“Enough of War”: Pope Leo’s Call to Reconciliation and Peace
“The world is thirsting for peace. We need a true and sound era of reconciliation that puts an end to the abuse of power, displays of force and indifference to the rule of law. Enough of war, with all the pain it causes through death, destruction and exile!” Pope Leo…
Pax Christi: From Pilgrimage to Peacebuilding
In 1945, even before the Second World War came to an end, a lay woman and a French bishop organized pilgrimages among French and German communities to promote reconciliation. The hope was that their common faith in Jesus would allow them to contribute to a new era of peace with…
Six Popes – One Call: Peace
“Peace be with you all!” Dear brothers and sisters, these are the first words spoken by the risen Christ. I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they are, in every nation, and throughout the world. These words are…
Ash Wednesday 2026: The Jubilee of St. Francis
Ash Wednesday 2026: The Jubilee of St. Francis Homily by friar Mario Serrano, OFM Conv. If you are still wondering which penitential practices to undertake during Lent, Pope Leo has asked us to consider listening and fasting. That is to make room for the Word and to listen to the…
A Sacrament to be Remembered
2026 marks eight hundred years since the Transitus—the passing of St. Francis of Assisi from this world to eternal life. To remember his death is to remember how he lived: utterly rooted in God’s Word. Francis did not only preach the Gospel; he returned to it repeatedly, letting it shape…
Remembering Terre Haute: 153 Years of Franciscan Presence
The Catholic Church first came to what is now western Indiana in the form of the Wea people, who were evangelized by the Jesuits in the 1700s. They built villages along the banks of the Wabash River, often placing a large cross in the center. They were joined by French…
Beneath the Same Desert Sky: Remembering the Sacred Bond between the Tigua and the friars
The desert sun rises over Ysleta del Sur, casting its first light on the adobe walls of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish. Here, faith and culture have intertwined for centuries—ever since the Tigua people journeyed south from their homeland with Franciscan friars at their side. When our friars returned…
The Mortar That Binds Us: A Look Back at 175 Years of St. Anthony Strong
Friar Florian Tiell, OFM Conv., friar Christian Moore, OFM Conv., and friar John Bamman, OFM Conv., pause for a photo in St. Anthony’s prayer garden, where every engraved brick tells a story of faith, family, and 175 years of rebuilding together. Standing among the names and memories of generations, they…