Pilgrim progress- a disciple on a journey!

At the Shrine of St. Maria Goretti, Nettuno In every age, the saints of God have proven that they were God’s servants by their lives of faith and purity of soul. During my time in Rome recently I had the opportunity to visit the shrine of St. Maria Goretti, where she is buried and where many pilgrims come to ask the intercession of this child-saint. The story of St. Maria Goretti is the story of a martyr-saint and a young one at that. It does not make for easy reading. In 1950, she was canonized in a ceremony attended by twenty-five million people, including her mother, the first mother ever to see her child canonized, and Alessandro Serenelli, her killer. Her feast day is the 6th of July so I thought it would be good to share her story on this day. The Holy Father observed during her canonization that Maria longed "to ascend to heaven by the only road that leads there, which is religion, the love of Christ and the heroic observance of his commandments."  The shrine ...

This morning we had the great blessing to participate in the General Audience with Pope Francis. We were up pretty close too, seated to the right of the Pope. Every Wednesday and Sunday, about 70,000-90,000 people regularly attend the catechesis or the Angelus with Pope Francis. We had to be there quite early so as to secure our seats so it was time to relax, pray, avoid getting sunburnt (the sun was very hot!) and banter among ourselves. Numerous groups had gathered from all over the world and cheers of joy went up from the crowds when their group was called out. At about 10.40 the crowd began to liven up as the Pope began weaving in and out of the various sections of the Piazza in the Popemobile. Every now and then the Popemobile would stop for the Pope to bless babies and young children. On reaching the steps, he energetically made his way to the sanctuary where he would begin his catechesis. Here is what he shared with us this morning: "Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good Mor...

Our group with Cardinal Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura (Many people have been asking about the study visit to the Roman Curia which I undertook with my classmates a little over two weeks ago! I finally am getting round to putting some thoughts down. Thanks for your patience!) From Ottawa to Dublin, from Dublin to Rome, all the roads were leading towards Rome for the JCL students of Saint Paul University. For some, it was the final two weeks of the JCL programme, having just completed comprehensive exams that same week. I travelled from Toronto to Dublin as one of our sisters was seriously ill and preparing to go home to God. The following day I went to Rome to meet up with the rest of my classmates who were already gathered there since the weekend and were enjoying the whole Roman experience including the sunshine and the warm temperatures. After such a long winter in Ottawa with snow until mid-May, it was a welcome change! I was happy...

Post- comprehensive exam smiles! Three little letters but they caused a lot of work, study, stress and even some sweat and tears along the way. But it was worth it! J.C.L is the title which we are given after we complete our studies in Canon Law at a licentiate level. It stands for Juris Canonici Licentia, literally, licence in Canon Law. It has been a long and busy two years of study and exams but the time had come to transform that knowledge into some kind of coherent thoughts and follow through with the Comprehensive exam. The Comprehensive exam is a one hour oral exam which is carried out before four professors. You are permitted to pick fifteen themes out of seventy-five to get you started for the exam but you are expected to know all the themes in the Code of Canon Law which is not mean feat I tell you! So after we finished classes and our exams for our other course, we had a few days to prepare for the dreaded comps! Our residence Deschatelets was so quiet. First yea...

“For every goodbye, God also provides a hello” (Proverb). Well, all good things must come to an end! As my time in Ottawa draws to a close, it is time to say goodbye to many people who have been woven into my life over these past two years. Some of these very special people belong to the local parish which I have been attending. When I arrived in Ottawa back in August 2012, one of my friends who is a bilingual (English-Spanish) speaking priest invited me to attend Mass in the local parish Church which welcomes Hispanics from around Ottawa. With a little bit of apprehension I went along albeit knowing a few words of Spanish but with a desire to experience this reality which seemed like a good way to start a new journey in a new country. Words do not do justice to the wonderful sense of family and community which I have experienced there each Sunday and also each Thursday when I would attend for Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction. This is Church! The warmth of the Latin Ameri...

MESSAGE OF POPE FRANCIS FOR THE 51st WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS 11 MAY 2014 - FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Theme: Vocations, Witness to the Truth  Dear Brothers and Sisters, 1. The Gospel says that “Jesus went about all the cities and villages... When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest’” (Mt 9:35-38). These words surprise us, because we all know that it is necessary first to plow, sow and cultivate to then, in due time, reap an abundant harvest. Jesus says instead that “the harvest is plentiful”. But who did the work to bring about these results? There is only one answer: God. Clearly the field of which Jesus is speaking is humanity, us. And the efficacious action which has borne “much fruit” is the grace of God, that is, commu...

'Twas eventide. Along the dusty road   Two weary travelers passed with aching feet  And heavy hearts, while each in saddened tones   The story of their Lord would oft repeat.  We yearn for Him, and is it not three days   Since first He lay within the silent tomb?  Yet when we hastened to His resting place,   Our Lord had gone; His grave was wrapt in gloom.  Communing thus, these weary travelers went.   Their hearts oppressed by mingled doubt and fear;  When lo! along the road to Emmaus   Their Lord, the risen Christ Himself, drew near.  With gentle voice He asked of them their grief,–  "Why are ye sad? and O, what troubleth thee?"  They knew not that the loving Master spoke,   Their eyes were holden, that they could not see.  And one replied: "We know not where He is,–  Our Lord, who promised Israel to redeem.  Art thou a stranger in Jerusalem?   And knowest not what marvelous things have be...