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.

Saint Lawrence Ruiz & Companions, Martyrs, September 28

Thus says the LORD of hosts:
In those days ten men of every nationality, 
speaking different tongues, shall take hold,
yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say,
“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” (Zec 8:20-23)

Imagine the surprise . . . a complete stranger, a foreigner at that, comes up to you on the street, grabs you and says, “Hey, I hear God is with you. Can I join?” Today is the feast of Lawrence Ruiz (the first canonized Phillipine saint) and his companions, missionary martyrs to Japan.