"Francis saw the face of God in the face of Earth" St. Francis is one of the Catholic Church’s beloved saints. In fact, he is admired by not just Catholics and Christians, but by those who love our global home and are urgently concerned for its ability to continue to sustain all life. Please understand that it is imperative that we stay abreast of what is happening to the precious earthly home God as gifted to us. With all the progress humans have made, much with a positive i

As we get closer to the time when we celebrate Season of Creation, I thought I would share two things. First is the following quote from Pope Leo on August 15, 2026: "Today, we are witnessing many crises and much human suffering. At the same time, it seems that the disruption to the harmonious balance of creation is accelerating. These phenomena are not unrelated; they are a single plea for healing and peace arising from a wounded world." There are regulations that were put i

Dramatic title, right? I don’t necessarily think so. Romans 8: 22 “We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now…” We have been (unconsciously?) blind to the harm being done to the earth in the name of progress. While progress is good, even great, if done with care consideration of the positive and negative impact on human life and sustaining a healthy global environment. Unfortunately, greed and power have become powerful motivators for so many. They

At the end of each mass, the Pastor of Saint Sabina (most often Pastor Pfleger), will say. “May God be…’ Response: Glorified.” “May the Church be…” Response: “Edified” “May Satan be…” Response: “Horrified” I have been watching the Saint Sabina Church mass on Sundays for a few years now. I fell in love with the community of Saint Sabina for a few reasons. They are a community that is extremely conscious of their social justice responsibilities as taught and preached by Jesus

At the Capital building in Washington, D.C., inscribed in stone are the following words: Freedom of speech Freedom of worship Freedom from want Freedom from fear What is Religious Freedom? “But how we think of religious freedom can differ from one person to the next. The ideal of religious freedom may be summarized as “separation of church and state” and “the right to follow my conscience.” Many Americans will often think primarily in terms of human rights.” “Broad

I would imagine that the concept of “living” documents may confuse some, or at least, make some questions how we can perceive some documents as “living” documents. The only time I remember this concept being mentioned was with the Bible. It was and is considered the “living Word of God.” I believe that the idea grew from the understanding that the Bible was a teaching set of books as well as a historical narrative. The Old Testament tells the story of the Jewish people and Go

“A focus on conflicts locks a person in his interests, in what’s in it “for him.” A focus on love frees a person to focus on the other and the other’s good. Getting outside the prison of one’s “I” is the indispensable first step toward embracing a “common good.”” Read more here: How a Catholic Handles Social Conflict So many of us are filled with conflicting thoughts and emotions. The causes vary and usually due to more than just one or two issues. Living in a chaotic environ

How much do we love our home, our global home? Do we fully understand the importance of taking care of our environment and why? This April we celebrated Earth Day (April 22nd) and in May we will be participating as a community to observe Laudato Si’ Week, Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical on care for our common home (May 17–24, 2026). “Care for Creation connects faith, justice, and ecology. It calls us to protect people and the planet, recognizing that environmental harm disprop

I made a point to stay away from sharing political commentary during the Lenten seasons. This year I had decided to go through Eastertide with this decision. But I can’t wait until after Pentecost to share my thoughts on what is happening as regards my faith, not just as a Catholic, but as an advocate for social justice. I find it abhorrent how so many are more than willing to defile the Bible teaching by twisting God’s message to fit their immoral actions. I also find it l

It’s almost Holy Week. A week that, I believe, we should put deeper emphasis on the meaning of Jesus’ ministry from the beginning to his resurrection. We continue with our Lent reading from the Gospel of Matthew. The above three, peace, persecution and righteousness, are some of the central themes of Jesus’ teaching and preaching in addition to loving God and neighbor. The peace we read about in the gospels has to do with a spiritual peace borne of faith and trust in God. Thi

My blog today continues with the Beatitudes using specific words from the Gospel of Matthew. They are Meek, Righteousness, and Purity of heart. Three words, Meek, Righteousness and Pure are part of the Beatitudes spoken by Jesus. Read the verses in Matthew 5:5-8. These words can prove challenging for so many of with a desire to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Meek or gentleness , often mistaken for weak is hard to see in others when we understand that it biblically means a

Throughout the Old Testament God answered the cries of the Jewish people. He knew their suffering when they were being oppressed as a nation. In more intimate moments, God heard the cries of those who were hurting. Their pain stemmed from diverse needs and wants. Prayers for food and shelter. Prayers for protection. Prayers for healing. Prayers for a child. For the Jewish wife, having a child was extremely important. If pregnancy was delayed, a wife faced social shame, and in

As part of the Fellowship for Social Justice group, we have been sharing very short Lenten videos on social media. These videos are created by Teresita Scully who has a master’s in theology. I can only imagine she must have been loved by her students. She has inspired me so much that I consider her a mentor for my spiritual growth. You can review the playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3_aeevDeq24vfpUPjFVeJcxSyQ17PRVK For some this may be difficult to under

In Matthew 4:1-11, we read about the three temptations of Jesus after 40 days in the desert. Here I will focus on the temptation with food. View a short video on the food temptation here: https://youtu.be/1g4FGNaCz0Q This is about satisfying physical hunger. Our body needs nourishment to survive. Food is fuel for our body that provides the energy to move. What happens when we are tempted? We are often led by our physical desires. Whether they are for food, clothes, material t

“ Lent is a time in which the Church, guided by a sense of maternal care, invites us to place the mystery of God back in the center of our lives, in order to find renewal in our faith and keep our hearts from being consumed by the anxieties and distractions of daily life… .” Message of the Holy Father Leo XIV for Lent 2026, on the theme: “ Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion ” When I think of Ash Wednesday I do think of my mortality, especially as I am now i

Yesterday’s blog was a little long. Yes, today is as well. I personally believe it just might prove valuable. “Although there are many reasons to be discourage, amid many prophets of destructive and condemnation, and so many negative and despairing voices, may you be a positive force, salt and light for this society. Like the engine of a train, may you be the driving force leading all towards their destinations. May you be sowers of hope, builders of bridges and agents of

Yes, this is a longer than usual blog. I personally believe it is worth sharing due to the significance of Lent. I pray you find it valuable as you read it. We are entering the Lenten Season this week. Ash Wednesday is a couple of days away. A time when I, as a Catholic, begin some form of fasting, Lenten reflection, and journaling in addition to specific prayers. I thought I would use Pope Francis’ message from March 5, 2025. while he was still hospitalized in Rome’s Gem

This was presented on November 16, 2025 at Santa Catalina Catholic Church, Oro Vallley AZ Key Aspects of Solidarity · Shared responsibility: As children of God we are all interconnected. We are responsible for each other. · Action-oriented: compassion needs to include a commitment to act for the wellbeing of others. · The “I am because we are” principle: the individual identity is part of the larger community; the good of each person is linked to the g

Meals in the Bible and What They Teach Us is the 5th in a series of Care for Creation: Catholic Social Teaching presented at Santa Catalina and via Zoom. Eating is never just an individual act. It is deeply communal, tied to our relationships with God, neighbor, and creation. As Catholics, we are called to approach food with reverence, acknowledging its sacred nature, considering its impact on others, and using it as a means of justice and charity. Read more here: More Than a

The Compendium of the Catholic Church on Social Doctrine is a long document compiled at the request of Pope John Paul II. The Compendium itself describes its work of making known the social doctrine of the Church “a genuine pastoral priority, so that men and women will be enlightened by it and will be thus enabled to interpret today’s reality and seek appropriate paths of action (#7).” ( Read more here: Summary: Compendium Of The Social Doctrine of The Church ) The Compendium