God's Playbook

Send us Fan Mail Today on God’s Playbook, we celebrate Easter Monday, the beginning of the Octave of Easter—eight glorious days where the Church rejoices in the empty tomb and the risen Christ! Jesus fulfilled His promise to rebuild the Temple in three days, and now we walk in the light of His resurrection. At every Mass this week, we’ll hear from the Acts of the Apostles, witnessing how the early...

Send us Fan Mail Today on God’s Playbook, we celebrate Easter Sunday—truly the most wonderful time of the year! More important than even Christmas, today we rejoice in the Resurrection of Jesus, who died and rose to bring us eternal life. We reflect on how God chooses the humble and unexpected, like Mary Magdalene, as the first witness of the Resurrection, reminding us that no one is too broken to...

Send us Fan Mail Today on God’s Playbook, we celebrate the holiest and most beautiful liturgy of the entire Church year— The Easter Vigil. This sacred night marks the moment we transition from mourning to rejoicing as the tomb is empty and Christ is risen! The Easter Vigil is unlike any other Mass, beginning in darkness around the Easter fire and journeying through the story of salvation, culminat...

Send us Fan Mail Today on *God’s Playbook*, we enter the most solemn day of the Church year—Good Friday. It may seem strange to call this day "good" when we mourn the death of Jesus, but it is good because, through His suffering and death, Christ redeemed the world. He took on our sins, bore our pain, and poured out His love on the cross for you and for me. As we reflect on the weight of...

Send us Fan Mail Today on God’s Playbook, we enter the Triduum—the holiest three days of the Church year—beginning with Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This sacred liturgy invites us to reflect on the profound gifts Jesus gave us: the Eucharist, the priesthood, and the call to servant leadership. While we remember the Last Supper, today’s Gospel focuses on Jesus washing his disciples...

Send us Fan Mail On today’s episode of God’s Playbook, we reflect on Holy Wednesday —also known as Spy Wednesday—a day that centers on the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot. Though his actions fulfilled the scriptures, Judas had a choice and freely chose to betray the one who had loved, taught, and trusted him. Today, Fr. Rico helps us unpack what it means to be all-in as a disciple, and how goo...

Send us Fan Mail Today is Tuesday of Holy Week, and in the Diocese of St. Catharines, we celebrate the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral—a powerful and unifying moment in the life of the Church. During this Mass, the Bishop blesses the three Sacred Oils: the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Sacred Chrism, which will be used throughout the year in the sacraments. It is also a special tim...

Send us Fan Mail Today is Monday of Holy Week, and today we take the time to reflect on the balance between serving others and keeping God at the center of our lives. As we remember the poor and our call to care for them, we’re also reminded that our actions must flow from a heart rooted in God first. What does it truly mean to put God before all else, even in our good works? Join us as we explore...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, we dive into the richness of Palm Sunday—also known as Passion Sunday—and why this day is unlike any other in the Church’s calendar. It marks the beginning of Holy Week, a sacred retreat where we remember the fulfillment of scripture through Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem and his journey toward the cross. The Church’s liturgy i...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook , we reflect on those who stood faithfully at the foot of the cross—Mary, Mary Magdalene, and John—as Jesus gave his life for the salvation of the world. Through their eyes, we imagine the depth of love, sorrow, and unwavering faith as they looked up at the crucified Christ. Lent invites us to place ourselves in that moment and ask: where do we...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, we’re diving into the classic story of Pinocchio and how it teaches us about the power of truth. Just like Pinocchio’s nose grew every time he told a lie, we too, face the consequences of dishonesty—though maybe not as visibly. Jesus reminds us in John 8:31–32 that “the truth will make you free,” and Lent is a perfect time to reflect on how our words and action...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, we reflect on the powerful moment of the Transfiguration, where Jesus is revealed in glory between Moses and Elijah—representing the law and the prophets. This sacred encounter invites us into our own Lenten renewal, challenging us to trust more deeply in God's will, even when it feels difficult or unclear. As we walk through Lent, we’re...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of God’s Playbook, we explore the question: does Lent change parts of the Mass? The answer is yes—during Lent, elements such as the “Gloria” and the “Alleluia” are omitted to help us enter into a season of simplicity, reflection, and spiritual renewal. We unpack how these liturgical changes are not about taking away joy, but rather about helping us focus on the...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we reflect on Isaiah 1 and the powerful call to be washed clean. God promises that though our sins are as scarlet, He will make them white as snow—offering us the grace of transformation when we truly repent. But repentance is not passive; we are called to be active participants in building His kingdom, seeking justice, and caring for those in need. As we journey through Le...

