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8/22/2026 Mary "Alice" Martinez1940 - 2026Funeral Liturgy
Saturday, August 22 10:00 am Padre Serra Parish 8/7/2026 Childlike FaithHello Friends, Many years ago, I was teaching my 5-year-old daughter, Rebekah, how to swim while her younger sister, Rachel, sat on a pool step, waist-high in the water. Rebekah was learning and growing in confidence, swimming to me repeatedly. Out of nowhere, Rachel pushed off the steps and swam a few strokes to me, demonstrating that she also had taken in the lesson. Truly childlike abandonment and complete trust in my ability to keep her safe. I had plenty of adult help watching from outside the pool, so I was able to enjoy the leap of faith my little girl had taken as I scooped her out of the water and into my arms. In today’s Gospel, Peter starts off with complete faith and trust in Jesus. He steps out and walks a few steps on the water, “But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” Jesus saves Peter and tells him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” This was not the first time that Jesus had admonished Peter for having “little faith”. Earlier, in Matthew (chapter 8), Jesus rebukes the wind and calms the storm while he is in the boat with the apostles. There he says to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith.” In these scenes we can see Jesus preparing the apostles for the faith that will be required of them (and us) for discipleship. In the Catechism we learn: By his Revelation, “the invisible God, from the fullness of his love, addresses men as his friends, and moves among them to invite and receive them into his own company.” The adequate response to this is faith (CCC 142). Faith is entrusting our lives to God and letting him direct our lives. I have made it a habit to start my day with a morning offering. I step out into the world with faith and trust in God, and a desire to remember God’s presence in every moment. Inevitably, at some point of the day, the cares of the world will blow me off course, and I will find myself relying on only my human power. When I become aware that I am acting as if I am alone, I take it as a prompt from God to slow things down and pray. Our desire for God is always a response to his first move. Our loving Father knows what we need before we need it, and our turning to him in conversation is simply an acknowledgment that he has the situation under control and that we just need to understand our role in his plan.  In that pool episode, my daughter did not cry out for me to scoop her out of the water. She was treading water with confidence to get to me, and she seemed to intuitively know that my presence meant all was going to be well. When we have simple and childlike faith in God, we know that God is present at every moment. Let us strive to remember God’s presence in every moment and know that before we cry out to the Lord, he is already there, stretching out his hand to us. He only wants us to accept his hand with faith and trust. Siempre Adelante, Manuel Leon Business Manager 8/1/2026 Receive ... Trust ... ShareDear friends on the journey, In our early years of marriage, while raising young children, my husband and I didn’t have much money. So, when our van suddenly needed four new tires, we were stressed and unsure how we would pay for them. Then God provided. An opportunity for my husband to take on a side job appeared, and it paid exactly what we needed for the tires — no more and no less. Perhaps this is why I have always loved today’s readings. The first reading from Isaiah when the Lord says, “Come and I will give you ... water, food, drink, and life” demonstrates God’s generous care which is echoed in the gospel story of Jesus and the apostles feeding five thousand plus people with only five loaves of bread and two fish! God’s providence in the face of a seemingly impossible situation, to human eyes, was certainly miraculous, yet it simply revealedGod’s way of caring his people. It was for me all those years ago and this “tire” moment has been a source of consolation for me ever since. I believe, as you reflect on your life, you’ll find those moments too. Trusting in God’s care does not completely take away any stress, nor excuse us from doing our work, but it is the hope and comfort that carries us through times of uncertainty. God’s gifts are never meant to stop with us. As Jesus’ disciples, when we have received from the good Lord, we are called to then share the good news of what God has done in our lives with others, to sing the words of the Psalm, “He answers all our needs” so that our family, friends, coworkers, classmates, and neighbors — believers or not — can come to know God. The other beautiful part of today’s Gospel is that Jesus never expected the apostles to have enough food. He met them exactly where they were — in their uncertainty, with their limited resources and imperfect faith. They simply offered what little they had, and Jesus multiplied it. The same is true for us. We don’t need theology degrees. We simply need our own story, our gifts and talents, a willingness to serve, and trust in God’s providence. Jesus will take what we offer and multiply it. Where it lands belongs to the Holy Spirit. Discipleship is a beautiful rhythm of receiving God’s love and sharing it with others. We receive then give, just as we are but with trust that God will give us what we need. Our parish provides several opportunities to give back. Just visit www.padreserra.org/ministries to get an idea of the breadth and depth of our ministries and save the date for our upcoming ministry fair on Sundays, September 13 and 20. Today, though, we have a special invitation from Catholic Charities’ OASIS, a ministry to the seniors in our community whose mission is to enhance their quality of life while meeting their basic needs.  This week, take a few moments to remember the ways God has provided for you — perhaps in ways you didn’t recognize at the time. Then ask God where he is inviting you to extend that same loving care to someone else.
Siempre Adelante, Teresa Runyon Pastoral Associate 7/25/2026 Answering a CallDear friends on the journey, God put the call to the diaconate on the heart of parishioner David Gutierrez, one he would wrestle with and discern for several years. Dave answered that call by applying to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Diaconate Formation Program and, in August 2024, Dave and his wife Jennifer entered the five-year program. You might recognize Dave and Jennifer as they have been in ministry here at Padre Serra for over a decade. Jennifer is on staff as Coordinator of Grades 1-2 and, together they coordinate our children’s initiation program, accompanying families as their children prepare for baptism and full initiation into our Catholic faith. Over the years Dave has been involved with returning Catholics, welcome ministry, military ministry, faith formation, gifts discernment and Eucharistic ministry. Journeying in a cohort of sixteen couples from around the archdiocese, their first two years of the program, known as the aspirancy phase, have included: · Continued discernment · Monthly classes at the diaconate formation center in Glendale · Three retreats: kerygma retreat, a Ignatian Spirituality retreat and a candidacy retreat · Study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, moral theology, four gospels · Nine-month Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, known as the 19th Annotation · Bi-weekly spiritual direction sessions · Marriage workshop and evaluation at Our Lady of the Assumption, Ventura · Two preaching workshops · Learning to preside at prayer services and the Liturgy of the Hours · Ministry to the sick and homebound in year two David became an official candidate for Holy Orders on June 21, 2026, at St. Denis in Diamond Bar with Bishop Brian Nunes. They express sincere gratitude to Fr. Patrick, our deacons, staff and t to all of you for continued support.   Prayers are appreciated for Dave and Jennifer as they enter their third year of discernment, formation and ministry. If you feel God is calling you to something more, whether it’s to pray more, learn more, do more, do something new, give back, whatever it is, I encourage you to notice it, pray about it, and if you like, come visit with me and we can explore it more. Siempre Adelante, Teresa Runyon Pastoral Associate 7/15/2026 July 15th, 2026Dear Friends, One of the best passages in the New Testament, in my opinion, is this one from Paul’s letter to the Romans proclaimed at this weekend’s liturgies: “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes...” When we take time to think about what this means, it is very reassuring. When we are out of ideas, out of options, out of energy, and out of meaningful prayers (it seems), the Holy Spirit within us, given to us in our Baptism, prays for us. I think that the Spirit prays for us both in the sense of asking for what we need, and in the sense of praying in our place when we just can’t do it any more. Furthermore, we are told that “the one who searches hearts [God the Father] knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones [you and me, and all who seek God, however imperfectly] according to God’s will.” If this is true, then we can be free from worry because we are assured that prayers in accordance with God’s will get answered (Ask and you shall receive ... seek, and you shall find, etc.). Julian of Norwich, an English Christian mystic of the 14th century, must have been aware of this when she wrote, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” In case further reassurance is needed, today’s first reading from the Book of Wisdom tells us that God, who is “master of might” still judges with clemency and governs with lenience; by his deeds he teaches us that: “Those who are just must be kind.” I can’t help but think of Pope Francis, and now, Pope Leo when I read that. It seems clear that his way of leading the Church is evidence of the truth of these promises in God’s word, and an example of how we are to treat one another. Caring for others can be difficult – particularly when those we’re caring for are difficult. Sometimes it’s right in that reality that we “do not know how to pray as we ought.” And what about caring for ourselves – so that we are strong to care for others?  How do we find the proper balance? Who we are and what we do both matter. We are not always going to get it right. But all shall be well – because the one who searches hearts knows the intention of the Spirit praying within us at a level so deep that it’s beyond our thoughts and feelings, interceding for us, according to God’s will.
Siempre Adelante, Dominic MacAller Director of Liturgy & Music Readings Join 7/11/2026 Cruz Garcia1951 - 2026
Dear Parish Family, Our Gospel today gives us a beautiful image of Jesus leaving the house and going to the seashore, as a large crowd gathered around him to hear him speak. God’s word is so powerful and efficacious that it gives life to those in need. I imagine all these people are so eager to listen to every word from Jesus, just like many of us do today in our liturgy. On this occasion Jesus told the crowd the Parable of the Sower. We know that this parable speaks to us about how we are like the different types of soil, and how we must be like the rich ground, and we will produce abundant fruit. Jesus’ disciples questioned him about why he spoke to them in parables,he could have spoken to the crowd more clearly. Jesus tells them, “I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.” These strong words are fitting for us today. How many times do we hear our Gospel, we only focus on the surface of the story and fail to be receptive to understanding and living out what we are hearing? When we open our hearts and allow God’s word to dwell and grow in us, we will bear fruit. We must be mindful that we too must do our part. If I am not willing to put in the work, how can I expect growth? Let us ask ourselves:
God continually offers His grace to everyone, and through conversion and cooperation with that grace, even a heart that was once rocky or thorny can become good soil. And Jesus will tell us, just as he told his disciples, “Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”  May we plant deep roots, prepare excellent soil, and diligently cut out the thorns to ensure the Lord has all the room possible to bring forth an abundant harvest!
Siempre Adelante, Tere Delgado Faith Formation Minister Readings Join Giving Directory 7/2/2026 A Call for the BurdenedIt is always right to rely on God. There are plenty of ways that we can ask God for help. Whether it’s a decision that we need guidance for, asking for assistance on how to love more fully or anything that we can ask of God to give us wisdom and guidance. The examples are never-ending and our God is, in fact, never-ending in His love for us. This Sunday’s Gospel clears that up even more for us. There are times where I tend to approach God only when it comes to making difficult decisions. Whether they are worldly, familial or involve my faith life, I have a habit of asking God to make His intentions clear for me and to give me the strength to do it. While I think there is something very good about this, this Gospel indicates that God’s aid doesn’t stop there. Our loving God doesn’t just give answers to the difficult questions, but He is also our Father who brings us peace. He is our Father who loves us so much, that he is willing to be with you step by step in your lives. Because of God’s personal relationship with us as our Father, we should also reach to him in moments of anxiety and fear. Our God doesn’t just want to give us the wisdom to seek holiness, our God created us so we can be at peace with Him for all eternity. Encounters with God aren’t simply an aid to do what is right, but these encounters are strong glimpses of Heaven, which is eternal peace with Him. When Jesus says “For my yoke is easy, and my burden light,” it is not just Him expressing that life just becomes easy when you follow and learn from Him, but rather, He is expressing His eternal assistance and His eternal gift of peace. He offers you a glimpse of heaven. He offers you His own example of unconditional love. A holy life is not avoiding real life. Fear and anxiety is unfortunately a part of our world. When Jesus asks us to learn from Him, we see a shining example of one who overcame fear, anxiety and pain to save the world. It might be safe to say that holy lives will always have examples of fear and pain, Jesus is a glaring example of that.  Jesus doesn’t express that anxiety and fear is sinful, but rather, He shows that He is greater than these. He shows that when life seems at its most difficult, your God is there to comfort and assist you. He is there to give you glimpses of heaven. He shows that this is not the end. And somehow, he shows that suffering can sometimes help us to love others in the way He did. When trials seem never-ending, God shows you that His love is even greater than that. God Bless, Brett Becker Youth and Young Adult Minister 6/29/2026 David Leonard Andrews1938 - 2026Funeral Liturgy
Monday, June 29 11:00 am Padre Serra Parish 6/27/2026 Robert "Bob" Hearne1960 - 2026
