Dear Family!

The recent solemnity we celebrated yesterday (Annunciation) reveals the God who saves (literal meaning of the name Jesus) through Mary’s act of faith. How true are the words of Augustine? “God who created us without our permission cannot save us without our active cooperation.”

We come across 7 ‘signs’ (Miracles) in John’s Gospel obviously reminds us of the fullness and perfection of God’s total revelation in Jesus. Last Sunday we read about the healing of the man born blind (6th sign) and this Sunday we read about the bodily raising of Lazarus (7th sign). The gradual manifestation of Jesus the source of life becomes clear in raising Lazarus to life. This revelation leads us to the sign of all signs - in the resurrection of Jesus.

Dear Family!

As we continue to thank Mrs. Donna Kucinski for her service to our school and children, we thank her role in preparing the school budget for next year which is approved and presented to the diocese. From the administrative point of view it is vital that the school enrollment be strong (over 180 children) so that the parish finances could be managed better. I am reaching out to you to prayerfully consider enrolling your children in our school, as I mentioned last week in my article, “Our school has the best of facilities and staff and the best part is that our children learn with faith.”

Dear Family!

It is my sad duty to announce to you that our school principal Mrs. Donna Kucinski will be resigning this year. I respect her decision and thank her long and productive career in our school. Her dedication and sacrifices in sharing faith and knowledge to our children will never be forgotten. We wish her well and continue to pray for the repose of the soul of her mother and also to pray for her family.

Dear Family!

I thank all our young people who have received their Sacrament of Confirmation. At the Mass, I have encouraged all of you to begin your ‘public ministry’ like Jesus after receiving the Holy Spirit. We have begun Youth Ministry in our parish after COVID. I invite you all to be part of the youth group. As a community our possibilities are endless. Our parish staff will be reaching out to you in the near future. I request you to join our parish youth.

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.