Dear Family!

I thank you for your generous support of the second collection for Turkey and Syria. Your prayers and monetary help certainly is a source of inspiration to them as they rebuild their lives. I also thank our Faith Formation Director Escarlen Duran and all our Faith Formation Teachers in preparing our children for sacraments especially for Confirmation this year. A special word of thanks to our Principal and the teachers who helped prepare our Confirmation children this year. It was a memorable mass with our Bishop officiating with our parish community.

Dear Family!

It has been painful watching our brothers and sisters in Turkey and Syria suffer on account of earthquakes. The two earthquakes both measuring 7.0 magnitude resulted in more than 20,000 deaths and continue to climb further as rescue teams doing their best in saving lives.

Dear Family!

This week from the 7th to 14th of February, our country is observing the National Marriage Week (14th February is Valentine’s Day). This tradition became part of our Christian life when the US Catholic Bishops’ Conference (USCCB) in 2010 launched it to strengthen marriage in communities and influencing modern culture.

Dear Family!

The 40th Catholic School Week in our country aims at ‘faith, excellence and service’ as it has always been over the years. Catholic education has always had a great impact in shaping and developing our society. Our Bishop in his support of Catholic Education pointed out the Wall Street Journal’s test results over the past few years for Catholic School students are higher compared to public schools.

Dear Family!

I begin my weekly write-up by thanking all the volunteers who came forward to be part of the ’72 disciples’ ministry. Your initiative and readiness to serve our parish community is certainly a great step in the right direction to encourage our theme to this Eucharistic Renewal in our parish and diocese.

Dear Family!

Thank you for inspiring your children into forming Youth Ministry in our parish! I thank our parish secretary and Deacon Rob in leading them as coordinators of this important ministry and continue to pray for our children to grow like Christ. I also request parents who have teenagers at home to encourage them to be part our parish youth ministry.

Dear Family!

Welcome to the Ordinary Season! The readings still resonate the festive mood of the Baptism of the Lord. As the Evangelist John introduces various titles of Jesus throughout the Gospel, one title stands out: Jesus as the Lamb. Why the Lamb? The central feature of the Jewish Passover feast was the lamb which was eaten during the Passover meal. When the angel of God came to destroy all the firstborn, it “passed over” the houses of the Israelites, which had been smeared with the lamb’s blood. This became then a symbol of liberation.

Dear Family!

‘Epiphany’ is understood as ‘appearance’ or ‘manifestation’. Jesus is revealed to the shepherds, the gentiles represented by the Magi, later in the synagogue Jesus reveals Himself as the Messiah and also in Cana, Jesus reveals Himself through the first miracle - all these revelations could collectively be called the Epiphany.

Dear Family!

I wish you all a God-filled New Year! As many of you know that Christmas is not just a day but a season, we are filled abundantly by God with graces and blessings in all these days of the season.

Dear Family!

The word ‘Christmas’ dates back to 12th Century. It was two words before - Christes maesse and it became Christemasse. We understand it literally meant ‘Christ’s mass’ referred to the special service to honor the birth of our Savior. We honor God who is incarnated in our human sinful body to make it holy so that Jesus could elevate us to experience God’s image and likeness.

Dear Family!

We had a busy week in celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe festival, thanks to all the organizers and volunteers. Our Mother has done everything for us and we are blessed to get every opportunity to venerate her especially under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Mother of the Americas.

Dear Family!

We are blessed to have Deacon Enoch and his wife after a traumatic experience driving to Florida to celebrate Thanksgiving with their family. I thank him for sharing their experience with us. It was published last week. God gave them back to us.

Dear Family!

In the season of Advent, larger than life personalities like Isaiah and John the Baptist certainly draw our attention to living a holy season but most importantly it is Our Mother who always plays the most important role in leading us to the heart of Jesus.