When I was 11, I was riding my bike on a Friday night in Scottsdale, Arizona. I saw giant spotlights swirling in the sky. Something amazing had to be happening. I pedaled after them with excitement. Sweaty and tired, I arrived, only to find a used car lot. Bright lights, flapping banners, inflatable balloon men swaying wildly in the wind. I stood there, heart sinking. All that spectacle, and all my effort … for this?

As life proceeds, we learn what it is like to pursue promising but fruitless searches. This week we hear Jesus ask the crowds regarding John the Baptist: “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?” (Matthew 11:7). He’s not just describing the crowd’s mis-aimed pursuit. He’s naming our tendency to chase after what’s flashy but flimsy.

What are our swaying reeds? For me, it is endless video reels on my phone, worldly pleasures, entertainment in sports, and the good opinion of others. Inflated distractions that bend whichever way the wind blows. But they can’t satisfy my soul. What are your flimsy reeds? 

John the Baptist wasn’t a swaying reed. He was rooted, grounded, unafraid to speak the solid truth. The people went to see him because, deep down, they were starving for something real.

This Advent, the Church asks us to reassess: What are we really looking for? Are we chasing the dazzling but hollow? Or are we seeking what is solid and lasting — that which points to Christ? — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Good afternoon and welcome to St. Joseph,

As we begin our Liturgy, we would like to extend a special welcome to everyone visiting our Parish for the first time. We also warmly welcome all of you here this (morning/afternoon/evening). We are so grateful and blessed to have you with us. As we settle in and prepare our hearts for Mass today, please take a moment to make sure your cellphones are turned off so as to not disturb our prayer.

(wait a few seconds)

Let us take a moment now to prepare for Mass and open our hearts and minds to the

message that will hear today. The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and for...

Everyone please stand and greet those beside you.

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may reach out with the joy of the gospel to all those who wonder if Jesus is the one who saves us or whether they should look for another, let us pray to the Lord.

B. That the world may bloom with justice and peace, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For the prophetic voices who speak out despite persecution, derision, or apathy, to help build the kingdom of God in our community, our nation, and our world, let us pray to the Lord.

D. That we may bring God’s compassion and care to those who are disabled, especially to those who find life burdensome, let us pray to the Lord.

E. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Today we have a second collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious. This fund provides housing, medical assistance, and essential support for thousands of aging religious. Please consider giving next week.

2. The Parish is selling Advent and Christmas reflection books, which offer simple yet enriching reflections for each day during Advent and Christmas. These can be purchased in the Parish Center for $2 each.

3.Adult Confirmation registration will take place today from 11:00am to 2:00pm and Wednesday, December 17, from 6pm to 8pm, and Sunday, December 21, from 11am to 2pm in the Parish Center. Classes will be held on Thursdays from January to April, from 7pm to 9pm.

Resources

Readings

This week we hear that John the Baptist is out in the wilderness eating “locusts and wild honey” (Mark 1:6). It’s not just a strange historical detail. It’s a symbolic expression of a healthy spiritual diet. The path to Christ includes both the hard and the beautiful, the gritty and the sweet. We have to learn to gulp the locusts and savor the honey.

I remember working with a young couple preparing for marriage. They were sincere, but raw — barely beginning to discover faith. Part of me wanted to rush them ahead, to fill in all the gaps, to bombard them with scripture and church documents. I swallowed that instinct. It was like eating locusts.

But I also recall them light up as they spoke about each other, about their first child, then their second. And they wanted to be close to God. Something innocent and beautiful was unfolding. That was the honey. I knew God was asking me to savor it. 

This Advent, maybe we’re each being invited to accept both locusts and honey. Maybe it’s time to stop avoiding the difficult parts of faith — prayer that feels dry, the call to repentance, the patience with the troublesome. It’s time to eat some locusts.

But we also need to notice the small gifts God gives us: a peaceful moment, a good conversation, the joy of serving someone else, new life, good intentions of our friends. That’s the honey. Savor it!

John didn’t avoid either. He took it all in. And so can we. What are your locusts? Your honey? If we let God feed us with both, we’ll be ready — really ready — for the coming of Christ. — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Good afternoon and welcome to St. Joseph,

As we begin our Liturgy, we would like to extend a special welcome to everyone visiting our Parish for the first time. We also warmly welcome all of you here this (morning/afternoon/evening). We are so grateful and blessed to have you with us. As we settle in and prepare our hearts for Mass today, please take a moment to make sure your cellphones are turned off so as to not disturb our prayer.

(wait a few seconds)

Let us take a moment now to prepare for Mass and open our hearts and minds to the

message that will hear today. The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and for...

Everyone please stand and greet those beside you.

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may sustain John the Baptist’s call for repentance, recognizing the joy of reconciliation and remaining conscious that the kingdom of heaven is always at hand, let us pray to the Lord.

B. That we may resolve differences without violence or anger, hastening an end to hostilities the world over and contributing to fullness of peace for ever, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For those who call us to repentance, who persist in trying to make us better people, that they may not grow discouraged, let us pray to the Lord.

D. That we may take the time during this busy Christmas season to make room in the inn of our hearts to welcome the Lord in our midst, let us pray to the Lord.

E. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Next week we have a second collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious. This fund provides housing, medical assistance, and essential support for thousands of aging religious. Please consider giving next week.

2. This Monday, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Our daily bilingual Mass will be at 8am, with Spanish at 5pm, and additional Masses at 6:30pm in English and 8:00pm in Spanish. Due to these additional Liturgies, there will be no confessions or Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the 5pm Mass

3. On Friday, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mañanitas will begin at 4:00am, followed by Spanish Mass at 4:30am, 12:00pm, 5:00pm, and 8:00pm. Our Bilingual Mass will be at 8:00am, and English Mass at 9:30am. Because of the additional liturgies, confessions and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will not be available all day.

4. The Parish is selling Advent and Christmas reflection books, which offer simple yet enriching reflections for each day during Advent and Christmas. These can be purchased in the Parish Center for $2 each.

5. Adult Confirmation registration will take place this Wednesday, December 10, from 6pm to 8pm, and Sunday, December 14, from 11am to 2pm in the Parish Center. Classes will be held on Thursdays from January to April, from 7pm to 9pm.

6. It’s time for the St. Margaret Center annual Christmas Program and we need your generous support! Please consider donating a gift to a child this year and bring them to the parish office by Friday, December 12th. We thank you for your support in advance!

Resources

Readings

A few years ago, my house was broken into on Super Bowl Sunday. Turns out, it’s a great day for burglars. If the TV isn’t on, people are probably watching the game somewhere else, so … easy pickins’. I’ll never forget walking into my bedroom and realizing someone had been there. My stuff was thrown all over the floor. The closet was torn apart. It was disorienting and disturbing — someone had invaded the space I thought was secure. After that, I bought an alarm system. And every Super Bowl Sunday since, I’m extra careful to lock the doors and keep the lights on. That experience made me more alert. Not scared. Just attentive.

That’s much like the spiritual place Jesus wants us to be on this first Sunday of Advent. He doesn’t start the season with soft candlelight and cozy manger scenes. He starts with two brutal images: a flood and a thief. In other words, chaos and violation.

Why? Because life will flood us. Chaos will come. And in the midst of it, Christ will come like a thief — not to steal from us, but to steal us back. He is the intruder we should want. The one who breaks in, not to ransack, but to rescue.

Christ presents himself as the thief but also the new Noah. He builds the ark of the Church to carry us through the flood. And he invites us to join him. How? By participating fully in our parishes. By making our homes places of prayer. By guarding our hearts with truth. By refusing to let spiritual complacency leave us exposed. By repentance.

This Advent, don’t just stay vaguely “awake.” Prepare. Build. Watch. The flood will come. But so will he. — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this First Sunday of Advent.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may discern the Lord’s presence in the world and bear witness to it, strengthening the faith of believers and giving hope to those who find life meaningless and burdensome, let us pray to the Lord.

