Mother’s Wisdom

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
May 8, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Acts 1:1-11 / Ps 47 / Eph 1:17-23 / Lk 24:46-53
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

To all mothers, godmothers, foster mothers, adoptive mothers, stepmothers, spiritual mothers and those who fill the role of mother – Happy Mother’s Day.  This is something that all of us without exception have in common.  Regardless of who we are or where we were born, we were all nourished, loved and cherished unconditionally for nine months in our mother’s womb. (more…)

We Are Never Alone

Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 1, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 / Ps 67 / Rev 21:10-14, 22-23 / Jn 14:23-29
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

A story is told about a grandfather who, one sunny Sunday afternoon, went to visit his daughter and her family.  As soon as he went in their door, he saw his little grandson, Timmy, crying inside the playpen.  When the little boy saw him, he lit up and cried:  “Grandpa!  Take me out of here!”  Is there a grandfather who can refuse that plea from his grandson? (more…)

The Pitch

Fifth Sunday of Easter
April 24, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Acts 14:21-27 / Ps 145 / Rev 21:1-5A / Jn 13:31-33A, 34-35
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

As I get older, I become more and more impressed with how inspiration can come in the strangest places. As I was preparing to preach today, I read over the readings, starting with the gospel.

I read the gospel and I thought, “OK, love one another.”  Got that.  Then I went back to the first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles.  Acts of the Apostles is the early history of the fledgling Christian church.  As I read it, it occurred to me that it sounded like a baseball card. (more…)

Changed by the Spirit

Confirmation
April 22, 2016
by Msgr. Mark Lane, General Vicar

Before I do anything tonight, I have one request of the young people about to be confirmed:  Breathe.  You’re not breathing.  Unless you breathe, you’re going to fall out.  And while in the charismatic renewal movement and within the gifts of the Spirit there is such a thing as being “slain in the Spirit,” tonight is not the night for being slain in the Spirit, I can assure you. (more…)

The Good Shepherd Knows

Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 17, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Acts 13:14, 43-52 / Ps 100 / Rev 7:9, 14B-17 / Jn 10:27-30
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

About five decades ago, my uncle convinced my mom to allow me to spend a couple of days with his family in another province in the Philippine Islands.  I had a childhood experience that I will never forget, because that was my very first sleepover.  (more…)

Small Things With Great Love

Third Sunday of Easter
April 10, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Acts 5:27-32, 40B-41 / Ps 30 / Rev 5:11-14 / Jn 21:1-19
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

A little more than a decade ago, in my former parish, I was approached by a mother on her way out of the church, who asked me to offer a special prayer for her son.  She told me that she thought she was doing everything right in raising him to be nourished spiritually and grow up to be a good Christian.  She sent him to a good Catholic school.  They even went on a pilgrimage together to the Holy Land and visited several Marian apparition sites.  In spite of all this, he seemed to have lost his appetite for prayer and practically everything about God and the Church. (more…)

Power of Divine Mercy

Sunday of Divine Mercy (Second Sunday of Easter)
April 3, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Acts 5:12-16 / Ps 118 / Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 / Jn 20:19-31
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Not too long ago, a Catholic priest told his congregation in one of his Sunday homilies: “This may shock some of you, but I’m going to tell you that Christianity is not a good idea.”  He added, “Christianity is not a great idea.  In fact, it is not even an idea.  Christianity is a personal relationship with our living God who loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to dwell among us, so He would be able to relate to us in a deeply personal way.” (more…)

Go, and Sin No More

Fifth Sunday of Lent
March 13, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Is 43:16-21 / Ps 126 / Phil 3:8-14 / Jn 8:1-11
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

Do you ever get distracted by a detail in a story?  That always happens to me.  Someone will be telling me a story, and they will throw in one detail; sometimes it’s barely related to the story, and my mind starts going over and over it.  I will have to consciously make an effort to keep listening; otherwise, they will get to the end of the story, and the only thing that I remember is the random detail that they put in. (more…)

Oasis of Mercy

Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 6, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Jos 5:9A, 10-12 / Ps 34 / 2 Cor 5:17-21 / Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

When Pope Francis announced the Extraordinary Year of Mercy at St. Peter’s Basilica, he said, “Let us not forget that God forgives, and God forgives always.”  Today’s gospel is a manifestation of this truth.  Today, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, the vestments of the deacons and  priests, as well as the linens, are colored rose,  because this is Laetare Sunday, or “Rejoice” Sunday. (more…)

Foretaste of Heaven

Second Sunday of Lent
February 21, 2016 – Year C
Readings: Gn 15:5-12, 17-18 / Ps 27 / Phil 3:17-4:1 / Lk 9:28B-36
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

From time to time, you see sales representatives in a store who ask to spray perfume on you.  They hope that you will like the scent and purchase some of the perfume.  It is also not uncommon in movie theaters, on TV and on the internet, that you are shown trailers of coming movies.  The theater owners and movie producers hope that giving you a foretaste of coming feature films will convince you to come back and see the entire movie. (more…)