Pastor’s Postcard

Sunday, April 20, 2025 The Joy of Believing You make our joy complete by joining us for Easter!  Scripture speaks to the joy of the disciples on encountering the Risen Lord (Jn 20:20).  Wherever the disciples went, “there was great joy” (Acts 8:8).  We encounter Jesus through faith and so are filled with joy too. …

Sunday, April 13, 2025 Holy Week and Receiving Jesus Our entry into Holy Week begins as we accompany Jesus into his city, Jerusalem, with sweet hosanas and the waving of palm branches.  Shortly thereafter, Jesus suffers his passion to the words “crucify him” and the echoing hammer of nails.  Between Jesus entry and exit from…

Sunday, April 6, 2025 Untie Him and Let Him Go The raising of Lazarus is recounted for us in the eleventh chapter of the Gospel according to John.  Jesus wept over the death of his friend Lazarus.  Jesus not only weeps for us when we sin, but he suffers for our salvation.  Saint Ambrose said…

Sunday, March 30, 2025 Friday Stations of the Cross One of my favorite Lenten devotions is the Stations of the Cross.  The inspiration for the devotion comes from the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, the path Jesus took on the way to his crucifixion.  Today it is marked by fourteen stations, nine of which are outside…

Sunday, March 23, 2025 What Are You Doing? Many people are asking what the Parish Pastoral Council is doing.  Currently, the eight members are divided into three committees doing analysis on youth, family faith formation and hospitality and welcome. These three pastoral priorities were identified by council members and flow from our emphasis on Evangelization…

Sunday, March 16, 2025 Becoming Fully Awake and Fully Alive One of the practices of prayer that can enhance our daily living is that of “becoming fully awake,” a line of this Sunday’s gospel, the Transfiguration of Jesus.  Both in prayer and in activity, this being fully awake to God and aware of self can…

Sunday, March 2, 2025 Church Painting and PSA Thank you again for your generous response to our 2024 Pastoral Services Appeal.  The Pastoral Services Appeal funds are used for mission critical ministries that positively impact us and the Diocese of Orange. This is accomplished by all the parishes working together.  The ministries and services include…

Sunday, March 2, 2025 Blow the Trumpet in Zion! Lent Begins Hearing confessions teaches me just how intertwined (Mt. 13:29) our lives are.  We are deeply affected not only by our own struggles, addictions, compulsions and sins, but by those of the people around us, especially those who are closest to us.  That is why…

Sunday, February 23, 2025 What Brings Us Hope? A source of hope for me is collaboration with other ministers through the interplay of our different gifts, mutual support, and shared mission, especially around evangelization. Prominent among these people are not only our catechists and youth ministers but those who lead them.  I am pleased to introduce…

Sunday, February 16, 2025 What Brings You Hope? I walked into the church around 9:00 p.m. on the evening of First Friday.  Youth from Adoration Nocturna were gathered in prayer.  Prayer brings me hope.  What could be more hopeful than to see our youth gathered in prayer.  Truly, the faith of our youth is a…