The Path to God

As we honor the towering pillars of the Church—Saints Peter and Paul —we are invited not only to admire their witness but also to ask ourselves the hard and holy questions that shaped their lives. They were men transformed, not by strategy or skill, but by a singular love: love for Jesus Christ . And through their transformation, they became true shepherds of the people of God. This call to be a shepherd is not exclusive to priests. Every servant leader in community —those who care for households, lead ministries, mentor others, and intercede for souls—is called to walk the path of Peter and Paul. The question is: What does it truly mean to be a shepherd after the heart of Christ? 1. The Foundational Question: “Do You Love Me?” When Jesus restored Peter after his denial, He asked a question that cut deeper than failure, guilt, or performance: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" (John 21:16) Not: Are you ready to lead? Not: Do you have a plan? Not: Can you manage a church?...

A Day of Love Amid the Cries of War Yesterday, we celebrated the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus , a feast that draws us into the very depths of divine tenderness and mercy. The Heart of Christ, pierced and aflame with love, offers us not only comfort but a call—a call to love, to heal, to be agents of peace in a broken and wounded world. In Dilexit Nos , Pope Francis echoes the sorrow of that pierced Heart: “Behold this Heart, which has so loved humanity… and in return receives ingratitude.” ( Dilexit Nos , §93) And yet, even in the face of rejection, His Heart keeps loving. Our Conscience Amid the Chaos These days, our screens are filled with news of rising tensions between Israel and Iran, a conflict with the potential to spark wider regional instability. The pain is global, and the temptation is great—to take sides, to speak quickly, or to remain silent in helplessness. But as Catholics, we are invited to something more profound: not merely reaction, but reflec...

(A Father's Day Reflection on the Gift of the Mass) As a father, I often feel the weight of wanting to do right by my family—to protect them from the noise and confusion of the world, to give them something solid when so much feels fleeting. I want them to know peace, truth, and beauty. But in the face of constant distraction, relentless busyness, and shallow connections, I sometimes ask: Where do I lead them? Where do we anchor ourselves? Then, I am reminded— the Mass. It is my own refuge and the home I long to bring my family into. It is where we are rooted. Picture yourself caught in the current of daily life, swept along by tasks, screens, and demands. It can feel like we’re endlessly moving yet going nowhere. Philosopher Byung-Chul Han describes this well: we live under the “compulsion of production,” constantly driven to do, achieve, and consume. In this whirlwind, the Mass stands apart. It is not just a pause—it is a sanctuary. A place where time slows, and meaning is resto...

This morning, our sisters in community gathered in prayer, raised their voices, and sang "Mighty to Save." We are reminded of a powerful truth: our God is not distant from our suffering—He has entered, redeemed, and conquered even death itself. "He rose and conquered the grave—Jesus conquered the grave!" This is not just a line from a song—it is the foundation of our hope. At certain times of the season, we are brought face-to-face with the reality that death, often our greatest fear, is not part of God’s original design. Scripture reminds us that “God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living” (Wisdom 1:13). Death entered the world through sin, through the severing of our communion with the God of life. And yet, God did not abandon us. In His love, He entered our death to transform it from the inside out. Suffering, which often precedes death, is something we all encounter. But today, let us see suffering not as a punishment or a...

A Day Offered in Love – The Friday Before the Recollection The day before our Women’s Day of Recollection, Fr. Zinjin dedicated his entire Friday to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, consciously offering every encounter, every task, and every unexpected moment for the women who would attend the retreat. He prayed:  “Everything today is for this Women’s Day of Recollection, Lord. Everything that I encounter is a prayer for them.”   What unfolded was no ordinary Friday—it became a day of grace and divine preparation, as God allowed him to walk alongside women in some of the most profound and vulnerable moments of their lives . Morning Mass & Crowning of Mary The day began joyfully with morning Mass, followed by a May Crowning ceremony. School children filled the church with sweet voices as they honored the Blessed Mother. Fr. Zinjin reflected with affection on “ all these lovely school kids ,” many of them young girls , as if the Lord was already p...