“The poor you will always have with you” (Mk 14:7)
1. “The poor you will always have with you” (Mk 14:7). Jesus spoke these words at a meal in Bethany, in the home of a certain Simon, known as the leper, a few days before Passover. As the Evangelist recounts, a woman came in with an alabaster flask full of precious ointment and poured it over Jesus’ head. This caused great amazement and gave rise to two different interpretations.
Continue reading(This article is part of an ongoing series showing adult obsession in waging “War Against Children”.)
Jerome Novotny OMI – “You’ll die of old age; we’ll die of climate change!” Young people strike back against apathy among politicians dealing with climate change. “What do we want? Climate justice! When do we want it? Now!” echoed throughout central Glasgow as thousands of protesters took the streets during the dedicated “Youth Day” at COP26. Young leaders did their best to make their voices be heard, expressing their discontent with the current state of climate action, or, as some claimed, “climate inaction.” Even very small children gathered in the demonstration. “Climate change is worse than homework”, one of them told UN News. Will COP26 produce leaders who really care and enact polices to protect our planet and children or will it be the same old “blah blah blah”???
Continue readingA retreat is a time to step away from the distractions of everyday life and get back in touch with your inner self and reconnect with God. Sometimes old poets say it best.
The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:
Little we see in Nature that is ours…
English Romantic William Wordsworth wrote that 200 years ago, but he could have written it yesterday. In an age of iPhones and e-mails, iPods and Facebook, we find ourselves disconnected and adrift, in need of renewal and healing in a world that is “too much with us.”
Continue readingThe Bishops of Japan have established the period from September 1 to October 4 (the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi) as “the special month to PROTECT ALL LIFE.” Below is a messagefrom the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan.
Continue reading(This article is part of an ongoing series showing adult obsession in waging “War Against Children”.)
Jerry Novotny, OMI – Life is Beautiful. Life is precious and sacred.
Good people believe in the sanctity of the human person with rights and dignity to be protected and preserved. Yet there are those who disagree. They declare open War Against the Unborn. But there is no “good” war. In the end, millions die and many are left crippled. Why then fight the war in the first place? The reason is that this war against the unborn is very profitable. Take for example the following event. The world was shocked when it heard that the University of Pittsburgh has been harvesting the organs of unborn babies while their hearts are still beating.
Continue readingBrad Rozairo, OMI – A big city can become the centre of the world by hosting a mega-event like the Olympics by showcasing its modern technology, supertall buildings, eco-friendly environment etc. but it does not get to decide how it is viewed by the world. Looking back at the previous Olympics hosted by big cities like Athens, Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro, you get to know that whenever there is a big sporting event, there is an attempt to make some folks disappear. Who are these people? They are the “unwanted” of the society often abandoned by their own.
Continue readingBrad Rozairo OMI — “Protecting All Life Makes Peace” is the theme for this year’s “TEN DAYS OF PRAYER FOR PEACE” which is annually being observed in Japan from August 6 ~ August 15. This initiative was taken by the Bishops of Japan after St. Pope John Paul II’s “Appeal for Peace at Hiroshima” (25 February 1981) during his Apostolic Journey to Japan.
Continue readingBrad Rozairo, OMI – During this time of the pandemic, those involved in parish ministry begin to ask, what is going to be the future of our churches? When the state of emergency is imposed, the churches stop celebrating masses and other activities, but when the state of emergency is lifted, the masses resume. Is this going to be the pattern from now on? No one knows, except the virus!
Continue readingPope Francis has appointed Andrew Small, O.M.I., a 53-year-old English priest, as the secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The appointment is “pro tempore,” meaning his appointment is either temporary or, more likely, subject to change or development.
Continue reading(Pastoral Statement of Bishop Michael Pfeifer, OMI)
Abortion Is The Leading Cause Of Death In The USA And Worldwide
More human beings died in abortion that any other cause of death in 2020. The statistics compiled by Worldometers gives the astounding heart- breaking reminder that there were over 42.6 million abortions worldwide this past year. Abortion was almost more than all other causes combined. Since Roe v Wade 48 years ago 62 million precious babies have been brutally destroyed in abortion in the USA, far surpassing all the military personnel death in all our wars. This past year abortions almost doubled the half a million who died because of COVID. This terrible holocaust continues to increase because sadly, by many, unborn babies are still not recognized and appreciated as human beings. Biology and all recent medical research affirms our belief based on many scriptural references and constant teaching of the church that from the first moment of conception, these precious babies are unique, living human beings made in the very image of God calling us to be pro-life and pro-eternal life at all stages of life and they die a brutal, violent death in abortion. Our motto is; choose life for both mother and child.
Continue readingJerome Novotny OMI – St. Boniface stated: “The Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship, but to keep her on her course.” This means that each of us has a responsibility to stand up for truth, defend the weak and stand up against the forces of evil in our society.
Continue readingBrad Rozairo, OMI – Last year, the season of Lent arrived with lockdown and imposed severe disciplines on everyone. Compared to some countries although the lockdown in Japan was not very strict, meetings and gatherings were cancelled, ‘work from home’ order came into effect, in many cities schools and day care centres were temporarily closed and people were asked to avoid unnecessary outings.
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(St. Eugene de Mazenod, Founder)
I went to administer the sacrament of confirmation to a young person who was dying in the house for juvenile prisoners. There are already 45 children in this house between the ages of 10 and 18. It is painful to see this early degradation; we expect much from the painstaking care that Igive these poor youth through Fr. Fissiaux and Fr. Margaillan, his assistant. Already some of these children are showing the good effects of the religious instruction they receive.
