Dear Family of God,

This weekend we will hear Jesus teaching us that “WHOEVER LOVES ME WILL KEEP MY WORD, AND MY FATHER WILL LOVE HIM, AND WE WILL COME TO HIM AND MAKE OUR DWELLING WITH HIM.” (JOHN 14:23)

“The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself.

Dear Family of God,

Why and how do we evangelize? Why is evangelization so important?

Jesus loved us to the end, to the point of great suffering and dying on the cross. This is our model on how to love others. Jesus commanded us: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. AS I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (John 13:34).

Dear Family of God,

What are the Characteristics of a Good Shepherd? Do you know that we are called to imitate Jesus Our Good Shepherd?

A Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. He is ready to make sacrifices for those whom he is responsible for. He values his sheep more than his own life; they are precious to him—that is why he is ready to sacrifice for them.

Dear Family of God,

While in this world, we cannot but make a choice, for God or against God. The apostles chose God saying: “We must obey God rather than men... they left rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the Name.” (Acts 5:29,41).

When we decided to follow God and not the prince of this world, there are two things that happens to us:

Dear Family of God,

What is the complete forgiveness of sin during the Divine Mercy Sunday?

Our Lord gave an extraordinary promise to St. Faustina, and said that, "On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy.

Dear Family of God,

Why is resurrection so important?

According to Dr. Peter Kreeft, from his book, “Food for the Soul”, there are three reasons: First, because the Resurrection means that Jesus is still alive and really present and really doing things—first of all saving souls. We can’t be saved by a dead Savior!

Dear Family of God,

Why Passion? Why Suffering?

In this side of heaven, there are things that we will learn only through suffering. Suffering in itself is not bad, it can be instrument of conversion of better future. Ask the athletes how they go through so many sacrifices to achieve their goals, a gold medal. But for us, it is eternal life with God, saints, friends, and relatives in heaven.

Dear Family of God,

Why does the Lord write with his finger on the ground twice?

It was the remind them that as God gave them a second chance with Moses when he gave them the Decalogue, so they too must give the woman another chance.

Dear Family of God,

This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Lent which we also call Laetare Sunday. “Laetare” is the Latin word for ‘’rejoice,” which is the first word in the Entrance Antiphon. We can rejoice because we are midway thru our Lenten journey towards Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. The Gospel for this weekend is the Parable of the Prodigal son.

Dear Family of God,

Jesus’ message this third Sunday of Lent is that we acknowledge our need of repentance and do it. We may ask, what is repentance?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed.

St. Thomas Aquinas said that friends share three things: time, possessions, and secrets. For example, how do I know if you’re my friend? Well, let’s say we’ve been to Mexico together, you’ve tried my shaky attempts at pasta carbonara, and you know what ridiculous costume I wore in a music video I filmed in my early twenties. We, dear reader, are definitely friends. We’ve shared time, possessions, and secrets.

One of the most fascinating moments in American history is when George Washington could have become the king of the newly liberated United States and didn’t. At the height of his power and fame, on Dec. 23, 1783, he resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief, and went home. The astonished King of England remarked that in doing so, Washington was “the greatest man in the world.” Greatness is often defined by what we could do but don’t. Greatness is measured by the temptations we overcome.

Dear Christians of Our Lady of Joy Catholic Parish,

Greetings to you all. Many of you have been asking about me. I am Fr. John Paul Aisu of Soroti Catholic Diocese in Uganda. I was ordained on July 31, 2010. I come from a family of 7 siblings, four girls and 3 boys. Unfortunately, one girl passed on at the age of 12.