It was such a joy to have our Vacation Bible School (VBS) in session this week with over 125 children in attendance along with 60 counselors from 7th-8th grades and our high school core team. The buzz on campus was wonderful and they learned all about how to let Jesus’ light shine in their hearts…
In Sunday’s first reading, Jeremiah is struggling with where the Lord is in his life as it seems that all his enemies are delighting in his demise. Finally, after a dialogue with God in which God reviews with Jeremiah his presence always, he concludes that “The LORD is with me, like a mighty champion.” It…
Most elementary and high schools finished classes over the last two weeks and now universities and colleges are finishing up too. It is a welcome change of pace for many as we head into the summer months. Most of us are ready for the change and eagerly anticipate a vacation of some sort or at…
When Albert Einstein was once asked if he could explain his theory of relativity in simple terms, he said “No, I cannot.” But he added, “If you come home with me, I will play it on the violin.” It sounds so simple, but the reality is some things are beyond simple explanations, but they can…
This weekend, our 8th grade class graduates from Saint Simon School and we are excited for them as they head off to high school. Many of the students have been here all 10 years of their elementary schooling and some joined in the last few years, but they are graduating as a class, a community…
The feast of Pentecost is a feast about locked doors being blown open. It is about the doors of our hearts being blown open. Think about it, sometimes we are locked in patterns of the past and we are locked behind closed doors of fear or pain or unforgiveness. This is illustrated well by…
At the beginning of this week, all the priests from the Diocese of San Jose were away at the San Juan Batista Retreat Center for clergy study days. It is usually a full week but as we had Bishop P.J McGrath’s funeral services, we came back early. While we were there, we reviewed the Synod’s…
On Sunday, May 7, Bishop Patrick J. McGrath, our bishop emeritus died. Bishop P.J.’s sudden death has caught us all by surprise. While he fell about two weeks ago and broke a vertebra in his back, the surgery was successful, and he was recovering well. Unfortunately, he developed pneumonia in one lung, and it spread…
Last weekend was an incredible weekend of community, ministry, and music. Francesca LaRosa and John Angotti gave a fantastic concert on Friday night with over 400 people present. Everyone was singing their hearts out and it was a wonderful celebration of faith! On Saturday morning, they gave a wonderful workshop that engaged nearly 100 cantors…
This weekend is often referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday as the gospel selection is always the metaphor of the Good Shepherd and his sheep from the Gospel of John. It highlights the importance of having an intimate relationship with Jesus. The image of a shepherd and his flock is a powerful one, emphasizing the…