The University of Saint Joseph will be welcoming students from Portugal’s largest educational institution for socially disadvantaged children and youth as soon as next year. The program was confirmed to “O Clarim” by Álvaro Barbosa, Vice-rector for Internationalization and Academic Affairs of USJ. Macau’s Catholic university signed a collaborative agreement with Casa Pia de Lisboa just before Christmas.
In his usual Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, on the occasion of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord which, according to the liturgical calendar currently in force in the Catholic Church, marks the end of the Christmas season, Pope Francis made the following statement: “the face and voice of God are revealed through the human side of Jesus”.
This prayer of the priest appears before my eyes in a hallucinative glow on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: “May the mingling of this water and wine bring us to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share our humanity.” The celebrant of the Eucharist utters this prayer under breath while mixing a drop of water into wine in preparation for the offertory. When I said this prayer during my first mass, the baptism scene of Jesus came to my mind without any prior meditation, and it stayed on with me.
In the long sermon delivered on 1 January during the celebration of the New Year Mass in the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Damascus, Yohanna X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, stressed the expressed desire of Syrian Christians to commit themselves to the peaceful construction of “a new Syria”, hoping that the new administration will have the same desire.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19).
On Christmas Day, the Holy Door was opened in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, starting a Jubilee that will last until the end of 2025. It will be the great theme of the year! The beginning of a new stage for the Church and the world.
Pope Francis writes movingly: the Beatitudes are “the identity card” of Christians, and portray the Master for all(EG 63). We wish to reflect first on the Beatitudes in general, and second, of Jesus as the Beatitude of God. (In two columns)
The story of young Jesus in the temple offers a profound reflection on family, faith, and understanding God’s will. Though Mary and Joseph struggled to grasp Jesus’ actions, their journey reminds us of the importance of trusting in God’s plan. As Jesus grew in wisdom and honored his parents, we are called to embrace faith, love, and the responsibility of nurturing both our families and our relationship with God.
The Gospel of the Visitation is a story of faith in action, as Mary journeys beyond her comfort zone to support Elizabeth, her cousin. This act of selflessness reminds us that God calls us to love and serve others, even in challenging circumstances. Christmas invites us to embrace this mission of compassion—reaching out to those in need, offering hope, and being bearers of God’s love in a world yearning for His presence.
The Gospel today beautifully captures Mary’s visit to Elizabeth—a meeting rich in prophetic and spiritual significance. This moment not only celebrates the joy of two miraculous pregnancies but also highlights the embrace of the Old and New Testaments through John’s recognition of the Messiah. Mary’s journey reminds us of a faith that moves forward with purpose, carrying hope and light into the world.