2023 archive of Messages From Father Steve
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph/ Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 12/29/23
“Were not our hearts burning within us while Jesus spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us? ” (Luke 24:31-32).
While this scripture passage is from one of the Easter Stories, these words come to mind from this past week – were not our hearts ... Read More »
Merry Christmas
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 12/22/23
On behalf of the staff, the volunteers and priests on this first true day of the Christmas Season, welcome! Thank you for choosing to be with us today! Whether you are here for the first time ever, first time in a while, or long-time parishioner, we’re glad you are ... Read More »
The Third Sunday of Advent December 17, 2023
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 12/15/23
Why do we believe in Jesus and the Catholic Church? Why should we continue to do so? We’ve never seen him face-to-face (at least not most of us, I assume). Most of us have never had mystical visions of angels or saints. We live in the same world as ... Read More »
The Second Sunday of Advent December 10, 2023
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 12/08/23
ADVENT - WAITING
God created us as a gift for himself. He, himself, is our gift! While we wait, could we prepare our hearts by giving ourselves as a gift for others? Could we give someone a ride to church for mass or for an Advent program? Could we ... Read More »
The First Sunday of Advent December 3, 2023
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 12/02/23
Lately I’ve been listening to a science-based podcast on healthy daily living. The host frequently discusses the wide range of health benefits of sleep. So, each night I’m trying to get more, and better, slumber, and it’s helping me feel energized. So, why in the worldshould we follow Christ’s ... Read More »
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe November 26, 2023
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 11/25/23
In May 2023, for the first time in almost three quarters of a century, a monarch was crowned in England. A few days later a friend of mine scoffed, “What a waste of time and energy! What is the point of a king?” I’m a proud American who wants ... Read More »
The Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time November 19, 2023
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 11/17/23
When I was a kid, I hated playing Monopoly because my siblings and friends always seemed to win. But worse was how it happened. Scared to risk my fake money on buying properties, I’d hold on to it. My opponents hungrily bought up the various real estate squares on ... Read More »
The Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time November 12, 2023
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 11/10/23
Lately I’ve been enjoying the deep meaning of Eastern icons. I love how they express a tapestry of meaning in a way that can surpass the written or spoken word. Today’s parable of the ten virgins from Jesus is a good example. Try googling “wise and foolish virgins icon” ... Read More »
The Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time November 5, 2023
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 11/03/23
Last Easter season a new convert to Catholicism at my parish asked me with a grave tone in her voice: “Why do we call priests ‘father’ if Jesus says, ‘Call no man on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven’?” Thinking myself clever, I ... Read More »
The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time October 29, 2023
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 10/27/23
In our secularized culture, we all struggle with belief in God, at least to some degree. An atheist man named Robert Bridges once wrote to his friend, the Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, asking how he could possibly learn to believe in God. Hopkins pithilyresponded: “Give alms.” Would that ... Read More »