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2/14/2025 Into the WildernessDear friends on the journey, I’m looking forward to Lent, especially after the year that was January. Rather than ringing in 2025 with resolutions for better living we were overwhelmed by extreme wind, wicked fires, power outages and shutoffs, and a devastating loss of property, memories, and communities, leading to anxiety and stress. Many of us are still reeling from the last six weeks. I am very much in need of the quiet wilderness of Lent and looking forward to the opportunities our parish is offering. I’m particularly excited to share that we are having a parish mission to kick off our Lenten season. What is a parish mission? I like to call it a “shot in the arm” of spiritual renewal for the entire community, much like a retreat does but from the comforts of our parish. Generally led by a priest, religious, or layperson, a parish mission is an opportunity for us to experience the love and friendship of Jesus and to reawaken our commitment as his disciples. We are thrilled to have Fr. Ron Hoye, CM, back at our parish. You might remember him from 2013 … he’s the sunflower priest. If you weren’t here then, I promise you’re in for a real treat. Fr. Ron blends humor, story, sacrament, and spiritual reflection to inspire us. How does it work? Fr. Ron will join us for all Masses the weekend of March 2 -3 and then on Monday and Tuesday he will offer short talks on themes such as discipleship, the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit. Who should attend? All are welcome! Catholics and those who are curious about the Catholic faith. Adults, teens, kids and babies. Bring a friend or a few. Help us plan seats by RSVPing: www.padreserra.org/parish-mission. ![]() This is your personal invitation to join in this opportunity to slow down, step into the quiet wilderness, and take the time to encounter Jesus in a very special way this Lenten season. Siempre Adelante, Teresa Runyon Pastoral Associate Dear Friends, I find an interesting parallel between Simon Peter in our reading from Luke’s gospel this weekend and the writing of the apostle Paul in today’s second reading. In the gospel, after being hard at work all night fishing without any catch Simon Peter lets Jesus borrow his boat to preach to the crowd gathered at the lake. Then the Lord tells Peter “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Peter, though tired and skeptical, obeys and immediately so many fish are caught that the nets are tearing and the boats are in danger of sinking. Peter’s response is to fall to his knees in astonishment saying “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” St. Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, reminds them “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day” and goes on to detail a number of appearances the Risen Christ made including to five hundred at once. Lastly, he writes, “as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective.” What complete confidence in God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness Paul expresses here! Back to Peter in the Gospel, though. Unlike Paul, who had experienced the Risen Christ, Peter only knew that he had received a compelling call from Jesus who of course had not yet been crucified nor risen. In fact this reading takes place relatively early in Jesus’ public ministry. But Jesus’ response to Peter’s fearful admission of his sinfulness is one that looks forward, not back on Peter’s failings. “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men and women.” How mysterious this must have sounded to Peter and to James and John! But it was powerful and prophetic because “they left everything and followed him.” Did they do so perfectly? Absolutely not, and especially not Simon Peter. One moment the Lord is handing him the keys to the kingdom and the next he is telling him “Get behind me, Satan.” So what sort of rock is it upon which Jesus built his church? A flawed one beyond any doubt. And that’s where our hope lies as well as our calling, not unlike Paul’s who was also flawed. ![]() Yet we know that Peter and Paul enjoy the company of the Lord Jesus eternally in heaven. If they can get there, maybe we can too! The Scriptures, the Church, and the saints give us a roadmap, and the Lord gives us the grace to follow it. Siempre adelante, Dominic MacAller Worship Minister 2/1/2025 She Shows the WayHello Friends, Today in the Gospel, we hear about the presentation of the Lord at the temple. Mary and Joseph were pious Jews, and as prescribed, they presented Jesus to God the Father at the temple. The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. When Simeon holds Jesus in his arms, the Holy Spirit moves him to recognize that this is the long-awaited Messiah. Simeon tells Mary, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be contradicted, and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” This Gospel passage is my favorite for meditating on the fourth joyful mystery of the Rosary. This rich, short passage opens my mind to contemplate Christ’s early life with the Holy Family and Mary’s obedience as she accompanied our Lord all the way to his passion. At the temple, Mary offers Jesus to God, knowing that he is the Son of God. When Simeon says a sword will pierce, Mary knows there will be sorrow, and despite what is to come, we are taught in the Catechism that “she never ceased to believe in the fulfillment of God’s word” (CCC 149). When I flash forward to what Simeon’s prophecy will be, I imagine Michelangelo’s Pieta. Mary is holding her son’s broken body, and with her free hand, she is gesturing to offer up the Son to God. Jesus will take on the sins of the world, our sins, and this is what will come to pass. He became one of us and died so that we could be reunited with Him. Our Lady understands human suffering, which is inevitable on our journey to heaven. At the foot of the cross, despite her intense sorrow, she stays close to Jesus as he lays down his life for our salvation. Mary’s piercing of the heart was not in vain, and she shows us the path to redemptive suffering. Death on the cross was not the end of Jesus but his victory over death and sin. ![]() I take comfort in praying the Rosary, knowing that our Blessed Mother will bring my prayers to her son. When I ask our Blessed Mother for her intercession, I think of her instructions to the servers at the wedding at Cana when she says, “Do whatever he tells you.” Our Blessed Mother will take my prayers to Jesus, but I also must do whatever he tells me. Siempre Adelante! Manuel Leon Business Manager 1/25/2025 One Body, Many PartsDear friends on the journey, In today’s second reading, 1 Corinthians 12:12-30, St. Paul uses the image of a body to explain unity in the Church. He was teaching that, just as a body has many parts with different roles, each member of the Church in Corinth had unique gifts and responsibilities, that every person was needed, no matter their role. Today, this reading serves as our personal and communal reminder and encouragement to recognize our own value and the value of others in our parish community. Every person in this parish family has unique gifts and talents, and has a role to play, no matter how small it may seem. Last week we returned our 2025 covenants, placing them on the altar, hopefully, with a fervent desire to grow in your relationship with Jesus and one another and in your discipleship. I hope everyone made a commitment to the last promise: I will consider how my personal gifts can best be used in ministry and service and consciously step into an attitude of responsibility, participation, and giving. Everyone is needed – young, older, introvert, extrovert, right brain, left brain, leader, follower, quick, methodical, funny, serious, new, seasoned, advanced, learning, visioner, doer, strong, frail, working, retired, short, tall, and everyone in the middle ... everyone belongs in the body of Christ. If you are not yet involved in the life of our parish, or if you’re looking for something new or different, I strongly encourage you to visit our website to discover the ministries, events and opportunities in order to put your unique gifts, talents, and abilities to service. Contact the ministry leader for more information. If you’re not sure, come visit with me. ![]() When we use our unique gifts to serve others, we build up our parish, the Church and our community. Working together makes our parish and the Church stronger, unites us in faith and purpose and brings God’s love to the world. Siempre Adelante, Teresa Runyon Pastoral Associate 1/17/2025 God’s Spoiled ChildrenI’m convinced that the holiest people that I’ve encountered, are the ones who recognize what God has done for them. Whether if their lives or comfortable or if they are going through struggle and distress, these holy people have the ability to recognize His presence and His immense love in their lives. This Sunday’s Gospel is one of my favorites. Obviously, it is fun to meditate on the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth and the interaction between Him and our Blessed Mother is quite impactful. The fact that this miracle happened at a wedding also presents a fun way of showing God’s relationship with His people. But my favorite aspect of this miracle, is that it shows God may want to spoil his people. This may sound weird but let me explain. Sometimes we live our faith lives thinking that God only gives us just enough grace to get by. Sometimes we think that God will only give us what is necessary for our lives and nothing more. The reality is though, that God gives us an abundance of riches that we do not deserve. He is a loving Father who wants to give. At the wedding in the book of John, you may notice that after Jesus turns the water into wine, that the master was confused about why that wine tasted better than the previous wine that was served. Jesus had no reason to have his miraculous wine taste better than the “good wine,” but he may have done it to spoil the guests a bit. In various other Gospel passages, we can recognize other fun themes of Jesus spoiling his people. When he multiplied the fish and the loaves, he very well could’ve made the proper amount of food to feed his people so they can no longer feel hungry. He instead multiplied the loaves and the fish to the point where there is plenty left over. He could’ve given them “just enough,” but rather, He spoiled them a bit. The leftovers can be a sign of God’s immense love for us. I bring this up because sometimes I forget that God really does spoil me. He was not bound by obligation to die for me. He doesn’t become less powerful if I don’t have the promise of eternal life. He no longer ceases to be God if no one chose to follow Him. The fact that he intervenes in our lives is, in fact, spoiling us. We never deserved His redemptive grace, but we received it anyways. We are spoiled. ![]() Let us keep the idea that God loves us immensely. Even in times of apathy or distress, God doesn’t cease to love us. God Bless, Brett Becker Youth and Young Adult Minister |
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