LUCEM FERRE

  THE SMILE OF THE FATHER AND TEACHER: GIOVANNI M. BOSCO, SAINT Today, April 1, 2026, marks the 92nd anniversary of a moment that forever changed the landscape of Catholic education and youth ministry. On Easter Sunday, 1934, amid the ringing of bells in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Pius XI declared John Bosco a Saint. It was a fitting tribute to a man who saw the “Resurrection” not just as a theological dogma, but as a daily reality for the abandoned children of industrial Turin. Don Bosco’s canonization was unique because it celebrated “joy” as a path to holiness . At a time when sanctity was often associated with stern asceticism or cloistered solitude, Don Bosco brought holiness into the playground. He taught us that “it is enough that you are young for me to love you” and that “sanctity consists in being always cheerful.” In 1934, the world was gripped by the shadows of rising totalitarianism and economic hardship. Today, in 2026, we face different but equally daunting c...

  Traditionally, these seven words (which are more like “sayings” that contain more than a single word) are known as words of Forgiveness, Salvation, Relationship, Abandonment, Distress, Triumph, and Reunion. Gathered from the four Gospels, we hear Jesus speaking to God, to his mother, his disciples, to a penitent thief, and to us, today, of forgiveness, redemption, and complete surrender to the will of God. The Seven Last Words also demonstrate Jesus’ fulfillment of the messianic prophecies. Even until his final breath, Jesus provided instruction and inspiration for his disciples, friends, and followers.  “FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.” The First Word (Forgiveness)   “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, “FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.” Luke 23:34. We’re familiar with Lent being a season of repentance; in fact, we h...

THE HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER: PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH (John 17)           In the last few chapters (Jn 13-16), Jesus has been giving final instructions to His closest disciples, the Apostles, during the Last Supper. He warned them about persecution but also encouraged them by promising the arrival of the Holy Spirit. In this passage – Chapter 17- John records an extended prayer from Jesus just before He arrives in Gethsemane. While the other three Gospels note Jesus' final, anguished prayers in the garden, as we discussed in class, John describes this penultimate invocation, often referred to as the High Priestly Prayer . Reading through the chapter, it's clear that Jesus’ prayer is for the disciples. Yet, not only them but for all the believers, present and future: The priestly prayer of Jesus is the prayer for the Church, and unity among every member of the Church. Let's see some aspects of the prayer as a prayer for the Church. Christ begins by praying for...

  Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Today, we stand at the threshold of the most paradoxical week in the Christian calendar. We begin with palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna!” , a Hebrew cry meaning “Save us, now!” Yet, in just a few moments of liturgical time, those same voices shift to the growling of “ Crucify him!” This isn’t just a historical script; it is a mirror held up to the human heart. How often in our own lives do we move from high-mountain moments of faith to the valley of doubt? How often do we promise “I will never leave you” to a friend, a spouse, or God, only to find ourselves distracted or distant when the “Passion” of real life begins? Isaiah, in the first reading, speaks of the “Suffering Servant.” Notice the first thing the servant is given: not a sword, but a “well-trained tongue” to speak to the weary. Today, we live in a profoundly weary world. We see it in the burnout of healthcare workers, the anxiety of students, and the quiet desperati...