Happy Sunday,

This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord and with this celebration the Christmas season comes to a close. After we have celebrated the Holy Family and Epiph- any, the Church skips to the adulthood of Jesus to meditate on His baptism. For us, baptism cleanses us of original sin and any sin we had already committed. Jesus did not have original sin nor any other sin, so why is He baptized?

Happy Sunday,

A very happy New Year to everyone! I hope it was a good week and you were able to enjoy the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, as well as ring in the New Year. While we celebrated the liturgical New Year a month ago with the beginning of Advent, we now begin a new calendar year which once more gives us fresh eyes and energy to approach the coming 12 months. I pray that each of you has been able to enjoy the Christmas season and hopefully get a bit of rest.

Happy Sunday!

I hope everyone had good Christmas celebrations with family and loved ones. This week we have a special Mass schedule for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This is a Holy Day of Obligation. Tue, Dec 31, there will be a Vigil Mass at 5:30pm at SFdA. On Wed, Jan 1 there will be Mass at 10:00am in English and 12:15pm in Spanish. As you know, throughout the year there are various solemnities which we observe as Holy Days of Obligation. On these days the Church asks us to attend Mass as we would on Sunday.

Happy Fourth Sunday of Advent!

While today is indeed the 4th Sunday of Advent, Christmas Eve is just two days away. It’s a quick transition from Advent to getting the Church prepared for Christmas. Luckily, we have a wonderful core of volunteers who help clean, decorate, sacristan, lector, distribute Holy Communion, and much more. Thank you to everyone who help things go so smoothly!

Happy Sunday!

Thank you to everyone who attended the Lessons and Carols Concert this past Friday to support the restoration of Nativity. I am grateful for the momentum we are building, especially as we anticipate its 100th anniversary in 2030. The parish of Nativity was around before, but this will be the anniversary of the church building. On that note we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2026.

Happy Sunday!

It’s been awhile since I’ve had an opportunity to write a letter for the bulletin! It’s been great being back after my retreat and Thanksgiving. Thank you so much to everyone who kept me in your prayers. This Sunday, though it is December 8th, we will celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent. Monday, December 9th, will be the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and it IS a Holy Day of Obligation. We will have four Masses: 6:30am at OLG, 8:15am at SFdA, 12:15pm at SFdA, and 5:30pm at SFdA.

When I was a young priest, about one year after ordination, I was called to the hospital to anoint a dying mother of three young children. She had a painful, terminal cancer. After celebrating Last Rites with her, I said, “Don’t be afraid.” She looked me square in the eye from her hospital bed and said, “Oh Father, I am in a lot of pain, but I am not afraid. Something wonderful is about to happen.” A few days later she died.