All Of God’s Creatures, Human and Non-Human, are interconnected BY FR. CHRIS I begin this message by asking all of us to pray for Floridians as this is the worst hurricane that Florida has ever experienced. At the time I am writing this message, more than 21 are dead in Florida from hurricane Ian, and…
As many of you already know, on Monday night, I fly to Tel Aviv to lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for 12 days with 48 parishioners. I am very excited about finally being able to lead another pilgrimage, especially to the Holy Land. Pilgrimages are journeys to sacred places to deepen our faith…
Last Sunday after Mass a parishioner asked me, as an Irishman, what I thought of Queen Elizabeth and her dying. It is a great question with many layers. I responded by saying that after seventy years of being a leader she has certainly passed the test of time. She was a grace-filled woman who rose…
On Thursday of this week, the priests of the Diocese gathered at Our Lady of Peace Parish, Santa Clara for our annual presbyteral assembly to work on the common projects for the year ahead. This year we focused on the upcoming Diocesan Synod 2023 mirroring what Pope Francis has done for the global Church at…
It was so wonderful to see so many people at Masses last weekend as we launched the Children’s Faith Formation and Middle School Youth sessions. It was particularly lovely to hear the children making so much noise. One of the hardest things for me over the last two years of the pandemic was not seeing…
The more I know, the more I know that I don’t know. Or put more clearly, the older I get, the more I realize how little I know! It is not that I am not trying to learn but the more I learn the more I realize how little I really know. That is as…
I am happy to welcome back John Angotti this week. John held one-on-one musical sessions with our Parishioners and a concert for the school students this week that all enjoyed! The kids were up singing and dancing in the Church and turning to their neighbors to say, “I love you” – their energy was contagious!…
It is hard to believe but school is starting this week for many schools including our own SaintSimon Parish School. Summers seem to be getting shorter! I remember when school started after Labor Day weekend but alas that is years ago. Nevertheless, it is exciting to have the school back and see all the students…
As most of you know I just returned from vacation, and I am delighted to be home at Saint Simon again. I know I am not meant to have goals for vacation but that is the way I am wired. My goals were quite reasonable though: rest, read and hike. I am happy to say…
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…