First Profession and the 8 th of September is our common nameday throughout the world as a Congregation. I feel very honoured to bear Mary’s name but sadly we don’t use it as much as we used to, unless there is something serious or for formalities! Kind of like your Mum calling you by all your all your names including your Baptism and Confirmation names. Then you know you’re in trouble! In Italy, we were more accustomed to calling each other by our Marian name, thus reminding us of our mission to be like Mary in the world. When I was in Ottawa, my classmates used to talk about the famous ' Sister Mary Nun’! Indeed it does seems that every parish has a ‘Sister Mary’, especially in I...

Each person that is born is granted the gift of life by their parents. Today is the birthday of our beloved Pope Francis, a day to give thanks for his life, his priesthood, his pontificate, his parents who gave him  life. The gift of life for each one of us is a link to our ancestors who lived before us and then to those who lived before them and on and on. From the beginning of time people have sensed a need to belong. This is why family-community-parish is very important to us. Recently I had the opportunity to introduce a friend of mine to my religious community here in the US. As a student community back in Ottawa, composed of students from the four corners of the world, we don’t often get a chance to introduce each other to members of our family so this was a special moment for me to share part of my life of my religious family with someone who shares my daily life back in Canada. Back to family! There is a dictum that says 'you can choose your friends but not your family...