These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.

XVII ORDINARY SUNDAY—Saint James, Apostle, July 25, World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?”  (Jn 6:1-15)

Today we begin the great Bread of Life Discourse from the Fourth Gospel (according to John). So much depends on a small boy with his bag lunch. In Santiago de Compostela, Spain, today is a special holy day . . . the feast of Saint James, Apostle. When the feast fall on a Sunday, the whole year is considered a “holy year” for those of the Camino. Pope Francis has declared today as  the first world day for Grandparents and the Elderly.