Scripture reflections

Maryknoll Father Bill Donnelly reflects on the faith of the people of Guatemala who have endured years of violence and oppression yet live in hope that justice will prevail. 

Maryknoll Sr. Ann Hayden has spent her mission life in Central America, Korea, Sudan. She is currently doing pastoral work with a migrant community living along the U.S.-Mexico border at the southernmost tip of Texas. 

Maryknoll Father Shaun Crumb in China reflects on those who have answered the call to serve as good shepherds of others in the U.S. gun violence epidemic.

Maryknoll Sister Miriam Frances Perlewitz in Bangladesh reflects on the need for a clean heart and steadfast spirit when facing life's challenges.

The following reflection was prepared by Maryknoll Sr. Efu Nyaki, who works with women in Brazil.

Maryknoll Sr. Mary Frances Kobets in Zimbabwe reflects on Jesus' example of letting one's clean heart beat for others.

The following reflection, prepared by Tim O’Connell, who served as a lay missioner in El Salvador, was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Maryknoll Sister Elizabeth Zwareva welcomes this day to repent of the past and embrace a new transformed life that God ignites within us, and with it, a desire to love and serve others.

Maryknoll Father Paul Masson shares a story about a parish in Bolivia that is answering God's call to be a prophetic community.

Maryknoll Sister Jareen Aquino applies Jesus' call to the Apostles to "come and see" to the girls and young women in need of education and empowerment in Tanzania. 

Maryknoll Sister Kathleen Reiley looks to Mother of God – the Mother of all of us – to help us reflect on our present reality.

Every Christmas, despite whatever trial and failing has come, is an opportunity to find new hope and joy.

Maryknoll Sister Ann Braudis reflects on the Advent themes of darkness, light, waiting for Christ and welcoming the stranger.

Kevin Carroll, nonviolence and peace fellow at the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, reflects on his students who have awakened him to hope and peace on this first Sunday of Advent.

 Maryknoll Lay Missioner Peg Vamosy, a horticulturist by training who works with Catholic parishioners in El Salvador to improve agricultural production, writes this week's reflection.

Liz Mach, a Maryknoll Lay Missioner in Tanzania, reflects on the challenge of following Jesus' teachings in our daily lives.

The following reflection was prepared by Judy Coode in 2014, while working with the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. Ms. Coode is the coordinator of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, a project of Pax Christi International.

Kathy Morefield, a Maryknoll Affiliate who served in Cambodia, asks "Who does this Earth belong to?"

Charles Dittmeier, a diocesan priest from Kentucky who is on mission with the Maryknoll Lay Missioners in Cambodia, reflects on our generous and caring God.

Larry Parr, a Maryknoll Lay Missioner in El Salvador, reflects on the power of conversion to transform people and places broken down by violence.

Maryknoll Sister Jean Fallon lived and worked on mission in Japan. “Living and working in a non-Christian milieu is very different from what Missioners might expect, say, in Latin America,” Sister Jean said. “The New Testament, however, brings insights to us all that are ever-new, ever deepening our faith and ever giving life to everyone.”

Claire Stewart, a Maryknoll Lay Missioner in Sao Paulo, Brazil, reflects on saying "Yes" to God's call, as Mary did.

Maryknoll Father Jim Kofski, on mission in Myanmar, reflects on our potential to grow and be transformed.

Maryknoll Father Ernest Lucaschek, the pastoral minister of the Maryknoll Center in New York, writes the reflection for this year's celebration of the founding of the Maryknoll Society, on the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul.

Maryknoll Father Scott Harris, who was most recently on mission in Hong Kong, reflects on the value of working for justice and saying the unpopular truth.

Maryknoll Sister Mary Ann Smith reflects on the need to be witnesses to the love God in dark places.

Dave Kane, a returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner now living in Brazil, reflects on building our individual "spiritual homes" with rooms to welcome many guests.

"With all the violence, suffering, death and destruction which surround us in this life, we may be tempted to feel that sin and death are victorious, are winning out. But we know deep down in our hearts that Jesus, through his suffering and death has overcome sin and death." Maryknoll Father Tom Marti, who lived and worked in the Philippines, reflects on the Passion and suffering of Jesus Christ.

