As I write this, my first blog post in 2021, I want to begin by assuring you of my prayers for a healthy and happy New Year for you, your family, and loved ones. I am praying that God will bless us all with His Grace
Read more →This year let us make Christmas not just the celebration of an event that happened long ago and far away. Let us make it real for us now. Let us make Christmas all about the coming of Jesus anew for each of us personally. The German
Read more →My first Christmas in the United States came in 1978, and it had a very different feeling to the ones I celebrated in Brazil. I had only arrived in the U.S. in February of 1978, soon after the famous Blizzard of ‘78. It was a very
Read more →O Antiphons The Church has its own countdown—the O Antiphons of Advent— which begin on December 17 and conclude on Christmas Eve. The Roman Church has been singing the “O” Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of
Read more →2020 Pope St. Pius X Youth Award On Tuesday evening, December 1, I had the honor of conferring the Pope St. Pius X Youth Award on forty-seven worthy recipients. The award, named for the pontiff who created the Fall River Diocese in 1904, recognizes the commitment and selflessness of
Read more →Taking Care of Our Children The events of 2020 have not only been difficult for adults but also for our children and adolescents. They have struggled through this crisis physically, emotionally, and, yes, even spiritually. In increasing numbers, we are seeing the rise of depression, anxiety,
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