2024 archive of Messages From Father Steve
Feast of the Holy Family/Fiesta de la Sagrada Familia December 29, 2024
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 12/28/24
As a first-time pastor in a parish, I received a phone call one afternoon from a young married couple, “Father, our 2-year old son drowned in our pool this morning. We are at the hospital. Please help us.” I sped over. The little boy was gone, his body cold, ... Read More »
The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 12/20/24
Today’s Gospel is the story of Mary, having just accepted her role in salvation history (agreeing to become the mother of Jesus), who set out to visit her relative, Elizabeth (the mother of John the Baptist). What comes to mind are two things.
First, here is this young woman, ... Read More »
The Third Sunday of Advent December 15, 2024
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 12/13/24
Brothers and Sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always! (Phil 4) I shall say it again: Rejoice! St. Paul goes on to say that the Lord Jesus is near! Today is the third Sunday in Advent, which is sometimes called the “pink” Sunday as that is the color of the ... Read More »
The Second Sunday of Advent December 8, 2024
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 12/06/24
The second Sunday in Advent finds us getting closer to Christmas and coincides with the celebration of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (that is, that date that she was conceived in her mother’s womb). Both occur this year on December 8. Because of the Sunday celebration of Advent, the ... Read More »
Our Lord jesus Christ, King of the Universe November 24, 2024
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 11/22/24
Today is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe! It is also the last Sunday in the Liturgical Year, which started back last Advent. As many would agree, time flies. If you think about it, lots has happened, especially in the last few months in ... Read More »
The Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time November 17, 2024
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 11/15/24
Did you know that in 2016, Pope Francis designated the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time (each year) as “World Day of the Poor”? That day is today! Not only do Catholic Churches in the USA take up the Annual Collection for the Campaign for Human Development today, but there ... Read More »
The Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time November 10, 2024
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 11/08/24
By the time you read this, it is my hope (and I think the hope of many Americans) that the national election results will have been counted and finalized. If so, it is time to now look forward to the new leadership in both houses of government as well ... Read More »
The Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time November 3, 2024
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 11/01/24
Americans have long been fascinated with public debates. Farmers stood in muddy fields for hours to hear Lincoln and Douglas dispute each other in the 1860 presidential run-up. The televised debate between Kennedy and Nixon in 1960 fascinated the nation. These days, cable news outlets and social media parse ... Read More »
The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time October 27, 2024
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 10/26/24
VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
Voting is a fundamental right in the United States of America. Many countries do not allow their citizens the right to vote. I think one of the topics we can all agree on is that this year’s national election is the most important ... Read More »
The Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time October 6, 2024
Posted by Nancy Carrizales on 10/04/24
As a young pastor years ago, I met with a middle-aged couple who had been divorced and civilly remarried. They were frustrated that an annulment had to precede a Church marriage. Sympathizing with their plight, I promised to walk with them along their journey. Once as we sat in ... Read More »