In search of Peace and Love: Prayer Walk in Sandtown Baltimore May 26, 2015

Bishop Denis Madden, the Vicar of the Archdiocese of Baltimore on May 26, 2015 joined the Catholic faithful at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church beginning from 5:30pm for a PRAYER WALK in the SANDTOWN neighborhood where Mr. Freddie Gray was brutally beaten by the police and consequently died of the injuries sustained.

In the wake of Mr. Gray's death, Baltimore witness unprecedented rioting and destruction that were better imagined than described.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore in her continuous effort at rebuilding, reconstructing and offering healing to this heartbroken community is proposing series of initiatives that will engage the community in activities that will bring about better life style and engagement between the public and the church on one hand, and also an improvement in relations with the government.
 Welcome and Opening Prayer was led by Bishop Madden and the congregation was processed through five stops with meditation, prayer and songs.
Pictures from the Prayer Walk can be access from the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10204672149259767.1073741851.1116891416&type=1&l=adc39648a5

Programs of events during the procession are highlighted below.

First Stop: Grocery Store                                                                                  ~ Isaiah 61:4  
Leader: “They shall rebuild the ancient ruins; the former wastes they shall raised up and restore the desolate cities, devastations of generation upon generation.”
Prayer for rebuilding of Sandtown:                                                      
All: We come to you, O God, this evening to pray for the rebuilding in our city of not only structures, businesses, and other non-living things but we also place at Tour throne of grace, the people that own these buildings, the people who worked there, and the patrons who used the stores and businesses which are now closed…….
Second Stop: In Memory of Freddie Gray                                               ~Jeremiah 30:17-19
Leader: “For I will restore your health. I will heal your iniquities…..”
Prayer for restoration:
All: Precious Father, thank you for the act of restoration…..

Third Stop: A place where a life was lost                                    ~Mathew 22: 37-40
Leader: “He said to them, ‘ You shall love the Lord, your God, with all you heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind……….You shall love your neighbor as yourself…..
Prayer for love:
All: God of love, each of us is created in your image and each of us desires to be loved. Help us to not have our disagreements turn into acts of violence……
Fourth Stop: Another incidence of loss of life                                  ~Mathew 6:14-15
Leader: “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you…….
Prayer for Forgiveness
All: O blessed Christ, my teacher, my savior, my God: you have commended me to love others as myself……
Fifth Stop: The former recreation center                                             ~Romans 15:13
Leader: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Prayer for hope:
All: Heavenly Father, I am your humble servant. I come before you today in need of hope…..
The closing remarks, prayer and blessing were given by Bishop Madden.
May the Almighty God bring peace into our hearts today. Amen!

Our System has Issues with #Black Justice

Any system legal or otherwise that is not based on the “Fear of God” as its fundamental focus will never be able to act as the determinant of justice nor can it provide justice either!

When it becomes more difficult to prove the INNOCENT right than to prove the GUILTY wrong, then such a system has issues!

When it seems very comfortable to exterminate people without an iota of threat to humanity, then such a system has issues!

When it seems a common place to discriminate against a race when providing the slightest opportunity to determine justice, then such a system has issues!

When a guy bombed, killed and wound citizens and he is given the comfort of protection, healthcare and legal defense experts to defend him, and yet an innocent “UNARMED” is allowed to die in the hand of those superficially supposed to provide for his safety, then such a system have issues!

When a guy killed and wounded our police officers and he is referred to as a “survivalist whereas the other that dare to justly challenged the same police officers is gunned down and criminalize, then such a system has issues!

When the color of your skin is factor into how justice is disseminated, then such a system has issues!

When as a “Black” you are considered as guilty until proven otherwise, then such a system has issues!

When as a “White” you are considered as innocent until proven otherwise, then such a system has issues.

We have a long way to go indeed, however the starting point is not difficult at all. What is most needed is the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom, our conscience and moral compass based on humility, hope and faith, and above all we must put on the armor of LOVE, otherwise the entire nation risk becoming like the ROMAN EMPIRE which combustion was first and foremost from within!

God bless America. Amen

A faithful friend

 A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter;
he who finds one finds a treasure.
A faithful friend is beyond price,
no sum can balance his worth.
A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy,
such as he who fears God finds;
For he who fears God behaves accordingly,
and his friend will be like himself.


Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Fear of God leads to love

You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy,
turn not away lest you fall.
You who fear the LORD, trust him,
and your reward will not be lost.
You who fear the LORD, hope for good things,
for lasting joy and mercy.
You who fear the LORD, love him,
and your hearts will be enlightened.
Study the generations long past and understand;
has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed?
Sir. 2


 Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Everyday Love!

If your decisions and actions are motivated by love;

no matter how much it hurts,

you will always come out on the winning side

- if not in the eyes of some men, God will repay you..

When you deliberately decided to do the chores and allow your partner to rest..

When you deliberately decided to do school run and allow your partner to rest..

When you deliberately sacrifice buying that new dream attires and invest the money in the home

When you forsake that new car of your dream to help your wife, husband, children to go to school

When you forsake your “want” and pursue the needs of your loved ones

When you respect people

When you help people

When you make people happy

When you put smile on people’s face

When you heal people

When you console people

When you love people…

Yes these are examples of everyday love

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle: Love is Supreme

 Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”


Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle

Life and love

Life is about love and not food, clothing and shelter alone....
Go out and love without reservation
and the God that sees in secret
shall reward you without reservation.
Never allow fear to stop you from loving....

Hang on!

Pains, sorrows, disappointments and failures may come, but as long as we hang on to God through faith, hope and love, the Almighty God is promising us today that at the end it shall be well with our souls. Amen.

True Joy

Our joy in the Lord can be accomplished
through our perseverance,
trust and hope in God,
rather than in our individual capacity
to cope with the pains and weeping
that comes our away in life.
DO NOT TRY TO DO IT ALONE AND WITHOUT GOD....
Let love prevail

God has made the provision for us to survive and be happy

Yesterday was the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, and what a glorious event to see our Lord, Jesus Christ after having being resurrected from the dead is now returning to His Father, our God and the maker of heaven and earth.

Thanks be to God for not only resurrecting us from death, but manifesting to us through our Lord, Jesus Christ that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, He shall be with us until the end of time when we hope to become united with him forever and ever. Amen

Today, Jesus Christ is reiterating his promises to us; Ask for anything in my name, and my heavenly Father shall do it for you!

This is amazing grace indeed!

God made provision for Saint Paul in a foreign land by promising him protections and favors! And it came to pass that the vision was indeed fulfilled, because none and no harm could come upon Saint Paul.

Today, I want to continue to thank God for His provisions for my life and those of my loved ones; yes the Almighty God is ever ready to work with us as long as we are willing to allow his mighty will to be done in our lives.

Pains, sorrows, disappointments and failures may come, but as long as we hang on to God through faith, hope and love, the Almighty God is promising is today that at the end it shall be well with our souls. Amen.

Our joy in the Lord can be accomplished through our perseverance, trust and hope in God, rather than in our individual capacity to cope with the pains and weeping that comes our away in life.

Turn to God, rather than to your own strength, and allow his provision of love for you to happen:

In your marriage, you must turn to God and seek for help!

In your family, turn to God,

For your children turn to God for wisdom to lead them

In relationship? Turn to God for blessings and knowledge and love.