Servant Leadership in Action via Prayer

Feb 7, 2019 | Prayers

“You are healed!”, said Fortune, after he and his BOMCA schoolmates gathered around and prayed for me.  Sure enough, the cold and flu symptoms I had experienced the last few days began to disappear!  This prayer took place last July, just outside the BOMCA house...

HEAL Present at Sunrise Prayer Service

Sep 6, 2018 | Events, Prayers

“This is why I don’t think you should go!”, my mom said to me in 2014 before my first mission trip to Nigeria. She handed me an article in the Chicago Tribune about a Boko Haram terrorist attack that claimed many victims in northern Nigeria. I reassured mom that the...

An Orphan Who Served Orphans

Jul 28, 2016 | MOJ, Prayers

In the spirituality of the Messengers of Justice order, self-emptying means modeling Jesus who “…humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a Cross” (cf. Phil 2:6-11, RSV). On Friday, July 23rd, Rev. Sr. Callista Utazi, MOJ made her final...

Mama Bridget – Passing the Torch

Mar 31, 2016 | Prayers

I arrived in the village of Mbaise on February 5th with Deacon Leo at his family compound. We got out of the jeep and walked toward the house, next to which some Okonkwo family members sat in their yard. I greeted Andrew and Chika, Leo’s brother and sister, as I...

HEAL Stands with Assyrian Christians

Sep 25, 2015 | Prayers

When Juliana Taimoorazy of Iraqi Christian Relief Council (ICRC) called me last week to invite me to Washington, D.C. for a prayer vigil in solidarity with persecuted Christians in Iraq and Syria, I hesitated in deciding whether to stay home or attend.  As the...

Leo Knows the Power of Your Prayers

Jun 6, 2015 | Prayers

As President of HEAL, I’ve learned over the last two years that prayer is primary in our mission.  In Leo’s two visits to Chicago, when he stayed with me, I noticed how he got up early each morning for his own meditative prayer.  We also attended Mass every day...