When undertaking a prayer practice, there is a natural human tendency to want to set timelines and goals. There is some value to this sort of self-imposed structure, as it can help us cultivate discipline and positive habits in our prayer lives. Nevertheless, we must always remember that prayer is ultimately relationship. As such, trying to predetermine a point of “arrival” that will allow us to proclaim “success” in our prayer is...

Do you know? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2358, 1997 ed.: "They [homosexual people] must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided." Two of the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching guide us in...

Having just celebrated All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, let’s remember in a special way those who lost their lives to gun violence. As wars rage around the world and soldiers are in our own cities, we are called to choose the path of peace. Here is a prayer from Education for Justice,...

Author and motivational speaker Regina Brett once wisely stated that “God isn't present in the past or future. The great 'I Am' is in the present moment.” Divine union can only be realized in the now, and likewise Dive gifts like grace, peace, healing, and love can only be given and received now. In that sense, it is ineffectual to focus our ...

Contemplative wisdom teacher Cynthia Bourgeault discusses how “dying before we die” brings new life from our awareness of mortality: he one who would save his life or her life will lose it and the one who’s willing to lose it, will save it (see Matthew 16:25)… The whole tradition we’ve had of ...

MMOC’s Care of Creation group, part of the Peace and Justice ministry, held a well-attended program last Sunday on plastic pollution and ways to reduce our plastic consumption. As a follow-up, Lori Fick, chair of the Care of Creation subcommittee, provided additional information as to how we can reduce, reuse and recycle. The Magic House accepts...

In his book A Grief Observed, C.S. Lewis proposes that, “You must have a capacity to receive, or even Omnipotence can’t give.” True mercy, grace, and love are big gifts, so much so that we can struggle with our ability to ...

This reflection and practice come from therapist Resmaa Menakem’s book My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies (Central Recovery Press: 2017), 137, 35: My grandmother was a strong and loving woman. But her body was frequently nervous… She would soothe that sense of impending disaster in...

Pope Leo XIV met with El Paso’s Bishop Mark Seitz, chairman of the USCCB’s committee on migration, on October 8, 2025. The pope stated that the church cannot remain silent about the situation of migrants in the United States. Pope Leo made clear that he wants Catholic bishops and the U.S. church “to be united” on this crucially important issue, which he described as “a matter of human dignity.” The meeting came amid...

Any number of distractions and obstacles can disrupt a burgeoning or even a regular prayer practice, beginning with the typical challenges of establishing a new habit – finding time, finding a place, adjusting to different lifestyle – and continuing with everything from perceived “lack of results” to major life events. When such disruptions inevitably arise, we must resist the temptation to frustration and instead....

What do U.S. Bishops have to say on the issue of undocumented immigrants? “Undocumented immigrants present a special concern. Often their presence is considered criminal since they arrive without legal permission. Under the harshest view, undocumented people may be regarded as undeserving of rights or services. This is not the view of Catholic social teaching. The Catholic Church teaches that ...

As we near MMOC’s Care of Creation Committee sponsored presentation on plastics pollution, October 12 from 12:15 to 2:00 in the Parish Hall (free to attend with lunch included), data from a 2024 Boston College project, “Joining Science and Theology to End Plastic Pollution, Protect Health and Advance Social Justice,” provides reminders of the impacts of this...

Commitment to contemplative practice, like any practice, requires the cultivation of a certain discipline, and thereby, habit. If you are uncertain of how contemplative practices like Centering Prayer might fit into your life, you are welcome and encouraged to “test the waters,” engaging in prayer periods of different lengths and experimenting with...

The Church’s observance of World Day of Migrants and Refugees is October 4-5 to coincide with the Jubilee of Migrants. The primary theme is, “Migrants: Missionaries of Hope”. In light of the continuing challenges faced by migrants in this country, let’s lift our hearts and voices in this prayer. Good and gracious God, we thank you for the gift of families. We are grateful for all the joy and love they bring into our lives, and we ask...

The MMOC Contemplative Core Team grieves the passing of our friend and former member, Joy Kleucker, who had a particular fondness for the work of the Jesuit poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins !1844-89). We offer you two of his works today, in memory of Joy:...

This week, we offer you the painting “An Attempt to Stability” by Indian artist Prayag Jadhav. What does it stir in you? How is the Holy Spirit calling you to respond?..

"Do not Judge and you will not be Judged. Do not Condemn and you will not be Condemned. Forgive and you will be Forgiven." ...

Jesus tells us that “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13) and challenges us, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (Jn 13:34). He then lives out this kind of love ...

“Anyone, indeed, is our neighbor. Jesus’ parable (The Good Samaritan) is telling us ‘You do not have a neighbor. You make yourself someone’s neighbor.’” -Catholic Campaign for Human Development “All of us, at some time or another, need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors—in our own way, each of us is a giver and a receiver.” -Mr. Rogers...