Weekly Reflections

From today’s Gospel readingJesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has set me, so I send you…” He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Hoy Spirit’”. ReflectionWe need the Spirit because only the Spirit can gather and hold us together, and also help us to do what Jesus […]

From today’s Gospel reading“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” ReflectionThe feast of the […]

We are recognizing, this month of May, the Asian/Pacific heritage provided by the immigrants from that part of the world. So, I wanted to dedicate my space and some inserts to the legacy of the Filipino community to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ybor City. Special thanks to Nhick Pacis and Vic […]

From today’s reading of the Acts of the Apostles“As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution”. ReflectionThe Christian community was growing rapidly and as it grew its members were addressing emerging tensions. Then and now, it seems, language, political […]

From today’s gospelAmen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate, but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him and the sheep hear his voice as the shepherd calls […]

From today’s GospelThey said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be […]

From today’s Gospel reading“On the evening of the first day of the week, when the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews…” ReflectionAs we listen to today’s Gospel with the long view in mind, we’ll see that its message is much like the rest of the Bible; the story line […]

From the letter to the Colossians“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory”. ReflectionWhat is Easter all about? It’s the good news that Jesus is risen and in our midst. It’s the good news that Jesus […]

From today’s Isaiah reading“The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them… Morning after morning, God opens my ear that I may hear…” ReflectionIsaiah suggests that our first responsibility isn’t to speak, but to listen. God’s gift of a […]

From today’s Ezekiel readingO my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. ReflectionThrough the world our Church has been seriously damaged by bad example of some of its members. This has resulted in […]

From today’s GospelWhen Jesus heard they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I […]

February 26 was my sixth anniversary as the pastor of this parish community. We have shared this marvelous life journey together. We had been gone through good and bad times, but everything considered I realize that without your help it could have been impossible to help building the Kingdom of God, here, in Ybor City. […]

If you’re like me, who loves shrimp and fish; or if you are vegetarian and do not consume meat from bipedal or quadruped animals — comply with the Lenten rule of Friday’s abstinence is not a sacrifice at all. In these cases, or even if abstaining from meat on Fridays of Lent is a true […]

From today’s Gospel readingAt that time, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days and forty nights. ReflectionDuring Lent we can look at death, or anything that threatens our vocation to follow God, in the face and not be afraid; because Jesus has preceded us […]

FORMING CONSCIENCES FOR FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP – PART ITHE US BISHOP’S REFLECTION ON CATHOLIC TEACHING AND POLITICAL LIFE 13. In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life a moral obligation. “People in every nation enhance the social dimension of their lives by acting as committed and responsible citizens” (Evangelii Gaudium […]

From today’s Gospel readingJesus said to his disciples: “Therefore, if you bring your gifts to the altar, and there recall that your brother (sister) has anything against you, leave your gift at the altar, go first and be reconciled with (them) and then come and offer your gift”. ReflectionWe Christians are called to a different […]

Some members of the Parish Pastoral Council, our secretary Michelle and I, attended what the diocese called a “Discipleship Day”, last Thursday and Friday. This was a follow up of the “Synod on Synodality” and the local “Courageously Living the Gospel” initiatives. We joined many other parishes of the diocese, engaging in a new endeavor […]

From today’s Gospel readingBlessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. ReflectionPeople of faith, inspired by the Beatitudes, have a different way of looking at life. Living our “beatitude calling” is difficult, but we know God stands with us and, in […]

What would it have been like for Jesus to hear that his cousin John had been imprisoned? Bravely, John called the Pharisees, Israelites, and Herod alike to repentance. Even before his birth, John showed that he was wholly given to proclaiming Christ’s coming—even leaping in the womb. Such tenacity could not have been lost on […]

On Sunday, Jan 8, Day of the Epiphany, the Three Wise Men made a special stop at OLPH to bring toys and candy to the children who long-awaited for this day.

From today’s Gospel readingWhen Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi form the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?” ReflectionWhere are we looking for Jesus today? Even if we had no other gospel story than this one, we should know […]

From the Book of Numbers“The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face upon you and be gracious to you! The Lord looks upon you kindly and give you peace!” ReflectionThis brief and poetic prayer was given to Moses for Aaron. A blessing that says much for the Israelites and to us […]