18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Gratitude must be our attitude!

august 4, 2024, 18th Sunday in ordinary Time. Year B.

Exodus 16:2–4, 12–15; Psalm 78:3–4, 23–24, 25, 54; Ephesians 4:17, 20–24; John 6:24–35

Meister Eckhart, a German Catholic Theologian once said that:

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice."

For this to be real, gratitude should remain the memory of the heart as expressed by the French Bishop, Jean Baptiste Massieu. Yet according to our daily experience our memory can be very selective. The Israelites are giving us an example of this in today’s first reading. In spite of all that the Lord had done for them, they grumbled against Moses and Aaron just because of hunger. We too might have compromised our freedom, salvation, our Christian faith, our doctrines, morals and sacraments because of material needs and temporal wants. Let’s stop thinking like the “Egyptian fleshpots' ', but thank God for the gift of life, family, community, Jesus is our bread of life, faith and salvation. Let our soul bless the Lord for his mercies endures forever.

Giving Thanks to the Lord

As continue reflect on this powerful and wonderful sixth chapter of St. John, let us remember the true meaning of the Mass. The word Eucharist means, “Thanksgiving”. This should be a reminder that we go to Mass to give thanks to God for his goodness to our world, families and friends. We need to be grateful. Hearts that do not remember God’s powerful hand are not thankful and cannot be joyful. It is a grumbling heart that always wants to return to “egypt” or to “slavery and negativity”.

Jesus gives us life

The word eucharist also means the true bread of heaven, that real presence of Jesus in the blessed sacrament of the altar. Jesus is the true bread of life who promises eternal life to all who believe in him and who will eat this bread and drink this cup. We are hungry and thirsty for so many things in life, but Jesus is inviting us to the food of eternal life. He is also the only one who can truly satisfy all your needs. Please come to the altar. If the manna kept the children of Israel going, Holy Communion can sustain us through this earthly pilgrimage. Let us develop a taste for the Eucharist. If you can begin to attend daily Masses and take some hours for the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, your life will change. With The Eucharist, what happened to each of us at our baptism is fulfilled - we become a new creation in Christ as we heard in today’s second reading (Eph. 4:17,20-24)

Thank you Jesus, Bread of life. Thanks you for your constant care and love. Help us to renew our minds and hearts. Amen.

Living the Gospel this Week:

Psalm 78. Our God is Faithful.

Despite our disobedience, our God is faithful. He keeps seeking for us and guiding us. We must remember his blessings and teach our children about God.

Prayer: We know the stories, Lord. Our parents have told us. We hear them in church. They tell of your faithfulness through all of history. Even when we mess up, you are near. We remember these stories to learn from them. When your people were trapped in Egypt, you saved them. Save us from the things that trap us. Release us from our bad choices. When your people were thirsty in the desert, you provided water from a rock. Quench our thirst, Lord. Help us to long for the life you give, the food that does not perish. Teach us not to thirst for unhealthy things. In remembrance, we recall how you provide good things for us. Amen.

Happy 18th Sunday to you All!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Unity in faith and our confidence in God

July 28, 2024, 17th Sunday in ordinary Time. Year B.

2 kings 4:42-44; Psalm 145; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 6:1-15.

Considering the various opposed ideologies and events going on in our world today, we come to realize how much our families, our churches, our nations and our world is in need to focus on what unites us. As Christians, St. Paul urges us just as he did with the Ephesians around AD 62, to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. What is that calling? It is a life of humility and gentleness, patience, love and peace. St. Paul reminds us of our serious bond that we share with one another as a Nation, or as a family and as children of God. Besides our differences, we share in “one body and one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all of us who is over all and through and in all. (Ephesians 4:5-6). Striving to keep peace within the community and the nation will consist in listening to each other in order to find the truth while journeying together. For this, we must all put our trust in God and accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our personal and community lives. Let us follow this advice from the Book of Proverbs:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5)

Trusting in God’s Care

Both the first reading and the Gospel focus on miracles of abundance. In the first reading, a man came from Baal-shalishah and brought twenty barley loaves to Elisha who used them to feed a hundred people, and there was left over. Jesus in the Gospel, uses only five loaves and two fish from a little boy to feed more than five thousand people. After everyone was satisfied, they collected twelve baskets of leftover fragments. We can learn very important lessons here.

1) With God, everything is possible

(Mt. 19:26).

2) There is always enough with God.

3) God wants us to show our generosity like the man who brought the bread to Elisha and the little boy who gave the bread and the fish, so that God can open his abundance to us.

Our daily efforts, our generosity and our self-giving sacrifices contribute to the change and transformation of the world just as our gift of bread and wine are changed into the Eucharist, the Body and the Blood of Christ!

The feeding of the crowd with bread and fish foreshadows the Eucharist, which is indeed the obvious truth that God is present in our lives and he cares for our spiritual as well as our material needs. So by sharing and trusting in God’s love and care, we too can build a caring, loving and peaceful community! No wonder St. Paul advises:

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8).

Come Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be recreated and they shall renew the face of the earth!

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac

Living the Gospel this Week:

In the end of today’s Gospel we can read: “So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat” (John 6:14).

The gathering of leftovers symbolizes the fullness of God’s provision. As Bishop Barron suggested in one of his reflections, let us through this week deepen our appreciation of the Eucharist as a gift of Jesus himself to us so that we become the gift of Jesus to the world.

As we continue to give thanks to God for the Eucharistic Congress held in Indianapolis, may we continue to build a stronger intimacy or relationship with Christ by participating actively in the Mass! The pope’s message to us at the Congress through Cardinal Luis Tagle is:

“Conversion to the Eucharist”

If possible, begin to attend daily Masses. Jesus is truly waiting for you. Remember that the Eucharist unites us as one body!

May we meditate on this quote of St. Alphonsus Liguori:

“Do not think that Jesus Christ is forgetful of you, since he has left you, as the greatest memorial and pledge of his love, himself in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.”

O Sacrament most holy. Oh sacrament divine!

Happy 17th Sunday in cycle year B.

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

The lord is my shepherd

July 21, 2024, 16th Sunday in ordinary Time. Year B.

Jer. 23:1-6; Ps. 23: 1-6; Ephesians 2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34.

Dear friends in Christ, on this 16th Sunday, we find comfort in the Word of the God who promised to bring security, justice, and to care for us even when our leaders, our parents, our friends will fail to do so.

“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David” (Jer 23:5).

A good king is compared to a good shepherd who protects and takes care of his flock. Unfortunately, like in today's first reading, in Israel there were many bad shepherds as we might have today in our times (1 Samuel 8). Henceforth, like some other prophets, Jeremiah condemns leaders who mislead and scatter God’s flock (Jer. 23:1). Yet, the Good news is filled with hope and assurance that Jeremiah brings is that God is the true Shepherd of his people. He will send them Jesus, “the Son of justice” and the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18) who will watch over them, feed them, protect them and even lay down his life for the sake of his sheep.

Following the guidance of Christ

In psalm 23, we read: “The Lord is my Shepherd. There is nothing, I shall want”. The people of Israel acknowledge themselves as the “people of God” and “his flock”. The reality is well described in Psalm 95 as reads:

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” (Ps. 95:6-7).

This is important for us again today to see ourselves as the people who belong to God; the sheep of his flock. We need to accept Christ’s lead and guidance.

“He guides me in the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley; I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage”

(Ps. 23).

Christ is indeed with us as he promised till the end of the ages (Mt 28:20).

Unity at the heart of Christ’s leadership

Christ leads by sacrificing himself and promises to bring all people together. The whole of humanity is a beneficiary of such a promise because Christ has made us one by his sacrifice, breaking down barriers and granting us all access to the Father, ensuring peace among us as reported by St. Paul in today’s second reading (Ephesians 2:13-18). It is very important for us to understand that with Christ’s death and resurrection, the barriers of sin and death are broken; all obstacles to our attaining true eternal life, both of soul and body, were removed. The project of the Gospel is to remove all barriers to the construction of true love, friendship, peace, and forgiveness and reconciliation of healthy community life. “For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity”. (Ephesians 2:14).

That is the new covenant - calling all who believe in the love of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit to become Apostles of compassion.

