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 Dear Friends,
During the third week of Advent, a rose-colored candle is added to the advent wreath to remind us of the gift of joy that God gave us in his only son, the infant, Jesus Christ. Jesus was born at a time when there was significant suffering, hardship and heartbreak. He brought the Holy Spirit, hope, unconditional love, courage and strength. By his words and deeds, he showed us how to care for each other in good times and bad. It’s important to remember that God’s joy, Jesus, is always with us. While at times it may feel quite small, the hope, joy and resiliency of the Holy Spirit is not extinguished even during times of despair and heartbreak. The resiliency of our faith carries us one step at a time through the rough patches. It helps us come together as a community to support one another and to do as Jesus would do… I initially struggled to find joy in this Advent season as I reflected upon recent events that impacted our community and parish family. And then it came to me with greater understanding when I read the following quotation from Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaugium, 6. “Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved. I understand the grief of people who have to endure great suffering, yet slowly but surely we all have to let the joy of faith slowly revive as a quiet yet firm trust, even amid the greatest distress.” So, while my outward expression of joy this Advent season may be a bit different from previous Advents, my inner peace, belief, hope and trust in our Lord is unwavering. I feel this renewal and promise as I look at the infant, Jesus. I celebrate in all that He represents, all that He has done for us and all the blessings to come. I thank all of you, my Parish Family, for being a beacon of light for each other and for others in need during times of struggle and sorrow. Joy is a gift from Jesus himself. The more we help spread Joy to others, the more we live in the way God intended. Merry Christmas and God bless. Nancy  Dear Friends,
We are a week into our Advent observance. For the church, Advent is a season with two themes. The first is preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, whose kingship we celebrated recently. The second, to which we shift from December 17th on, is celebrating the coming of Jesus in history where he became human – Emmanuel – God with us. So if we are preparing for Jesus’ Second Coming, how might that look? Today’s Scriptures give us some idea. From the first reading from Baruch and the Responsorial Psalm (126) we encounter the following: There will be no more mourning nor misery. We will be “wrapped in a cloak of God’s justice.” There will be a sense of restoration: children returning “borne aloft in glory” after being taken from us by our enemies. We will be laughing and rejoicing, as in a dream. Where we had gone forth weeping, we will come back rejoicing, led by God, with mercy and justice for company. In the second reading, Saints Paul and Timothy pray that our love may increase more and more, that we may be pure and blameless. How will this restoration, this unbelievable joy come to us? It is made clear in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 3. In a very specific time and place (lest we are tempted to relegate all of this to a cozy myth), John the Baptist, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, prompted by the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, quoting the prophet Isaiah the whole time: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” Repentance is key. It’s much more than merely feeling sorry. It is a sincere desire to change course, to turn away from what keeps us from God, and making an effort of will to turn toward God. We can ask God for help changing course. He is delighted by every faltering step we take toward him, no matter how humble. Since, as the second reading tells us, God will bring to completeness in us the good work he has begun in us, in his own good and mysterious time and way, we will experience a healing of all losses, all brokenness, all incompleteness, all grief, all mourning. To get in touch with the enormity of this, and to bring it from an idea “out there” to a reality within, spend some time with the first reading and responsorial psalm. Realize that the powerful emotions prophesied are not exaggerations, nor are they merely symbolic. They are a foretaste of the joy we will experience at the coming of Jesus Chris in glory at the end of time. This is a lot to wait and hope for – there is real depth in Advent if we’ll let it in. Let’s pray for one another that we can do so! Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! Siempre Adelante, Dominic MacAller Worship Minister  Dear Parish Family,
Happy New year! It is the most wonderful time of the year… Advent; joyfully anticipating the Birth of Jesus. With the difficult weeks, many of our brothers and sisters have endured it is important to remember to keep our eyes focus on our Lord. I want to share with you one of our many beautiful Catholic traditions and gifts and encourage you this Advent season to pray with our Mother Mary; she too is our Advent wreath leading us to her son, Jesus. Through our history, we have been sent many messengers; The angels, the prophets and apostles, and the saints. All echo the same Good News, Jesus is the Truth, the Light, and the Way. Our Mother Mary is our most recent messenger sent from heaven. She takes on the likeness of those who she speaks to, making sure we recognize the message is meant for us. Through Mary we reach Jesus, through Jesus, we reach the Father. This month we have two feast days in her honor, December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Mary is conceived without sin), and on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Her message in all her apparitions throughout the world is never about her, she always points to her Son. When the bishop asked for a sign, St. Juan Diego presented him with his 'tilma'. It was filled with Castilian roses. When St. Juan Diego opens his 'tilma' to expose the roses, they all saw the image of Santa Maria de Guadalupe was miraculously imprinted on it. It was left on a native fiber, meant only to last 30 years at most; however, it has been hundreds of years and the image is still perfectly intact. This is only the first of many miracles. Her image and words have spoken so clearly to all generations, she has aided in the conversion of millions. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is huge for the Mexican people, not only for having the honor of having Our Mother appear in Mexico but to have been given the privilege to have her image left for us to visit. Her story and her message have earned her the title of Patroness of the Americas (North & South). Her message in all her apparitions throughout the world is never about her, she always points to her Son. The Celebration consists of a novena from December 4 to December 12, every day we retell her story and are reminded of her intentions, to bring us to her son, Jesus: The Mother of God appeared to St. Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531, requesting a church be built: “My dear little son, I love you. I desire you to know who I am. I am the ever-virgin Mary, Mother of the true God who gives life and maintains its existence. He created all things. He is in all places. He is Lord of Heaven and Earth. I desire a church in this place where your people may experience my compassion. All those who sincerely ask my help in their work and in their sorrows will know my Mother's heart in this place. Here I will see their tears; I will console them and they will be at peace.” When the bishop Fry Juan de Zumarraga asked for a sign, Juan Diego presented him with his Tilma which was filled with Castilian roses, previously unknown to the region and mysteriously blooming in winter. When St. Juan Diego opens his tilma to expose the roses, they all saw the image of Santa Maria de Guadalupe, was miraculously imprinted on it. Her image speaks loudly and clearly as her words. These are symbols that spoke clearly to the Aztecs and aid the conversion of millions. Some of the symbols are:
All this left on a native fiber, meant only to last 30 years at most; however, it has been hundreds of years and the image is still intact. This is only the first of many miracles. Her image and words have spoken so clearly to all generations, she has aid in the conversion of millions. “Hear and let it penetrate into your heart, my dear little son: Let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you. Let nothing alter your heart or your countenance. Also, do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here, who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else that you need?” Our Lady of Guadalupe’s motherly love for us is palpable. What a better advocate for us, than someone who understands all our struggles perfectly. Come to her, pray with her, especially in your times of need. She will help us clear the path and take our petitions to her loving son. Let us confidently journey our advent season in hope, joy, and love. Siempre Adelante, Tere Delgado Faith Formation Minister I am grateful for
 An odd list, I grant it, but I’m sticking with it and adding to it this week. I pray that your list is long, and quirky and filled with things and people to bring you happiness and closeness to God.
