Twelve-year-old Samantha Lee never imagined she had any talent for sewing. But just a few weeks into her new sewing class at Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School, she is already making plans to elevate her skills.“I found out I’m really pretty good at this,” Samantha said with a beaming smile. “I’m looking forward to making clothes for my family and maybe a scarf for myself someday.”

Every morning before Avelino and Tanya Rodriguez head off to work and drop their children, A.J. and Viviana, off at school, the entire family gathers in their living room for prayer.

Letter from Board President of The Ark, Sister Milagros Tormo, MJMJ, asking for more people to open their hearts, go the extra mile and share what they have so that more families can enjoy the Christmas Season.

In Rome, there is a tradition during the Christmas season to make a ‘pilgrimage’ to the local parishes in the city to view the various crèches or nativity scenes. Many of them have an elaborate diorama with twinkling lights, animated figures and a unique Roman flavor complete with ancient crumbling columns and arches. Always especially featured are the shepherds with their sheep who were the first responders to come adore the Lord in Bethlehem. Whether we gaze upon the simplest or the more elaborate nativity scene this Christmas, it invites us to make a journey with the shepherds.  

Lo crea o no, la Navidad está sobre nosotros una vez más, y pronto amanecerá un nuevo año. El niño en el pesebre, que es Dios y hombre, sigue siendo nuestra luz y nuestra esperanza. El evangelio de San Juan nos recuerda que Dios nos ama tanto a cada uno de nosotros que dio a su único Hijo para que todo el que crea en él tenga vida eterna (Jn 3:16). Aunque el nacimiento de Jesús fue un evento histórico, la presencia permanente de Emmanuel, Dios con nosotros, continúa hasta el fin de los tiempos (Mt 28:20). Él está hoy con nosotros y estará siempre entre nosotros. Él es nuestro Camino, nuestra Verdad y nuestra Vida.

In the section “Woman of Strength,” Sister Annette Wagner reflects on the strength of Mary, the mother of Jesus, whose life experiences are depicted in Scripture snapshots, focusing on significant moments of her life.

In the midst of Advent as the Catholic Church prepares for the birth of our Lord at Christmas, the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on National Collections expressed his gratitude for the generosity of the Catholic faithful who, even throughout pandemic hardships, have given generously to the national collections that strengthen faith communities and help those in need.

Believe it or not, Christmas is upon us once again, and a new year will soon dawn. The child in the manger, who is God and man, remains our light and our hope. The Gospel of John reminds us that God loves each one of us so much that He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in Him might have eternal life (Jn 3:16). Though the birth of Jesus was a historical event, the abiding presence of Emmanuel, God with us, continues until the end of the Age (Mt 28:20). He is with us today and will always be among us. He is our Way, our Truth, and our Life.

Bishop Emeritus Raymundo J. Peña, 87, died peacefully at the San Juan Nursing Home near the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle on Sept. 24. 

Sister Rose Miriam Gansle, IWBS, surrendered her earthly life to eternal life on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, at Incarnate Word Convent. Born June 6, 1942, in Corpus Christi to Justus and Sylvia Gansle. Sister Rose Miriam is preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Jerry, Jim and John Gansle. She is survived by one brother Richard, his wife Sue Gansle, a niece, Greta Gansle, and many nieces and nephews. 

Sister Agnes Marie Tengler (Margaret Christine), a Sister of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament of Corpus Christi, was welcomed into eternal life by her loving God on October 7, 2021. Born to August John Tengler and Agnes Cecilia Whelan Tengler on October 22, 1926, she is preceded in death by her parents and her only sibling, Msgr. Alvin Tengler of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.  

Today, the Supreme Court of the United States is scheduled to hear oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, on the Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks. The question before the Court is whether all pre-viability bans on elective abortions are unconstitutional. Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued the following statement: