…from your Pastor’s Desk Celebrating First Holy Communion and Confirmation Some of the happiest moments priests have are to see members of their flock receive Sacraments for the first time. Knowing the many, many hours, even years, of classes and preparation it takes and finally coming to that moment, well, there is nothing quite like it. Since I spent a good deal…

…from your Pastor’s Desk On The Road to …Santa Rosa * This is a ‘Work of Fiction’ inspired by a writing of a favorite Jesuit, John Foley. A modern-day allegory based loosely on the Road to Emmaus Scripture Story …today’s Gospel. This ‘story’ takes place March 22, 2020. Two days after the first ‘Lock-Down’ Remember what was happening then. So, you and…

…from your Pastor’s Desk “Thinking Thomas” – No Doubt. There is something to be said for doubt at times. It is a good thing to be able to doubt oneself, provided it doesn’t become an addiction that cripples us; to doubt one’s ideas, one’s principles, one’s work and to doubt much of what we hear. Although religion can provide emotionally unstable people…

…from your Pastor’s Desk HAPPY EASTER! A Happy Thought on a Happy Feast. Have you ever considered that this is the only time when people, even strangers, give a spiritually based greeting? Merry Christmas is often replaced by ‘Happy Holiday’s’ and ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ has become a secular salutation; but so far ‘Happy Easter’ stands firm in its acknowledgement of what we commemorate.…

…from your Pastor’s Desk Holy Week This week we begin a time so sacred to us Catholics that it is called ‘Holy Week.’ It is true that as far as individual celebrations go, Christmas seems to overshadow Easter, but Holy Week is more than just Easter Sunday. Today’s Liturgy makes a diametrical shift from the celebration of our Lord’s triumphal entry into…

…from your Pastor’s Desk Spring Cleaning March 20th was the first day of spring, although with all the rain and cold weather, you may not have noticed. Traditionally, spring is a time to throw open the windows and clean out all we have stored and accumulated over these many cold and wet months. We easily amass so much more than we need.…

…from your Pastor’s Desk Annual Ministry Appeal&Bankruptcy Q and A I know some of you are waiting to commit your AMA offering until you hear whether these funds can be accessed for any legal settlements. Short answer – NO, they cannot. The funds raised by the Annual Ministry Appeal are received and held in trust for Ministries that are Super – Parochial,…

…from your Pastor’s Desk The Gospel Reading tells the story of a woman who is worthless by the standards of Jewish society at that time. Jesus has sent his disciples off for food, and he is sitting at a well when she comes to draw water. There is every reason why he shouldn’t talk to her at all. First, she is a…

…from your Pastor’s Desk Transfiguration This week we have the wonderful gospel of the Transfiguration of Jesus. For one brief moment, his disciples are allowed to see what lies ahead for all who follow his way. We begin our own ‘transfiguration’ while still on earth, not so much achieving ‘glorified body’, but transforming our heart, our spirit, our soul into the Lord’s.…

…from your Pastor’s Desk “Where have all the Flowers gone?” A few years ago, it used to be fashionable at this time of the year in certain circles to say to people “Have a happy Lent!” I must say that I was guilty of it myself! I stopped saying it because I think that it made the penitential season of Lent sound…