by Jeremy Hiers, OSA I am excited to announce a new series of blog posts which will invite us to reflect together on the new chapter of evangelization that Pope…
Prisons are often named “Correctional Facilities” yet have limited capacity to offer “correction” by way of restoration and healing. According to the American Psychological Association, a significant portion of those who…
by Jeremy Hiers, OSA Isaiah 41:13-20 is a reminder to God’s people that despite the sinful things they had done, God would not forsake or abandon them. The people had…
This post was adapted from a retreat given by Fr. Allan Fitzgerald, OSA on Augustine's Routes to Contemplation. Yet another route of contemplation for Augustine - which is not open…
This post was adapted from a retreat given by Fr. Allan Fitzgerald, OSA on Augustine's Routes to Contemplation. Naturally, most important for all the routes is the element of silence…
This post was adapted from a retreat given by Fr. Allan Fitzgerald, OSA on Augustine's Routes to Contemplation. Another route to contemplation was Augustine's gazing at the world with wonder…
This post was adapted from a retreat given by Fr. Allan Fitzgerald, OSA on Augustine's Routes to Contemplation. Another route of contemplation for Augustine was charity or love itself. Charity…
This post was adapted from a retreat given by Fr. Allan Fitzgerald, OSA on Augustine's Routes to Contemplation. Let’s us now go to the expression “Return to your heart”. For…
O God, how magnificent are your works! In wisdom you have made them all. They are yours, you have made them all. Thanks be to You! But you have made…
How do we advocate for peace and justice in a world that is not always open to honest "dialogue" on the solutions we are all hungry for? Solutions that call…
Disappointment, disillusion, disenchantment and boredom in life are unpleasant negative experiences, but they are not without positive fruit if we allow them to teach us something.
by Jeremy Hiers, OSA Once a priest was giving a homily that was a little longer than it should have been. Yet as he went on, he became more animated. At one…
by Jeremy Hiers, OSA When most of us were kids, we likely played scenarios about what we wanted to be when we grew up. Some of us may have played…
Many of us may identify with Jesus’ weeping in Luke 19:41-44 as he laments over Jerusalem and its rejection of Him and His ways. Perhaps we too weep when we consider…
One Sunday when I was still in seminary in Chicago, a classmate and I went to Mass. During communion time, we observed a mother approach to receive the Eucharist as she…
Good Jesus, if only I could, for love of you, give food to all the poor! Lord, if only I could visit every hospital and serve the sick, if only…
Dear Saint Rita, messenger of peace and herald of reconciliation, despite hardship and suffering you lived the Gospel message of compassion and forgiveness and showed the power of love to…
Curated by Jeremy Hiers, OSA What can the life and teachings of a man who lived over 1600 years ago teach us today about hope today? Consider these quotes by Saint…
by Jeremy Hiers, OSA In Luke 17:1-6, Jesus is acknowledging our proclivity towards sin and its effects on the world. Perhaps he says to us today, "Greed, discrimination, materialism, inequality,…
The U.S. system of Mass Incarceration has historically been based on a model of retribution (punishment for crimes committed against the law) rather than a restorative model which takes a…