A Guiding Light

The Epiphany of the Lord
January 7, 2018 – Year B
Readings: Is 60:1-6 / Ps 72 / Eph 3:2-3A, 5-6 / Mt 2:1-12
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Each of us must have experienced, at some time in the past, a total power outage during the night. If there is total darkness, you instantly notice even one candle or a small flashlight or a battery operated bulb. As emergency lights, these make a big difference. But as we know, physical darkness doesn’t last very long. It usually takes only a few minutes before the power comes back on.

There is, however, another form of darkness in our lives that has the tendency to linger: the spiritual darkness caused by living a life which is completely separate from the Author of life. (more…)

A Place of Refuge

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
December 31, 2017 – Year B
Readings: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 / Ps 128 / Col 3:12-21 / Lk 2:22-40
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Last week I visited a family who, fourteen years ago, had a foster daughter who lived with them for a year. A few days before this past Christmas, this same girl, who is now in her twenties with two young children, called them up and said that she had no place to live. She is homeless and is having a hard time finding a shelter. Since she has no friends or relatives who would be willing to take her into their homes, she thought she would take the chance of asking them if they would have a temporary space for her. This kind couple simply told her, “You always have a place in our home.” She is indeed blessed to have a place of refuge during the cold season of winter. (more…)

Promise and Fulfillment

Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 24, 2017 – Year B
Readings: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16 / Ps 89 / Rom 16:25-27 / Lk 1:26-38
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Thirty-two years ago, when I was preparing for my ordination to the priesthood, my bishop in the Philippines assigned me to a church with a very wise pastor who was asked to mentor newly ordained priests. His name was Father Douglas. He was named by his parents after General Douglas MacArthur who, even today, remains quite popular in the Philippines. When MacArthur left the country during the Japanese occupation of World War II, he promised to return. He did indeed return, and liberated the more than seven thousand islands of the Philippines from the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army. That was certainly a promise well kept. (more…)

Preparing For Life That Will Never End

Second Sunday of Advent
December 10, 2017 – Year B
Readings: Is 40:1-5, 9-11 / Ps 85 / 2 Pt 3:8-14 / Mk 1:1-8
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

The gospel today is taken from the beginning of the Gospel of Mark. This year we are in Year B of the liturgical season, and for the most part, we will be listening to the Gospel of Mark. The Gospels of John and Luke will come in every now and then, but the 16 chapters of the Gospel of Mark will be our focus in this liturgical season. (more…)

Fall Back

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 5, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Mal 1:14B-2:2B, 8-10 / Ps 131 / 1 Thes 2:7B-9, 13 / Mt 23:1-12
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

It has been said that the “fall back” day, when we turn our clocks back an hour, is one of the days of the year that people look forward to. It’s pretty much like Thanksgiving Day and Christmas, because who wouldn’t want an extra hour of time to rest?

As we gather here together this morning, we all know the reason why we pray: because we “fall back” to God. (more…)

Grateful Living, Joyful Giving

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 22, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Is 45:1, 4-6 / Ps 96 / 1 Thes 1:1-5B / Mt 22:15-21
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

When I was still in the seminary, I was asked by our Rector to give an invocation to a retirement party, because he wasn’t feeling well, and none of the seminary priests was available. So I went to a gathering where no one had invited me or expected me. (more…)

Living, Loving, and Giving

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 15, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Is 25:6-10A / Ps 23 / Phil 4:12-14, 19-20 / Mt 22:1-14
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

On your way to our sanctuary, you must have noticed the tables and displays of the different ministries of Holy Name of Mary. Just as our Holy Mother Church asks us to make an inventory of our God-given talents and find time during the week, month, or year to share them with the Mystical Body of Christ, this Sunday we are also beginning the Joyful Living, Grateful Giving program. (more…)

Anxiety Free

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 8, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Is 5:1-7 / Ps 80 / Phil 4:6-9 / Mt 21:33-43
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Most of those who attended the mission at Resurrection parish were not aware that attending with them was a priest – Father Bob. He is a retired Air Force chaplain as well as a retired priest of the diocese of Erie.

If you are one of the few – as I was – who had the privilege of speaking with him, you would think that he is the person to speak with when you are experiencing trials and tribulations in this life. (more…)

Mary Knows the Way

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 1, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Ez 18:25-28 / Ps 25 / Phil 2:1-11 / Mt 21:28-32
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

Today is the first day of October, the month of the Holy Rosary. In just two months and twenty-four days, we will be celebrating Christmas 2017. But this month we will first celebrate the feast of the Holy Rosary, this coming Saturday, then we will be joining more than 1.2 billion Christian Catholics all over the world on October 13 in celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the Blessed Mother’s last apparition at Fatima. (more…)

The Power of Family Prayer

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 10, 2017 – Year A
Readings: Ez 33:7-9 / Ps 95 / Rom 13:8-10 / Mt 18:15-20
by Rev. Salvador Añonuevo, Pastor

The other day I was called to give the Last Rites at Smith Mountain Lake. The location was one of the few places at the Lake that I have never been, but with the assistance of the GPS I didn’t have any difficulty finding it. However, what this device didn’t know was that I was going to a group of apartment buildings, and this made my search more challenging. (more…)