Scripture reflections

In this week's Gospel reading, Jesus uses actions more than words to teach us about love, respect, and compassion.

Maryknoll Sister Veronica Schweyen, who served in Tanzania, reflects on the power of forgiveness.

Jean Walsh, a returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner who served in Mexico, reflects on the relationship between humans and the natural world, what Pope Francis calls integral ecology.

Maryknoll Lay Missioner Heidi Cerneka, currently on mission in Kenya after many years in Brazil, reflects on Jesus' instructions to the disciples to go out in the world.

Maryknoll Fr. David Schwinghamer, currently working at the Palabek Refugee Camp in Uganda, home to many refugees from South Sudan, reflects on the great faith of the people of Africa.

Maryknoll Father John McAuley describes the ways Jesus' life and teachings offer us "markers that keep us on target" during times of change and challenges.

Maryknoll Father Rodrigo Ulloa-Chavarry, who was ordained a Maryknoll priest in 2011, is currently serving in China.

Maryknoll Lay Missioner Tim Ross in El Salvador reflects on God's answer to the cries of all those who are suffering.

Maryknoll Father John Barth reflects on the light of Jesus shining in all corners of the world, even in refugee settlement camps for South Sudanese people.

Maryknoll Father Stephen Judd reflects on restoring relationships during the season of Lent.

Maryknoll Father Dennis Moorman in Brazil reflects on Jesus' call for transformation of our sinful social structures as well as ourselves.

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.

The first Sunday of Advent 2015 falls just before the 35th anniversary of the martyrdom of the four North American churchwomen in El Salvador. This reflection is prepared by Marie Dennis, co-president of Pax Christi International and former director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns.

Fr. Dennis Moorman, MM, who serves 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.

Kathleen Bond, a Maryknoll lay missioner who serves 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. James Kroeger, MM, who served in the Philippines, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Liz Mach, a Maryknoll lay missioner 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.

Phil and Kathy Dahl-Bredine, who served as lay Maryknoll missionaries 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.

The following reflection was prepared by Susan Gunn, and can be found in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Sr. Veronica Schweyen, 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. John Sullivan, MM, who served many years as a missioner in Hong Kong, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Sr. Luise Ahrens, MM, who served in Cambodia, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Dan Moriarty, a former lay Maryknoll missioner, lives and works 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.

Fr. David Schwinghamer, MM currently works with the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; he wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Sr. Helen Graham, MM, who serves in the Phillipines, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.

Fr. Bill Donnelly spent decades in Guatemala; he prepared this reflection on the readings for the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Sr. Euphrasia (Efu) Nyaki, MM, who serves 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. John McAuley, MM, has spent much of his mission life in Asia.

Sr. Ann Hayden has spent her mission life in Central America, Korea and Sudan.

Gerry Lee serves as director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. He, his wife and their children lived as a Maryknoll mission family in Venezuela for 10 years in the late 1980s-1990s.

Fr. Steve Judd, who has ministered to the Andean people for many years, writes this reflection on the readings for the second Sunday of Lent.

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."

Dave Kane, who recently left the Maryknoll lay missioners after many years (mostly in Brazil, followed by a stint at the Global Concerns office), wrote today's reflection.

This week's reflection is written by Maryknoll Fr. Joe Veneroso: "Our life of prayers and good works comes in response to grace, not as its pre-requisite."

Fr. Joe Towle writes this week's reflection, and shares some memories from his time as a missioner in Latin America.

Fr. Jack Northrup reflects on his ministry in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico: "The God of our Lord Jesus Christ is constantly drawing all of us to life, no matter what bleak prisons we may have made for ourselves. Because of God’s choice to constantly offer the free gift of grace to the most needy, we can wake from our sleep, from the illusions of happiness that this world offers. At this very moment we can choose life in its fullness."