We are apostles of compassion

Today’s Gospel invites us to share in the mission of Christ as The Good Shepherd. When he saw the crowd, exhausted, frail, and desperate and lost, he had compassion for them. This is an invitation for our Church and each and every one of us, to take care of the crowds of our time who are like sheep without shepherds. First, like Jesus himself, we need to regularly retreat silently in prayer in order to be fruitful in our ministries. Second, just as Jesus manifested the compassion of God towards the crowd, so shall we also emulate the compassion of Christ to other people by feeding them spiritually and physically. St. Mark is telling us this Sunday that Jesus the Good Shepherd is among us so that we may become good shepherds in our world today!

Happy 16th Sunday!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac

Living Out the Gospel this Week:

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have

been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13)

With this statement, St. Paul notes that everything has changed with Jesus. Believers and unbelievers, Jewish and gentiles who have been “been far off” have now been “brought near” by the pure grace of God. Thanks to the blood of Christ!

Pray that the Holy Spirit may help you break all barriers against love, unity, family and community!

Prayer: St. Francis of Assisi: Make me an instrument of your peace

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Have a blessed new week to you!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Our Mission!

July 14, 2024, 15th Sunday in ordinary Time. Year B. Amos 7:12-15; Ps. 85; Eph. 1:3-14; Mark 6:7-13

On this 15th Sunday we focus on the missionary church. The word mission designates an important assignment to be carried out. The first reading tells us the story of Amos, a shepherd and farmer from Tekoa. Amos is called by God to be a prophet in Israel at Bethel, the house of God. In his message, while advocating for true worship and righteousness, he condemns social injustices and false worship. The prophet Amos criticizes the rich for oppressing the poor and the leaders of the land for their corruption. In a world filled with injustices, the message of prophet Amos remains relevant. We are invited to act justly, help those in need, and be sincere in our faith and worship, by living out our faith by action!

The Psalm 85 that we read this Sunday focuses on God’s desire for peace and justice. Just as Jesus sent out the apostles to spread His message and heal in pairs, this prayer of the psalmist reminds us of our role in promoting God’s peace and justice. It highlights the importance of forgiveness, mercy, and working towards a just world. Lord help us to be active in promoting peace in our lives and communities. Yes, peace seems impossible, but it is our future.

The Church’s mission and our mission is from God. Just as he called Amos in the first reading, Jesus calls and sends the twelve apostles out into the world with clear instructions. (Mark 6:7-13).

must go two by two. According to the Jewish custom, a credible witness is that which is held by at least two people. Moses stated, "Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established" (Deuteronomy 19:15). Evangelization is therefore a community act and not just of one individual. Jesus also asked his Apostles to only carry what is essential, not even bread and money. To follow Jesus we must trust him totally and be available for the mission - free from any form of selfishness and attachments. Finally, Jesus tells us that our missions will not be free from persecutions. Our mission this Sunday is to announce the Good news of love, forgiveness and peace in spite of the opposition.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to hear Your call and respond with faith. Give us the courage to follow where You lead. Help us to trust in Your care and share Your message of love with others. Amen.

Living the Gospel this week. Ephesians 1: 3-14

This week we can focus on how we respond to God’s love for us. “He chose us before the foundation of the world”!

The truth is that we are chosen, redeemed, even sealed with the Holy Spirit. We are blessed with spiritual riches. Think of the blessings of God!

Let‘s live a holy life and share God’s love with others!

Dear friends in Christ, our mission is to heed God’s call to us, to know him, love, serve him, and trust fully his guidance so that we may become holy.

Loving Father in heaven, I pray for the grace to hear your call to bring love and peace into the world. Lord, give me your courage. Come Holy Spirit!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

WE ARE PEOPLE OF HOPE!

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. Ezekiel 2:2-5; Ps 23; 23; 2 Cor. 12: 7-10; Mark 6:1-6.

A) May God continue to bless America!

Dear friends, greetings of peace and love to you all in the name of Jesus. This week has been marked by fireworks, the barbecue, family visitation for the celebration of July 4th, the independence of our great nation, the United States of America. Happy belated independence day indeed! This Sunday, I would like us first of all to pray: -- for those who fought for this independence and for those who are still fighting to sustain it; -- for those who laid down their lives for that cause and for those who were left behind to mourn them. We also pray that the people may be reminded to give God his rightful position in this Nation and among all nations in the world. I would like us to remember the beautiful and powerful words of George Washington, the first President of the United States, who once said: “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible”. Let us remember that independence is all about freedom. And when God sets his children free, he sets them free from slavery and bondages, oppression and idolatry but also sets them free for Himself so that they may know, love and serve Him. This had always been a constant reminder of the prophets to the children of God.

B) We will be held accountable of the decisions we make

Ezekiel in the first reading is called and commissioned by God to speak to the children of Israel in exile in Babylon. The people who were set free by God became rebellious and constantly refused to follow God. It is in fact their stubbornness (complaints against God, idolatry, disobedience and their rebellion) that was the result of their exile. However, God did not give up on them. He shows his love, patience and his mercy by sending Ezekiel to remind them of their covenant with God. He loves them and does not want to lose them. However, the first reading reminds us that we are responsible for our own decisions. God cannot force us to obey. We will be accountable for the decisions we are making today for our families and for our country.

C) We must be humble and only trust in God

“My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness”

Dear friends in Christ, Paul had had an extraordinary experience of paradise, the dwelling place of God (2 Corinthians: 1-6). It was a great privilege for Paul to have such a surpassing revelation. This could cause Paul to feel superior to anyone else and to be boastful. To prevent this God gives Paul a “thorn in the flesh”, which could be a kind of human weakness or suffering, such as persistent temptation to sin (Romans 7:22-25) or forms of aggressive discouragement. Definitely, God has major lessons to teach us.

First, in spite of all the spiritual and physical abilities that we may have, humility is important in our service to God. We must always trust that God is at the source of our achievement. Second, our spiritual strength is no guarantee of health, wealth, or prosperity. Trust and faithfulness to God is the key in our relationship with him.

Finally, God is willing to allow Satan a limited level of power to create helpful weakness in His children. No doubt, God's power is made perfect in a believer's weakness, not in our strength. Our tendency is to get rid of any form of suffering, yet God wants us rather to rely on his strength in our weaknesses. When we accept our sufferings, our weaknesses and rely on God’s strength that we are truly strong for then, it is God’s strength working true us and not our own strength. We should be strong enough to accept our weakness and be weak enough to accept God’s strength to be strong! We need to have enough faith in Jesus and not reject him as the people of Nazareth did (Mark 6:1-6).

Prayer:

Lord, as you gave to Prophet Ezekiel, give us the strength to speak Your truth, even when it is hard. Help us to embrace our weaknesses and trust in Your power. Increase our faith, so we may always believe in Your love and guidance. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

Living the Gospel this week. “Is it not the carpenter, the son of May…?”

Beware of the danger of familiarity

We focus this week on this sentence from the Gospel of Mark 6: 1-6. Jesus was born in Nazareth and being close to them brought familiarity and they could not take him with consideration. Jesus could perform miracles there and he was astonished at their unbelief.

1) Beware of neglecting whoever is closer to you… Your parents, your children, your spouse, your Pastor, your staff, your colleagues at work. Anything you cannot pay for, is God’s gift to you.

2) Beware of neglecting the power in the Eucharist because of our familiarity with it. As we are reminded by Mark Twain: “Familiarity breeds contempt and children”.

3) Faith and Healing: Jesus is only able to heal a few sick people in Nazareth because of their unbelief. Do I have faith in God’s power to heal and help us?

"In faith, there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't." — Blaise Pascal.

Prayer:

Lord increase our Faith!

Rev. Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

The God of kindness and compassion!

13th Sunday in ordinary Time, Year B. Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24; Psalm 30; 2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15; Mark 5:21-43

Paul collection appeal for Jerusalem Church.

In the late ‘40s A.D. , a famine swept across Judea, and Christians in Jerusalem needed financial assistance. In response to the request made by the leaders of Jerusalem Church, Paul encouraged Christians to contribute to an offering to provide relief for the Church of Jerusalem. Giving is a virtue commended by Paul. He encouraged them to respond generously to the needs of others who are not from their community. Paul refers them to the hymn of Kenosis, i.e. self-emptying. In his letter written to the Philippians 2: 1-11, St. Paul reminds all Christians that they have directly benefited from Christ’s sacrifice, that is a free gift which should encourage them to always respond generously to others. Paul also insists here that everyone could only give according to what they have and no one will be held accountable before God for what they don’t have, but only for what they have. Paul is teaching stewardship by calling the Corinthians who have in abundance to give in abundance and those who have little to share the little they have with the impoverished Church in Jerusalem. For Paul, there will also be a time, when the Corinthians will be in need, then they should also expect help from other Churches around the globe.

The Church as a beautiful family

Paul is teaching us that the Church is a beautiful family where we help each other out. This understanding goes back to the Book of Exodus when the children of God were collecting manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:18). God will keep providing for those who give generously as he did for the Community of Israel in the desert. Paul is speaking to us today and he is encouraging us to keep doing what we are doing for the less privileged in our Community. Our collections towards the outreach, the DSA, the Divine Mercy Foundation, the Pallottines formation, etc... are an indication that we are following the right paths as far as God’s calling to charity towards those in need is concerned. St. Paul is inviting and encouraging those associations, groups, individuals among us to give more for the need of the Parish, for the formation of priests in poor countries, for the help of feeding and education of poor people around us and in other poor countries, for the help of people with medical and housing difficulties. In helping those in need, we are imitating Jesus who is our helper in times of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Jesus is our response in times of desperation.

In his habitual method of “sandwich construction” (a different story is placed between the beginning and the end of another story). St. Mark reports the stories of two people in desperation. Jairus whose daughter is 12 years old is dying and the woman who has been suffering from hemorrhages for 12 years. They are both desperately seeking Jesus’ assistance with extraordinary faith. In both cases, Jesus shows compassion. He cares and shares in our sufferings. No wonder, Prophet Isaiah says:

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering” (Isaiah 53:4).

By healing the woman who has been suffering from hemorrhages for 12 years, Jesus restores our self esteem, and place in society, and gives us the possibility to start a new life. By restoring Jairus’ daughter to life, he indicates that in him the power of death is broken. The envy of the devil that brought death into the world (Wisdom 1:13) is conquered. Jesus will give eternal life to all who believe in him. Yes, with Jesus there is life-changing healing, as we have been created to share eternal life with God.

Blessed Mother of God, help us to have faith in Christ your Son and so respond generously to his invitation to eternal life by opening our hearts to the needs of others. Amen.

“Talitha Kum!”

Please pray for me on this day of my 16th anniversary of priestly ordination! Pray for vocation to the priesthood and support vocations in your own way!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Living the Gospel this week.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32)

Compassion

Jesus reveals his compassion to the woman and to the synagogue’s official. Jesus is caring and concerned about those who seek him in faith. He stops what he's doing to acknowledge the woman's faith and heals her instantly. Think of Jesus stopping everything he is doing to focus on you this week.

Spiritual salvation

The woman was instantly "healed" or "saved". This indicates that she also received spiritual salvation. Jesus wants us to be restored to a right relationship with God for eternity, not just physical healing.

Let us pray with the words of St Paul:

“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:23.)

Happy Sunday 13th Sunday! Happy priestly anniversary to Fr. Gee!!!

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

The Powerful God

12th sunday in ordinary time, Job 38:1,8-11; Psalm 107; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Mark 4:35-4.

For the Israelites of the time of Jesus, the sea represented the greatest threat to human beings. It was the expression of evil powers because it contained all the terrible creatures. The sea has uncontrollable forces. This Sunday, the storm comes in as an addition to the scary and threatening environment surrounding the sea concept. But Jesus will silence everything with a word:

“Be silent”.

We find ourselves in the sea of the world with all kinds of threats and dangers. There is no place in life that guarantees us of a storm-less sail on the sea of life. Yet meeting with storms does not mean that we made wrong decisions or that we are necessarily in the wrong direction. No. Storms are part of our lives. Every sector of life has its storms: the storms in our hearts, storms of anxiety, storms of depression, storms of hardship, storms of temptations, storms of inequality, storms of corruption, storms in marriage, storms in family life, storms in community life… All we need is to always remember that there is a powerful God, who is the source of energy. St. Augustine said that:

“The storms of life waken up the sleeping Christ inside us”

The storm awakens our trust in God who reaffirms his mighty handiwork to Job in the first reading (Job 38). We must renew our trust in God’s power.

"I am the Lord All-Powerful, the first and the last, the one and only God" (Isaiah 44:6)

Our God is in control of this world.

Finding Peace in Christ

When faced with the storm, the disciples remember to turn to Jesus in prayer. Lord save us, we are perishing, they said. When faced with the storms in our own lives, we should remember Jesus’ power over all things. Just as He calmed the sea for the disciples, He can bring peace to our troubled hearts, our troubled families, our troubled churches and our troubled societies. We only need to trust Him and have faith. St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians tells us that, since we live by Christ, Christ’s love changes us. We no longer live for ourselves, but for Him. In Christ, we become new creations, leaving our old ways behind. This new life in Christ is full of hope and promise. When we trust in His love, we can face any storm of life with courage. We know that He is with us, guiding and protecting us.

Father in heaven, thank you for your word on this 12th Sunday. You know all the storms we are facing on the sea of this world. Help us to trust you even when everything seems messy, lost and uncontrollable. Silence the storms and give us your strength and your guidance.

Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

Living the Gospel this week: Turning to God in Prayer

The book of Job says:

“Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer…” (Job 11:13-19)

In our daily lives, we might feel afraid or lost, despair, threatened by the storms of life. Let’s turn to God in prayer. When the disciples felt threatened by the outrage of the sea and the heavy storm, they cried to Jesus. Just as they did, we can cry out to Him too. He hears us and will help us. With the letter to the Hebrews,

"So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

(Hebrews 13:6)

Let us remember that Jesus is always with us, even in the most difficult moments of our lives. He is our peace and our strength. By trusting in Him, we find the courage to face any challenge. (Psalm 119:71)

Prayer: The Holy Mother of God helps me to trust in the power and love the love of God as you did. Dear Mother, when we face the storms of life, teach us and help us to know that you are with us. Holy Spirit our Comforter, help us to deal with our fears, and give us your peace. Help us to live as new creations in Christ

(2 Corinthians 5:17) showing your love to others. Amen.

Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Silent but All-powerful!

11th sunday in ordinary time, Ezekiel 17:22-24; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10; Mark 4:26-34

Introduction

It sometimes happens that we do not see how God is at work in our daily life, and because of the many trials, we often get discouraged. This Sunday, we are given a beautiful image of God’s powerful assurance of His love and protection and his presence in our daily lives. Today’s readings remind us that God is our refuge, our fortress and our help in times of troubles. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 encourages us to live by faith and not by sight. Such a life makes us responsible people because we are accountable for all our actions. We should all long for our eternal life with God.

God is of might and restoration

In the first reading, Ezekiel is one of the four major prophets, called by God to be a spiritual guide for his people in exile. Here Ezekiel conveys a message of hope. In his message, he speaks of trees and birds, the trees represent the nation while the birds represent the peoples. As an exiled people, Israel was like a felled tree doomed to disappear. But God will make it live again because he is the all-powerful God who gives restoration from any deadly situation.

God’s hidden presence

Inspired by his ordinary life, Jesus gives us two parables in today’s gospel. For Jesus, God is at work in our daily lives and activities. Those daily activities have meaning and construct our relationship with God. Our daily endeavors can open our eyes to the mystery of God. So, we simply need to have attentive ears, hearts and eyes, to be able

“to seek and find God in all things.”

St. Theresa of Avila said: “growth of a spiritual seed within us requires prayers and meditation. Let us be sowers of the seed”

God is doing something good with your life

By comparing the kingdom of God with the tiniest seed or the mustard seed, Jesus would like us to realize that God’s presence dwells in our hearts and is at the heart of things in the world. Just as the tiny mustard seed, while cast upon the ground, grows until becoming the tallest tree (cf. Mk 4:31-32), so does the power of God grow in our lives without us noticing. The clamor of the world and our busy daily schedule prevent us from stopping and seeing how the Lord is conducting history. Yet – the Gospel assures us – God is at work, like a good little seed that silently and slowly. God always works in a humble, hidden, and often invisible way.

Confidence in the Lord

By telling us these parables, Jesus' aim is to build up confidence in us. We should not allow ourselves to be paralyzed by doubt when we find we are working hard but the results are not achieved or when things seem never to change. The result of sowing does not depend on our abilities but on the action of God. It is up to us to sow, and sow with love, with dedication and with patience. The farmer sows the seed and then does not realize how it bears fruit. The seed grows spontaneously, day and night, even when the farmer least expects it (cf. vv. 26-29). With God, dear friends, even in the most infertile soil there is always the hope of new sprouts.

May Mary Most Holy, the Lord’s humble handmaid, teach us to see the greatness of God who works in the little things and to overcome the temptation of discouragement!

Jesus I trust in you every day!

Have a blessed week

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Homily

Genesis 3:9-15; Ps. 129; 2 Cor. 4:13-5,1; Mk. 3, 20-35.

God of Light, God of Goodness, God of Life

We dream to live a better world where there is peace, harmony and love, but the world filled with darkness; Everywhere there evil; Everywhere there is death. This is definitely the consequence of sin which brings shame, fear and rejection or denial of the truth and God. However, God does not abandon us, He seeks us.

God is searching for us, guilty sinners!

In the first reading, we see a God who is looking out for Adam and Eve after the fall. As he calls Adam in garden of Eden, so is he searching for you in the field of the world today: “Where are you?”. In spite of our guilt and shame, our sins, our wickedness, our finger pointing, our failures and shortcomings, our fears and doubts, the Lord loves us and he is searching for us. We are precious in God’s eyes. He says in Isaiah:

“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

(Isaiah 49:16).

God of Hope who does not abandon us!

Even though man had sinned, God’s mercy is already shown to them when he promised to put enmity between the serpent and the woman and between the seed of evil and the seed of the Woman, that is Jesus Christ who will triumph over Satan. God does not abandon us. David acknowledge this when he says:

“because you will not abandon

me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.” (Ps. 16:10)

Jesus is searching for you!

God is searching for you. St. John tells us that

“God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish” (John 3:16).

Jesus came to look for you. So, where are you with your life? No matter how red your sins are (Isaiah 1;18), do not run away from God, but run back to God; run back to confession, for in God there is mercy and in Him there fullness of redemption (Cf. Ps 130:7) The message of today’s Gospel is also the confirmation that with Christ, the power of Satan, the power of Belzebul, the prince of demons is coming to an end.

In spite of all evil and darkness in the world today, we must remain faithful and hopeful

because we have Christ Jesus. He is the light of God and He will triumph over darkness.

Remain in the light and be the light of the world (Mt 5:14). God will conquer over evil and life triumphs over death. Jesus is the Light; Jesus is Goodness! Jesus is Life!

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may the triumph of Christ over evil, darkness and death be ours in the name of Jesus! May we under the guidance of our faith be assured eternal life through Christ, our Lord. Amen!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Living the Gospel this Week

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” (Mark 3:33)

Jesus redefines family. We are bound by faith and not by Blood ties. Jesus wants us to transcend ourselves from purely human to always seek the will of God. “Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said,

“Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:34-35)

Let us show respect and love to Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother this week by visiting a grotto, and saying a rosary for the family! (Luke 2:51)

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us in becoming a citizen of the broader family, the Church. We are citizen of the new Kingdom; the kingdom of Christ!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Corpus Christi Homily

Exodus 24:3-8; Ps 115; Hebrews 9:11-15; Mc. 16.22-26

Everlasting covenant

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, last week I explained to you about the origin of the feast of the Blessed sacrament, which was celebrated in the Diocese of Liege in 147, then extended to the universal Church in 1264 by Pope Urban IV. Allow me to reflect with you this Sunday the meaning of the feast for us today. The Corpus Christi is the sign of Christ's presence among us through the sacramental signs of the consecrated host in the tabernacles of all our chapels and churches in the world. It is God sealing a new covenant with us.

In the first reading, Exodus 24:3-8, Moses makes a covenant with his people by building an altar in order to offer sacrifices for peace. To conclude this covenant, Moses poured half of the blood on the altar and half of the blood on the people. However, this blood of animals was limited, although it was a sign of the covenant. And the people did not respect their promise to keep the covenant.

In the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews, Christ the perfect and High priest, has poured out his most precious blood for the final liberation from sin and death and for the total purification and sanctification. We note that the Eucharist is our life and our salvation. This is confirmed by the words of Jesus:

“I’m the bread that comes down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread , will have eternal life” (John 6:51)

The Gospel gives us the account of the institution of the Eucharist, whereby Jesus utters the words of blessings over the bread and said:

“Take and eat”

and over the wine and said:

“This is my blood; the blood of everlasting covenant, poured out for you and for the multitude”

(Mc. 14: 27-26)

Let us acknowledge and adore the real presence of Jesus in the eucharist! He remains among usuntil the end of the world. He dwells on so many altars though so often offended and profaned. May we take any opportunity for us to be at Mass or in adoration as an hour in paradise. It is indeed our divine banquet. It is our divine encounter. We need to believe. We need an act of faith!

O Sacrament most holy, o sacrament Divine. All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!

Living the Gospel this Week “Staying with the Lord”

Mt 26:40

I recall Jesus awakening Peter and asking him a very serious question:

“Could you not stay awake with me for even one hour?”

(Mt. 26:40)

1) Pray with the psalms of your choice: praise, thanksgiving, repentance or wisdom.

2) Meditate on the “our Father”

3) Use the scriptures for the life of saints: Therese of Lisieux, Catherine of Siena, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, Peter Julian Eymard, Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa of Kolkata. You may read any of them and their prayer before the blessed sacrament.

4) Be silent and listen to Him.

O Sacrament most holy, o sacrament Divine. All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!

Have a wonderful week!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Trinity Sunday Homily

Trinity Sunday

Deut. 4 : 32-40 ; Ps. 32 ; Rom. 8: 14-17; Mt. 28:16-20

One day during my regency in a high school as I was giving the Class on Religion, one of the little children asked me: “Fr., Who invented the Trinity?” I smiled and I said to him, although the word trinity is not mentioned in the Bible, here is what I can say:

The Holy Trinity, God’s identity

The Holy Trinity is the truth about the nature of God. God reveals to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three persons of the same one God. This reality is an old profession of faith; God himself reveals to us this truth:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” (Deut. 6:4).

God is always the communion of persons, in his creation, in his actions throughout the entire bible, there has always been a very combined action of the same God in three persons. The beautiful greetings of Paul to the Corinthians is a good example:

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

(2 Corinthians 13:14)

The Trinity is our identity

Then, I also told them that, according to my experience, there is nothing as real in our existence like the Holy trinity. We are trinitarian people; we baptize in the name of the trinity, we believe, we are forgiven, we worship, we pray in the name of the Holy trinity; we are blessed in the name of the trinity even when we die, we are commended to God in the name of the name of the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This sign defines us as sons and daughters, of the triune God and as Catholics and Christians.

“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” (Mt. 28:19)

The Holy Trinity is Love

When about to leave from the earth to his Father, Jesus said:

“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever” (John 14: 16).

So it clear that, The Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Father, but there is a perfect communion of love between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

What kind of love is the the Trinity?

It is love which liberates, love which unites, love which does not curse, which is not in competition, which does not seek its own interests but is always patient and kind, gentle, faithful, and persevering. (1 Cor. 13:8).

“I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (John 14:10)

Let us become trinitarian people:

The holy trinity is a perfect family of unity, communion, of love and truth. Let our families become friends of the Holy Trinity, where truth and love are new songs. We must become ourselves, people of love and unity. Trinity is friendship with everyone and with All!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Living the Gospel this week:

“That they may be One” (John 17: 21-23)

Jesus prayed for unity for unity. Please read John 17 through this week.

What are the causes of divisions in your family? Pray that the Holy Spirit may help you become a parable of truth, unity, communion and reconciliation!

Prayer:

O my God, Trinity whom I adore, let me entirely forget myself that I may abide in you, still and peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity; let nothing disturb my peace nor separate me from you, O my unchanging God, but that each moment may take me further into the depths of your mystery! Pacify my soul (Elizabeth of the Trinity)

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Understanding Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Body and Blood.

Corpus Christi, or the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, is a Catholic holiday that has several important purposes. It gives thanks to God for Christ's presence in the Eucharist, teaches people about the Eucharist, and helps people reaffirm their faith. It also provides a chance to connect with other worshippers through processions, prayers, and other events.

