January 1 is not just New Year’s Day; it’s also the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, a Holy Day of Obligation. Father Chris Alar, MIC, shows how the concept of Mary, Mother of God is revealed in Sacred Scripture, and how, by carrying  in her womb a divine Person, Mary contributed the genetic matter to the human form God took in Jesus Christ.

Is the Church Necessary for Salvation? Fr. Chris Alar explains if non-Catholics can be saved.

On this feast of St. Padre Pio, the Church reminds us of one of the most beloved saints of modern times, a humble Capuchin friar marked by extraordinary gifts, suffering, and faith. Fr. Chris Alar reflects on today’s Gospel (Luke 8:19–21), where Jesus tells us that His true family are those who “hear the word of God and act on it.” Few lived this more radically than Padre Pio.