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4/20/2025 He is Truly Risen!When the economy has unusual ups and downs, when politics are uncertain, when society is divided, to whom do you turn? When the talking heads on the news programs are all yelling at each other, when the influencers are being arrested for the crazy things they do to get attention, and when you’re uncertain about both political party leaders’ decisions, where do you find truth? For people of faith, there can be only one answer: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). True, we learn from Him that there will be hard times, betrayals, false judgments and condemnations, followed by genuine, great suffering. We will all have times when it is important to provide ourselves confidence and hope, in spite of the news, the politics, the economy...whatever. But the difficulties are certainly not the only message we learn from the dying and rising of Jesus. After struggle and death comes renewed life. It might be very important this year to take this faith of ours as our frame of reference to live well in these times, since when all else can seem dark, our faith remains a springboard for hope. We don’t take this approach with foolish optimism. We are intimately joined to the world’s problems by our commitment to the Lord who created it. And because of that deep connection, we are forced to confront the world’s reality, and where possible, to do the good within our arms reach to address the world’s wounds. But even as we do so, we remember the primordial stories of the creation, where God saw that what he made was good, and that those made in his image and likeness are capable of being very good. We recall God’s original intent, of placing us in a beautiful and productive garden, with worthy companionship, a sense of purpose in caring for that garden, where, in the cool breeze of the evening, God would walk among us and call us by name. God intended us to know our purpose and be happy. How good it would be to surrender to God’s original plan. With this as our goal, we remain people of gratitude and hope, with confidence in our own renewal, as well as the world’s. We recognize the grace operating in our lives, and that alongside struggle is triumph, that wounds can be healed and cancer cured, wars are not forever, and that as spring follows winter, struggling adolescents become loving and confident young adults. Renewal happens.  Our world is full of hope for better things. On this Easter Sunday, in particular, we celebrate that for Jesus, and for us, death is not the end. He is risen...truly risen. Alleluia. May you be surprised by happiness this Easter, Fr. Patrick Mullen Pastor 4/12/2025 PassionGod becoming man may seem enough for Him to express His immense passion for His people. Becoming mortal seems reckless, and what kind of God would be willing to experience pain to ensure salvation for His people? To put it simply, only a passionate God would do that. Passion is interesting. It’s probably a word we throw around loosely. We aren’t shy about using this word pertaining to our hobbies and interests, but it means more than that. When we express that God is passionate for His people, it means that he we will go through any means to simply give them the opportunity for salvation. In the Second Letter to the Philippians, St. Paul expresses Christ’s passion very clearly. God is so passionate for us, that he “humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” A God who is willing to walk with His people is striking. A God who is willing to become mortal and experience death is shocking. A God who is willing to be executed, is outright baffling. This truly expresses God’s infinite passion for us. Not only does he want to spoil his people with eternal life, he is willing to experience, not just death, but a gruesome and inhumane death, so we can be with Him in eternity. How should we respond? With gratitude. As we dive into Holy Week, there may be challenging times. Sometimes guilt kicks in, sometimes apathy among other difficult feelings. But the whole point of this week is for us to truly embrace the idea that your God will go through any means to save you. And he already has. Let’s not dwell on guilt or pain, but rather, let’s respond by thanking Him. As we dive into Holy Week, my prayer is that we can all dive into the uncomfortable nature of the God’s passion. Not because we are striving to feel unworthy. But rather, so we can fully embrace that our God loves us so much and we should respond with true gratitude and celebrate that our God conquered death, for us to live in eternal life. Just because He loves Us.  I look forward to celebrating our God’s triumph over death. And I look forward to celebrating it with all of you.
God Bless, Brett Becker Youth and Young Adult Minister Dear Friends, With more of Lent 2025 in the rearview mirror than in front of us, and with Holy Week and Easter not far ahead, it seems a good time to take stock of where we are in our quest for closeness with God. Today’s Scripture readings (we’ll hear different ones at 11:00 am because of the 3rd Scrutiny of the Elect) begin with a passage from Isaiah: Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I must confess that my knee-jerk answer to that question is often “no.” But when I take the (sometimes) long view back, I can see — if not the actual working of God “doing something new” — then perhaps the fruit of that. The issue there isn’t God – it’s me. I’m reminded of this excerpt from the Prayer of Teilhard de Chardin: Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. I’ve mentioned the bridge between the Gospel and the Old Testament reading that is so often there in our Sunday Liturgy of the Word. Today’s Gospel story from John is that of the Lord’s mercy to the woman caught in the very act of adultery. Jesus here is certainly “doing something new.” In the hope of bringing a charge against him, the scribes and Pharisees quote the law that commands such a woman be stoned and await Jesus’ response. Jesus’ “something new” is, of course, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one her accusers left until there was no one left to condemn her (and no plausible charge to be brought against him, either). Jesus says “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” How active the spirit of wisdom is. Jesus teaches a gentle lesson in humility to a crowd on the cusp of self-righteous violence. His appeal to their better selves saves them and their intended victim from a terrible sinful action. He certainly must have surprised the poor woman in the story with such mercy. But remember that Jesus also said he had not come to abolish the law and the prophets, but rather to fulfill them. Perhaps the most important “new thing” is his revealing the deep tender love and mercy that lies at the foundation of the law and the prophets, the bedrock upon which the Word of God (Jesus himself) stands.  Wouldn’t our world be a better place if we were “doing something new”? And if it were showing unexpected mercy and compassion? What would that look like for you?
Siempre Adelante, Dominic MacAller Worship Minister 3/29/2025 Turning HomeHello Friends, A recent article in the Wall Street Journal about a homeless man’s journey gripped my attention. The homeless man, Rob, was a husband, father, and successful lawyer living what most would see as a good life. Mental illness took hold, and a downward spiral commenced. By the time the article was written, he had been on the streets of Los Angeles for two years. Unfortunately, like many homeless, the mental illness made him believe he was fine living on the streets of LA. He was not dangerous to other people, and he could be completely lucid. Rob had many people who loved him and wanted to help him escape the streets. He is from Virginia, and his mother and sister worried about him constantly. They tried to help him many times. But as is the story with many homeless people, Rob came to believe that he preferred the streets rather than being subjected to treatment for his mental illness. I see God acting in our world today, and I can see it in Rob’s story. Rob’s mother prayed that her son would get off the streets and take medication that would heal his mental illness. The miracle came after Rob once again talked his way out of a treatment facility. While back on the streets, the glow in the sky and debris from the recent LA fires triggered something in him. The miracle came when he contacted his mother in Virginia and asked her if he could go home. Like the father in our Gospel story today, Rob’s mother wasted no time running out to meet her son. She immediately flew to LA, found Rob at the library in Silver Lake, and took him to his childhood home in Virginia, where he began his recovery. God willing, this will be the beginning of Rob’s sustainable recovery. I have zero expertise to comment on the mental illness factor, but I can’t help but see conversion in Rob’s story. In a moment of clarity, he asks to return home. In today’s Gospel, there are two brothers—and two conversion stories. There is the more well-known conversion of the prodigal son. But the older brother is also in need of conversion. The parable reveals that the older brother’s adherence to the father’s commandments was not done with a loving heart. The older brother’s resentment spews out in anger toward the father. We don’t know the reaction of the older son when his father responds to the anger with love and mercy. “My son, you are here with me always Everything I have is yours.” The older brother’s character reminds us that conversion is a lifetime process. Pope Francis spoke pointedly to Vatican officials in 2022 on the need for lifetime conversion. This was in the context that we should not think of ourselves as safe just because we are now home in the Church. The message resonates with me because I spend my days at the parish. The Pope said, “Let me put it this way: they are ‘elegant demons’: they enter smoothly, without our even being conscious of them. Only the daily practice of the examination of conscience can enable us to be aware of them. Hence the importance of the examination of conscience, to keep watch over our house.”  Let us embrace God’s love and mercy with our hearts and minds so that we may be the disciples of Christ we desire to be.
Siempre adelante, Manuel Leon Business Manager 3/22/2025 Fruitful FreedomDear friends on the journey, Have you heard the modern-day parable of the man caught in a storm? With flood waters rising, he takes to his roof, praying for God to save him. Along comes a rowboat. When asked to get in the boat, the man declines, saying, “God will save me. I have faith.” This happens again when a motor boat comes along. Again the man declines and continues praying for God to save him. Finally, as the water rises higher, a helicopter flies over, dangling a rope, with an invitation to climb up. The man declines once more, sure that God will save him. He eventually drowns and dies. Upon arrival in heaven, the man asks God why he was not saved. God replied, “I sent you two boats and a helicopter. What more did you want?” Today’s readings remind me of this story. The Israelites have long been enslaved in Egypt, but seeing their suffering and pain, God promises to Moses to save them from slavery. Moses asks God for a response to the anticipated question from the Israelites about whom sent Moses. God tells Moses to say, “I AM sent me to you.” In today’s gospel, Jesus offers the parable of the fig tree that has not produced fruit in three years. The gardener assures the owner, who’s ready to cut down the seemingly dead tree, that with good cultivation, fertilization, and patience, the fig tree will yield fruit in one year. We often feel trapped by our own sins and problems and, like the Israelites in Egypt, can feel like there is no escape. But God’s promise shows that there is always hope. God’s action in freeing the Israelites is a reminder of God’s constant love and desire for our freedom from the struggles that bind us. We are called to trust in God’s timing and ways. Luke’s parable highlights God’s patience. The gardener’s request for more time is a reminder that God does not give up on us easily. God gives us time to change and grow in faith. However, we must respond to this opportunity. We are called to use the time wisely by cultivating and fertilizing our soil of faith.  God did not forget the Israelites, and God does not forget us ... so don’t be like the man in the storm who didn’t recognize God. In these last weeks of Lent, be attentive to God’s constant presence in your life, trust and lean on God’s desire to help, and actively work toward freedom, preparing your soil to yield good fruit.
Siempre Adelante, Teresa Runyon Pastoral Associate 3/15/2025 Called from Darkness into LightFriends, Lent is a beautiful time carved out, in the wisdom of the church, for each of us to pause, look at where we are and where we are being called to transform. Today’s readings and imagery of darkness and light provide a perspective on this spiritual dynamic of transformation. Though Abram is so faithful God promises his descendants to be as numerous as the stars. Still Abram has some doubts and needs assurances of the Promised Land. In the darkness of his sacrifice and prayer, God lights a fire to affirm His covenant. Today’s responsorial psalm is so clear - The Lord is My Light and My Salvation. As we are called to wait for the Lord to call us to himself, we wait and prepare our souls for him. In our second reading, St Paul is reminding us to surround ourselves with people of the light. We need to surround ourselves with people who strive for Jesus’ presence in their lives. The Transfiguration account in Luke’s Gospel also has imagery of brilliant light amidst the darkness. Peter and the other disciples are frightened until God reveals that Jesus is the one to follow. We are called to examine where we may be living in the darkness. We may find that we are too focused on temporary comforts or earthly successes, which can lead us away from the true light of Christ. Just as the people Paul describes are enslaved to their desires, we may sometimes be enslaved to habits or attachments that dim our spiritual vision. But there is good news. Paul speaks of the hope and transformation that awaits us. He contrasts the “earthly” mindset with the “heavenly” citizenship: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” This shift from darkness to light begins when we set our hearts and minds on the heavenly things—the things that are eternal and grounded in Christ. As we move through the Lenten season, we are invited to step out of the darkness of sin and into the light of Christ. This journey requires repentance and renewal. It asks us to examine the parts of our lives that need the healing touch of Christ’s light. And it calls us to live as citizens of heaven, with our hearts fixed on the eternal and our actions reflecting the light of Christ in the world. Where in your life do you see the shadow of darkness, the pull of earthly desires or attachments? How can you, through prayer, fasting, and reflection, shift your focus from the things of this world to the heavenly prize Christ offers? As you walk this Lenten journey, remember that Christ’s light is powerful enough to lead you out of the darkness into a life of joy, peace, and eternal hope.  The refrain of Christopher Walker’s hymn Out of Darkness beautifully expresses God’s desire for us this Lenten season:
Out of darkness, God has called us, Claimed by Christ as God’s own people, Holy nation, royal priesthood, Walking in God’s marv’lous light. Blessings on the journey, Deacon Joe and Kim Torti 3/8/2025 Blessed and Joyful LentDear Parish Family, I wish you all a joyful Lenten season. I wonder how many of you may think why I would use the word joyful when so often we think of the Lenten season as a time of sacrifice and giving up many of our favorite indulgences. A time where some would say we are more somber and reflective, perhaps even mournful. I say joyful because every Lent is an opportunity to hit restart or have a do over, in our lives. It’s the perfect time not only to abandon self-destructive habits, but also to form new life-giving habits, habits that can extend beyond the 40 days of Lent. This should fill us with hope and joy, that it is not too late to start over again. I love the way Fr. Patrick reminds us about our Lenten sacrifices, how it is OK if we fail, they should be difficult and challenging. Yet we must remember though we may fail, we should start again every time this is how we know it is worth doing. Parish family, another reason this should fill us with joy, we do not do this alone — our Lord is with us in our journey. There is no sacrifice or difficulty that we encounter in our lives that our Lord Jesus did not endure himself. In our Gospel today, we hear about how Jesus was tempted in the desert by the devil. He was tempted in his physical human needs, knowing Jesus was experiencing hunger. He tempted him in his emotional and spiritual needs, offering him power and glory. He was provoked and taunted to prove he was God. Yet our Lord did not fall for the devil's tricks. He chose to fully trust in God the father’s will for him. He used his time in the wilderness to pray and prepare himself for his mission. In a similar way during this Lenten season let us take the time to reflect on the choices that we make each day, how this reflects our priorities and what we consider to be important to us. Is our relationship with God the priority of our lives? How much time do we spend with our Lord? What about our relationships with the body of Christ? Is there someone we have neglected or we need to reconcile with? How are we preparing to fulfill our mission? Jesus’s response to the devil’s temptations remind us that God is to take priority in our lives. Our Lenten practices prepare us to choose God above everything else in our lives. As we journey in those moments of wilderness in our lives, let us use those moments to pray and reflect. But we can not stay there, we must return and take action, make changes that bring us closer to our Lord. Where we can magnify the Lord that lives in us. With the confidence and trust that our God will give us the strength we need to do all things.  In this spirit, I suggest a simple Lenten challenge this week, not just to give something up but to take action. Such as to phone a long lost friend or relative, and reconnect, visit a sick person, or invite someone to join you to Mass next Sunday. What a joyous encounter this could be. Whatever it may be, may it bring you closer to our Lord.
I will be praying for you, please pray for me too. Siempre Adelante, Tere Delgado Faith Formation Minister 2/28/2025 Some Lenten Suggestions
May your Lent be filled with grace upon grace!
Fr. Patrick 2/22/2025 RetreatThis upcoming weekend, from February 28th-March 2nd, 112 teens and young adults will be attending our annual Year 2 Confirmation Retreat. It is one of our most impactful events of the year and we would all love your prayers throughout your weekend! I am blessed to be a part of this retreat every year, and usually it is during our Lenten Season, which feels appropriate. We go away from the world, just like Jesus did, to gain clarity and encouragement regarding God’s will and His infinite love for us. I know a lot of us are unable to attend personal retreats throughout the year. It’s hard to create time to attend a full weekend due to our busyness (although, I do strongly recommend going to an annual retreat). Luckily for us though, Lent is intended to be a retreat-like experience and everyone is invited to follow the footsteps of our Lord. Lent is a retreat. The Y2 retreat weekend involves fasting (from phones, mostly), almsgiving (our leaders devote so much time to the teens), and definitely prayer. While it may not feel like the “real world” at the retreat, it is intended to help the retreatants to invite God into every aspect in their lives post- retreat. It is to help them to see that their God loves them immensely, and that truth doesn’t go away when a retreat ends. Retreats make reality more clear; you are God’s beloved. What is Lent? It is quite similar. Yes, we are following the footsteps of Jesus, but it is not intended to stop there. The Lenten season’s main goal is for us to realize that God would do anything for you, because he loves you. That truth really sticks out during Lent, and hopefully that truth doesn’t stay only within that season. Hopefully Lent, with all its almsgiving, fasting and prayer, is a retreat for you to encounter Jesus, and heed his call for you, in discipleship. As the teens are off at the retreat center in Ojai, please keep them in your prayers. Pray that they truly encounter God, in whatever small or big ways, and that they
become convinced through this encounter. Convinced that Jesus is Lord, and it is an honor to be His disciple. God Bless, Brett Becker Youth and Young Adult Minister 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 1/11/2025 Holy Trinity revealedDear Parish Family, In today’s Gospel, we encounter another great epiphany. In the Baptism of our Lord, the Holy Trinity is revealed to us. This is one of the most clear moments where we hear about ALL three persons in God. The Holy Spirit descending in the bodily form of a dove, visible for all present to see. The voice of God speaking, revealing Jesus as his son, both human and divine, heard also by those present. Jesus, God made flesh present in the waters with John. The Holy Trinity, one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, shows Himself in Christ, through Him, with Him and in Him. We are so loved by our God, that he humbled himself to be made flesh like us. He continues to unite himself to us. At his Baptism, Jesus being divine and free of any sin, humbled himself and had John baptize him. He had no need to be cleansed by the waters of baptism, for he had no sin to be washed away. Rather, through his baptism he sanctified the waters by his descent into them. It is out of love, that he reinforces this as a sacrament, for us. For us Baptism not only forgives sins, but infuses the life of God into the soul, making us God’s children. In the Rite of Baptism, we are anointed with the Chrism oil, as priest, prophet and king. This should be a reminder of our mission, just like Jesus, after he was baptized he began his ministry; we too are given the power through the Holy Spirit to go out into the world and begin our ministry. With every sacrament, we continue to receive His grace and strength to follow in Jesus’ path. In celebration of Jesus’ baptism and our own, look for your baptismal keepsakes and share them with your family. Let us celebrate that we too are God’s beloved.
Siempre Adelante, Tere Delgado Faith Formation Minister 1/3/2025 Jesus is our Light Dear friends on the journey, I have always loved maps, especially on road trips. Give me a Thomas Guide or AAA TripTik and I’ll be a happy navigator. Cell phone apps work too but greater satisfaction comes when I can see the bigger picture, generally provided by a paper map. Before I head out to an unfamiliar destination, you can bet I’ve poured over Google Maps, noted landmarks and, for the most part, memorized the general route. So, I have to say, simply following the light of a star in the sky to find a destination would cause me great anxiety. Yet that is exactly what the three magi did in Matthew’s Gospel proclaimed today, the Feast of the Epiphany. This feast commemorates the journey of the wise men from the east seeking the Christ child. Their journey began with a star shining brightly in the sky, beckoning them to action. Not knowing exactly where or to what it would lead, they embarked on an incredible journey with tremendous courage and trust. Though they were bringing gifts, the magi had no idea that they were to meet the greatest gift of all. Epiphany means to show, to reveal or to make known. Today’s feast is about God fully, openly and clearly revealing Jesus to the whole world, to all nations and all peoples for all time. This story of the wise men is really a story of spiritual pilgrimage. It’s our story too. We are being invited to step with courage and trust to step out of our familiar into the unknown, following the light of the start to the Light, the incarnate Jesus, in our every day, and to be transformed by him. Today is also covenant day. On behalf of the pastoring team, I ask you to take a covenant home and prayerfully consider all the promises. Side one holds the promises made by the pastoral team to you and the second side outlines new promises for you, individually and/or as a family, to commit to this year. Allow these suggestions to be your epiphany, to be the guiding light of your spiritual journey in 2025. Then, like the magi, return it as a gift to Jesus to the altar next week. Be sure to keep a copy on your refrigerator and review each week.  Just imagine how our parish will grow together, stronger, and closer in our domestic churches and a parish family, as we strive to encounter Jesus and be his disciples. Siempre Adelante, Teresa Runyon Pastoral Associate 12/27/2024 Were they perfect? Must we be?Dear Friends, Today, with all the sounds, sights, smells and tastes of Christmas fresh in our minds, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, and well we should. Never has there been such a family where dad is a saint (but he did consider divorce), mom is the (unwed) mother of God, and Jesus – well, he is divine (and an illegitimate child by the human standards of the time). The scriptures tell us that Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor. Today’s gospel tells us of the wrenching experience for Mary and Joseph of discovering that their precious boy has somehow gone missing on the trip back from Passover in Jerusalem. They find him in the temple back in Jerusalem after searching for an entire day among their relatives and acquaintances and three more days in Jerusalem. Can you imagine their anxiety? And Jesus’ response to them seems markedly un-apologetic (though the Gospel also says that he went with them back to Nazareth and was obedient). I think most of us have heard something like “God writes straight with crooked lines.” That idea is often (rightly, I think) invoked as reassurance that our weakness, lack of courage, and sinfulness will not ultimately frustrate God’s loving plan. But I also think it can help us get a more balanced view of the Holy Family when we think about Jesus’ human ancestry. See the beginning of Matthew’s gospel. Jesus’ human forbears included wonderful people, but also included ordinary people, and some bad people: thieves, adulterers, murderers, and the like. Fr. Ron Rolheiser, writing about Jesus and the Holy Family as an example of God writing straight with crooked lines, quotes theologian Raymond Brown: “The God who wrote the beginnings with crooked lines also writes the sequence with crooked lines, and some of those lines are our own lives and witness. A God who did not hesitate to use the scheming as well as the noble, the impure as well as the pure, men to whom the world harkened and women upon whom the world frowned – this God continues to work through the same mélange. If it is a challenge to recognize in the last part of Matthew’s genealogy that totally unknown people were part of the story of Jesus Christ, it may be a greater challenge to recognize that the unknown characters of today are an essential part of the sequence.” So I’d like to suggest that on this Feast, we find encouragement and the inspiration, perhaps, to re-commit ourselves to our baptismal promises, conscious that not only can God save humanity in spite of all our imperfections, but that God can – and will – create something new and beautiful. Even with us. Even in our families with all of their beauty and all of their ... everything else. For a long time, it has been Catholic church teaching that we are all called to holiness, nothing less. The call is universal and the call is irrevocable. No one is exempt, no matter how humble or exalted they may be. It’s rooted in our baptism and in the Paschal Mystery that we celebrate at every Mass. So instead of seeing the Holy Family as something ideal to gaze upon from afar, something we can never aspire to, let’s instead take courage and ask them to guide us on the path that ultimately leads us to a part of the eternal whole that is God, all of us, together.
Siempre adelante, Dominic MacAller Worship Minister 12/21/2024 Merry ChristmasOur world is complex, isn’t it? We witness, on the one hand, beautiful graces, sincerely good people, clever and stunning art and all the loveliness of nature. Frankly speaking, though, there is also much darkness. Both the light and the dark demand our attention. Where will we focus? On the uplifting and ennobling, or on the discouraging and tarnished? Do we even have a choice? We can’t afford to be naïve. But can we wear ourselves out by the broken and sordid? What I’d like to invite you to do is see things, eyes wide open and taking it all in, as God does. His glance is hardly inexperienced or gullible. As God glances, He’s not seeking to understand...He knows. And with that, it’s curious to observe that God is, essentially, the ultimately informed optimist. His hopes for us, and about us, are great. He desires our happiness and is willing to work with us to achieve it – thus the Baby in Bethlehem. The Old Testament makes it clear that God always knew what would happen to His Son, and yet He also knew that crucifixion wasn’t a conclusion, and that death wasn’t the end. And with that foreknowledge, God glances on you and me, and sees, yes, the flaws, but also the potential, knowing that our brokenness is not the last word, that there would also be growth and greater goodness, that we might actually achieve the noteworthy and beautiful. And so he risked it all with the birth of this Baby, choosing helplessness and dependence, to achieve a more caring humanity. I hope that we can all be a part of God’s greater plan for the world, and that with Mary and Joseph we can make a place for Jesus, welcoming Him into our lives, and letting Him lead us to increased kindness and integrity, honesty and virtue.  May the Child of Bethlehem make His way into your heart this Christmas, and bless you and yours with peace. Fr. Patrick 12/13/2024 If Every Day Was Like ChristmasDear friends on the journey, These last eight weeks have been exceptionally challenging for so many in our community. So much loss of life, health, property, security, and stability has affected me here at Padre Serra and personally. Grief and stress have taken a toll on my body, mind and soul. I know I’m not alone in the experience as I’ve sat with many others going through something of their own. And in the late, dark hours, I have felt God’s assurance that he is with me in the storm. So, the sights and sounds of Christmas have been a welcome lift to my spirits (even two weeks before Thanksgiving)! Decorated houses bring so much joy and light to the longer nights. And Christmas would not be complete without music, especially Elvis’ holiday albums. I’ve been listening to Elvis all my life but the other day I was struck deeply by his song If Every Day Was Like Christmas. Oh why can’t every day be like Christmas, Why can’t that feeling go on endlessly For if every day could be just like Christmas, What a wonderful world this would be Haven’t we all wondered that too? What is it about this time of year that seems to change us for the better? Everyone’s mood and spirit are lighter. Generosity increases. More compassion and kindness are extended. Reconciliation in relationships becomes important. Calls for peace and goodwill are shouted a little louder. So yes, why can’t every day of the year be like Christmas? Why can’t we experience all this in spring and summer too? In March, how can we shout for the same joy, O daughter Zion? In May, why can’t we cry out with the joy and gladness for our savior preached by Isaiah in today’s Responsorial Psalm? In July, how can we rejoice, like we are today on Gaudete Sunday? In September, why can’t truly work on bringing about the peace that God promises in the second reading? I think we can find answers in our gospel. John the Baptist tells us to share our goods and food with someone who has nothing, to be satisfied with what we have, to live our baptism in Christ, and to receive and preach the Good News always, not just seasonally. The Good News is our faith and belief that brokenness, suffering and death do not have the final word, that resurrection, new life, healing and love will always come. Jesus gave his life to make this promise known to us. Shouldn’t we lean on that more? It is this Good News that helps my heart, spirit and body heal after so much loss.  As we approach Christmas, let us resolve to carry Christmas spirit, generosity, gladness, joy, light, and peace into the new year to make every day like Christmas. Happy Advent and Merry Christmas, Teresa Runyon Pastoral Associate 12/7/2024 God is Faithful to His PromisesFriends, In our Gospel today, we are introduced to the prophetic message of John the Baptist, who calls for repentance and the preparation of hearts for the coming of the Messiah. The passage, with its vivid imagery of valleys being filled, mountains made low, and crooked paths straightened, presents a powerful message of renewal and hope. It begins by naming the political rulers of the time - Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate, Herod, and others - who represent the power structures of the world. These rulers represent a world marred by sin, injustice, and suffering. Regrettably, not much has changed in our day. In both the historical and present day context, God’s voice breaks through. In the face of the political and social turmoil of their and our time, this was and still is a message of profound hope. We live in very difficult times. Social and political division are pervasive and persistent themes in our news, social media and conversations. It is easy (and our human tendency) to let this occupy an inordinate amount of space in our minds and hearts. When we are in the midst of this, we can easily feel distant from God’s loving presence. John’s role as a prophet was to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah by urging them to repent and make their hearts ready. His call to repentance is not just about turning away from sin, but also about making space for God’s transformative work in their lives. It is an invitation to clear away the obstacles that hinder the right relationship with God. When we open ourselves to His forgiveness and renewal, we make room for God to enter our lives with His grace and mercy. This is a message of hope for those of us who feel burdened, oppressed, or discouraged. It reminds us that no matter how difficult or painful life may seem, God’s salvation is at hand. We can look to the simple ways God has and will continue to bring us hope. The evidence is all around us. No matter what happens in our lives, morning comes, the sun shines or rain falls which brings life and light to the world. Rain will clean and refresh the world around us. The sun will surely come and nourish the plants and our souls with light and warmth. Night comes for our rest and restoration of our body and soul. Take these cues that God provides each of us every day to: pause, be thankful and notice His work of renewal amidst our world, and create the space for God to share His particular hope and renewal for us.  As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we are reminded that God is faithful to His promises and that He is working to bring about the fullness of His kingdom, where hope and peace will reign forever.
Wishing you and your family and Happy and Blessed Advent! Deacon Joe Torti Deacon Joe and Kim Torti 11/22/2024 Gratitude & Unity in TragedyDear friends on the journey, The morning of November 6 was like no other. Americans woke up either feeling happy and relieved or angry and dismayed, or somewhere in between. Residents of central Ventura County quickly turned their attention to the news of a fire near Balcom Canyon. Our business manager Manuel Leon got the call, one for which we signed up yet would take us all by surprise. Ventura County Emergency Services needed the Serra Center as the Mountain Fire evacuation center. Manuel paved the way for the mid-morning arrival of county personnel, followed soon by the on-call trained Red Cross volunteers and then the first evacuees. Space was designated for registration, dining, sleeping, and medical care. All necessary equipment and supplies arrived — computers, air purifiers, food, water, first aid, cots and blankets. If we had to choose a week for this to happen, November 6 - 10 was ideal. By the grace of God, we had no funerals, weddings, rentals, or events. It was a “light” week. Classes and some meetings were cancelled without trouble. No one seemed to mind. There were bigger things to worry about in Camarillo. Santa Ana winds fueled the fire and transported it faster and farther each hour, threatening more homes and families in west and north Camarillo. On one side of the campus, more evacuees arrived to await news of their house. Besides opening the doors, retired firefighter Deacon Neil Kingsley opened the heart of Padre Serra to welcome and care for 100+ people, including Padre Serra parishioners, who found refuge in their own spiritual home. I can only imagine the comfort that must have brought to them. On the other side of campus, the parish office phone began to ring, and ring, and ring. Parish business seemed to just stop, opening the lines for questions like, Do you need volunteers? Do you need food, water, toys, money, pet supplies, volunteers? Concerned citizens and businesses from all over called to offer help. The media wanted to know the stories. For every call that Sr. Lana answered, three messages came in and all were returned, all done so with Sr. Lana’s friendly, calming voice, extending sincere appreciation for their call and giving gentle direction for helping. As more and better information became available, the messaging changed but Sr. Lana’s demeanor never did. I estimate over the five days our parish office and staff received upwards of 300 calls, emails and texts. Fr. Patrick has been watching and praying from a distance, calling those parishioners who lost homes. The gospel of November 3, the Sunday before the Mountain Fire, was Jesus’ reminder to us of the two greatest commandments, to love God and to love one’s neighbor. No greater example of living these commandments could be seen than by the generosity and care of the Camarillo community demonstrated that week. Today, looking back on those days, I don’t remember exactly what I was doing, but I do know that I had a front row seat to the generosity only a disaster can bring. With Thanksgiving approaching, I am holding both the devastation for so many families with my gratitude for witnessing human kindness, goodness and generosity.  The Mountain Fire tragedy on November 6 was a reminder that, in the big picture of life, election results and opposing views do not matter. Today, as we celebrate Christ the King, we are reminded of the most important kingdom, a kingdom where people come together for one purpose, to love our neighbor.
With abundant gratitude, Teresa Runyon Pastoral Associate 11/15/2024 InheritanceHappy Sunday! Whenever I watch shows or movies about inheritances, there is always a theme of people trying to earn it, no matter what. Whether it’s Willy Wonka, Succession or even Game of Thrones, there always seems to be a war between the greedy and powerful. In some cases, the meek and humble succeed, but the vast majority of characters are greedy and cutthroat. These stories are meant to make you feel uncomfortable. In today’s responsorial psalm, we proclaim “You are my inheritance, O Lord!” Is this inheritance we desire different than the ones we hear in the other stories? Yes, and it’s because the pursuit of this inheritance is not filled with anxiety. The fact that God explicitly created us to share in His inheritance makes it quite different. Everyone who has existed has/had “a piece of the pie.” If God created us to spend all eternity in His love, His whole intent is to allow us be with Him in eternal peace and happiness. In other stories, we tend to hear about the isolation and anxiety of the pursuit of great power and success; with God, He calls us to inheritance that does the opposite. His inheritance gives us eternal peace. Even the fact that God humbled Himself and became man shows that it is different. God is willing to become man and experience death just to show us His desires for us. While these letters generally don’t focus on the Responsorial Psalm, it hit me pretty hard as I was preparing to write. Especially because it’s something we proclaim frequently and often take for granted. The psalm really got me thinking this week, though. The word “inheritance” is such a powerful word and it shows the immense nature of God’s love for us. Living a true Christian life means we have to understand that our inheritance isn’t earned, but rather, it is given. It also means that it’s not just intended for us, as individuals, but rather, for every single living person. Let us live the rest of our days helping others to understand what God has given them. And let us live the rest of our days understanding the nature of our God, who yearns to be
with us for all eternity. God Bless, Brett Becker Youth and Young Adult Minister 11/7/2024 Trust, Faith, and SacrificeDear Parish Family, Our readings this Sunday, teach us important lessons about faith, sacrifice and trust in God. By reflecting on these stories, we can better understand our own faith journey, so that we may live in a way that pleases God. The Widow’s Trust: When Elijah asks a widow who is struggling to survive, to share her food with him. Though she has very little, she places her trust in God’s promise, and feeds Elijah. Her trust leads to a miracle. Her jar of flour and jug of oil do not run out. The Scribes’ Motives: During this time, there was a huge pressure to fit in with the dominant cultures of the Romans and Greeks, as they influenced daily life, such as language, customs and beliefs. The Scribes stood out by not giving in to the surrounding culture. This was seen as brave and gave them honor and prestige. However, we must ask about their motives. Did they resist because of true faith, or was it to have the attention and honor of the community? Their actions seemed more about gaining approval from others rather than genuinely serving God. The Widow’s Sacrifice; In our Gospel, we hear about a widow’s might that shows a different kind of bravery. The widow gives all that she has, leaving her with nothing. Her sacrifice comes with a deep trust in God. Unlike the Scribes, there is no honor or praises for her actions. No one notices, except for Jesus. Her faith and trust are pure, and her sacrifice shows her deep love for God. The widow’s example challenges us. Are we willing to give all we have to God? It is all still true today; we all face pressures to follow what is socially accepted or encouraged, that may not align with our faith. Like the scribes, we might sometimes be tempted to act in ways that earn us praise and acceptance. We need to examine our motives and ensure that our actions come from a place of genuine faith and devotion to God. True sacrifice is giving without expecting anything in return. When we put our trust in God’s promise, instead of ourselves or material things, God always provides to those who put their trust and faith in Him.
Siempre Adelante, Tere Delgado Faith Formation Minister 10/26/2024 Leaders of Today and TomorrowDear friends on the journey, When I arrived at Padre Serra in July 2001, I spent the summer getting to know the parish, the ministries, and the people and found that a number of characteristics struck me profoundly. The first being the number of ministries, well over fifty for all ages, for prayer, outreach, learning, pastoral care, and community. Even more impressive to me was the leadership in ministries, councils and staff. Leadership development and empowerment was evident in the shared responsibility of running an energetic, vibrant community. In my estimation it seemed that everyone was active in some way and beyond talented, gifted, smart, and so generous with their time. Yesterday’s leaders invited and mentored the leaders of today and as such the parish is home to 70+ ministries. All these years later, I am still overwhelmed and inspired by the energy, the vibrancy, the gifts called forward, and the leaders who live our patron saint’s motto Siempre Adelante and move this parish forward into the future. Another hallmark of Padre Serra is our altar server ministry. The sheer number of children and teens in the ministry is impressive alone. For fun before Mass my husband and I try to guess the number of kids who will be serving. But, in all seriousness, sixteen servers at a given Mass is only a testament to the dedication of the servers and their families. In peak years, the ministry roster boasted 120 servers! Since Covid the number has dropped to under a hundred youth. But that’s indicative of life really and the normal ebbs and flows in parish and ministry participation in general. Even more inspiring to witness is the leadership development within the ministry under the talented Bob Shadduck. Bob is more than just talented. He has this uncanny ability to connect with youth. Bob trusts and empowers the servers, honoring their God-given talents. He fosters confidence and pride. Bob’s instruction goes beyond just the actions they do; he imparts to our servers the why, the purpose, and the importance of their role and responsibility. Bob is growing leaders within the ministry but also for life. They are learning skills that they take outside church and beyond their teens. Last weekend I watched a more seasoned server consult with Bob on an issue then confidently made a decision to correct it. I was in awe! Today I am reminded of my own service to the Church as an altar server. My one small claim to fame is being one of their first female altar servers in my childhood parish! It was a monumental change to see women on the altar in the ’80s and I was honored to put on an alb and assist with liturgy. As a teenager, I sensed the importance of this new opportunity and took the responsibility seriously. What I received was even greater! My service as an altar server was really where the early whispers of my call to vocation began. So today I am so honored and grateful to be part of the annual installation ceremony where twelve new servers will be welcomed into the ministry.  Bob once wrote: Serving is a privilege and with a privilege comes responsibility. Our altar servers have been called to serve during our liturgies. Padre Serra Parish is grateful that they have responded to this call with a real sense of dedication. They help the entire community celebrate the Eucharist by their humble service. They help the assembly thank God, and in doing so they show their love.
Please join me in thanking and showing our love for our altar servers and Bob Shadduck! Siempre Adelante, Teresa Runyon Pastoral Associate |
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