Origin of Corpus Christi

Two separate miracles were at the origin of Corpus Domini: the vision to St. Juliana of Mont Cornillon and the Miracle at Bolsena by a young priest of Prague.

The vision of Julianna of Cornillon

St. Juliana was very devoted to the devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and so longed to celebrate a special feast recognition of our Lord’s real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. It happened that she had a vision of the Church under the appearance of a full moon which had one dark spot. The dark spot represented the absence of the feast of the Blessed Sacrament in the Church according to her mysterious vision. St .Juliana confessed the vision to Bishop Robert of Liege and Jacques Pantaléon, who later became Pope Urban IV. Bishop Robert organized a Synod in 1246, and celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi for the first time in 1247 in the Diocese of Liege. Another important miracle would occur 17 years later, which contributed to the official recognition of Corpus Christi in the entire Catholic Church.

Eucharistic miracle at Bolsena

In the city of Prague, there was a priest, Fr. Pietro who was losing his faith in the love and real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and had some doubts on the Eucharist. In 1263, while celebrating the Mass in the Church Santa Cristina in Bolsena, at the breaking of the Bread, the precious Blood of our Lord flowed from the Host, covering the altar cloth, corporal and the floor. Pope Urban IV, who was residing at Orvieto at the time, ordered that the precious cloth, covered with the precious blood, be brought to the Church of St. Mary in Orvieto. This is a pilgrim place and a place of adoration to date.

Feast of Corpus Christi proclaimed

After these two important events, Pope Urban IV, on the 11 August 1264, published the Bull “Transiturus de hoc mundo '', as the official of the establishment and universal feast of Corpus Christi in the Latin Church. The bull also granted many indulgences to the faithful for the attendance at Mass and at the Office on the day of the feast of the Blessed Sacrament. To celebrate the feast, St. Thomas Aquinas wrote the very beautiful liturgy celebrated on the Solemnity, such as: Adoro Te Devote (I adore thee devoutly), Tantum Ergo Sacramentum (The sacred Host we hail), Pange Lingua (sing my tongue, the Savior’s glory.

Importance of the feast and the procession of Corpus Christi

Today, it is very important to celebrate the Corpus Christi that is the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ in order to give thanks to God for the real presence of Jesus among us in the Eucharist. The celebration also deepens and reinforces our faith in the Eucharist. teaches us about Jesus’ love for us, and helps people reaffirm their faith in the Blessed Sacrament. The procession outside the Church, most of the time on roads of the city, provides an opportunity to adore and worship the Blessed Sacrament publicly and to give a chance to connect with other worshipers who are not Catholic.

The importance of the procession

The procession often highlights the mercy of God for all people and the role of the incarnate Jesus who came so that “All may be saved” (John 3:16).

According to the tradition of the Church, there are usually three (3) or more repositories (Altar of repose), where the Priest and the ministers together with all the faithful make a stop in order to place and adore the blessed sacrament. Usually, we have two thurifers, 4 chandlers side by side the canopy, children who can strew flowers petals if necessary, book bearer, corporal bearers, canopy could be carried by Deacons or other men, and the celebrant leading the procession carries the Eucharist at eye level. Some other things might be incorporated according to the customs of the Diocese or a particular Parish.

This year, on June 2, we wish to have a short procession with one altar of repose between the Family Center and the Church at 11AM Mass.

Some fathers of the Church reminds us that: “The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time that you will spend on earth”

Please join us!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac

Pentecost Sunday Homily

AT THE SCHOOL OF THE PENTECOST

MAY 19, 2024 | Acts 2:1-11; Ps. 103; Gal. 5:16-25; John 15:26-27;16: 12-15.

The first Pentecost happened 2000 years ago. However, Pentecost is not only a far-off event, but a promise. A promise that The Holy Spirit continues to guide, comfort, strengthen and renew the Church. Jesus said:

“My Father is working until now, and I am working.” (John 5:17-18).

Our society as a whole and each of us as individuals are facing many demons, such as sadness, anger and fear of what is going on, wars, abortions, sickness, cancer, hunger, human exploitation, abuse, corruption and inflation. We need to experience a new Pentecost again and again. We need a life in the spirit, which is the expression of a life filled with joy – love and forgiveness of the enemies, letting go of the grudges with joy and a smile, and living a life of charity. This is a true life in the spirit that the Holy Spirit comes to teach us. He is indeed the Teacher that we need to follow.

The Holy Spirit our Teacher

In the Gospel of John, Jesus says:

“But the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

(John 14:26)

This specific role of the Holy Spirit as our teacher is very realistic. This means, He is going to help us see things in a new way with the eyes of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit teaches us where to begin (John 14:15)

The Spirit will teach us where to begin everyday. The starting point of your everyday life should be the love of Jesus.

“If you love me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15)

The love of Christ is the basis of everything and it the spirit of God that pours out love into our hearts (cf. Romans 5:5). He is the Engine, and the Mover of our life. He is the Memory of God. He reminds us of whatever Jesus had taught. He constantly reminds us that God loves us, heals us and comforts us at all times, especially when we have fallen. He teaches us how to forgive and to be reconciled with the past and how to begin anew.

The Holy Spirit teaches us which paths to take (Romans 8:5)

St. Paul is somehow a specialist of life in the spirit. He reminds us that,

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5)

It becomes clear that those led by the spirit produce the fruits of the spirit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (cf. Galatians 5:22-23). Celebrating Pentecost invites us to always discern the true voice of the spirit in our lives-which path is of the spirit and which one is not. Pope Francis once said that,

“The Holy Spirit will never tell you that everything will go alright. No. He corrects you. He makes you weep for your sins; he pushes you to change; to fight against your lies and deceptions, even when that calls for hard work and interior struggles and sacrifices” (Pope Francis, Homily Pentecost, 2022)

Contrary to the Holy Spirit, the evil spirit always pushes you to do what you think and find pleasing. He makes you think that you have the right to use your freedom whenever and however you want even when you feel empty inside. He blames you, blames others for your problems, always criticizing others, suspicious, complaining and frustrates you and destroys you, brings negativity, sad thoughts... Yet the Holy Spirit always stays with you and he is there to comfort you and encourage you to get up, to change and to become a new person. He teaches us the paths of joy, peace, unity and love.

The Holy Spirit teaches the

Church how to walk (Acts 2:1-11)

The Holy Spirit reminds us of the importance of the upper room for private prayer as well community prayer. The Apostles and disciples of Jesus, altogether 120 present, prayed for 10 days and were all “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). The message of the Pentecost is that the Holy Spirit wants a Church that prays together, feels together, walks together towards the eternal kingdom. The Holy Spirit is teaching the Church to be open to the newness and freshness of the Spirit. He is teaching us to accept one another, complement one another with the different charisms, as we heard in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. He is one who brings harmony among the multiple gifts and charisms that he gives.

Brothers and Sisters, let’s sit at the

school of the Holy Spirit so that he can teach us all things! May we allow him to remind us that love is always our starting point and that like the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, we are invited to walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh! May we learn how to make decisions by listening first to his voice and learn to journey not as solitary individuals but always as the Church.

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Ascension Sunday Homily

Today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, which means that Christ is now back in the glory of his father in heaven forty days after his resurrection. It is our hope. As Christians, we can learn so much about the event of the Ascension.

On this feast of the Ascension, I would like us to see in which way the ascension is important to our Catholic faith.

Jesus is God!

If we consider the Ascension as a goodbye that Jesus bids to his disciples, his departure from this earthly life, it reminds us of a basic truth about our faith.

Jesus is Lord and God.

The letter to Hebrews affirms that Jesus,

“after he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3; 12:2).

Peter reaffirms this in his epistle,

“Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.” (1 Peter 3:22).

Ascension means therefore that Jesus is God. If he was not God he was not going to be able to ascend to heaven. He does ascend by his own power. This is the second mystery of the Rosary.

Heaven is our destiny!

The second lesson is that heaven is more important. If the earth was more important, Jesus would have remained here on earth even after his resurrection. There is something beyond the earthly reality. The words of Jesus in his farewell discourse are the most attractive, consoling and powerful words when he says:

“Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

John the Beloved disciple, in his vision, “saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. He also saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And he heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Cf. Revelations 21:1-4). The Ascension reminds us that this earth is not our final destination. Let us turn our eyes to the things of heaven. No wonder Paul does advise us:

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)

Our destiny is not in the grave, but in heaven. God so loved us that he gave us his only Son, that whoever among us believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

The responsibility is now ours!