Siempre adelante, Fr. Patrick  Dear friends on the journey,
Today’s readings give us stories of two women who gave when they had nothing to give. In the first reading, we see Elijah asking for something to eat and drink from a poor, widowed mom who is sure that she and her son will die from hunger. She does not have enough for all of them at that moment, much less for the days to come. Nevertheless, she does. The poor widow in the gospel was probably no different. Two coins was all she could give, a few cents that could have provided her a meal. Nevertheless, she does. As I reflected and prayed on these stories, the woman in the first reading really resonated with me. I could imagine the desperation and worry she must have been feeling. Have you ever had a day when you felt like you had left nothing to give anyone, wondered where you were going to find the energy, or you just did not feel like “adulting” another day? I have experienced similar moments, days, and seasons when I did not know how I was going to provide for the needs of my little family of five. My jar was low of food, money, energy, compassion, enthusiasm, or wisdom. I was nearing empty. I think this is just life. Not every day is going to be easy and smooth sailing. However, these women can be extraordinary examples for us of how to get through those rough days and when I think of them, the word that comes to mind is trust. Had the gospel widow already experienced God’s abundant generosity in her life that now, as a widow, she continues to trust in God’s generosity? How much trust did the widowed mother really have in Elijah’s assurance that if she gives, God will truly provide? I think we can all see ourselves in their situations. They call to mind moments that I took my worries to God and trusted he would provide for my physical, emotional and spiritual needs, and he did. Recently I came across this quote: So far you have survived 100% of your worst days. In hindsight, we can see it is so true. We are here today by God’s grace, hopefully stronger, better and wiser for the challenge and the gifts that came with it. These women remind us to trust with our whole heart that our good and gracious God will provide us with the strength, energy, wisdom and grace to give generously, to put one foot in front of the other, and to do the next right thing. Perhaps the hardest part about whole-hearted trust is accepting that the outcome may not be what we want or think we need. This week let us spend some time reflecting on God’s generous care in the past and on any situations now that we might need to just surrender our will and trust in God’s will. Teresa Runyon Faith Life Minister  Dear Friends,
This is the first Mass of Remembrance where I will be honoring my father who passed away the week before Christmas last year. While I have experienced much loss in my life, I have not felt this kind of emptiness and sorrow before. And to watch my mom soldier on without Dad is absolutely heartbreaking. They were the old school type of married couple. The kind that always held hands and did everything together. She is bravely carrying on, but her world will never be the same… I know that many of you are going through similar or even worse heartbreak. Please know that I am praying for each of you to have strength and faith that your beloved is well cared for in God’s loving embrace. I pray for you to find the joy in having been blessed to have loved and been loved by someone extraordinary. As we join together in celebration, sorrow and gratitude, let’s remember God’s promise to us (John 11:2526), “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Yes, amen I do believe this, Lord. And while my sorrow is immeasurable, I have faith that someday we will all be reunited in Heaven. And until we meet again, I will continue to cherish all of our wonderful memories and will try to make you proud, Dad. Siempre Adelante, Nancy Jorgesen Parish Business Manager  Dear Friends,
You may have noticed that there are some older altar servers who wear a gold colored cincture (rope or belt). These servers have the title of liturgical coordinators. Their preparation for this role includes up to ten hours of theology training. A major focus in this training is the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ and how this mystery is celebrated in our liturgies. What do we mean by the Paschal Mystery? The Paschal Mystery is Christ’s saving life, death and resurrection. In our sacraments and liturgy Christ continues to be present with us today through the Spirit. Our witness to the faith is the life that we live — in our love for one another, as our Lord taught us through word and action. The liturgical coordinators are very much aware of this and serve our parish with an understanding of this basic truth. We celebrate the mysteries over a period of a year. These servers are taught how the liturgical year is arranged and what the church documents dictate, i.e. which feasts are major and which are minor. They learn how to find the readings in the Lectionary (book containing the readings) and to mark the Sacramentary (book containing the prayers). They study every one of the eucharistic prayers and compare their similarities and differences. This gives these coordinators a sense of ownership as they pray along with the presider in their silent understanding. Another major focus of this theology training is that “we pray as we believe and we believe as we pray.” To emphasize this fact, several prayers from the celebration of the sacraments are examined. The Gloria and creeds are also studied and their contents are examined. They learn that the Gloria, the creeds and the sacramental prayers all express what we believe. Prior to the start of the liturgy, the coordinators make sure that each assigned altar server has a unique responsibility. Once everything is in its proper place, they direct the altar servers to line up for the procession. While the servers are in line, the liturgical coordinators check that each server understands his or her responsibilities. During the liturgy they direct and assist the servers. Padre Serra Parish is very grateful that we have 16 dedicated liturgical coordinators who know how to mentor and care for all the altar servers. In Christ, Bob Shadduck Altar Server Ministry Director Also visit: Altar Servers  Dear Friends, Today’s reading from Mark’s gospel is one of my favorites, but with some caveats. I love what Jesus teaches his apostles after his conversation with James and John (Zebedee’s sons): Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. It reminds me of a story one of our well-loved parishioners tells about when he and his wife first arrived at Padre Serra. She asked him how they would ever get to know people and be part