This past week, I had the privilege of attending our annual Clergy Study Week in the historic and peaceful setting of San Juan Bautista. It was an energizing and uplifting experience, not only because of the beautiful surroundings, but more so because of the opportunity to reconnect with fellow priests from across the Diocese. We…
This weekend’s Gospel reminds us of one of the most powerful truths of our faith: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). As we continue our Easter journey, we are invited to tune our hearts once more to the voice of the Good Shepherd, Jesus, who calls each…
The Second Sunday of Lent brings us to the mountaintop with Jesus, Peter, James, and John as we witness the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28b-36). In this moment of divine revelation, Jesus is transfigured before them, his face dazzling, his clothes radiant, and Moses and Elijah appearing beside him. It is a stunning glimpse of his divinity,…
One of the gifts of the COVID-era lockdowns was the awareness we developed for the different “essential workers” in our communities. From store clerks to first responders to nurses and doctors, we all got a sharp reminder how important the different strata of our working population really are and how important it is for us…
Two years ago, we took a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and on our visit to Galilee we stayed at a hotel run by a religious order at Magdala. They were excavating the temple area at the time, at the site which they believed was the home of Jairus. This is the scene depicted in…
This weekend, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, we are invited to reflect deeply on the central mystery of our faith: the loving relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity is not just a theological concept but a revelation of God as a…
I love this time of year as fall arrives and the days get shorter and become cooler, and the nights become longer and colder. The darkness brings its own rewards and the earth starts the process of renewal for another growing season in the spring. At the same time the liturgical year comes to an…
As you all know I just returned from part one of my vacation, three weeks traveling to Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon hiking and visiting with family and friends. I usually try to take all four weeks of my vacation together but this year I could not do so as I had some commitments on…
The gospel reading for Sunday is one of my favorites from the Bible, the walk to Emmaus. For me, it is a model for all ministry in our modern world. Let me explain. This is a post-resurrection scene where Jesus appears to the two disciples walking away from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Bear in mind that…
During the week of July 17th, 25 travelers joined the Tijuana Ministry mission trip sponsored and organized by BASICS, Brothers and Sisters in Community Service. This is the 11th year that St. Simon Parish has been an integral part of this mission trip. We had not been to Tijuana on Mission since 2019 and, out…