Maymay sa Magbalantay

30/09/2026

Wherever I visit, may a tree be planted—a simple remembrance that continues to grow.

Saint Michael the Archangel Parish
Samboan, Cebu.

Thanks Fr. Aeolus Villar and parishioners

30/09/2026

On our long journey from Samboan to Cebu City, we made a quick stop at the Ventic family’s home for a restroom break. Thank you, Fr. Edu, for warmly welcoming us.

What a meaningful surprise to learn that it was also the birthday of your late mother. What began as a simple stop became a beautiful moment to remember her and offer a prayer for her.

30/09/2026

DOING THE SMALLEST THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE | Each day can become a little heaven when we spend it doing good. Let us learn from the example of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who discovered that holiness does not always require extraordinary deeds, but can be found in doing the smallest things with great love.

Thérèse Françoise Marie Martin was born on 2 January 1873 in Alençon, France, to Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, a deeply devout couple who would later become the first married couple in the history of the Catholic Church to be canonized together. She was the youngest of nine children, although four of her siblings died in childhood.

Thérèse lost her mother when she was only four years old. Despite this early sorrow, she found great love and affection in her family, especially from her father, Louis, who lovingly called her his “Little Queen.”

At the age of fifteen, Thérèse entered the Carmel of Lisieux, after receiving special permission from Pope Leo XIII. Her greatest desire was to “save souls” and to pray especially for priests.

She took the religious name Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. During her years in Carmel, she began writing about her spiritual journey, which would later become her famous autobiography, Story of a Soul.

Thérèse discovered that holiness was not found only in great sacrifices or extraordinary acts. Instead, she found her path in the little things of everyday life—small sacrifices, simple acts of kindness, patience, and loving those around her. This became known as her “Little Way.”

Thérèse wrote, “There is only one thing to do: throw the flowers of the small sacrifices to Jesus.” For her, every little act offered with love could become an offering to God.

Her life in the convent was not always easy. She experienced misunderstandings, difficulties in community life, physical suffering, and eventually tuberculosis. Yet she continued to offer everything to Jesus, even her smallest struggles, for the needs of the Church and the salvation of souls.

She once expressed her desire to spend her heaven doing good on earth. Though she lived a hidden life and died at only 24 years old on 30 September 1897, her little way would eventually touch millions of lives.

Thérèse was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1923 and canonized by him in 1925. In 1997, Pope St. John Paul II declared her a Doctor of the Church, recognizing the profound wisdom of her spirituality. She is also honored as a patroness of missionaries, despite never leaving the walls of her Carmelite convent.

The “Little Flower” teaches us that holiness is not always found in doing great things. Sometimes, it is found in loving greatly in the little things we do each day.

May the life of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus teach us to make our ordinary days holy, to do small things with great love, and to discover that perhaps, in loving God and others in the little things, we can already begin to live a little heaven here on earth.

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

—–———
Sources:

📌St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Carmelite, Virgin Doctor of the Church, Patron of the Missions, Vatican News, (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/10/01/st--therese-of-the-child-jesus--carmelite---virgin-doctor-of-the.html).

📌Who Is St. Thérèse?, Society of the Little Flower, (https://www.littleflower.org/st-therese/who-is-st-therese/).

30/09/2026

HOMILY | FEAST OF ST. THÉRÈSE OF THE CHILD JESUS
Gospel: Luke 10:1–12

There is something beautiful in today’s Gospel. Jesus sends seventy-two disciples on mission. But notice how He sends them.

He does not say, “Bring plenty of money. Make yourselves powerful. Make sure people notice you.”
Instead, Jesus says: “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals.”

In other words: Go simply. Go humbly. Go trusting in God.

And this is very close to the spirituality of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. She called it her Little Way.

The Little Way may sound simple, but today it is actually a sign of contradiction.

1. THE WORLD SAYS: “BE GREAT.” THÉRÈSE SAYS: “BE LITTLE.”

Our world often tells us: become bigger, richer, more successful, more influential. Have more followers. Get more likes. Make sure people notice you.

But Thérèse chose another road. She wanted to become small enough to allow God to be great in her life.

The world says, “Make a name for yourself.”
Thérèse says, “Let Jesus be known.”

The world says, “Be noticed.”
Thérèse says, “Love even when nobody notices.”

The world asks, “How many people follow you?”
Jesus asks, “Are you following Me?”

Holiness begins when we stop asking, “How can I become important?” and start asking, “Lord, how can I love You today?”

2. THE WORLD SAYS: “DO SOMETHING BIG.” THÉRÈSE SAYS: “DO SMALL THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE.”

Jesus tells His disciples that when they enter a house, they should say: “Peace to this household.”

What a small thing—to enter a home and bring peace. But imagine if we lived this way.

Enter your home and bring peace instead of anger.
Enter your workplace and bring kindness instead of gossip.
Go online and bring truth instead of hatred.
Meet a difficult person and choose patience instead of revenge.

These may seem small. But nothing done with love is small in the eyes of God.

St. Thérèse never went to distant countries as a missionary. She lived behind the walls of a Carmelite monastery. Yet the Church declared her a Patroness of the Missions. Because mission is not simply about how far our feet travel. Mission is about how far our love reaches.

3. THE WORLD SAYS: “DEPEND ON YOURSELF.” THÉRÈSE SAYS: “TRUST GOD.”

Jesus sends the disciples without many securities: no money bag, no sack, no sandals.

He was teaching them: Your greatest security is God.

This may be the most difficult part of the Little Way today. We want control. We want certainty. We want everything according to our plans. And when life does not go according to plan, we become worried and afraid.

Thérèse teaches us the trust of a child. Not childishness, but childlike trust.

Sometimes the most beautiful prayer we can offer is simply: “Jesus, I do not understand. I cannot control everything.
But I trust You.”
——

Let me end with a simple story.

A little girl once saw her mother carrying a heavy basket. She wanted to help, so she reached out and tried to lift it. But the basket was too heavy.

Her mother smiled and said, “You cannot carry that.”

The little girl replied, “Then let me carry something small.”

So her mother took one little item from the basket and placed it in her hands.

The girl walked beside her mother, very happy, carrying her little part.
——

Perhaps that is the Little Way.

God does not ask us to carry the whole world. He simply asks us to carry with love the little thing He places in our hands today.

A small act of kindness.
A little sacrifice.
A word of encouragement.
A sincere apology.
A quiet prayer.

The world may not notice. But God does.

30/09/2026

AN INVITATION TO PRAY THE HOLY ROSARY THIS OCTOBER

October is the Month of the Holy Rosary. During this month, I warmly invite everyone to rediscover this beautiful prayer.

Let us not simply talk about the Rosary. Let us pray it.

Pray it personally. Pray it as a family. Pray it with friends. And I encourage our parishes, schools, and Basic Ecclesial Communities to gather and pray the Rosary together.

This October, I ask everyone to pray the Rosary daily for two special intentions: for an end to wars, violence, and conflicts throughout the world, and for the protection of our people from the dangers and harmful effects of Super El Niño.

And as we pray for protection, let our prayer lead us to action—especially by conserving water, caring for creation, and helping those who may be most affected.

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.

+Alberto S. Uy
Archbishop of Cebu

30/09/2026

TODAY’s GMRC | Be A Good Steward of Creation

We sometimes forget that our lives depend on creation. The trees give us oxygen and shade. Forests protect our water. Healthy soil gives us food. When we destroy nature, sooner or later, we also hurt ourselves and the generations who will come after us.

Scripture reminds us: “The earth is the Lord’s and all it holds” (Psalm 24:1).

The earth belongs to God. We are not its owners; we are its caretakers. So plant trees, protect forests, keep our rivers clean, and avoid unnecessary waste.

What we protect today will help sustain life tomorrow. Caring for creation is caring for one another—and honoring the Creator.

30/09/2026

TODAY’s GMRC | Feed Your Soul

Jesus said, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Every day, we make sure our bodies have something to eat. When we are hungry, we look for food. But sometimes, we forget that our souls can also become hungry.

Our souls need the Word of God. It gives us strength when we are weak, guidance when we are confused, and hope when life becomes difficult.

So, as you find time to feed your body each day, find time also to feed your soul. Open the Bible. Read even a few verses. Listen to God.

A well-fed body gives us strength for today. A well-fed soul gives us strength for life.

30/09/2026