This week's reflection was prepared by Father Tom Tiscornia, who served the people of Sudan/South Sudan for many years.

Joanne Blaney has served as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner in Brazil for many years and is currently working as the Mission Services Director for the Maryknoll Lay Missioners, based in New York.

Father John Northrup writes about his mission experience in Mexico in this week's reflection.

Erica Olson, a returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner who lived and worked in El Salvador, writes this week's reflection.

This week's reflection is written by Christine Perrier, a returned lay missioner who continues to live and work in Peru.

Father Jack Northrup is a Maryknoll missioner serving in El Salvador.

Ted and Maruja Gutmann-González served as Maryknoll Lay Missioners in Chile.

Sr. Theresa Kastner is on mission in Taiwan with the Maryknoll Sisters.

Sr. Mary Grenough, a Maryknoll missioner who lives and works in Myanmar, writes this week's reflection.

Fr. John Sivalon, a Marknoll missioner who lived and worked in Tanzania before serving as Superior General of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, writes this week's reflection on repentance.

Sr. Connie Krautkremer, who lives and works in Dodoma, Tanzania, writes this week's reflection.

Sr. Carol Marie McDonald, who lived and worked in El Salvador, writes this week's reflection.

Kathy McNeely, a former Lay Missioner in Guatemala and former staff member of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, writes this Sunday's reflection.

Br. John Beeching works with Burmese refugees in Thailand.

Sr. Ann Braudis, who worked as a missioner in Bolivia and the Philippines, writes: "May Jesus be born in you tonight as surely as he was born in Bethlehem all those long years ago."

The reflection for this final Sunday of Advent 2015 is written by Maria Montello, a Lay Missioner in Cambodia.

Maryknoll Fr. Dan McLaughlin writes about an archdiocesan initiative in Brazil to raise awareness of local issues.

Fr. Sacha Bermundez-Goldman, SJ, who served in Tanzania and Cambodia as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Fr. Wayman Deasy, MM, who served in Tanzania, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Fr. Ken Thesing, MM, who served in Tanzania, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

David Kane, a former Maryknoll lay missioner who served in Brazil, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Fr. Joseph Veneroso, MM wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Fr. Mike Gilgannon, who served in Peru, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Sr. Madeline Dorsey, MM, who served many years in El Salvador, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Judy Coode, communications director for the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns in Washington DC, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Jean Walsh, a former Maryknoll lay missioner who served in Mexico, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Fr. Thomas J. Marti, MM, a Maryknoll Father serving in Seattle, WA, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Former lay missioner Heidi Cerneka served in Brazil; she wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Fr. Stephen Judd, MM serves in Bolivia; he wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Former lay missioner Barb Fraser (Peru) wrote the following reflection, which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Don and Celine Woznica, Maryknoll Affiliates who are former lay missioners, wrote the following reflection; it was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Sr. Melinda Roper, who serves the people of Darien, Panama, near the border with Colombia, wrote the following reflection.

Maria Montello is a lay missioner living and working in Cambodia.

Fr. Tom Burns served for many years in poor areas of Lima, Peru.

Sr. Connie Krautkremer has spent much of her mission life in Tanzania. " ... God decides that our hearts will be responsible for holding the law. God decides to forgive and forget our past failures, and we can go on from there."

The following reflection was prepared by Sr. Efu Nyaki, who works with women in Brazl.

Judy Coode with the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns participated in a February 2015 delegation to Haiti; this reflection is based on that visit.

The following reflection, prepared by Tim O’Connell, who served as a lay missioner in El Salvador, was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

The following reflection was prepared by Deacon Matt Dulka, who works for the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers Mission Education and Promotions department. It was originally published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the readings for Year B.

Deacon Steven DeMartino wrote the following reflection, which is also found in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Sr. Ellen McDonald, who served as a Maryknoll missioner in Panama, wrote the following reflection; this piece is also published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Cecelia Aguilar Ortiz, who served as a Maryknoll lay missioner in Thailand, wrote the following reflection.

The following reflection was prepared by Maryknoll lay missioner Joanne Blaney and published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B.

Sr. Helen Graham has served in the Philippines for many years.

