Browsing the December 2023 archive of Fr. Arturo Homilies

Christmas-December 25, 2023

Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/26/23

Julie is the oldest among my nieces and nephews. Because of being the first niece, she gained the uncles’ and aunts’ undivided attention. Her brother and sister came after, and Julie was still the spoiled one. When she was thirteen years old, David, the first child of my older ... Read More »

3rd Sunday of Advent-December 17, 2023

Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/19/23

From my seminarian days, Bethany was the part of the seminary complex where communal dormitories and bathrooms were located. Only freshmen were assigned there when there were not enough private rooms with private bathrooms in the main, five story building to house all the seminarians. I had a private room during ... Read More »

2nd Sunday of Advent-December 10, 2023

Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/11/23

My mother spent the last four years of her life mostly with me. She would come to visit for six months and return home for a couple of months and come back to visit. She was already very sick during the last Christmas she spent with me in 2003. ... Read More »

Immaculate Conception-December 8, 2023

Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/11/23

My nationality by birth is Colombian. I also received the American nationality in 2008 after the process of naturalization. Birth and naturalization grants rights to people. I recalled the process of my American naturalization during these past days as I reflected on the readings for today’s solemnity.

Adam and ... Read More »

1st Sunday of Advent-December 3, 2023

Posted by Carol Johnson on 12/04/23

Seeing leafless trees is not common for people from countries with no seasons like my native Colombia. Someone from Colombia who had moved to the United States once was telling me about a relative of his who came to visit him during a winter season. When he asked the ... Read More »