6/26/2026 Parish Anniversary… and Still GrowingParish Anniversary… and Still Growing Msgr. Liam Kidney, our founding pastor, and the first generation of parishioners built our beautiful church and courtyard complex. The church’s shape and unique seating, the gorgeous woodwork of the ceiling, the sturdy pillars, the impressive, welcoming vestibule doors, and the splendor of the light from the windows all work together to create an incredibly uplifting place to worship God. Fr. Jarlath Dolan and our second generation helped everyone envision and construct our amazing Serra Center, and what a blessing that has been to the life of our parish, sheltering our dinners and dances, our children’s faith formation, and adult education. I, in contrast, have built a BBQ. I suppose I can also take credit for replacing the asphalt out front. The truth, of course, is that pastors do not build buildings…the dedication and generosity of all the parishioners who made great sacrifices deserve the credit. And so, on this anniversary of the founding of our parish, I look forward, within this year to the next fruit of the great generosity and goodness of the parishioners who, in this case, are so especially praiseworthy because our coming youth center wasn’t for our general use. Both the church and Serra Center have served us all well, but that’s the point: it was as much for us all as it is for everyone else, and these buildings have been so worth the sacrifices you made to make them possible. But this last building, our youth center, doesn’t serve you, the donors. It makes me so incredibly happy to think that your generosity will serve the needs of young people. It will provide a warm, safe, and comfortable place for a particularly struggling demographic who are not yet able to provide for themselves. It won’t be a small, minimal space with a stingy spirit. It will be a large, pleasant place to gather, in a grand and attractive building, which will be all theirs. It will wait for them every day, providing a place for youth and peer ministry, for young adult ministry, for scouting, and for young people from other parishes and churches. They won’t ever need to feel like stepchildren in this new place or in our parish. We are building it for the express purpose of bringing youth to the Lord who loves them. The ground on which it sits is holy ground. The building will be a blessing. We are now entering into the last months of constructing what may well be the last major building of the parish, and it’s coming along very quickly. In fact, the contractor thinks we may be finishing construction before Christmas. And you all made this possible. This priest is feeling incredibly grateful towards you as we move though these last months of construction  The spirit of our patron, Padre Junipero Serra, and his motto, siempre adelante,
find expression in this next expansion of our campus. Thank you for making this possible. Your priest, Fr. Patrick 6/19/2026 It’s Worth RepeatingOur lives are filled with borrowed wisdom. We find funny, thought-provoking, or often meaningful quotes at our favorite restaurant, buried in media events, or within shared conversations. I recently heard the following on a television documentary: “I didn’t fail. I just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work.” It was Thomas Edison that embraced this philosophy as a way of life where multiple failures encountered often paved the road to eventual successes. While I agree with the sentiment shared, I’ve developed an additional perspective when considering these words through the lens of personal reflection and what I’ve witnessed. We have all made the wrong decision at times, felt challenged, or been exposed to trials beyond our control. Most adults have felt the stress and impact of difficult choices, financial and family decisions, or health concerns. This can be daunting at times as we acknowledge our own 10,000 ways that didn’t work as we had planned or anticipated. It takes courage, strength, and will to find hope in the midst of it all. But, we do not have to go it alone. We have a God that loves us as we are including all good things, challenges, and decisions made. In faith, we recognize this reality and become fully aware that Jesus is the source of our hope and strength. We do nonetheless require reminders from time to time. Today’s Gospel meets our anxiety with a threefold refrain. Jesus reminds us to, “Fear no one,” to “not be afraid.” These words are not intended to imply that the world is easy to navigate or that trusting Him is always comfortable. It often takes great courage to rise above our personal trials though worry may remain. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the decision to trust God more than any distress we face. It leads us to believe and accept that God sees, He knows, and He holds and cherishes every moment of our lives. Jesus is offering us a relationship, one where we are never alone or feel abandoned. He calls us to not be afraid and to recognize we are precious to Him. Ultimately, the Lord asks us to include faith, hope, trust, and courage as we journey through life with Him by our side.  Personally, I find it difficult at times to remember not to be afraid. When this feeling overwhelms my thoughts, I find a quiet place and sit with the Holy Spirit. I soon grasp once again that in faith, God is with me; He is ahead of me, bringing me hope. Working through me, God teaches me what it means to trust. And, when I need courage, He strengthens me. Then, I truly realize what Jesus means when he says: “Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.” Endless Blessings, Deacon Luc and Diana Papillon 6/17/2026 Gerard "Gerry" Lynham1946 - 2026
6/12/2026 Receive & GiveDear friends on the journey, About ten years ago, I discovered the teaching strategy called “I do, we do, you do” being used in mentoring and raising up leaders in ministry. I appreciate this profound yet simple method and wonder if its origin is in fact in Jesus. Today’s gospel is an example of the master teacher at work. Leading up to our gospel story, Jesus has called each of his disciples and begun to teach them in word and deed. They have become his students, watching and listening to his lessons on life, love, and faith. With the Beatitudes as a foundation, Jesus has taught them how to live as citizens of God’s kingdom — how to love, pray, forgive, trust God, and follow him faithfully. Moving from words to action, Jesus then began to teach the disciples through miracles and his ministry of healing. Through all this, Jesus has been equipping them for something more, not just to receive and hold to themselves all his wisdom and lessons. A disciple learns from the master; an apostle is sent by the master. Jesus has shown that authentic discipleship always leads to mission. Today’s gospel is a pivotal moment, the movement from “I do” to “you do.” The Twelve are no longer only his disciples, his followers. Now they are his apostles, sent forth to do and put into action all they have learned. The apostles are now going out to give to others what they had received from the teacher. The apostles were sent out to proclaim and to heal. This is our life of faith too. We are disciples and apostles. It’s not one or the other, rather it’s both and. We are to be disciples — followers who sit at Jesus’ feet to learn and receive his teaching, his healing, his love, his mercy and forgiveness. This transformative receiving is our motivation and invitation to be his apostles, sent forth to give what we have received. In the gospel, Jesus did not send the apostles to the ends of the earth but rather to their own people it the house of Israel. Jesus asks us to start at home too. It is often said that charity begins at home so in reality we do not have to leave our zip code to minister for Jesus. Sometimes proclaiming the kingdom and bringing about healing simply means listening patiently to a struggling spouse, encouraging a discouraged coworker, forgiving a family member, reaching out to a lonely neighbor, and extending a spirit of generosity wherever we go, to whomever we meet.  This week, Jesus sends us where he first sent the apostles — not to distant lands, but to the people already in our lives so today I invite you to reflect on what you have received from Jesus that others need to experience too, then, with confidence and courage, go and give freely what you have freely received.
Siempre Adelante, Teresa Runyon Pastoral Associate Dear Parish Family, Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This solemnity focuses our attention on the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, and calls us to profess our faith in the Eucharist. At every liturgy, we get to be witnesses of the greatest miracle, when our Lord Jesus offers himself to the Father, for us. Be attentive! Because of this sacrament, earth becomes heaven for us, we celebrate with the angels and saints. I invite you to lean intentionally as we pray like the Centurion, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” Let this be a true moment of self-emptying, and grace, aswe prepare ourselves to receive The Body and Blood, soul and divinity of our Lord. In the Eucharist, what we are given as bread IS the glorified body, blood, soul, and divinity of the risen One in the sacrament of the altar. This food strengthens us: It emboldens us to speak freely to our God; it is our hope, our salvation, our light, and our life. We are empowered to Go Out, Sent on our mission to proclaim the Good News to others. Though we are unworthy, we are made worthy by Jesus who desires to remain in us. This is the source and the summit of the Christian life, the only way to fill the deepest hunger of the human person. Our Lord’s promise to be with us till the end of times, is manifested in the Eucharist. When we receive him, not only is he in us, but we can bring him to others through us. We can be physically present with him in Adoration in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel even when we cannot receive him in the Eucharist. He is always patiently and lovingly waiting for us. Just this past May, 115 children, teens and adults received Jesus in the Holy Eucharist for the first time. What a blessing this is. May we always hunger for our Lord, and take every opportunity to receive him in the Holy Eucharist. For those who are in need of sacrament preparation to receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist for your children, the Faith Formation registrations for the new program year open on June 1, for children grades 1-12. You will find the online registration on our parish website. For adults who also need sacrament preparation, please contact [email protected]
Siempre Adelante, Tere Delgado Faith Formation Minister 6/6/2026 Kimberly Cafaro Chang
5/30/2026 Happy Trinity Sunday!In the second reading today, we hear from St. Paul, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” We hear this greeting from St. Paul at every Mass, and today, on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the love of the Trinity of Persons is top of mind. The Church is one because of her source: “the highest exemplar and source of this mystery is the unity, in the Trinity of Persons, of one God, the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit (CCC 813). Love is central to the Trinity. God desires that we share in this eternal love. “This is how all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13:35). You can see love in action when parishioners use their time and talents to build up the Kingdom right here at Padre Serra. This past April, the number of volunteers who serve the parish was front and center for me as I worked through the process of counting our volunteers for the Safeguard the Children Program. The number of volunteers is impressive and to see that many volunteers serve in multiple ministries is a testament to their commitment to this parish. While it is impressive to have over 200 active volunteers, our parish community is much larger. I encourage you to consider joining one of the ministries over the summer. For example, Tere Delgado is always looking for adults who have a desire to help children grow closer to Jesus. Tere is currently looking for Adult Children’s Liturgy leaders, and volunteers to join the Posada and Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe planning teams. There are many other opportunities to serve. A couple of others that come to mind are the Welcome Gazebo ministry and volunteer photography. Friendly folks to volunteer at the welcome circle gazebo are needed to welcome visitors and help them navigate our parish. We are also looking for volunteer photographers to take photos at parish events. I encourage you to pray about how you might serve your parish, and if you feel called to serve, reach out to one of us on the parish staff. You can also call the parish office or send me an email. Looking forward, in September we will have the ministry fair in the courtyard and there you can learn more about all of the opportunities to volunteer.  My heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who responded to my request and submitted their Safeguard Program acknowledgment forms. We are so grateful to all our volunteers who choose to give their time and talent to Padre Serra Parish.
Siempre Adelante! Manuel Leon Business Manager 5/23/2026 Send down the fire!Dear Friends, As I think about this weekend’s Solemnity which closes and culminates the Easter Season, I try to imagine what the outpouring of Holy Spirit must have been like for those who experienced it as it’s described in Scripture – whether it’s the Risen Jesus appearing in the locked Upper Room and breathing the Spirit and peace on his disciples, or the rushing wind and tongues of flame described in the Acts of the Apostles, or the sudden ability of Jesus’ disciples to speak and be understood in a multitude of languages. All of those stories seem both thrilling and remote. If there was ever a time where we needed an outpouring of the Holy Spirit isn’t now that time? I write this overshadowed by our collective sadness over a world still at war in Ukraine, Iran, and Gaza. How can we joyfully celebrate Pentecost in light of such violence as that, or the economic uncertainty many of us live under, or any of countless other instances of violence, hunger, trauma, and grief? While we may not have experienced it in such a dramatic way as the apostles did, or as the early church did, nevertheless our faith tells us that at our baptism we were given the Holy Spirit – none other than the One who inspired such courage, such wisdom, and such love in the apostles so many years ago. None other than the Spirit that built the church to which we belong today and whose truth we profess. Even the secular media has noticed a huge increase in the number of conversions to Catholicism, yes, but also to religious belief in general. In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles just this past Easter, more than 8000 new Catholics were initiated – and that is a 139% increase over the number in 2025, itself remarkable. To what else can this be attributed but to the work of the Holy Spirit? Often when we celebrate Confirmation, Fr. Patrick tells the newly confirmed (and all of us) that the grace of that sacrament is one that is quietly there for us to draw on when needed – when we need the courage to do the right thing. To stand against bullying and violence. To love the not very lovable, and not very attractive. To care for all of creation. To find the outcasts and bring them back in. We may feel powerless to change our world, our politics, maybe even ourselves. But we can draw upon the Gifts of the Holy Spirit given to us in baptism and confirmation to be God’s love right where we are, to (as a song in the 70s said, probably meaning something quite different) “love the one we’re with”. It might not change the world, but, then again, it might. St. Teresa of Calcutta said we are called not to success but to faithfulness. Plant the seed, tend the garden, leave the harvest to God. Here is a list of the gifts given to all of us for the good of all: Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, fear of the Lord, and piety. Let’s support one another drawing upon the inexhaustible supply of grace given to us by the Holy Spirit. Siempre adelante, Dominic MacAller Worship Minister |
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