Daily Reflections

If you would like to receive these daily reflections (written by various parishioners) in your email box each day, contact [email protected]

December 8, 2025 - Peace Begins with Me
 
My desire for peace on Earth and in the hearts of all people sometimes feels like an impossible dream. In a world that seems chaotic and divisive, I often feel helpless. But I can turn to my faith for strength and direction.
 
One of my parents' favorite prayers, which I heard often while growing up is The Prayer of Saint Francis:
 
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy…”
 
As I prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth on Christmas, I desperately want to share His love and peace with others. I hope that by touching people through acts of kindness, they can see and feel the love of Christ through me. While there is so much I cannot change, I am certainly capable of doing little things that may make a big difference in someone's life to bring them peace.
 
While I long for tranquility everywhere, I know it must start with me first. I believe worldwide peace is possible. It begins with each and every one of us accepting the love of Christ into our hearts. So true are the lyrics to a song from my childhood choir days,
"Let there be peace on Earth,
and let it begin with me."
 
I pray that everyone can feel the healing, forgiving, loving and true peace that Jesus brings.
Maria Montalvo
 
  
December 9, 2025 - In Good Hands
 
Our family recently celebrated the 1st birthday of our twin granddaughters Ezra and Halo. It was a beautiful celebration of gratitude for this double blessing from God.
I was especially pleased to see so many people (of all ages) from their church in attendance. I left the party that day giving thanks to God for more than I expected.
 
Our son and his wife live out of the area and have found a wonderful faith community to which they are wholeheartedly dedicated. It warms my heart knowing they have these amazing people in their lives to give moral, emotional, and spiritual support. Raising five kids, including a set of twins, in these difficult times is no easy feat. I believe they are in good hands through God’s hands, right where they are. They have a strong foundation built by a deep and transformative connection with Jesus, fostered by a church that has welcomed and guided them with open arms. May God continue to bless the members of church communities and organizations who faithfully do His work all over the world.
Maria Montalvo
 
  
December 10, 2025 - Gifts from the Heart
 
 ‘Tis the season of giving and the retailers are finding every possible way to get us to buy, buy, buy. Ads pop up online, promotional emails flood our inbox, sale flyers and booklets fill our mailbox, banners hang on storefronts, and billboards flash along the side of the freeway. I’m trying very hard to ignore it all and focus on what I really want to accomplish this holiday season.
Is the season about giving? Yes. Is it about shopping? No.
 
There is so much I can give to others that has no price tag and needs no box, wrapping, or postage. I want to do so much more than just give “material things” this Christmas. I want to give more of myself — intangible gifts from the heart.  
 
So many possibilities come to mind: giving love, companionship, and encouragement; giving time, attention, and a listening ear; showing kindness, patience, and understanding; offering solace, guidance, and words of wisdom; extending trust, empathy, and respect; providing support, a helping hand, or simply a hand to hold; sharing a meal, an experience, or an outing; offering a blessing, a promise, or a prayer. Now, more than ever, people need human interaction and spiritual connection. I certainly do.
 
Jesus, help me to slow down so that I may recognize and be more sensitive to the needs of others. Guide me in the ways I can give of myself, not just for Christmas, but always. To you I give thanks and praise. You are the true “reason for the season” who makes all things possible.
Maria Montalvo
 
  
December 11, 2025 - Treasures
 
Fond memories are absolute treasures! Within each of us is a valuable chest full of past experiences, sometimes buried so deep within us, we may forget they even exist. Recalling them may take effort, digging, risk. Some memories are sealed tight, too painful to open — just yet, but others are easy to recall and can make us smile or even laugh out loud. Every positive memory is a priceless gem worth searching for.
 
Especially during the holiday season, I love finding these hidden treasures. I might uncover a precious photo to admire, a funny story to retell, a meaningful event to relive, or a long-lost tradition to restart. I believe there are little diamonds in the rough just waiting to be rediscovered by each of us. Let’s dust them off, polish them with love, cherish them, and allow their luster to brighten our spirits. May they inspire us to continue revisiting our beautiful past as we celebrate the present.
 
Within our treasure trove humbly lies our greatest gift and most precious gem of all — Jesus Christ, shining brighter than ever, yet often hidden from view amidst the hustle and bustle of the season. Some have yet to discover Him for the very first time.
 
As we walk together through Advent, I pray we find peace in reminiscing, joy in making new memories, hope in embracing His wondrous love, and purpose in sharing the greatest story ever told. May our treasures reveal a newfound sense of awe and wonder for all of God’s blessings. 
Maria Montalvo
 
  
December 12, 2025 - The Power of Music
 
Music warms my heart and touches my soul in a deeply profound way. It inspires, motivates, and consoles me. It can give me a burst of energy and  help me relax and unwind. It can change my mood in an instant. Music prompts memories, taking me back in time with amazing clarity. It sparks ideas and conveys thoughts in ways that words alone cannot. It triggers a range of emotions from sadness and empathy to joy and gratitude, and everything in between. 
 
Music brings me to tears quite easily. When I’m at Mass I often have to hold back tears. It’s so moving to hear the congregation singing in harmony, led by the beautiful choir and sweet voices of children, accompanied by several talented musicians. Sometimes I feel God’s presence so strongly that I can barely sing because I’m overwhelmed with emotion. 
 
Music’s power to influence is undeniable. Sharing it breaks barriers and brings people together. Music has definitely changed me in the most positive ways. I truly believe we can change the world one heart, one song, at a time.I was not blessed with musical abilities, but I am sincerely grateful that I can hear God’s voice through music as I continue to dance to the melody of life. 
 
“Music can change the world because it can change people.”
 - Bono
 
Maria Montalvo
 
  
December 13, 2025 - Taste and See
 
My husband and I come from huge Mexican families which have Catholic and ethnic traditions that have been carried on for many years. One of my favorites is making and eating tamales during the Christmas season.
 
While we enjoy every bite of this delicious entree, the meal itself lasts only a short time relative to the steps involved in making them. The process takes much time and many hands, especially when mass produced (several hundred) for our huge extended family. The process of preparing the tamales is just as significant and meaningful as the reward.
 
Time and attention is given to getting all the ingredients ready before family members gather to participate in the tamale making ritual. The recipe is followed closely, as passed down by our ancestors. Their memory is kept alive every time we come together to partake in this tradition, much like our community gathers to celebrate the Eucharist, to ready our hearts for The Lord, and break bread together in memory of Jesus.
 
Together, we savor these handmade tamales with gratitude, knowing the love and tradition that is wrapped in each and every one. Similarly, when we receive the body and blood of Christ with our community, we are united in His loving presence, giving thanks for all our blessings. Actively participating in the preparation of something special allows us to truly experience all its flavor. I appreciate all the ways I can “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:9
Maria Montalvo
 
December 14, 2025 - True Joy
 
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can be quite overwhelming for some of us. As Christmas nears, I hear the clock on the wall ticking… loudly. My invisible Santa suit is definitely weighing me down. I feel like I need a red cape on my back and a big “S” across my chest instead. With little time and limited resources, I inevitably find myself scrambling to “make it all happen.” The unnecessary stress I put on myself can smother the joy leading up to Christmas — if I let it. I know I’m not alone.
 
I turn to God for guidance and remind myself that some things I simply cannot control. I CAN, however, control how I react to situations and where I place importance. I have found that if I simplify my life and remain Christ centered, I receive much needed peace. If I tune out the noise around me, I hear what God is whispering. If I abstain from consuming what is unhealthy, I taste the fruits of the Spirit. If I ward off cold-heartedness, I feel the warmth of Christ and others. If I look beyond materialism, I’m able to witness the true meaning of Christmas.
 
With this in mind, I pray for all those who are struggling this holiday season. Let us open our hearts to the joy that Christmas brings and let nothing steal it from us. As challenges come and go, how wonderful it is that God’s presence is steadfast! May our faith be as well. True joy comes from knowing God is with us — always.
Maria Montalvo

December 1, 2025 - Dad and I
My dad was born before World War I and orphaned as an early teen.  He was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star during World War II.  His unit liberated a concentration camp, and he remarked that he never understood how human beings could treat one another like that.  He also witnessed first-hand the courage of Japanese-American soldiers.  As a citizen, he lived through the Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf Wars, September 11, and the conflict in Afghanistan.  He was proud to serve, believed in ideals over self-interest, and a just cause.  He recognized the scars: physical, emotional, and spiritual that violence leaves.  He saw that his faith was equally his relationship with God and his relationship with his fellow man. He saw the world the way Jesus did, with a kind heart.  A favorite expression of his called for walking in the shoes of another person before judging them. 
            If living, I think he would ask how we have arrived at this point as a society:  our leaders blame the powerless for our societal problems; we staunchly and rightly defend unborn life  but don’t do enough to preserve quality of life for those already born; children of God are rounded up and sent to places that are less safe and with little hope; these same are referred to with words typically applied to toxins and unwanted pests.   My dad would be appalled. He used Jesus’ teachings to guide his life, as do I.  How can I make a difference?
Ray Frink
 
 December 2, 2025 - Different is OK
The option for the poor is emphasized in the Catholic faith.  I have written before about Jesus’ repeated call to service to the marginalized in society.   Words like option and marginalized are code words for being different.  I recently read an article detailing the understanding an evangelical pastor developed when he learned his son was gay.   The strongest forces in that relationship were love of God and love of one another.  Love and faith prevailed.  I have seen and read true stories where the power of love was sometimes successful and sometimes failed to overcome differences of skin color, class bias, and bigotry.  In my life I dated young ladies of brown color, tall, short, and older.  I know gay couples and lesbian partners who love each other and have built lives together that serve their communities.   Looking back on all of this and reflecting on what Jesus’ words and actions mean for me, all reduces to the second great commandment:  Love my neighbor.  I think the most inspiring and powerful substance I will ever encounter is love.   When it is allowed to operate to its fullest, love is messy, it is painful, I can easily make it complicated, but in the end, the reward is greater than can be imagined.  It is always a good time for me to reflect on how I have allowed love to operate in my life.  It is OK to be different in the light of God’s love. 
Ray Frink
 
December 3, 2025 - Jesus’ Way
Rev Benjamin Cremer, a Wesleyan pastor said: “One lesson that we Christians have not learned in the last 2000+ years is that Jesus had no political control over the Roman Empire and he still changed the entire world. We keep trying to change the world the way the Roman Empire did, instead of the way Jesus did.”  This thought unsettles me as any message from the Holy Spirit should.  
I am compelled to ask myself if I am more like the apostles who wanted to form an invincible army of followers with weapons of steel that would drive out the Romans or an invincible army whose weapons are mercy, compassion, and service.  Wherever you or I stand on difficult issues in our Church or world, we are lured into making rules and regulations to have our way, rarely asking if that is Christ’s way.   I have to constantly remined myself that the Holy Spirit is present and Jesus walks beside me.   It is said that the pen is mightier than the sword, but service to the least of my brothers is mightiest of all.  I have time, talent, and treasure. Time is the most valuable, I have some talent, and treasure is the least important.  It is nice to have treasure, but Jesus reminds us that time and talent are what he seeks.  Let’s go change the world the way Jesus did.  
Ray Frink
 
December 4, 2025 - Let Go
When our son, Greg, was a toddler, he developed symptoms of a hip infection that required a blood draw.  I was already an MD.  He was too young to understand what was happening, so as I held him for the phlebotomist, Greg got one hand free and hit me in the chest, proclaiming loudly, “Bad Daddy, Bad Daddy”.  He has no recollection of this (he still loves his father) but I remember it clearly.   With as much knowledge and experience as I had, both inside and outside of medicine, this tore at my heart.  I am not a hard person, but can be hardened to emotions in the room when the circumstances need me to be calm, clear, and dispassionate. This ability is something I look for when needed and it always seems to come.  I recognize that there is a price to be paid.  As I have grown older and had time to reflect on this behavior, I now realize that this was a gift from the giver of all gifts, but the cost of holding anxiety and worry inside is that it needs to be released later.  The problem arises when I hold it in and move on to the next problem without reflection.  It’s OK to be strong, to be the one others turn to, but I must remember that Jesus our Lord shares all that we do and asks us, when we need to, to just let go.
Ray Frink

December 5, 2025 - Sin of Anger
I committed a sin that I will call the ‘cancer of anger in the world’.  I had an exchange with my new insurance agent over the phone. The prior agent had retired.  The details are unimportant except to say the insurance staff conceded that the changes and notifications should have happened differently.  At one point I raised my voice.  You who know me, know that I don’t curse or insult, but I have a powerful voice, useful as a lector, but not for expressing frustration.   That was my sin.  Then the Holy Spirit spoke.   I realized that anger had crept into my voice and into our society in ways that are destructive.  The human injustices I read about, the degradation of our environment, the abandonment of the less fortunate both at home and abroad, violate Christ’s and the Church’s teachings about caring for all of God’s children and this beautiful planet we inherited from our forebears and borrowed from our children.  I won’t get angry though.  I learned from my exchange with the insurance agent that keeping the Trinity foremost in my mind when I initiate a task will prevent the ‘cancer of anger’ from infiltrating my reactions.  I have much to do both on a personal and civic level for the homeless, the hungry, and those living on the margins of society.  Daily, I will ask, Lord, what are WE going to do today.
Ray Frink
 
December 6, 2025 - Volunteer
     President Teddy Roosevelt said: “Far and away the best prize life has to offer is the chance to work hard on work worth doing.”  Surveys show fewer people volunteer their time. I volunteer because Jesus asks and because I have the opportunity to teach.  I volunteer because when I do, I interact with strangers for a goal outside of my experience.  Volunteering strengthens my Church and my faith.  It also reenforces my belief that no one should be hungry or homeless, and that we are stewards of the natural world, never asking anything in return, Luke 6: 32.
     Except for years when school involved irregular and exhausting hours, I have volunteered, and even then, the schoolwork was worth doing.  Since then, my volunteer work included our children’s activities and still includes SS Peter and Paul.  Over the years, volunteer activities changed; some stayed the same.   I can no longer climb on a roof, but I will move boxes of produce and help fill and hand out hundreds of bags of groceries.  I’ll move blocks of frozen fish and lead hour long walking tours. I lector and usher. 
 St Teresa of Avila said, “Christ has no body but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which He looks with compassion on this world.”  Arthur Ashe said: “Start where you are. Use what you have.  Do what you can.” A saint, a tennis legend, and a president can’t all be wrong.
Ray Frink
 
December 7, 2025 - The Reclamation Sacrament
 I have heard the word reclamation many times.  It has referred to old neighborhoods with decaying buildings, reversing the effects of mining and the lumber industry, and in woodworking, the use of previously used wood.  For me it has a more important meaning which accompanies the Sacrament of Reconciliation.   I availed myself of Reconciliation recently.  The next day I heard a reflection based on 1 Maccabees 4 and Luke 19:45 about reclaiming the temple in Jerusalem. It struck me that reclamation is happening in the sacrament of reconciliation.   I am reconciled to God. I reclaim my life and I am reclaimed.  By admitting my errors and praying to do better, I am reclaiming my life physically because much of the sin I commit comes from the world around me.  I reclaim my spiritual life by bringing my mistakes to God. Reclamation always involves transformation:  removing the interior of an old building, planting new trees and restoring healthy soil, shaving boards to be square for use, or changing habits and avoiding temptation.  Spiritually I can improve my prayer life, make use of the sacraments, and reflect on how God is present in the circumstances of my life.  Reconciliation allows me to begin the reclamation process.   Then I can build a new spiritual and physical life of the type Jesus describes in his ministry guided by prayer, the sacraments, reflection, compassion, mercy, and service.    
Ray Frink


Reflections for the week of November 24-30, 2025

November 24, 2025 - The Kingdom of God 
I have been frustrated and angry for the past few days. I’m in the middle of a battle over my favorite pecan tree.  The battle is with… a squirrel.  The tree has a full, heavy crop this year, the best we have had in years. The pecans are large and not quite ripe, but Mr. Squirrel doesn’t seem to be that picky.   He spends day and night running back and forth between the tree and various places in the yard where he hides his precious treasure.  I know from past experience that he has a terrible memory, and most of these will sprout as baby pecan trees in places where I don’t want them. And did I mention, pecan sprouts are really hard to pull up?
This morning, I was weeding one of my flower beds and found several buried pecans. Spirit caught my attention and whispered—"the kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seeds, or like a squirrel that hides nuts… Some will sprout here and some there.  Some will be eaten and some lost. But there will be enough for everyone—the squirrels and the birds and even for stingy you.”  God’s grace is abundant.  Even the silly little squirrel seems to know that.  And I think God also understands that unlike the birds of the air, as a human I need my reassurances. So the little wire mesh bags I bought to protect some of the pecans are ok too.                                                           
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio 

November 25, 2025 - Right in Front of Me
We were in Taos and Santa Fe recently.  I was struck by the beauty of landscapes that were unfamiliar—high desert. Maybe it was because we were on vacation and more relaxed, or maybe it was the difference in terrain, but everything was beautiful.  It was as if I were seeing with new eyes. I remember Thomas Merton writing about his experience of standing on a busy street corner in Louisville and having a moment of realization that everything is connected: “I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all these people, that they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers. It was like waking from a dream of separateness, of spurious self-isolation in a special world.” I supposed moments like this are pure gift. We can’t make them happen. But maybe we can make ourselves susceptible to the grace of Spirit that shows us a reality that we often miss.  On the flight home, I was looking out the window of the airplane at the clouds. We were flying above them, and they were fluffy and full. It looked like we were in a magical land of snow castles. Funny how people will go to amusement parks and pay money to experience fantasy lands and then get on a plane and not even look out the window. Abba, help me to see the beauty and joy of life all around me and have gratitude.    
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio
 
November 26, 2025 - Ceremony at Taos Pueblo
We visited Taos Pueblo, the home of the Red Willow people who built the pueblo between 1000 and 1450 A.D. It is one of the oldest continually inhabited communities in the United States and a World Heritage site. The historic village of 19 acres contains multi-story structures made from traditional adobe bricks. There is no electricity, and water comes from a stream. Central is an adobe Catholic church.  As we approach the season of Advent, I will share their Christmas tradition which is a mix of native tradition and Catholicism.  As the sun sets on Christmas eve, a group of men carry a large statue of the Virgin Mary out of the church and through the village—a posada. The procession is accompanied by ancient hymns, drumming, and celebratory rifle fire, which echoes against the adobe walls.  Bonfires are lit around the village, and the deer dance is performed. 
Learning about this celebration, I was struck by how peoples from all different cultures have received the Catholic faith and made it their own. Given that the faith was brought by the same foreigners who attacked the village and stole much of their land, how did they not reject the faith based on the behavior of the Spanish who brought it?? And yet they seemed to have recognized something beyond the bearers of the message. And they made connections to their own intuitive experiences of God. The Spanish didn’t bring God. He was already there.                                    
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio 
 
November 27, 2025 - Jesus at the Airport
Traveling during a government shutdown has its risks.   Add to that a storm in the east and flight delays are inevitable. Ugh.  The delays during our recent trip reminded me of a similar experience many years ago.   It was an experience where I encountered Jesus in the form of a little nun in the O’Hare Airport.  I was in my early thirties and thought being a strong female meant being assertive and somewhat demanding.  My flight had been cancelled, and I was in line with every other frustrated person stuck in Chicago. When I got to the counter, I was assertive and demanding. After all, it was the airline’s responsibility to put me on another flight, and no, waiting until the next day was not an option.  I was not rude, but I was demanding (and maybe a bit entitled).  Then this short, petite woman behind me in line, said, “you know it’s not her fault.” She had all the telltale signs of being a Sister… I sheepishly nodded and adjusted my tone.  I don’t remember what happened regarding my flight, but I do remember the nun all these years later.  I remember how she showed up and was a reminder from God to be gentle with my fellow humans on this journey of life.                                                                   
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio
 
November 28, 2025 - “Shepherds that Transcend Partisanship”
 
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops just concluded their fall meeting in Baltimore a couple of weeks ago. One report on the meeting shared a quote that I found particularly helpful in these tense political times. Pope Leo’s representative to the United States, papal nuncio Cardinal Christophe Pierre, commented on political divisions present in American life and perceived issues present among the U.S. Catholic bishops. He said,
“In our engagement with public life, we are not chaplains to parties or distant commentators, but shepherds who bring the breadth of Catholic social teaching into civic discourse in a way that transcends partisanship.”  
 
Why do I find this statement so compelling? Maybe because I have been searching for a way to express the idea that as a Christian, by following Jesus I am not bound by party or nationality or ethnicity.  This is not the same as saying, everyone is allowed their point of view, or about being wishy washy to avoid conflict. For me it is the very hard work of rejecting labels and containers and faithfully discerning what God calls me to do in each new situation.                                                 
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio
 
November 29, 3035 - Dilexi Te – To All Christians on Love for the Poor
I am part of a group of online friends who are reading Pope Leo’s Dilexi Te, which translates to “I have loved you.” It references Rev 3:8-9 where the Lord is speaking to a very poor Christian community that was treated with contempt. “You have but little power… I will make them come and bow down before your feet.” At a time when so much of our world seems to be in turmoil, I find Pope Leo’s choice to continue Pope Francis’ focus on the Church’s care for the poor both challenging and very hopeful. We have only read the first few sections. To me, the verses in Revelation seem to say, you who feel unworthy of love, you who think you are forgotten, I, the God of the universe, love you. I see you.  
 
In Dilexi Te, Pope Leo writes, “ [Today,] a culture still persists, sometimes well disguised, that discards others without even realizing it and tolerates with indifference that millions of people die of hunger or survive in conditions unfit for human beings. God has a special place in His heart for those who are discriminated against and oppressed, and He asks us, His church, to make a decisive and radical choice in favor of the weakest.” 
Lord, help me to overcome my indifference and unconsciousness about the needs of the weakest. Help me to love like you!                                                                            
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio
 
November 30, 2025 - Preparing for Advent
This is the first Sunday of Advent. I had planned to write something about how God sent Jesus into the midst of conflict, into poverty, into great risk… into the brutality of the Roman Empire, to a family of poor refugees who had to flee for their lives.  In a time when so much of the world is suffering, remembering the setting of the first Christmas is important.  God is with us in our suffering.  God is with us as the Body of Christ as we meet our brothers and sisters in their suffering and serve as Christ’s hands and feet. 
 
But before I sat down to write, I was looking out my back window with my cup of coffee, and I noticed a doe and a young buck munching on the grass and leaves. Sweet, but not unusual.  They were under a tree just below the rock wall that holds my herb garden. As I watched I saw a little flash of something…an ear.  Oh, I thought, there are three.  Then, like a magical, animated Christmas card, ears and eyes popped up above the rosemary and disappeared again only to pop up a few feet further along the wall. There were not three but six deer munching. God showed up in surprising gifts of black noses and big dark eyes and large soft ears. I was delighted!  God is full of surprises. Always with us—both in suffering and in joy. Come, Emmanuel!                              
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio 

Reflections week of 11-17-25
November 17, 2025 - A Month of Reflection
More than any other month, November invites us to pause, remember, and give thanks. On November 1st, we celebrate All Saints Day, honoring all the saints, known and unknown, who now rejoice in the presence of God as part of the Church Triumphant. These holy men and women remind us that we, too, are called to holiness and to live lives that reflect God’s love. On November 2nd, All Souls Day, we pray for all the faithful departed who have gone before us. Through our prayers, we unite ourselves with them in hope and love, trusting in God’s mercy and promise of eternal life. On November 11th, we observe Veterans Day, giving thanks for the men and women who have served our nation with courage and sacrifice. May we remember them in our prayers, asking God to bless all who work for peace and freedom. And on Thanksgiving Day, we turn our hearts to God in gratitude for His endless blessings, for the gift of family and friends, and for His faithful presence through every season of our lives.
Each of these observances calls me to remember, to pray, and to give thanks. Lord in this November, let me take time to slow down and reflect on God’s goodness. In remembering others, we also remember the One who has given us all things.                         
Kurt Peterson
 
November 18, 2025– Preparation
“I go to prepare a place for you… and I will come again and take you to myself.” John 14:2-3.  Reading these words reminds me of an ancient Jewish tradition where the betrothed groom, prior to the marriage begins an expansion onto his father’s home for them to live in. He would return for the wedding and then take his bride to their new home.  I picture Jesus as the Bridegroom, lovingly preparing a home for His bride. Though Jesus is not physically here, he’s not distant or gone. He’s getting things ready for me. That thought fills me with both comfort and challenge. Heaven isn’t just about someday, it’s about now. Each day, Jesus is shaping my heart, teaching me to trust, forgive, and love more like Him. I want to live ready, so when He calls, I’ll recognize His voice and follow Him home.
Lord Jesus, thank You for preparing a place for my soul.  As I wait, prepare my soul for that place. Help make me ready to live with You forever. Amen.                                                                 
Kurt Peterson
 
November 19, 2025 – Healing                                                                                                                                       
Our bodies are an amazing creation of God—what He designed is truly mind-blowing. About a month ago, I scraped my wrist badly. The wound was large, and I had to resist the urge to pick at the scab as it healed. Over time, new skin formed underneath the scab and little by little, the scab fell away until there was no trace of the injury left.
As I watched that healing process, I couldn’t help but think about how God does the same with our emotional and spiritual wounds. When we let Him, He begins to restore what’s been broken. But just like with a physical wound, healing takes time; and sometimes the hardest part is not reopening what He’s already started to mend.
Jesus, I bring You my wounded heart. Help me to trust Your timing and let Your love make me whole.                                                                                                                                                                                       
Kurt Peterson
 
November 20, 2025 - How Much More Will He Do?
We recently refreshed our dining room, and one meaningful change was replacing a large mirror with a large painting. The painting shows a field of spring flowers and includes the verse from Matthew 6:28: “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.” This verse is especially dear to my wife, Sarah’s, heart. Jesus reminds us to look at the world around us and to see how the flowers and the birds live free from worry. They do not stress over tomorrow;  God provides everything they need. How often I forget that truth! Worry adds nothing to our lives. In fact, it often takes away our time, our peace, even our health. Jesus gently points us back to trust: if God cares for the lilies and the birds, how much more will He care for us?
So today, I choose to rest in that promise and reorder my heart toward what matters most.
Lord, I will seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness first. Give me strength to do so. 
Kurt Peterson
 
November 21, 2025 – Love Letters from God
When Sarah and I were first dating, I spent a summer on tour with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps. We couldn’t see each other, but we wrote letters constantly. We would have Mail Call in places like Racine or Des Moines, which was the highlight of my week. Each letter helped me know her heart better, even from miles away.
It’s the same with God. We can’t see Him face to face, but He’s written to us through His Word. If I want to know Jesus, I must read His love letters, the Bible, and listen to what He’s saying. That’s how a real relationship grows.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105                                  
Kurt Peterson
  
 
November 22, 2025 – Barking
Our dog Izzy can be a little too protective of our home. If someone she doesn’t know comes to the door, Amazon, UPS, or a stranger, she barks like she’s guarding a castle. But when one of our children, grandchildren, or some friends she knows arrive, she doesn’t bark. Without seeing them, she somehow knows who they are and waits eagerly to greet them. It’s amazing how she can sense the difference.
In a way, God is like that with us. He knows who belongs to Him before we even knock. He recognizes the hearts of His children and welcomes them with open arms. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Just as Izzy finds peace and joy when family comes to the door, God rejoices when we come to Him. And like Izzy, we too can learn to discern—to guard our hearts from what doesn’t belong and to open them wide to the One who does.                                                         Kurt Peterson

November 23, 2025– It Would Have Been Enough
During the Passover Seder, the Dayenu is sung as a reminder of how God blessed His people during the Exodus. Each stanza ends with the word Dayenu, meaning “It would have been enough.” It’s a declaration that every blessing from God stands on its own — that even one act of His goodness would have been enough reason for gratitude.
Too often we slip into a “what have You done for me lately” attitude, looking for the next blessing instead of giving thanks for the ones already given. But every gift from God is an expression of His grace, not something we have earned.
This Thanksgiving, our family will do our own Dayenu — recounting the blessings God has poured out on us. And if He gives us no more, the ones He’s already given “would have been enough.”                                 Kurt Peterson

November 10, 2025 - Pope(s)
Today’s mass is the Memorial of St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church.  There have been fourteen Popes who’ve taken the name Leo and five of those have been canonized to sainthood.  The present pope has taken that name, Leo XIV.  The name Leo derives from the Latin word for lion, an animal known to be strong and courageous.  Today’s recollection of St. Leo the Great tells of a man who displayed strength and courage in his leadership of a church growing in an unwelcoming world by displaying the attribute of caring for the poor.  He reportedly cut his cape in two with his sword to share with a beggar who had no cloak against the cold.  Pope Leo XIV has followed his predecessor in focusing his efforts in serving the poor, the immigrant, the unhoused and following the example of Jesus not simply with words but with actions and exhortations to world leaders and us.  Lord Jesus help me to practice what I preach and follow the example of all those Leos who followed/follow you.       Deacon David
 
November 11, 2025 - Another Church Guy: Bishop
Today at mass we memorialize St. Martin of Tours, Bishop.  He is known for his goodness, mercy and service to the poor.  I only know of him because the pastor of the St. Martin of Tours parish in L.A. was the leader, teacher, mentor and friend Jane and I came to know as the Director of the Lay Mission Helpers Association.   He accepted, trained and sent us to our three-year mission in Nyeri, Kenya in 1969.  Msgr. O’Leary (R.I.P.) followed the example of St. Martin by recruiting, training and sending people like us to share our skills and knowledge with the native people amongst whom we lived and worked.  That was our job: to work ourselves out of a job.  It may seem counterintuitive, but we needed household help there, so we hired a houseboy who helped care for our young children, clean the house, wash clothes and let us work in the town.  He became a part of our family.  We used our small stipend to pay his wages, to buy gas and local produce and not much else.  We like to think we did a bit to help alleviate poverty by our lives and work.   Pray that our models, St. Martin, Msgr. O’Leary and all those who devote their lives to service of others will continue to lead us in our faith to do the same.                     Deacon David

November 12, 2025 - We Are Family
There is no dispute that there is much disharmony in our society linked largely to our political persuasions.  People seem quicker to judge and be argumentative about everything from the colors you prefer to the make of car you buy.  While I like to look people in the eye and smile at them, I’ve noticed lately that not everyone takes that in a positive way.  Jane’s given me permission to relate to you an experience she had in an airport recently:  She was sitting and waiting for the call to board her flight. She was in a wheelchair parked in an area with several other folks in wheelchairs.  After eating a gooey snack with her coffee, she realized she had no napkin…and so did another of the wheelchair ladies.  That woman left her wheelchair and offered Jane a couple of napkins just as another woman approached and offered her a wet wipe.   Jane thanked them both profusely and both she and the others exchanged smiles.  A moment later Jane dropped her cane and was about to get up to retrieve it when the napkin lady went over and picked it up for her.  Smiles and thanks again.   Jane’s takeaway:  no one asked about her political affiliation or ethnicity or pronoun…they were all responding to a need, just as Jesus would’ve done.  Once again, I’m reminded of Rodney King’s question…”can’t we all just get along?”  Jane’s airport experience leads me to think that we can.                                         
Deacon David
 
November 13, 2025 - “Gimmies”
This is the time of year that I feel so very sorry for the mail carriers in my neighborhood where we still have deliveries to the house.  You know what I’m talking about.  The requests for donations, not just from politicians across the country (can you spare just $3.22?) but also every nonprofit organization saying their cause is running out of funds so please send what you can. I can, and do, easily disregard the politicos but my heart tugs my hand towards my checkbook for the groups that serve the poor, the homebound, the homeless, the hungry and so on.   When I bring the mail in, I often say to Jane that there are nothing but gimmies in today’s mail.  I hate to dismiss these requests in that way but there are just so many.  Then Jesus’ admonition to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned rings in my conscience.  What do we do?  What do you do? You’re right, do what you can and thank God for your good fortune and know you are appreciated.  Above all I continue to pray for those who struggle to feed their children and find a warm place to sleep.   I pray that the leaders of the world will respond to the needs of all people, not just those who contribute to their campaigns.   I do have to remember that these needs are constant, throughout the year and remember the parable of the widow’s mite…she gave all she had.  I don’t think I could do that, but I’ll try to give more.                                               Deacon David
 
 
November 14, 2025 - What Happens Next?
We recently met with our long-time dinner and discussion group and the topic for the evening was “what do you think happens to us when we die”.  You might think that the discussion would’ve taken fifteen or twenty minutes in total, but it took more than that as we considered what the catechism tells us, what philosophers tell us and what our individual life experiences tell us.  Of course, in the end, no one knows but each of us said something about the concept of heaven. Where is heaven?  Will I see my loved ones in there?  And so on. What is God like?  Is he/she touchable?  Is he/she just a spirit?  How about judgment day?  How about atheists…where do they go?  What about sinners…where do they go and for how long?  Oh my! More questions than answers. The Bible tells us Jesus said his house has many mansions (so is it like Beverly ills)?)HillHills?). In short it was a great discussion which led to no answers but renewed our belief in the reality of God both in our lives and in what we anticipate.  I pray for those who don’t believe or those who haven’t heard the Good News and those who don’t have the freedom to gather and discuss what we, in our limited ability, have opportunity to do.                       
Deacon David
 
November 15, 2025 - What Do I Want?
The Communion antiphon for the mass (Saturday. Weekday) today uses a portion of Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want….” That is so true for me. I am very fortunate to be a part of the O.C.I.A. team who meet with folks who have taken the sometimes-difficult step of seeking more information about the Catholic church.  The first step in their process is to join a group called Inquiry.  They are encouraged to ask questions, any questions about who, what, why, where and how related to the mass, priests and deacons, stories they’ve heard and so on.   On a recent night six women not only asked questions of we two facilitators but each also told all of the group of their own faith journeys and reasons for checking out the Catholic church and what they want and expect of the Catholic church.  As it is each time I am a part of such a discussion I am called to remember my own journey of faith and becoming a member of the church and most especially, looking back 65 years or so, at what it was I wanted and what it is I still want.  Having heard the stories of these six women has given me the joy I was told I’d experience of knowing Jesus, receiving Jesus in the Word and the Eucharist and being able to share that joy with people who want what I’ve been given in such abundance.                                   
Deacon David
 
November 16, 2025 - Rain
About a week ago we got some rain, and it tamped down the ever-present dust in the air where we live.  I thought for awhile about how rain happens and what an awesome gift it is.   Rain not only cleanses the air we breathe but it cleanses the world and blesses the land. It gives growth to the food we eat, the trees that shade us and the flowers that give us joy.  Those thoughts led me to remember a song we have sung in church that, once sung, lingers for days repeating the refrain…”rain down, rain down, rain down your love on your people “.  I took the time to think about the abundance of love and gifts I have received and continue to receive which, like the rain, fall on me whether I deserve them or not
The story doesn’t end there because those gifts are not given/received for me alone.  I am to share them, pass them on, give them away.  Some of those gifts have been the many       T-shirts imprinted with pictures and sayings given to religious ed teachers at SSPP, such as a recent one with the words: God is good, all the time.  I wear those shirts as I go about my daily chores and while at Safeway recently a lady remarked to me “…I like your shirt, amen”. Other shirts have evoked similar responses.  Gifts?  We too are a sort of rain by how we live our lives and, in a way, nourish others.   Thank God for the rain, thank SSPP for such a simple way to communicate our faith and thank you for raining down your love on me.    
Deacon David

November 3, 2025- So Many Souls
 Yesterday, as we celebrated All Souls Day, we had a chance to reflect on all of the souls who have left this earth. It can be so difficult to feel the loss of our loved ones.  So many of you have lost spouses, siblings, children, family, and friends.  As I age, the number of losses continues to grow.  I have found that the words contained within the Catholic funeral liturgy sum up what we believe about those who have died. “Indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed, not ended.”  This means that we can continue to pray for those who have died, and I believe they are praying for me as well.  What a beautifully consoling message!
Darcy Wharton
 
 November 4, 2025- A Simple Mailing
 About six weeks ago, I had some extra time at work and I offered to put labels on envelopes for our financial statement mailing.  Others had done about 300 of them, but that left 2300 labels left for me!  I soon discovered that I recognized so many of the names.  There were families whose children are the same age as mine and they served as catechists when I was coordinating the parish’s middle school program.  There were others that I knew from choir and Ladies Guild and other ministries.  I recognized many of the families because I have facilitated the baptism of their children.  There were many families that I haven’t seen in years.  However, as each of the labels went on, I prayed that their time at our parish is (or was) fulfilling in some way.  I hope they found God here in this community.  This simple mailing allowed me to feel even more connected to all of you.  Thank you for your presence in our community!
 Darcy Wharton
 
 November 5, 2025- An Everlasting Bond
 A gentleman walked into the parish office a couple of months ago and wanted to speak with a priest.  He mentioned that he had some questions about the afterlife.  Since Fr. Renier was away on the pilgrimage, our office manager suggested that perhaps he speak with me.  
 The conversation was a beautiful one.  He simply wanted assurance that he would see his wife in heaven and that they would recognize one another.  His love for his wife who had passed away eight years ago was palpable.  
 There are a lot of mysteries surrounding what happens when we die, but I am confident that the God who loves us will reunite us with our loved ones one day.  We are all likely familiar with stories of people who have had near-death experiences and many talk about seeing their relatives.  This makes perfect sense to me. It was nice to know that I was in the right place at the right time to reassure this sweet man that he would once again see the love of his life.  In the meantime, he can rest assured that God’s (and her) loving presence surrounds him.
Darcy Wharton  
 
November 6, 2025- Where There is Love
 Our middle daughter Sarah got married two months ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  It was a beautiful and meaningful event.  While I would have loved to have had at least one of my daughters choose a church wedding, none of them did.  However, each of the weddings was filled with love.  Since I believe that God is love, God’s presence was there.  In this most recent wedding, we heard it in the kind words spoken about my daughter and her husband.  We witnessed deep love in the vows exchanged and we saw it in the hugs and happy tears with friends and family and in the traditions like the father-daughter and mother-son dances.
 God’s love clearly cannot be limited to a building.  I pray that I can always be on the lookout for God in expected and unexpected places!
 Darcy Wharton
 
 November 7, 2025- Let Them
 About a year ago, I was introduced to podcasts produced by Mel Robbins.  She has articulated a theory called “let them” which helps people understand that they don’t need to worry so much about what other people think of them.  It can be easy to get too fixated on getting people to see us in a positive light and in her mind, that’s a waste of time.  She suggests moving on!
 Jesus basically said the same thing to his disciples when he said, ““Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.”  It seems that Jesus knew that it is a waste of time festering resentment or holding onto anger when people disappoint us.  Mel Robbins follows up “let them” with the idea that we should then say “let me”.  For example, if we think someone thinks ill of us, we “let them”, and then we say, “let me” decide to move on or to forgive.  Following Jesus’ directive to “shake the dust off my feet” is a great way to remember that I can only be responsible for my own thoughts and actions.  This can lead to a greater sense of freedom to follow God more faithfully.
Darcy Wharton
 
 November 8, 2025- Hypocrisy
 For some reason, I have become more aware lately of hypocrisy.  I can easily become frustrated and disappointed in that kind of behavior, especially when I find it in people in authority or leadership or in someone for whom I have previously held great respect.  However, I recall learning in psychology that we see things in others that we fail to see in ourselves.  
 If that’s true, I have a lot of work to do!  Jesus’ question, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” is a painful reminder that humility is the best path.  
 
Loving God, help us see ourselves more clearly and see others in the light of your love.
 Darcy Wharton
 
 November 9, 2025- Honoring the Places We Pray
 Today is the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica.  At first glance, it might seem odd that we have a feast day celebrating a building.  After all, most of our feast days celebrate saints or beliefs we hold strongly.  Lately, though, I am beginning to see it differently.  A few months ago, my husband and I were fortunate to be able to go to Italy.  We did not get to Rome, but we saw MANY churches in the Tuscan region! Many of the churches are no longer functioning as parishes, but are open for people to go in to visit.  In doing so, I was overcome with a sense of awe in considering ALL of the people who have prayed in those buildings through the centuries.  I also considered all of the people who were part of constructing these beautiful buildings, knowing that in some small way they were contributing to the worship of many.
 
 There is something sacred about honoring the places where we gather as believers.  It now makes complete sense to me that we honor the cathedral of the diocese of Rome, the official ecclesiastical seat of the Holy Father, the Bishop of Rome.  
 
Thank you, Lord, for giving us special places of beauty in which we can gather to worship you. 
 Darcy Wharton

October 27, 2025 – Grounded
Static electricity, which is often caused by friction, can build up on a radio antenna and interfere with the signal, resulting in static or noise.   A good grounding, however, provides a path for this static to safely discharge preventing it from interfering with the radio’s reception.
 
When it comes to our relationship with God, the friction of our lives can interfere with our ability to hear and see things clearly.  But when we ground ourselves with prayer, community, scripture and the Eucharist, we increase our reception of the “signal.”   It’s the same set of instructions Jesus gave his disciples as they encountered fear and rejection: pray, trust and share a meal.  
-Katie Maynard
 
 October 28, 2025 – Great Amen
Amen is the Hebrew word meaning, “so be it” and it is a declaration of faith, belief and conviction.  When we collectively sing the Great Amen at the conclusion of the Eucharistic prayer, we join in this declaration together as we celebrate what has taken place at the consecration.
 
This past summer, our Sunday 5pm choir was stretched in new ways with the absence of some of our choir members and instrumentalists.  It was so touching to see the ways that everyone helped one another, especially when it came to the Great Amen…because without melody, we were frozen in our tracks.  Week after week, we practiced the mass parts in new ways, and eventually it all came together.
 
It's true that in times of struggle and vulnerability, it can be tempting to believe we are alone.  But when we turn and lean on each other, the melody comes together and we find our Great Amen.
-Katie Maynard
  
October 29, 2025 – Nonverbal Cues
My youngest daughter recently got braces, and as she laid in the dental chair with her mouth wide open, I found myself watching her hands, feet and breath movements.  For most of the time, her feet were moving back and forth, most likely a sign of generalized anxiety from what was happening in her mouth.  Occasionally though, her legs would have sporadic fits of movement and her breathing would quicken, signaling discomfort from the contraption holding her mouth open, and the sour-tasting dental cement.
 
As a mother, I was a bit of a nervous wreck, not being able to hear her speak, but I immediately advocated for her and squeezed her hand, when I saw her nonverbal cues asking for help.
I think God watches us in this way too, when we can’t find the words to express what we need or when we need His help or intercession.  He is watching our feet and our breath, and is ready to be our comfort and greatest advocate.
-Katie Maynard
 
 October 30, 2025 – Moments of Whoa
Recently I volunteered to be a chaperone for my daughter’s Sly Park science camp.  On the last day of the week, our hiking guide and Sly Park teacher led us to one of the oldest Douglas Fir trees in the forest, aptly named “Grandpa Doug”.  He then shared impactful and formative moments from his own life in the forest.  He called these moments his, “Moments of Whoa” and encouraged students to think about their own moments during the week of camp.  
 
One boy came back from his journaling and shared that during his time in silence, he started to think about his childhood and, “all the good and hard moments.”  It was seemingly a new experience for him to reflect in this way, and I couldn’t help but think that this is exactly how God’s grace works.  In the quiet of our hearts, when we are able to notice our own moments of grace (whoa), or movements of the Spirit…the experience of awe and wonder changes us and draws us closer to God.  
-Katie Maynard
  
October 31, 2025 –Salvation History
The sixth-grade faith formation curriculum is one of my favorites, as it intersects so beautifully with the students’ social studies curriculum at school.  This past week, I invited the students in our faith formation class to gather around the maps of Ancient Israel on the wall, and their hands were flying up in the air as we talked about Mesopotamia, the Fertile Crescent and the story of Abraham.   They loved sharing what they already knew, and noting the connections between our faith in the God of Abraham, and the ancient world and civilizations of their textbooks.
 
The truth is that it is impossible to separate our faith from history, because that is where God finds us…reaching into our everyday lives for our salvation.
-Katie Maynard
 
November 1, 2025 – Thresholds
Maggie, our family dog, is just the sweetest pup.  She is so snuggly, gentle and fun, but she has a little “hang-up” when it comes to doorways and thresholds, especially when the floor is slippery in any way. Almost on a daily basis, we will hear her whimpering on the other side of a doorway, calling for our help to get across.  It doesn’t take much, in fact the only thing she needs is for one of us to be near and encourage her…letting her know that it’s okay and she can do it.
 
This feeling is familiar as I approach a transition to something new, especially when it seems precarious in any way.  The anticipation of crossing can be the hardest part and sometimes I just need someone else to walk with me.  Of course, there are people in my life who are there to help, but today as we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, we remember those who have come before us in faith: encouraging us and walking with us across the thresholds of life.
-Katie Maynard
 
 November 2, 2025 – Bristlecone Pine
The Bristlecone Pine grows at high altitude in arid regions and is known to be highly resistant to harsh weather and bad soils.  This past summer when we visited Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, we saw these pine trees, some of which are thousands of years old.   These trees stand firm and rooted in the desert rock, weathered and shaped by the sun, wind and sand.  
 
Today, as we celebrate All Souls Day and remember our loved ones who have passed away, I invite you to consider the bristlecone pine.  Our loved ones, although no longer with us in this life, are there with and for us…standing firm and rooted in our lives.  They are resilient enough to share our burdens and our sorrows, and in fact our relationship continues to be nurtured and shaped by our petition and their intercession.  
-Katie Maynard
 

October 20, 2025 - JMJ
When I was in school, the nuns had us write JMJ (for Jesus, Mary and Joseph) at the top of all of our work as a reminder that our work belongs to God.  We  did this in every class throughout grammar school .  I asked my older sisters, who were either in high school or working, if they did this, and they replied no; that it was a nice idea but it wasn’t appropriate for the workplace.  I was shocked!  I wondered how honoring God like that could ever be out of place and I responded in a rather proud and huffy way, that I would always give honor to God like that!   Of course by the time I started working out in the world I realized how easy it is to put JMJ on a piece of paper and how much more difficult it is to demonstrate it with my life.
Father, help me to consciously dedicate all of my work to you each day, with the same fervor and certainty that I had as a young girl.                                                                                                         
Jane Haproff
 
October 21, 2025 - Bridges
Recently David and I spent several days with our son who has a house on the Hudson River overlooking the Rip Van Winkle Bridge in New York.  The view of the river with the bridge just off to the right is beautiful.  One morning I sat there watching cars pass over the bridge in the slight distance.  I could make out the different shapes and colors of the vehicles as  they moved across the bridge.  I was struck by how they all shared the same goal:  to get across the river, but no two vehicles looked the same or drove the same to get there.  There were buses, semi-trucks, pickup trucks, mini-vans, sports cars,  and SUVs in all different colors.  One bright orange SUV stood out, even more than some of the trucks!  I was fascinated at how everyone moved in their own way, in their own style of vehicle and at their own speed.  And I wondered if that’s what we might look like to God, all of us wanting to achieve the ultimate happiness that He offers,  but all of us seeking it in our own ways. It was then that I felt joy and gratitude that I move along that bridge of life with a community that has nurtured me with opportunities to experience a foreshadowing of the happiness that awaits me at the end of the journey.                                 Jane Haproff
 
October 22, 2025 - Dark vs. Light
Bishop Barron gave an interesting definition of St.  John of the Cross’ dark night of the soul.  He explained it does not refer to depression as many think, but to the struggle to purge oneself of attachments  that may get in the way of making God primary in our lives.   He describes a two-step process  where the first phase is to rid oneself of pleasures of the senses that might interfere with God, the second step being to purge the soul of attitudes, concepts and ideas that might be substitutes for God.   I began to attempt to put some of this into place, ridding myself of what I thought might be false idols so to speak.  And I found how incredibly difficult it is!  Discouragement was waiting at every corner.  First, I’d  slip into old habits, then feel as if I had short changed God, recognize that God loved me anyway, warn myself that I didn’t want to slip into scrupulosity, then forgive myself.  As I repeated this cycle, I felt a sort of darkness of defeat hanging over me, even though I was doing all of this for God.  Then I wondered could this be what St. John was referring to as the dark night!   That childhood part of me that wanted to be a saint (but not a martyr) decided then to start over but gentler with myself.   That night as I closed my eyes, I saw light instead of darkness and decided that I will just continue trying to be a visible sign of God’s love to others and let go of sainthood!  I do so want nothing to come between me and God though…                                                                                                                                                     Jane Haproff
 
October 23, 2025 - “Those Were the Days My Friend,
Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end…”   
That old song floats through my head often these days. I continue to think that I’m the same person who heard it for the first time and wonder why my old friends are not.  As various infirmities catch up with each of us in one way or another I find myself thinking so much more often about the passage of time.  Some of this is nostalgia, but more often it is with an awareness of and immense gratitude for all of the good that I have been given.  Some of our friends are not as lucky, having lost most of their family already,  having no grandchildren to help them figure out their phones,  no one they can trust who lives close enough to be their medical proxy.  But the biggest loss I regret for some of those closest to me, is that they have no faith.   One of my close friends has stage four cancer, does not believe in God and is terrified of dying.  She asks me to pray for her, believing it may provide some kind of good luck charm, but she has nothing, no hope of seeing God that she looks forward to.  We talk about it sometimes, but she remains firm in her disbelief. Sometimes  I want to sing the above refrain to her, adding that those days…they don’t end.   We are formed by them, and we take them with us as part of who we are as we pass into another way of being, and that my friend, doesn’t end.                                                 
Jane Haproff
  
October 24, 2025 – The Sabbath
Rabbi Abraham Heschel in The Sabbath makes a distinction between what is sanctified by God and what is sanctified by man.  He reminds us that the acts of God make the seventh day  different.   God rested, blessed and hallowed the seventh day.  Jewish tradition holds that this day is not meant to be a “day of rest” to recover from work; rather it is a day to allow ourselves to be sanctified; it is a window apart from ordinary life that opens time.  And time is a dimension where we can find the essence of God because, as Heschel puts it: “There is no quality that space has in common with the essence of God.”  Only time, which is ”eternity in disguise” can provide that.  
These words about time haunt me. I love the idea of the sacredness of the sabbath as a special time set aside in order to focus on God’s presence.  The reverence, the longing, the commitment to experience the presence of God in time, in events and in the sabbath, since He cannot be fully recognized anywhere else is beautiful.  But it evokes a sadness in me that is connected to my firm conviction, my experience, that God is present here in time and space.  He is in fact present everywhere…but especially in the Eucharist and in each other, the Word, and in the priest who celebrates Mass.   I feel sad that others don’t know this and that I so often take that awareness for granted.                                                                    Jane Haproff  

October 25, 2025 – The Stranger
The other day a dirty, poorly dressed man wearing a torn blanket  wrapped around himself walked down our street, paused and looked around as if lost.   He   came over to the curb,  cleaned out our storm drain then proceeded down the street, stopping often and staring into space. We watched him from our window, not knowing what his needs were and trying to figure out how to offer some kind of help. Then he was down a side street and gone.  A few days later he returned.  This time his actions were a bit more erratic and the question was whether it was safe to approach him.  Each time I stood there, seeing the face of Jesus in this man and  wanting to do something.  As I dithered, he was gone again. It’s easier when someone approaches me and asks for help. I don’t have to figure out what to do.   The thing is I don’t know how to approach a stranger and offer help.  Though of course I do; I offer help to strangers under all different circumstances when the need is apparent:  a cell phone to someone clearly locked out of a car; helping a mom with grocery bags and a crying baby, covering a deficient amount in a grocery bill in line at the store.  Then I wondered:  how many times does Jesus, the stranger,  have to walk down my street before I throw caution to the wind and engage with him?                                                                      Jane Haproff
 
October 26, 2025 – The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor
Today’s readings deal with our attitudes toward the poor.  The irony of this isn’t lost on me, given the reflection that I wrote yesterday.   So I am pondering poverty, and what it means.  There are so many ways to be poor in our society.  There is or course the poverty of not enough money but there is also the poverty of loneliness, lack of community, poverty of ritual, poverty of mobility…the list goes on.  These problems and lacks have always existed, but their effects are worse when living in a culture of plenty where life’s excesses are constantly on display in commercials and social media where everyone is having fun.  These things are on my mind because a good friend just died; a very social person who lacked community and mobility.   He was ready to die, in fact yearned for it, so this is a good death, and I am happy for him.  But the shortages that were part of his later years sadden me.  He had the resources to pay for the care he needed, but money doesn’t solve all of the things that can be missing from a life.   Fortunately, he had a deep faith that kept him going.  And now he is wrapped in the arms of the Lord where there are no shortages and he lacks for nothing because the Lord hears the cry of the poor.              Jane Haproff
 
October 13, 2025  - Chicken Soup for the Soul                                                                                               
As a teenager I started reading short inspirational stores from the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books. They would inspire me or give me some little anecdote on how to face daily challenges. St. Paul’s letters to the early church remind me of  “Chicken Soup for the Soul” letters that gave the people of that time, hope and inspiration about what to look forward to and/or how to face their daily challenges.  I can imagine how they received his words and how that nourished them during difficult times.   Even today as I reread Paul’s letters, I am reminded that his wisdom and perspective is still be applicable to my life today as I seek to better understand the meaning of his story.                                                                             Bianca Hennager
 
October 14, 2025 -   Rearview Mirror
Lately I have been struggling with looking in the rearview mirror of my life instead of looking at what is ahead of me.  I don’t know if it is because I am halfway through my life (or more) and I get nostalgic looking back as my children enter phases/ages that I have so many fond memories of; or if it is a way to distract me from the challenges and feelings of being overwhelmed with what is in front of me.  I heard a great talk that discussed how you cannot drive well if you are constantly looking behind you.  Additionally, the speaker said there is a reason why the rearview mirror is smaller and the windshield is larger.  Despite that analogy and knowing I need to focus my efforts at what is ahead, I still find myself looking back, and doing this often.  It is dangerous for me to do this, as it can be a way of escaping and not fully putting my trust in God and his divine providence.  
Lord help me see you in front of me and help me to focus on driving my life looking forward instead of in the rearview mirror.  Help me to trust your providence that despite how crazy the road of life may be right now you are with me guiding me along the way.                         
Bianca Hennager
 
 
October 15, 2025 -  Jubilee Year
In this jubilee year, a friend of mine and I have made monthly pilgrimages to the designated jubilee churches within our diocese.  It has been such a beautiful experience visiting other parishes near and far and learning more about our diocese.  At one of our last sites, we met fellow pilgrims who were visiting all of the pilgrimage churches as well.  It helped me appreciate the journey we began several months ago and united us with other pilgrims in this jubilee celebration.  As we go on our monthly pilgrimage, I enjoy entering the Church looking to find the anchor as a focal point and immersing myself in the local community.  There are different songs, architectural styles, homilies, and environment but the same Mass.   After the Mass my friend and I sit and say the Jubilee prayer together then take a picture in front of the anchor.  It is a great day spent traveling locally and being reminded of our call to experience this Jubilee year.                                                                                                
Bianca Hennager
 
October 16, 2025 -  Hiding in the Garden    
I heard a brief homily reciting the words of St. John Paul II discussing how love wants to be near the beloved and if we love God then we would want to be near Him as much as possible.   I was reminded of the story of Adam and Eve and how they hid in the garden.  They loved God, yet they separated themselves away from God due to their shame.   I thought about how as humans we isolate ourselves from God and even others when there is conflict or shame that we carry.  Yet God loves us despite our sinful ways and wants us to be near him.  
Lord help me to turn to you and to continue to draw near to you though I may feel unworthy and weighed down by my own sinful nature.                                                                                           
Bianca Hennager
 
 
October 17, 2025  - Salt and Light
I grew up watching Bishop Fulton Sheen and how he spoke about the richness of “salt and light” in one of his videos.  The metaphor stuck with me as I was perplexed about how salt and light could be something to aspire to.  Salt reminds me of something that stings when you put it into an open wound. It is also a natural preservative that helps to store and enhance the flavor of food.  Light made more sense to me but not when combined with salt.  As I dove deeper into reflecting on this metaphor, I was reminded that we are called to be “salt of the earth” preserving truth and the richness of the Gospel.  Additionally, we are to be “light for the world” being the light of Christ to others around us.                           Bianca Hennager
 
 
October 18, 2025 – Anniversaries:  Reflect, Renew, and Respond              
As the summer winds down I enter into the season of anniversaries: angel anniversaries, wedding anniversaries, work anniversaries, etc.  It’s a great time for me to reflect on the past year, think about all of the experiences I encountered, and the growth that happened in the past year.  It also gives me a chance to examine how to respond when there are painful moments in the reflecting about opportunities missed, and needing renewal as I look ahead to the coming year.  I liken this process to my own personal New Year’s resolution making.   Though there may be times of feeling bittersweet about what was, and what will be in the coming year, it is a great time to reflect and see what I can do to make the next anniversary one that is filled with happiness and contentment.                   
Bianca Hennager
 
October 19, 2025  -  Arms Lifted Up
Today’s first reading is one of my favorite Old Testament readings where Moses grew tired holding his arms up in the battle against the Amalekites.  I love the imagery of Moses’ friends holding up his arms: Aaron on his right and Hur on his left.  And together when they held up Moses arms, the Israelites were victorious in battle.   It reminds me when I am worn down by life that I need friends who will be by my side and help keep my arms lifted up during the battles I may face.  I am blessed by the friendships that I have cultivated in our Church community who truly are the hands/face of Christ to me when needed.  This special group of ladies pray with me, for me, and are there day or night with an encouraging text, funny meme, or a glass of wine.  As our family will be moving out of state in the coming year, it is bittersweet knowing that I won’t have them by my side as I once did.  
Lord as you send our family off on a new adventure help me to find a supportive community of women who can help lift me up when I am down; to be my Aaron and Hur during the storms of life.  Help me to experience new friendships where you continue to present yourself in others around me.                             Bianca Hennager

 October 6, 2025 -  The Good Samaritan…and Me 
Today’s Gospel reading is from Luke 10:25-37, the story of the Good Samaritan. This is perhaps one of the most well-known stories of the New Testament. Jesus is having a dialogue with a ‘scholar of the law’ about how to inherit enteral life with God. During their conversation, they both agree that the pathway to life is through love of God, and love of your neighbor as yourself. Yet, the scholar of the law questions Jesus about who his neighbor really is. Jesus responds with the story of the ‘Good Samaritan’. That perhaps real-life narrative describes the victim of a violent robbery who is left on the roadside. A priest and a Levite walk past, and keep on going. In the story, a Samaritan, of a religion and region at odds with conventional Judaism, responds with compassion. What is most significant about the rest of the story is – rather than walking past, the Samaritan acts. Eight verbs, words of action, follow the Samaritan’s compassion. We see ‘approached,’ ‘poured’, ‘bandaged’, ‘lifted’, ‘took’, ‘cared’, ‘took’ and ‘gave’. The Good Samaritan is, as Jesus tells the scholar and us, ‘Go and do likewise.’ This story always reminds me that my words, and talk of being a Catholic and Christian, must also include some verbs. I take comfort in attending Mass, praying, and reading scripture – but this parable reminds me that’s good – but – my faith must be made visible by what I do.
Daryl Grigsby  
 
October 7, 2025 -  Mary and Martha  
Today’s Gospel reading is from Luke 10:38-42. Truly a familiar one, and one that leads me to look more closely at my own life. The story is a familiar one. Jesus stops at a village, is welcomed into the home of Martha, and, as Martha is busy serving, her sister Mary sits and learns at the feet of Jesus. Martha complains to Jesus, and he reminds her that though she is busy with many things, ‘there is need of only one thing.’ He adds, Mary ‘has chosen the better part.’ Whenever I hear this, I wonder if I am like Martha. If I am too engaged in activities and scheduled events to have time for prayer and encounters of listening to Jesus. Yet sometimes I wonder if the ‘one thing’ is Jesus himself. And – whether I can encounter that ‘one thing’ through both action and prayer. I know Jesus calls us to action – that call is everywhere in the Gospels and the Epistles. Perhaps the ‘better part’, time with Jesus, always precedes (and perhaps follows?) our actions. For me – this is a reminder of the importance both of prayer, and, in the context of prayer, our vocation and calling. 
Daryl Grigsby  
 
October 8, 2025 -  The Lord’s Prayer 
Today’s Gospel reading is Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer. This is a fascinating story; for in the Gospel Jesus was praying, and once he was finished, one of his disciples asked him to teach them how to pray. A very interesting question indeed – one which we can perhaps all can relate to. Praying is such an individual action, and there are perhaps as many different practices and disciplines as there are people. Yet, there was something about Jesus’ prayer that inspired one of the disciples to ask for help in his prayer life. In my own prayer life, no matter where I am in life, I always think I can be better at it. Therefore, the disciple’s question can really be my own, ‘Lord, teach me to pray.’ Jesus responds with just nine lines in his prayer lesson. Yet, as each of us knows, the Lord’s Prayer has profound meaning. Can we even recount how many times we have prayed this prayer? This prayer is recited at every Mass, religious events, retreats, and other functions. What I most often gain from this prayer is the action Jesus implies for us – that is – to forgive others. In asking for God’s mercy, Jesus tells his disciples, and me, that God’s forgiveness inspires and demands me to forgive others. Everywhere else in the prayer we have petitions, but there, Jesus has a petition of us. Whenever I hear, or recite this prayer, I am reminded of my daily obligation to forgive. Not easy, but Jesus never promised easy.
Daryl Grigsby 
 
October 9, 2025 -  A Tree by the Waters 
The beauty of the Catholic liturgical year is that there are Mass readings for every day of the year. We are graced with a first reading, a psalm and the Gospels. The Psalm for today is one of my favorites. It reminds me of the importance of delighting in the law of the Lord, and further, how critical it is to meditate on it, ‘day and night.’ The Psalmist says in doing so, we become ‘like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade.’ For me, this resonates, particularly as I get older. The Psalmist reminds me that no matter my age, circumstance, status or condition, I can and must provide fruit; good works, acts of mercy, and manifestations of Christ in the world. It is easy for me to sometimes feel exhausted, or that I don’t have the energy or time to do what I believe is right. This Psalm is a reminder – that we are a tree planted by the running waters of God’s inexhaustible grace. Not that we are to run ourselves into the ground with activity and busyness – but – through daily meditation on the words of Christ; bear the fruit that comes as a natural consequence of my proximity to God.
Daryl Grigsby  
 
 October 10, 2025 -  Gather Together 
Today’s first reading for Mass is from the prophet Joel who proclaims, 
‘Gird yourselves and weep, O priests! 
     wail, O ministers of the altar! 
 Come, spend the night in sackcloth, 
     O ministers of my God! 
 The house of your God is deprived 
     of offering and libation. 
 Proclaim a fast, 
     call an assembly; 
 Gather the elders, 
     all who dwell in the land, 
 Into the house of the LORD, your God, 
     and cry to the LORD! 
This call for repentance, renewal and revival is a clear mandate for us to gather together. This reminds me that as important as personal prayer time is, it is also critical to be part of a community. This is why attendance at Mass is so important. Not because of an external obligation, not because I ‘have to go’; but rather, because we need to be together. The Psalm asks us to  call an assembly; Gather the elders, all who dwell in the land, Being together, praying together, learning together are all part of what it means to be a church. If we could be perfect individuals – there would be no need to gather. Yet we all share in the human condition of stumbling and getting back up – our coming together is a reminder of our collective journey as the Body of Christ. So many studies show the harmful impacts of being disconnected from others. To gather together, in prayer to God, is critical to my growth as an individual Christian, and of the entire assembly. 
Daryl Grigsby
 
October 11, 2025 -  Doers of the Word 
In today’s Gospel Luke 11:27-28 describes an interchange between Jesus and a woman in the crowd who “called out and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.”’ He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” The woman in the crowd acknowledged the role of Jesus’ mother, and Jesus expanded this blessing to include those who have encountered and listened to God’s word, and then put those words into action. Whenever I read this passage, I examine my own life and how many times during the day I am confronted with God’s word. There are the times I read scripture, the scripture I hear in Mass and the lyrics to Catholic or religious songs. I also think of God’s word I hear from other’s words and actions, and God’s voice expressed in creation and nature. To that extent, I often see myself as surrounded by, and immersed in God’s word. But what difference has hearing God’s voice made in the way I talk, the places I go, and the way I treat others. I am challenged by this scripture: first to hear the voice of Jesus. But hearing is not enough. I must then observe it. Various sources say observe means ‘take notice of’, ‘understand the meaning’. Noticing and understanding mean to hear, and apply it to real life. It is good to be reminded I have to go beyond the hearing, and get to doing. 
Daryl Grigsby
 
October 12, 2025 -  Dying and Rising 
The readings for today have many references to healing. Yet, the second reading from 1 Timothy notes, “This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him;”  This sentence resonates most with me. A couple of years ago I took the nine-month Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. We were encouraged to engage in Ignatian imagination in our reading of the scripture. On one occasion, I read Matthew 16:25 in that light. I imagined myself among the disciples when Jesus told them, ‘For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.’ I imagined myself struggling to understand what exactly he meant by those words – and in particular – what did they mean for me. As I worked to grasp the meaning, I realized this. Losing my life is similar to what the writer was conveying to Timothy, ‘we have died with Christ’. We of course do not die in the physical sense – but we do – over time – gradually become less affected by those preoccupations that rob us of true and abundant life. And the focus is not so much on what we lose – but on what we gain. The writer of the Epistle says we are to ‘live with Christ.’ I understood that living not to be in the afterlife, but right now. Jesus said he came that we might have life and have it abundantly. It’s not so much what I lose, die to or give up – but the beauty is in the new life that Jesus promises, a life ‘with’ him. 
Daryl Grigsby
 
 September 29, 2025 - Introductions

For those of you who don’t know, I recently began my studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. I am majoring in Secondary Education and Mathematics on my way to (hopefully) becoming a high school math teacher. For the past month I have been meeting tons of new people and introducing myself the same way: name and major. Honestly, it has gotten a little redundant. But it got me thinking, what would the world look like if we introduced ourselves similarly, with our name and then our beliefs? Would I have the same friends I have today if I introduced myself as “Sarah Pipitone, Catholic”? Or would we more readily turn away from each other based on a difference in beliefs?

Sarah Pipitone

September 30, 2025 - Different

Fortunately, there is a Newman Center on my campus, so I have a place to go to church every Sunday that is only a short walk from my dorm. However, the Mass there is very different from what I’m used to at SSPP. Of course it is the same Mass, but the music is different, and everyone kneels after communion, and I’m looking around to see what everyone else is doing as though I’ve never been to Mass before. When I visited home recently I was able to go to our Mass, and felt so blessed to instantly feel at ease the moment I walked through the door. It is amazing that a place where I only spend an hour every week can feel like home.

Sarah Pipitone

October 1, 2025 - Reset

There is a lot going on at UNR: classes and events and clubs and new friends. It can be challenging to balance. I often find myself rushing from one activity to the next or locking myself in the library just so I can get all my studying done without distractions. It wasn’t very different back home either - there is always something going on or to be done. However, both at home and at school, I look forward to going to Mass every Sunday and resetting. It is an hour of calm in a hectic schedule, and it allows me to recenter on Christ so I don’t lose focus amongst the chaos. 

Sarah Pipitone

October 2, 2025 - Office Hours

The advice that I received most frequently upon leaving for college was “go to office hours.” I rolled my eyes until I actually went to office hours for my calculus class and it was extremely helpful. And if you’ll bear with me for a cheesy analogy, I feel as though I often treat going to church like going to class, and going to office hours like prayer. I always go to Sunday mass, but I infrequently pray on my own time. This is ridiculous because God doesn’t have office hours - he’s open for questions and conversation 24/7. So this week I’m going to start trying to make it a habit to utilize both forms of office hours, in the hope that I’ll grow stronger in my relationship with God and get the hang of vector valued functions.

Sarah Pipitone

October 3, 2025 - Football

It never ceases to amaze me that football can always bring our nation together, despite all the disagreements that threaten to break us apart. There are rivalries between teams, and, of course, everyone wants to win, but ultimately we're all there for a good game. We don’t let a win or loss dictate the course of our week, rather we build community with fellow fans and show up again the next week. We can set aside our differences to enjoy some football. The same goes for walking into church. We may not all get along, or share the same views, but we can set aside our differences and find community in the celebration of the Mass.

Sarah Pipitone

October 4, 2025 - Earworm

Have you ever gotten an earworm? It’s when a song gets stuck in your head and you can’t get it out. If you’re anything like me, you despise it when that happens. Because there you are just trying to carry on with your day, and all of a sudden the Beatles won’t leave you alone! But every now and then a song I heard in church will get stuck in my head, and I find then that I don’t mind so much. I remember being told that singing is like praying twice, so whenever I have a song from church stuck in my head I try to remember all of the lyrics, and think of it as a form of prayer, rather than just an earworm.

Sarah Pipitone

October 5, 2025 - Commercials

Commercials and advertisements are everywhere. You can’t watch TV, surf the internet, or even drive on the freeway without seeing them. It causes me to wonder what a Catholic commercial would look like. I wonder what marketing tactics would be used. Would we make people feel as though they are missing out without God in their life, or would we strike fear and guilt into people’s hearts, or showcase life changing testimonies? Either way, I doubt it would be effective, because having a relationship with God is something we choose, not something that can be sold to us.

Sarah Pipitone

September 22, 2025-The Lord Is My Light
In today’s Gospel (Luke 8:16-18), Jesus describes the light of a lamp in a way that is symbolic of God’s light. It’s a short but powerful parable that offers much to reflect upon. Just as a bright lamp is not meant to be concealed, the Word of God is not meant to be hidden, but to shine brightly in our lives. This light brings truth and purpose to our existence.  
When I listen attentively to His word and allow His light to shine through my actions, I gain an improved spiritual connection with Him. I am able to see more clearly, live more intently, and share His light more freely with others. If I choose not to listen, to withdraw or hide from His light I will have less understanding, walk without guidance, and live in darkness. There, I am more prone to stumble and fall into sin. In darkness, I lose appreciation for what I have and am blind to the truth and the way. 
Lord,
Help me to live in the light of your Word.  Guide me as I search for ways to apply Jesus’ teachings in my own life, especially when faced with adversity. Give me strength to avoid the pitfalls of darkness and remain in your light always and grant me courage to share your light with others.  Amen.
 “For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.”
Luke 8:17
Maria Montalvo
 
September 23, 2025 - “Falling” in Love
 It’s hard to believe that yesterday was already the first day of fall. As I get older, the days, months, and years seem to go by more quickly. For many, the beginning of fall brings an emphatic hallelujah! Most who live in our area are thrilled to welcome a change to the extreme heat of summertime. As much as I enjoy the warm weather, I must say, I’m ready for a change too. 
 
Each season has its own unique characteristics that I look forward to. In autumn I find myself “falling” in love again with the vibrant colors of the leaves, the transformation of deciduous trees, the crisp cool air, the abundant harvests, the early sunsets, the seasonal festivals, the Thanksgiving holiday, the feeling of togetherness, and the beginning of Advent. 
 
As I enjoy the coming months I want to embrace the opportunities for spiritual growth as well. This is a wonderful time to slow down from the busy days of summer and refocus on what’s most important to me. From pumpkins and prayer to golden leaves and gratitude, may God bless us all with a cornucopia of special moments that draw us closer to Him and each other.  
Maria Montalvo
 
September 24, 2025 - Superpower
 In today’s gospel (Luke 9:1-6) Jesus called the twelve apostles together, granted them the power and authority to heal the sick, cure diseases, and cast out demons. He sent them out, on their own, to proclaim the Kingdom of God and perform miracles in His name. What an honor to receive such power! Although this ability was not permanent, its effect would impact the course of history. 
 This reminded me of an encounter several months ago, while picking up my online grocery order. One of the employees asked me, “If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?” Naturally, I was taken by surprise as the workers don’t usually spark conversation and ask such thought-provoking questions. I sat there thinking as he loaded my car. When he was done, he came over to my window, eager to hear my response. I hesitated before telling him that I would choose the ability to bring peace to the world and to the hearts of all people. 
 I will certainly never have a superpower, but my desire remains: to see peace in a world that so desperately needs it. I really wish, now more than ever, that I had the power to heal the world and bring the peace of Christ to the hearts, minds, and souls of people everywhere. Doing God’s work can feel like an uphill battle sometimes. But I try to remind myself that I CAN make a difference, one person at a time. I suppose if we all did that, the results would be both super and powerful.  
Maria Montalvo
  
September 25, 2025 - A Sister Is A Gift
 Today, on my sister’s birthday, I thank the Lord for the blessing she’s been in my life. Having one sister in heaven already, I am grateful to have another sister still with me in this earthly existence. 
My sister is a special gift from God - unique, precious, and appreciated. Our bond is strong, unbreakable and priceless. Through a shared upbringing, she is held dear during all of life’s experiences: good times, disappointments, adventures, heartache, triumphs, challenges, love, and loss. Unwrapped and real, my sister is authentic. She is the most true connection I have to my childhood. She can laugh with me, cry with me, and inspire me on any given occasion. She understands me like no one else does and is honest, even when it hurts. My sister is an heirloom from my past, and the surprise in my future. She is the present who leaves a loving and lasting impression. She is the gift that keeps on giving, the one I will cherish always. 
 Anyone who is like a sister to us is special and deserves be celebrated for their significance in our lives: biological sisters, best friends, sisters in Christ, sorority sisters, soul sisters. Our sisters may not be born of the same parents, but how wonderful it is that we all have God, the Father, in common!  
Maria Montalvo
 
September 26, 2025 - A Different Light
 “Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.” 
Ecclesiastes 11:7 
 The African daisies on my porch caught my attention as I came home very early one morning. It was still dark out and the sun was just beginning to rise. The gentle rays highlighted the beautiful flowers on this plant, as it welcomed the first moments of dawn. I zoomed in with my camera and took a picture of one of the flowers. I was amazed at the intricate detail I could see with such limited light. Oh, what clarity the morning light can bring to our life! 
 As the day unfolds, I pray there’s something we all can see in “a different light” that will bring us greater peace, appreciation, and understanding. 
 It’s a new day — let us embrace it with an open and hopeful heart! 
Maria Montalvo
 