B. For government leaders, that they may always promote the common good in the work they do, let us pray to the Lord.

C. That armies and militias of all kinds may beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, turning battlefields into fields of grain and fruit, let us pray to the Lord.

D. For those who suffer with AIDS, particularly those who cannot afford and cannot obtain the treatment available in the developed world, let us pray to the Lord.

E. That this Advent we may prepare our hearts for our Savior’s coming, reconciling with those we have hurt and turning away from sinful pleasures, so that we may walk in the light of the Lord, let us pray to the Lord.

For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Today we have a second collection for the decoration of flowers for the Parish, in particular, our upcoming Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We thank you for your generosity.

2. The Parish is selling Advent and Christmas reflection books. These books offer a simple yet enriching reflection for every day during Advent and Christmas. The books can be purchased in our Parish Center for 2 dollars.

3. Adult Confirmation registration will be this Tuesday, December 2 and Wednesday, December 3 from 7pm to 9pm in the Parish Center. Classes are held on Thursdays from January to April from 7pm to 9pm.

Resources

Readings

Not long ago, I was called to a hospital to anoint a woman in her early 80s. She was dying, and visibly in pain. But what struck me most wasn’t her suffering — it was the atmosphere in the room. She had eight children and 30 foster kids, and many of them were gathered around her. You’d expect sorrow, fear, maybe even despair. But the room was filled with something else entirely — a quiet strength, a kind of sweetness. It was as if she was suffering not just with them, but for them. And they, in love, were suffering for her. The pain was real. But so was the peace. I didn’t want to run. I felt as if I was in a little paradise, beeping machines and all.

I think of that moment when I hear today’s Gospel. Jesus, hanging on the cross, doesn’t look like a king. But one of the crucified, dying men beside him sees through the suffering and says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). That word — remember — literally means to make someone a member again. He’s asking to be joined to Christ, to become part of his Body. And Jesus says, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

He doesn’t say, “I’ll take your suffering away.” He says, “You will be with me.”

That’s the strange power of Christ the King. He doesn’t rule by avoiding suffering. He reigns by entering into it, and transforming it with love.

What are you suffering right now in your life? Likely you want it to stop. But if we are willing to suffer with him — paradise begins even today. — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may grow in wisdom and insight when interpreting God’s laws in the changing circumstances of today’s world and apply them justly and compassionately, let us pray to the Lord.

B. For rulers of nations, that they may recognize that there is an authority above their own, and value honest deliberation and consultation in making decisions, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For all people whose rights and dignity are slighted by those in authority, especially for those imprisoned, oppressed, or persecuted, let us pray to the Lord.

D. That we may see Christ in all whom we meet and treat them in such a way that they may know that Christ is our king, let us pray to the Lord.

E. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Today we have our annual second collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. This campaign provides funding to groups whose activities reflect Catholic moral and social teaching on human life and dignity. CCHD is an example of how the Catholic community reaches out to involve and support people who are poor in acting together to improve their lives, overcome injustice and escape poverty. We thank you for your generosity.

2. The Parish is selling Advent and Christmas reflection books. These books offer a simple yet enriching reflection for every day during Advent and Christmas. The books can be purchased in our Parish Center for 2 dollars.

3. Adult Confirmation registration will be this Tuesday, November 25 and Wednesday, November 26 from 7pm to 9pm in the Parish Center. Classes are held on Thursdays from January to April from 7pm to 9pm.

4. Our Men's ministry is having a food sale in the Madonna Plaza. We thank you for your support.

Resources

Readings

When I was a kid growing up in New England, I’d occasionally go on a whale watch. Once we went out with calm waters and clear skies. But on the way back in, the sea got rough. I was just a kid, and I remember thinking we should turn left or right toward the shoreline I could see. But the pilot of the boat kept going straight — right into the waves — focused on a small, discouragingly distant lighthouse. Even when it flickered in and out of sight, he stayed the course. He knew where he was going.

That image comes to mind when I hear Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel regarding false messiahs: “Do not follow them” (Luke 21:8). In times of chaos or uncertainty, there are always voices offering easier routes, promising false safety, claiming to speak for God. But Jesus isn’t found in the loudest voice or the nearest shoreline. He is steady, like a lighthouse in the storm.

The tribulation of which Jesus speaks — it’s real. It happened to the Temple, it happened to him, it happens in the Church, and it will come to each of us. But the command is not to panic. It’s to endure. To keep steering toward him. Faith isn’t about having all the answers or dodging every wave. It’s about knowing where the lighthouse is — and trusting it enough to keep going, especially when false safety beckons us to stop. — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may remain faithful to the gospel and be ever ready for the day of judgment, let us pray to the Lord.

B. That those in public office may work to lift up the poor and raise up those on the margins of the society, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For judges, attorneys, and all those who interpret and apply the laws of our land, that they may always do so with justice, fairness, and mercy, let us pray to the Lord.

D. For those whose anxiety about the future makes it difficult for them to cope, that they may be comforted, let us pray to the Lord.

E. For those crossing the threshold from this life to the next, that they may sense the presence of God in their midst, let us pray to the Lord.

F. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Next week, we'll have our annual second collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. This campaign provides funding to groups whose activities reflect Catholic moral and social teaching on human life and dignity. CCHD is an example of how the Catholic community reaches out to involve and support people who are poor in acting together to improve their lives, overcome injustice and escape poverty. CCHD is a sign of how the Church lives out the call from Scripture and Tradition to give special concern and priority to the needs of those who are poor and vulnerable. We thank you for your generosity.

2. The Parish is selling Advent reflection books. These books offer a simple yet enriching reflection for every day during Advent. The books can be purchased in our Parish Center for 2 dollars.

3. Adult Confirmation registration will be this Tuesday, November 18 from 7pm to 9pm in the Parish Center. Classes are held on Thursdays from January to April from 7pm to 9pm.

Resources

Readings

When I was 22, I entered St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time. It floored me. I could hardly take it in, its grandeur, majestic arches, vibrant colors, and the light that danced through its high windows. Somehow, amidst such splendor, I felt an overwhelming sense of belonging, as if I had finally come home.

Jesus reorients how we Catholics see sacred buildings. In today’s Gospel he says, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:13-22). His riddle implies, shockingly, that his own body is now the fundamental dwelling place of God and humanity. The temple in Jerusalem has been superseded. 

In our churches today — whether they mirror the basilica’s grandeur or embrace humble simplicity — we experience architectural symbols of Christ’s risen body. It is no accident we call them “churches”: they make visible in brick-and-mortar Christ’s body which is made up of the living stones we call Christians. Each church building, like St. John Lateran in Rome, or St. Peter’s, or any other, is meant to be a vibrant sign of Christ’s resurrected body. We should cherish and protect our churches as places where heaven touches earth, where we, as a community, are raised to the fullness of life in Christ. — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may continually commit to carrying out Christ’s mission, and channel God’s grace like a flowing stream to the entire world, let us pray to the Lord.

B. That those in leadership positions in government may work to build a society in which the hungry are fed, the stranger is welcomed, and the forgotten are cared for, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For those who have served in the armed forces in times of war, that they may be treated with respect and dignity all their lives, let us pray to the Lord.

D. For those who design and construct church buildings, and all those who care for them from generation to generation, let us pray to the Lord.

E. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Today we have a second collection for the Archdiocese for the Military Services. These funds are used for a Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program, Vocation Discernment, Veteran Affairs Chaplaincy, meet the pastoral needs of Military families, and young adults. We thank you for your generosity.

2. Today the St. Vicent de Paul truck will be in the school parking lot from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or until their truck is filled with your donations. Due to our limited storage space, we ask you not to leave your donations at the parish office. We appreciate your generosity.

3. We invite you this Friday, November 14 at 7:00pm to Father Gustavo's Installation Mass, which will be presided by Bishop Marc. During this Mass, Father Gustavo will do his profession of Faith and take an oath of fidelity as our new Pastor. After Mass, we'll have light refreshments in the Redahan Hall.

4. Our teen ministry, Soldiers of Christ, is having their food sale today in the Madonna Plaza, we thank you for your support.

Resources

Readings

I lost my wallet this year. It was such an annoyance to replace everything in it. A friend, moved by sympathy, gave me a beautiful new one. One month later I lost that one, too, with all my newly replaced cards. No matter what I did, I couldn’t find what I had lost. I resigned myself to never seeing either of my wallets again.

Fortunately, the Lord Jesus is not like me in this regard. In today’s Gospel (John 6:37–40), he says, “This is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me.” Jesus, unlike me, is ever vigilant with what the Father has given him. He searches for every lost soul — as the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to pursue the one lost sheep, or the woman rejoices upon recovering a lost coin — and even descends to the depths of loss on the cross and into the realm of the dead to recover that which seems forever lost. 

On All Souls’ Day, as we remember our faithful departed, these words kindle a hope beyond hope in our hearts. Even the dead are not lost to Jesus, though they may seem so to us. Nothing entrusted to him by the Father is ever truly lost. So, we may hope that every soul, no matter how wandering or forgotten in life, is secure in his loving care and destined to be raised on the last day. Of what the Father gives him, he loses nothing. — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome

November 2, 2025 · Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

1. For the Church, that we may share our faith, hope, and love with the world, bringing comfort to all who mourn, let us pray to the Lord.

2. That those who are suffering may be consoled and find hope in the promise of the Resurrection, let us pray to the Lord.

3. For all who care for those nearing the end of their lives, that they may be blessed for their selfless ministry, let us pray to the Lord.

4. That we may be inspired by those who have pursued a vocation to serve the Church, let us pray to the Lord.

5. For all our loved ones who have died, that in the fullness of time they may be raised to life eternal with God, let us pray to the Lord.

6. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Next Sunday, we'll have our Vocation Fair outside on the west side of the Church. We invite all youth and those discerning religious life to stop by and talk to one of our Seminarians, Priests, and religious Sisters.

2. Next Sunday, we'll have a second collection for the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Funds are used for a Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program, Vocation Discernment, Veteran Affairs Chaplaincy, meet the pastoral needs of Military families, and young adults by fostering, through small faith groups, outreach ministry and evangelization among 18-24 year olds in the military seeking to support and deepen their Catholic faith.

3. Next week, the St. Vicent de Paul truck will be in the school parking lot from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or until their truck is filled with your donations. Due to our limited storage space, we ask you not to leave your donations at the parish office. We appreciate your generosity.

Resources

Readings

Every now and then readers of these reflections write letters in which they object to something. Years ago, this Gospel of Luke 18 prompted such an email. A man wrote to me: “I find it deeply offensive that you suggest we are still sinners once we are God’s sons and daughters.” His objection stirred in me a profound awareness of the paradox at the heart of our faith.  Are we sinners or beloved children of God?

In this Gospel (Luke 18:9-14), a tax collector appears as one who has missed the mark. His sins have isolated him. His breast-beating is not an act of self-flagellation for pride’s sake but a heartfelt admission of his failure and unworthiness. Remarkably, Jesus honors the candid humility of the parable’s penitent. Why? Because we are always in need of mercy, always. But even more, perhaps because on the cross, Jesus will fully embrace a similar place of humiliation and rejection. He will enter into the most shameful, offensive place of the sinner so that we might “go home justified.”  

There is a sacred tension in admitting that we are sinners and yet have profound hope. We are beloved sons and daughters of God, growing precisely through our honest acceptance of failure. When we cry, “Have mercy on us,” during Mass or when we repeat the “Jesus Prayer” in quiet moments, or in the confessional, we embrace our imperfections as fertile ground for divine grace. In doing so, we follow Christ’s example — finding true exaltation in the humble acknowledgment of our human frailty.

— Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

October 26, 2025 · Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may truly be a church of the poor and for the poor, humbly recognizing our need for God’s mercy while serving the least of our brothers and sisters, let us pray to the Lord.

B. For those in public office, that they may serve their constituents with humility and be attentive to the cries of those most in need, let us pray to the Lord.

C. That we may cherish every human life, from conception to natural death, for we are all made in the image and likeness of God, let us pray to the Lord.

D. For those who have been widowed or orphaned, that through the love of others they may receive affection, companionship, and tender loving care, let us pray to the Lord.

E. For those who have kept the faith and long for God’s appearance and are approaching the end of their lives, that they may at long last receive the crown of righteousness, let us pray to the Lord.

FFor all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. On Friday, October 31st, we will have our Holy Hour at 6:00 p.m. This month, it will be led by Father Eugenio Cárdenas, a member of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit and professor of spiritual theology at the Camarillo Seminary.

Resources

Readings

A woman in my parish has an adult son who has rejected his faith. She prays for him every day. She lights candles, says rosaries, and asks God again and again to bring him back. But nothing changes. Is God listening? Is He delaying? She told me once that she feels like the widow in Jesus’ strange parable — crying out for justice, but hearing only silence. And yet, she said, she is at peace. I asked why. She responded, “God is already answering. I just can’t see it yet.”

She embodies something of the mystery in Jesus’ parable this week in Luke 18. A powerless widow demands justice from a corrupt judge. This isn’t about wearing God down until He gives in. It’s about faith in the justice that is already coming. The widow isn’t just persistent; she believes that justice is inevitable. And when Jesus points to the judge’s words — his fear of being “struck” — He hints at something deeper: God’s justice does not creep in gradually. It strikes. It comes like lightning.

Blessed Mary is, of course, the ultimate widow demanding justice. At the foot of the cross she stands before what looks like the ultimate injustice — the brutal execution of her son. But she did not despair. She did not beg for a last-minute rescue. She knew that justice was not delayed. In fact, it was happening. The power of the cross was already unleashing justice upon the world — suddenly, decisively, like a blow that would topple every corrupt power, making even the most corrupt fear her strike. 

This parable asks us: will the Son of Man find faith on earth? Or will we mistake God’s silence for absence? The cross proves that justice is not slow. It is only hidden. The lightning has already struck. In the cross, justice is speedily being done. — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A.

Announcements

1.

Resources

Readings

Dorothy Day, the great Catholic activist, doubted God’s existence. At least in her early adult years. But something changed when after giving birth to her daughter, she experienced an overwhelming gratitude. She later described how, as she held her daughter, the only appropriate response was a kind of unlimited gratitude. She had done nothing to deserve such a gift — this tiny, miraculous life — but there she was, flooded with gratitude, completely undone by the love of such a Giver.

Something similar occurs in Luke 17:19 when Jesus tells a healed leper, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” This man had already received physical healing through his faith. But the moment of an even deeper transformation came when he turned back, fell at Jesus’ feet, and gave thanks. Like Dorothy, this man’s gratitude led him to encounter the Giver.

Isn’t that what we want, too? Gratitude to God has the power to break our chains of sadness, bitterness, and disenchantment. It empowers us to step out of the prison of self-pity and into the reality of God’s abundant love. It shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have received, from what wounds us to what heals us.

Where do we learn this? The Mass. The priest prays: “It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks.” Always. Everywhere. Not just when life is easy. Not just when prayers are answered as we expect. Gratitude is not a passive feeling; it is an act of faith. In the eucharist, we remember that Christ himself has given everything for us. And in this act of gratitude, we are healed.— Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

1. For the Church, that we may express our gratitude toward God through the work we do to extend and expand God’s healing mercy, let us pray to the Lord.

2. For doctors, nurses, and health care workers who have dedicated their careers to care for those who are sick or injured, especially those ill with chronic conditions, that they may know the gratitude of those they treat, their loved ones, and all of society, let us pray to the Lord.

3. For indigenous people in this country, that they may receive the dignity and reconciliation they deserve, let us pray to the Lord.

4. That we may be ever grateful for the blessings of this parish community and all who minister to it, let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. We would like to thank everyone who participated in our Parish Fiesta. Information about raffle winners and our Fiesta sponsors can be found in the bulletin. Final Fiesta numbers will be published at the end of the month.

