Welcome to Lotus Rainier
A foretaste of heaven: Witnessing the Episcopal ordination of LA Auxilary Bishop Alex Aclan
Cover Photo: Bishop Alex Aclan, Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles | AJPress photo by Noel Ty We know that our liturgies—especially the Eucharist—are a foretaste of heaven on earth, I cannot think of a better foretaste of heaven than this. Bishop Alex D. Aclan,...
Do American presidents lie and betray America?
Throughout the history of the American presidency, from George Washington’s inauguration to the present day, the chief executive’s duties have encompassed more than politics. Our presidents are charged with responding to the hopes and aspirations of the American...
Gifts from the Holy Land: Seeing with my heart’s eyes
Inside the Encounter Chapel | Photo by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and then you will be my witnesses… Acts 1:8 The Spirit calls us to share our faith with those who are near and far. It could be as simple as...
A Tale of Modern Jerusalem and Bethlehem Suburbs
You can sense a co-existence, if at all, of Modern Jerusalem and the Suburbs of Bethlehem. A common denominator in going to a restaurant next to Sheperd Fields Church and a hotel restaurant of the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center is good food and...
Nicole David Yalong’s thousand blooms, conscious parenting of twins
Purposeful giving is not as apt to deplete one’s resources. It belongs to that natural order of giving that seems to renew itself even in the act of depletion. The more one gives, the more one has to give – like milk in the breast. Even in our purposeful giving must...
From cultural absence to cultural presence: Why Asian American studies matter to me
by Ashlee Monton [Writer’s note: Once a year, an essay competition is held at CSUN, amongst Asian American Studies and Education majors, as part of an endowment set up by Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz for her deceased mother, Asuncion Castro Abarquez and her deceased...
Appreciating and preserving nature’s wildflowers and snow-capped mountains
Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed; if we permit the last virgin forests to be turned into comic books and plastic cigarette cases; if we drive the few remaining members of the wild species into zoos or...
Mothers and daughters: A legacy of intuitive leadership
When you are your whole self/ intact with body, mind and soul/The divine spirit of work flows through your being/Just close your eyes and listen in deep silence/And you shall hear an inner voice/always urging you to complete your unfinished...
Truth, civility and independence
My mother was very strong about my doing well in school and living up to my potential. Two things were important to her and she repeated them endlessly. One was to ‘be a lady,’ and that meant conduct yourself civilly, don’ t let emotions like anger or envy get in your...