Send us Fan Mail As we continue our Lenten journey with the saints, we turn today to St. Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first canonized saint. Mary devoted her life to serving the poor through education and care, even in the face of harsh opposition and personal suffering. Her trust in God’s will—especially in moments of deep exhaustion and spiritual dryness—is a powerful reminder that even when pray...

Send us Fan Mail As we continue our Lenten journey with the saints, today, we reflect on St. Benedict, the founder of Western monasticism, whose Benedictine Rule emphasized daily prayer, holy reading, and meaningful work. His teachings remind us of the importance of structure, balance, and intentionality in our daily lives, ensuring we make time for God amid our responsibilities. As we journey thr...

Send us Fan Mail We continue our Lenten journey with the saints. Today, we reflect on St. Isidore, a humble farmer whose deep devotion to prayer and the Eucharist reminds us of the importance of making time for God in our daily lives. His faithfulness teaches us to prioritize worship, remain present during Mass, and extend generosity to those in need. As we journey through Lent, may we follow St....

Send us Fan Mail As we continue our Lenten journey with the saints. Today, we reflect on the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young man who embodied the Beatitudes through his love for the poor, his devotion to prayer, and his commitment to true friendship. He reminds us that holiness isn’t just for those in monasteries or convents—it’s something we can live out in our daily lives, surroun...

Send us Fan Mail Friends welcome back to God’s Playbook as we continue our Lenten journey with the saints. Today, we reflect on the life of St. Clare of Assisi, a woman of deep faith and simplicity who St. Francis inspired to embrace a life of poverty and prayer. Though she never left her convent, her influence reached far beyond its walls, reminding us of the power of contemplation and surrender...

Send us Fan Mail Friends welcome back to God’s Playbook as we continue our Lenten journey with the saints. Today, we reflect on the inspiring life of St. Katharine Drexel, a woman of great faith and bold action. Born into wealth, she chose a life of service, dedicating her fortune to uplifting Native and African American communities through education and advocacy. Her story challenges us to stand...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we reflect on the life of St. Martin de Porres, a humble Dominican lay brother known for his deep compassion, miraculous healings, and service to the poor and marginalized. Despite facing discrimination due to his mixed-race heritage, he responded with love, humility, and a steadfast commitment to seeing Christ in all people. His example challenges us to examine our own pre...

Send us Fan Mail As we continue our Lenten journey, today we reflect on the life of St. John Henry Newman, a brilliant theologian and poet who converted to Catholicism. His legacy includes deep intellectual writings, the founding of Catholic university communities, and the beloved hymn Lead, Kindly Light, which has brought hope to many in dark times. Newman reminds us that faith is not meant to be...

Send us Fan Mail As we continue our Lenten journey with the saints, today we reflect on the life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, a young man of noble birth who gave up wealth and status to serve God. Despite illness and family opposition, he pursued a life of humility and compassion, ultimately giving his life while caring for plague victims. His story reminds us that holiness isn’t about sheer willpower...

Send us Fan Mail As we continue our Lenten journey with the saints, today we reflect on the life and courage of St. Thomas More, a faithful Catholic, statesman, and martyr. Though a trusted adviser to King Henry VIII, he refused to compromise his beliefs when the king broke away from the Church, choosing to follow God’s law over political power. His famous last words—"I die the king’s faithfu...

Send us Fan Mail As we continue our Lenten journey with the saints, today we honour St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint and martyr. Falsely accused of a crime he did not commit, St. Lorenzo fled his homeland, only to face persecution in Japan, where he chose death rather than renounce his faith. His unwavering courage and final words—"If I had a thousand lives, I would offer them all t...