<![CDATA[Saint Romero

<![CDATA[Saint Romero - News]]>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:35:30 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Week of April 12, 2026]]>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:17:27 GMThttps://www.saintromero.org/news/week-of-april-12-2026My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,

Christ is risen, and because he is risen, everything is changed. The resurrection of Jesus is not only a historical event we remember, but the transforming truth by which we now understand all of life. In the risen Christ, sin and death are defeated, hope is restored, and the Lord still speaks his word of peace to a fearful and wounded world. Easter teaches us to see our lives through the victory of Jesus Christ and to live as people of the resurrection—with faith, hope, love, and courage.

This week we also invite you to watch our new video, The Resurrection Accounts of the Sacred Scriptures. This presentation traces the hope of resurrection from the Old Testament, through the signs in the ministry of Jesus, to the glory of Christ’s resurrection and its meaning for believers today. It reflects on the unity of the Gospel witness and the great gifts revealed in Easter: forgiveness, new creation, and enduring hope.

We invite you to join us online for liturgy and to send us your prayer requests. We would be honored to pray for you.
Peace,
Rev. Ben

]]><![CDATA[Week of April 5, 2026]]>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 07:34:13 GMThttps://www.saintromero.org/news/week-of-april-5-2026My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,

Blessed Easter! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! In this holy season, we rejoice that Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death. The Resurrection is not simply the happy ending to a sorrowful story. It is the victory of God over all that enslaves, wounds, and darkens human life. In Christ, death is broken from within. The grave is no longer the final word. Shame, sin, despair, and hopelessness do not have the last claim over the human person, because the risen Lord has entered even the depths in order to bring forth life. Easter proclaims that there is no place so lost, no sorrow so deep, and no darkness so great that it lies beyond the reach of the victorious love of Jesus Christ.

This week we also released a video, “The Message of Holy Saturday: Jesus Descends to Hell,” reflecting on the meaning of Holy Saturday and Christ’s descent to the dead. The video explores the scriptural and theological foundations of this ancient Christian teaching and highlights the Lord’s triumph over death, Hades, and every power opposed to life. It also offers a word of hope for our own lives, reminding us that Christ enters even the places of grief, shame, loss, and bondage in order to bring freedom and light.

As always, we warmly invite you to continue praying along with us through our recordings of prayer and Divine Liturgy. May the joy of the risen Christ strengthen your faith, renew your hope, and fill your heart with peace in this Easter season.
Peace,
Rev. Ben

]]><![CDATA[Week of March 29, 2026]]>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 23:29:40 GMThttps://www.saintromero.org/news/week-of-march-29-2026My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,
Holy Week is not simply a time to remember events from long ago. It is an invitation to walk with Jesus through the final days of his earthly life, to listen again to his words, to watch again the self-giving love of the cross, and to open our hearts more deeply to the mystery of salvation.

In these holy days, the Church does more than retell a story. We are drawn into it. We remember the One who came not to be served but to serve, the One who accepted betrayal, suffering, and death, and the One who transformed even the cross into the place where love triumphed over sin, darkness, and despair. Holy Week invites us to make room for prayer, silence, repentance, gratitude, and renewed faith.

This is a week to make meaningful. So often life moves quickly, and sacred things can be pushed to the side. But Holy Week calls us to slow down and pay attention. It calls us to remember the gifts that have been given to us in Christ: salvation, reconciliation, liberation, and union with God. These are not abstract ideas. They are the living gifts of the Lord who entered our suffering in order to redeem it.

As we gather for the liturgies of Holy Week, we do not come merely as observers. We come as disciples. We come to follow Jesus into Jerusalem, to the table, to the garden, to the cross, and at last toward the mystery of resurrection. Each liturgy reminds us that God has not abandoned the world, but has entered it fully in love. Each prayer, reading, and sacred action invites us to receive that love more deeply.