The third lesson is related to our mission. We are now the “new Jesus”. In the first readings from the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus invites us to stop looking at the sky, but to now become aware of our responsibility of preaching the Good news. Because of his Ascension, the main responsibility of healing, protecting and serving our community, is now ours. We were invited to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit in order to build up the body of Christ, our Church, family, and our society. Jesus going to heaven, handing-over the mission of his church to us, as his disciples. He hands-over to us his power, his authority and his mission. Jesus is trusting every one of us according to their status, their strength, their abilities, their means to take up these responsibilities. Dear friends, the responsibility to bring God to people is now ours. If we live like Christ, we will take us with him in heaven.

May we long for the moment when we will meet with Jesus in heaven. Yes, heaven is our home! As St. Augustine once said:

“Today our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven; let our hearts ascend with him.”

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac

6th Sunday of Easter (Year B)

The Glory of Easter: perfect joy

MAY 5, 2024 | Acts 10, 25-16. 34 ; 1 John 4, 7-10; John 15:9-17.

The message of the Gospel is a message of joy. Jesus said himself in today’s gospel that:

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)

Christ speaks to us in order to fill us with joy. The reason for this joy is that the life of Jesus has always been a life filled with love after the image of his Father.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:10)

This is true friendship with God, which is manifested in the love we have for everyone in the world.

Such a love is described in the

Book of the Acts of the Apostles, in today’s first reading through the invitation of St. Peter - to love without discrimination, for God’s love has no partiality. Peter enters the house of Cornelius to teach him together with a group of pagans about the salvation of God. They received like everyone else the gift of the Holy Spirit and were baptized. The Apostle Peter reminds us today, as he did to the first Christian community, that the message of salvation is for all people without discrimination of nationality, race, tribe and color of their skin. Salvation is universal and Christianity is all about love, loving others; it is all about service, serving others. It is all about life, that is living for others. In that way our joy is complete.

This is what St. John insists on in the second reading of this Sunday.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)

God’s love is manifested in giving us

his Son, Jesus who sacrificed himself for us for the forgiveness of our sins. God has shown us how to love. It is up to us today to show the world what God’s love looks like. This Sunday, we are challenged on the manner we love one another. Do we pick and choose those we want to love or help or serve? St. John is challenging each and everyone who call themselves Christians to love as Christ loved. He gave his life for all without discrimination. God himself makes his sun shine on bad and good people alike and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil (Cf. Mt 5:45).

Let us open our hearts to love every human being created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). This is to say, may we ask the Holy Spirit to help us welcome a person in our heart without discrimination of origin. May our love empower us to work for a better, harmonious, loving, peaceful and joyful society. Let us take seriously the command of Jesus to get out of ourselves and to spread love everywhere we find ourselves. That is perfect joy. We can conclude with this beautiful quote of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta:

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”

Have a Blessed Sunday!

Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

5th Sunday of Easter (Year B)

The Glory of Easter: actions speak louder than words

Acts 9:26-31; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8

In cultures of the world, integrity is a high value and Christ’s teaching today resonates with these values. Christian life and our social, political, and family life are inseparable. Our faith should be translated into life. Words and deeds are inseparable. In the ancient Rome, they used to say: “operemus credite not verbum”, “trust in deed not in words'', the modern day Italian tell you: “prati non parole” , Spanish people will tell you: “Las palabras Se ilevan en el viento”:

“words are carried in the wind”.

In English, we say: "Actions speak louder than words”. In most African languages, this is ascertained in a very strong way: '' Mod asikik a mikobo; mod ane a mimbo" in Beti language in Cameroon. “A true person is not recognized by his words but by their actions”. What Paul, John, and Jesus are telling us this Sunday is that:

“The world needs more witnesses than it does teachers” (Pope Paul IV).

Be doers of the Words not hearers only.

Throughout the Bible, practicing the love, the words and the commandments of God has always been what pleases God. Jesus himself tells us that:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Mt7:21)

Saint James invites us to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)

This clearly means faith without works is barren. It is dead.

In the first reading, Acts 9:26-31, relationships, messed-up personality. Remember “a house divided against itself cannot stand” (Mt 12:26).

Friends, we are Christians; let us have good hearts. Let us produce good actions! As Christians we must make good choices, do what faith and love do and faith will continue to grow in our lives.

Divine life invites us to be grafted into the true vine, the Source of life, Jesus Christ and abide in his word so that I can bear fruits. But sometimes even the devil uses the Bible. He might know the scriptures more than us. We must truly be Christians. Being Christian is not by word but life. We must know the Word, Jesus, and become what we hear and read everyday. When the Bible says, “ You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free”. Once we apply the truth of the word of Christ in our lives, there will be stability.

Once we truly know the word, we will no longer speak ill about anybody; we will no longer discriminate anyone because his or her origins, his or her culture. We must clearly make a difference between memorizing the Bible verses or claiming to be a Christian with our lips and knowing Jesus from our heart. Abiding in Jesus is to know his word from our heart - to love him from our heart because the word of God that we hear everyday is for our hearts. He says in Revelation 3: 20: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I willcome in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

God stands at the door of your door of your heart so that he may enter in. The word of God is not for your head but for your heart. St James is very clear to us:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)

Christianity is not a mere religion, but a way of life. Let us allow the power of the word penetrate our hearts as we come to Church every Sunday or everyday so that, we will no room for hatred, no room for gossips, no room discrimination, no room for jealousy, no room for envy, no room for false accusations. Because we abide in Jesus, the true vine, we will bear fruits of love, kindness, gentleness, goodness, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, peace, joy, unity and reconciliation.

We conclude with these words of one of the Catholic saints, “May God be your house and you God’s house. Dwell in God that God may dwell in you. God dwells in you to support you and you dwell in God in order not to fail. So, keep the commandment! Have charity!”

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

The glory of Easter: Reaching out the homebound of our Parish! Our new perspectives.

When I came to Holy Redeemer in October 2023, I expressed my vision to the Parish Pastoral and finance Councils. Among other important things, I vowed to focus on “Family life” and missions. I even told Bishop Boyea, that

“Holy Redeemer is now a missionary Parish”

Aware that this first year is more of observing, learning and laying down the foundations of this vision, I believe that, so far, we are progressing step by step in doing so with your collaboration. Thanks to the Parish staff and the two Parish Councils. Thanks to every one of you as we learn to know each other better and to journey together. Thanks for your incredible love. Thanks to those who even supported me with prayer and financially assisted me to go back to Cameroon in order to bury my grandmother. Thanks to those who have already invited me to have an experience with their families. Thanks to those who continue to come over to the office just to know me better and to show their love and support to me as their Pastor. As I celebrated the feast day of St. George, I said a special prayer for each of you through his intercession!

As I just mentioned above, this year aims at laying down some important foundations and setting up a road-map for our Parish for the next few years. For Example, the time table of the Masses has now been clearly set up: having daily Masses, one healing Mass monthly, power hour adoration every Thursday, Divine Mercy prayer group, Heart to heart ministry, Grief support group, Divorce group, the CCW, the Knights of Columbus, the Men’s club, the youth, adult formation, Marriage desk, and our outreach, all these spiritual activities, find strong support and adherence in my heart and my actions. We need to first focus on building up our spiritual life; for the first and foremost role of the Parish is to proclaim the Gospel and to make authentic disciples. Jesus himself tells us:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Mt 6:33)

Let us build on solid ground, the word of God, Jesus our Rock! (cf. Mt 7:24-27).

In order to keep, our Parish in line with our yearly budget, we will launch a stewardship campaign in September this year, while in October of this same year, we will have our Parish fundraiser, which we have baptized: “Harvest Weekend”. I will reach out to each of you about this at the appointed time as I did with the DSA. Thanks a million times for your dedication! In the perspective of reinforcing and expanding our missionary vision, we intend to strengthen our Holy Redeemer scholarship and outreach program (Collection every third of the month) by putting into it, a healing and restoration aspect. Thanks to Dcn. Omar and all volunteers in that beautiful and wonderful ministry! Thanks to the committee of parents working to help with tuition fees of students who benefit from Holy Redeemer Scholarship.

