This week’s virtual pilgrimage will be a unique one, join Renee Polka, a member of our Speaker Team, who will share with you the experience of Jacinta – 7 years old, her 9-year-old brother Francisco, and their 10-year-old cousin, Lucia. Three three shepherd children from Fatima, Portugal, witnessed the apparitions in the early 20th century.
During our journey, you will hear about:
The children’s interactions with Our Lady
Visions which Our Lady revealed to the children and why?
Renee’s experience on her visit to Fatima, Portugal
Listen to this program on our podcast feeds starting Thursday, May. 12, on any of the following podcast services:
Jewel for the Journey
“Putting up with any sacrifices that are asked of us in our day-to-day lives becomes a slow martyrdom which purifies us and raises us up to the level of the supernatural, through the encounter of our soul with God, in the atmosphere of the presence of the Most Holy Trinity within us. We have here an incomparable spiritual richness!” – Servant of God Lucia Santos
Guest Information
Renee Polka
Renee has a background in education, linguistics, and fundraising. She currently works in the non-profit sector raising funds for community health and wellness initiatives. In 2015, Renee attended the Theology of the Body Institute for the Head and Heart Immersion course with Christopher West, and has taken continuing education courses in theology with Father Nathan Cromly of the St. John Institute. She teaches CCD at St. Brigid Church, in San Antonio, TX.
A Closer Look at The Children of Fatima and The Mirace of the Sun:
Jacinta and Francisco Marto,
Lúcia Santos
The crowd looking at “the Miracle of the Sun”, during the Our Lady of Fatima apparitions, Fatima, Portugal, 13 October 1917
https://i0.wp.com/pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/JOH_Podcast-Cover-Wide_2022-05-11.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080&ssl=110801920PCH Media Productionhttps://pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Logo-Masthead-Only.pngPCH Media Production2022-05-11 17:42:032022-05-11 17:42:03The Children of Fatima
Have you known someone in your life who seldom speaks but people lean in to hear all they have to say? You find that if you listen carefully, their words are especially profound and meaningful to you personally.
I have found that the spoken words of our Blessed Mother invite me to lean in and listen and learn from her relationship with God.
The Blessed Mother’s spoken words in Scripture are few, recorded 3 times in the Gospel of Luke and once in John’s Gospel. Yet her brief spoken words, less than 200 words, have inspired innumerable prayers, hymns, homilies, and other devotional practices, perhaps none more than her words at the Annunciation.
How can these words of Mary at the Annunciation inform us and inspire us as part of our Lenten practices? What does Mary’s Yes mean for each of us?
“How can this be, since I have no husband?” (Luke 1: 34)
Mary pondered the words of the angel Gabriel. She did not argue or challenge but rather, asked a clarifying question. She listened and heard God’s invitation and her heart was open to His plan for her life and for humanity.
Her words and her response encourage us to expand our prayer during Lent to ask God, “How can this be?”. Her words remind us that God wants us to ask Him questions and be fully engaged in the conversation. We can ask Him anything that is weighing on our hearts! He desires a two-way conversation, the true sign of a personal relationship.
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38)
After pondering the words of the angel in Luke (1:37) that nothing will be impossible for God, Mary responded with words of complete trust even if she didn’t fully understand. Her words remind us that God wants us to fully trust Him even when we don’t understand a situation, circumstance, or challenge in our lives.
In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. These words echo Mary’s words, Let it be done to me according to your word.
During our Lenten prayers, may the spoken words of our Blessed Mother encourage us to:
Engage in a two-way conversation with God and ask Him anything that is weighing on our hearts.
Pray “Thy will be done” in complete trust, echoing Mary’s “Yes” to God.
As we embrace Mary’s vocation as our vocation, we can also remember the words of St. Pope John Paul II:
“From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God.”
Debbie Garza is a parishioner of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Leon Springs, and is an experienced Pilgrimage Group Leader with Pilgrim Center of Hope. She has traveled with Pilgrim Center of Hope to the Holy Land, Italy, and Greece. She says, “On pilgrimage, I know the ears and eyes of my heart have been opened by God’s grace and I’ve experienced the Joy of the Gospel. I am committed to helping other pilgrims experience their personal journey of faith.” Debra is also a member of Pilgrim Center of Hope’s Speaker Team.
