I am delighted to be back home after our pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It was a spectacular pilgrimage with so many new memories to reflect on for the next several months. While it was an exhausting two weeks, it was spiritually uplifting and an enriching experience for all of us. As I mentioned in last week’s message, reading the scriptures, especially the gospels, will never be the same. All pilgrims are now home safely, and we will be not just unpacking our bags but also unpacking our powerful spiritual experiences from visiting so many sites.
I cannot overstate how powerful this pilgrimage was for everyone. It was not just seeing the places where Jesus walked but to experience these spiritual “thin places” that allow us to walk in his footsteps again. One could feel Christ’s presence still there today. Now our challenge is to walk in his footsteps here in Silicon Valley and be the living presence of Jesus Christ today. I pray that we are inspired to be even more faithful to live out our discipleship in our everyday lives. I encourage you to ask those who were on pilgrimage about their experiences and what were their highlights. I am delighted to hear that so many of you were able to join us along the way with Facebook sharing. Kim did an outstanding job connecting you virtually to our physical journey.
As I get back into the flow, we have a lot of amazing events coming up soon. Of particular significance is our Fall Parish Mission Retreat with John Angotti and myself. It is Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, October 25-27, 7pm-8:30pm followed by a teaching Mass on 5pm, Saturday, October 29 with a light dinner and concert with John Angotti to follow. The topic is the gift of the Eucharist and how we can accept God’s invitation to be loved and to love others. John and I will weave together short talks with liturgical songs into a tapestry of beauty and wisdom. It will be a spirit-filled week and I encourage you to come and join us for all the sessions as we share our combined wisdom of over 50 years of celebrating liturgies as ministers.
I am excited that on November 4-6, we are hosting a retreat off-site especially for our high school teens. We are focusing on re-engaging our youth, giving them a safe place to come together in fellowship while having fun. We encourage your teen to register for the retreat and spend a weekend away with their peers, engaging Youth Ministers and musicians and reconnect with God. There is a wonderful program planned including downtime for school reading and homework. More information on our website here
Speaking of time away, I noticed when I returned from my trip, I had received all the election material for November 8. It is hard to believe it is midterm elections already. Where did the two years go? I know there is a temptation to not vote as it is “only” midterm election, but I encourage everyone to vote. I know that it is not a general election, but every vote is important.
In some countries, it is mandatory to cast your vote and there is a hefty penalty for not voting. In those countries the voting rate is over 90%. Unfortunately, our voting rate is closer to 60% in general election years and less than 40% in mid-term elections. That is pretty dismal, and it tells us that the minority of people are telling us how to run our country. That might explain a lot of policies! Let’s change this statistic and get all parishioners of Saint Simon Parish to vote.
I ask you to vote according to your conscience and be informed. Don’t leave it till the last day and just mark items in a hurry. Be thoughtful. Be prayerful. Vote.
There are some ballot measures that will need your discernment. Some of these are very serious and could put us into a new realm in California. I want to draw your attention to Proposition 1 on abortion as it will need your careful reflection and discernment. California already has some of the most permissive abortion laws in the nation, but with reasonable limits on late-term abortions. Prop 1 destroys this common-sense limit. The Catholic Church believes this proposition goes too far and is an expensive and misleading ballot measure that allows unlimited late-term abortions — for any reason, at any time, even moments before birth, paid for by tax dollars and covers the costs of non-Californians. Please take the time to pray about this measure and all measures and vote according to your well-formed conscience. You can find more information at the Diocese website here.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan