This past summer, I attended a wedding where I ran into an old friend. His name is Andreas, and he is a former Swiss Guard who used to protect Pope John Paul II. He developed a great love for our former Holy Father and now teaches many of the Pope’s […]

‘Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.’  Jesus replied, ‘Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. […]

I grew up in a very typical Hispanic family with lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins and, above anything formidable, grandparents whose only mission in life seemed to be to educate us and spoil us in equal measure. Like for many of you, I can say my childhood brings up […]

It was August 2019, and we were celebrating my father’s 52nd birthday at the lake. It was the day before his dialysis catheter operation. Amid the thick, humid air, hung our frayed nerves, feelings of uncertainty, and a bit of fear. This day was the beginning of what would be […]

And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. (Mark 7:32) After a successful eye surgery ten years ago, my eyes started to deteriorate again; first very slowly, but now drastically. So, it is no coincidence that […]

I had the opportunity to visit my friends in Bordeaux, France this summer and they took me on a trip to the southwest of France, near the border of Spain, to the beautiful seaside village of Biarritz.Biarritz has a picturesque coastline and has been a popular vacation spot since the […]

The Canaanite Woman’s Faith passage (Matthew 15:21-28) presents us with a powerful example of faith and perseverance. The Canaanite woman’s story is a model for us all, demonstrating the importance of trust and persistence in our relationship with God.The woman’s situation is desperate – her daughter is possessed by a […]

On May 25th, I was finally ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston, and it hasn’t taken long to discover what a treasure this vocation is. One of the greatest gifts of the priesthood is the ability to administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation and being able to celebrate the […]

Hear my cry, O God;    listen to my prayer.From the end of the earth, I call to you,    when my heart is faint.Lead me to the rock    that is higher than I,for you are my refuge,    a strong tower against the enemy.Let me abide in your […]

Just the other day, as I was about to give a blessing to the children, a student in kindergarten cried out, “Father Peter, what’s a blessing and what does it do?”  To be honest, I believe all of us would benefit from hearing the answer to this great question.First, it […]