2. The annual Young Adult retreat, also known as CDJ, will take place on October 19 from 9am to 6:30pm in the LA Convention Center. More information could be found in the flyers that are placed by the entrance of the church.

Resources

Readings

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A.

Announcements

1.

Resources

Readings

I am embarrassed to admit that I frequently find myself dining and socializing with people who have millions and sometimes billions of dollars. I’ve eaten more caviar, lobster and wagyu steak than most people on the planet. I justify it by saying it’s part of my job. But I have seven pairs of nice jeans and expensive shoes.

So it is rather uncomfortable to hear Our Lord say: “My child, remember that you received what was good in your lifetime, while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented” (Luke 16:25). Fellow rich people (and if you’re American, you’re rich), do we not vehemently though quietly object to this parable’s karma-esque reward system? Why bless the rich man just to curse him later? And curse Lazarus just to bless him later? So Americans go to hell, while Burundians and Afghans go to heaven? What is going on?

One clue is that the condemned rich man doesn’t complain of injustice. Rather, he simply begs to help his brothers to repent. Of what? We don’t know exactly. Perhaps another clue is that the rich man now seems more like the downtrodden Lazarus. He knows what it is to be hungry and thirsty, to be wounded in the gutter; that he deserved that, not fancy meals and clothes. Maybe the rich man finally understands how to receive true blessings, but it is too late for him. But not for me. Not for us. — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

1. For the Church, that we may heed the cries of the poor and respond with compassion and charity, let us pray to the Lord.

2. For the world’s refugees, that they may be kept safe on their journeys and in their new homes, far from everything they have ever known, let us pray to the Lord.

3. For a bountiful harvest of the fruit of the land this autumn, and for just and generous compensation for all who work to pick, package, and transport the earth’s yield, let us pray to the Lord.

4. For those who minister to God’s people as priests, that they may be enriched and nourished in their prayer and their work, let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Our Parish Fiesta is next weekend! Our presale ride tickets and raffle tickets are available for purchase in the Parish office. Presale tickets will be available until Friday at 4:00pm. On Friday, at 4:30pm, we'll start our Parish Fiesta with the dedication of the Youth Center to our late pastor, Father Greg.

2. We invite all Parish school alumni to join us on Friday of next week at 5pm to join us on stage to reunite classmates, reconnect with friends, and relive cherished memories from St. Joseph School.

Resources

Readings

Before I was a priest, I was a lazy worker for a retail Apple store. Hearing a rumor that my boss was going to fire me, I secretly sold iPhones for half-price, gave away dozens of free iPads, and donated several brand-new laptops to managers in other stores in the mall. After a week, my boss called me into his office. He knew what I was up to. He said I had cost the store thousands of dollars. “Really great work, John,” he said. “I am going to recommend you to be my assistant manager and double your pay.” I was amazed.

And so are you. Which is understandable because it never happened. How could it? My tall tale is a retelling of Jesus' brow-furrowing parable we hear this week. A lazy, dishonest steward defrauds his boss and then the “master commended the dishonest servant for acting prudently” (Luke 16:8). What is the Lord saying to us?

Most of us treat our spiritual lives like a lazy teenager at an Apple store. We really don’t care. We go through the motions. Then, if we are lucky, something happens that shakes us to spiritual action; to employ whatever time, money, and resources we have to build around us a strong network of love. Every saint did that. Our Lord is so good he wants us to use his stuff to forgive debts and to bless others. He wants us to ensure our future. So do it! — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Sunday, September 21

6:00 AM

Pilar and Jorge Cochella • †

Aurela Guia • †

Evelyn G. Villanueva • †

Cesar B. Villanueva • †

Rainier G. Lorica • †

Antonio L. Aquino • †

Lan Banh • Thanksgiving

10:45 AM

Richard Mendenhall • †

Maria Guadalupe Gonzalez • †

Filemon Gaspar • †

Napolion y Miriam Aguilera •†

Felipe y Gregoria Murillo•†

Rose Ekweonu • Thanksgiving

12:30 PM

Rogelio De Leon • †

Luciano Espinoza • †

Animas del Purgatorio •†

Familia Miranda-Ibarra • prayer

Liliana Miranda •Prayer

Javier Miranda • Prayer

Vincent and Connie Delgadillo • Aniversary

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

For the Church, that we may model to the world an honest and prudent attitude toward material wealth, using it to lift up the poor and raise up the lowly, let us pray to the Lord.

For world leaders, that they may pursue peace, justice, and reconciliation between nations and regions, let us pray to the Lord.

For catechists, that they may kindle a curiosity in our faith and deepen a love of God in those they teach, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who struggle to put food on the table, buy clothing and basic necessities, or keep a roof over their heads, that they may be lifted up through the generosity of this and other Christian communities, let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

Today's second collection is for our annual Mission Appeal in particular for St. Joseph of the Amazons, which Father Joseph share during his homily. Your contributions enable this community to follow the call to serve the people in this remote and very poor area. We thank you for your generosity.

Our Parish Fiesta is less than a month away, our presale ride tickets and raffle tickets are available for purchase in the Parish office. We are also looking for volunteers for that weekend. If you would be interested in helping please leave your name and phone number in our Parish Center.

The Parish will host its first Holy Hour for Vocational discernment this Friday, September 26, from 6pm to 7pm. We invite everyone to join us and pray together through scripture, reflection, and music.

Resources

Readings

One of my favorite movies is the 1991 comedy What About Bob? Bill Murray plays a troubled, paranoid hypochondriac named Bob Wiley who innocently but annoyingly hounds Dr. Leo Marvin, played by Richard Dreyfuss. Bob is paralyzed by his fear of, well, everything, and is convinced the psychologist can heal him. But Dr. Marvin’s failed attempts to heal Bob end up driving the doctor to attempt to murder Bob. He fails. The surprise is that, having faced death head on, Bob is suddenly healed. He attributes his healing to Dr Marvin for break-through “death therapy.” In facing the cause of his deepest illness and dysfunction, Bob is healed.

 Underneath this light-hearted comedy is a dead-serious resonance with this week’s feast: the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Christ is lifted up on the cross to force us to face the truth of sin and death. In that reckoning we find healing. Like Moses’ snake on a pole, the cross says: this is what is causing your sickness – rebellion, disobedience, sin. Look at it! Don’t run from it. Now seeing it exposed, we see life. We see our physician mercifully healing us. In this sense, we are all like Bob Wiley. The “death therapy” of the cross is our only hope for healing. 

 This week I invite you to “exalt the cross.” If you don’t have one in your house, get one. Use it for prayer. Gaze on it frequently. It teaches us to not be afraid. It heals us.  — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

1. For the Church, that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross may inspire us to carry our own crosses with the confidence that we never carry them alone, let us pray to the Lord.

2. That leaders around the world may promote and advance initiatives that save lives, improve health, and aid vulnerable populations, let us pray to the Lord.

3. For first responders, 911 operators, and other hotline staffers, that they may realize how vital their interventions to save lives are and may be strengthened in their work, let us pray to the Lord.

4. For our community of faith, that we may see those who are burdened by crosses they feel unable to bear by themselves and step up to assist them as best we can, let us pray to the Lord.

5. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. We have a second collection today for the Black and Indian Missions. Your gift will go to help fund programs such as evangelization and catechesis for these missions.

2. Our Parish Fiesta is less than a month away, our presale ride tickets and raffle tickets are available for purchase in the Parish office. We are also looking for volunteers for that weekend. If you would be interested in helping please leave your name and phone number in our Parish Center.

3. Next Sunday is our annual Mission Appeal. Father Joseph from the Apostolic Vicariate of St. Joseph of the Amazons, located in the Peruvian rain forest, will be present at every Mass, sharing his mission. Your contributions enable Fr. Joseph's community to follow the call to serve the people in this remote and very poor area. We thank you for your generosity.

