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6/13/2025 That’s My DadGrowing up in the East Mountain of New Mexico I have many childhood memories of my father. The one thing they all have in common is that he was always busy. If there was something to be done, he was doing it. If the church needed cleaning, he was there. If there was wood to be cut, he would have been cutting it. If there was only the smallest amount of snow on the ground, he was shoveling it. I remember looking for my dad and calling out for him only to see his head pop up out of some hole or trench he was digging. That’s my dad, he was diggin’ it. I am proud to say that time has not slowed him down. He is still working for his family and that’s the image I have of my dad: getting things done. That is the model that my brother and I follow to this day. Working hard for our families.
I am reminded of Matthew 6:25-33 This is why I tell you: do not be worried about the food and drink you need in order to stay alive, or about clothes for your body. After all, isn’t life worth more than food? And isn’t the body worth more than clothes? Look at the birds: they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest and put it in barns; yet your Father in heaven takes care of them! Aren’t you worth much more than birds? Can any of you live a bit longer worrying about it? As a child I had no worries. I could just play and live in the beauty and wonder of the world that God made for us. When I look back, my dad took care of everything. We were always clothed. We were never hungry or cold. We never got stuck in the snow and the pipes were always in working order. Everything was always taken care of. I can see now that my dad embraced, with love, the gift of fatherhood that our heavenly Father gave to him when he became a father to my brother and me. As for me, I am also aware that being a father is not always easy. As a father myself, I try to emulate my dad’s work ethic, but I sometimes fall short when I lose focus on other important areas. I find comfort that the Catechism teaches us that, “human parents are fallible and can disfigure the face of fatherhood and motherhood” and “He also transcends human fatherhood and motherhood, although he is their origin and standard: no one is father as God is Father.” When I fall short as a father, I remind myself that God is that perfect example of fatherhood and it is that example that I should strive for. 6/7/2025 The ParacleteToday we celebrate Pentecost Sunday. We’ve all heard the story before: The Apostles are in the Upper Room, the Holy Spirit descends upon them and then it’s time to celebrate the birthday of our Catholic Church. Obviously, this water-downed version misses the mark, and I can assure you that it is so much more than that. Actual fear can be debilitating. It might demand a fight or flight response from us and I don’t think it is a sign of weakness to accept and implore help to overcome it. Now imagine being an Apostle. Yes, you just witnessed the glory of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension into heaven. But weeks ago, you also just witnessed a brutal torture and execution, of your God. Obviously, the glory of the Resurrection will affirm that death has been conquered, but I can’t help but think that the Apostles may have also realized that they may undertake the role of martyr. After all, their God just embraced it. Weeks before Pentecost, right before Jesus revealed his Resurrected self to the Apostles, they were, in fact, out hiding in a room because they were filled with fear. Their God was crucified and hope was lost within the group. Thankfully, Jesus’ presence destroyed their fear and they were given a wonderful gift; peace. There is a good chance that the Apostles were again afraid after they were commissioned by Jesus to spread the gospel. Honestly, who wouldn’t be? Any human would be apprehensive about going out to face potential death, even for the greatest reasons. But Jesus sends them their advocate, the Holy Spirit, on Pentecost Sunday. It’s safe to say that fear was conquered and they went out to do what Jesus commanded them to do. It is through their reliance on the Holy Spirit, that the Apostles were able to travel across the world, converting so many to Christ, even in the face of fear. It was not of the Apostles’ own accord, but rather, their Advocate, the Holy Spirit, journeyed with them and gave them gifts to go out and change the world. Reliance on the Holy Spirit is vital when it comes to true discipleship. This same Holy Spirit is present today, and He is not a watered down version. This same Holy Spirit, is present in us, in the same way He was present within the Apostles in their journey. The Apostles were filled with so much courage, that they could go out in the face of death. This was only done because of the aid of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit can destroy the fear of death, you can only imagine what the Holy Spirit can do for you in your journey.  So what’s the point of this? The point is, we are not alone. When we heed our parish motto of “Encounter Jesus, Be Disciples,” we are aided by the Holy Spirit. We are not asked to do this simply on our own merit, but rather, we are promised an advocate, and we cannot do this Journey without him.
God Bless, Brett Becker Youth and Young Adult Minister 5/31/2025 Wait a minute – come back here!Dear Friends, Does this exhortation from the mysterious “men in white garments” mentioned in the first reading from Acts seem a bit brusque to you? Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven. I imagine that the apostles, still reeling from the events of Good Friday and Easter and overwhelmed with awe and wonder at the privilege of encountering Jesus in his post-resurrection appearances, might have been a bit startled when he was “lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.” Maybe you are like me: I sometimes need Jesus to be a bit more real, more definite, more substantive than the abstract idea of a savior who once walked the earth but is now in a place (it seems) I can’t get to him. Like the little kid who, upon waking from a nightmare, is told by a sleepy parent that God is watching over him. He responds that he needs “a God with skin on.” While the promise that he will return in the same way is comforting, still, it’s been a long time, and no one knows the day or the hour. What I also infer here from the “why are you standing there looking at the sky” question is a strong implication that the apostles (and we!) should quit standing around and get to work building up the kingdom. We know what that meant for the apostles and we are the beneficiaries. But what does it mean for us? For me, it is a mystery that unfolds one day, sometimes one minute at a time. I know I am to minister Jesus Christ to those whose paths cross mine. I suspect that it is in ordinary life where the rubber really meets the road. St Paul’s prayer and hope for the church of Ephesus (see the second reading) is a prayer for all of us who are trying to follow Jesus Christ: May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call... Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit is the answer to St. Paul’s prayer, and to all of our prayers for wisdom, courage and guidance. Confirmation, which we celebrated recently with our young people, is a celebration of the release of the gifts of the Holy Spirit which they (and we) received in baptism. It is by means of the Holy Spirit that Jesus fulfills his promise to the apostles and to us, made just before his ascension into heaven: And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.  Siempre Adelante. Dominic MacAller Director of Liturgy and Music 5/26/2025 God’s Active Holy PresenceDear friends on the journey, In these last weeks of the Easter season, we hear in the gospels that Jesus is preparing his disciples for his ascension. While Jesus no longer appeared to the disciples in physical form, they still experienced his presence through the promised Advocate, the Holy Spirit, the outpouring of God’s perfect love. Jesus often spoke of God’s love and taught his disciples how to live according to it. This love became present to the first Christians through the Holy Spirit. Despite facing persecution, they found peace and strength because of the Holy Spirit’s presence. This divine love empowered them to continue Jesus’ mission. In the first reading, we see the Holy Spirit help the apostles in making important decisions by providing clarity and direction. She was crucial in resolving issues and uniting the early Church. The second reading demonstrates that God is not confined to a specific place or building, but rather God’s Spirit, is present always and everywhere. The role of the Holy Spirit didn’t end with the apostles. She has continued to guide the Church, offering wisdom and support to leaders and believers alike so that the Church remains faithful to the mission of Christ. No better example than that of the recent election of our new pontiff, Pope Leo X1V, who seems to me to be an authentic, wise, servant leader whose entire life and priesthood has been entrusted to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Today, we are reminded of the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, in our own lives, in whom we too can find peace, strength, clarity, direction, and wisdom, who can help us resolve issues, make good decisions, and discern God’s will for us. I recently came across this short but powerful prayer to the Holy Spirit. Attributed to St. Augustine, this prayer invites the Holy Spirit into active participation in our lives - to breathe, act, draw, strengthen, and guard us - so that we may open ourselves to God’s movement in and will for our lives. Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen. This prayer and today’s readings encourage us to recognize the presence of Godin our lives, in our hearts and in the world around us. This constant presence is a source of peace and strength, helping us to navigate life’s challenges with faith and confidence.  Let us embrace this truth and open our hearts to the Holy Spirit so that we can live our lives with the assurance that God is guiding us every step of the way.
Siempre Adelante, Teresa Runyon Pastoral Associate |
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