(805) 482·6417
Padre Serra Parish
  • Home
    • This Month
    • Coming Soon
    • Ongoing
    • Quick Links
    • Events By Age
  • About
    • Parish
    • Gallery
    • Homilies >
      • Homilies 2023
      • Homilies 2022
      • Homilies 2021
      • Homilies 2020
      • Homilies 2019
      • Homilies 2018
      • Homilies 2017
    • Mass >
      • New Year Mass
      • Epiphany
      • Ash Wednesday
      • Holy Week
      • Ascension of the Lord
      • Pentecost
      • Corpus Christi
      • Blessing of Graduates
      • Assumption of Mary
      • College Mass
      • Catechetical Sunday
      • Saints Day
      • Thanksgiving
      • Immaculate Conception
      • Simbang Gabi
      • Christmas Mass
    • Ministries >
      • Ministries A - Z
      • Ongoing
    • Pastor >
      • Fr. Patrick Mullen
      • Fr. Patrick Online
    • Prayer >
      • Stations of the Cross
    • Sacraments >
      • Baptism
      • Reconciliation
      • Eucharist >
        • Spiritual Communion
      • Confirmation
      • Marriage >
        • Marriage Preparation & Weddings
        • Wedding Liturgy Music Planner
      • Holy Orders
      • Anointing of the Sick
  • Encounter
    • Family >
      • ​​Christmas Concert
      • Fall Concert
      • Parish Picnic
      • Posada
      • Trunk or Treat
      • Spring Concert
      • Summer Concert
    • Children >
      • Children's Choir
      • Faith Formation Registration
      • Faith Formation Balance
      • Faith Formation Volunteer
      • Spark! Grade 5
    • Peer Leaders
    • Youth >
      • Faith Formation Registration
    • Young Adults >
      • Sacred Hearts Servants Mission
      • Theology on Tap
    • Adults >
      • Adult Faith Formation​
      • Faith Life >
        • Christian Parenting Ministry
      • Peace & Justice
      • RECongress
    • Seniors
    • Becoming Catholic >
      • Baptism for School Aged Children and Teens
      • Catholic Inquiry
      • Confirmation for Adults
      • Parish Sponsor
    • Lent >
      • The University Series
  • Engage
    • Calendar >
      • Presiders
      • Mass Intentions
    • Groups >
      • Bereavement
      • Bible Study
      • Cancer
      • Caritas
      • Divorce
      • Faith Sharing
      • Filipino Ministry
      • Knitting
      • Landings
      • Married Couples Ministry
      • Men
      • Military Family
      • Meditative Movement
      • Open Hearts
      • PAX Christi
      • Peer Leaders
      • Prayer & Pruning
      • Specially Abled
      • Scouts
      • Single Adults
      • Spanish
      • Toastmasters
      • Writers
      • Women >
        • Celebrating Mom
        • Lemons on the Loose
        • Moms Group
        • Seeds of Faith
    • Knights of Columbus
    • Music Ministry >
      • Adult Choir
      • Cantors & Instrumentalists
      • Cherubs
      • Children's Choir
      • Christmas Concert
      • Chorus Caritas
      • Fall Concert
      • Jason Stoll
      • Summer Concert
      • Spring Concert
      • Youth Choir
      • Youth Strings Ensemble
    • Outreach
    • Retreats
    • Service >
      • Altar Servers
      • Environment
      • Eucharistic Ministers
      • Hospitality
      • Marthas & Matthews
      • Sacristans
      • Streaming Ministry >
        • Funeral Livestream
      • Welcome Ministry
    • St. Vincent de Paul
  • Contact
    • Baptisms
    • Contact Us
    • Directory
    • eNews Sign up
    • Funerals >
      • Funeral & Memorials
    • I Need Help
    • Join
    • Safeguard the Children >
      • VIRTUS®
      • Fingerprinting
    • Serra Center
    • St. Mary Magdalen School
    • Weddings
  • News
    • Bulletins
    • Funerals & Memorials
    • Watch
  • Donate
  • Home
    • This Month
    • Coming Soon
    • Ongoing
    • Quick Links
    • Events By Age
  • About
    • Parish
    • Gallery
    • Homilies >
      • Homilies 2023
      • Homilies 2022
      • Homilies 2021
      • Homilies 2020
      • Homilies 2019
      • Homilies 2018
      • Homilies 2017
    • Mass >
      • New Year Mass
      • Epiphany
      • Ash Wednesday
      • Holy Week
      • Ascension of the Lord
      • Pentecost
      • Corpus Christi
      • Blessing of Graduates
      • Assumption of Mary
      • College Mass
      • Catechetical Sunday
      • Saints Day
      • Thanksgiving
      • Immaculate Conception
      • Simbang Gabi
      • Christmas Mass
    • Ministries >
      • Ministries A - Z
      • Ongoing
    • Pastor >
      • Fr. Patrick Mullen
      • Fr. Patrick Online
    • Prayer >
      • Stations of the Cross
    • Sacraments >
      • Baptism
      • Reconciliation
      • Eucharist >
        • Spiritual Communion
      • Confirmation
      • Marriage >
        • Marriage Preparation & Weddings
        • Wedding Liturgy Music Planner
      • Holy Orders
      • Anointing of the Sick
  • Encounter
    • Family >
      • ​​Christmas Concert
      • Fall Concert
      • Parish Picnic
      • Posada
      • Trunk or Treat
      • Spring Concert
      • Summer Concert
    • Children >
      • Children's Choir
      • Faith Formation Registration
      • Faith Formation Balance
      • Faith Formation Volunteer
      • Spark! Grade 5
    • Peer Leaders
    • Youth >
      • Faith Formation Registration
    • Young Adults >
      • Sacred Hearts Servants Mission
      • Theology on Tap
    • Adults >
      • Adult Faith Formation​
      • Faith Life >
        • Christian Parenting Ministry
      • Peace & Justice
      • RECongress
    • Seniors
    • Becoming Catholic >
      • Baptism for School Aged Children and Teens
      • Catholic Inquiry
      • Confirmation for Adults
      • Parish Sponsor
    • Lent >
      • The University Series
  • Engage
    • Calendar >
      • Presiders
      • Mass Intentions
    • Groups >
      • Bereavement
      • Bible Study
      • Cancer
      • Caritas
      • Divorce
      • Faith Sharing
      • Filipino Ministry
      • Knitting
      • Landings
      • Married Couples Ministry
      • Men
      • Military Family
      • Meditative Movement
      • Open Hearts
      • PAX Christi
      • Peer Leaders
      • Prayer & Pruning
      • Specially Abled
      • Scouts
      • Single Adults
      • Spanish
      • Toastmasters
      • Writers
      • Women >
        • Celebrating Mom
        • Lemons on the Loose
        • Moms Group
        • Seeds of Faith
    • Knights of Columbus
    • Music Ministry >
      • Adult Choir
      • Cantors & Instrumentalists
      • Cherubs
      • Children's Choir
      • Christmas Concert
      • Chorus Caritas
      • Fall Concert
      • Jason Stoll
      • Summer Concert
      • Spring Concert
      • Youth Choir
      • Youth Strings Ensemble
    • Outreach
    • Retreats
    • Service >
      • Altar Servers
      • Environment
      • Eucharistic Ministers
      • Hospitality
      • Marthas & Matthews
      • Sacristans
      • Streaming Ministry >
        • Funeral Livestream
      • Welcome Ministry
    • St. Vincent de Paul
  • Contact
    • Baptisms
    • Contact Us
    • Directory
    • eNews Sign up
    • Funerals >
      • Funeral & Memorials
    • I Need Help
    • Join
    • Safeguard the Children >
      • VIRTUS®
      • Fingerprinting
    • Serra Center
    • St. Mary Magdalen School
    • Weddings
  • News
    • Bulletins
    • Funerals & Memorials
    • Watch
  • Donate

