July 6, 2025 – Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Isaiah 66:10-14c; Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-9 (short form)

Luke 10: 4-6: Hospitality. The words of Jesus tell the disciples not to take anything with them, neither purse, nor sandals. Why is that? Jesus wants the disciples to trust on the hospitality of others in peace. By not greeting anyone, the disciple gets on with God’s business of the Good News of salvation.

The verses from Luke 10 bring to mind my own experience serving one year as a missionary. I remember arriving in a small town, waiting for a taxi, with only the essentials packed into a single suitcase and all my legal documents carefully attached to my skirt. To my dismay, someone stole my suitcase. But then another taxi driver, noticing my distress, asked why I was there. When I told him I was a missionary, he immediately sprang into action—retrieved my suitcase and brought me to the church where I was to serve, refusing any payment for his help. In that moment of wonder, I found myself entirely dependent on the hospitality and true peace offered by others. May God bless you and your families throughout the summer months and during your vacations. SK  

Pope Leo XIV’s coat of arms
The motto
Pope Leo XIV has also chosen a motto that reflects this Augustinian tradition: In Illo uno unum, which means “In the One, we are one.” The phrase is taken from Saint Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 127, where he explains that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.” (Vatican News)

Assumption College for Sisters, Denville, New Jersey, held Commencement Exercises at St Mary’s Church, May 10, 2025. Six graduates received Associate degrees, which included our Sister Stephen, who began studies in August 2022. Congratulations, Sister Stephen!

Pope Leo XIV – Intentions for the month of July 2025: For formation in discernment: Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life, and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.

“BE DOERS OF THE WORD,” by Bishop James S. Wall, Bishop of the Gallup diocese 2024: “Most Rev. James S. Wall, Bishop of Gallup discusses his special connection to the diocese and his experience as bishop in this unique diocese. Bishop Wall also talks about how the Catholic Home Missions Appeal helps provide the faithful of his diocese with the most basic things and why contributing to the Collection is so important. Bishop Wall’s diocese also has the highest percentage of Native American lands of any diocese in the country, he briefly discusses how the Church can minister to Native Americans through the Pastoral Framework for Indigenous Ministry “Keeping Christ’s Sacred Promise”.

MISSION STATEMENT –The Monastery of Our Lady of the Desert is a monastic community of women in the Benedictine tradition. We profess vows of stability, conversion of life and obedience. Our primary mission, is to seek God through a life of prayer, silence and solitude. Our way of life frees us to give glory and praise to God, intercede through prayer for the needs of the world and hospitality