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 1/7/2024 Open the Treasuries of Our HeartsDear Parish Family,
With Jesus’ coming into the world, as have celebrated this Christmas season, we have been given so much. We have been given hope that our trials and sufferings have meaning and that through them we come closer to Jesus and do His will. The more we do his will, the more we let Jesus into our lives in prayer and works of love, the more we as a parish family and Church become like the great and radiant Jerusalem in our first reading. The more we take on Christ’s mission, the more we reflect that heavenly light which our Lord shines upon us. This is a great gift. Today is called Epiphany. There is no better name or purpose for today than to realize that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. In my own life, I clearly remember the moment I realized who Jesus is. Accompanying that realization were many questions: Who am I? Who should I be? What does Jesus want for me? How do I live the life Jesus teaches? Prayer is what helped me to find the answers to those questions. In prayer and nourished by the lifegiving grace of the Sacraments I realized who I am, a beloved child of God. That is who we are. I realized where God was leading me, and so I chose to become a disciple, to follow Him. I am not without fault and no one is perfect, and so the Sacrament of Confession is always a place of refuge and healing. There, our sins and failings are washed away, and we are renewed in our discipleship. There, like the magi, we ask “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage?” When we go let us open the treasuries of our hearts and offer Jesus all that we have. For God has come into our lives, and maybe it has been awhile since we have renewed our promises to follow Him. Nonetheless we have received so much from Him, he gave his own life that we might live life to the fullest. Yet this great gift we have received is not meant just for ourselves, we are called to share it, to proclaim boldly what God has does for each one of us! How we were blind and now we see! How we were lost in the dark but have come into the light! We will face evil and suffering, as sure as Jesus did himself. But he triumphed over darkness and death, and we follow Him! If only we give our lives, our whole lives holding nothing back. If we love with our whole hearts burning with radiant light. If we give Jesus everything we are, then we shall be radiant at what we see, our hearts shall throb and overflow, the sweet richness of grace shall be emptied out before us and we will walk in new life with Jesus to lead us and all the while proclaiming the praises of the Lord! We are God’s children, as good sons and daughters let us go forth listening to our good God’s voice, seeking always to do his will, to remember that He is God and we are not, and to open the treasuries of our hearts and give them to our good Lord who knows all that we need. Let us encounter Jesus and be disciples. Riley Paolella Seminarian 12/29/2023 We are FamilyDear friends on the journey, When our children were young, we taught them that everyone in the household had to help. In a house with two full- time working parents and three kids, the only way to keep a house running was for everyone to have age-appropriate chores. While my husband and I did the bulk, the kids learned early on how to take out the trash, do their own laundry (mostly polyester uniforms that couldn’t be ruined), straighten their rooms and bathroom, unload the dishwasher, set the table and mow the lawns. We felt this same philosophy that we grew up with and served us well would be beneficial in the formation of our children. Today they will tell you that they are better for developing actual household skills and growing in responsibility and confidence. Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and, while there are options for the readings, they all focus on the importance of family. The first reading tells of the wisdom and justice in honoring fathers with the alternate first reading we hear of God’s promises that Abraham and Sarah will have a son. The second reading tells us how to live together as families and in the gospel Joseph and Mary take the infant Jesus to Jerusalem for the ritual of purification. There they meet Simeon and Anna, who both speak about Jesus' future. Afterward, the Holy Family returned to Nazareth, where Jesus grew strong and wise, with God's favor. The Holy Family stands as a model of the virtues of obedience, faith, patience, and humility. It offers a model for Christian families in living a life centered on God. The final verse of the gospel, mentioning Jesus growing and becoming strong, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God being upon Him, emphasizes the importance of growth in virtue and grace. It is a reminder that spiritual and moral development is a lifelong process nurtured within the family. This feast that happens to fall this year on December 31 is an ideal backdrop for our 2024 parish covenant. The document you will receive today is two-sided, the first side being the promises made by the pastoral team to you, our parishioners and the second is a list of ideas for you, individually and/or as a family to commit to this new year. The commitments listed are all new this year and are suggestions designed to help you grow as Jesus did in his family: strong, wise, and with God’s favor and in discipleship responsibility, confidence, spirituality and most importantly in relationship with our good and gracious God. Take it home and prayerfully consider what you will commit to this year then return it to the altar next week. Imagine how our parish will grow together, stronger, and closer in our domestic churches and a church family, as we strive to encounter Jesus and be his disciples. Siempre Adelante, Teresa Runyon Pastoral Associate 12/8/2023 Ready the way, the LORD is coming Dear Parish Family, It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas ... beautiful Christmas music and decorations everywhere, long-awaited warm drinks, and sweets. Busy making plans for gatherings with friends and family, and making sure we did not leave anyone out of our gift list. Oh what a busy season ... In our daily reminders everywhere of the season we have entered, it can be hard not to get lost in all the consumer portions of the season. Which can fill us with the stress of it all, which can lead us to frustration. Fortunately for us, we have the Advent season which helps focus us and reminds us of God’s incredible love for us. It invites us to renew our lives in preparation for the coming of Jesus. Our readings this Sunday are filled with the Good News. In our first reading, the prophet Isaiah's message to the people of Israel is that the LORD will come and lead them back to the Promised Land since the people have repented of their sins. Our psalm speaks of the attributes that accompany the LORD’s coming: peace, kindness, truth and justice. In our second reading, Saint Peter explains that the Lord Jesus is not delaying His Second Coming, but giving time to as many people as possible to reorient their lives and prepare themselves for His coming. In our Gospel, Mark makes John the Baptist’s role clear; to prepare the way for Jesus and the salvation that he would bring to us. John the Baptist did not get lost in the attention of his followers. He did this not on his own accord but to prepare the people for the coming of our Savior. This should fill us with hope and comfort! Through our Baptism we are commissioned to prepare the way of the Lord. The gift of the Holy Spirit leads us to continually renew our lives so that we might lead others to Jesus. I invite you this Advent season as you gather with family and friends, talk about ways in which the example of others has called you to be a follower of Jesus. Identify at least one action that you will take this week to try to be a more faithful follower of Jesus. Just like John the Baptist, how can you make straight the path for the Lord Jesus to come? Perhaps inviting back to church this Christmas, a friend or family member. Even if it’s just ONE. Blessings, Tere Delgado Faith Formation Minister |
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