Once a year, the Idente Missionaries here in the U.S. have this retreat for young adults called Motus Christi. A big part of my growth spiritually and just as a person as a whole I owe to these retreats.

I encourage anyone in the New York area who meet the age requirements to attend and explore through a weekend of prayer and fellowship the movement of Christ in their lives.  The info is below in the flyer image below.

"Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. 
Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope,
endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. 
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. 
​Bless those who persecute [you], bless and do not curse them. 
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 
Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly;
do not be wise in your own estimation. 
Do not repay anyone evil for evil; be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all. 
​If possible, on your part, live at peace with all. 
Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written,
“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 
Rather, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink;
for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” 
​Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good."  - Romans 12:9-21

Over the past few weeks I have been blessed to see God at work in some seemingly small ways, but truly moving in big ways when you look at the bigger picture.

I always tend to think of the long haul big picture where church pews are overfilled, and new properties need to be bought, as well as great art created and huge evangelistic efforts reaching out to the world. However, the Gospel message is person by person truly invested....

I have again attended personal quincenera's, as well as family homes/gatherings, and have been told statements by young people like "I wish I could talk to my family, the same way I talk to you guys."  I have laughed with many, shared about new joys from school acceptance, and also cried with some who have very serious family trauma.  All of this has reminded me yet again of why I am truly here, and if it was only for these individual souls Lord, then I know that it is enough; and I am grateful you have chosen me for them.

I pray for a church that is truly like a family.... As a community of people who continue to do life together in all of its good and bad times; working together and building with one another.  May we be covered by the atonement from blood of Christ until our daily reality of earth here together looks a lot more like Heaven. Amen.

- The Symbol
- All is Love

It's been too long.  Time to bring somethings new really soon.  "Stay tooned."

- The Symbol
- All is Love

I have been blessed for almost 3 years now with the opportunity to build this local ministry here in the Bronx. We started small, but every month we bring our community an opportunity to gather and worship Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament; as well as with fellowship and artistic sharing.

I have been challenged to grow as an Emcee; speaker; and even worship leader each month.  This past month I even got to share the mic with my son Christian as he told some jokes and we spoke about "Life"; sharing some of the art I have recently been able to collaborate with him to create.

Visit our website at: www.TheEncounterNYC.org
and follow/like on social media to pray with us and build with us as a community of faith.

- The Symbol
- All is Love

Here we are just a little over half way through the New Year of 2018.  It seems to me there are a few checkpoints throughout the year that we go through when renewing our commitments, energy, and focus.  Usually these happen for the secular world in the beginning and end of the Academic year, or with the start of each new semester, and for us in the Church during Lent and Advent.

However what seems to be universal of all places is right after the holiday season entering into the New Year.  I chose to wait on making this post however for a few reasons.
1) Most people in less than a week give up on their "New Years Resolutions"
2) The pictures I used here were from an event I did just this past Friday. (just being honest)

​That being said, let us reflect of the word "commitment" - a word that seems has lost its value in our modern culture.

What I have come to see is that it is fear of the "restriction" aspect of the second definition found above that makes people run away.  I would propose however that a choice to engage in some areas of restriction actually brings freedom to your soul.  For example, if your New Years resolution was concerning health, "restricting" yourself from certain eating habits not only helps you obtain your goal, but also frees you from your passions and perhaps even addictions to eating.  This discipline can apply to other aspects of your life, relationships, career, etc.

I bring all of this up to say for myself, and for all of us that this year may we not only get new ideas, and inspirations, but also have the discipline to stay committed so that we can see these dreams turn into goals, into a lived mission, that then becomes the norm of our reality.

May we pray together that 2018 is a year of renewal.... In our families and in our homes; at work and school; in our ministries and in our world....  A renewal that we have the strength to see through until the end.  Lord may you work in us during this time to truly make change in our world. Amen.

- The Symbol
​- All is Love

This past Saturday we had another great moment of fellowship, teaching, building, and sharing with my Idente brothers, myself, and other local youth ministers. We continued to share strategies and techniques of the "Encultured" program, as well as what we have going on in our individual ministries looking to build forward for this 2018 year.

If your leadership team would like to get involved, please shoot me an email at: BeTheSymbol@gmail.com with the title "Youth Ministers Assemble"

We meet once a month at St. Dominic's Faith Formation Center in the Bronx.

- The Symbol
- All is Love

"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win." - 1 Cor. 9:24

In this scripture verse, Paul speaks about the mindset of those who are winners.  The Symbol teaches his son about how to approach school, friendships, and life overall with this "Champion" mentality with Christ. This song/video is the product of a 9 year old boy for New York's interpretation of this Champion mindset. #TheJoysOfFatherhood

- The Symbol
- All is Love

What does it mean to be a saint in today's culture?  Clips from a talk given at St. Mary's Church in the Lower East side of Manhattan.

- The Symbol
- All is Love