Dear Friends,

Recently, a close friend of mine posed a highly insightful question to me. I had just described my ministry day, which began with the profound solemnity of hearing confessions, immediately followed by the grief and hope of a funeral Mass, transitioned into the joyful celebration of a wedding Mass, and concluded with the celebratory atmosphere of a school gala.

Dear Friends,

The Advent season is once again with us. Yet this year again, its commencement is shadowed by the deep anxieties of a world still struggling for peace in many countries. As we light the first candles—symbols of Hope—it is impossible to ignore the severe conflicts tearing at the global fabric, from the long-standing wars in Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas, to the devastating persecution faced by Christians in places like Nigeria, Sudan, and across the Middle East.

Dear Friends,

Our parish, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, is on a continuous journey to know, to love, and to serve Christ in our community, so that we get everyone who walks through our doors to heaven. In order to achieve this, together we must embrace Christ’s vision for our missionary discipleship so that our parish can thrive and be a place for others to grow together in faith.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ through Mary,

Among St. Vincent de Paul's famous statements, I picked the following:

1. "Go to the poor: you will find God,"
2. "The most powerful weapon to conquer the devil is humility,"
3. "We must love our neighbor as being made in the image of God."
4. "Humility is nothing but truth, and pride is nothing but lying". And,
5. "It is not enough to give bread. Love must be your calling."

Dear friends,

This weekend, we at Our Lady of Mount Carmel are blessed to welcome the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SHS), who are here to share their powerful story of faith, service, and urgent need. We have a profound opportunity to embody the love of Christ by generously supporting these courageous Missionary Sisters.