Saturday of the 7th week, St Gregory VII, Pope. James 5:13-20. Mark 10: 13-16

The power of praying for the sick

What a beautiful and powerful way to conclude his letter! St James speaks of the anointing of the sick. It is the duty of the Church to pray for the sick. This prayer must be done with a pure heart and confidence. Trust and obedience,  dependency are the characteristics of little children, whose likeness we are meant to be in order to enter God's kingdom. (Mark10:13-16). In order to be heard by God, confession of our sins is essential to help us dispose our hearts to God's grace. God listens to the prayer of the righteous as he did with Elijah, the prophet.

John is also inviting us to charitable for charity covers up a multitude of sins. Prayer with confidence, confessions, and charity brings healing!

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy immortal one, have mercy on us and the whole word.

Jesus, I trust in you!

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Friday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year B. Mark 10:1-12

The sacredness of marriage

We are dealing this morning with the question of divorce. This was a practice in the time of Moses, and it is a very serious plague that hunts families in our day.

Jesus continues today through his Holy church to affirm the sacredness of marriage. God's intention in creation from the beginning (Genesis 2:18-23) was that all human marriage between man and woman should be lifelong. To separate what God had joined was a violation of God's design.
Without condemning anyone who is in a situation of sin, we would state clearly that divorce is unlawful according to the divine intention.
Let's pray for true love, which is aiming at protecting and caring for one another. Love calls for perseverance and patience, forgiveness, and joy. True love always finds solutions and good reasons why we should even sacrifice our selfish tendencies. It not just about the two people, but also God who is the starting point of the love - where the two who are no longer two but one. cf Mt19,6. (Read 1 Cor. 13.)

Lord, give peace and lasting joy to married couples for a yield of beautiful families. Protect, o Lord the beauty of the sacrament of holy matrimony! Amen.

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Reflection of Wednesday of the 7th week, Ordinary Time, B. James 4, 13-17; Mc 9: 38-40

No to any form of competition in spreading the Kingdom of God.

John, who tried to stop other disciples who were working miracles in Jesus, because they were not part of the inner circle, represents all disrespect and fight other Christians just because they are not part of our Church. For Christ, what is important is the spreading of his kingdom and that all should be saved. 

Let us love, respect, and support each other in the field of evangelization even though we belong to different denominations.

Lord, open my heart to your word and your kingdom with no discrimination of preachers or denominations!

Fr. Georges sac

Tuesday of the 7th week in Ordinary Time, James 4:1-10.

St James addresses the issues of trust and prayer this morning!

We truly struggle with this question daily. How is it possible that so many of our prayers go unanswered? Saint Augustine answers with concision: it is because we asked either for bad things or asked badly.

No doubt this answer covers many cases. Many times, God does what a good mother does. When her little one wants a knife or matches to play with, they say "No" because she knows the child would hurt themselves. She would rather give them a book instead. Just like the child who will keep crying and stay unhappy because she or he does not get what he wants so much until they later would understand why the mother refused to give them that knife or matches, so we do with God.

God is Love, All knowing and All powerful, we must ask with perseverant faith, but always remaining disposed to his Holy will.

Lord, help my prayer request remain in tune with your Holy will. Amen.

Fr. Georges sac

Monday, May 20, 2023. Memory of Mary, Mother of the Church. Acts 1:12-14; John 19:25-34.

Mary is the mother of the Church because she gave birth to Jesus, her son, the head of the Church. Mary became the mother of the saved before Jesus, her son, gave up his spirit on the cross.

While insisting on her mission as the new Eve, I would also like to emphasize that Mary witnessed the death of her son. We must also be witnesses of Jesus' passion and death every day.
I would like to emphasize the place that Jesus gives to his mother. Even at the most distressing moment of his life, that is to say, of death, Jesus was attentive to his mother. So he placed her under the care of one of the Twelve, with the instruction that she was now his mother. This disciple represents us all, and we are also told that Mary is our mother and we are wanting her comfort, advice, and support as we would for the woman who gave birth to us. We must also provide our parents with physical and spiritual support. Let's take care of our parents!

Happy new week!

Friday of the 7th week after Ascension. John 21:15-19; Ps 102; Acts 25:13-21

The Holy Spirit guides!

Paul is on trials. Aware that his trial in Jerusalem will not be fair, he asked as a Roman citizen to be trialed in Rome. By this request, the Holy leads Paul to fulfill God's plan to give him witness in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit will always lead us to where God needs us. Come Holy Spirit.

It is the gift of the Holy Spirit that truly helps us to accept the love of God every day and to also be able to say, Lord, I love you!

By restoring Peter, after his three times denial, Jesus shows his forgiveness, his love, and the trust he puts on us in spite of our weakness. It is truly those love God with all their heart, with all their spirit, with all their strength, who can fulfill his mission faithfully day after day.

The question of Jesus to Peter : "Do you love me?" remains the daily question to answer as it involves our daily relationships as well as our various activities. (Read Mark 12:30-31)

Come Holy Spirit of love. Enter our hearts!

