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.

SATURDAY, WEEK XXXIII, ORDINARY TIME—Presentation of the Virgin Mary, November 21

R.    O Blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."
R.    O Blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father.  (Lk 1)

To proclaim the greatness of the Lord . . . to sing God’s praises. It’s not just for heaven . . . we can sing right now! Today is the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast is the basis for the church custom in Latin American countries to celebrate the presentation of three-year-old children to God.