Br. Mickey McGrath’s 2026 Calendar

Mater Dei 2026 Calendar

One morning out of the blue it occurred to me: that one of the most common and beloved titles of Mary, the mother of Jesus, is Mater DEl which is Latin for MOTHER OF GOD! Who knew? God in Latin is spelled D-E-l!!! Well, I didn’t need much more inspiration than that to realize my theme for the 2026 calendar. So, I hope these culturally diverse images of Mary which I have created over the years fill you with prayerful inspiration and act as gentle reminders that Christianity is basically, truly, all about LOVE. Not sin. Not obeying the rules. Not division or judgment. Not hatred or anger or revenge. Just LOVE. And feeding the hungry. And welcoming the stranger. And just being a good, decent, and kind person in your own little corner of the world.

Together we can make this world the peaceful place that Mater Dei’s human Son intended it to be. As Pope Francis and Pope Leo have always pointed out through their words and actions, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are basic and sacred principles of living the Gospel. We must not be afraid of DEl-but we must love those who are. As St. Francis de Sales used to say: “Do all through love and nothing through fear”