For the Divine Mercy Foundation, our aim this year is to finalize the building of an orphanage in Cameroon, helping poor children with tuition fees, and supporting the vocation promotion by raising funds for Pallottine seminarians to the priesthood. I will write a letter to you about this, as I would like this vocation promotion to take place on the weekend of 29th – 30th June, which is the anniversary of my priestly ordination. What a remembrance!

Now, coming back to homebound, sometimes those who are homebound are easily forgotten. I thought that I would start by visiting all of them to bring hope, love and the sacrament of the Eucharist to them. Since the month of February, I have visited 21 homebound parishioners, and this has been a powerful and joyful experience for me and for them. I was so touched by the visitation of Mr. Antonio Perez, who last saw the priest 4 years ago. This was an experience of the resurrection for him as well as for others. I was also amazed that most of them knew me by name and they were so excited. They were so happy to share with me their stories, where they are coming from, and how much they love God and the Catholic Church.

Most of them love to watch our Masses online and they would not like to miss it. The moment of tears was indeed the time of the reception of the Body of Christ. After receiving the Body of Christ, I could see tears running through their eyes. Christ in the Eucharist is indeed our true life. As I’m sharing this experience, which is transforming my life everyday, I would like to encourage you to visit a homebound or a fallen away parishioner and to give them love, and to bring them Jesus. I also encourage you to let the office know if there is any homebound around you or any whom you know. This opens me up to the second phase of our journey of strengthening the family ministries. I want to visit “your family”. Please just contact me whenever you think we can do so.

I'm writing these words to you in fulfillment of Jesus' mandate sending his disciples to the villages, cities and towns:

“Go! …Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” (Mt 10:8)

Have a great Sunday,

Christ is risen, alleluia, alleluia!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

4th Sunday of Easter (Year B)

The Glory of Easter: Be a good Shepherd!

Acts 4:8-12; Ps. 118; John 6:11-18

The fourth Sunday of Easter is called “the Good Shepherd Sunday” which we read from the Gospel of John Chapter 10. We can hear Jesus himself speaking to us saying:

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and they know me. They hear my voice and they follow. The Good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”.

According to the Church's history, the early Christians had a special love for the image of Jesus as the Good shepherd. They usually put it everywhere: in their churches, homes, graves, catacombs, statues and mirrors because this image reminded the persecuted Christians that God is always with them. He loves, guides and cares for them especially in times of trials and persecution. This is the image of God’s providence who envelopes our lives.

Good shepherd image in the Old Testament

First of all God is the Shepherd who guides Israel (Genesis 48:15). The famous Psalm 23, Isaiah 40:11, along with Psalm 78:52 -53, and Psalm 80:1, portrays God as the provider, caregiver, the protector and deliverer against slavery, darkness, evil and death. Then, the Prophet Micah invites God to shepherd his people (Micah 7:14) as he is the Good shepherd. So all human rulers ought to become shepherds of the people modeled after their God, the Good shepherd.

Many prominent figures in the Old Testament were shepherds

We can recall Jacob shepherding

the flock of his father Isaac, then he became patriarch; Moses was tending the flock of his father

in-law, Jethrow at Mount Sinai. David was tending the flock of his father Jesse, and David became the great king of Israel. Amos was the shepherd of Tekoa and even the judges were called to shepherd the people. All these

shepherds of Israel pointed at one unique shepherd, Jesus Christ – The True Shepherd who is alluded by Ezekiel in 34.

“I myself will be the Shepherd of my people and also David, my servant”.

This is fulfilled by Jesus in John 10: “I’m the Good Shepherd”. Jesus is the true King, the True Leader, The True God made man, who enlightens, takes care, directs, feeds and leads the whole humanity to heaven.

Bad shepherd or hireling

During the history of the Old Testament, we discover that there were also bad shepherds, these include sinful kings and bad and corrupt leaders who were doing a terrible job at shepherding. The prophets such as Jeremiah (23; 25), Isaiah (56:9-12), Zachariah 11, Amos and Ezekiel 34 will often chastise them and call the entire universe to repentance. We all as Bishops, priests, parents, teachers, nurses, businessmen or women, students, politicians, civil servants, can become either good shepherds or hireling shepherds today depending on how we take up the responsibilities that are ours before God and before men. We can truly become good shepherds by imitation of Christ in words and deeds.

Remember, “The closer we are to the Shepherd, the safer we are from the wolves”

(Catholic Link quote).

Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO sac

3rd Sunday of Easter Homily (Year B)

The Glory of Easter: Retell the story of the Lord

Acts 3:13-19; Ps 4; 1 John 2:1-5; Luke 24:35-48

On this third Sunday, Jesus comes to encounter us on our roads of life as he appears to two disciples of Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32). Often, we have moments of deception in our lives and we can make wrong decisions and fall away from the Church or from the right way. However, He always meets us on our journeys of life so that we may discover as Hugh of St. Victor wrote that,

“All sacred Scripture is but one book, and this one book is Christ!”

By sharing the word of God with the two disciples, our Lord insists on the importance of Scriptures in the life of the Church and in our individual lives. Saint Jerome confirms this when he tells us that

“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ!”

Lost sheep, found on the way

The disciples of Emmaus, after the death of Jesus, were disappointed and decided to leave Jerusalem, the Church. By leaving Jerusalem, the disciples are the first “fallen away” Catholics and its offices. It happens sometimes that in our times of difficulties and troubles, we fall away from the Resurrected Christ, our King, from Mary, our Queen Mother, from the teaching of the Church and the Apostles, the first bishops. Our joy this Sunday is that the risen Christ always seeks the lost sheep (Luke 15) as he did with the two disciples of Emmaus. Let us pray for those of our family who have fallen away from the Church for years. Let us pray for ourselves that we may return to the Lord through the sacrament of confession and receive the Eucharist!

Breaking the bread

Luke tells us that in spite of journeying together for a long distance, the disciples did not recognize the Lord and maybe because their hearts were cloudy with sadness, hopelessness and lack of faith. It was only when the disciples opened the door of their heart (Revelation 3:20) and Jesus came to stay with them and revealed himself upon “breaking of the bread” (Luke 24:30–31), were they transformed and decided to go back to Jerusalem and retell the story of Jesus on the way to Emmaus.

Be a reporter of the Gospel

The story of the disciples of Emmaus helps to retell the story of Jesus. This makes us effective witnesses today. The story of Jesus is the greatest story ever told. We must share Jesus with others, in that way, we are spreading peace, joy, and healing even the doubts of unbelievers. Is this not an invitation to parents to keep telling the story of Jesus to their children? Instead of indulging in social media, maybe every evening, we may read a piece of the Bible to our children. A little story about what Jesus did. To our neighbors and surroundings, Jesus can become the topic of our discussions. Why can’t we announce the name of Jesus and his story at times and at counter times? Let us make it as viral as possible. St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:16

“Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.”

Encounter with the Lord should transform us and make us effective witnesses for Christ. Day and night retell the story of the Lord. Like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus let us invite Jesus to stay with us!

Fr. Georges Bidzogo SAC

Divine Mercy Sunday (Year B)

The Glory of Easter: Divine Mercy, a gift of God for us for our salvation

Divine Mercy closes the octave of Easter

The Divine Mercy Sunday completes the octave of Easter. According to the Jewish people, whenever there was a big religious feast that could not be celebrated in one day, they would celebrate it in 8 days. As Catholics, we carry this tradition to celebrate Christmas and Easter. Of course, our biggest Octave is the Easter octave, which starts on Easter Sunday, that is the day our Lord opened the door to heaven. He wants to find us spotless in our wedding garment, that is our soul.

Jesus the bridegroom who takes us back to his Father’s house

It is important to note that (7) seven is the perfect number for the Jewish people, however, that is with regards time and creation. But when we speak of the Divine mercy Sunday, we speak of the (8) eighth day, which is a divine representation of eternity. Jesus is the bridegroom who will come back to take us as his bride to his Father’s house (John 14: 1-2). For us to enter eternity, we need to be cleansed of the stain of sin of our wedding garment, that is our soul.

“The bride must resemble the bridegroom”

Mercy as a response to sin. (Romans 6:23)

The word of God reminds us that the wage of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. God's mercy is the antidote against the wage of sins and their consequences in our lives. We cannot enter heaven with sins. And even if the valid confession takes away our sins, the temporal punishment may remain, and this can still cause our souls to be punished in purgatory. No wonder, the Book of revelation tells us that

“Nothing impure will ever enter it (heaven)” (Rev. 21:27).