​News

Bulletins

“Water quenches a flaming fire, and alms atone for sins.”

8/26/2022

 
Our first reading has such a pithy ending, and is so pertinent for those of us who live in California. The double threat of wildfire and insufficient water constantly confront us. If only our careful husbanding of water in our homes, even if it’s only a small portion of the overall water use in the state, could preserve us from wild fires into the future. But that’s off message.

The real point here is the effect of water on burning flames, blotting out access to oxygen and extinguishing the fire, while dissipating its lingering heat. It’s a lovely metaphor for the parallel effects of the generous support of the poor blotting out, literally wiping away our offenses. What a gift it is to have God’s pardon. What could we possibly do to earn it?

In Sirach’s time, sacrifices were possible if sins were committed unwittingly (Lev 4), but there was no
confession or reconciliation, no rituals for the forgiveness of deliberate sin, except to stone the sinner. Even Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (Lev 16), seems directed at ritual impurity, rather than moral offenses. So what is a poor sinner to do? – Well, give alms.
​

So, as we now have the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the forgiveness of sins, should we still give alms? Absolutely!

Many passages in the New Testament actively encourage almsgiving. When speaking on the value of doing good acts and praying in secret, Jesus simply presumes we are giving alms for the poor
(Matt 6:2-4). When addressing the evils and bad inclinations that can pour forth from the heart, He directs us, “G
ive alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you” (Luke 11:41). When encouraging us to rely with greater trust on God, He instructs us to sell our belongings “and give alms” (Luke 12:33). In Acts 10:2, Luke recounts for us a story about a good man, Cornelius, a Gentile who is judged devout and God-fearing, in part because of his generous distribution of alms (Acts 10:2). Later in Acts (24:17), Paul defends himself to the governor, Felix, detailing his motive for returning to Jerusalem, which was to bring alms.

There are so many ways to give alms. The parish’s special collections all aim at the care of different poor populations. Giving to the United Way also counts, as does supporting health care
exploration – I’m thinking breast cancer research, in particular, but there are
many other worthy efforts. 
Boys and Girls Clubs, scouting and youth sports are worthy recipients. And there is always our own St. Vincent de Paul Society and Many Meals to support. As always, be as generous as you are able!

​Siempre adelante,

Fr. Patrick Pastor 

Picture

Comments are closed.

    NEWS CATEGORIES

    All
    Adults
    Altar Servers
    Audio
    Becoming Catholic
    Bulletins
    Faith Formation
    Funerals & Memorials
    Giving
    Message Of The Week
    Photo Albums
    Seasonal
    Volunteer
    Wellness
    Young Adults
    Youth


    Past News
    ARCHIVES

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    January 2017
    May 2016
    April 2016
    September 2015
    April 2015


    RSS Feed

Blessed Sacrament Chapel Hours

Sunday - Friday, 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Saturday, 2:00 - 9:00 pm 

Office Hours

Monday through Thursday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Mass Schedule
Vertical Divider

Telephone

(805) 482 · 6417
(805) 987 · 8100  FAX

For emergencies requiring
a priest after hours,
such as serious illness or death,
​please call:

​(805) 512 · 3208

Email Us

(staff first name)@padreserra.org
​
parish@padreserra.org

Address​

5205 Upland Road, Camarillo, CA 93012

Guest WiFi

Login: psp-guest
​Password: pspwelcome
Bulletin
Calendar
Donate
Join Email List
For eNews you can trust.

Staff Login​

​Contact Communication

​Disclaimer