We know that Jesus was especially drawn to the outcasts in his society: sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes, the blind, the lame, itinerants. These were the people on the margins of Jesus’ society, the ones who would have...
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) teaches that we have an obligation to participate in the political life of our country, drawing on our principles and...
Building the Future with Migrants and Refugees “The presence of migrants and refugees represents a great challenge, but at the same time, an immense opportunity for the cultural and spiritual growth of everyone. Thanks to them, we have the chance to know better our world and its beautiful diversity. We can grow in our common humanity and...
For use in your prayer practice, we offer “The Pearl of Great Price” by artist Daniel Bonnell. What does this image awaken in you? In your prayer life? What new insight does this ...
Building the Future with Migrants and Refugees “In Isaiah’s prophecy, the arrival of foreigners is presented as a source of enrichment: The abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, and the wealth of the nations shall come to you” (Is 60:5) Indeed, history teaches us that the...
The things that can distract us during our contemplative prayer periods are many and varied. While we certainly can find our attention divided by internal struggles and the “monkey mind” hopping from thought to another, external stimuli provide plenty of distractions of their own. Early in the contemplative journey, simple sounds like...
Your (Imperfect) Contemplative Prayer Life So…you have practiced Centering Prayer and you know what it is – a method to lead you to contemplative prayer – but doing it two times a day every day eludes you. When you sit down to do Centering prayer, your thoughts are rattling around in your head and it might take 20 minutes just to...
Building the Future with Migrants and Refugees “We wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.” (2Pet3:13) “The righteousness of the Kingdom must be understood as the fulfillment of God’s harmonious plan…But for this wondrous harmony to reign, we must accept Christ’s salvation, his Gospel of love, so that the many forms of inequality and discrimination in the present world may be eliminated. No one must be excluded. God’s plan is ...
The Church has been celebrating the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) since 1914. It is always an occasion to express concern for different vulnerable people on the move; to pray for them as they face many challenges; and to increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers. Mary Mother Peace and Justice Ministry has assembled ...
Fr. Ed Hays offers this meditation on what he calls the “Prayer of Napping”: A Prayer for Nap Time (or for any time when we desire to be “out-of-control” or to do “nothing-of-profit.”) Well, Lord, it’s not yet time to quit— all around me life is ...
Human Trafficking – Hiding in Plain Sight According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Social Teaching proclaims the dignity of human persons and all human life. Modern day slavery-where men, women and children are bought and sold like merchandise- inherently rejects that principle, showing absolute contempt...
Friendship can be a contemplative practice in itself. Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donohue (1956–2008) offers this piece on the blessings of an “anam cara” (soul friend). He adds, “Prayer is the ...
Human Trafficking – Hiding in Plain Sight In the U.S. some of the most vulnerable populations for trafficking include American Indians, Alaska Native Communities, Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender questioning individuals, individuals with...
Human Trafficking – Hiding in Plain Sight According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) 24.9 million people are victims of forced labor. Tactics used by recruiters and their associates are often the same tactics used by batterers and mirror dynamics of domestic violence. Traffickers lure their victims with false promises of economic opportunity, withholding identification, work authorization, travel documents, demanding repayment for ...
E. Reninger suggests walking meditation as a way to focus on the Divine Presence in the here and now: It’s wonderful to practice walking meditation any time that we are walking. When we're first learning the practice, however, it's best to set aside a particular time for it - say, first thing in the morning, or during your lunch break, or right before...
Human Trafficking - Hiding in Plain Sight According to the U.S. Department of State, Human Trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Human trafficking includes 1) living with the ...
Welcome, allow, surrender, and permit are all words very closely associated with contemplative practice. All of these words point to the fact that there is very little doing on our part in the practice, other than to be present to the total reality of the moment as it unfolds before us. Our “job” in contemplative practice is simply to be, in the midst of all else that is…
“When we can see God reflected in all that exists, our hearts are moved to praise the Lord for all his creatures and to worship him in union with them. This sentiment finds magnificent expression in the hymn of...