Palm Sunday: From Glory to the Cross
Today we celebrate Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. We start with joy as Jesus enters Jerusalem—“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38). People wave palm branches, hoping Jesus will be the king to free them from oppression. Continue reading
We all carry stones—anger, bitterness, self-judgment—and sometimes we throw them at others. Jesus teaches us to set those stones down and choose mercy instead. This story reminds us that love corrects without condemning, and that change is possible when we meet Christ. Lent is the perfect season to do some soul-cleaning and make room for grace. Let’s move forward with lighter hands and freer hearts.
The story of the Prodigal Son is not just about one lost child—it’s about all of us. We have all been the rebellious younger son, the resentful older brother, and at times, the forgiving father. God does not hold grudges but throws a feast when we come home. The older brother’s anger is a warning: Jealousy and pride can keep us outside the celebration of grace. Lent is our invitation to step inside and join the party of God’s mercy.
Lent is a season of self-examination and repentance, reminding us that God expects more than empty religious practices—He expects transformation. The burning bush called Moses to action, just as God calls us to step out of spiritual complacency. The Israelites in the desert had every reason to trust God, but they let their hearts grow cold. Jesus’ parable of the barren fig tree teaches that while God is merciful, He expects growth. The time to repent and bear fruit is now.
On March 14, 2025, the Sacred Heart Formation House in Aluba, Cagayan de Oro City, became the focal point for the 182nd birth anniversary celebration of Venerable Fr. Leo John Dehon, founder of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians). The event was graced by Fr. John Karl Cabaluna, SCJ, the parish priest of Immaculate Conception Parish in Aluba, who presided over the solemn Mass at 6:00 PM. The congregation included members of the SCJ Area of Cagayan de Oro, Lay Dehonians, Dehonian Youth, and friends, all gathered to honor the enduring legacy of Fr. Dehon.
SCJ Philippines Region 