Precious Blood Renewal Center hosted forty 7th and 8th graders from St. James Catholic School in Liberty, Missouri, and about a dozen adults at our annual St. Lucy Day Celebration on Dec. 13. St. Lucy (or Lucia) is a fourth-century martyr, and her feast day is celebrated in Italy, the Balkan states, and Scandinavia.   

Recent monetary contributions are spurring growth as Calumet College of St. Joseph begins projects and expands programming for the benefit of students and the community. The college has begun the interior renovation process that resulted from the $15 million Lilly Endowment Grant that was awarded in August.

In Tanzania, children born with albinism face ostracization and persecution. See how one family was inspired by Missionaries of the Precious Blood to rescue them. 

When we are going through a challenging time, we often view hope as something that lies at the end of the rainbow when the storms have passed. But hope is what helps us get through those storms of life.” Fr. Joe Nassal talks about being a Pilgrim of Hope this Jubilee year.

Fr. Steve Dos Santos is a guest on Fr. Edward Looney’s popular podcast. In the special episode, Fr. Looney speaks with Fr. Dos Santos to discuss the beatification of Fr. Giovanni Merlini on January 12, 2025. 

In the Midwest, there could be an alternate name for the January 1 holiday, and that is “fun time is over.” We know that the lights and decorations of Christmas will soon be coming down and that the tough part of winter lies before us.

At Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation, we feel grief within ourselves and our community, our youth, our families. However, our spirituality challenges us to step up, speak out, and become a voice for the voiceless, to offer sacred spaces for facing the pain, sharing the grief, weeping, and feeling compassion and God’s abundance of love through the community holding the sacred space.   

Much of life is a rolling evolution. The days grind or gallop along and, absorbed in other concerns, we can scarcely take more than passing note of the changes that are inevitably all around us.

“While we are moving toward the celebration of the Light of the World, first we must spend time with the shadows of this season. To do so, however, may first stir our fears. The invitation I’d like to offer is to enter the Advent dance of the shadows — to explore those hidden, perhaps feared and fearful aspects of our lives, of our relationships with others, our world, and our God.” 

This season speaks to us of the journey of discernment that all of us take in this life. The Word becomes flesh in each of us as we say “yes” to God’s call by responding fully to our baptismal call to holiness and the dream God has placed in our hearts.   

The Missionaries of the Precious Blood have announced the beatification of Fr. Giovanni Merlini, its third Moderator General, on January 12, 2025, at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. The occasion marks a significant milestone in recognizing Fr. Merlini’s unwavering dedication to faith, service, and the mission of the Church.

“While they were there the time came for Mary to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn” (Luke 2:6-7).

I am always fascinated gazing into the night sky when there is a full moon shining, along with an abundance of stars. When I walk below the starlit night sky, it is as if God is presenting me with a gift, a gift as beautiful as a diamond ring. God is showing his love. The stars are not just thrown out there randomly. Those who look closely and study them can connect the dots and see figures of animals and humans. The skies reflect the beauty of God’s creation on earth.   

Like much of the campus, the chapel at Melbourne Central Catholic High School in Melbourne, Florida, is open and welcoming. The decor is contemporary and fresh, like the students themselves. They wander in during free periods, dropping into comfortable seats set off in a sunny nook.

Twenty-eight brothers got together either in person or by Zoom to once again join in retreat and ponder the vocation of brotherhood. It was a joyous occasion to gather in Lakeside, Michigan, during a week in October leading up to the Feast of St. Gaspar. We were led in reflection by Br. Michael McAward, a Marianist brother.   

Raechel hopes to gain additional tools and understanding to bring to her current work of offering healing to those who face housing insecurity. Created by the Schreiter Institute of Precious Blood Spirituality at Catholic Theological Union and supported in part by Missionaries of the Precious Blood, the certificate offers both practice and theory that students use to gain a deeper understanding of the spirituality behind reconciliation and restorative justice and apply that understanding to their work.

During the fall months, the Sorrowful Mother Shrine becomes a vibrant hub of activity as nature and spirituality converge. The changing colors of the leaves and the crispness in the air set a tranquil backdrop, inviting pilgrims and visitors to experience the sacred space in a new light. 

Closing Prayer for November 6 Prayer Session 
May your presence and your Holy Spirit be with us today and for many days to come as we face the reality of this election. 

Last week, a young adult came up to me and said, “I am so mad at God. For some reason, He won’t tell me what my vocation is. I’ve asked him to please answer my prayers for months now, and I’m not hearing anything!”

In a world increasingly shaped by digital communication and innovation, the Catholic Church has embraced technology as a key tool in its mission to spread faith, foster community, and engage with people of all ages and locations.