Jan 9, 2025 | NEWS
Today we had a “high” visit to our house on the Klosterberg in Cochem
“High” visit, because several kings have all who live in the house, work,
They prayed for and with our residents, sang and collected gifts at the same time
With their campaign, they want to ensure that children with mental or physical disabilities are protected and supported.
It was a wonderful encounter – especially when we visited the crèche in our chapel.
The children are unique, interested and proud that they even received the blessing
“Christus mansionem benedicat”.
We send greetings to all our fellow sisters and wish everyone – who reads this – God’s blessing for the whole year 2025.
Sister M. Felicitas
Jan 9, 2025 | NEWS
From December 27 to 29, 2024, the Parish of St. Apostles Matthew and Matthias in Birchwood was very joyful and festive. Nearly a hundred children and twenty-four caregivers in beautiful costumes, with stars in their hands, went on a caroling trail. Our little missionaries sang carols and presented a short scene about the situation of children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the end, in each house where they caroled they left a souvenir – a nut. Where they were not allowed to enter they said a prayer for the residents. With carols on their lips and sweets, they visited the residents of the DPS in Raciborz and the Children’s Homes in Pogrzebienie and Krzanowice.
The summary of the “mission” took place on the Feast of the Epiphany. During the solemn Eucharist, the Missionary Carolers prayed for the DRC, the PDMD and the missionaries, and made a monetary donation, which they collected during the caroling. They also thanked the Newborn that they were given the opportunity to safely proclaim the glad tidings of His coming to earth.
Jan 8, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
First reading – 1 John 4:11-18
The first reading from 1 John 4:11-18 invites us to embrace the profound truth that God’s love calls us to love one another. This love is not merely a human effort but a divine mandate that reflects the essence of God’s presence within us. When we love one another, we allow God to dwell in us, and His love reaches its fullness in our lives. This act of love is inseparable from our acknowledgment of Jesus as the Son of God, for to recognize Jesus is to recognize and accept the boundless love of God. Yet, this acknowledgment is not just intellectual; it becomes true and transformative when it manifests in our actions of love, as Jesus Himself taught us. In loving one another, we experience a liberation from fear, for fear has no place where perfect love abides. God’s perfect love casts out all fear, offering us freedom, peace, and the assurance that we are deeply cherished. This passage challenges us to embody God’s love by living in harmony with one another, creating a space where divine love can be perfected, and fear can be replaced with the courage and joy of love. Let’s reflect: How can I allow God’s perfect love to dwell in me so fully that it casts out my fears and inspires me to love others more deeply and selflessly?
Don Giorgio
Jan 7, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
First reading – 1 John 4:7-10
In the First Reading from 1 John 4:7-10, we encounter a profound revelation about the nature of God: God is love. This is not merely a characteristic or an attribute of God but the very essence of who God is. This love is not abstract or distant; it is tangible and transformative, made manifest in the sending of God’s only Son into the world. Through this self-giving act, we are offered life—a life redeemed and renewed by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who took upon Himself the weight of our sins. This divine love is not meant to be hoarded or kept for ourselves; it calls for a response. If we have received the life of God, who is love, then we are invited, indeed commanded, to love one another. To live in God is to live in love, and to love others is to reflect the divine love that has been poured out upon us. This passage challenges us to move beyond mere sentimentality and embrace a love that is selfless, sacrificial, and active, mirroring the love God has shown to us. Let’s reflect: How can I actively reflect God’s love in my daily interactions, especially with those who are difficult to love?
Don Giorgio
Jan 6, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest
First reading – 1 John 3:22-4:6
In the first reading, 1 John 3:22-4:6, St. John offers profound yet practical guidance for living out our faith. First, he emphasizes the fundamental Christian call to love one another, which serves as the hallmark of authentic discipleship. This love is not merely an emotional response, but a deliberate action rooted in the example of Christ’s self-giving love. Second, St. John warns against the allure of false teachings that deny or distort the divine nature of Jesus Christ. He urges believers to discern the spirits carefully, recognizing that genuine faith affirms both the humanity and divinity of Jesus as central to our salvation. Finally, St. John invites us to embrace our identity as children of God, a privilege that shapes our conduct and outlook on life. This divine filiation calls us to walk in trust and obedience, reflecting the character of our heavenly Father. Together, these exhortations—loving one another, safeguarding the truth of Christ, and living as God’s children—form a cohesive roadmap for a faith-filled life that pleases God and stands firm against worldly deceptions. Let’s reflect: Am I truly living as a child of God by showing genuine love to others, standing firm in the truth of Christ, and discerning what influences I allow to shape my faith?
Don Giorgio
