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.

MONDAY, WEEK IX, ORDINARY TIME—Mary, Mother of the Church

After Jesus had been taken up to heaven, the Apostles returned to Jerusalem
 from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot,
    and Judas son of James.
All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. (Acts 1:12-14)

We still gather together in prayer with Peter and the others along with Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

Holy Mary, 
Mother of God, 
pray for us sinners now, 
and at the hour of our death. Amen.