A Jubilee Year “is a year of forgiveness of sins and the punishment due to sin; it is a year of reconciliation between adversaries [and] of conversion. A Jubilee Year is above all the year of Christ, who brings life and grace to humanity. “ -(From the website of the…

In late 2019, I received an invitation from the former Zambian Minister of Health to come to Zambia and visit a couple of the bush hospitals. He heard from one of the friars that I was a nurse practitioner and was interested in both the role and how we (students…

A custom for us at the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio, has been to pray a novena in preparation for the Feast of the Assumption on August 15. During these nine days we ask our Blessed Mother for her intercession to Jesus, her Son. We also…

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. -Hebrews 7:19 Friar Jarek Wysoczański, OFM Conv., has dedicated his life to serving the poor and those on the margins. A native of Poland, friar Jarek has served in our missions in Peru and Africa, and he…

By friar Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv. Catastrophic heating and attacks on nature ever increase. Systems devour the vulnerable: the unhoused, refugees, victims of human trafficking, and the many others who are caught in underfunded, and many times, understaffed foster care systems, hospitals, group homes, and prisons. On the other hand,…

Embarking on a Franciscan pilgrimage through Ireland is a profound experience that combines spiritual renewal with a deep connection to the rich history and natural beauty of the Emerald Isle. As a pilgrim traveling in a country where I have family, the journey takes on an even deeper significance, blending…

By Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. Each Jubilee Year is a celebration of God’s mercy stretched out over a calendar year. God’s mercy is constant and always available, but we are not always mindful of that mercy. The Church, through sacraments and sacramentals, has a variety of ways of inviting…