Bertha Haas, a former lay missioner, prepared the following reflection.

The following reflection was prepared by Judy Coode who works at the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns.

Fr. Dennis Moorman has served as a missioner in Brazil for a number of years.

Fr. Paul Masson has served as a missioner in Chile and on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Marie Dennis worked for the Maryknoll Justice and Peace/Global Concerns office from 1989 until 2012; from 1998-2012 she served as the director. She is the co-president of Pax Christi International.

Br. John Beeching has spent years in Thailand, and share many beautiful reflections about living his Christian life surrounded by Buddhism.

Sr. Ann Hayden has served as a missioner in Central America; she will wrap up her six-year term on the Maryknoll Sisters' Congregational Leadership Team in the fall of 2014.

After serving as a lay missioner in Guatemala in the 1990s, Kathy McNeely was a member of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns staff for many years.

Sr. Mary Reese has served the people of Tanzania for more than 50 years.

Sr. Teresa Dagdag, MM recently finished her term as executive co-secretary of the Commission on Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) for the Union of Superiors General in Rome. She continues to work as a JPIC promoter in Rome.

Deacon Steven DeMartino writes this week's reflection on the Sunday readings.

Fr. Paul Masson, currently on the Maryknoll Society's General Council, served in mission in Chile and in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Marj Humphrey is a former Maryknoll lay missioner who served in Kenya for many years.

Dr. Ann Carr, Maryknoll Affiliate, writes this reflection about her time working at the Texas-Mexico border.

Sr. Janice McLaughlin spent much of her mission life in Zimbabwe; in 2008 she was elected to a six-year term as president of the Maryknoll Sisters.

After working as a nurse in the Philippines for many years, Sr. Mary Grenough now lives and works in Myanmar.

Fr. Lo Dam is a Maryknoll priest working in Japan.

Mary Gill and her husband Pat Denevan were Maryknoll lay missioners in Oaxaca, Mexico, where they still live. They now participate as Maryknoll Affiliates.

Jason and Felicia Gehrig lived with their children as lay missioners in Bolivia.

This week's reflection was written by Fr. Tom Henehan who has spent his mission life in South America.

Dan Moriarty writes this week's scripture reflection; Dan is a former lay missioner who now coordinates the Maryknoll Bolivia Immersion Program.

Fr. Jim Noonan, who spent much of his missionary life in Asia, now serves God's people in South Sudan.

Chad Ribordy and his family live in Brazil where they served as lay missioners.

Erica Olson recently returned to the U.S. after serving as a Maryknoll lay missioner in El Salvador.

This week's reflection is written by Christine Perrier, a former lay missioner who continues to live and work in Peru.

Fr. Jack Sullivan spent much of his mission life in Hong Kong; he has spent the last few years volunteering for the Global Concerns office on Israel-Palestine issues.

Maggie Fogarty, a former lay missioner who lived and worked in Bolivia, writes the reflection for today's readings.

Sr. Ann Braudis, who worked as a missioner in Bolivia and the Philippines, writes: "May Jesus be born in you tonight as surely as he was born in Bethlehem all those long years ago."

Thursday, Nov. 1 is the feast of All Saints; Sr. Ann Hayden writes the reflection for that day's readings.

This Sunday's reflection is written by Fr. Jim Kroeger, who has served as a missioner in Asia for many years.

Lay missioner Liz Mach, who has lived and worked in Africa, writes today's reflection.

Former lay missioner Phil Dah-Bredine writes this week's reflection.

Susan Weissert, who worked as a lay missioner for many years in South America and at the Maryknoll center in New York, asks: Can we look back on our actions/words/decisions today and see that they were shaped by love of God and love of neighbor?

Sr. Luise Ahrens, who has spent many years in Cambodia, writes in this week's reflections about the challenges of living in a interconnected world ... How do we make choices that are clarified by God's wisdom? How can we live a life formed and informed by the Spirit of Jesus?

The scripture reflection for July 22 is written by Sr. Rebecca Macugay, who writes of her native Philippines and her mission home in Namibia: "How do we shepherd each other in the paths of justice, in our communities and in our home, planet earth?"

Maryknoll lay missioner Dave Kane shares about his life with recyclers in Brazil.