The Divine Mercy Sunday is a gift of God to the Church. For the Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus gave this extraordinary promise to us:

“On that day, the soul that will go to confession and receive Holy communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment” (Diary 699).

Faustina wrote: “God’s mercy is stronger than our misery” (#1507)

Receiving plenary Indulgence on Divine mercy or any other time.

A plenary (meaning “full”) indulgence is a special type of indulgence that, if all the requirements are met, removes all temporal punishment due to one's sin. Receiving such indulgence can avoid one to pass through the purgatory. However, this demands total purification of heart and mind from impatience, ill thoughts, lust, gluttony, and daily struggle. This is quite difficult to achieve. Christians may obtain plenary indulgences by visiting the Blessed sacrament for adoration for thirty continuous minutes; devoutly participate in a Eucharist procession, especially on Corpus Christi or spend three entire days in retreat; Then go to confession, receive holy communion and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.

On Divine mercy Sunday, which St. Augustine considers as the compendium of the days of mercy, we are advised to go to confession before or on the same day; then receive communion in a state of grace. The main purpose of the Divine mercy Sunday is the forgiveness of our sins and our readiness to welcome back our Lord anytime he comes back for us. This is a day whereby our souls are cleansed again purely just as they were on the day of our baptism. However, remember how important your conversion is for the future. Please calmly say the following prayer as all grace flows from mercy.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a poor sinner. Jesus, you promised St. Faustina that, the soul who has been to confession and (I have been) the soul that receives Holy Communion (I just did), will receive complete forgiveness of all sins and punishment. O please give me this grace. Amen.

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Easter Sunday Homily

The Glory of Easter: Clothed with God’s power and glory

Acts 10:34 a, 37-43; PS. 117; Col. 3:1-4; John 20:1-9

Christ is risen, alleluia, alleluia!

We celebrate today the day of the resurrection of Christ!

Christ is alive! His victory over death is our victory too! How can we understand this?

On Holy Thursday, the Lord removed his outer garment (John 13:1-5) On Good Friday, the Lord was stripped of his garment (Mt. 27:34-35). On Sunday morning, they did not find the body of the Lord in the tomb (Luke 24:3). The linen was nicely folded and the burial cloth, or the napkin or the handkerchief (John 20:7) was folded and separate from the rest of his grave clothes. This certainly suggests to us that the person who was dead on Friday afternoon is alive and he will return. What can we understand about this symbolism of the removing and stripping of the grave clothes, and the folding of the napkin? The Gospel of John tells us that, The Apostles Peter and John and entered the tomb, saw all this and they believed.

Symbolism of the linen as a clue to understand the resurrection

The risen Lord leaving his burial linen and even his face-cloth folded separate from other burial clothes could suggest at least three meanings.

The Risen Lord is the Eternal Priest who perfectly atones our sins

Centuries earlier in the Old Testament, only the high priest entered the temple, the Holy of Holies once a year to offer sacrifice in atonement for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 9:7) After the blood is poured, there is a belief that the atonement is completed. Then the priest removes his outer garment inside the temple or inside the holy of Holies. So when the risen Lord removed the burial clothes and the napkin that covered his face, he made the tomb the new temple; he made himself, the Eternal Priest, therefore, we need not offer anything else for the atonement of our sins; it has been completed. The sign of the completeness of this atonement is that, the Lord, our eternal priest, leaves behind him, all the burial clothes. The declaration: It is finished on Good Friday only refers to the completion of the Lord’s obedience to his Father, but the completeness and perfection of our salvation is the resurrection of Christ. Christ's resurrection is for my salvation!

The Linen as an evidence of the resurrection as opposed to the allegation of the stolen body

According to the Gospel of Matthew 28:12-15, the elders having received the reports of the soldiers, they concocted a lie with them

“You must say that Jesus' body was stolen by his disciples while we were asleep”.

The folded linen, and the folded face-cloth separated from other clothes are signs that the body was not stolen. The one who used the linen folded them peacefully, calmly, with confidence because he was not in a hurry. He was now living in a timeless time. He was now living eternally. Through his resurrection, you too live eternally and timelessly!

Christ now clothed with glory and power not clothes sewn by human hands

The perfection of the atonement is perfectly completed and there is no proof of the stolen body which stands. Christ is no longer going to need clothes made by human hands, he is now clothed with the glory and the power of God. He will not be naked anymore; he will not be stripped anymore. No one can strip us from the glory of God.

Yes, the resurrection is our last stage when the Lord will finalize the atonement of each and every one of our sins. Then we too will be clothed not by any human attire, not by any money, but by God himself; we will be clothed by his love and by his mercy. So my final question to you, is what are you wearing now? Is it simply clothes made by human hands? It is time to ask God to clothe you with his power and glory as he did to Jesus.

Happy Easter!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac.

Easter Vigil Homily

The Glory of Easter: Easter Vigil (Mark 16:1-7)

Alleluia. The stone is rolled away!

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Alleluia. Blessed Easter and happy Easter to all God’s children as we celebrate the Holy night of our salvation. I’m grateful to celebrate for the first time this sacred night with you. I would like to greet those who are connected with us and who are watching online and all our visitors, Alleluia. I greet those who are going to come to full communion with the Holy Catholic Church tonight. Alleluia. Those who are going to be baptized and confirmed, then receive the first Holy Communion with the song of Easter, alleluia. To the children and the youth, we greet you with the great song of Easter, Halleluiah… It is a great joy to the whole Church and us, tonight to celebrate our God’s story of infinite love for us. We celebrate tonight the victory of love over hatred; victory of life over and light over the darkness.

After all the long readings of tonight, the bottom line is that, in spite of the chaos, and the disobedience of man, God does not give up on us; He does not abandon us. He redeems, restores, and makes whole whatever is broken in us. We celebrate God’s persistent love for us. It is the God who rolls away the stones.

Rolling away the stone!

As a true man, Jesus truly died.

“Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last” (Mark 15:37)

and he was buried in a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid (John 41-42). Jesus' death was real and he was indeed buried as the custom of that time, they rolled a stone of 4000 pounds at the entrance of his tomb which was sealed with the Roman imperial seals of the procurator himself. We understand now that for the Pharisees and the chief priests, the stones were not only part of the ritual, they wanted to be sure that Jesus would remain there in the tomb. Henceforth, besides the stones they also added 30 of their best Roman guards (Mt. 27:65) to prevent Jesus from coming out of the tomb. They wanted him to remain dead even though they knew, He prophesied that on the third day, he will rise again. There are things that you may want to die. There are situations that keep you captive or in bondage. With Christ. your stone has been rolled away! But Jesus is absent!

Jesus is absent!

Brothers and sisters, the discovery of the physical absence of Jesus in the tomb (Empty tomb) (Luke 24:1-9 is proof that Jesus' resurrection is a historical reality. The women Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome while they were on their way to anoint the body of Jesus, found that the large stone was rolled away. Jesus was absent from the tomb but they only saw a young man, dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, a sign that Jesus had conquered death. Jesus is no more to be found in the tomb. The one Alive is no more among the death. No stone, no guard, no power, no amount of darkness of the tomb, no hatred of his enemies, could stop him.

Who will roll the stones of my life?

The women in the Gospel were asking the same question, but the answer was just before their eyes. “It is God”, All-powerful and Almighty. He rolls the stone so that the light of Christ may come into our existence and be our life and guide.

Paul understands this when exclaims:

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(1 Cor. 15:55-57).

Death is swallowed in Christ’s victory

With the resurrection of Christ, our deaths have been swallowed into Christ victory. The power of this world has been defeated (John 16:33) the stones of discouragement and hopelessness have been defeated by the Savior. No addiction, no oppression, no disease, and no sickness shall threaten us anymore. Satan and his angels are now under Christ’s dominion. They may attack you, but he will not overcome you. The early morning is indeed a sign of a new day; of a new beginning, where every stone that has been put in your way, has been taken away! This night is the mark of the dawning of a new life in our families, in our parishes, and our world!

Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus is coming out of the tomb for you and for our world, let’s not block his way. But let’s go out and meet him; he is our life, our light. Do not be afraid, he is the Rock of our salvation and no rock can block his coming; no rock can block God’s plan for humanity!

Happy Easter, Christ is risen, Alleluia!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac.