You may have heard or read that Pope Francis has called a Synod of Bishops; it opens in the Vatican on 9 October and in all of the (arch)dioceses around the world on 17 October.   Archbishop Pérez will celebrate an Opening Mass for the Diocesan Phase of the Synod that evening at 6:30pm at our Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul.

The Synod of Bishops is a permanent council that acts as an advisory body for the pope.  A pope convokes a synod to assist him in his ministry of […]

With Labor Day marking the unofficial end of summer three short weeks ago, our parish has exploded into action!  Our school opened on 7 September, our Parish Pastoral Council met on 8 September, a training was held for the new members of school’s Board of Limited Jurisdiction on 9 September, a study of the Book of Genesis started on 11 September, our Youth Group held its first fall gatherings on 12 September, our Finance Council met on 13 September, we had our first Walking with Purpose meeting and Men’s Evening […]

Last Saturday, I had the great joy of joining with my family in celebrating my youngest great nephew’s fourth birthday – it was lots of fun!  There were 40 people at the party and more than a dozen of them were under the age of ten.  My nephew and his wife had rented a portable miniature golf and the kids, filled with laughter, took turns playing each hole as well as in the play house in the corner of their back yard and the jungle gym nearby – and just […]

Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priest, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.  He spoke this openly.  Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  At this, he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan.  You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”   He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said, “Whoever wishes to come […]

Last summer, while we were in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, I began a series of presentations in my Parish Bulletin articles on the beautiful stained glass windows of our church.  This was in response to an increased interest in them that had resulted from a highlighting of some of the stained glass windows during our live streamed Masses that began when all public Masses were prohibited due to the pandemic.  Beginning in July and ending in December, I offered explanations on all of the windows in the nave, […]

Today, we will join with the universal Church in celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, into heaven.  It is not often that we actually celebrate it on a Sunday.  It is the principal feast day of the Blessed Mother, so I would like to offer you some reflections on it.

The commemoration of the death of Mary is known as the Assumption because of the tradition that, shortly after her death, Mary was raised up, body and soul, into heaven.  In the Eastern Church, it is […]