Jan 10, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
First reading 1 John 5:5-13
Jesus is the Son of God. The Spirit, the water and the blood, are the three witness of the incarnation by which God is incarnated into our reality and our nature. This presence of God in our humanity is testified by Spirit in the sacraments, the Water in the Baptism and the Blood in the Eucharist. And the testimony is that God has given us eternal life and this life is the life of Son shared through the sacraments. These witnesses are not abstract symbols but tangible manifestations of God’s incarnation into our reality and nature. The Spirit speaks through the sacraments, sanctifying and guiding the faithful. The water, representing Baptism, is the gateway through which we are cleansed and welcomed into the family of God. The blood, present in the Eucharist, unites us intimately with Christ’s sacrifice, nourishing and sustaining our spiritual life. Together, these three testify to the profound truth that God has given us eternal life—a life that is not distant or unattainable but is shared with us through the person of Jesus Christ and perpetuated in the sacraments. This eternal life is not merely a future promise but a present reality, inviting us to live in communion with God, who has entered fully into our humanity to bring us into the fullness of His divinity. Let’s reflect: How am I allowing the Spirit, the water of Baptism, and the blood of the Eucharist to bear witness in my own life and draw me deeper into the eternal life God has shared with me?
Don Giorgio
Jan 9, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
First reading – 1 John 4:19-5:4
The First Reading from 1 John 4:19–5:4 calls us to reflect deeply on the profound truth that God loved us first. This divine precedence of love is both a gift and a call, an example and a mandate. If God has initiated love toward us, imperfect and flawed as we are, then we are compelled to take the initiative to love others, even when it feels difficult or undeserved. To say we love God while harbouring hatred for another is to live a contradiction, for love of God and love of others are inseparably linked. Genuine love for God must manifest in our relationships, extending to our brothers and sisters, for it is through them that our love for God becomes visible and authentic. This love is not optional; it is a commandment rooted in God’s own nature and example. Moreover, our faith in Jesus Christ strengthens and motivates this love, for He exemplified selfless love in its purest form. To love as God commands is to mirror His love, breaking down barriers, healing wounds, and living as His children. Therefore, we must love, and we must take the first step in loving, recognizing that such love fulfils God’s will and transforms both our hearts and the world around us. Let’s reflect: How can I take the initiative to love those around me, especially those whom I find difficult to love, as a true reflection of God's love for me?
Don Giorgio
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