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Thursday of the 7th week of Easter, B. Ac 22: 30-23, 6-11; Ps 15 John 17: 20-26.

In the first reading, St. Paul is accused and arrested, but the Holy Spirit gives him wisdom, strength, and courage to render God a witness in Jerusalem. After this, Paul is now given the opportunity to give the same witness in Rome. 

In the Gospel, Jesus prays for believers of all generations. They are to live after the example of the Holy Trinity of Love and Unity. God is unity and love, and we are truly called God's children if we are consecrated in his love and live in unity with one another after the example of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Love and unity are true signs of Christianity. 

Come Holy of unity and love. Amen. 

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Wednesday of the 7th week. Acts 20:28-38; John 17:11b-19

Priestly prayer

In the first reading, St Paul bids farewell to the Ephesians. It's a moving moment. St. Paul warns them that they will face tests of faith after his departure, but he prays for them commending them to God's protection. The reading also reveals the affection the Ephesians had for Paul. Authentic Christian life must be marked by affection and love for one another. Jesus presents himself to us this morning as the High Priest who prays for his people. The main mission of every priest is to intercede for his people. Essential to this prayer are unity, a sign of true love, faith and fidelity to the divine mission. Father, grant us to live in perfect unity in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Feast of Matthias. Jn 16:34-38

Chosen by Christ!

The election of Saint Matthias whose feast we celebrate every May 14, teaches that: no matter how good we think we are, there would always be someone who can take our place and even do the job better. We should avoid pride. Another lesson we learn from this election is to always consult God in prayer. We, too, have been chosen to do God's work. We should be generous to say yes!

Come Holy Spirit!
Fr. Georges sac

Friday of the 6th week of Easter, B.

Acts 18:9-18; John 16:20-23

Pangs of birth

In today's gospel, Christ assure his disciples that there will be pains and sorrows as he leaves them, but their pains will only be temporary. Soon, they will rejoice. 

Every spiritual pain or sorrow or tribulation is like the pangs of birth. It only lasts for a while, yet the outcome is greater joy!

No matter how dark our days may seem, the word of God teaches that all grief will come to an end and will be replaced with eternal peace and gladness.

Lord, teach me how to hope for a better future!

Fr. Georges sac

Wednesday of the sixth week of Easter. Acts 12:15.22-18 John 16:12-15;

Moved by the Holy Spirit

In the first reading, Saint Paul moved by the Spirit is now in Athens, the artistic and spiritual center of Greece at the time. Paul preaches at the Areopagus using the philosophy of the ancient Greeks in his arguments. He appreciates what is positive in their culture, in order to better introduce them to the true God, although still unknown. Without doubt, Paul is animated by the Spirit, which is a creative and innovative spirit.

It is this Spirit that Jesus promised to his disciples. With the Holy Spirit, we too will be led to the complete truth. The first truth for us, is Faith in Jesus and that the Holy Spirit truly lives within and among us.

Are we open to the truths of our Christian faith?

Are we ready to listen to the Spirit alive among us? In Athens there were those who believed and those who refused to believe and instead mocked Paul. Which category do you belong to?

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Monday of the 6th week of Easter. Acts 16:11-15. Ps 149; John15:26-16,4a

The Holy Spirit as witness!

In the gospel, Jesus reassures us. The Holy Spirit will bear witness to him and help us to be credible witnesses too. Christ is fully aware of the trials and persecutions that must befall his disciples, but he is also aware that with the help of the Holy Spirit they will be able to endure and thus be victorious. 

We too will be strengthened if we let the Spirit work in us. As in the case of Paul, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the Word of God is preached with power and the hearts of those who hear it are opened to receive it.

Lord open my heart to the power of your word!

Father Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

May 1, 2024, St. Joseph, the Worker. Acts 15:1-6; Ps 121; John 15:1-8

As we honor St Joseph, the worker, the lowly carpenter (Mk 6:3; Mt13:55), we acknowledge the dignity of labor and the importance of labor in our lives. Joseph working with wood and tools confirms that God blesses all our activities and that every labor is an expression of our love for God and his creation. Pope St. John Paul II writes in his encyclical Guardian of the Redeemer, “Work was the daily expression of love in the life of the Family of Nazareth” (no 22). St Joseph in line with today’s Gospel, through his arduous labor for the love of God and his family is a perfect illustration of the relationship between the vine and the Branches. Joseph remained faithful in search of God’s will as a breach remains attached to the vine. All our labors, endeavors and activities should be ordered towards God. Like Joseph, may we be those branches that bear much fruits in our daily lives!

Happy feast of St. Joseph!

Fr. Georges R. Bidzogo sac

Tuesday of the 5th week of Easter

John 14 :28

The Father is greater than I

We know from our catechism and from the main biblical truth that Jesus is the second person of the Holy Trinity, and equal to the Father and the Holy Spirit. How can he make declarations such as, he is doing the Father’s will and the Father is greater than him.

