Fr. Jhack Diaz

In the Gospel of Luke 14:1–6, Jesus reminds us that love and compassion must always be at the heart of our faith. When He heals the man suffering from dropsy on the Sabbath, Jesus shows us that doing good should never be postponed simply because of rules or traditions. Rules have their purpose, but they should never become obstacles to kindness. God is not asking us merely to follow rules; He is inviting us to love as He loves.

Sometimes, we become so focused on what is right, what is permitted, or what others might say that we forget to see the person who needs our help. We judge instead of understanding, criticize instead of encouraging, and follow traditions without recognizing the pain of those around us. Jesus challenges me, and all of us, to look beyond our own expectations and ask, “Am I making someone feel God’s love today?” A simple act of kindness, a sincere word of forgiveness, or a moment of listening can become a powerful expression of our faith.

Today, let us remember that love should guide our decisions, compassion should shape our actions, and mercy should always have a place in our hearts. This does not mean that rules are unimportant, but that their true purpose is to help us grow in love and holiness. May we never be so busy doing things for God that we forget to care for the people God places in our lives. After all, the world does not need more judgment; it needs more understanding, more kindness, and more hearts willing to love. When we choose love first, we allow others to experience the heart of Jesus through us.

Blessings
Fr. Jhack

1 week ago | [YT] | 22

Fr. Jhack Diaz

Today is my day off, and I decided to give myself permission to rest. I spent the whole morning in bed, free from worries, appointments, and responsibilities. I prayed, ate, slept, and simply enjoyed the gift of doing nothing. Sometimes, we become so busy serving others that we forget that we, too, need time to pause, breathe, and recharge. I believe that rest is not a waste of time; it is also a way of taking care of the life and strength that God has entrusted to us.

In the afternoon, I received a phone call from a stranger who asked me for money for gas, claiming that someone was stranded in Barrhead. My instinct told me that something was not right, so I ended the call. He never called back. I know the importance of helping people in need, and as a priest, I always want to respond with a generous heart. However, I also believe that kindness must be accompanied by wisdom and discernment. Sometimes, people pretend to need our help to take advantage of our generosity. Being kind does not mean being careless, and being generous does not mean allowing ourselves to be deceived. We can have compassionate hearts while maintaining healthy boundaries.

After my daily virtual Rosary ministry, I was invited to play pickleball, so I went to the Multiplex and enjoyed two hours of recreation. It was a wonderful way to refresh my body and mind after a peaceful day. I ended the evening with a simple dinner and prayer, thanking God for His goodness, kindness, and love. Today reminded me that life does not always have to be complicated. Sometimes, the greatest blessings are found in a peaceful morning, the wisdom to make the right decision, the joy of friendship, and a grateful heart at the end of the day. Rest when you need to rest, help when you can genuinely help, discern when something feels wrong, and never forget to thank God for the little blessings that make life beautiful.

Blessings
Fr. Jhack

1 week ago | [YT] | 19

Fr. Jhack Diaz

This evening, I stopped by a nearby gas station and encountered a local homeless man. I will not mention his name because his dignity deserves to be protected. He approached me and asked if I could buy him something for dinner. Without hesitation, I decided to treat him to a meal because I knew he was hungry and simply needed something to fill his empty stomach. I never expected anything in return. I only wanted to help a fellow human being who was struggling to get through the day. But what happened next left me shocked, disappointed, and deeply saddened.

What truly upset me was seeing the lady who owns the restaurant refuse to allow this homeless man to enter and enjoy his meal inside. I was appalled by what I witnessed. Just because someone is homeless, poorly dressed, or unable to maintain the appearance that society expects does not mean that person deserves to be treated as less human. I wanted to speak up and ask her: What exactly makes this man undeserving of sitting inside and eating the food that someone has willingly paid for? He was not asking for a free meal from the restaurant. I was paying for his food. He was simply a customer who wanted to eat. Is a person’s dignity measured by the clothes he wears, the money in his pocket, or the roof over his head? I find it deeply disturbing that someone can be denied such a basic experience simply because of how he looks.

In the end, I bought his food to take away because I did not want him to go hungry. But as I walked away, my heart remained heavy—not because I had to buy takeout, but because I had witnessed what felt like a painful act of discrimination against a vulnerable human being. I will not mention the name of the restaurant, but I sincerely hope its owner reflects on what happened. Running a business is not just about making money; it is also about treating people with dignity and respect. We cannot claim to be a compassionate community if we welcome only those who look respectable, dress well, or fit our expectations. Remember, a person may be homeless, but that does not mean they are without dignity. A person may be poor, but that does not make them less worthy of respect. Today, I bought a hungry man dinner, but I also witnessed something that money cannot buy: the painful difference between serving a customer and truly respecting a human being. I hope we never become so comfortable judging people by their appearance that we forget to see the human being standing before us. My heart was heavy after what I witnessed tonight

NB: Sad reminder that not everyone understands compassion. He needed dinner, not discrimination. You can deny someone a seat, but never their human dignity.

