The Church Wanderer

08/23/2026

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro in Braga, Portugal.
From the Te Deum Pilgrimage of July 2025.

The seeds planted during this pilgrimage continue to grow and bring forth their fruit.

By the movement of the Spirit I felt drawn to more intentionally renew my Marian Consecration this year, with a specific emphasis on Mary's Queenship.

Her work within me since the beginning of my discernment and further back still has been indispensable, and the echoes and reechoes of the graces flowing through her hands innumerable.

I can only persevere with her tender guidance.

May her love reign and radiate in my heart and yours.

Ad Jesum Per Mariam,
Miguel Angelo
The Church Wanderer

08/21/2026

Saint Bernard Catholic Church in Springfield, Ohio.
This seminarian's residence this past summer.

Having now returned to the seminary walls for the beginning of my fourth year(!), I'm glad to have the chance to reflect on my time spent in the St. Rose Family of Parishes, living alongside good and faithful priests and meeting all manner of lay faithful.

Certainly, looking back at my [very brief] post one year ago, things didn't play out exactly as I imagined, but I did hope to enter into this family with open hands, to receive whatever adventure the Lord granted, and this was accomplished.

I wish I could say I was the model seminarian, helpful and gracious to all I met through radiating the love of Christ, but I know my proclivity for overzealousness and my many imperfections and apprehensions created obstacles to better relationships during my time in Springfield.

Still, I hope that my sincere love for the people did shine through at times, my true desire for their good. The Lord knows the littleness of what I can offer, but as I continue to grow and be formed, the vision is to have more to pour out for others so as to better lead them to Him: an ever-deepening gift that only finds true and lasting success if I remain rooted in the Divine Wellspring.

And so I hope to return in time, should it be God's will.

Until then, Pax Christi, and Happy Feast of St. Bernard,
Miguel Angelo
The Church Wanderer

"It is true that the creature loves less because she is less. But if she loves with her whole being, nothing is lacking where everything is given. To love so ardently then is to share the marriage bond; she cannot love so much and not be totally loved, and it is in the perfect union of two hearts that complete and total marriage consists. Or are we to doubt that the soul is loved by the Word first and with a greater love?" - St. Bernard, Office of Readings

08/18/2026

08/15/2026

Saint Mary of Mount Virgin in New Brunswick, NJ.
From the late Advent wandering of December 2025.

Happy Solemnity of the Assumption!

It's been a beautiful solemnity thus far - opening with serving morning Mass during which someone was initiated into the Church and had their marriage convalidated. Please keep John and Carla in your prayers!

On the cusp of the school year, with all the busyness of preparation, of packing and moving things back into the seminary while trying to sn**ch some brief time with family and friends, it feels good to take a pause here to recall another joyful moment of wandering from last year.

My younger brother and I were blessed to find this church open, having some time to kill while our parents had a reunion with old friends in Jersey. Such a gift cannot be overstated: to be able to enter unto the threshold of the church and spend even a brief time of rest before our Lord in the tabernacle.

May you all receive and know such graces through the hands of our Lady, especially this day.

Pax Christi,
Miguel Angelo

07/03/2026

Saint Thomas Apostle Parish in Washington, DC.
From the post-March for Life wandering of January 2026.

Undeterred by the building winter storm and not keen to remain in the hotel all day, I decided to strike out on my own and see a couple of churches while the going was still good that Sunday afternoon. Remembering that in contrast to the current heat of the day makes for quite the pleasant memory.

Having an Oratory present in Cincinnati made the arrival all the more familiar, in a certain sense, and I'm reminded of this in connection to today's First Reading:
"You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone."

It's always a homecoming whenever I set foot in a church.
Whether it be a haven against the bitter cold or blazing heat, I know and believe in His Presence, and it brings great comfort amid the strangeness of the world, as I hope it does for you.

With that said, a blessed Feast of Saint Thomas to all of you!

Pax Christi,
Miguel Angelo

07/02/2026

Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
From the Pennsylvania wandering of March 2026.

The finale to the four-parter.

Caught up as I was with the Installation Mass of Springfield's newest pastor, I am only now able to return to finish what was begun and promised.

Fitting in a way, for just as this last post comes in an unexpected way and time, so was my being able to set foot in this church, under which resides the National Shrine of Saint John Neumann.

I'm grateful to Father Szobonya and God's providence for this visit, and for the wonderful opportunity to speak of the life of the local Church and our great zeal to be ambassadors of the Gospel in the midst of the challenges and hardships that come with ministering to souls.

I remember the stirring in my heart, a flame athirst for God to be made known.
It's in those moments and reflecting on them that I continue to be amazed at the evident power of the Lord's presence, when even just two or three are gathered in His Name.

"Saint Peter, the first of the apostles and a fervent lover of Christ, merited to hear these words: I say to you that you are Peter, for he had said: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Then Christ said: And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church. On this rock I will build the faith that you now confess, and on your words: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God, I will build my Church. For you are Peter, and the name Peter comes from petra, the word for 'rock,' and not vice versa. 'Peter' comes, therefore, from petra, just as 'Christian' comes from Christ."

Pax Christi,
Miguel Angelo

07/01/2026

Saint Paul Catholic Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
From the Pennsylvania wandering of March 2026.

Part of the nearly 9-mile trek I took around the city of Philadelphia to see the various churches. Thanks to the ever helpful Mass Times, I was able to find not only this church, but ongoing exposition. As exhausting and rain-filled as the day was, it gave me great joy to enter unto the threshold and behold our Eucharistic Lord.

"I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance."

Pax Christi,
Miguel Angelo

07/01/2026

Saint Peter the Apostle in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
From the Advent wandering of December 2025.

The second of a four-parter series.

While my parents were visiting friends among the local Filipino community, my brother and I were able to stop in to see this church that serves the students at Rutgers University.
Through the priests who staff this church, may Christ's work continue to have a great effect in the lives of all, but especially the youth who come seeking Him.

"This day has been made holy by the passion of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul. We are, therefore, not talking about some obscure martyrs. For their voice has gone forth to all the world, and to the ends of the earth their message. These martyrs realized what they taught: they pursued justice, they confessed the truth, they died for it."

Pax Christi,
Miguel Angelo

07/01/2026

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
From the Pennsylvania wandering of March 2026.

I had originally intended this for the Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul on June 29, but the usual lateness of said intent squashed that idea until now.
So to not only make up for the delay, but to also commend to the Lord those good priests and especially the newly ordained brethren who begin their assignments today, a four-parter in rapid succession.

Let us pray to the Lord for the holiness and fidelity of these men as they take up the work that the Lord has entrusted to them.

"Rightly then did the Lord after his resurrection entrust Peter with the feeding of his sheep. Yet he was not the only disciple to merit the feeding of the Lord’s sheep; but Christ in speaking only to one suggests the unity of all; and so he speaks to Peter, because Peter is first among the apostles. Therefore do not be disheartened, Peter; reply once, reply twice, reply a third time. The triple confession of your love is to regain what was lost three times by your fear. You must loose three times what you bound three times; untie by love that which your fear bound. Once, and again, and a third time did the Lord entrust his sheep to Peter."

Pax Christi,
Miguel Angelo

06/26/2026

Saint Mary's Church in Oxford, Ohio.
Post-Rite of Sending in February 2026.

Continuing in a bit of a campus ministry vein - and due to the fact that I was helping move the soon-to-be chaplain into the rectory today - I decided to share this church which serves the good people of Oxford and the students of Miami University.

Pax Christi,
Miguel Angelo
The Church Wanderer