There is perhaps no teaching more at odds with the modern world than this: the humble will be exalted, and the exalted will be humbled as quoted in this Sunday’s Gospel.
Our society urges us to promote ourselves—build our brand, seek recognition, claim credit, ensure our voices are heard. Social media platforms thrive on self-exaltation. Yet, in today’s Gospel, Jesus turns that impulse upside down. The Christian life begins not with pride, but with humility. Not with ambition, but with service.
In The Book of Joy, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu name humility as one of the foundational pillars of joy. Archbishop Tutu says it best: “Humility is the recognition that your gifts are from God for the good of others.” True joy, they argue, comes not from being above others but with others—especially with those who are struggling, grieving, or in need of companionship.
Pope Francis echoes this in The Joy of the Gospel, calling humility the “gateway” of the disciple’s heart. And truly, look at the lives of the saints—nearly all of them, without exception, were radiant in joy not because they sought their own glory, but because they poured out their lives in humble service to others.
Let us resist the temptation to always be center stage. We are not doormats, but we are called to serve. We are not called to be invisible, but we are called to put others first. This is the paradox of the Gospel: to find your life, you must lose it in love.
Speaking of joy: Please join us for our Annual Parish BBQ, one of the most joyful gatherings of the year! It’s more than food—it’s fellowship. Come to reconnect, share a meal, and welcome new school families and parishioners with warm smiles and open arms. Sign up on our parish website www.stsimon.church and don’t forget to say hello to someone you don’t know and welcome new parishioners and families to our community.
In the morning before the Parish BBQ, please gather up your old electronic items and drop them off at the St. Vincent de Paul E-Waste collection in the front parking lot from 9am – 1pm. Then join our Hope & Wellness Ministry team in the Simon Room for their “Mental Health 101” event from 9am – 11:30am to learn about various mental illnesses,the mental health continuum, how to support someone with a mental illness and engage in conversations. We are blessed to have such a wonderful supportive ministry here at St. Simon.
It is with joy that I announce the addition of two incredible leaders to our parish staff and a St. Simon Parish School alumni to support the pastoral staff:
Teresa Pleins joins us this week as our Pastoral Associate for Pastoral Care. Teresa brings decades of compassionate ministry from her time at Stanford, especially among the sick, the grieving, and the homebound.
Sister Gloria Jones, also from the Stanford Catholic community, will serve as our SEEL Program Coordinator (Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Living), guiding others in deepening their spiritual lives.
Ana Paraiso, a recent graduate from the University of Washington (and a St. Simon alum) joins our team part-time as program support specialist supporting the Pastoral Staff.
Please keep Teresa, Sister Gloria and Ana in your prayers as they transition into our community. Their joyful spirits and servant hearts will bless us all.
We carry heavy hearts this week as we grieve the horrific shooting during Mass at a parish in Minneapolis, where two students were killed and seventeen others wounded. We pray for all who died, for the wounded, for the families shattered by this tragedy, and for the entire community reeling from this senseless violence. We also remember those who carry past trauma, reawakened by this event:
We pray for those lost to gun violence in Minneapolis, for the children, families, and communities shattered by this latest tragedy, and for all who carry trauma from senseless shootings: that God’s healing and peace may surround them, and that our nation may find the courage to end this epidemic of violence.
In response to this event, I am re-engaging with the security consultants who helped assess our campus safety last year. We implemented all of their recommendations, but in light of recent events, I will ask for further review and recommendations—including the possible presence of a security officer during school hours. As always, we will continue this conversation together as a parish and school community to discern what best protects and serves our people.
May we never lose heart. May we continue to walk humbly, love deeply, and act justly. The path of humility is not weakness—it is the way of Christ, and the source of lasting joy. Buy your Parish BBQ tickets HERE and Volunteer for a shift HERE. Learn more about the Mental Health 101 Event HERE.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan