Bernard has spent four decades as a photojournalist, chronicling stories from the road with a self-imposed rule: every photo, every word, every piece of music he shares is created entirely on his iPhone. When he's not traveling, he calls Bordeaux home.

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"The Fire Passed Through Here, and Then Passed Through Again"

Locals call it simply "the Christ" — a mission cross that has stood in Saumos since the late 19th century, marking the site of the town's annual Good Friday procession. André Prouvoyeur knows it well. He's a forester whose land borders the cross, and a technical advisor with France's Forest Fire Defense Service (DFCI).

He described the devastation to Catholic French media outlet, Famille Chrétienne:

"Here we are south of Saumos. The fire passed through here, and then passed through again.

This is the Calvary that people here locally call 'the Christ.' It is originally a mission cross, and this is where the Good Friday procession takes place.

The underbrush was burned, the grass that had been cut was burned—you can see that as well. This small shrub was also burned, and here you can see the scorch marks on the back of the cross. It was slightly burned too."

Even the cross didn't escape entirely unscathed — but it held.

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A Water Source and a Well of Faith

During the fires, Prouvoyeur's role extended well beyond watching the flames pass through his land. His property holds a large water reserve that became a critical resource for everyone fighting the blaze:

"I serve with the Forest Fire Defense Service (DFCI), so I am a technical advisor. In addition, because I have a large water reserve on my property, everyone comes to draw water from it. The volunteers, the Forest Fire Defense Service, the firefighters, every water tanker that passes by, the farmers—all the tankers that come through fill up with water at my place.

What keeps me going is my faith. It is faith in my work, but it is also faith in Christ."

More Than a Century of Standing Watch

The crucifix’s endurance is only more striking given its history. Prouvoyeur explained that it was erected during a wave of Catholic missionary work in a part of France that had long resisted religious influence:

"This is a mission cross because here in the Médoc—southern Médoc in particular—it was a very difficult region for religion. It is still a difficult region for religion today. But missionary campaigns were carried out here, and this cross is one of the surviving mission crosses dating from the end of the 19th century."

More than 130 years after it was first raised to bring faith to a resistant region, the Christ of Saumos has captured the attention of the world through a single photograph of what the fire could not take. 

Across social media, photo-shopped images instantly flooded every feed. Lebron James was suddenly spotted grabbing a hoagie at the local deli, ordering a whiz-wit at the neighborhood steak shop, and hanging out on the streets of Philly.  

Watching the digital frenzy unfold, Father James DeGrassa, pastor of Queen of Peace Catholic Church just north of the city, saw more than just viral memes. He saw a prime pastoral opportunity. 

“I started seeing everybody posting pictures of him. ‘Oh, he’s at our deli,’ or ‘Oh, he’s having our cheesesteak,’” Father DeGrassa told my colleague Zelda Caldwell at the National Catholic Register, adding: “I jumped on the hype.” 

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Why let the local sandwich shops have all the fun? Why not capitalize on LeBron fever to get people into the pews? 

Father DeGrassa started by updating the roadside parish marquee: “Welcome LeBron; Mass for Feast of Saint James; Tomorrow at 8 am.”  

Then came the main event. On Saturday — the actual feast day of St. James — he shared an AI-generated image on Instagram featuring himself and the NBA icon posing together right in front of the altar. The caption read: “LeBron James came out to Mass for the Feast of Saint James this morning.” 

Local parishioners, well-accustomed to their pastor’s playful sense of humor, immediately got the joke. What Father DeGrassa didn’t expect was for the algorithm to take the post and run a full-court press across the internet. 

The image rapidly exploded to over 4 million people worldwide. Suddenly, the church office phone began ringing off the hook with calls from confused fans across the country. One caller earnestly asked, “When is the LeBron James Mass?” 

“I’m like, ‘Don’t people realize it’s a joke? He’s not even in the area yet,’” Father DeGrassa said. 

Eventually, the deluge of calls turned the viral moment into “a monster,” prompting the priest to take the photo down. But back home in the parish, the stunt was a slam dunk.  