Jesus accepted the will of the Father to become flesh, to become “lower than angels” (Hebrews 2:9) in order to save us. Paul insist that, “Althoug he was God, he did not count equality with God; he emptied himself; he became a servant being born in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:5-11). We can now understand the “greatness here in the role that Jesus played not in his essence as True God even when he became true men. Did you know that Jesus became submissive, obedient, and an expiatory sacrifice in order to save you!

Happy Tuesday!

Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO sac

Monday of 5th week. Acts 14:19-28; John 14:27-31a

Memory of St. Catherine of Siena.

The Holy Spirit is at work

In the gospel of today, Jesus tells his disciples that after his departure, they will receive the Holy Spirit who will teach them everything and remind them of everything he said. This Spirit is the one who made Paul and Barnabas work as they did. Proclaiming the good news of repentance and healing people from their infirmities.

This same Spirit has been given to us and can only continue the same works in us if we allow him to do so. Let's us remember to give glory to God alone for his wonders.

May all his wonderful woks reveal His power greatness! Not to us, but to God, glory and power! Ps 115.

Come Holy Spirit

Fr. Georges sac

Friday of the 4th week in Easter Time. Acts 13:26-33; John 14:1-6.

Jesus the way to eternal life.

In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah uses the metaphor of the path that leads to holiness (Is 35:8). It will be a path without obstacles.

Jesus fulfills this prophecy in the gospel. Jesus, faced with the pessimism of Saint Thomas, defines himself as being the way, the truth and the life. Jesus is therefore the path of grace par excellence which saves the human race.

If we believe in Jesus and follow his way of life, there will be no obstacles to our eternal life. Indeed, Christ is the true and only way to the Father. He is the incarnation of truth and eternal life.

Lord, open my heart to the eternal happiness that you give us. Amen.

Fr. Georges sac

Thursday April 25, 2025, Feast of St Mark. 1 P.5:5-14. Ps 88; Mt16, 15-20. Feast of Saint Mark, the Evangelist.

The good news

In celebrating Saint Mark, we acknowledge thanks to God who uses men and women to communicate his mysteries and his divine life to humanity.

Jesus lends his pen to Saint Mark so that he can write down the revelations of the Good News. He is the Son of God who came to teach us how to live and save us from sin and death.

At the end of Mark's Gospel, Jesus commands us to go into the world and spread this Good News throughout creation. Mark himself, the evangelist is a perfect example. Through his travels with Saint Paul and later with Peter and in particular through the written word of his Gospel, Mark himself was an authentic witness to the gospel.

Happy Feast of St Mark!

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Wednesday of the 4th week of Easter. Acts 12:24-13; John 12:44-50

Apart from serving God. Barnabas and Paul have just finished their mission in Jerusalem, they return to Antioch. There the Spirit asks the leaders of the Church to ordain Paul and Banabé and place them at the Lord's disposal for a new mission. We can all open up to the Spirit to make ourselves available to the different missions that God has for each of us. This mission is to bring Christ Jesus to those who do not yet know him.

Let us therefore be these new Paul and Barnabas, who bring the message of peace and comfort. Christ's message is one of hope and not of condemnation.

Give me, Lord, to believe in you, the true light, that I may be saved. Amen. Father Georges Roger

Tuesday of the fourth week of Easter.

Acts 11, 19-26; Jn10,22-30 - St. George


In today's first reading, we see the persecution of the first Christians. They were firm and confident in the Lord. By their faith and perseverance, the Good News spread even further for the hand of the Lord was with them.

St George is one of the great examples of charity, courage, and determination in the early church during the persecution of Diocletian. He was tortured and beheaded. He listened the voice of the good shepherd and laid his life after a Christ example.

Today, he is considered to be the patron of knights, soldiers, scouts, fencers, and archers, among others; he is also invoked against the plague and leprosy and against venomous snakes.

In the context of Christ victory over death through his resurrection,
the story of St George serves to remind the world of a fundamental idea that good ultimately triumphs over evil. The fight against evil is a constant in human history. It is a battle cannot we cannot win on our own. Saint George was able to kill the dragon because God was acting in and through him. With Christ, evil will never have the last word.

St. George, pray for us!

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Monday of the 4th week of Easter. John 10:1-10.

Monday of the 4th week of Easter. John 10:1-10.

 In today's gospel, Jesus speaks to us and tells us that he is the Good Shepherd. When the sheep hear the voice of the shepherd, they follow him. They don't track those they don't provide. Am I able to differentiate the voice of Christ from those of the false Shepherds?

Jesus also tells us that he is the door, so there is only one way to enter heaven, and that is through belief in him, Jesus Christ, as the Son of God.

Christ is, therefore, our Shepherd, and we are called to listen only to his voice and to trust in him.

Only those who truly listen to the voice of Jesus can truly live a new and transformed life in God.

Happy New week to you all.

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac