Dear Parishioners,

We continue our journey in Lent with the call to Renew us and Save us, O’Lord. The Second Sunday of Lent is the Gospel story of the Transfiguration. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up Mount Tabor where He gives them the great gift of seeing Him glorified with the great prophets Elijah and Moses, who represents the law. This encounter was one that they would never forget and recalled later when they faced challenges and difficulties. They were given the opportunity to see beyond the visible to strengthen their faith.

Dear Parishioners,

We have begun our journey of Lent 2024 with the focus of Renew us and Save us, O’Lord. A brother priest, Father Herb Hauck, who has since passed away once shared this about the season of Lent:

Lent leads us along a process whereby we gain growth in virtue. We use traditional forms of penance: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Why? Because they work! They are truly time-tested.

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend is that last weekend before we enter into our Lenten journey on February 14th – Ash Wednesday. We finish up Ordinary Time for now with the Gospel of Mark and the story of Jesus’ healing a leper. The leper in confidence said to Jesus, “if you wish, you can make me clean.” What a powerful statement by one who was labeled unclean and unworthy to be part of the community.

Dear Parishioners,

This is Charity and Development Appeal kick off weekend. This annual appeal is an opportunity or invitation for us to participate in funding many charitable and educational apostolates in a collective way as Catholics in the Diocese of Phoenix. I can attest that these funds truly make a difference to the charities, schools, and parishes that receive them. All of them continue the mandate of the Gospel to serve those most in need and to teach the Good News. I personally give and would invite you to also consider a gift in whatever amount you discern. I find that supporting the CDA helps me to be connected beyond the day to day parish. Thank you for your generous support of various ministries and apostolates. Together we make a difference.

Dear Parishioners,

I was reflecting the other day of how grateful I am to be back in parish work and assigned here at Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. How good to the see the life of parish families – people who have been here since day one and those who are new members, those who come for the winter months and call this home. A parish is a place of encounter. First with God, but then with the Church, the people of God. The Church and our Sunday worship of God is a great reminder to us that God is part of our daily lives.

Dear Parishioners,

We are now on our short journey in ordinary time in the Church. The root of the word ordinary comes from the word order. The focus for this short period is Ordinary Holiness—Ordinary Lives. Meaning, recognizing that holiness is about living lives that have a natural order toward God and Godly things. The Church provides that structure and order.

As a priest, I’m amazed how happily married couples remember the tiniest details of their earliest encounters. They effortlessly report things like: “he wore a blue shirt,” “we ordered brussels sprouts,” “her hair was up in a bun,” and “he spilled shrimp cocktail sauce at my family’s open front door when it was ten degrees below zero,” (that one’s courtesy of my mom). We delight in remembering and speaking of when our new life of love began. The little details are glorious reminders that it’s all real.

Dear Parishioners,

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany this weekend we are in the last days of the Christmas Season. This day reminds us of two things; first, the message of Christ is meant to reach far and wide to distant lands; second, the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh have a deep meaning of who Jesus is and what the wise men believe. Gold is meant for a King, frankincense is used to honor the holy and divine and myrrh is an oil used to anoint the body at death. Each reveal something about this Newborn Child and His destiny for all mankind.

Dear Parishioners,

I pray that this Christmas season is filled with peace and joy for you and your family. It is important to remember Christmas is not a day—but a season of joy. It is a time we as Christians focus on the gift of a God who became flesh and dwelt among us. He reveals Himself in simplicity and humility. This is how God acts and exposes His Divine Love. It is true, beautiful and good….human hearts are drawn to this mystery in the infant Jesus and the Holy Family.

Dear Parishioners,

This bulletin reflection is for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, that this year is one full day! It has been a beautiful journey to ready ourselves for the coming of Our Lord; to Be Watchful—Be Alert—Listen. As we now prepare in our final day to celebrate Christmas...the Birth of Christ our Savior.

Dear Parishioners,

We continue our Advent journey and once again hear from John the Baptist this weekend. He reminds us that he came to testify to the lights, to Jesus. He was not the light but the one who prepares the way for the light, for others to encounter the deep love and mercy of Jesus.

Dear Parishioners,

It is the second week of our Advent Journey and we continue our efforts to “Be Watchful-Be Alert-Listen”. Trusting that God is speaking to His people through His Son, His Spirit and His Church. The readings from the Prophet Isaiah during Advent are hopeful and comforting. They were written for a people in exile during the Babylonian captivity. These people deeply longed to be saved, to see God’s face and to be set free. It is a message that finds its fulfillment in Jesus, Emmanuel—God with us. The one who shows us the face of God, the one who saves us and sets us free.

Dear Parishioners,

O Come, O Come Emmanuel. This common chant/song helps us to understand a key part of the Advent season, as we recognize that Emmanuel means, “God is with us.” It is an Advent song that we sing with longing for God to be with us, for a deepening of our faith, hope and love. We as a people know and celebrate that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth and suffered, died and rose in Jerusalem and ascended to heaven; but we still wait for Him to perfect all things when He comes again.