Answering Christ’s call, Pilgrim Center of Hope guides people to encounter Him so as to live in hope, as pilgrims in daily life. See what’s happening & let us journey with you! Visit PilgrimCenterOfHope.org.
https://i0.wp.com/pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Blog_Image_2022-03-21.jpg?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=16301200PCH Media Productionhttps://pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Logo-Masthead-Only.pngPCH Media Production2022-03-21 06:05:362022-03-18 16:53:41What Mary & the Annunciation Teach Us Today
Come along with Mary Jane Fox on this week’s spiritual pilgrimage to Milk Grotto, not far from the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square in Bethlehem! According to Tradition, the Holy Family took refuge in this grotto on their way to Egypt as they were fleeing the Slaughter of the Innocents. Listen in, as Mary Jane shares why the Milk Grotto is a pilgrim destination, especially for new mothers and women who are trying to conceive.
During our journey, you will hear about:
Why is this place called the Milk Grotto?
What is it like inside?
Learn the prayer shared by the Franciscan Friars, to all who visit the Milk Grotto to pray for Mary’s help.
Much more!
Listen to this program on our podcast feeds starting Thursday, Dec. 30, on any of the following podcast services:
Jewel for the Journey
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
https://i0.wp.com/pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Milk-Grotto-Bethlehem.jpg?fit=1030%2C687&ssl=16871030PCH Media Productionhttps://pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Logo-Masthead-Only.pngPCH Media Production2021-12-30 10:22:482021-12-30 10:43:48A Journey to the Milk Grotto
Evangelization. It’s a hard word to pronounce for some people and it can be a word a lot of Catholics are not comfortable using because they don’t know what it means.
What does it mean?
Instead of going into some Theological explanation, I will explain it in very simple terms. As taken from the USCCB (United States Conference Catholic Bishops); the simplest way to say what evangelization means is to follow Pope Paul VI, whose message Evangelii Nuntiandi (On Evangelization in the Modern World), we can rephrase his words to say that evangelizing means bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation and seeking to convert individuals and society by the divine power of the Gospel itself.” In other words, sharing the stories you know about Jesus with people who do not know Him.
I am writing this for everyone to read but I am focusing on grabbing my Catholic brother’s and sister’s attention. Yes, I’m talking to you who may know the basics about our faith but are still afraid to share what you know with other people. I noticed that other Faiths are very good at sharing the word of God and are unafraid of doing so. Maybe it’s just me who thinks this way but I don’t see many Catholics sharing their faith. I feel like we fall short, myself included. You don’t have to be a Theologian to share what you know.
Don’t be afraid to share what you know about Jesus
What is Evangelization…remember it’s bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation. Don’t worry about being afraid of sharing the little that you know. Let me give you an example of what I am trying to say. One day as I was cleaning my home, my eight-year-old daughter came to me and began to tell me what happened when she was with her friends that day. She began to tell me that her friend found a picture of Mary in her mom’s purse and began to laugh at it. She was saying “look at this lady with the thing on her head.” My daughter and another friend were shocked because she was making fun of Mary. So, they began to “share what they know with her” they were evangelizing. They told her that the woman in the picture was Mary the mother of Jesus. These are eight-year-old little girls sharing what they know with a friend who doesn’t know Jesus. They were unafraid to tell her they knew who Jesus was. Do you see how simple that was for an eight-year-old? You can share what you know about Jesus with other people, don’t be afraid. Share what you know and God will take care of the rest.
What was that word again? Evangelization.
Gloria Chapa-Solano Wife of 14 years, mom to an 8-year-old. Always praying to the Holy Family for help and guidance on how to be a better wife and mother. From Gloria, “Although I fail almost every day I am blessed with the Lord’s grace to wake up every day and try again.”
Answering Christ’s call, Pilgrim Center of Hope guides people to encounter Him so as to live in hope, as pilgrims in daily life. See what’s happening & let us journey with you! Visit PilgrimCenterOfHope.org.
https://i0.wp.com/pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Evangelization-Final.png?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=16301200PCH Media Productionhttps://pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Logo-Masthead-Only.pngPCH Media Production2021-01-25 06:01:452021-01-25 09:21:14Evangelization, What Does it Mean?
Fr. Ed Hauf welcomes Sr. Maria Kim-Ngan Bui, FSP, on this episode of Catholicism Live! where they discuss the beauty of the spirit of Christmas. Catholicism Live! was a weekly program produced by Pilgrim Center of Hope from the early 2000s until 2019.
Join Deacon Tom and Mary Jane Fox for a virtual pilgrimage to the most sacred spot in the world, the site where Jesus was born. Meditate on this holy place as you pass through bronze gates to the spot, marked by a silver star, where the Savior was born. During this program, Deacon Tom and Mary Jane will also guide us through:
The Door of Humility.
The Chapel of the Manger.
The Altar of the Three Kings.
Much More!
Jewel For The Journey We desire to be able to welcome Jesus at Christmas time, not in a cold manger of our heart, but in a heart full of love and humility, in a heart so pure, so immaculate, so warm with love for one another. – St. Mother Teresa
https://i0.wp.com/pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_7235-Edited-e1542658153668.jpg?fit=1030%2C646&ssl=16461030PCH Media Productionhttps://pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Logo-Masthead-Only.pngPCH Media Production2020-12-20 06:01:452020-12-24 09:22:26Bethlehem – Basilica of Nativity
Drafted into the WWI German army at 18 years old, Josef Engling didn’t live to see the war’s end.
Josef Engling
His life lasted only 20 years, but his legacy continues today through a spiritual movement called Schoenstatt – of which Josef was a founding member. Why does he remain so influential? Well, he was just like you and me: teased for his crooked walk and slurred speech, engaged in the struggle to live a good life – even when he felt confused, useless, or weak.
Yet Josef had learned the secret to success in this life:
I want to become all things to all people and to belong totally to Our Lady (Mary, Mother of God); I want to be faithful even in the smallest things and to carry out the ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
Sacrifices for Mary
Easter 1916, before the war: Josef was a seminarian with the Pallotine Fathers in the Schoenstatt region of Germany, but he was feeling lost. Even with Easter’s celebratory atmosphere, his spiritual life was weak. Sitting in reflection, he looked around him and noticed all the flowers in bloom.
Suddenly, inspiration hit.
As any son who loves his mother would, Josef wanted to offer flowers to his mother. That is, his spiritual mother: Mary. She is the one who remained faithful to God continuously; from Jesus’ conception to his crucifixion, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit after the first Easter. Josef knew that Mary would help him boost his spiritual life. But how? He wrote her a letter:
May Blossoms from the garden of my heart presented to the Queen of May in May 1916. Mother, the whole garden of my heart is dedicated to you. For you I will plant and cultivate in it:
…and he began a list of “blossoms” he would offer her. Notice how easily we can imitate this young man’s novel idea.
The Rose of Love and Esteem
As the rose is the queen of flowers, so you be the Queen of my Heart. I place everything at your disposal, my Queen.
Acts of honor and reverence toward Mary and her picture
Reading and speaking about Mary
Visits to the chapel and praying the Rosary
Receiving Holy Communion
Any act that promotes the Gospel
The Forget-Me-Not of Faithfulness in Your Service
Praying my prayers well
Being attentive at studies and spiritual reading
Doing my chores well, including making my bed properly and keeping my desk in order
Obeying the rules
Following my conscience
The Violet of Humility and Modesty
Accepting corrections or criticism patiently
Forgiving offenses
Obeying cheerfully
The Passion Flower of Crosses and Love of Sacrifice
Patient acceptance of unpleasant things
Working on good manners and courtesy to others
Making little sacrifices at meals
Faithfulness to my examination of conscience
Other sacrifices
The Lily of Purity
Guarding my eyes, especially in the dormitory
Not getting involved in chatter about impure things
Praying for the gift of purity before Holy Communion
Each of Josef’s ordinary, everyday activities were transformed into gifts for the Mother of God, his own spiritual Mother. As time passed, his growth and maturity was noticeable.
Soon all the young men who lived with Josef adopted this practice. On Sundays, they would draw pieces of paper from a margarine tub containing their “blossoms” for the week. The priests who oversaw the boys were surprised at the tremendous increase in respect, order, kindness, and spirituality among them.
On the Battlefield
Fast-forward to the war: As a soldier on the battlefield, Josef found himself amidst gunshots, grenade explosions, hunger, fear, and fallen companions. In his journal, he wrote:
Mother, if it wasn’t for the support I feel from you, I would be totally confused and nervous. Today, my company is resting from the fighting – except for myself, who must stand guard. Tomorrow, it will be the same. I am so hungry and thirsty, with little hope of getting letters. All I receive is the mockery from my comrades. But my love for you helps me bear everything.
I want to become a great saint. Shouldn’t I take all that is happening now with patience and serenity?
You see? Josef was normal like us; the Christian life was still a struggle. But he knew he must follow after Jesus and daily take up his cross. Josef’s fellow soldiers mocked his schedule of prayer and penance. But, wishing always to please his beloved Mother Mary and her Son, he stuck with it.
Josef’s example is one we can all follow. He knew he had to live each day, each moment, as a Christian. At the same time, he recognized, he was never alone…
We have a host of friends in Heaven by our side, cheering us on. First among them is our Mother. We can do this.
Answering Christ’s call, Pilgrim Center of Hope guides people to encounter Him so as to live in hope, as pilgrims in daily life.
Angela Sealana is Media Coordinator for Pilgrim Center of Hope, having served at the apostolate since 2010. She also serves on the PCH Speaker Team.
https://i0.wp.com/pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Blog_Flowers.png?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=16301200Angela Sealanahttps://pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Logo-Masthead-Only.pngAngela Sealana2020-05-11 06:00:132020-04-20 15:00:47Simple Way to Boost Your Spiritual Life – Advice from a Young Soldier
Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.” He died on the cross so that we might be his. So are we really his? Do we really belong to God? No one can take us from him, but it is possible for us to refuse to follow. One of the greatest gifts we have received from God is our free will, but at the same time it is the gift that makes it possible for us to reject him.
The purpose of our Christian faith is to guide us in the choices we make; to form our conscience, which is also a gift from God, so that we will be able to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow him to safety. He invites us to follow him; he doesn’t force us. When we continue to do things we know we shouldn’t do, it makes it more difficult to recognize his voice and follow him.
The Good Shepherd wants all of us to be happy, even if things are very difficult. He promised he would help us if we would come to him. Why is it so difficult for us to come to him? Do we think he will expect too much from us? Do we think we are not good enough to expect anything from him? He loves us unconditionally and only wants what is good for us.
The three shepherd children of Fatima
In Fatima, Portugal, in 1916, an angel appeared to three young shepherds as they tended their flock; Lucia was age ten, Francisco eight and Jacinta seven. He was preparing them for the apparitions they would receive from the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is the prayer he asked them to pray: My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You.
This simple prayer reveals to us what is necessary in our relationship with God.
My God, I believe…
What does it mean to believe in God? We all received the gift of faith in baptism, but to believe is a choice. What we believe right now is a consequence of choices we have made. God has revealed his plan for each of us through the Sacred Scriptures and through the teaching authority of the Church so that we might believe in him and be saved. To believe in God is to believe in what he has revealed and to be faithful to what we believe.
I adore…
What does it mean to adore God? First of all we must have the wisdom to recognize who God is and who we are. In Psalm 111 it says: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom…” This is not a cowering fear, but an awesome fear. Fear of the Lord is a gift of the Holy Spirit that helps us to be docile to receive inspirations from God. God is eternal and Almighty and we are his lowly creatures, and yet he loves us so much that he created us in his very own image so that we might be called children of God. He loves us so much that his own Son died on the cross to save us from our sins. It is the desire of God that we worship and adore him. That’s why we participate in Mass every Sunday, but to adore God is more than just spending one hour a week. To adore God is to honor him for who he is and to desire to please him; to spend time with him in prayer every day. We should begin our day with him, asking him to help us in all we do. We should pray before every meal, every time we get in a car, every time we begin a new task no matter what it is. We should pray before going to bed. We should pray for our needs and the needs of others and praise God for all the good things he has done for us.