Blessings
Fr. Jhack

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 28

Fr. Jhack Diaz

One day, two seasons! Yesterday was golden yellow; today is pure white. Fall and winter on one page, reminding us that life changes quickly, but God remains faithful in every season.

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 58

Fr. Jhack Diaz

Last night was a beautiful and grace-filled moment as we ended our day with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In the silence of confession, I was reminded once again of how deeply God loves us, even when we struggle, fall short, and carry burdens in our hearts. Through the gift of absolution, I experienced the freedom that comes from being forgiven and the peace that comes from knowing that God's mercy is always greater than our sins. There is something profoundly healing about allowing ourselves to be loved by God, not because we are perfect, but because we are His beloved children. As I received His forgiveness, I was reminded that no matter how far we may have wandered, God's arms are always open, inviting us to begin again.

Today is the fifth and final day of our clergy retreat, and Fr. Murphy continued to guide us in reflecting on the Resurrection. He reminded us that the depth of our belief in the Resurrection determines the depth of our response to this extraordinary gift. If we truly believe that Jesus is risen, then our lives must become a reflection of that hope. To live the gift of the Resurrection is to become instruments of peace, to bring light into places of darkness, and to offer hope to those who are struggling. The great gift of faith is that it sets us free—not from every difficulty, weakness, or suffering, but from the fear that these things will have the final word. As priests, we are called not only to preach the Resurrection but to live it every day through our compassion, patience, forgiveness, and love. The Risen Lord invites us to trust that even in our brokenness, God is continually bringing new life.

As I bring this retreat to a close, one question continues to echo in my heart: “Fr. Jhack, what are you taking home from this retreat? How has God touched you? What has He done in you?” My answer is simple, yet deeply personal: I am going home knowing that I am profoundly loved by God. I am learning to accept His forgiveness, cherish the life He has given me, and embrace even my weaknesses without allowing them to define me. I do not need to have everything figured out, nor do I need to prove my worth through everything I accomplish. In my weakness, I claim the fullness of God's grace; in my uncertainty, I choose to trust His providence; and in every season of my priesthood, I want to remember that Jesus is Lord. Perhaps the greatest fruit of this retreat is not what I have learned about God, but how much more deeply I have allowed myself to be loved by Him. And as I return to my ministry and the people entrusted to my care, I carry this prayer in my heart: “Lord Jesus, You are enough for me. Your love is enough, Your mercy is enough, and Your presence is enough. Whatever awaits me, I will go forward because You are with me.”

Blessings
Fr. Jhack

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 39

Fr. Jhack Diaz

Today is the third day of our annual clergy retreat, and once again, we began our morning with the communal prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours in the main chapel. There is something deeply beautiful about beginning the day not with our own plans, worries, or accomplishments, but by placing ourselves before God in prayer. During our morning session, Fr. John Murphy, SJ, spoke about “passing from self to God.” His reflection brought me back to the day of my priestly ordination, especially that profound moment when I prostrated myself on the floor of the church. That gesture was more than a beautiful ritual; it was an act of self-donation—a visible declaration that my life no longer belongs completely to me. I was offering myself to God. And today, I found myself asking: Am I still willing to give myself totally to Him? In a world that constantly teaches us to possess, achieve, promote ourselves, and seek recognition, the Gospel invites us to do the opposite: to surrender, to trust, and to allow God to possess our hearts.

As a priest, I am reminded again that my greatest success is not how many people know me, how much I accomplish, how successful my ministry appears, or how much recognition I receive. My greatest success is having Christ. The world tells us to seek self-glorification, but Christ teaches us self-giving. The world says, “Make yourself important,” while Jesus says, “Give yourself in love.” Sometimes I realize how difficult it is simply to admit that I am not sufficient on my own. It is hard to be weak. It is hard to be mortal. It is hard to accept our limitations. It is hard to be a priest because we are also human beings who become tired, discouraged, wounded, and sometimes overwhelmed. But this morning reminded me that God’s compassion is greater than my insufficiency. I do not have to be everything. I do not have to have all the answers. I do not have to carry everything by myself. I only have to keep returning to the One who is everything for me.

St. Vincent de Paul reminds us that we can never live without hope and expectation. Life can indeed be hard, but God is compassionate. Perhaps some of you who are reading this today are also tired of trying to be strong. Perhaps you are carrying burdens that nobody sees, struggling with failures, disappointments, family problems, loneliness, uncertainty, or questions about the future. Let this be your reminder today: you do not have to possess your life; you can surrender it to God. Your worth does not depend on your achievements, your possessions, your status, or what other people say about you. Your greatest treasure is Christ. And so, my prayer today is also my prayer for all of you: “Lord, I am nothing without You. I cannot do this life alone. Take everything that I am and everything that I have. Empty me of my pride, my fears, my need for recognition, and my desire to control. Fill me with You. Let my life become a gift. Let my weakness become an opportunity for Your grace. Let my limitations lead me closer to Your mercy. Lord, I do not need to be great in the eyes of the world. I only want to belong completely to You.” Because when we have Christ, we have already received the greatest success that life can ever give.

NB: This photo was taken during my priestly ordination—a moment of surrender, self-giving, and a lifelong “yes” to God.

Blessings
Fr. Jhack

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 26

Fr. Jhack Diaz

Today, as we begin our annual clergy retreat here at the Star of the North Retreat House in St. Albert, facilitated by Fr. John Murphy, SJ, I was deeply moved by one simple but profound question he asked: “Who is the love of your life?” That question went straight to my heart. As a priest, I can spend so much of my life giving, serving, preaching, celebrating Mass, meeting people, attending to parish responsibilities, and being available to others—but in the midst of all these things, I have to honestly ask myself: Do I have enough God in my life? It is possible to be busy doing God’s work while slowly becoming distant from God Himself. And perhaps this retreat is God’s loving invitation to return to the center, to rediscover not only what I do for Him but, more importantly, who He is for me. My prayer today is very simple: “Lord, give me Your life. I desire You. I want You. I need You.”

The more I reflect on this, the more I realize that I do not fully know myself apart from God’s love. I can define myself by my vocation, my responsibilities, my achievements, my failures, or what people think of me, but none of these can completely answer the deepest question of who I am. I know who I am when I know that I am loved by God, and I discover who I truly am when I desire Him above everything else. The deepest longing of my heart is not for more accomplishments, recognition, comfort, or success; it is for God Himself. Only He can satisfy the hunger that nothing else can fill. Only He can give the kind of happiness that does not depend on circumstances. As I enter this retreat, I want to allow the Lord to remind me again that priesthood is not first about doing more—it is about loving Him more deeply. When the love of Christ becomes the center of my priesthood, my service becomes more authentic, my sacrifices become more meaningful, and even my tiredness can become an offering.

What touched me most at the end of Fr. Murphy’s session was his reminder not to run away from prayer. For us priests, prayer is not an optional activity that we do when we have extra time; prayer is the lifeline of our vocation. There will always be another responsibility, another meeting, another person waiting, another parish concern that needs attention. But if I constantly run from prayer because I am busy, eventually I may discover that I have been running away from the very One who called me. I need to return again and again to the presence of Jesus, not only when I am tired or struggling, but because He is the love of my life. Today, I pray: “Lord, give me Your life. Give me a heart that desires You. Teach me to remain with You. Never allow me to become so busy serving You that I forget to love You. When I am tempted to run away from prayer, draw me back to Your presence. Remind me that before I am a priest who works for You, I am Your beloved son who needs You.” Perhaps this retreat is not simply another week away from parish work; perhaps it is an opportunity to fall in love with Jesus again.

Blessings
Fr. Jhack

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 24

Fr. Jhack Diaz

Sometimes I realize that the greatest challenge is not that we do not see the suffering around us, but that we see it and still continue walking. In the Gospel, the Samaritan saw the wounded man on the road, but unlike the others, he allowed what he saw to touch his heart. I am reminded that Christian compassion begins with truly seeing—seeing beyond appearances, beyond differences, beyond inconvenience. There are people around us who may look fine outside but are carrying deep wounds within: someone who feels lonely, a parishioner who feels forgotten, a family member who needs understanding, or a stranger silently struggling. To see with the eyes of Christ is to notice the person whom others have overlooked.

But seeing is not enough. The Samaritan stopped. He allowed another person’s pain to interrupt his plans, his schedule, and his comfort. This speaks deeply to me because sometimes I can become so busy doing good things that I fail to notice the person God is actually placing in front of me. Love often comes as an interruption. It may ask me to slow down, listen a little longer, forgive, visit, encourage, or simply be present. The Gospel challenges me not to ask, “Do I have time for this person?” but rather, “What is God asking me to do at this moment?” Sometimes the most important ministry is not something planned on a calendar; it is the unexpected opportunity to stop for someone who needs love.

And finally, the Samaritan served. He did not merely feel sorry for the wounded man; he poured oil and wine on his wounds, carried him to safety, and paid for his care. His compassion became sacrifice. This is the heart of Christian discipleship: see the person, stop for the person, and serve the person. I believe Jesus is inviting me—and all of us—to become His hands, His feet, and His compassionate heart in the world. We may not be able to heal every wound or solve every problem, but we can always offer something: our presence, our prayer, our kindness, our time, our forgiveness, or our love. Perhaps someday, because we chose to stop instead of passing by, someone will discover that God still sees them, God still cares for them, and God has not abandoned them.

Blessings
Fr. Jhack

1 month ago | [YT] | 25

Fr. Jhack Diaz

Pride is a fake best friend. It creates an illusion that we are more righteous, more capable, more important, or superior to others. Let us conquer our pride, because pride can quietly make our life miserable. Sometimes, I see this even in myself. When someone corrects me, my first instinct can be to explain myself and prove why I am right. But later, when I become quiet before God, I realize that sometimes I am not defending the truth—I am defending my ego. Pride makes us want to win every argument, receive recognition, and have the last word. Yet Jesus teaches us that true greatness is not found in being above others but in humbly serving them.

Pride can even hide inside good things. We can become proud of our ministry, our sacrifices, our knowledge, our accomplishments, or even our faith. We may serve God but secretly desire people to notice us. We may do something good and still hope others will praise us for it. That is why humility requires us to examine not only what we do but also what is happening inside our hearts. Humility does not mean thinking that we are worthless; it means recognizing that everything good in us is a gift from God. When we remember that our talents, opportunities, and blessings come from Him, we no longer need to compare ourselves with others or prove that we are better. We become free to celebrate others, accept correction, admit our mistakes, and serve without seeking recognition.

Lord, cleanse my heart from the trap of pride. When I am corrected, teach me to listen. When I am praised, teach me to give You the glory. When I make a mistake, give me the courage to say, “I was wrong; please forgive me.” When I am tempted to compare myself with others, remind me that I am called not to be better than them but to become more like You. Pride is a false god and a fake messiah because it promises greatness but leaves the heart empty. Lord, tear down every altar I have built around myself and make more room for You in my heart. Conquer my pride before pride conquers me. Teach me the humility of Christ, so that I may become less focused on myself and more available to love, serve, forgive, and glorify You. Amen.

Blessings
Fr. Jhack

1 month ago | [YT] | 38

Fr. Jhack Diaz

Today was one of those long, exhausting, but deeply meaningful days. I was awakened early by a Filipino parishioner asking me to bless his truck. I wasn’t ready—but somehow, that unexpected interruption became a beautiful beginning to my day. Before blessing his vehicle, I invited him to stay for coffee and a Filipino breakfast. Then our parish secretary arrived for her regular duty. Afterward, I prepared all the documents for my upcoming pilgrimage to Turkey and Greece. When my office duties were finished, I did clean the rectory, washed my clothes and bedsheets, cooked my lunch, continued doing the laundry, rested briefly, and then returned to my regular blogging and reflection work. Sometimes priestly life is not glamorous. It is waking up early, opening the door when someone needs you, washing clothes, cooking your own meal, preparing documents, answering messages, writing reflections, and simply continuing to serve—even when you are already tired. Yet tonight, I realize that even these ordinary moments are gifts from God.

At 5:00 p.m., I celebrated our fiesta Mass, which had already been celebrated last Sunday. Only a few people came today because celebrating a patronal Mass is not a common practice here in Alberta unlike in the Philippines. But those who came were precious. We prayed together, celebrated together, and afterward shared a simple potluck dinner together. During my homily, I reminded everyone that we are called to be ANGELS to one another: A — Accompany those who are struggling. N — Nurture hope in those who are discouraged. G — Guide people closer to God. E — Encourage others to recognize Jesus. L — Let your life become a reflection of God’s love by living the gospel. Like Nathanael, when we remove the deceit, doubts, and things that keep us from seeing clearly, and when we recognize Jesus as our Lord and King, we begin to see greater things. Sometimes we are so busy looking for miracles that we fail to recognize the small miracles God has already placed right in front of us.

By 7:00 p.m., I was already little tired, but I still joined our virtual meeting with the diocesan CWL core group as we prepared for our upcoming diocesan fall meeting in Legal Alberta this Saturday. And now, as I finally end this very long day, my heart is not filled with exhaustion but with gratitude. Today I realized something beautiful: angels don’t always have wings. Sometimes they come as a parishioner asking for a blessing. Sometimes they arrive carrying food for a potluck. Sometimes they are the few faithful people who still come to Mass when everyone else is somewhere else. Sometimes they are the people who work quietly behind the scenes, prepare meetings, share their time, or simply sit beside you and pray. Today, I was touched by angels—and I know their names. They are the people God placed in my life today. Thank you to everyone who became an angel to me, even without knowing it. And thank You, Lord, for reminding me that I am never alone. After a long and tiring day, I can only say: Thank You, Lord, for everything. May I also be someone’s angel tomorrow.

Blessings
Fr. Jhack

1 month ago | [YT] | 28