To help you enter this week prayerfully, I also invite you to watch the recently shared reflection, “Holy Week: An Invitation to Follow Jesus,” available on YouTube. The link you shared points to that video here: https://youtu.be/KUw4s9dtqjs

May this Holy Week be a time of grace for you and for those you love. May it deepen your faith, renew your hope, and draw you more closely into the mystery of Christ, who loved us to the end.
Peace,
Rev. Ben

]]><![CDATA[Weekend of March 22, 2026]]>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 13:29:00 GMThttps://www.saintromero.org/news/weekend-of-march-22-2026My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,

As we enter the final weeks of Lent, the Gospel of the raising of Lazarus draws us to a decisive moment in the ministry of Jesus. In John’s Gospel, this is the final and most profound of the “signs”—a revelation not only of what Jesus can do, but of who he is. Standing before the tomb, Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life,” revealing that the power of God is not distant or abstract, but present and active even in the face of death.

This moment points us directly toward what we are about to celebrate in Holy Week. The one who calls Lazarus out of the tomb will soon walk toward his own. The one who reveals power over death will freely enter into it. In this way, the Gospel prepares us to encounter the mystery at the heart of our faith: that God’s love does not avoid suffering, but passes through it in order to transform it.

At the same time, this Gospel speaks personally to each of us. We all carry places of grief, loss, and longing—places that can feel sealed off, like a stone set before a tomb. Into those places, Christ continues to speak: calling us into life, inviting us to trust that hope is not lost, and reminding us that even now, resurrection is already at work.

As we prepare for Holy Week, we invite you to bring your prayers, your burdens, and your hopes before the Lord. We welcome all prayer requests and are honored to pray with and for you.

We also invite you to join us each week as we gather to celebrate the liturgy, to hear the Word, and to encounter Christ in the sacramental life of the Church. As we draw closer to the great mysteries of Holy Week, may we walk this path together in faith, hope, and love.
Peace,
Rev. Ben
]]><![CDATA[Week of March 15, 2026]]>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 23:41:12 GMThttps://www.saintromero.org/news/week-of-march-15-2026Saint Oscar Romero Ministries – Weekly Reflection
Fourth Sunday of Lent

Last weekend was a joyful time for our community as we welcomed Bishop Rob Lyons for his visit. We are deeply grateful for his presence among us as he celebrated the liturgy and presided over the beautiful quinceañera celebration for Laura and her family. It was a blessing to spend time together in prayer, fellowship, and conversation. We also had meaningful opportunities to discuss the future of the Old Catholic Ordinariate for Specialized Ministries and to reflect on how we can continue supporting one another in ministry. Moments like these remind us that the Church is not only an institution but a living community of faith, friendship, and shared mission.

As we continue our Lenten journey, the Church invites us to walk more intentionally toward the light of Christ. Lent is a season of prayer, reflection, and renewal. Each of us carries burdens and struggles, but we also carry hope. May we remember to raise one another up in prayer, encourage one another in faith, and allow the light of Christ within us to shine before others through acts of kindness, mercy, and compassion.

This weekend’s Gospel offers a profound moment of spiritual insight. Jesus reminds us that God often works in ways that challenge our expectations. We may sometimes see only brokenness, failure, or darkness in the world or even in our own lives. Yet Christ sees something deeper: the possibility of healing, renewal, and grace. Lent invites us to look at our lives through the eyes of Christ—to recognize where God’s light is already breaking through and to trust that even in our struggles, God is at work bringing new life.

This week we are also releasing a new Faith Formation video reflecting on the Passion narratives found in the four canonical Gospels. While the Gospels share many common details about the suffering and death of Christ, each evangelist offers a unique perspective that deepens our understanding of these saving events. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each emphasize different theological themes, inviting us to contemplate the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice from multiple angles. As we move closer to Holy Week, this is a meaningful time to spend prayerful moments reading the Passion narratives and reflecting on the love of Christ revealed in them.

