Category: Behold Vancouver

Fr. Mike Schmitz delivers a timely video in the midst of our Lenten journey as he explores the ancient concept of acedia. This temptation tends to come in the middle of the day and can obscure our resolve by distracting us from God’s purpose for us. While even great saints were tempted by it, the remedy is something we can all receive with a little faith.

Fr. Mike Schmitz delivers a timely video in the midst of our Lenten journey as he explores the ancient concept of acedia. This temptation tends to come in the middle of the day and can obscure our resolve by distracting us from God’s purpose for us. While even great saints were tempted by it, the remedy is something we can all receive with a little faith.

Fr. John Riccardo preaches on the home as the place where the world meets the Church. And this isn’t about the domestic Church.  Fr. John preached on March 6, 2025 at Saint John’s Resort as part of the AIP Speaker Series.

Fr. John Riccardo preaches on the home as the place where the world meets the Church. And this isn’t about the domestic Church.  Fr. John preached on March 6, 2025 at Saint John’s Resort as part of the AIP Speaker Series.

Why would one of the most well-known evangelical pastors in the world speak at a Catholic conference? In this inspiring and wide-ranging interview, Pastor Rick Warren—founder of Saddleback Church and a leading voice in global evangelization—explains why unity among all Christians is essential to completing the Great Commission. 

With deep respect for the Catholic Church and its 1.3 billion members, Pastor Rick shares his vision for the year 2033: the 2000th anniversary of Christ’s Resurrection, the Church’s birth, and the giving of the Great Commission. 

He discusses how Christians of all traditions—Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, and Pentecostals—can work together to share the Gospel with every person on earth. He reflects on the power of prayer, the richness of diverse worship styles, and the need for humility and mutual respect across denominational lines. 

Pastor Rick also highlights the spiritual hunger he sees among Gen Z and the hope he believes the Church must offer in today’s world. Don’t miss this extraordinary testimony of faith, unity, and mission from one of today’s most influential Christian leaders.

What defines you? Your failures? Your past? Or something far greater? In this powerful reflection, Fr. Malachy CFR shares a moving story from prison ministry in Nicaragua—a woman buried under shame, convinced she was beyond love—until God’s mercy broke through. Discover what happens when we allow ourselves to be seen through the Father’s eyes, not our own distorted reflection.

Few phenomena have ushered in a greater sea change in mass communication and human relations than social media. What at once allows us to connect with family, meet new friends, and engage with (not simply observe) the world around us can also create enormous tensions, foster disinformation, and cultivate loneliness. Is social media a blessing or a curse? And how can Catholics tap into its evangelizing power without losing their own souls?

Friends, physics has certain laws, meaning that we can discern probabilities and expectations from nature—and the same obtains in the spiritual order.

In this talk delivered to attendees of the 2024 Good News Conference, I share four scriptural stories that exemplify one such spiritual principle: Mercy comes first; love follows. 

As I neared college graduation earlier this year, I found myself in a state of constant restlessness and uncertainty. I had no idea what the next chapter in my life held. This, combined with the devastation of multiple recent family tragedies, was a heavy cross for me to bear.

On Good Friday, when I felt the weight of all these crosses the most, I rediscovered a prayer that my friend had given me. The prayer is titled “Just for Today”:

Just for today I will not worry. I will not be angry. I will be kind to every living thing. I will do my work honestly. I will be compassionate and forgiving. I will find joy even in the smallest of life’s gifts. Just for today, I will feel at peace.

This simple prayer made me realize that the best thing I can do about the uncertain future is to live in the present as best I can. I can choose to either live today in worry or in a way that I would be satisfied with should it be my last. The prayer inspired me to practice the virtues it presents in a concrete way and to live each day well, despite the things that I can’t control.

Trust 

Recently, I started a job as a journalist for a pro-life media outlet. Researching and writing about people defending abortion constantly tests my trust in the hope of the Resurrection. To combat this, I offer two prayers which provide the comfort of God’s love and help me to strengthen my faith in him.

The Litany of Trust is one that I recommend saying at the beginning of the day, as part of your morning offering. It is a great way to tell God right from the start that you are placing your trust in him, no matter what the day brings. I am also a fan of the Surrender Novena. This is one that I like to pray at night, when I struggle to let go of all my worries and rest. In it, Jesus speaks to each of us with a love so deep that it is hard not to find comfort in his words. 

Trust is hard. But I have found that when I don’t actively pursue it, I am always in a state of greater worry and frustration.

Forgiveness

When my brother decided last summer that he could no longer be around my family, I thought I would never be able to let it go. It was too personal, too tragic and painful a loss to simply leave it in the past. But then I realized that forgiveness isn’t a one-time thing.