Dear Family!

Saint Thomas Aquinas in Summa Theologica wrote, “There are many sciences dealing with different areas of reality, but only one wisdom. Structurally wisdom is itself a science, drawing conclusions from premises; but what is peculiar to wisdom is its power to judge about everything including its own premises. So, it is a more perfect virtue than science.” In our Abrahamic Family of religions, ‘Shalom’ (Solomon) or ‘Peace’ is always associated with Wisdom. We are blessed to be showered with God’s wisdom that longs for true peace.

Dear Family!

The ‘Old’ and ‘New’ Testaments have different views on the ‘Reign of God’. At the time of Jesus, the Old Testament concept of a ‘reign of God’ that was imminent, terrestrial, political and centered on ‘Israel’ and in ‘Jerusalem’, but the New Testament as a whole brings about the radical change, where the idea of a heavenly, eternal kingdom makes its appearance. (‘The Jewish People and their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible’ - a PBC document)’.

Dear Family!

Reflection: The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the scriptures affirm the profound destiny of the material world and man. “The visible universe, then, is itself destined to be transformed, “so that the world itself, restored to its original state, facing no further obstacles, should be at the service of the just,” sharing their glorification in the risen Jesus Christ.” (CCC 1047)

Dear Family!

Reflection: The Catechism of the Catholic Church presents to us Christ’s whole life as a mystery (CCC 414-521). In CCC 517 we read, “Christ’s whole life is a mystery of redemption. Redemption comes to us above all through the blood of his cross, but this mystery is at work throughout Christ's entire life:

Dear Family!

What a coincidence! The readings for this Sunday teach us about receiving the ‘holy men’ who serve as God’s representatives as we welcome a new priest (Fr. Joseph Ho) to our beloved parish community. The common priesthood (Laity in the Church) expects that the ministerial priesthood (Ordained priests) are trained in Biblical interpretation along with Church’s teachings of Sacred Scripture so that they will declare God’s authoritative word from the pulpit. In Greek, ‘Apostle’ means ‘One who is sent’.

Dear Family!

Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers, grandfathers, Godfathers, and priests! Every year we observe Religious Freedom Week. This year we observe it from June 22nd to 29th. It begins with the feast day of Saint Thomas More and Saint John Fisher (Both on the 22nd of June) and we also celebrate the Nativity of St. John the Baptist on the 24th of June (the only other birthdays we celebrate in the Catholic Church are the birth of our Lord and our Blessed Mother) and end with the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

Dear Family!

The Gospel reminds us the mission of every Christian. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us, “Jesus is the Father's Emissary. From the beginning of his ministry, he "called to him those whom he desired; . . . . And he appointed twelve, whom also he named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach. From then on, they would also be his “emissaries” (Greek apostoloi).

Dear Family!

A wise priest once said, “when man stands before the throne of God... all joy is restored, then there is nothing else for him to offer but to give thanks. Hence, the Eucharist or “thanksgiving” is the state of the perfect man. The Eucharist is the life of Paradise.”

The Eucharist is the only thing that draws us all to the church - it is rightly called the Source and Summit. 2nd Vatican taught us that Christ is revealed in the Eucharist.

Dear Family!

Happy Trinity Sunday to all of you! The Doctrine of Trinity is called a ‘mystery’ because this truth can never been known by reason alone. Only God can reveal the truth to us (CCC 261). The Doctrine of Trinity is not unique to Christianity: it transcends all religion and is a key ingredient of universal life and culture (Diarmuid Murchu).

Dear Family!

Happy Pentecost Sunday to all of you! Christians or the ‘People of the Way’ from the beginning, believed in the doctrine of the Trinity with unhesitating faith. As Saint Augustine taught us, “Every measure of Christian progress comes through a spiritual and reasoned understanding of the Trinity”, knowledge and the centrality of Pentecost is crucial for all Christians. Jesus as the Christ (Messiah) can only be understood within the realm of the Spirit (Anointed with the Spirit).

Dear Family!

We are blessed indeed to celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ on this Sunday. At one time we usually celebrated this on the Thursday before the 7th Sunday in Easter. It has since been permanently moved to the 7th Sunday of Easter.

Saint Thomas Aquinas explains that in the Ascension Jesus enters into heaven with our humanity. This way Jesus glorifies our human nature.

Dear Family!

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers! We began our Marian Month on the 1st of May. My best wishes to our children who have received their First Holy Communion and Confirmation and also thank the First Communicants for their participation in honoring our Blessed Mother last Sunday with the May Crowning ceremony. My sincere thanks to Escarlen Duran, Diane Volk, Kelly Perna, Eileen Dean, Christine Laquintano and all the volunteers who have prepared our children.

Dear Family!

My sincere thanks to Escarlen Duran, Diane Volk, and Christine Laquintano for their dedicated service in training our children for the First Holy Communion. Last Saturday we had children receiving the Holy Communion. We thank the parents, God-Parents, Grandparents and all family members in making this sacrament available to the children as the Eucharist is the greatest gift that the children can receive.