As we reflect on the scripture readings this 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time, we encounter the Shema, a beautiful commandment at the heart of the Jewish faith and our Christian faith: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:29-30). This call to love is both simple and profound, yet it challenges us to look inward, allowing God’s love to reach the very core of who we are.
In our Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL) program, a group of parishioners have been diving deep into the beginning of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, which emphasize accepting God’s boundless love for us. We’re reminded that we are created in His image and likeness; this love is a gift we can never earn but only receive. As Fr. Kevin O’Brien notes in The Ignatian Adventure, freedom in Christ begins with the simple act of opening our hearts to God’s love. Yet, despite this gift being freely given, we often encounter barriers in fully accepting it—busyness, fears, prejudices, the need for control, perfectionism, jealousy, resentment, and self-doubt. Accepting the barriers that get in the way requires some deep prayer and reflection leading us to identify those things, events or people who get in our way of accepting that love—these are called disordered affections or attachments. They have a hold of us and we cannot seem to let them go. But through prayer, we can receive the grace from God. As the Alcoholics Anonymous say, “let go and let God.” When we let go, we can then be freed to love others genuinely, as ourselves.
This journey toward love, acceptance, and freedom was at the heart of our Second Annual St. Simon Parish Retreat: Seeds of Contemplation. Through prayer, reflection, and community, we gathered as a parish to reflect on this divine love and the call to love each other. We contemplated the gift of his love and grace in our lives and remained present to it. It was a transformative experience for so many who attended, and we are very grateful to all of those who joined us.
We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made the retreat so impactful: the music, led by Meredith Augustin and Trevor Thomson, was profoundly moving, lifting our spirits in praise and prayer. Each piece was thoughtfully chosen and beautifully performed, setting a prayerful tone that echoed throughout our hearts. Thank you to Anna Brown, Jed de Torres, John Kellet, and Will Kellet for sharing their musical gifts.
Thank you to the Pastoral Staff and Volunteer Retreat Team who worked tirelessly to provide this beautiful weekend retreat. Their dedication and generosity of time and talent truly enriched the experience for everyone who attended. Christine Moore for sharing your heartfelt and inspiring poems with us that we read at the end of every session. Your words are beautiful to contemplate. Teresa Giovanzana for leading the inspiring and creative art activity with the assistance of Angela Schaufler in the beautiful, colorful & inspiring school Art Room. Jim Arena, Gavin Corn, Terri & Jim Chapman, and Dave Lipscomb for facilitating such meaningful and thought-provoking small group discussions.
The worship spaces and breakout activity rooms, transformed with the skillful environment and art direction of Clare and her many Art & Environment (A&E) team members, provided a breathtaking backdrop, inviting us into a true contemplative atmosphere. Clare, your creative vision elevated every moment. Thank you to the A&E team: Michelle Higgins, Erika Ibarra, Diane Kaack, Denise Lassauzet, Melissa Moody, Cyndel Podich, Maryanne Quincy, Nancy Shutt, and Wanda Wong.
Rachel for her thorough work with communication and coordination, helping to achieve such strong attendance. Her efforts ensured that everyone knew about the retreat and felt welcomed to participate.
Joan for her leadership in the kitchen, along with her dedicated Meals Ministry team, nourished us not only with food but with warm hospitality. Every meal felt like a continuation of the retreat’s spirit of fellowship. People just loved spending time together in the gym and the warmth was a gift to hold. Ana, thank you for supporting Joan in the kitchen this weekend. Thank you to the Meals Ministry team: Theresa Clark, Moira DeLumpa, Stephanie Downey, Harriet & Nitish John, Andrea Hong, Scott Kusich, Elle La Russa, Tina Lipscomb, Kelly Mibach, Donna Mohammadi, Elizabeth Montgomery, Lee Panec, John Nitish, Michael Pleiss, Julie Ramirez, Nancy Shutt, Patti Young, Ruth Welch, Kathryn Wong, and members of the Helping Hands Ministry for providing the desserts.
Denise and Erika for their work setting up the beautiful outdoor prayer spaces was truly remarkable. Each statue was a sanctuary of peace and reflection, inviting everyone to enter deeply into their own prayerful experience. Their thoughtful preparation helped transform these spaces into a place of genuine encounter with God, allowing the retreat’s contemplative spirit to flourish.
A very special mention must go to Kerby and the tech team for their leadership and expertise in the AV and sound booth. The sound and lighting were seamless, enhancing the presentations and music without a hitch. Thank you Tim Petersen for recording the sessions and livestreaming the Saturday Morning Prayer Service and 5pm Mass in addition to Sunday Mass.
Donna for coordinating all the facilities across campus to ensure we could set-up early and utilize all the spaces. The smoothness of registration, check-in and overall support set the tone from the moment participants arrived. Madelyn for supporting all of us in the office and to Colleen Panec in assisting with the preparation of retreat materials. Thank you to our friendly and always smiling Welcome & Hospitality team: Sharon Alano, Elaine Aplaon, Edel Deleon, Carole Freeland, Cynthia Lucero-Obusan, Oliver Obusan, and Nancy Shutt.
Victor & Balde for getting the place ready, setting up and tearing down. It is always a relief to have someone taking care of the background stuff. Kalena for her help preparing the meditation walk, supervising the students and helping clean-up campus.
Fathers Chris and Dat for their presence through reconciliation, Eucharistic adoration, and spiritual conversations provided support that truly enriched the retreat. They helped foster an openness to God’s grace in a deeply personal way. Thank you for helping with Adoration: Judy Chin, Joanne Chao, Donna Daley, and Kieran Gonzales.
Marilou for her dedication to childcare throughout the retreat. Parents were deeply appreciative of the warm and engaging environment she created, allowing them to enter the retreat fully, knowing their children were in such caring hands. Her presence brought comfort and joy to many, adding to the overall success of the weekend. Thank you to Cynthia Lucero-Obusan for coordinating the Girl Scouts to help with the childcare program.
Ann for helping to promote the retreat to the school families, assisting with the use of school rooms and for her participation over the weekend. Karen Moreira for coordinating student volunteers and helping with set-up, clean-up and anything else we needed over the weekend.
This retreat transformed many lives, grounding us in God’s love and inspiring us to share it with each other.
As we enter November, a month of remembrance, we continue to hold onto this love, knowing it is eternal. This year, we are beginning a new yet old tradition with a Mass of Remembrance at 5pm on Saturday, November 9th. We invite you to join us as we honor our loved ones who have gone to their eternal reward, knowing that their love lives on within us. Inspired by the movie Coco, we are reminded that remembering our loved ones keeps their memory alive in our hearts, connecting us with them in a communion of saints whose love never dies.
To help honor them, we invite you to send in photos and names of your loved ones to be displayed during our Mass of Remembrance. Together, let us celebrate this lasting love and our beautiful connection with all the saints in our greater communion. Join us for this special evening, where our love and memories bridge heaven and earth. Upload your photos by Tuesday, November 5th by 4pm HERE.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan