Agape Counseling & Consulting, LLC

03/11/2026

Mother Teresa taught that the lack of peace in the world stems from forgetting our mutual belonging and need for one another. She emphasized that we are all brothers and sisters, urging people to find their own "Calcutta"—the lonely and forgotten—within their own homes, families, and communities.

03/05/2026

In Catholic theology, compassion is defined as "suffering with" (com-passion) another, mirroring Christ’s love by entering into the pain, misery, or needs of others to offer comfort and aid. It is a virtue rooted in love and mercy, moving beyond mere emotion to active, sometimes sacrificial, service for the spiritual and physical good of others.

How is God calling us to live compassion this Lent?

02/27/2026

https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-The-Divine-Physician-Pastoral-Letter.pdf

02/27/2026

Check out this Pastoral Letter from
MOST REVEREND MICHAEL F. BURBIDGE
BISHOP OF ARLINGTON

"Counseling involves sharing our mind and heart with another in the hope of being restored to health and wellbeing in body, mind, and soul."

"It is when we attempt to avoid suffering by withdrawing from
anything that might involve hurt, when we try to spare ourselves
the effort and pain of pursuing truth, love, and goodness, that
we drift into a life of emptiness, in which there may be almost no
pain, but the dark sensation of meaninglessness and abandonment is all the greater. It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from
suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through
union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love." Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi

https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-The-Divine-Physician-Pastoral-Letter.pdf

Heavenly Father,
healer of those who are sick,
hear our prayers for our brothers and sisters
who are afflicted in mind and body.
In your mercy and love
restore them to health
and grant them strength and consolation in your Son
and through the comforting presence
of the Holy Spirit, the Consoler.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen.

05/29/2025

Fr. Mike speaks about boundaries.

Are you a subscriber yet? Subscribe today We get the behavior we are willing to tolerate.There are times when we need to establish ...

04/18/2025

From the desk of Ian:

"I have been listening to Hallow's Holy Week in the Holy Land podcast and while visiting the Garden of Gethsemane, Jeff Cavins made the point that suffering cannot be avoided, but only transformed.

So much of our distress often comes from putting effort into changing suffering. While I am in the business of alleviating suffering and pain, there are also some crosses that are impossible to avoid, like an unexpected loss or a medical complication or circumstances out of our control. If those situations can't be avoided, really the only answer is to transform them and give them meaning. From a Christian perspective, this is only possible by offering them and uniting them to Christ."

04/16/2025

03/27/2025

It was such a gift working with these students as they answered the call to become mental health counselors. Please keep the students and staff of Divine Mercy University in your prayers.

03/25/2025

We just went on a couple's retreat at San Damiano Retreat Center this past weekend. It enriched our marriage and helped us to refocus on what we firmly believe is core of our marriage and all our work.... Christ in the Eucharist. We are grateful for all we learned through the preaching of Fr. Edouard Guilloux and Fr. Stephen Vaccaro.

San Damiano Retreat center offers many retreats for men and women and couples. We highly recommend you considering and praying about going on a retreat as well. Here is the link:

https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/retreat-events

03/17/2025

May the grace of God be with you today and in future plans!

01/30/2025

Food for thought today! What are you called to do to make a difference for someone today?

01/24/2025

Something to consider as we celebrate life today....What is God calling you to do with your life today?

A quote from Pope Francis:

"I know that some of you will ask me: 'Father, yes, you tell us to look at the horizon and to remember things, but today, what do I do?' Live your life to the full! Today, take life as it comes and do good to others. In the world today, a game is being played out in which there is no room for substitutes: either you are in the team or you are out. Take the memories you have inherited, look towards the horizon and today, grasp life and carry it forward, use it productively, make it fruitful. God calls you to be fruitful! God calls you to transmit this life to others. God calls you to create hope. God calls you to receive mercy and show mercy to others. God calls you to be happy. Do not be afraid! Do not be afraid. Play life to the full! That is life."

-- Message to young people of Brownsville, Texas, July 27, 2016

Picture from:
https://www.facebook.com/BishopRobertBarron