of this new community into which they had moved. His answer was something like this: “That’s easy. Whatever activity or event we go to, we just stay after and help clean up.” They did that, and, sure enough, their experience was exactly as he’d predicted. They got to know more and more people, good people, who came to love and value them and they felt themselves more and more deeply drawn into the life of the parish and its people. It is taking me a little longer to learn this lesson but I can say that in some cases where I’d rather not, but it seemed the only right thing to do, when I pitched in and helped with post-party or post-meeting cleanup, it has proved to be a way of connecting to other people and I walk away with a sense of peace. I have a long way to go. This willingness to be of service comes from a radical sense of the value of the person we try to help, indeed, from an awareness of their having been made in God’s image and likeness. Saints see that value readily, even in the most wretched (St. Teresa of Calcutta comes to mind). For me, I have to make an effort of will sometimes, and ask for God’s help to see it in the people I encounter at home, or at work, or in the news. Returning to the conversation between Jesus, James and John before the passage above. It seems that the two apostles are looking for a shortcut to greatness. “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” When Jesus says to them “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” their glib response “we can” leaves me shaking my head at their apparent cluelessness. Of course James and John did go on to become great saints, so maybe there is hope for me when I am dense and self-absorbed, but not without cost: The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized If I read this correctly, there will be suffering for me, even were I to follow Jesus perfectly (which of course I can’t). It’s the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews that gives me (us) hope, in spite of my desire for glory and my reluctance sometimes to roll up my sleeves and serve. The author, referring to Jesus, says: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. Thanks be to God. Let’s pray for one another. Siempre Adelante, Dominic MacAller Worship Minister  Dear Parish Family,
While running around doing my errands with my husband, there were two songs that came up in the playlist that really got my attention: The Beatles, Dear Prudence, followed by Baby, You’re a Rich Man. Funny that they both came up, as I was preparing to write this letter. I know those songs have nothing to do with our readings today, however the words that stayed with me echoed our message. Such as the first words in the song, “Dear Prudence, won’t you come out to play” and the first words in our first reading, “I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.” Calling on the virtue of prudence to be present. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our “true good” in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it; I remember as a child my mother often reminded me to pray for prudence, as I needed to think before I spoke out loud. When I did, I notice I did not put my foot in my mouth quite as much. In our Gospel, a young, rich man is seeking to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells the man to give up his earthly possessions (his treasure will be in heaven) and follow him. This was something that saddens the man, for he had many possessions he didn’t want to give up, and he walked away. Jesus responds, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” What does this mean? Does God need us to be poor in order to inherit eternal life? Are we not allowed to have good things in life? Doesn’t God want our happiness? He not only wants our happiness but our Salvation too! If we only look on the surface, it can put us, like the young man, in a bit of an identity crisis. Are we of this world, or are we seeking the Kingdom of God? The world tells us that wealth and possessions equate successes, this is what we all strive for and must make many sacrifices to obtain. When we go beyond our basic needs, pursuing to acquire luxury to excess, and it is never enough. I may think, I’m not rich! I don’t own my own house or have all the luxuries ... yet I needed the taunting reminder in the Beatles song “Baby you’re a rich man; Baby you’re a rich man; Baby you’re a rich man too.” I know that after I have had my fill of a satisfying meal, rarely do I think of who is hungry around me. However, before my meal I look to see who I can share my meal with ... two very different thoughts and actions. Our comforts can keep us from seeing the need in our brothers and sisters. Jesus doesn’t want to make it difficult for us to follow him, but he does want us to follow him with our whole heart. Sometimes this requires that we make changes in our lives to be Jesus’ disciple. If we truly believe our Home is in heaven, why would we be surprised that Jesus asks us to leave behind our possessions? Our physical wealth on this earth should not be what holds us back from entering the Kingdom of God. Let us always pray for prudence and wisdom, to keep us focused on our identity, Children of God and heirs of his kingdom, making our treasure in heaven, not on this earth. Siempre Adelante, Tere Delgado Faith Formation Minister  Dear Faith Family,
This Sunday’s Gospel can be perceived as controversial. There are always legitimate concerns about the morality of divorce and it was no different back then. While the Church does have a stance on the morality of divorce (which is not as black and white as it seems in the Gospel), I do invite you all to look at this reading with a different lens. Let’s not be like the Pharisees who try to distract Jesus from preaching the good news. Instead of focusing on the conversation on divorce, it may be best to focus on how Jesus talks about the beauty of marriage. The way Jesus explains the marital union as “two becoming one” is quite unique and intimate. I am blessed to have been married to my wife Britney for over 2 years and as many of you know, marriage is quite a wonderful journey. The joys of being with someone you adore is hard to express in words and I’m lucky that our commitment to each other has helped us through the inevitable difficulties of life. I must say though, the thing I cherish most about my marriage, is the willingness to bring each other closer to Christ. And as many of you know, there are so many married couples that exemplify Christ’s love, and they motivate us to be holier people. In the first reading this Sunday, from the book of Genesis, the bond between Adam and Eve bring so much joy that Adam can’t help but exalt his joy through poetry: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” The beauty of this union is evident in not only the Gospels, but the book of Genesis. In the beginning of the Old Testament, to the start of the New Testament. It’s quite amazing to think that God has intended for marriage to be so intimate and complementary. Divorce is rough, but like hell, if we focus on the fear of living as opposed to the joy of salvation/joy, we tend to miss the mark. The Gospels aren’t intended to be fear driven but it’s quite the opposite. It is clear that the Pharisees are trying to prevent Jesus from preaching about the glory of salvation, but Jesus makes sure to not be distracted by their challenge. This is why the meaning of evangelization is “sharing the good news,” we were created to be creatures that yearn for union. If you are someone going through divorce, please know that you are both welcome and loved at the Church. If you need any discussion, counseling or prayer, we will always be here. God Bless, Brett Becker Youth and Young Adult Minister  Dear Friends,
When you hear the word, Gratitude, what comes to mind? Do you replay the thousands of times your parents reminded you to say please and thank you? Have you noticed how many times we give thanks and praise to our Lord during liturgy every week? Do you only say thank you when you’re reminded to do so? Last week, the parish staff enjoyed a Staff Pray Day facilitated by fellow parishioner, Ann Pettit. The setting, a beautiful spot on the beach in Ventura. The theme for the day, “Gratitude.” The staff pray day couldn’t have come at a better time for me and, honestly, I almost didn’t attend. I’m really busy with my husband and teenage kids; piles of dirty laundry that aren’t going to wash themselves; juggling two jobs with a to-do list that is over three pages long and growing … It’s not that I didn’t want to go, I just didn’t have time … I did show up, albeit late, because, well, my life’s just that hectic right now … I walked in to find my coworkers in a very serene state of mind, quietly reflecting and so peaceful. My first thought was, “Where can I get some of that feeling? I’m too stressed to be like that!” Ann helped me realize that I’ve been letting the wrong task list take the power position in my life. That I need to retrain myself to stop and give thanks, genuine thanks throughout the day, even for the little things. And that I should give thanks for the good times and the bad, because there’s something special in all that God has planned for us. How is that possible? Why give thanks for bad things? Take for example, a glass of spilled milk. You know the saying, “Don’t cry over spilled milk?” While there’s no sense getting mad about the spill now that it’s happened, we should instead be giving thanks that we had a glass of milk in the first place… So, as I let myself unwind and live in the moment, I was able to feel a special communion with God taking place. I stopped, looked, listened, breathed, cried, laughed and then cried a lot more as I let the world around me come into better focus. And all because I slowed down enough to truly and deeply say, “Thank you, God.” As I write this note, I’m on day number three of my personal stop, drop and pray program. I can already feel a greater sense of calm as I reclassify some of my daily challenges into grateful opportunities. It’s hard to believe the power of simply saying thank you. I’d like to thank all of you, my parish family, for being so wonderful to me and my family. We are truly blessed to be members of this loving parish community. I see God’s grace in all of you; how you truly care for each other and strangers; how you give of yourselves to make Padre Serra a loving and welcoming place to help our community encounter Jesus and be disciples. Thank you, Ann for helping me find greater focus. I am forever grateful. Nancy Jorgesen Parish Business Manager  In today’s Gospel, we encounter the second of three predictions by Jesus that he would die. Tragedy piles upon heartbreak as the disciples fail to understand, neglect to support, and are unwilling to walk with Him on his difficult journey to Calvary. The quick and easy jump for us is straight to the guilt question: are we any better at responding to the Lord in his difficult journey than they were? I’d rather, though, strategize successful ways of walking with Jesus than wallow in the guilt question. You might be with me in that. Simon of Cyrene was right there when Jesus needed him. We’re separated from him by centuries, but we’re side-by-side with any number of people stumbling under the weight of their burdens. The parishioners of the parish join with them in their needs in a number of hands-on ministries that are out in the courtyard today, not talking about how someone else should make a difference, but stepping right up, themselves, to do what they can – the good within arms reach. Adopt a Family and Angel Tags both work to provide special assistance at Christmas time so that families and children can have a joyful Christmas. You can choose the scale of your involvement, either with an entire family or an individual child or senior. JustFaith forms small groups of parishioners seeking to deepen their commitment to care for vulnerable people and our planet through prayer, study, dialogue, and immersion experiences. Many Meals jumps right into people’s lives with a good, hot meal, served every Monday at St. Mary Magdalene’s, because people are hungry all the time, not just Thanksgiving and the other holidays. Pax Christi members advocate for personal nonviolence, promote global disarmament and the end to the arms trade, work for economic justice, and support universal human rights. The Peace and Justice Team seek to create education and service opportunities for parishioners to grow in understanding the social conditions and needs of our time. The St. Vincent de Paul Society members keep people in their homes, their cars working and the lights on before financial crises lead to homelessness and joblessness. I focused on service ministries because of the Gospel, but I also encourage you to consider Centering Prayer, First Friday Adoration and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena, who invite us into deeper forms of prayerful communion with God. We also have more people helping make our Sundays possible than most other Camarillo churches have people attending, whether it’s serving as Altar Servers, caring for children in Stay and Play, providing hospitality after Mass in our Sunday Café, or in the pews as Hospitality Ministers. Eucharistic Ministers generously minister to us, while Weekend Welcome kindly receives us.  I encourage you strongly to consider what you can do to make a difference, accompanying Jesus on His way, and His least ones on theirs.
Siempre adelante! Fr. Patrick  Happy Catechetical Sunday to you all. On this day we celebrate the importance of passing on the faith and being witnesses to the Gospel. Parents are truly the primary catechists of their children. They prepare the soil and plant the first seeds of faith.
On Catechetical Sunday, we not only highlight the work of catechists in parishes and schools, but we also commend parents and guardians and encourage them to take seriously their role of making their Catholic households a place where faith is passed on to the next generation. This is why the rite of blessing of catechists used on Catechetical Sunday includes a blessing of parents and guardians. The root of the word Catechesis comes from a Greek word meaning “to echo, or resound.” Catechism is the act of resounding or bringing the Church’s teachings to the world. A catechist is one who teaches in the name of the Church. This ministry of teaching in the name of the Church has a profound dignity, which is why catechists are formally commissioned by the Church. It is only fitting that we set aside a day to highlight this ministry and invite the entire church community to think about our responsibility to share our faith with others. Today I would like to invite you all to consider answering the Call to become a Catechist. This call may come in the voice of our pastor or deacons, perhaps from one of our catechetical leaders, or even in this bulletin letter. But know that this calling ultimately comes from God whose Holy Spirit inspires and guides you. If this is something you have been thinking about or know someone who has the potential to serve in this role, I offer the following reasons to help you say, Yes! Top reasons to become a catechist
Please reach out to me or any of our catechetical leaders, to help you get started in this beautiful ministry. May the Joy of Jesus in our lives shine through and make us true Witnesses of Christ at all times. Siempre adelante, Tere Delgado Faith Formation Minister  Dear Friends on the Journey,
What relief we feel when our ears “pop” after descending from high altitude or after being sick! We can hear again. We can speak at a normal volume again. In today’s gospel one word spoken by Jesus provides even greater relief for a deaf man: “Ephphatha” “Be opened.” In that miraculous moment, the man could actually hear and communicate with the world clearly! I can only imagine his joy and relief. I admit though that I crave the silence the deaf man lived with. Granted his was likely not by choice but nonetheless there are moments and days when I long for just quiet and space void of pinging devices, voices (including my own), media, deadlines, rushing, juggling. Oh the joy to just be in peaceful silence! A few weeks back I reflected on a retreat experience that taught me how silence can heighten senses and increase awareness of God’s presence. Silence can do even more. Silence is God’s language. When we stop talking at God, he can speak to us. When we close our mouths and open our ears, hearts and minds, we create a space to encounter Jesus, to have our own “ephphatha” moment, to be open to God. In this space, we can then listen to what and where God is calling or inviting us. Over the next few weeks, we have the opportunity to consider the possibilities. Our parish covenant invites us as individuals and households to examine and reflect our discipleship – how we are living our faith in our homes, church family and neighborhood. The covenant can also help us discern what we need next on our journey. I invite you these next days and weeks to take the covenant to prayer. Sit in silence and allow God to speak. Be open. God may just be calling you to something more. Then, visit the ministry fair. There might just be a ministry to help you take the next step in healing, learning, growing, prayer, service, action. If not, come see me. Ephphatha and siempre adelante, Teresa Runyon Faith Life Minister Dear Friends, Our second reading two weeks ago from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians said: Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Over the years, often in the courtyard, I’ve heard a number of reasons given for why not singing at mass would be all right:
 As we have heard before, we are not the audience at Mass; God is. We are the performers. Not just the priest, or the choir… but all of us. Our contribution matters to God, as we see from the Scripture above.
