In the hills of Wayanad, Kerala, a small community of 40 faithful families have lived in a remote, landslide-prone area. These families were poor, their only strength was their deep faith in the Lord Jesus. They often sought comfort in prayer, and in a time of growing concern, they decided...
In celebrating the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we are reminded that Mary is raised by God’s power, body and soul, and lifted into Heaven. Traditionally our Church has stated that her body did not decay but that she was raised, body and soul. In the Gospel...
On August 4th, the Church honors the feast day of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests. Known as the Holy Curé de Ars, John Vianney was born on May 8, 1786, in Dardilly, near Lyon, France, into a family of farmers. He was ordained as a priest in...
St. Alphonsa was born as Anna Muttathupadath on August 19, 1910, in the parish of Kudamaloor, Kerala, to Joseph and Mary Muttathupadath. She was baptized on August 27, receiving the baptismal name Anna, and was affectionately called Annakutty. Tragically, her mother passed away three months after her birth. Annakutty began...
Saints Joachim and Anna are revered as the parents of the Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus Christ. Their story, though not detailed in the canonical Gospels, is deeply cherished in Christian tradition and highlights the virtues of faithfulness and love. Joachim and Anna lived in Jerusalem and were...
Jesus identifies Himself as the true vine, distinguishing Himself from any false sources of spiritual life. The Father (God) is described as the gardener, indicating His active role in nurturing, pruning, and caring for the vine and its branches. God, as the gardener, removes branches that do not bear fruit,...
Every year on July 3rd, the southwestern Indian state of Kerala comes alive with the vibrant celebrations of St. Thomas Day. This day honours St. Thomas the Apostle, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, who is believed to have brought Christianity to India. The rich cultural and religious...
Few individuals in the Bible are mentioned before their birth, and John the Baptist is one of them. On Monday 24, we celebrate his birth, remembering that even before he was born, he leapt into his mother Elizabeth’s womb during her joyful encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was...
On holiday in Karnataka, India some 25 years ago, my dad and I discovered a cave entrance up on the cliff side. For some inexplicable reason known only to both of us, we decided that a nighttime exploration would be a great adventure. So off we headed with our torches...
The story goes that one day Anthony went to Rimini where there were a lot of heretics. He started to preach, but they did not want to listen to him, and they even mocked him. In a dramatic gesture, Anthony went to the seashore, saying, “Because you show yourself unworthy of...