“Everybody from the 99-year-old woman to the 10-year-old boy was coming out of Mass saying, ‘That’s hilarious. We love that picture of LeBron.’” 

This isn't Father DeGrassa’s first time riding the wave of pop culture. When Taylor Swift brought her Eras Tour to town, he posted a sign advertising “Swift” Masses.  

“I try to catch on to whatever’s happening in the area and build up the hype,” he told Zelda Caldwell at the Register.  

Behind the viral jokes lies a very intentional ministry strategy — one specifically aimed at reaching men who might otherwise spend their weekends glued to the TV. 

“I just try to do whatever’s good to get people to come to church,” Father DeGrassa said. “I just feel like [the men] are the ones that are kind of lost in this area because most of the sports are on the weekend and the guys are watching football all day.” 

The strategy is working. Women in the parish frequently tell him their husbands are finally returning to church after years away. 

As for the viral LeBron post? Father DeGrassa has zero regrets, pointing out that the Gospel reading following the viral uproar happened to be the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. “I’m going to talk about how it got multiplied, about how this post got so crazy,” he said. 

And if Lebron James — or anyone else inspired by the viral fake photo — decides to drop in one Sunday? The doors are wide open. 

“Everyone got the joke around here, but it went to like 4 million people,” Father DeGrassa smiled, “so God knows who’s going to show up.” 

As many times as we’ve visited the center and venerated his tomb, we’ve never thought about the strong connection and similarities between Blessed Solanus Casey and St. Francis of Assisi.  But all of us, as we move toward the 800^th anniversary of the passing of St. Francis this October, should think and pray about just how much they have in common.  

1. They both loved the Eucharist.

Most of the sparce writings of Francis were about the Eucharist, and Solanus loved to kneel before the Eucharist in the quiet of the night, and to play the violin in the chapel for Jesus in the tabernacle.

2. They Were Humble.

Francis was humbled by the poverty and humility of Jesus becoming a man, washing others' feet, and lowering himself to become the Eucharist for us to eat. Solanus, the lowly porter of the monastery, welcomed all people with a smile, no matter who they were, as if they were Jesus. They both had a deep love for the poor.

3. They Suffered Ridicule.

Francis was ridiculed for his extreme life of poverty in an attempt to live the Gospel fully. Solanus was ridiculed for his whispery voice which was damaged by diphtheria.

4. They Were Intelligent and Gracious.

Both Francis and Solanus were charming and gentle. Francis was very intelligent, and did well at school, but did not enjoy it. Solanus did poorly in his studies as a priest because he couldn’t learn German, which was not his native language. Researchers though, looking at his writings, concluded he was very intelligent.

5. They Had a Love of Music.

Solanus played the violin. Francis had a beautiful voice for singing, and loved the sound of the lute, which is similar to a guitar.

6. They Were Affected Deeply by Man’s Inhumanity to Man.

Francis yearned to be a soldier because of the mystique, but was disillusioned by both the violence of war and spending a year in captivity in a dungeon. Solanus’s move toward priesthood began after seeing a drunken soldier stab a woman, and he considered what he could do to oppose such violence and evil.

7. They Had Very Difficult Illnesses, but Faced it with Joy and Acceptance, With a Focus on Others.

Francis had a painful stomach condition, and an illness of the eyes that made him very sensitive to light, and caused much pain. Nearing the end of his life he was almost blind, yet still composed the “Canticle of the Sun,” a song of praise to God for His creation. Francis had also received the stigmata (the wounds of Christ) and could hardly walk. He died at 44 years of age. Solanus had Erysipelas an extremely painful skin infection that eventually took his life in 1957 at the age of 86. He faced the agony with gratitude. As he died, he sat up in bed, stretched his arms out and said, “I give my soul to Jesus Christ.”

Solanus Casey was a much-loved Capuchin friar, part of the Franciscan religious order founded in the 16th century.  He lived most of his life in the 20^th century, 700 years after the death of St. Francis.  It’s quite an affirmation of the impact of the ministry of St. Francis, to recognize these similarities and reflect upon how a simple American friar, born thousands of miles away, and so far removed from the year of Francis’ birth, 1226, continues to have such an impact.

