Posts by Fr. Maurice Emelu
Calming the Storm: Trusting God in Turbulent Times
On Thursday, June 26, I was returning from a two-week visit to Europe, where I had the privilege of visiting nine countries. The trip was filled with moments of prayer, documentation, and capturing memories through photographs. You may read some of the moving moments in my Substack. As the plane took off from Amsterdam, turbulence…
Read MoreA Story of Elevation and An Invitation to Witness and Live the Word
God’s blessings and call are an invitation to witness, communicate, and live the Word. On May 28 this past week, I stood in a hall at Harvard University. There, I received the Outstanding Dean’s Capstone Award for my digital media tech design project, EnKrist. When they called my name, something in me paused because, at…
Read MoreWelcoming Our New Pope: Leo XIV
We join the Church and the world in celebrating the election of our new Holy Father, Leo XIV. On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—a native of Chicago and a lifelong Augustinian—was elected the 267th pope of the Catholic Church. With a rich background in missionary service and deep theological and pastoral experience, the new…
Read MoreThe Power of Witness: Obeying God Rather Than Men
In a world bent on control and quick to shift blame, obeying God rather than men sounds a bold call to freedom and faithful witness. This morning, I found myself lingering over Acts of the Apostles 5:27-33. Peter and the Apostles were arrested for bearing witness to Christ. Standing before the Sanhedrin, they heard the high priest’s rebuke:…
Read MoreThe Water Flows from the Sanctuary
Picture this: a sanctuary. Still, sacred, and brimming with mystery. From the right side, something begins to stir. A small spring bubbles forth, emerging from the threshold of the temple. It’s quiet at first, barely brushing your ankles. But it doesn’t stay that way. What starts as a trickle becomes living water from the sanctuary—a stream…
Read MoreA Child
Let’s talk about a child. I come from a large family with over two dozen nieces and nephews, numerous uncles and aunts, and more than 50 cousins. Like most priests, I am privileged to participate in the spiritual journeys of families with children in parishes and relationships. Through osmosis and observation, I’ve learned and appreciate…
Read MoreA Conversation on Faith
This line from the Letter to the Hebrews struck me in a new way today: “All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar…” (Hebrew 11:13). Faith is the theme of today’s reflection. Pastoral ministry exposes a priest to the deepest human struggles.…
Read MoreOvercomers
We all want victory, don’t we? We all want to be overcomers. We want to overcome sin, evil, and our weaknesses. We desire victory over our adversaries, too. We simply want to win. Winning feels good. I want you to be assured of this: it is the Lord’s desire for you to be victorious. It…
Read MoreMary, Mother of God: A Reflection on Devotion and Worship
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! January 1 is a special day in the Catholic Church of the Western rite, dedicated to honoring Mary as the Mother of God. This feast, known as the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, highlights the deep connection between devotion to Mary and the worship of Jesus Christ.…
Read MoreBecoming People of Hope: Preparing for the Jubilee
As we celebrate the Jubilee of Hope, I invite you to consider finding concrete ways to live as people of hope in our daily lives. Today, we start a new year in the Church, a new year of grace. This means every moment of this year—every second, minute, day, and month—is filled with God’s love and…
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