6/13/2019 Trinity Sunday![]() Dear Friends, Our Scriptures do a lot to illuminate and underpin our belief in the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, whose Solemnity we celebrate today. In the first reading from Proverbs we hear a beautiful and poetic declaration of the wonder of Creation. It’s written in the first person: “I was there when …” “I was his delight.” It speaks as the third person of the holy trinity: “Thus says the wisdom of God.” For Christians there is a long tradition that Old Testament references to wisdom are in fact references to the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. So in this reading we have Wisdom detailing how he was there as all came to be. But it’s at the end of the passage that I think we hear something very important: “… then was I beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of his earth; and I found delight in the human race.” Here we have a description of creation from the very beginning, and God finding delight in us (and our ancestors). Sometimes we can lose sight of this very basic tenet of our faith – that God created us fundamentally good; so good, in fact, that God became one of us in order to redeem us and restore us to the union with him that we had broken. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). The gospel reading (John 16:12-15) has Jesus speaking to his disciples in a very comforting way, preparing them, perhaps, for the coming challenges of his mission – his passion, death, resurrection and ascension. “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” "He [the Spirit] will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he [again, the Spirit] will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” Friends, we can never fully understand the mystery of the Holy Trinity. We accept Three Persons, One God, on faith. Today’s Scriptures are there to help us contemplate these truths. Siempre Adelante, Dominic MacAller Worship Minister 6/12/2019 Happy Birthday Church!Dear Parish Family, Happy Pentecost! Today we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. Jesus promised to send us his spirit, an advocate; though Jesus would leave us, we would not be alone. This is the beginning of the Church, Jesus commissions his disciples to continue the work that he has begun, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” As he breathes the Holy Spirit upon them, Jesus sends his disciples to continue his work of reconciliation through the forgiveness of sins. As Christians, we are called to be agents of peace and forgiveness. The act of Reconciliation is transformative, spiritually, emotionally and physically. In Reconciliation we must Recognize our sins (wrong doing), Repent (truly feel sorry) and Confess our sin, do our Penance (seek to make amends), allowing us to receive Sanctifying Grace. Forgiveness is our first commandment as a church. This is a sacrament of healing and love, always creating the path to come back to the loving arms of our Lord. Whether we are the ones needing the forgiveness or the ones who are asked to forgive, let us know we all have an active part in each other’s salvation. Just like it is necessary to have the priest give us absolution, hearing him say, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” We have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us, calling on the Spirit’s many gifts of Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Council, Fortitude, Piety and Fear of the Lord. Even when the hurt is so painful we are not yet ready to say I forgive you, remember, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13); after all, forgiveness comes from God. ![]() Let us celebrate our birthday, this Pentecost, and just like every birthday party there are many gifts. Which of the Gifts of the Spirit will you call on? I pray you are all filled with Peace and Joy of the Spirit. Siempre Adelante, Tere Delgado Faith Formation Minister 6/2/2019 Questions![]() Dear Faith Family, This Sunday’s Gospel is a funny one. When the chief priests, scribes and elders approach Jesus to ask Him what seems to be a valid question, Jesus gives them a pretty complex answer. Why is that? Growing up, I was always raised to believe that I should ask God any questions. While I do think it’s true, why is it that Jesus didn’t answer the questions posed in the Gospel? If we look at the tone of the question asked, the chief priests, scribes and elders are obviously trying to bait Jesus into speaking some form of heresy. I would argue that they probably know the answer to the question asked, but are trying to find any way to weaken Christ’s impact on the world that he had at the time. Jesus, all the wiser, evaded the question, knowing it’s a trap. I don’t know about you, but when I think of the personality of Jesus, I tend to think of His mercy, compassion and unconditional love. Sometimes on reflection, I fail to realize that Christ was also incredibly wise and understood the human person. His wisdom is evident in his “answer” to the question posed. His answer didn’t lack love, nor was it intended to be snarky. Rather, his answer showed that his purpose on earth isn’t just for political gain, but his answer showed that he is indeed one with the Father. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I try to bait God into questions that I already know the answers to. Instead of asking for change, I try to be clever to convince God that my way is the right way. These are the questions that tend to be unanswered in my life. Why? Because I don’t need to hear what I already know, sometimes. So what’s the purpose of this passage? For me, personally, it teaches me to be earnest in my conversation with God. Our God is all-loving and wants the best for us and wants to answer the pressing questions in our lives. Let’s not waste our time asking questions that try to mold God into something that he is not. God Bless! Brett Becker Youth and Young Adult Minister 5/24/2019 ​Making Disciples![]() My Dear Fellow Disciples, One of my greatest privileges at Padre Serra Parish is welcoming people who wish to learn more about the Catholic Church. They are school-aged children, teens, and adults who come to us from many different backgrounds and situations. Some are not baptized or have been baptized in another Christian community. Some were baptized in the Catholic Church as infants but were not raised in the faith. Some have been attending Mass with a Catholic spouse for many years and others do not know any Catholics but admire some aspect of our Church. Some seek doctrinal truth, others long for community and a sense of belonging. Many are impressed by our sense of reverence and dignity as we celebrate Mass. Whatever their situation, they all have been touched and called by God who has led them to us. Because of the varied backgrounds of the seekers, there are various paths to becoming Catholic. We do not have a one-size-fits-all process. During an initial meeting, the seeker and I determine particular needs and set out a plan for them to discern their call, and then perhaps to prepare to be received into the Church. Those who are not baptized or who, although baptized were not brought up in the Christian faith, will take part in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). This is a gradual process of conversion which includes rites (ceremonies) with the community which mark their progress, and proceeds to the reception of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. We do not re-baptize fellow Christians but, honoring their baptism, offer them a path to full communion with us. For those who have an extensive relationship with us, the process may last a few short months. Those who are less familiar with Catholicism or who have many questions or concerns may need a longer period of discernment before they are ready to make a Profession of Faith in the Catholic Church. The high point for all those becoming Catholic, by whatever path, is the first reception of Eucharist which is the sign of unity with Jesus and with us, his community of disciples. Catholicism is not merely a set of beliefs to which we give assent. It is a way of life rooted in a love relationship with God and with each other. Therefore, one does not become Catholic simply by attending classes. Rather, it is an apprenticeship which involves rubbing shoulders with ordinary Catholics as we worship together, play together, serve others, and support one another during life’s ups and downs. It takes every one of us, not just the RCIA team, to bring people into our beloved Church. Some parishioners are called to support the seekers in a special way as sponsors, sometimes called “journey companions.” Not everyone is able or has the time to fill this role, but we can all do our part in “making disciples” simply by modeling behavior: greeting those sitting near us at Mass, participating fully (that includes singing!), introducing ourselves to the newcomers in the courtyard, and perhaps inviting them to join us at an upcoming parish event. These are simple ways to become “disciples making disciples.” All it takes is a spirit of hospitality and a small step out of our comfort zone. Blessings, Catherine Shadduck Initiation Coordinator 5/17/2019 Love One AnotherDear friends on the journey, As I write this, I am preparing to visit the Holy Land. On May 13, Fr. Patrick and 41 parishioners departed for a week-long journey, visiting the holiest of places, the land where Jesus was born, lived, died and resurrected. I’m wondering what it will be like to see, feel, taste, and smell all of Israel. Will we encounter Jesus there like the people of his time did? In today’s gospel, at the Last Supper, Jesus sums up his mission and message with one commandment… love one another as I have loved you. As the apostles journeyed throughout Israel with Jesus, they witnessed firsthand his examples of love and we see it for ourselves in the stories of Jesus’ healing the blind and the lame, touching lepers, welcoming children, forgiving sinners, being with the outcast of society and laying down his life on the cross. This is the mission Jesus charged his apostles and its our mission too as 21st century disciples. So what does that look like for us now?
![]() Love one another is a simple statement but not always simple to live. Our discipleship is lifelong, complicated and challenging but when we don’t love well, we have the gift of starting again in the next moment, the next day. Thank God for that! Jesus’ mission field was Israel. Our mission is Ventura County. This week as I travel through Israel, I will be praying for all of you and your journey of discipleship so that we too may love others as Jesus loves us and that all those who meet us will see and feel Jesus’ love through our actions and words! Siempre Adelante, Teresa Runyon Faith Life Minister |
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