Opus Dei

In August 2023, what started as a setback transformed into an extraordinary pilgrimage. Our original plan was to attend the 2023 World Youth Day, but faced with visa issues that scuttled our plans for Lisbon we turned our gaze to Southeast Asia.

They met friends who frequent centers of Opus Dei in Korea, and were attracted to the faith little by little. At the Easter Vigil in St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday night, they will be received into the Catholic Church. These are their stories.

Tomás and Paquita Alvira were married members of Opus Dei, who strove for sanctity through the heroic and persevering exercise of the Christian virtues, in their marriage, raising their children and passing on to others their joy of a bright and cheerful home. Both suffered painful illnesses towards the end of their lives, and offered up their suffering with a deeply supernatural outlook. Many Christians have had private recourse to their intercession for their different needs. Here is one such favour.

A friend of mine invited me this year to join him in a 33 day consecration to St. Joseph. I'm generally not a fan of such, but because he asked, I decided to try it out. I came to learn he'd actually invited a good number of other friends. Last year he'd done the same with married friends of his, this year he invited those of us who were still single and searching - or "single and free to mingle" as we like to say.

The story of Onyekachi

It all started when two members of the Legion of Mary Wakiso Seat of Wisdom presidium visited St. George High School in Wakiso Town. My wife was one of the two legionaries. During the visit there was an interaction with the students.

An interview with Fr. John Henry Hanson, O. Praem., author of the recently published book "Coached by Josemaría Escrivá: Lessons in Discipleship."

The priest called on parents to help, leading to the creation of new altar boys. The author and a friend, Collins, decided to teach the boys about Catholic doctrine and the importance of their work on the altar. They started classes every Monday and afterwards, the boys were introduced to Jesus through a five-minute conversation in the Chapel "gisting" with Jesus, demonstrating the power of mental prayer. Although not perfect, the work of the altar boys improved.

"My husband and I had no idea that we were about to experience the best Christmas of our lives," says Pilar Caranti, a mother of six from Houston, Texas who regularly visits a high security prison with her husband.

Damian, Ugochukwu and Nelson helped twelve students of Kings College to prepare for First Holy Communion during many Sundays. They wanted to take this step forward before graduating from secondary school. The effort was worthwhile and the day finally arrived.