We celebrate the feast of Solanus Casey on July 30^th. The 800^th Anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi is October 4, 2026. This year has been declared The Jubilee Year of St. Francis by Pope Leo XIV.  

St. Francis of Assisi and Blessed Solanus Casey…PRAY FOR US!

The attack took place in the early hours of Tuesday, July 28, when black paint was poured across the face, chest, and dress of the statue on Podbrdo (Apparition Hill), and the words "Devil in a skirt" were scrawled on its pedestal. A second statue near the close-by Blue Cross was similarly defaced, and a banner in Polish naming the shrine's six visionaries was left at the site. Surveillance footage also captured a man dousing the outdoor altar of St. James Church with a flammable liquid and setting it on fire; the blaze was quickly extinguished by firefighters.

In response, members of the parish community, the Cenacolo Community, and other volunteers moved swiftly to clean and repair the damaged statues and altar area, allowing the shrine's evening prayer program to continue that same day.

After the restoration was completed, pilgrims and the Cenacolo Community knelt before our Lady to give thanks.

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Bosnian police arrested a 31-year-old Polish national, identified in local media as Bartłomiej Włodzimierz Krakowiak of Kraków, in the village of Cerno near Ljubuški shortly after the incident. He faces charges of damaging or destroying religious property, an offense carrying a sentence of six months to five years under Bosnian law. Bosnian state prosecutors have since taken over the case.

The Medjugorje Parish Office issued a statement calling on the faithful to respond "as Our Lady has been teaching us in Medjugorje for more than 40 years: with prayer, fasting, and forgiveness," adding that "the shrine remains open to all pilgrims". Bishop Petar Palić of Mostar-Duvno also urged Catholics not to let evil "infect us with its own logic.”

The vandalism occurred just days ahead of Medjugorje's annual Mladifest Youth Festival, set to draw tens of thousands of pilgrims from August 1–6.

Act of Reparation for Blasphemy Against the Blessed Virgin Mary

Most glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, turn thine eyes in pity upon us, miserable sinners; we are sore afflicted by the many evils that surround us in this life, but especially do we feel our hearts break within us upon hearing the dreadful insults and blasphemies uttered against thee, O Virgin Immaculate. O how these impious sayings offend the infinite Majesty of God and of His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ!

How they provoke His indignation and give us cause to fear the terrible effects of His vengeance! Would that the sacrifice of our lives might avail to put an end to such outrages and blasphemies; were it so, how gladly we should make it, for we desire, O most holy Mother, to love thee and to honor thee with all our hearts, since this is the will of God. And just because we love thee, we will do all that is in our power to make thee honored and loved by all men.

In the meantime do thou, our merciful Mother, the supreme comforter of the afflicted, accept this our act of reparation which we offer thee for ourselves and for all our families, as well as for all who impiously blaspheme thee, not knowing what they say.

Do thou obtain for them from Almighty God the grace of conversion, and thus render more manifest and more glorious thy kindness, thy power and thy great mercy. May they join with us in proclaiming thee blessed among women, the Immaculate Virgin and most compassionate Mother of God. Amen

3 x Hail Mary....

*As reported by EWTN Vatican, in September 2024, the Vatican has officially granted the “nihil obstat” (nothing stands in the way) to the devotion and spiritual experience in Medjugorje. This marked a significant moment for the millions of faithful who have followed the alleged apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Vatican’s decision came after decades of in-depth investigations, inquiries, and studies, but included no decision regarding the authenticity of any of the claimed events.

Yet in the face of this violence, the parish of Medjugorje and many Catholics around the world are returning to the very heart of its message: prayer, fasting, conversion, and forgiveness. Priests connected with Medjugorje often summarize this spirituality into five simple but powerful practices—popularly called the “five stones,” recalling David’s battle against Goliath. Just as David chose five smooth stones to face a giant, many believers see these five spiritual “weapons” as God’s way of equipping them for the giants of our time.

These “five stones” are:

• Daily prayer, especially the Rosary
• Fasting, typically on Wednesdays and Fridays
• Daily reading of Sacred Scripture
• Monthly confession
• Frequent participation in the Eucharist

Far from being something “new,” these are classic, deeply Catholic practices—yet countless pilgrims say they rediscover them in a fresh way at Medjugorje, especially through long confession lines and intense Eucharistic devotion. Many testify that when they begin to live these five stones seriously, their faith comes alive: prayer deepens, love for the Mass grows, and real conversion of heart begins.

Now, after the recent acts of desecration, these humble “stones” take on an even more concrete meaning. The parish has explicitly called the faithful not to respond with hatred, but with “prayer, fasting, and forgiveness,” turning spiritual weapons against evil rather than people. In a world overwhelmed by noise, anger, and spiritual confusion, the five stones of Medjugorje stand out as a simple, concrete path back to God—and a powerful way to pray for peace, reparation, and healing for this wounded shrine.

What is Medjugorje?

Since June 1981, six children in the village of Medjugorje, in present-day Bosnia-Herzegovina, claimed to see and receive messages from the Blessed Virgin Mary.

More than 40 million pilgrims have since traveled to the small village, with an estimated 1 million visiting annually. Many describe the experience as deeply personal and transformative, especially when climbing the rocky Apparition Hill (Podbrdo) or praying the Stations of the Cross up Mount Križevac (Cross Mountain), where a towering cross overlooks the region.

At the heart of the pilgrimage is St. James Church, where Masses are celebrated daily and confession is constantly available—something Medjugorje has become especially known for.

The six visionaries—now adults—are: Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti, Ivan Dragicevic, Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic, Jakov Colo, Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo and Ivanka Ivankovic-Elez.

Some of them say they still receive apparitions today, while others report annual or monthly encounters.

As reported by EWTN Vatican, in September 2024, the Vatican has officially granted the “nihil obstat” (nothing stands in the way) to the devotion and spiritual experience in Medjugorje. This marked a significant moment for the millions of faithful who have followed the alleged apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Vatican’s decision came after decades of in-depth investigations, inquiries, and studies, but included no decision regarding the authenticity of any of the claimed events.

Following today’s news, let us continue to pray for peace!

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To connect with families and support the students, Sister Miriam and her fellow sisters were regulars in the stands. There was just one small detail: Sister Miriam didn’t know a whole lot about football.
“At that time, I would have to say I wasn't too familiar with football,” Sister Miriam admitted with a laugh. “I was learning a lot... it was very new to me.”
Fortunately, the sister sitting right next to her was a diehard, lifelong University of Michigan fan who knew the game inside and out. As the two watched young Goff work his magic on the field, the Michigan-fan sister leaned over and dropped a bold prediction.
“He's going all the way to the NFL,” she declared.
Sister Miriam was stunned. “What, Sister? How do you know? Because that's a pretty big claim from high school!”
But the sister didn't cite his touchdown total or how many yards he could throw a spiral. She witnessed something deeper happening.
“The first thing she said after that — it wasn't about his stats. It wasn't about the numbers,” Sister Miriam recalled. “It was, ‘He stays calm and cool. He thinks like the coach. There's a prudence out there. He doesn't crack under pressure.’”
For Sister Miriam, it was a lightbulb moment. While the rest of the football world was obsessing over height, weight, and combine scores, her fellow nun was scouting for pure virtue — specifically, self-control and composure when the pocket collapses.
More than a decade later, after a No. 1 overall pick and a thrilling playoff run in Detroit, Sister Miriam officially closed the book on her companion’s 2011 scouting report.
“As it turns out,” Sister Miriam smiled, “she was right about everything she said.”

While much of the country is slowly moving into recovery, the streets of La Guaira still carry deep wounds. Priests, sisters, and pastoral workers go through the hardest‑hit areas blessing homes, listening to those who have lost loved ones, and reminding everyone that God has not abandoned them — even in the midst of tragedy.

One of them is Father Xulio Ruiz, from the Sons of Mary Immaculate, who walks the streets giving funeral blessings, entrusting the souls of the deceased to God.

In videos shared by Venezuelan journalist Johan Zapata, you can see how faith also sustains those working in the rescue efforts. Amidst physical and emotional exhaustion, a young man approaches the priest holding several flashlights.

“Father, Father, bless my work tools,” he asks, before going back to clearing rubble in search of victims.

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“You are not alone, God is with you”

Many families are still searching for the bodies of their loved ones, buried beneath the ruins. The pain of loss is raw — but so is the presence of the Church, trying to console those who are suffering the most.

One scene shows a woman who finds the body of her son in the remains of a collapsed building.

“I’m all alone now,” she cries, running toward Father Ruiz. She embraces him, asks for a blessing, and through tears tells him she wants to go with her son.

With a trembling voice, the priest responds: “You are not alone, God is with you.”

A Church organized to serve

From the very first days after the earthquake, the Church in Venezuela mobilized priests, religious, seminarians, and laypeople to care for communities in La Guaira, El Junquito, Falcón, and Caracas.

Beyond spiritual support, parishes, seminaries, and Church institutions have become collection centers and temporary shelters for those who lost everything. Thanks to the generosity of the faithful and benefactors, they continue to distribute food, water, medicine, and basic necessities.

“As a Church, we are organized and help many people. The donations we receive are well coordinated and reach everyone. Whoever needs something, we give it,” explains Sister Gisela Ortega.

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But she also insists that material help is not enough for those who have suffered so much. Prayer remains a vital support to face grief and keep hope alive.

“Here we have a place to pray. Anyone who wants to come to pray, to bring their intentions before the Blessed Sacrament, with the Lord who keeps helping us — He is here. God is always with us. God loves us, and God is love,” she says.

One month after the earthquake — even as the emergency fades from the headlines — the Church’s presence stays firm among the ruins and in the affected communities.

Let’s keep praying for Venezuela. And let’s keep helping, however we can.

ACI Prensa reported that the Diocese of Getafe has opened its parishes, priests’ homes, Caritas resources, and every available space to offer shelter, material aid, and spiritual comfort in the midst of one of the worst emergencies the region has seen in years.

The situation has become so serious that the Spanish government declared a national state of emergency for Madrid and the province of Ávila. Thousands have had to flee their homes, several nursing homes have been evacuated, and emergency services are working around the clock to fight the flames, driven by strong winds and extreme heat.

Priests have been going out to the shelters where evacuees are staying, simply to be there — listening, praying, and offering spiritual support to people living in deep uncertainty.

But the help didn’t stop at parish halls.

In several towns, priests literally opened their own homes to those who had to leave everything behind in a hurry. One deacon explained to ACI Prensa that the clergy made available “everything from a shower to a bed,” knowing that many families suddenly had no access to their houses, belongings, or workplaces.

The fires have forced the evacuation of around 20,000 people in different municipalities in the southwest of Madrid. Hospitals have prepared hundreds of beds in case new emergencies arise. Weather forecasts, with strong gusts of wind, have complicated firefighting efforts and kept anxiety high for hours.

In this scenario, the Church’s mission has been clear: stay close to those who are suffering, offering not only material assistance, but also hope and consolation.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

During a cross-country road trip, my family set aside a full day to explore the area’s sanctuaries and venerate its relics. Our journey began with daily Mass at 8:30 a.m. at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Built between 1776 and 1795, the shrine served the growing 18th-century community along the Santa Fe River, just beyond the bustling Plaza at the end of the Santa Fe Trail.

Today, this historic area—known as the Guadalupe District—links the railyard to downtown Santa Fe and remains a defining part of the city’s identity. The church, along with a recently installed bronze statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe gazing across the Santa Fe River toward the Plaza, stands as a powerful testament to the city’s Catholic heritage. Notably, it is the oldest shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe in the United States.

