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.

Sunday, Week XXVIII, Ordinary Time

Peter began to say to him, "We have given up everything and followed you."  Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come." (Mk 10: 17-30) https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101324.cfm
Growing up as an only child, I never had much family. As I look back over 46 years of ministry, I can truly say that the Lord’s promise of a hundred times more “brothers and sisters and mothers” has been fulfilled in all the people in all the parishes where I have been privileged to work. I am grateful for all the brothers and sisters and mothers who have filled my life and surround me with so much love. I’m especially grateful to my Colombian madrecita, Doña Ofelia Arroyave, who unofficially adopted me into her family. Here in Colombia, I have 10 brothers and sisters, 19 nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, and one more great niece on the way! His banner over me is love!