Undeterred

One of the unpleasant experiences of life is when a friendship turns sour. Not only friendships can turn sour, but a friend can also turn into an enemy over a trivial matter. But for an enemy to turn into friend, that is certainly not easy to come by. In the gospel, it seems that some…

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Same Roots, Different Fruits

A Fathomless and Shoreless Ocean

Twenty-two years after graduating from high school in 1998, our batch got reconnected through Facebook. We began meeting in small groups and conversing through a chat box while planning our class reunion. Everyone was filled with so much joy and excitement, especially upon knowing what each of us has become. Most of us are professionals…

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Searching for Pearls Close to Home

The Importance of the Family Unit

We were in 4th year Theology when we had our mission immersion to the fisherfolks. One morning on our way to the coast, we stopped at an oyster farm. That day we spent hours working closely with Ernesto, an oyster farmer. Unfortunately, we have never discovered a pearl. Well, that is at least partly because…

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Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary teaches us many things. Here are a couple. May is Mary’s month, and the end of May is a day of merriment. Don’t you think being visited by someone is an occasion for merry? Elizabeth rejoiced at seeing the mother of her Lord. The baby made…

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The End of the Story Counts

Gratia Vobis Ministries, Inc.

“Jesus is Risen!” is the cry of an Easter people. There is nothing more important to us than this. If Jesus has not risen from the dead, then the Gospel is emptied of its power and our lives of discipleship are meaningless in the equation of eternal life. Two days ago, we heard the tragic…

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Am I An Apostle?

St. Paul is called The Apostle to the Gentiles. St. Faustina Kowalska is the Apostle of the Divine Mercy. And St. John Bosco, whose feast day we celebrate today is known as The Apostle to the Youth. Born in 1815, John Bosco devoted his life to ministering and accompanying the young people of his time,…

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The Holy Family, Inspiration, and Strength

The Other Trinity Posted By Paul Verderber

On the last day of this year, our focus is fixed on the family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The liturgy continues to invite us to savor the mystery of the Incarnation, the Word becoming flesh. But more than that, our feast invites us to a wonder and awe over the fact that in becoming…

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Never Too Insignificant

In my article last July 31st, I mentioned that I enjoyed my childhood days when our mother would teach us how to bake bread. I loved putting a tiny amount of yeast in the dough. I have always marveled at the way yeast works. I love watching bread rise in the oven to the point…

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Vigilance: Laging Handa!

Laging Handa (Always prepared!) is our motto in Boy Scouts. I hear this phrase every time we have events such as Boy Scout gatherings, camping and Jamboree. Always be ready for the unexpected! Vigilance is an essential and often forgotten aspect of our walk of faith. If we fail to be vigilant, Satan will find…

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From Small Beginnings

I do vividly remember my childhood days when our mother would teach us how to bake bread. Baking bread takes a lot of effort. You measure the flour, sugar, water, and yeast. You only need a small amount of yeast to make the bread rise. Have you ever seen mustard seed? It was the smallest…

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