We music ministers are not here to entertain you. We are here to support your efforts to pray in song. Even when the choirs occasionally sing choral music on their own, the aim is not entertainment, but to lift your minds and hearts – along with our own – to God, often by emphasizing a particular idea or image from the day’s readings, or from the season we are celebrating. But those moments are rare and occasional, and will happen mostly at offertory or after communion. Everything else from the entrance song through the sending forth song, is meant to be sung by all present. God doesn’t need our worship but we do. And it does delight him ... and he’s asked for it! Siempre Adelante, Dominic MacAller Liturgy and Music Minister  Dear Faith Family,
I really love our Church. Not just our wonderful church community at Padre Serra, but the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church. The rich history, the emphasis on philosophy and the promotion of a relationship with Jesus Christ through the Sacraments are so compelling to me and I’m so grateful every day that our Lord established this Church. Within the rich history of our Church, we have had great minds invest their very being to the development of doctrine. Church councils have been formed throughout her history to simply pursue the truth so we can grow closer to God through it. These councils involved a lot of scrutiny and discussion and these have been happening all throughout our 2,000ish year history. I find it very comforting knowing that there have been greater minds than mine to pursue our dogmas and doctrines. I’m very glad that these truths don’t rely on my own personal research. With that said, there are plenty of things that the Church teaches that I struggle with. Again, this is where the beauty of the Church’s pursuit of truth really helps me. Even though I may not understand something that the Church teaches (and maybe even struggle with it), there is something very humbling knowing that there have been so many brilliant minds who are not pursuing an agenda (like certain politicians), but rather, there are brilliant minds who just want to reveal who Jesus Christ is to the world. This Sunday’s gospel really speaks to me because of my struggles to understand. Are we called to be like the Apostles, who know that Jesus “has the words of eternal life”? Or are we called to be the ones who see the Church and her teachings as something hard, and not worth pursuing? Let me clarify, struggle is fine. In fact, if you read stories of the saints, I would say that struggle is a requisite of eternal life. It is through struggle that we understand our humanity, but we can also relate to Jesus. It is especially ok to struggle with things that may be happening or taught in the Church, as long as it compels an honest pursuit of the truth and Jesus Christ. I’m praying for all of you and I appreciate that you are doing the same for me and Youth/Young Adult ministry. If you have any questions of struggle, I just want to let you all know that I am available to talk about things. I may not have all the answers, but at the very least, we can pursue the truth and Jesus together. God Bless, Brett Becker Youth and Young Adult Minister  Dear friends on the journey,
I wonder if the people around Jesus thought he was a lunatic, especially in today’s gospel story. How scandalous, ridiculous and confusing Jesus’ command to eat his flesh and drink his blood must have been to his fellow Jewish people. Of course, we know he doesn’t mean literally. So what does he mean exactly? There’s nothing better than being in the presence of a loved one or friend. But sometimes their physical presence is not enough when they’re on the phone or watching TV and you’re trying to talk or connect. They are right next to you, yet their mind is elsewhere. Think about the opposite. That special person could be a thousand miles away yet so attentive and present to you when you talk on the phone or FaceTime. The absence makes you appreciate the time you have even more. In either situation we just want to be present to one another, sharing and connecting. While Jesus is not physically present to us today, he is so very present to us in all we do. If we choose to recognize him, we can find Jesus in people, events, and little moments of our lives. The liturgy is a special place of encounter with Jesus. He is all over our banquet hall: in the congregation, the presider, the Word and most especially the Eucharist. This is what Jesus means in the gospel today. When Jesus said to eat his body and drink his flesh, he meant that through the bread and wine we would encounter his presence, not his physical presence but his true Presence. When we receive the bread and wine, we are in communion with Jesus, the most fulfilling complete communion we can experience. We are taking on his very being, his spirit. We are taking on Christ. What a joyous miracle this is! This miracle comes with responsibility though. If we are in total communion with Jesus, we are taking him with us when we leave. We are now his presence in the world. That reality should give us pause. It should influence our actions, our words, our way of thinking, our decision making, and the way we view and treat certain groups of people. Imagine if we were more present to those around us. I really think our families, communities, schools, work places, country and world would experience more understanding, acceptance, love and peace. Will Jesus’ presence in you change the way you are present to your parents, spouse, kids, friends and neighbors? Siempre Adelante, Teresa Runyon Faith Life Minister  Dear Friends,
Today’s readings remind us of the power and promise of the Eucharist. That in seeking reconciliation and celebrating the Eucharist, we are receiving confirmation and strength for our personal journeys. We are asked to believe without seeing and that our belief will lead us to everlasting life. I am not a theologian. I am a scientist/businesswoman who spent the majority of my career developing therapies for life-threatening diseases. I have tried to be on the straight and narrow path with God, but have strayed more times than I’d care to admit. Yet, He has always welcomed me back home. Being a data driven person, I’ve often wondered about believing in God without seeing Him. I’ve learned that if we slow down, look and listen, that we will find God all around us and working through us:
Celebrating the Eucharist is quite emotional for me as I think about God’s love and blessings. I also think about my shortcomings, continually pray for forgiveness and strength to be the best person I can possibly be. I feel the divine surge of the Holy Spirit through the Eucharist each week. There is no doubt about what God is asking of us in the second reading (Eph 4:30–5:2): “All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us.” God is inviting us to join him on a most wonderful journey. He wants us to learn from Him, live like Him, forgive like Him and love like Him. I hope to learn from those of you further down this spiritual path with God and welcome others who are thinking about putting your feet on the trail. There’s room for us all. Siempre Adelante, Nancy Jorgesen Parish Business Manager  I’ve never lived long with hunger. I’ve gone on diets and had to stare at food I was choosing not to eat. I’ve done a lot of physical work and been peckish. I’ve occasionally skipped meals and been extra especially ravenous. But I’ve never lived with ongoing hunger; I’ve never dealt with famine. I may have said, even more than once, “I’m starving,” but that was exaggeration. The people in today’s Gospel, though, almost certainly lived with hunger as a normal and recurring condition. Archeological evidence, from studies of graves from most of the ancient world, reveals that a majority of peasants, who made up the bulk of the world’s population until relatively recently, lived with hunger and protein deficiency. Without modern technology and machinery, lacking metal plows and unable to afford beasts of burden, most subsistence farmers produced only enough, when all went well, to feed their families in a hand-to-mouth kind of way. They ate what the earth brought forth soon after it ripened. They then lived with hunger until the next crop came to maturity. Droughts and taxes often stressed the poor farming family to the breaking point. When we hear of the dogged perseverance of the crowds around Jesus in today’s Gospel, as they sought to encourage him to repeat the wonderful multiplication of the loaves, where everyone had their fill, and there was still food left over, we have to look upon them sympathetically. It also leads us to recognize the point of this passage for us. We’re not desperate about food. Our physical hunger isn’t going to get in the way of our ability to hear what God has to say…but…we have our own blind spots, places where our gaping needs, hurts and anguish overshadows our willingness to attend to what the Lord would be with us and do for us. There is an implicit invitation for each of us to bring the places of our greatest struggles into dialogue with our communion with our Lord Jesus. Where can we find companionship in our loneliness? Communion. Where can we find strength to overcome the difficult? Communion. Where can we find comfort in our physical pain? Communion. Where will we find life when we feel like we’re dying inside? Communion. In receiving the Bread of Life we’re not having God “do it for us,” we’re committing to do all that we do, be all we can be, with Jesus. It takes a conscious act when we receive to make this possible. It requires us to return to our spiritual and physical union with Jesus in the moment of our struggle. We need to remember that we are not alone and that Jesus is working in, with and through us, for our greater good and the building up of the Kingdom  Communing with Jesus is not to be done automatically or unconsciously. Jesus is bringing His whole self to it. We do well to bring our whole heart, body, mind and soul to receiving Him.