As always, please remember that our ministry is here to serve you. If you have prayer requests, pastoral needs, or would like to receive the sacraments, please do not hesitate to reach out. It is always a blessing to pray with you and to walk together in faith.
Peace,
Rev. Ben

]]><![CDATA[Week of March 8, 2026]]>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 12:50:13 GMThttps://www.saintromero.org/news/week-of-march-8-2026This weekend we are pleased to welcome Bishop Rob Lyons for an apostolic visitation to Saint Oscar Romero Ministries. Bishop Rob is the bishop of the Old Catholic Ordinariate for Specialized Ministries and a personal friend. Tonight, Saturday, March 7th, he will celebrate a quinceañera, and on Sunday, March 8th, he will preside at our Sunday liturgy in the Saint Oscar Romero Chapel. Because of his visit, our Sunday liturgy will be posted online shortly after it concludes. We warmly welcome Bishop Rob and look forward to his encouragement and enthusiasm for the proclamation of God’s Word.

We also continue our Lenten journey together. This past week we began posting videos of the Office of Readings from the Ordinariate Daily Office. Throughout the week we posted the Office each day to give viewers a basic introduction to how this form of prayer is practiced within the Ordinariate tradition. In the future we will likely post the Office two or three times per week. While we pray the Office daily, recording, editing, and posting each video requires time and energy. There are moments when prayer fulfills the Lord’s call to enter the quiet of the upper room, and there are moments when prayer is something we share publicly so that we may strengthen one another in faith.

During Lent we also hope to post weekly devotional materials. This past Friday we shared a video of the Stations of the Cross, and in the weeks ahead we hope to offer additional devotions such as extended readings of the Passion or other traditional Lenten reflections.

We are also pleased to announce the launch of the Saint Oscar Romero Ministries Facebook page, where we will share reflections, updates, and videos from our ministry.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580974298417

Of course, we will continue posting liturgies, devotions, and faith formation materials on our YouTube channel:
Saint Oscar Romero Ministries YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@SaintOscarRomeroMinistries

This weekend we also released a new faith formation video on the doctrine of the Atonement, an especially meaningful topic during the season of Lent. In this presentation we explore how Christians have historically understood the saving work of Jesus Christ—how his life, death, and resurrection bring reconciliation between humanity and God.

The video introduces several major theological models used throughout Christian history. Among them is Recapitulation, developed by St. Irenaeus, which describes Christ as the “new Adam” who restores humanity through perfect obedience. The Christus Victor model emphasizes Christ’s victory over the powers of sin, death, and the devil. Anselm’s Satisfaction model highlights Christ’s obedience as restoring the honor of God disrupted by human sin, while the Penal Substitution model, emphasized during the Reformation, focuses on Christ bearing the consequences of sin on behalf of humanity. The presentation also includes Peter Abelard’s Moral Influence model, which sees the cross as the supreme revelation of God’s love that calls humanity to repentance.

Finally, the video reflects on several biblical images of salvation, including Christ as the healing physician, the sacrificial lamb, and the scapegoat who carries away the sins of the community. Rather than competing explanations, these models are best understood as complementary perspectives that illuminate different dimensions of the human condition—our guilt, shame, fear, and broken relationships—and the many ways Christ brings healing and redemption.

You can watch the full video here:
Jesus Christ and Models of the Atonement – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@Mysteruim_Fidei

As we continue our Lenten pilgrimage, let us support one another in prayer, repentance, and renewed faith. Please remember that I remain available for sacramental needs, pastoral care, or simply to receive a prayer request.

May God bless and keep you during this holy season.
Peace,
Rev. Ben

]]><![CDATA[Week of March 1, 2026]]>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 06:43:51 GMThttps://www.saintromero.org/news/week-of-march-1-2026My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,

As we enter the Second Sunday of Lent, we continue our Lenten pilgrimage together. Lent is never simply about giving something up; it is about drawing closer to Christ. It is a season of honesty, renewal, and quiet transformation. The Church invites us to slow down, to examine our hearts, and to remember that discipleship is not a single moment but a lifelong journey. Each prayer offered, each act of charity given, each small sacrifice embraced becomes part of that steady turning of our lives toward the Lord.

