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.

FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA IN ROME—November 9

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
(1 Cor 3:16)

The liturgy invites us to celebrate the birthday of churches. Today is the anniversary of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica which is the cathedral church of the city of Rome. In the entrance to the basilica is carved: “Omnium Urbis et Orbis Ecclesiarum Mater et Caput” (Mother and Head of all the churches in the City and the World). But as Saint Paul gently reminds us, God does not dwell in a temple made by human hands, God dwells in us.