Siempre adelante! Fr. Patrick Dear Friends, Every three years the readings we hear at mass focus for several weeks in the summer on the gift of the Eucharist – the source and summit of our life as Christians. The connection between the Old Testament readings and the corresponding gospel passages are rich during this time. Because becoming familiar with the Scripture readings before we hear them proclaimed at mass can be a very enriching spiritual practice, I offer the summary below of what we can expect in the coming weeks. Please take advantage of the U.S. Catholic Bishop’s website where you can read the full text of these readings and let them sink deep into your heart www.usccb.org
 Siempre Adelante,
Dominic MacAller Director of Liturgy and Music  Dear Parish Family,
The summer is here and our recent heat wave made sure we knew it! I hope you all found a way to keep cool, whether it was in an air-conditioned shopping mall, splashing in a pool or enjoying the cool breeze at the beach. Maybe you treated yourself to a tasty frosted drink or ice cream cone. Our necessity to stay cool perhaps provided us with an opportunity to take a much-needed and enjoyable respite from our otherwise busy, same old same routine, a joy we may not have taken the opportunity to experience had the weather not been so extreme. In our gospel today, Jesus tells his apostles after their return from preaching the good news and healing many, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” To put balance back in their lives they needed time to withdraw for a while to reflect, rest, pray, and be at peace. God the Father set the example, “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation” (Gen 2:3). Jesus too “would withdraw to deserted places to pray” (Lk 5:16). While he was so available to all those in need, the poor, the sick, the outcasts, he knew there was a limit to his availability. He took the time to get away, to rest the body, mind and spirit, being at peace with the Father and the Holy Spirit, a gift he gives us too: “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (Jn 14:27). His peace gives us salvation, wholeness, health, welfare, safety and balance. As we make plans and set out on our summer vacations (or staycations), let us not miss the opportunity to recharge our inner selves. It is not about how many items we can check off our bucket list, and it should not be filled with stress in the planning and execution of our plans (I can’t help but think of the Griswolds in National Lampoon's Vacation). Consider a personal goal to take some time to rest, refocus and recharge our spiritual batteries, restoring balance in our lives, especially caregivers of children, parents, or others entrusted in our care. Find some time this summer, even if it is just 10 minutes a day, where you can have some quiet time to reconnect with God. Last week while on vacation with my husband, we stopped at Margaret Dodd Park in Pismo Beach. The weather was perfect, the view was absolutely breathtaking and my husband practiced his guitar (yes, we take it everywhere). I had the gift of God's presence and his peace. I began to thank him for the beauty of his creation, but soon found myself in complete silence and feeling happiness and peace in His presence. I could have stayed there forever, but just like the apostles after they have rested, I must return to my ministry. Now with my spiritual battery recharged, I return filled with joy and excitement for my continued service and ministry. I even came home with new ideas for the new program year. Here are some suggestions of what you can do in your “Retreat with God.” For those of you who have young children, planning some quiet, alone time may be a big challenge. Why not do it together, by spending ‘one quiet minute with God,' where your family can learn to listen for God's voice in the whisper. At first it may be more like 10 seconds, but that's okay. If you enjoy a good book, let your summer reading be an opportunity to be inspired by a saint’s life. If you enjoy the outdoors, find a beautiful and tranquil location where you see and feel the presence of God in his creation such as the beach, on a mountaintop, near a waterfall or a beautiful garden. Once you are there, ask our Lord to join you, then, just be in His presence... don't speak, just listen, and enjoy the quiet. With every breath, breathe in the peace of the Holy Spirit. If getting out to nature is not your thing, consider visiting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel or find another quiet space. If you love apps, try the 3 Minute Retreat by Loyola Press, or God Moment (3 random daily reminders to take a moment to pray) or perhaps a podcast is more your style. Do what works for you and allow your soul to be at peace. Siempre Adelante, Tere Delgado Faith Formation Minister  Dear Faith Family,
Happy summer to all of you! This Sunday’s gospel is a unique one. As you may know by now, I like to try to relate our Sunday readings to something that is relevant to us in our current lives. Upon first glance, it seems pretty difficult to do so with the instructions that Christ gives to the Apostles regarding sacks, tunics and sandals. It especially seems irrelevant to us when Jesus gives authority to the Apostles over unclean spirits. While it seems tough to relate to, there is plenty in this reading that can help us share the love of Christ with others. I don’t know about you, but I can be timid when it comes to sharing my testimony to “random people.” There have been plenty of times in my life where I just assumed that people don’t have an interest or that they do not welcome my profession of faith. Looking back though, in plenty of those times where I was hesitant and didn’t utter a word, I missed out on a great opportunity to just knock on a door to see if I am welcomed. It is such a great disservice to our faith life to assume that everyone we speak to will not welcome your message. Humility is rough; it is especially rough to exercise humility with a false idea of what it actually is. Father Patrick told me once that humility isn’t a denial of our gifts, but rather, an understanding of them. Once we understand our gifts, it is through humility that we know how effective and beautiful they can be. Especially in regard to sharing our story. Yes, Jesus does let the Apostles know that there are some houses that will not welcome their message. But Jesus also doesn’t ask the Apostles to avoid those houses. In my worst times, I assume all houses hate my message. Because of that, I hesitate to knock on doors to share God. In this gospel message, I think Jesus is instructing us to not be afraid to be declined. If we lack this fear, then sharing our story will become an everyday occurrence. So friends, be sure to share your story. Start with your friends and family and branch out from there. Let your faith be the most important part of your family, because it is through our faith that we have an understanding that we are all children of God and that we are loved. That seems like something worth sharing, even if we think no one wants to hear it. God Bless, Brett Becker Youth and Young Adult Minister
 Dear Parishioners,
With summer and our vacations almost upon us, I thought I’d take a moment to give you some encouragement to make your summer time special and close to God! It’s so important to bring a spirit of deep gratitude to God with you on vacation. So, before you travel, I encourage you to visit masstimes.org, where you can enter almost any place you will travel, even outside the U.S. You’ll get a google map with markers of the local Catholic churches and their times for Masses and confessions throughout the week, as well as a link to their webpages, if they have any. There are also some Mass-time apps for you to investigate. So plan some time on your Sunday mornings for Mass. If you’ll be visiting with friends or family in far-off places, let them know that worshipping God on Sunday morning is a priority. Most will make an effort to accommodate you. Your expressing this interest is a form of evangelizing them – proclaiming the powerful place God has in your life. If you can, keep the bulletins from the churches you visit and share them with me when you return. I learn all kinds of things from reviewing other parishes’ activities in their bulletins. By the way, many cruises have Catholic chaplains offering Mass on-board. On a different note, I encourage you to get a paperback Bible and put it in the trunk of your car, or download the Bible to your iPhone, perhaps the New American Bible, Revised Edition, which has an app for only $2.99. Put a post-it note at Psalm 104, to pray when you’re in the mountains or at the ocean – It’s a beautiful hymn of praise for all of God’s creation. Another would be Psalm 66, especially verses 614, when at the ocean or in a place where farmers bring forth food from the earth. If you’re ever in a place where you can see the Milky Way, have Psalm 8 close to hand and recount the glory of God’s heavens. Perhaps, in a place of wild beauty, you’ll want to simply reread the first chapter of the Bible, Genesis 1, on the creation of the world. A really special thing to do, in a place of wild beauty, with the spouse you love passionately, is to read the Song of Solomon together. The NABRE puts a “W” where the woman is to read, and an “M” where the man is supposed to read. There are some comical moments, comparing one’s wife to a mare, or one’s husband to an apple tree, but there are even more expressions that are beautiful. If flying gets to you, Psalm 91 is a lovely prayer for God’s calming assistance. If you’re interested in a book to share with your small children on a road trip, take a look at Does God Know How to Tie Shoes, by Nancy White Carlstrom. If you’re going to spend time with family and friends, consider avoiding politics for a while longer. Everyone’s feeling a bit fragile, and it’s so easy to spoil a good time with talk on divisive issues. Give yourself permission to kindly, kindly, tell your kin that you’d rather talk about something else. I hope you have the most wonderful journeys. It might be nice, though, to give yourself some time to really rest. God rested at the end of Creation. Leave some time for that in whatever vacation time you have. Remember, if you don’t have any vacation time coming, that if you run down to Point Mugu with a beach chair and a sandwich and whatever else you want to snack on, you can give yourself a mini-vacation at a place of spectacular beauty. We are so lucky to live where we do! As your father, I need to remind you to put on your sunscreen and have amazing adventures. Siempre adelante! Fr. Patrick Pastor  Dear Parish Family,
In the last few weeks many of us have been celebrating the promotions and graduations of the young people in our lives. We are filled with pride and are so hopeful for their future. We are confident that they will achieve great things. What will they become? In the same manner, parents who are expecting the birth of their child are filled with so much love and expectations for the future. Carefully choosing the name, one which will give them much success. And with so much hope we ask, who will this child grow up to be? This Sunday, we are reminded that God calls each of us for a special purpose. Today we celebrate the nativity of St John the Baptist, chosen before his birth, given a name by God. A name that means “God is gracious.” A name that made others question, “What will this child be?” We now know his mission was to prepare the way for the Lord. Like John the Baptist, the twelve disciples, and many of the saints, the call and task were extraordinary within the history of salvation. We too have been called, most of us the call and task are more ordinary. Using their lives as our examples of how to live our life of faith. Let us ask ourselves, who will we be? What is God’s mission for me? With full confidence, living our faith in our homes and work, with our friends and families. In our ordinary actions and words, in our successes, defeats, joys and sorrows, with God in the center of all our thoughts and actions, may we lead others to our Lord. For each and every one of us have been given certain gifts and abilities to live out our mission. And if we lose confidence, let us remember today’s Psalm: “I praise you for I am wonderfully made. Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.” Siempre Adelante, Tere Delgado Faith Formation Minister |
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