All Categories

5/27/2023

The Holy Spirit: A Tongue of Flame, a Breath?

I am unaware of anything in which we believe that is more ambiguous than the Holy Spirit of God. “Spirit” is the quintessentially elusive, vague and immeasurable presence of God. We receive similes, windows through which we get a glimmering of understanding of the Holy Spirit. At times the Spirit is “like tongues of flame,” ever-changing and malleable, fitting into our lives and firing us up at our weakest, or “like a dove,” as mobile as a bird in flight and coming upon us unexpectedly, perhaps a “breath,” so essential that the Spirit’s absence is asphyxiating, or even a “mighty wind,” toppling human folly.

Have you experienced the work of the Spirit on the edges of your own life? Perhaps you have and haven’t recognized it for what it was. Have you ever surprised yourself with your own goodness? Have you ever had just the perfect response to someone else’s struggles? Have you been able to comfort profound suffering? Have you daringly and yet persuasively spoken an unpopular but necessary truth in the face of opposition? How else do we explain our own best, most selfless moments? Scientists, quite rightly, look for a gene, or some biologically adaptive process to explain the good we do. I cherish scientists’ every insight into our goodness. Why wouldn’t the Holy Spirit work in and through everything that makes us most deeply, truly human? So, I recognize that in my best moments, when I’ve been able to do the unexpected, to accomplish the beautiful, and to recognize a profound truth, I’ve been both most truly human and Spirit driven at the same time. Haven’t you’ve gone through the same? That’s the moment we feel the Holy Spirit.

The harsh word that goes unspoken, or the brutally honest email that gets deleted, are both signs of the Holy Spirit. And it’s not only the good that we do. The Spirit’s work manifests in the broken acts we repent of, and the temptations we avoid. The urge to regret unkindness and to turn away from our bad habits clarify that the Holy Spirit is at work. The impulse to generosity in the face of earthquakes, tornadoes and tsunamis, the sense of belonging to all the world, is the unifying effort of the Holy Spirit. The instinctual love of parents for their children is the Holy Spirit’s action, helping us to express what is best in our
human nature.

So my encouragement to you, this Pentecost: surrender joyfully to your every good, Spirit driven, instinct to make this world a better place. May the Holy Spirit come upon us fiercely, and enkindle in our hearts the fire of divine love!

Siempre adelante!

Fr. Patrick
Pastor

5/25/2023

Anna Roney

1942 - 2023

Funeral Liturgy
Wednesday, June 7
10:00 am
Padre Serra Parish

5/25/2023

Bob Tuleya

1932 - 2023

Funeral Liturgy
Wednesday, August 16
11:00 am
Padre Serra Parish

5/19/2023

Welcome to the Table of the Lord

Dear Parish Family,

The joy and excitement of First Communion Day in the parish is palpable. Beautifully dressed boys and girls in their First Communion outfits. Parents and grandparents are beaming with pride. Children eager to come and receive Jesus for the first time in the Eucharist. This weekend we welcome 96 children to the Lord’s table for the first time. What a special day!

I love to see their eyes lock and light up as the Eucharist is presented to them — “The Body of Christ.” Their hands raised in anticipation, making an altar for Jesus in the Eucharist to be placed, excitedly responding “Amen.” Ever so carefully, they pick up the Eucharist and consume it. Some return to their seats almost bouncing with joy, while others, so reverently and slowly, knowing they have the most precious gift possible within them.

If you are like me, this day always brings to mind memories of my own First Communion. One of the best days of my life! Every time we receive the Eucharist, we can do so with the eyes of a child receiving for the first time. It is a time for us to pause and think about how we receive the presence of Jesus under the form of consecrated bread and wine, as well as the witness we give to those around us.

This sacrament not only unites us intimately with Jesus but solidifies our unity as the Body of Christ. We are now the Body of Christ! As St. Teresa of Avila reminds us, “Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which he is to bless his people.”

Join me in praying for all the children and their families; may this day be an initial step to a life- long love of the Eucharist.

Join me in praying for all the children and their families; may this day be an initial step to a life- long love of the Eucharist.

This is my body, given for you ... how will I be his body in the world today?

Siempre Adelante,

Tere Delgado

Faith Formation Minister

5/14/2023

The Reason for Your Hope

Dear Faith Family,

It is still Easter! Celebrate accordingly.

No, I’m not speaking in a general way to express our joy in salvation, but according to our Liturgical Calendar, we are still celebrating Easter. We are still rejoicing in the gates of heaven being flung open.

In this Sunday’s second reading, the author boldly exclaims to, “Always be ready to give reason for your hope.” What is our hope? Our hope lies fact that our Lord rose from the dead and conquered death to open the gates of heaven for us. There are many reasons for our hope, and most of these reasons are rooted in the Resurrection of our Savior.

I have mentioned the idea of the virtue of Hope before. It’s not a virtue desiring the best outcome, but rather, Hope is knowing for certain that God’s will is done. It’s not trust in odds or probability, but Hope is the trust given by the Holy Spirit.

This brings us to Pentecost, which comes next week. When the Easter season ends next week, it doesn’t mean that we cease celebrating. When we celebrate Pentecost, it is a great reminder that it is through the Holy Spirit that we are able to give the vibrant reasons for our hope. Things make some sense with evidence, but the Holy Spirit gives us the hyper clarity and courage to make disciples of all nations through our reasons for hope. With Pentecost, we use our celebration as the reason for our hope, to share with the masses.

Reliance on the Holy Spirit is the reason for this upcoming season. The same Holy Spirit that descended on the Apostles, is the same one that dwells with us. The same Holy Spirit that gave clarity to the reason for Hope, also dwells with us. The same Holy Spirit that motivated the Apostles to change the world, also dwells with us. The funny thing is, that same Holy Spirit expects us to do the same. Not with self-righteousness, but with “gentleness and reverence.