Servants – “Invite to the Feast Whomever You Find”

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 12, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Is 25:6-10a; Psalm 23; Phil 4:12-14, 19-20; Mt 22:1-14
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

For the third Sunday in a row, Jesus is criticizing the chief priests and elders, and once again, he is speaking to them in parables. He is admonishing them for failing to live up to the spirit of the Law and the Old Covenant. Unlike the last two Sundays where vineyards featured prominently, in this Gospel reading, Jesus uses the image of a party, a wedding feast, and the image is rich in meaning and symbolism. (more…)

Have No Anxiety at All

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 5, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Is 5:1-7; Psalm 80; Phil 4:6-9; Mt 21:33-43
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of St. Francis. We had the blessing of the animals in the commons because it was so cold outside. Usually the dogs bark at each other before the blessing, but during the prayer they always calm down. We don’t only have dogs, of course. We had guinea pigs, rabbits and all types of animals. (more…)

Saved by the Cross

Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 14, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Nm 21:4b-9; Psalm 78; Phil 2:6-11, Jn 3:13:-17
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

About 28 years ago as a newly-ordained priest, a grandmother told me her granddaughter could recite all the basic prayers in three languages: in our own local language, in English and in Spanish. So I asked her, “Do you know the Our Father?” “No,” she answered.
“Hail Mary?”
“No.”
So I said, “Your grandmother told me you know all the prayers.”
“Yes.”
“What prayer do you know?”
“In the name of the Father.” (more…)

Protesting Evil

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 7, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Ez 33:7-9, Psalm 95, Rom 13:8-10, Mt 18:15-20
by Rev. Mr. Ray Roderique, Permanent Deacon

There comes a time when we must speak out.

If your brother sins against you, go to him and show him his fault. (Matthew 18:15)

Martin Niemoller was a German submarine commander in World War I. The German government awarded him the prestigious Iron Cross for his service.  After the war he studied theology and became a Lutheran pastor in a suburb outside Berlin. When the Nazis came to power, he became a party member.  But when he saw the evil direction the Nazis were beginning to take, he publicly opposed them and organized German church leaders to oppose them, also. (more…)

The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

Reflection for Nursing Home Prayer Service
August 18, 2014
Readings: Is 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67; Rom 11:13-15, 29-32; Mt 15:21-28
by Mrs. Rita Zimmermann, Faith Formation Coordinator

Oh what faith she had! This Canaanite woman! You see, she knew she would not be welcome among those who followed Jesus as she was not a Jew, but a pagan and a woman! What courage and determination she must have had to just get up and leave her daughter to seek out the only person she knew that could help her. (more…)

True Faith Brings Happiness

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 17, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Is 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67; Rom 11:13-15, 29-32; Mt 15:21-28
by Most Reverend Arturo Bastes, Bishop of Sorsogon, Philippines

The beautiful gospel has plenty of implications. First, this is the only recorded time that Jesus was in a non-Jewish territory. But most of all, it prophesied a very important doctrine that the gospel would be preached to all the nations, as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah in the first reading and fulfilled in the second reading during the time of St. Paul, when the gospel was preached to the Gentiles because the Jews rejected Jesus Christ, our Lord. However, St. Paul still had the hope that all the Jews would be converted to Christ someday, because they were the first chosen people of God. (more…)

Mary: Our Spiritual GPS

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 15, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Rv 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab; Psalm 45; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

As we celebrate today the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we remember that glorious day when the Blessed Mother was taken up, body and soul, into heaven. Our faith tells us there are only two physical bodies in heaven: our Lord Jesus himself, who ascended into heaven, and the Blessed Mother, who was assumed into heaven.

Why is this so important to us? (more…)

Be Not Afraid

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 10, 2014 – Year A
Readings: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a; Psalm 85; Rom 9:1-5; Mt 14:22-33
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

A few years ago, the comedian Jerry Seinfeld said, “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Now this means, to the average person, if you have to go to a funeral, you are better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” (more…)

Different Voices, One Mission

Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul, Apostles
June 29, 2014 – Year A
Readings: Acts 12:1-11, Psalm 34, 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18, Mt 16:13-19
by Rev. Mr. Eddie Craig, Permanent Deacon

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, two of the Church’s greatest saints. We commemorate their lives for the same reason that we commemorate all of the lives of the saints, to remind us of our ultimate call. Our calling is to join them, to become saints ourselves. (more…)

Sharing the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Pentecost Sunday
June 8, 2014 – Year A
Readings:  Acts 2:1-11, Psalm 104, 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13, Jn 20:19-23
by Rev. Mr. Ray Roderique, Permanent Deacon

Today we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. Most of us marvel at what happened to the disciples of Christ on that glorious day. We often think of this as a one-time event, but the truth is it is an on-going event. We need to observe Pentecost every day. (more…)