2/10/2024 Separated From You, Let Me Never BeHello Friends, In today’s Gospel, Jesus is moved to compassion by the suffering of a leper. To prepare us for the scene from the Gospel of Mark, the Church gives us an essential complimentary first reading from the Old Testament. In the first reading from Leviticus, we are told what it meant to be a leper for a first-century Jew. We are reminded that a person with leprosy was considered ritually unclean and was forced to live in perpetual isolation outside of the community. For the Jews of this time, ritually clean and unclean was a serious matter. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is going to shock the Jewish witnesses to this event when he touches the unclean but remains untainted. Jesus, moved by pity and compassion for an isolated soul, will heal so that the healing can be certified as prescribed by Jewish law, and this former outcast will be allowed to rejoin the community. We learn that the leper approaches Jesus, kneeling humbly, and does not ask to be healed but to “make me clean.” The weight of isolation that the leper was experiencing must have been more painful than the physical effects of the leprosy. To remove the stain of unclean is what the leper desired most. Sin can affect us in a similar way and cause us to become distant from God. In the Sacrament of Confession, we too, through the infinite mercy of God, can receive that relief that the leper felt when Jesus said, “I do will it. Be made clean”. This scene occurs early in the Gospel of Mark, but we can see the symbolism of the beginning of Jesus’s redemptive mission in this miracle of curing the leper. In the Sacrament of Confession, we also come humbly and contrite of heart to ask our Lord to reconcile us to God and keep us in communion with his Church. Jesus never fails to renew us and feed our ongoing conversion. When we strive to change our minds and to live how Jesus is calling us, we move along on our path of conversion. Conversion is our lifelong endeavor, and the Church that Jesus founded gives us the path to be continually renewed. We will enter Lent next Wednesday, and as we prepare to renew our baptismal commitment, let us seek that inner conversion of the heart to follow Christ more faithfully. The season of Lent is the perfect time to embrace the gift of the Sacrament of Confession so that we are never distant from God. “The whole power of Penance consists in restoring us to God’s grace and joining us with him in intimate friendship” (CC1468). Manuel Leon Business Manager Dear friends on the journey, As I was preparing for this weekend’s message, today’s Psalm really spoke to me because, as I write this, I am feeling brokenhearted for so many reasons. The new year began with so much illness. Covid, the flu, and all the normal seasonal sickness has been compounded by the news from people I care about who received cancer and other diagnoses. Friends are facing surgeries and long recoveries. Children around our county have lost a parent in traumatic deaths. Parishioners are grieving the loss of spouses. My beloved high school, La Reina, is closing its doors after 60+ years of educating and forming young Catholic women in Ventura County. Broken relationships, poverty, isolation, mental health issues, chronic pain, and spiritual desolation abound. It’s only the fourth week of January and heartbreak and sadness surround me. But then God, per usual, taps my shoulder and offers me light in the darkness. Psalm 147: 1-6 reminds us to praise and worship our good and gracious God who will always rebuild what is broken, heal the heartbroken, bind our wounds, sustain us, and cast out the wicked. As people of faith, we are by no means exempt from suffering and heartbreak but we have these words as God’s promise to always be with us in that suffering. The Israelites received these promises through the prophets. Jesus lived these promises while on earth. And they are God’s promises to us now. They bring me comfort and hope that the sadness will not persist, that light and peace will return, that pain will lessen, and good will triumph. The Paschal Mystery of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection that we celebrate at every Mass is a reminder of God’s promises. I’ve shared here before the story of the little girl who tells her mom that she wants “Jesus with skin” meaning she needs her mom to be Jesus and hold her tight. Don’t we all want to feel Jesus’ embrace? If you need a Jesus hug today, don’t be afraid to ask for one. Padre Serra’s a very “huggy” place! If you know some in need, reach out to offer a hug, a shoulder, a hand for holding. Loving human touch may not subside the pain completely but it can be just the right balm in a moment between friends. This week I invite you to pray with Psalm 147. Call to mind your own heartbreak, current or in the past. Offer gratitude for the wounds that have healed or are still in process. Ask God not to let your suffering be wasted but rather be put to good use, to help others. Consider that neighbors, coworkers and friends may be living with heartbreak right now and simply pray for them. Then give praise to God who continually heals the brokenhearted and offers hope. Siempre Adelante, Teresa Runyon Pastoral Associate Dear Padre Serra Community, Growing up, I had a habit of finding long forgotten boxes in the garage and rummaging through them to discover lost treasures. Lovingly called “fishing trips” by my father, I still enjoy this pastime especially when visiting my parents – although now I know to ask permission first! On one such excursion recently, I found a photo of my brother, two sisters, and me in our uniforms