Dear Family!

This Sunday is the Divine Mercy Sunday. We had a great Triduum, and it was a joy to see so many come back to Church to worship and thank God. Starting from Palm Sunday to the Easter celebrations, I thank all the volunteers in the Decorations Committee, liturgical committees, ministries serving the poor, and all of you for your active participation and dedication.

Dear Family!

I wish you all a wonderful, grace-filled Easter! As this is the most important day for the Church, let us be mindful of the essence of what we believe! “Because Easter Sunday is the commemoration of Christ’s Resurrection, this day is the greatest solemnity of the liturgical year” (CCC 1169).

Dear Family!

After five weeks of preparation, we enter into Holy Week. ‘Hosanna’ means ‘save us’. This is the first cry of the people as Jesus rides into Jerusalem. Thats what exactly Jesus did - he completed the race - he followed through. Jesus journey of the Holy Week has the beginning in the prayerful intercessions of people. His complete surrender In the Father is the key to how we journey our Holy Week. Let us meditate on what the contemporary popes taught us in recent times:

Dear Family!

As the Holy Week nears, I remind you of your personal preparation and also of our preparation as a parish to witness the Paschal Mysteries taking deep roots within us. We have advertised and announced to the parish of the LENTEN MISSION for this year (Next Saturday, April 12th). I humbly urge you to make every attempt to attend and be inspired. Your very presence is a great boost of faith to your brother and sister who is struggling in his/her faith journey.

Dear Family!

My sincere thanks to all of you for participating in our Lenten Penance Service. Special word of thanks to all the parents who brought their children at 4:30pm for confessions. We thank all priests who helped us with confessions: Fathers Abraham Orapankal, Walter Wiktorek, Damian Tomscek, Luke Mary Fletcher, and Gilbert Starcher. We also thank our PCL Escarlen Duran and Confirmation Coordinator Deacon Rob for coordinating the event along with the Faith Formation Catechists. Thank you all!

Dear Family!

Just like the ‘Burning Bush’ experience, the Elects (people who are preparing themselves for the sacraments of Initiation) are experiencing God’s presence in their personal lives. As they go through these ‘three scrutinies’ we witness a lively congregation supporting and praying with/for them. Scrutinies are a series of liturgical rites that are part of the Lent, for the spiritual benefit of the elect.

Dear Family!

All three years in the Season of Lent we have particular themes that we reflect and pray about. In the first Sunday of Lent in all three years, we focus on the temptations of Jesus. In the second Sunday of Lent in all three years, we focus on the Transfiguration event.

Luke alone talks on the details of the actual conversation between Moses, Elijah, and Jesus.

Dear Family!

On Ash Wednesday we reflected on the symbolism of the ashes among other things. As the ashes and sackcloth together reminded people of repentance and reconciliation in the Old Testament, it also symbolized a desire to be free from sin. In our Christian understanding, ashes cannot take away sins as they are a Sacramental and not a sacrament.

Dear Family!

In my last week’s note, we were reflecting on the conclusion of the first part of the Season of the Ordinary Time and welcoming the Season of Lent on Ash Wednesday (March 5th ). On Feb 26th, our diocese held a special day of prayer at the Cathedral to pray for our Pope’s health. It is never too late; you could do it at any time - Please remember our Pope in your personal prayer.

Dear Family!

As we come to the close of the first part of the Season of the Ordinary Time after the 8th Sunday (next weekend) and begin the Season of Lent on Ash Wednesday (March 5th) the Gospel especially continues to focus on ‘Discipline of a Christian’ in the Sermon on the Plain (Luke’s Gospel). This Sunday the emphasis is on ‘speech’. The Christian Discipline requires that our speech be one of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness as opposed to divisive and judgmental.

Dear Family!

The Gospel writer Matthew drew parallels between Jesus and Moses. The Gospel is organized around five discourses just as the Torah is organized into five scrolls. The Sermon on the Mount could be compared to Moses' experience on Mount Sinai. Luke's theology and theme focuses on the universality of Jesus. Jesus' concern for the gentiles and social outcastes is the main focus in the Gospel of Luke.

Dear Family!

The word for fish in Greek is Ichthus which is a symbolic word used by the early Christians. It can be read as an ACROSTIC, a word formed from the 1st letters of many words. Ichthus has the meaning of Jesus Christ, Son of God, the Savior. They could not openly practice their religion as the persecutions were on. Ichthus was their secret sacred symbol used to recognize another believer. Fish is another word for Jesus.

Dear Family!

This Sunday instead of celebrating the 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time, we commemorate the Solemnity of The Presentation of the Lord. The point of this feast is summarized in the instructions of the Roman Missal, “Today is the blessed day when Jesus was presented in the Temple by Mary and Joseph, outwardly he was fulfilling the Law, but in reality, he was coming to meet his believing people”. This day marks the 40th day after Jesus’ birth.