I hope…
What does it mean to hope in God? It means to have a trust in God that perseveres to the end, no matter how difficult the circumstances. It is a trust that places the Kingdom of God before everything else. It is this hope in God that enabled martyrs to die for their faith and allows us to experience peace and joy, even when undergoing trials.
and I love you.
What does it mean to love God? “We must love the Lord Our God with all our mind, with all our strength and with all our heart.” This is not a suggestion as some people might think. God commands us to love him because he created us for himself, and we will never discover true and lasting happiness unless it is in relationship with him. He is the source of all love; the more we love him, the more will be able to love others. The most important thing you can do for yourself and for the people you love is to keep the first commandment.
My God I believe, I adore, I hope and I love you and I ask pardon for all those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love you.
In this prayer that the angel taught the three young shepherds, God is telling them, and us, that we must live the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity; and that we must adore God who loves us so, that we can discover our purpose in life and to be happy now & for all eternity. These three children took this prayer to heart and faithfully followed the Good Shepherd, who led them safely to heaven.
If we will pray this little prayer every day with the same fervor as the three little shepherds, we will certainly recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd and allow him to guide us through all the difficulties of this life and to bring us safely home to the Father when we have reached the end of our earthly pilgrimage.
Deacon Tom Fox, K.H.S. is Co-Founder & Co-Director of Pilgrim Center of Hope with his wife, Mary Jane Fox. The two left their careers after a profound conversion experience and began working full-time in ministry at their parish in 1986. After several years and having impacted tens of thousands of families, the Foxes founded Pilgrim Center of Hope in 1993 as a response to the Church’s call for a New Evangelization. Deacon Tom is an invested member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre.
Answering Christ’s call, Pilgrim Center of Hope guides people to encounter Him so as to live in hope, as pilgrims in daily life. See what’s happening & let us journey with you! Visit PilgrimCenterOfHope.org.
https://i0.wp.com/pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Blog_Sheep.png?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=16301200Deacon Tom Foxhttps://pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Logo-Masthead-Only.pngDeacon Tom Fox2020-05-04 05:45:482020-05-27 11:48:51Following the Good Shepherd with 3 shepherd children
Explore all the practical ways Mary can help us to better live our Catholic faith.
Learn more about the Blessed Virgin Mary’s important role in God’s plan to bring about our salvation and also to continue to nurture, guide, and intercede for us as we seek to fulfill God’s will to proclaim the Good News and bring healing to his people.
Living Catholicism is a ministry of broadcast, print, and digital media connecting our pilgrimage of daily life with the faith & teachings of the Catholic Church; produced by Pilgrim Center of Hope. It was a weekly program produced by Pilgrim Center of Hope from the early 2000s until 2019.
https://i0.wp.com/pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/OLRosary.jpg?fit=773%2C1030&ssl=11030773PCH Mediahttps://pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Logo-Masthead-Only.pngPCH Media2020-04-07 11:34:492020-04-16 11:18:24Imitation of Mary, Pt. 2
Explore all the practical ways Mary can help us to better live our Catholic faith.
Learn more about the Blessed Virgin Mary’s important role in God’s plan to bring about our salvation and also to continue to nurture, guide, and intercede for us as we seek to fulfill God’s will to proclaim the Good News and bring healing to his people.
Living Catholicism is a ministry of broadcast, print, and digital media connecting our pilgrimage of daily life with the faith & teachings of the Catholic Church; produced by Pilgrim Center of Hope. It was a weekly program produced by Pilgrim Center of Hope from the early 2000s until 2019.
https://i0.wp.com/pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/OLRosary.jpg?fit=773%2C1030&ssl=11030773PCH Mediahttps://pilgrimcenterofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Logo-Masthead-Only.pngPCH Media2020-04-07 11:34:082020-04-30 16:18:48Imitation of Mary, Pt. 1
We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
Essential Website Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
Google Analytics Cookies
These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.
If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:
Other external services
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
Other cookies
The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:
Privacy Policy
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
Renee Polka
The Forget-Me-Not of Faithfulness in Your Service
The Violet of Humility and Modesty
Patient acceptance of unpleasant things