ready for the first day of school at St. Gregory the Great. Dated September 1991, it marked the first day that all four of us were at the same school together. It was not lost on me that I’ll be able to take a similar picture next August as my youngest will start transitional kindergarten at St. Mary Magdalen. As we celebrate National Catholic Schools’ Week this week, I am grateful for the impact Catholic education has played in my life and am thankful that Melissa and I can share that gift with our three children. Over the coming days, we can also reflect on the unique and enriching journey of faith, knowledge, and community that defines our Catholic schools. This week is a special time to recognize the profound impact of Catholic education on the hearts and minds of our students. At. St. Mary Magdalen School, we strive to nurture not only academic excellence but more importantly, values rooted in our faith. Together, we create a vibrant community where love, compassion, and service are woven into the fabric of everyday learning. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond the classroom, shaping young men and women who are not only well-prepared academically but also grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Catholic Schools Week is an opportunity to express gratitude for the dedication of our educators, the enthusiasm of our students, and the unwavering support of our families. It's a time to celebrate the unique bond that unites us in our shared journey of faith and education. Siempre Adelante! Michael Ronan Michael Ronan Principal P.S. If you have school aged children and are interested in sending them to St. Mary Magdalen or just want to visit our school, I’d love to invite you for a personal tour of our campus home. Also, note that we are currently accepting applications for the 2024 – 2025 school year for all grades. More information is available on our website www.smmschool.net 1/18/2024 PrayingPraying A Reflection from Michelle Vivirito “Lord, I’m not going to keep praying. You see the obstacles in my path. If you want me in church, then you must help. That's all I’ll say. Amen.” When I'm alone, as I often am, and watching a funny movie or reading a humorous book, I seldom laugh out loud. Humor is best when it is shared. But this passage from Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water evoked a rueful snicker because it struck close to home. In Catholic high school, I was taught the different types of prayer. I recall at least four types: prayers of worship, intercession, thanksgiving, and petition. There are probably more, probably seven since there seems to be seven of everything. But it’s those prayers of petition that are the problem. Faith isn’t easy for me. I am one of God’s willful children. I’m seldom very sinful, at least not anymore, but certainly willful. I've been disappointed by prayer. Who hasn’t been? When people say, “God always answers prayers; sometimes the answer is no,” I want to have a tantrum. A willful child wants the answer to be, “Yes, my darling. Of course, my dear.” This is why I do not ask for specific outcomes anymore. Instead, I pray for specific people. For their happiness, courage, and comfort but not with words. I close my eyes and conjure up the face of someone I know and love. I linger over the arch of an eyebrow, the smooth or lined forehead, the pout of a mouth. And I hold that image in my head — no, that’s not right — I hold the image in my heart. And I just stay with it as I feel holiness surround me with happiness, courage, and comfort. Michelle is a longtime parishioner of Padre Serra and a member of our Writers Group. 1/13/2024 An Opportunity to ServeBrothers & Sisters, The world is on fire! Chaos and violence spread everywhere. Our faith is under attack at home as well as abroad. The Middle East has been fighting the same battle for over a thousand years. How do we go forward? Do we hunker down and seek safety inside our homes, or are we called to do more? Father Patrick has said we have to do the good that is within arm’s reach. We are Lance and Maria King, members of the Equestrian Order of The Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, (EOHSJ). The Order dates back to medieval times with its mission to liberate and protect Christians in Jerusalem and the Lands of Jesus. The Order’s mission remains much the same today, but rather than swords and horses, we act on the truths of our faith by delivering charity and hope to Christians most vulnerable in the region. We provide educational and professional assistance that will enable them to secure their place in the Holy Land. Founded 924 years ago, in 1099 AD, by Sir Geoffrey de Bouillon, we are the oldest papal order in the world with formations across the globe. In February 1996, Pope John Paul II recognized the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulcher as an Order of the faithful. Maria and I are currently the only member couple at Padre Serra, and are looking to nominate 6 couples to represent Padre Serra and also Ventura County. We would like to invite you to consider serving as a Knight and Dame of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Nominees must be active in the parish as well as the local community. Their Catholic life should be of the highest example, and have a capacity to serve. We will happily meet with you to answer your questions and assist through the process until your investiture. “A person should aspire to knighthood. A knight must aspire to be worthy. The worthy aspire to deliver truth and mercy.” Deus lo Vult God wills it, Sir Lance & Dame Maria King |
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