Resources

Readings

One hot Arizona summer afternoon my car ran out of gas. I phoned the parish office and begged for help. My secretary came and helped me fill the gas tank. She chided me, “If you can’t manage getting your car from A to B, how can we expect you to guide the parish where it needs to go?” Point taken, Julie. I vowed to always make sure I have plenty of gas in my car.

The Lord Jesus chides us in this week’s Gospel, too. He uses the two images of a man building a tower and a king marching soldiers into war to make this single point: acquire what is needed to follow him or look ridiculous. We rightly mock the builder who lacks money for his tower and the king with a short-handed army. But our mocking boomerangs back on us. How do we expect to follow Jesus to the end with insufficient detachment from our possessions and divided hearts?

The good news is, there is still time. Jesus is building a great tower to heaven–his own body. So we renounce all and give ourselves to him as his precious stones. Jesus is waging a battle against our enemy. So we forsake all and swear allegiance and march under his banner. In this way, we will finish what has begun in our discipleship. Or better put, our Lord will have the stones and soldiers required to see his great work through.  — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A.

Announcements

1.

Resources

Readings

©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Twenty second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, August 30

5:00 PM

Belle Allcantara • †

Rosalio Guerrero • †

Sunday, August 31

6:00 AM

Jorge and Pilar Cochella • †

Jhonny Higland • † 

Jose Vallez Reyes • †

Juan Martin De La Mora • †

Cecilia Williams • Thanksgiving

10:45 AM

Penny Marton • †

Alain Castillo • †

Liz Malto • Prayer

12:30 PM

Jhonny Higland • † 

Anabell Gomez • Birthday

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

1. For the Church, that we may always welcome the poor and forsaken, whom we find at the peripheries of society, and show them that in God’s eyes they are exalted, let us pray to the Lord.

2. For those who have suffered horrible tragedy, especially those in Minnesota, that they may receive the consolation, the support, and the hope they need to go on, let us pray to the Lord.

3. For blue-collar and white-collar workers, for farmers, migrant workers, factory workers, office workers, service workers, temporary and part-time workers, and all those whose labor contributes to the betterment of their families, this nation, and society, let us pray to the Lord.

4. That our faith community may welcome those who are poor, disabled, homeless, or forsaken to join us in the eucharistic banquet, let us pray to the Lord.

5. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Our Soldiers of Christ youth ministry and the First Communion catechists invite you to a special event, next Sunday at 10:30am in the Redahan Hall, to learn and watch the canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati.

2. Our Parish Fiesta is less than a month away, ourpresale ride tickets and raffle tickets are available for purchase in the Parish office.1.

Resources

Readings

©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A.

Announcements

1.

Resources

Readings

©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, August 16

5:00 PM

Hilaria Mercado • †

Jose Hector Barquero • †

All Souls of Purgatory • †

Becky Strong • †

Roda Family • Thanksgiving

Sunday, August 17

6:00 AM

Pilar Maldonado • †

10:45 AM

Ernesto Rendon • †

Consuelo Medina • †

Lisa Steinberg • †

Fr. Gene Buhr • †

Fr. Gregory King • †

Jennifer Lee Tolosa • Health

Ivory Claire Tolosa • Health

Ione N. Betonio • Birthday

12:30 PM

Irene Torres • †

Lorena Navarro • †

Nemesio Cervantes • Health

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

1. For the Church, that we may truly become a great cloud of witnesses, encouraging each other to persevere in our discipleship through setbacks and hardships, let us pray to the Lord.

2. For world leaders, that they may exercise wisdom and good judgment when faced with dissent or opposition, let us pray to the Lord.

3. For those suffering from the summer heat, especially those who must work outside, those who have no homes, and those who cannot afford air conditioning, that they may be kept safe from harm, let us pray to the Lord.

4. For all who struggle to be faithful witnesses of the Gospel, those suffering from hardship, grief, or doubt, that they may know the support of this faith community, let us pray to the Lord.

5. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Today we have a second collection for the National Combined Fund. This fund supports Black and Indian Missions, Catholic University of America, Catholic Communications Campaign, and Catholic Home Missions Appeal. We thank you for your generosity.

2. The Parish is looking for dance and music groups for our Parish fiesta which takes place on the first weekend of October. If you are interested, please leave your information at the Parish office.

Resources

Readings

©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Mass Intentions

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A.

Announcements

1.

Resources

Readings

©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, August 2

5:00 PM

Abraham Pivaral • †

Nora Oliva Garcia

Bienvenido Marquez • †

Maria y Angel Alba • †

Purificacion Tuazon Contreras • †

Israel Cristobal • †

Armando Gabriel •†

12:30 PM

Alma Camellia • Health

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may find fulfillment in becoming rich in what matters to God, let us pray to the Lord.

B. That all those around the world who suffer from hunger, poverty, and unemployment may realize the effects of bountiful harvests through the generosity of those with plenty, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For judges, arbitrators, attorneys, and all who work in our judicial system, that they may exercise their responsibilities with justice and fairness, let us pray to the Lord.

D. That we as a parish may treasure our faith and put it into action, kindly sharing our goodness and virtues with our community and with the world at large, let us pray to the Lord.

E. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. First Communion and Youth Confirmation registration will take place this Thursday at 7pm in the Parish Center. Details of the documentation needed can be found in our Parish bulletin.

2. Next week, the St. Vicent de Paul truck will be in the school parking lot from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or until their truck is filled with your donations. Due to our limited storage space, we ask you not to leave your donations at the parish office. We appreciate your generosity.

3. The Parish is looking for dance and music groups for our Parish fiesta which takes place on the first weekend of October. If you are interested, please leave your information at the Parish office.

Resources

Readings

©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, July 26

5:00 PM

Anita Figueroa • †

Jose Kaw Quiong • †

Anita Fernandez Alegria • †

Aura Maria Neira de Cortes • †

All souls in purgatory • †

Anthonia Ejakam • Prayer

Patricia Lupio • Birthday

Sunday, July 27

6:00 AM

Luciano Espinoza • †

Adolfo Ramirez Ruiz • †

10:45 AM

Juan Jose Diaz • †

Nicolas & Clarita Cabrera • †

Simon Et Elisabeth Baha • †

Nicolas and Clarita Cabrera • †

Ely Ramos • †

Artemio Veloira • †

Sandy Garcia • Health

Colette Chokowafi • Thanksgiving

12:30 PM

Familia Herrea Chan • Health

Ezekiel Dionicio • Birthday

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may live out the words of the Lord’s Prayer, ever seeking forgiveness for our sins as we extend forgiveness to those who sin against us, let us pray to the Lord.

B. That nations engaged in war, whether with other countries or internally, may bring their aggression and violence to an end and initiate reconciliation and peace, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For grandparents, great-grandparents, and all seniors, that they may enjoy good health and vitality as they pass on their faith and wisdom to new generations, let us pray to the Lord.

D. For all married couples celebrating a wedding anniversary this year, that they continue to live their vocation of love as an example to their families and to the world of God’s faithful, fruitful, and lasting love. Let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Adult Confirmation registration will be this Thursday, July 31 from 6pm to 8pm in the Parish Center. Please bring your Baptism and First Communion certificates.

2. The Señor de los Milagros is having a food sale to help raise funds for their annual ministry procession that takes place at the end of October.

3. The Parish is looking for dance and music groups for our Parish fiesta which takes place on the first weekend of October. If you are interested, please leave your information at the Parish office.

4. Our teen ministry, Soldiers of Christ, invites those between the ages of 12 and 17 to their ministry meeting on August 2 from 7pm to 9pm in the St. Joseph Hall.

Resources

Readings

©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, July 19

5:00 PM

Vicente Gallegos • †

Sunday, July 20

6:00 AM

Ana Grace and Rodolfo Requieron • †

Virginia Buenaflor • †

Marie Tan • †

Josefina Olazo • †

Verna Wise • †

Pilar Maldonado • †

Philip Luna • Birthday

10:45 AM

Luciano Espinoza • †

Rita Cisneros • †

Juan Jose Diaz • †

12:30 PM

Alicia Gallegos Cardenas • †

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may take the time and make the effort to listen to the Lord speak, spending time in prayer and worship, let us pray to the Lord.

B. For relief from the summer heat for those in danger, especially those who are homeless or without air conditioning, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For an end to gun violence across our nation, let us pray to the Lord.

D. That our faith community may offer the hospitality of Abraham and Sarah, and of Martha and Mary, realizing that the presence of God is manifested when we reach out and welcome the stranger or visitor, let us pray to the Lord.

E. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. We have first year Youth Confirmation registrations today in the Youth Center from 10am to 1pm. There are only 20 available spaces remaining. Please bring your child's baptism and first communion registration. First Communion and Confirmation is open. Requirements are listed in our bulletin.

2. Archbishop Jose Gomez has assigned Father Gustavo Castillo to lead our Parish community! Due to Father Gustavo's responsibilities in the seminary his assignment begins early August. Please pray for our Priests and parish community during this time of transition.

3. Do you feel a call to be a catechist? We are looking for catechists to help instruct our youth and adult confirmation candidates. If you are interested, please leave your name and phone number at the Parish office.

Resources

Readings

©LPi

General Mass Notes

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, July 12

5:00 PM

Ivan Arevalo • †

Sunday, July 13

6:00 AM

Pilar Maldonado • †

Cecilia Williams • Thanksgiving

10:45 AM

Luciano Espinoza • †

Ricky Garcia • †

Victims of Texas Flood • Prayer

Omar y Casey Salgado • Aniversario

12:30 PM

Mercy Mendinueto • †

Jonathan Rodriguez • †

Herrera Family • Health

Brianna Gris Herrera • Birthday

Ana Murguia • Birthday

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may be a visible sign of respect, kindness, and love for all humankind, ministering without discrimination to all those in need, let us pray to the Lord.

B. For paramedics, emergency responders, doctors, nurses, and all those who treat those who are ill or injured, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For victims of crime or abuse, that they may receive compassion, mercy, and justice as they attempt to recover from their trauma, let us pray to the Lord.

D. For our faith community, that we may put our faith into action by responding with mercy and compassion to those who are suffering, let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Registration for First Communion and Confirmation is open. Requirements are listed in our bulletin.

2. Do you feel a call to be a catechist? We are looking for catechists to help instruct our youth and adult confirmation candidates. If you are interested, please leave your name and phone number at the Parish office.

Resources

Readings

In the days after the awful 2020 killing of George Floyd, a Catholic friend remarked, “Racism is today’s great evil. We should put all our energy into fighting it.” I admired her intuition that the church must stand firmly against evil. Amen, I thought. At the same time, something felt wrong. As months went by, I saw her steadily slide into bitterness and anger. Soon, despondency. She spoke of giving up the fight. Don’t we too wonder how to fight evil without losing our joy or energy?

Jesus’ words this week help. He says, “Rejoice not that you have power over demons, but that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Notice the asymmetry in where he wants our focus: on the latter, not the former. Should we confidently embrace our God-given power to overcome evil? Absolutely. But even more so, we should emphasize the positive element of our relationship to God. It is tempting but dangerous to define ourselves by what we oppose. It is better to define ourselves by––to rejoice in––what we celebrate: in Jesus, God has written our names in heaven. This sustains our battles.

This week, our marching orders are: fight evil. But more deeply, rejoice that God knows and loves us personally, individually. We allow this joyful knowledge to undergird our fight against the darkness of our day. Then we enjoy long-term stability to be cheerful warriors, who never forget the reason for the contests we are called to fight and win: love. — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

• Second collection today.

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, July 5

5:00 PM

Lauri Lopez • † 

Rose Ortiz Lopez • †

Severo Magalon Hernandez • †

Felipe de Jesus Saucedo • †

Familia Angeino Izlas • Prayer

Jose De Jesus Cervantes • Birthday

10:45 AM

Luciano Espinoza • †

Dolores Baltazar • †

Buena Dadacay • †

12:30 PM

Ziania Garcia Sandoval • Health

Brenda Viscaya Sandoval • Health

Noemi Sandoval Alvarez • Health

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may labor joyfully in the fields for the Lord, so that we may spread the Good News to the ends of the earth and the harvest may be abundant, let us pray to the Lord.

B. For those who labor in fields, in orchards, and on farms all around the world, that their harvest may be fruitful and enjoyed by all, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For safety from the natural disasters all too common in the summer: floods and hurricanes, droughts and wildfires, let us pray to the Lord.

D. For all those who are traveling and vacationing, and for those who give hospitality to guests and visitors, let us pray to the Lord.

E. For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Today is our annual Peter’s Pence collection, to support the universal Church and the work of the Holy See, including helping Pope Leo (the fourteenth) to carry out his charitable works. These works will benefit our brothers on the periphery of society, including victims of war, oppression and disasters.

2. We'd like to give a warm welcome to Deacon Robert “Bob” Miller who has been appointed as the temporary administrator of our Parish. He will be responsible for all the administrative and pastoral needs of the parish working with the two new associate pastors, Fr. Ramon Reyes and Fr. Martin Joseph. Let’s pray for Deacon Bob and our new priests as they begin their ministry serving our parish.

3. Registration for First Communion and Confirmation is open. Requirements are listed in our bulletin.

4. Do you feel a call to be a catechist? We are looking for catechists to help instruct our youth and adult confirmation candidates. If you are interested, please leave your name and phone number at the Parish office.

5. We thank Grand Premier Banquet Hall in Gardena and his construction company for sponsoring our bulletin; their information can be found on the last page of our bulletin. If you have a business and would like to sponsor our weekly bulletin, you can call the phone number at the bottom of the last page.

Resources

Readings

What do you call brothers who are born on the same day? Twins, of course. That is what we celebrate today in the inestimable saints, Peter and Paul. Wait: twins? Yes. The early Church believed that Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome on the same day. Since the day of martyrdom is celebrated as a saints’ birth into eternal life, the result is striking: Peter and Paul are twins in God’s family, the Church.

Who should care about this? Well, anyone who longs to live in a world marked by love and peace. Remember, the Romans believed that twins, Romulus and Remus, founded their city through an act of fratricide, the former murdering the latter. Sadly, the structures of this fallen world emerge through violence between those who should love each other. But in the Church, a new city has been founded upon this new set of twins, embodying the non-violent power of Jesus’ cross and resurrection.

That’s why traditional icons represent Peter and Paul in a fraternal and warm embrace. Contrasted with the violence of Rome’s founders, it challenges us with a bold claim: do we believe that structures of merciful love are more powerful and lasting than those based on power, violence, and domination? Am I willing to see others in my life as my “twin,” with whom I am called to give my life for Christ, or as my rival? Am I committed to living what is embodied in Romulus and Remus, or in Peter and Paul? — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

• Collection next week.

Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, June 28

5:00 PM

Salvador Paez Aviles • †

Roberto Ambriz De Jesus • †

Eduardo y Ramon Nava • †

Dolores Reyes De Ambriz • Intention

10:45 AM

Fe Ea • †

Petra Vielma Aguilera • †

Mrs. Gloria & Veronica Oliveros • Health

12:30 PM

Pedro Antonio Arce • †

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For Pope Leo the fourteenth, successor of Saint Peter, that he may be blessed with wisdom and fortitude as he tends the Lord’s flock around the world, let us pray to the Lord.

B. For missionaries, who follow in the footsteps of Saint Paul, that they may keep the faith as they preach and apply the Good News of Jesus Christ to the communities they serve, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For our nation, as we celebrate the 249th year of its independence this week, that it may continue to meet the challenge of creating an ever more perfect union, let us pray to the Lord.

