Indeed, we do not do great things for the Lord; it is the Lord who does great things for us. In the end, this becomes the very story we Jesuits tell ourselves, with the story itself radically transforming us into who we are and what we are—why we do what…

"The vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience are not promises that you can keep without a struggle. They are not declarations that you are already holy. They are expressions of trust. You are saying: "Lord, Ikaw na bahala; I place my future in Your hands," because you do not know…

For Pope Leo, this light comes from within, in our interiority, the light of truth, beauty, peace, wisdom, conscience – the light within us, in our hearts, in our minds, in our souls. My light within, and your light, form what Pope Leo calls a constellation of hope that the…

Dom, Bien, and James, allow me to begin by making one thing very clear to you. From this day forward, you are being ordained not to become substitutes for Christ, but to become his representatives. Hindi kapalit kundi kinatawan. The distinction is important. A substitute is a replacement for someone…

We often pray the words of Sume et Suscipe: “Take and receive O Lord, all my liberty; my memory, my understanding, my entire will.” What happens when this prayer is answered for us in the most total way as it was for Fr Paco, through what the Greek playwright Aeschylus…

At today’s Mass on the eve of the Solemnity of St Joseph and in which Jomari will pronounce final vows in the Society, I am reminded of Hospicio de San Jose, an institution in Manila run by the Daughters of Charity (or DC sisters). It is a very special home…

We come together to remember EDSA. Even after 40 years, the memories remain fresh and vivid for us who lived through those wondrous days. I remember our courage before the tanks on Ortigas (real tanks, not Armored Personnel Vehicles). Young women went up to the serious, unsmiling soldiers and placed…

If Francis Xavier walked into this chapel, I do not think he would begin with strategies, statistics, or structures. He would look at each of us—young or old, energized, or exhausted—and he would ask: “Where is your zeal? Where is your availability? Where are the poor you have touched? Where…

Bert, I believe your vocation story, much like mine, is rooted in the mission of Jesuits who planted the seeds of faith in our islands. In your case, it was the Spanish Jesuit Fr Argarate—whose zeal led to the establishment of the parish in Olutanga. His missionary presence shaped and…

How can we deepen our commitment to the poor and vulnerable? In our regular pastoral commitments, do we have space for the poor—celebrating Masses in a poor community, or giving the Exercises to disadvantaged communities? Even in our effort to promote vocations for Ours, Fr General reminded us at our…