The Loretto Chapel

After Mass and a tour of the relics in the new church building, we made our way to downtown Santa Fe to visit the world-renowned Loretto Chapel. Once belonging to the Sisters of Loretto, the chapel is now privately owned by a family, yet it continues to welcome visitors as a fully operating museum.

While the chapel features a breathtaking Gothic altar—hand-carved from wood and meticulously painted to resemble marble—it is the mysterious spiral staircase tucked into the back corner that draws pilgrims and tourists from around the world, each eager to witness its beauty and wonder firsthand.

For those unfamiliar with the story of the miraculous staircase, it begins in the mid-19th century, when Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy encouraged the Sisters of Loretto—who had come to New Mexico from Kentucky—to commission French architects Antoine Mouly and his son, Projectus, to build their long-awaited chapel. 

The Moulys, originally from Paris, had been brought to Santa Fe to work on the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Over the course of 16 years, the sisters sacrificed and saved to cover the $30,000 cost of constructing the chapel, a striking example of Gothic Revival architecture.

During that time, Antoine returned to Paris as his eyesight began to fail, leaving Projectus to complete both the cathedral and the chapel. Tragedy struck in 1879 when Projectus fell ill and died, leaving the chapel finished—except for one critical element: there was no staircase to access the choir loft.

Having entrusted their project to the patronage of St. Joseph, the sisters began a nine-day novena, asking for his intercession. On the final day of prayer, an elderly, gray-haired carpenter arrived with a donkey and a simple set of tools, offering to build the staircase. Working in quiet solitude, he completed the structure and then disappeared without accepting payment or leaving any trace behind.

In the years since, the staircase has drawn both devotion and investigation. Experts, including longtime wood technologist Forrest N. Easley, have studied its materials and construction. After a 15-month analysis in 1996, Easley concluded that the wood used in the staircase does not match any known species. While it resembles spruce, it belongs to no identifiable subspecies and has since been informally named “Loretto spruce.”

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

Just a short walk from the museum and gift shop is Cathedral Park, where the Spanish-style Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi rises at the edge, its origins dating back to 1610. The church is stunning both outside and in, with frescoes and stained glass windows depicting many saints and the San Damiano crucifix in the sanctuary.

What left the deepest impression, though, was its remarkable collection of relics. From relics of St. Francis of Assisi, St. John Paul II, and St. Anthony of Padua to a relic of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a treasured fragment of the True Cross, the cathedral’s collection is truly extraordinary.

Before leaving the cathedral we were able to gain a plenary indulgence, as this is the Year of St. Francis declared by the Vatican, marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s death. With that, we headed to Chimayo, just 30 minutes outside of Santa Fe. 

El Santuario de Chimayo

The sanctuary of Chimayo has been a pilgrimage site in the US for many generations, especially due to the healing properties of its holy dirt and the miraculous crucifix that was found. The crucifix of Our Lord of Esquipulas was found sometime around 1810. There are two accounts as told at the sanctuary of how the famous pilgrimage site came to be:

One tradition tells that during Holy Week, on the night of Good Friday, Don Bernardo Abeyta—a member of the Penitentes Brotherhood—was making the customary acts of penance around the hills near his small pueblo of El Potrero when he saw a light rising from one of the slopes near the Santa Cruz River.

He went to the spot and discovered that the glow was coming from the ground. Using his bare hands, he dug into the earth and found a crucifix. Rather than removing it immediately, he left it there and summoned his neighbors to venerate the sacred find. A group of men then went to Santa Cruz to inform Father Sebastián Álvarez.

By the time they arrived, the church in Santa Cruz was full of worshippers after the traditional Good Friday observance of El Santo Entierro (“The Holy Burial”). Hearing the extraordinary news, the priest and the people set out for Chimayó. When they reached the site, Father Sebastián lifted the crucifix and carried it back in a joyful procession to the parish church. But the next morning, the crucifix had disappeared and was found again at its original place.

A second procession was organized, and the crucifix was once more brought back to Santa Cruz. Yet it vanished again. The same thing happened a third time. By then, everyone understood that El Señor de Esquipulas wanted to remain in Chimayó, so a small chapel was built there in his honor.

Another tradition traces the origin of the devotion to Esquipulas differently. According to documents in the archives of the Diocese of Durango, a Guatemalan priest came with the first settlers to Chimayó. He preached to the Native peoples in the surrounding pueblos and carried a large crucifix with him. He eventually died a martyr’s death, and the settlers buried him at El Potrero.

In 1810, the Santa Cruz River flooded and both the crucifix and the body of the martyred priest were uncovered by the water. Some older people who had known the priest when he was alive shouted: "Miren, el Padre de Esquipulas" ("Look, the Father from Esquipulas") and so the crucifix came to be called Our Lord of Esquipulas, named after the village where the priest came from. This same spot where the crucifix and the body of the priest were found was considered a sacred place by the Tewa natives long before Christian settlers arrived in Chimayo.

No matter the origin of this holy site, one thing is clear to all who come, it is truly a place where healing and miracles occur. We were even able to grab some holy dirt to take home with us!

El Santo Niño de Atocha

The final stop on our Catholic day trip in New Mexico, was the el Santo Niño de Atocha, which is actually housed at the Santuario of Chimayo but is technically next door to it. Though details about this particular image are scarce, the devotion honors the Holy Child Jesus, who in Chimayo is cherished as a protector of pilgrims, children, the poor, and the sick—many come here specifically to ask for healing and help.

The devotion traces back to the Spanish Santo Niño de Atocha, which portrays the Child Jesus as a small pilgrim carrying bread and water; in Chimayo that image took on a distinctly local life. Pilgrims often leave tiny shoes at his feet as tokens of thanks and signs of faith. Seeing all the baby shoes was incredibly touching, as many in my family have suffered with infertility and prayed for such miracles. 

The faithful continue to visit the chapel to pray, seek healing, and give thanks for favors received. El Santo Niño’s association with comfort in hardship helps explain why his devotion remains so strong across New Mexico. Overall, the state’s history with Catholicism is undeniable and quite obvious. Catholics in New Mexico also developed a strong Marian and devotional culture. 

One of its most important images is La Conquistadora, brought in the 1600s and later crowned by Pope Pius XII in 1954, reflecting how deeply local Catholic identity became tied to processions, shrines, and popular devotion. La Conquistadora even has her own chapel at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi that we visited. 

Today, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe remains the historic center of that tradition, and New Mexico is still known for its blend of Spanish, Indigenous, and Catholic heritage.

Father Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, shared a practical guide to help Catholics enter more deeply into the Eucharist by rediscovering silence, focus, and intentionality.

In a reel, posted by Ascension Presents and Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Ames shares 6 challenges to transform your experience at Mass:  

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Arrive 10 minutes before Mass

Instead of sliding into the pew at the last second, take time to pray. Offer your week to God—your joys, struggles, intentions—and prepare your heart for what’s about to happen.

Leave your phone in the car. 

“You can do it, you can do it,” Ames says.  

Yes, really. He calls this a “heroic act.” For most people, the world can wait an hour. Enter the sacred space without distractions. 

Read the readings before Mass  

Whether at home or during those 10 quiet minutes before Mass, knowing the readings helps you engage more deeply with the liturgy.

Close your eyes after receiving Communion

After receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, resist the urge to look around. Stay recollected. Speak to Him. 

“Be with Jesus,” Ames says.

Keep your eyes closed after you receive Holy Communion until the priest says, “Let us Pray.”  

He adds, “I know if you have little kids, that’s not possible.”

Make a thanksgiving after Mass

Instead of rushing out, take a few extra minutes to thank God. Let the grace of the Eucharist settle in.

Talk to at least one person

Before heading to your car, connect with someone. Build community. The parish is not just a place—it’s a people.

“Interact with at least one person before you head back to your car after you leave the church,” he says. 

You can watch the full video here (it only takes 5 minutes):

In a culture of distraction and hurry, these small habits can transform how we experience the Mass—turning routine into encounter.