D. For our parish community, that we may be inspired by Saint Peter and Saint Paul as we grow together in discipleship of the Lord, let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Registration for First Communion and Confirmation is open. Requirements are listed in our bulletin. This Sunday, we have adult Confirmation registration from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the St. Joseph Hall. Youth Confirmation registration will be held on Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Youth Center.

2. The parish will be closed this Friday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day. We will have Masses at 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. There will be no confessions or exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

3. Do you feel a call to be a catechist? We are looking for catechists to help instruct our youth and adult confirmation candidates. If you are interested, please leave your name and phone number at the Parish office.

4. Next week is our annual Peter’s Pence collection, to support the universal Church and the work of the Holy See, including helping Pope Leo (the fourteenth) to carry out his charitable works. These works will benefit our brothers on the periphery of society, including victims of war, oppression and disasters.

5. We thank Edgar Amaral and his construction company for sponsoring our bulletin; their information can be found on the last page of our bulletin. If you have a business and would like to sponsor our weekly bulletin, you can call the phone number at the bottom of the last page.

Resources

Readings

Jonathan Haidt’s 2024 book entitled “The Anxious Generation” argues that today’s kids are marked by significant increases in anxiety, as the title suggests. Smartphones, social media, economic uncertainty, the chaos of a global pandemic, fear regarding climate change, and the so-called “meaning crisis” all contribute to strikingly high levels of anxiety in young people today. I’m a bit older than this generation, but I feel it, too. The world can be too much to handle.

The Gospel this week offers a stunning solution for troubled souls. To his overwhelmed and anxious disciples, the risen Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27). His peace is that of the one who was overwhelmed on the cross and then conquered death by the power of his divinity, his bond of love with the Father. He offers us this unshakeable peace.

Of course, mental illness does not magically disappear because of the risen Jesus. But he does walk with us and offer us his peace in the midst of our suffering. The peace the world gives is not like his because it is weak, uncertain, and self-generated. Jesus’ peace is strong, sure, and given as a gift from God. He gives it to us amid our anxiety. Will you receive it as a gift? I hope so. He wants to fill the hearts of this generation with his peace. — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

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Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Sixth Sunday of Easter.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, May 24

5:00 PM

David Wallin • †

Conception Velasquez • †

Elia Contreras • †

Guadalupe Anaya • †

Rosie Arias • Birthday

Sunday, May 25

6:00 AM

Merlie Samson • †

Pilar Maldonado • †

Irma Rodriguez • †

Maria Jesus Escobar • †

Rosa Amelia Martinez • †

Almas del Purgatorio • †

David Bluestein • †

Chris Chavez • Health

Delmy Julian • Health

Juan Chong • Thanksgiving

10:45 AM

Maria Lourdes Dones • †

Anthony & Michael Ramos • †

Michael Ortega • Prayer

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may allow the Holy Spirit to guide us when disagreements and controversies arise, for Jesus promised his disciples that the Holy Spirit would teach us everything and remind us of all he told us, let us pray to the Lord.

B. That the peace Jesus left us may permeate all nations so that leaders may pursue ways of peace rather than war, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For students who are graduating, that they may look back fondly at their accomplishments while never losing their joy of learning, let us pray to the Lord.

D. That during this jubilee year and always, we may be pilgrims of hope for those who are not at peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. The Parish office will be closed this Monday, in observance of Memorial Day. We will still have Mass at 8am and 5pm but we will not have confessions or exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

2. We thank Irene Orozco from Inglewood Park Cemetery for sponsoring our bulletin; their information can be found on the last page of our bulletin. If you have a business and would like to sponsor our weekly bulletin, you can call the phone number at the bottom of the last page.

Resources

Readings

I’ve always found it amazing that Jesus never says to his disciples the straightforward and bumper stickery words “I love you” or “I will always love you” (a la Dolly Parton’s song). Why doesn’t Jesus say, “I love you”?

Well, actually he does, but in particular ways. He says, “As the Father loves me, so I love you” (John 15:9) thereby rooting his love for us in the space of the Holy Trinity. This week he commands, “Love another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). He presents his love for us as a completed action which continues into the present moment. How has he loved us? By becoming one of us, one with us, and finally giving his life for us in his suffering on the cross. We weren’t there when he did that, but neither were his Apostles (except one). Still, that action is his great “I love you” to us.

His love is also hedged in a command: “Love one another.” So how can we practically follow it? The great St. John XXIII wrote in his diary that each day he followed this rule: “Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.” The hidden nature of a good deed is a sign that it is truly loving. This week, take on St. John XXIII’s practical method of following Jesus’ great commandment of love. It’s a splendid way to say, “I love you.”  — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

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Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Fifth Sunday of Easter.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, May 17

5:00 PM

Johhny Higland • † 

Rodrigo Emiliano Martinez • †

Sunday, May 18

6:00 AM

Merlie Samson • †

Pilar Maldonado • †

10:45 AM

Carmen Rea • † 

Porfirio Guerrero • †

Michael Ortega • Prayer

12:30 PM

Lluvia Del Rocio Perales Nava • †

Noemi Sandoval Alvarez • Health

Lucila Miranda Sandoval • Health

Ziania Elizabeth Garcia • Health

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For the Church, that we may glorify God through the love we have for one another and the good work that we do out of love for our neighbor in need, let us pray to the Lord.

B. That we may work to break down barriers between peoples and cultures, fostering mutual understanding and enabling cooperation among those of all backgrounds, for God’s dwelling is with the whole human race, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For missionaries around the world, who teach the faith to those who do not know Christ and manifest it in the way they love those they serve, that they may share the enthusiasm and joy of Saints Paul and Barnabas, let us pray to the Lord.

D. That we may be reminded always that as Jesus’ disciples we are commanded to love one another, especially when disagreements or divisions threaten our harmony and unity, let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. Today is our annual Cardinal McIntyre’s collection. Since 1952, the McIntyre Fund has helped people in crisis in our community. Your contribution goes directly to the emergency needs of children, adults, and families; providing one-time help with food, utilities, transportation, medical, housing or funeral expenses. You are their hope! As always, we thank you for your generosity!

2. Today, the St. Vicent de Paul truck will be in the school parking lot from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or until their truck is filled with your donations. Because of our limited storage space, we ask you not to leave your donations at the parish office. We appreciate your generosity.

3. Father Gustavo and the Amor Por Teco foundation is having a shoe and clothes sale in the Guadalupe Hall from 9am to 5pm.

4. SEARCH ministry is having their food sale in the Madonna Plaza. All funds will be used to sponsor their retreat that takes place in June.

4. We thank Doctors Patrick and Patricia and their Pediatric Dentist & Orthodontics clinic for sponsoring our bulletin; their information can be found on the last page of our bulletin. If you have a business and would like to sponsor our weekly bulletin, you can call the phone number at the bottom of the last page.

Resources

Readings

A few years back, I felt as if I couldn’t hear God’s voice the way I used to. The words in the Bible seemed like cold ink on a page. Prayer felt like sitting anxiously in a lonely room. I was worried — how could I, a priest, preach or help others if I couldn’t hear God’s voice? It went on for months.

Then a friend encouraged me to go on a retreat and spend as much time as possible in silence. After a day or two of quiet prayer, I noticed gentle but clear thoughts of repentance in two specific areas of my life. I asked God for the grace to change, and I went to confession. Suddenly, the divine silence that haunted me was filled with a sense of God’s closeness and goodness. I realized, gratefully, that God had been speaking to me in the quiet voice of my conscience. 

This week we hear Jesus say, “My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me” (John 10:27). Jesus links the hearing of his voice to following him. He speaks to us in our conscience in an intimate, personal way, when we most need to hear him. When you feel deaf to God’s voice, perhaps it is time to listen in silence for His voice in your conscience calling you to hear and follow the Good Shepherd of your soul.  — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

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Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Fourth Sunday of Easter.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, May 10

5:00 PM

Encarnacion Alcantara • †

Marco Andres Vasquez • † 

Petra Vielma Aguilera • †

Arcelia Barba • † 

Maria Guadalupe Salgado • † 

Dora Grimanesa Rodriguez • †

Maria Elena Muriel • †

Isabel Lopez Fuentes • †

Maria Hernandez • †

Tomasa Ortega • †

Ester Morales • †

Lucy Hernandez •†

Lily Hernandez • †

Maria Magdalena Santanada •†

Angela Carrillo Marquez • †

Maria Ortega Weaver • Health

Nelly Ortega • Health

Stephanie Wallin • Thanksgiving

Emilia Lupio • Birthday

Sunday, May 11

6:00 AM

Raymond Armenta • † 

Saul Ramirez • † 

Pilar Maldonado • †

Merlie Samson • †

Fr. Gregory King • †

Pilar Maldonado • †

Cecilia Williams • Acción de Gracias

10:45 AM

Maria Esperanza Rea • † 

Milagros Giron • † 

Zaira Amador Ramirez • †

Maria Lourdes Dones • †

Kathy Ortega • Prayer

Michael Ortega • Prayer

Michael Ortega • Health

12:30 PM

Evengileta America • †

Noemi Sandoval Alvarez • Health

Lucila Miranda Sandoval • Health

Victor Molina Mendoza • Health

Gema Cruz • Thanksgiving

Luzviminda Luna • Thanksgiving

Maria Socorro Navarro • Birthday

Camila Amezquita • Birthday

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. For our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, that he may be strengthened as he embarks on his ministry of unity, love, and peace. Let us pray to the Lord.

B. For mothers, grandmothers, and all those who have shown a mother’s love, that they may be blessed with the fruits of their love in their children and all those in their care, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For all those who have chosen to minister to the Church—priests, deacons, religious sisters and brothers, and lay ministers—that they may continually find new joys in their vocation, let us pray to the Lord.

D. For the lost and wounded sheep of our flock, that through our care and compassion they may come to know the Good Shepherd and find healing and acceptance, let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. This Wednesday, 130 youth will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Marc Trudeau. Due to this celebration, we will not have confession, and rooms will not be available for ministry meetings.

2. Next Sunday, the St. Vicent de Paul truck will be in the school parking lot from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or until their truck is filled with your donations. Because of our limited storage space, we ask you not to leave your donations at the parish office. We appreciate your generosity.

3. Next weekend is our annual Cardinal McIntyre’s collection. Since 1952, the McIntyre Fund has helped people in crisis in our community. Your contribution goes directly to the emergency needs of children, adults, and families; providing one-time help with food, utilities, transportation, medical, housing or funeral expenses. You are their hope! As always, we thank you for your generosity!

4. We thank Bodika Wellness and Cosmetic for sponsoring our bulletin; their information can be found on the last page of our bulletin. If you have a business and would like to sponsor our weekly bulletin, you can call the phone number at the bottom of the last page.

Resources

Readings

I eat breakfast. If I don’t have something substantial, I’m fading by midmorning. Breakfast is my key meal because it sets up my physical wellbeing for the rest of the day.

Spiritually speaking, we need sustenance to get us going. This is true for the Apostles in this Sunday’s remarkable Gospel reading. The risen Jesus makes his third appearance to them in the early morning light and calls, “Come, have breakfast” (John 21:12). The exhausted and cold fishermen sit, and he feeds them bread and fish as the dawn breaks. They are overwhelmed by his presence to the point of awestruck silence. As they eat, their bodies and their hearts come alive. Once refreshed by their morning meal, they will be ready to feed others — indeed, the whole world — with the love of the risen Jesus. But first, they need breakfast from him.

Do you realize how essential early morning prayer is? Jesus desires to refresh us every morning with his word of love, with his grace-filled presence. This week, hear Jesus calling to you: “Come, have breakfast!” Embrace some form of spiritual, meditative practice each morning for spiritual strength to get you going.   — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

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Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Third Sunday of Easter.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, May 3

5:00 PM

Benito Fernandez • †

Irene Espirito Zamora • † 

Maria Lourdes Dones • †

Sunday, May 4

6:00 AM

Raymond Armenta • †

10:45 AM

Catalina Perez • †

Papa Francisco • † 

Alejandro Francisco • † 

Kenneth Bowman • †

Kenneth Bowman • †

Roger White • †

Yesenia Martinez • Birthday

12:30 PM

Noemi Sandoval Alvarez • Health

Lucila Miranda Sandoval • Health

Victor Molina Mendoza • Health

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. That the Holy Spirit will inspire and strengthen the Cardinal-electors as they choose a new Holy Father to lead us. Let us pray to the Lord.

B. For those who are unjustly persecuted or oppressed, that they may receive justice, relief, and vindication, let us pray to the Lord.

C. For farmers, farm workers, and all those whose livelihoods depend on the success of the growing season, that they may have fair weather, just working conditions, and a sustainable living, let us pray to the Lord.

D. That we may recognize Christ as we encounter him in our lives, renewing our faith in him, and in humanity, whom he has redeemed, let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. The Parish school is hosting a Dodger community night fundraiser. For every ticket you buy for a home game on June 21, a small percentage will go to our Parish school. Tickets can be purchased at our Parish center.

2. We thank Lucy Gomez from State Farm insurance for sponsoring our bulletin; their information can be found on the last page of our bulletin. If you have a business and would like to sponsor our weekly bulletin, you can call the phone number at the bottom of the last page.

Resources

Readings

It’s common for Catholics to hear the question, “Why do I have to go to a priest to have my sins forgiven?” I’ve never liked that question because not only is it clunky (confession is the ordinary way for the pardoning of serious sins, not lesser ones). But it misses the larger context: the wonderful origins of the sacrament itself. And this context is deeply Jewish.

Ancient Jews associated forgiveness of sins with priests offering sacrifices in the Jerusalem temple. It was a solemn, public, and tangible way to access God’s mercy. So when the risen Jesus breathes on the Apostles and says, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (John 20:23), the upshot is remarkable: he is the new temple and his Apostles are the new priests. Jerusalem is no longer the place to find forgiveness from sin. Jesus’ body, the Church, is.

So why should we go to the Sacrament of Confession? For the same reason ancient Jews went to the temple in Jerusalem: to experience the intimacy, joy, and life-giving power of God’s eternal forgiveness.    — Father John Muir ©LPi

General Mass Notes

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Welcome

Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Second Sunday of Easter.

Before we begin our Mass, we'd like to ask that you not park at the Ralphs parking lot, or in the entire lot, since they are towing cars.

The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...

Please stand for our procession.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, April 26

5:00 PM

Lauri Lopez • † 

Emauel Stolaroff • †

Jospedito Cayetano• †

Wilton Garcia • †

Robert Sanchez • †

Fleurdelise Arevalo • †

Benjamin Baltazar • †

10:45 AM

Alfonso Martinez • †

12:30 PM

Ana Maria Lopez • †

Alvaro Gomez • Birthday

Sandra Gomez • Birthday

Denisse Zapata • Birthday

Estela Loza • Birthday

Universal Prayer (Petitions)

A. That Pope Francis, called to the heavenly kingdom by the Lord, may rejoice forever at the banquet table of heaven. Let us pray to the Lord.

B. For world leaders, that they may do everything in their power to bring peace to places where it is absent and strengthen it in places where it is fragile, let us pray to the Lord.

C. That the peace of Christ, which he offered at once to all of his disciples, may take root in our hearts so that we can extend it to everyone we know, let us pray to the Lord.

D. That those suffering from chronic illness, whether physical or mental, may find comfort in the healing presence of God, let us pray to the Lord.

Announcements

1. The Parish school is hosting a Dodger community night fundraiser. For every ticket you buy for a home game on June 21, a small percentage will go to our Parish school. Tickets can be purchased at our Parish center.

2. We thank Gabriel Estrada and his cabinet company G&R for sponsoring our bulletin; their information can be found on the last page of our bulletin. If you have a business and would like to sponsor our weekly bulletin, you can call the phone number at the bottom of the last page.

Resources

Readings