This weekend I had hoped to be in Indianapolis joining Bishop Rob Lyons for a clergy gathering. It would have been a meaningful time of fellowship, shared prayer, and conversation about the work entrusted to us. Unfortunately, this year I have been sick far too often, and I am still recovering, and because of that I was unable to make the drive. I had also planned to conduct a couple of clergy interviews during the gathering, but those will need to be postponed until a later time. While I regret missing the opportunity, I am grateful for your prayers and patience as I continue to recover and regain strength.

Looking ahead, we are very pleased to welcome Bishop Rob Lyons to our community next weekend. On Saturday evening, he will be with us to celebrate a quinceañera for one of our families—an important moment of faith, blessing, and celebration within our community. Then on Sunday morning, we will gather together with Bishop Rob to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Saint Oscar Romero Chapel. His visit is always a gift to our ministry.

I would also like to remind everyone that we continue to post weekly faith formation videos on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@Mysteruim_Fidei
In addition, our weekend liturgies are available at:
https://www.youtube.com/@SaintOscarRomeroMinistries

These resources are part of our ongoing effort to remain connected, to grow in faith, and to reach those who may not yet have a spiritual home. Please feel free to share these links with family, friends, or anyone who may benefit from prayer and formation.

As always, we warmly welcome the opportunity to celebrate the liturgy in homes or community settings. If you or someone you know would like to host a gathering, please reach out. The Church has always flourished not only in grand cathedrals but also in living rooms, around kitchen tables, and in small communities of prayer.

May this Second Sunday of Lent renew our hearts and steady our steps as we continue our journey toward Easter. Let us keep one another in prayer as we seek to grow ever closer to Christ.

Peace,
Rev. Ben

]]><![CDATA[Week of February 22, 2026]]>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 15:37:32 GMThttps://www.saintromero.org/news/week-of-february-22-2026My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,
Lent begins each year by inviting us into the desert with Jesus. The Gospel reminds us that before his public ministry began, Christ entered a time of prayer, fasting, and temptation. The desert was not a place of abandonment but a place of preparation. In the same way, Lent is not meant to be merely a season of giving things up; it is a sacred opportunity to walk more intentionally with Christ.

As we spiritually join Jesus in the desert, we might reflect on a few simple realities from this Sunday’s Gospel. We are often tempted, as Jesus was, to choose what is easy rather than what is true. Sometimes a convenient lie feels safer than honesty. Sometimes we seek comfort when we are tired or hungry instead of turning toward God. At other times, we are tempted to take shortcuts rather than patiently trusting in God’s timing. Lent invites us to slow down, to recognize these moments honestly, and to allow Christ’s example—and his grace—to reshape our choices. Jesus not only models faithful living; he strengthens us so that we may resist what diminishes our spiritual lives.

One of the greatest gifts available to us during Lent is the nourishment of the sacraments. The Christian life was never meant to be lived alone or sustained by willpower. God meets us concretely through sacramental grace—through Eucharist, prayer, anointing, and especially reconciliation. If you feel drawn to confession or spiritual conversation but do not feel comfortable approaching your own minister or parish community, please know that I am happy to make myself available. Lent is a season of healing and return, and no one should feel excluded from God’s mercy or hesitant to seek reconciliation.

As we begin this holy season, we have also released a new video introduction to Holy Week, which I encourage you to watch over the coming weeks as part of your spiritual preparation. The video explains Holy Week as the Church’s “Great Week,” the sacred journey that interprets all other weeks of the Christian year. Holy Week is not simply a remembrance of past events; it is a participatory reenactment of Christ’s saving work. From Palm Sunday’s joyful procession that quickly turns toward the Passion, through the growing tension of Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Spy Wednesday, we are drawn into the unfolding mystery of salvation. The Sacred Triduum—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday culminating in the Easter Vigil—is presented as one continuous liturgy, inviting us to move step by step with Christ from the Last Supper to the Cross, through silence and waiting, and finally into the light of the Resurrection.

The heart of Lent, therefore, is preparation—not only personal preparation but communal participation. We are invited to pray more deeply, reconcile with God and one another, immerse ourselves in Scripture, and physically participate in the liturgies that shape Christian faith. Even if attending every celebration is not possible, entering intentionally into this journey allows Holy Week to become more than an observance; it becomes an encounter.

May this Lent be a time when we courageously enter the desert with Christ, allow ourselves to be nourished by sacramental grace, and prepare our hearts to fully live the mystery of Holy Week and the joy of Easter.
Peace,
Rev. Ben

]]><![CDATA[Week of February 15, 2026]]>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 14:24:59 GMThttps://www.saintromero.org/news/week-of-february-15-2026My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,

This weekend marks the close of Shrovetide, the traditional period of preparation that leads into Lent on Ash Wednesday. While largely absent from many modern calendars, Shrovetide played an important role in the historic Western tradition. It served as a time to take stock of one’s life before entering the more demanding disciplines of Lent.

As I was reflecting on this transition, an unexpected experience gave the season a very concrete image. One of our dogs was sprayed—indirectly and seemingly mildly—by a skunk. At first, it didn’t seem like much. By morning, however, the odor had spread through the bedroom and into the sheets. What appeared insignificant had quietly permeated everything.

Sin works much the same way. The dog was drawn in by curiosity, barking at what caught its attention, and ended up marked by something foul. Sin often attracts us in small, seemingly manageable ways. Yet its effects do not remain contained. It clings, stains, and spreads into places we did not intend.

Lent exists because God knows this about us. The season of Lent is not about punishment or earning God’s favor. It is about restoration. Just as our dog needed to be washed so the smell would lose its power, we need renewal so that the effects of sin no longer define us. Lent calls us back to our baptism—not as a past memory, but as a living reality.

Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we open ourselves to transformation. These practices are not ends in themselves. They form us into people who bear lasting fruit and whose lives witness to God’s Kingdom rather than the spirit of the age.

This weekend we also released a short video on the liturgical year, using the modern Roman Catholic calendar as a familiar reference point. The purpose is simple: to help us rediscover how the Church teaches us to sanctify time and allow it to shape our lives.

As we prepare to enter Lent, may we honestly confront what clings to us, repent of our sins, and seek God’s Kingdom above all things.
Peace,
Rev. Ben

]]><![CDATA[Week of February 8, 2026]]>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 12:33:28 GMThttps://www.saintromero.org/news/week-of-february-8-2026My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,

This weekend we observe Shrovetide II, traditionally known as Sexagesima, a season that invites us to begin turning our hearts toward Lent even before its formal arrival. Shrovetide is not yet a time of full penitential rigor, but rather a gentle and honest preparation—a moment to take stock of our lives, our habits, and our loves. Historically, this season reminded Christians that repentance is not sudden or superficial; it requires time, intention, and grace. Sexagesima calls us to begin loosening our grip on distractions and comforts so that our hearts may become receptive soil for the transforming work God desires to do in us during Lent.

In this weekend’s readings, we hear St. Paul speak candidly about his struggles, weaknesses, and sufferings (2 Corinthians 11:19–12:9). Paul does not present the Christian life as a path of ease or constant victory, but as one marked by adversity, humility, and reliance on God’s grace. His famous confession--“when I am weak, then I am strong”—reminds us that the Christian journey has always involved carrying burdens, enduring trials, and trusting God precisely when our own strength fails. As we prepare our bodies, minds, and hearts for the penitential discipline of Lent, Paul’s witness reassures us that our weaknesses are not obstacles to holiness, but places where Christ’s power is made visible.

We also invite you to watch our newly released video, which explores the possibility of Eucharistic communion between Roman Catholics and the Orthodox Churches from an Old Catholic perspective. The video emphasizes that true unity does not mean uniformity or absorption, but reconciled communion rooted in charity, patience, and repentance. Drawing on the shared inheritance of the first millennium—common creeds, councils, sacraments, apostolic ministry, and a serious commitment to holiness—it acknowledges both the deep common ground and the real theological and pastoral work that remains. The reflection concludes with hope: that genuine unity can only be given by the Holy Spirit, through a change of heart, shared mission, and a renewed commitment to living as the one Body of Christ in the world.

Peace,
Rev. Ben

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