September 27, 2025 - We See You Too
 I’ve been working at a dental office in Sacramento for over 32 years. For decades our office stood on a beautiful, quiet, tree lined street in an established residential neighborhood near the American River. In 2020 we moved to a much bigger building on a busier street surrounded by commercial buildings and restaurants in every direction. The new location feels like a different world only two miles away. Instead of seeing wild turkeys, manicured landscapes, and residents out for a stroll, I see littered streets, stray animals, makeshift shelters, and homeless people wandering the streets on a daily basis. It truly breaks my heart. 
 While this is difficult to see, it serves as a constant reminder of the plight of the homeless in my own community. Witnessing their struggle motivates me even more to support legislation, programs, and organizations that aim to help them. I have seen up close, with my own eyes, far too many people living on the streets. 
 Today, September 27th, we remember and honor Saint Vincent de Paul, who dedicated his life to helping the poor and marginalized. His motto was: “God sees you.” As the patron saint of charities and volunteers, may we follow his Christ-like example and open our eyes, pour out our hearts, and extend our hands towards those in need.
 We see you too, my brothers and sisters. 
 “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Mathew 25:40 
Maria Montalvo
  
September 28, 2025 - What Counts The Most
My parents repeated numerous sayings throughout my youth. After reading today’s gospel (Luke 16:19-31), this one comes to mind, “It’s not what you have, it’s what you do with what you have that counts.”
 Growing up in a family with eight kids, I learned at an early age that I didn’t need a lot of “stuff” to be happy. Life was simple but wonderful. I never had my own room, but I always had someone to play with and talk to. I didn’t have designer clothing, but I proudly wore a school uniform. We seldom went out to eat, but we were nourished weekly with the Eucharist at mass. We ate a lot of rice, beans, tortillas, and casseroles made from leftovers, but we always had food on the table and plenty of people with whom to enjoy it. We spent much time outdoors and didn’t have the technological distractions of today. Dad worked hard as an electrician, but always had time to coach our sports teams. Mom either worked or went to college while raising our family, but somehow was always there when we needed her. 
 My parents used every opportunity to instill in us the importance of faith, family, friendships, and freely giving to others. We learned that we are not defined by our material possessions. We should not hoard what we have, even if it’s very little. Rather, we can find creative ways to utilize it to benefit others.
 They modeled a life of giving by contributing their time, talent, and treasure to their family, their community, and those in need. They spoiled us not with material things, but with love — and reminded us often that God loves us too.
That truly is what counts the most. 
Maria Montalvo

September 15, 2025 - Slow
I don’t do anything slowly. Whether I am walking, talking or moving between activities, I am moving fast. One morning I watched my daughter eat cereal at our kitchen island. She ate it slowly. Watching her eat that slowly sometimes feels painful for me. That morning, I felt an admiration for her ability to do something with such intention; there was no rush to move to the next thing.
I can accomplish a lot in my day with the speed at which I move through life. But what am I missing when I rush from one thing to the next? Do I rush my prayer so that I can start the next activity? Do I leave Mass ready for what is next on the schedule, or do I allow time to reflect on how the Eucharist has fed me? I pray that I can receive the Eucharist with slowness and intention, present in the moment of Christ’s presence.                                           
Erin Gallawa
 
September 16, 2025 - Recital
My daughter Grace has been playing the piano for 9 years. In all those years I have never missed a performance. Earlier this summer I woke up on the morning of her recital and felt too sick to attend. She told me that it would be fine if I stayed home. When she returned from the recital, she revealed how sad and disappointed she was that I wasn’t there. It was a hard moment for me as a mom to know that I had let my child down.
We are all familiar with the story of “Footprints” where the man thinks that God has abandoned him, but really those are the times that God carried him. I hope that my children know that I am always with them, even when I can’t be physically present. I hope they will know that I carry them in my heart when we are apart. As my children get older, they will have many more experiences without me; I pray they always know that I carry them with me.                                                                                                           
Erin Gallawa
 
September 17, 2025 - Birth
I have wanted to witness the birth of a child for years. But it turns out it isn’t very easy to get invited into someone’s hospital room! Earlier this year I was blessed to witness the birth of my nephew when my sister gave birth to her first child. It was nothing like I expected and yet somehow more than I could have ever imagined. I think of Eve’s curse that women should experience pain in childbirth, but I also marvel at the absolute power that women have because of their ability to carry on through physical suffering.
While my sister labored, I witnessed the beautiful support of her husband, nurses and doctor as they helped her to bring life into this world. I was such an outsider to the experience, simply a witness to an event that I could not share with her. And yet it was also a moment that changed my life. The world is different because this child is here. I give thanks for the gift of life and the opportunity to see life come into the world!                                       
Erin Gallawa
 
September 18, 2025 - Caller ID
I am part of a generation who doesn’t talk on the phone much. I talk to my immediate family often enough, but most of my friends get all their communication through text.
Earlier this summer my phone rang. I looked at the name on my screen that just said, “Laura.” Most of my contacts have a first and last name, so when there is just a first name, it means they’ve been my friend for a long time! And indeed, Laura has been a friend for a long time. But it had also been a long time since we had spoken—maybe years. I picked it up and didn’t even wait for her to speak; I just started talking like we had spoken yesterday. Laura laughed and made a joke that she was glad I even knew who she was. We talked for an hour.
I can’t lie—when I saw her name on caller ID I almost ignored it, wondering what two people could talk about after years of silence. But I was reminded that relationships can overcome time. I pray that I always remember that the simple act of reaching out can build a bridge—between people or with God!     Erin Gallawa

September 19, 2025 - Vocation
For several years I have known that I needed to return to teaching. That is the thing about vocation—you can do another job, but there will still be something inside you that knows you are not in the right place. I prayed that the right position would be available and applied to many jobs, but nothing came of it. As the school year approached, I was resigned that it wouldn’t happen this year.
And then, on our layover home after two weeks in Spain, I received an email asking me to interview for a job teaching Spanish. With less than 10 days before school, I committed to return to the classroom teaching high school Spanish.
I have been back in the classroom for about a month now. It is not easy and it is not always fun, but it is absolutely the work I have been called to do. I am grateful for a God who encouraged me to stay patient and who led me back to where I am supposed to be.             
Erin Gallawa

September 20, 2025 - The Place To Be
I have been at Christian Brothers for only a month now but I can say with certainty that it is indeed “the place to be.” Christian Brothers begins every day and every class with prayer, opening with “Let us remember… we are in the holy presence of God” and ending with “Live Jesus in our hearts…forever.” These two phrases bookend our prayer and bookend our days, constant reminders that while we are at school to learn, we are first and foremost a community of believers who live and learn in the presence of Jesus. Just last week I was surprised when I heard the familiar words from the pool as the team captains led the water polo team in prayer before their game!
It is still hard to believe that I teach here now; it feels a little like a dream each day! I am thrilled to be in a place with a mission and a heart for Christ and a community who lives it out each day.                                 Erin Gallawa
 
September 21, 2025 - The Ending
A friend recently messaged me about a book I had posted on Facebook. She was struggling with the book and wanted to know if she should continue. I also struggled with that book, but the ending was so powerful for me that it was worth the whole book to experience the ending.
As I was sharing this opinion with her, I thought about what a privilege it is to be trusted with such a decision. She valued my opinion so much that her actions would be decided on what I said.
There is power in knowing an ending that others do not know. Jesus knew what would happen to him and yet he carried on. While I cannot say for certain what my judgment will be, because of my faith I know that there is a loving a merciful God waiting for me. I trust that he is encouraging me to finish the book of life because he already knows the ending.   
Erin Gallawa

September 8, 2025 - Pray with Your Feet
These words were said most recently by the principal of Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis after the tragic shooting at the school’s first Mass of the school year. He attributed “pray with your feet” to an African proverb. The phrase has also been attributed to Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, a Jewish theologian and civil rights leader. For me, these are words that call me to account. As a Christian, here and now, what does it mean to pray with my feet, and my hands and my whole self? I think it means that I do not compartmentalize my faith, that I consistently discern what God is asking of me in this place and in each situation.  How am I called to “feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick and visit the prisoner?”  As a 21^st century Catholic, I struggle to pray with my feet.   Issues are complex. Inviting the person I pass on the street corner into my home is probably not a realistic option. Loving my enemy sounds good, but who is my enemy, and what if they want to hurt me? Can love sometimes mean breaking cycles of co-dependency? Setting a boundary?  How do I resist letting complexity lead to complacency? God, help me each day to ask, “What does love demand in this situation, in this place?”                          
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio
 
September 9, 2025 - Twirl, Baby, Twirl
Occasionally, I find myself writing my reflection to a particular person I have been with at Mass. I usually don’t know their name, (and it probably wouldn’t be appropriate to name them if I did.) So, this reflection is for the little girl, about 3, who loves to dance and twirl to the music at 9:00 AM Mass, and to her patient parents who gently bring her back to their pew when she gets too far away.  
To her parents: Thank you for modeling loving, Catholic parenting, for trusting that her gentle spirit feels and responds with joy to what we celebrate together. I hope you know she is an inspiration, that she shares what it means to be God’s beloved daughter.  
To the little girl:  I hope you will always find joy at church. I hope that we, the imperfect people of God, will never make you feel unwelcome.  I hope you will teach us how free our spirits were before we were taught the world’s “shoulds” and “can’ts.”  When you are eighty something, I hope you will still dance to God’s music in your heart!   With love…        
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio
 
September 10, 2025 - A Rainbow in the Parking Lot
My sister is now the interim principal for a Lutheran elementary school in the suburbs of Cleveland. It is a job she agreed to take with a bit of protest when the former principal took another position. For years, one of the teachers on staff who is an artist has painted murals and colorful displays on the playground. The theme for this new school year is trusting God’s covenant. The staff spent a long, hot day painting a large rainbow in the playground which will include Bible verses from Genesis 9 about the bow in the sky that is the sign of the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature. 
Can you guess what’s coming? Even before the paint dried… a complaint. “That’s an LGBTQ symbol.” “It’s naïve to think people will see that as a symbol of God’s covenant.” 
I’m an old school administrator with alligator skin from all my experience. I found myself trying to support my younger sister who wasn’t sure she wanted the principal job in the first place. In this process of trying to be supportive, the irony and the wonder of it all hit me. The rainbow—a sign of God’s covenant AND a sign of God’s unconditional love for ALL people. Did the LGBTQ community choose the rainbow with Genesis in mind? Probably not, but maybe God smiles at the coincidence.  God’s love knows no bounds.        
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio
  
 September 11, 2025 - Bent Over
 
  There appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over, unable to stand up straight. —Luke 13.11
 
 I wonder, what cripples a spirit?  What are the things that cause a person to not stand up straight? For me, I suspect these are forms of oppression—often the usual suspects—racism, poverty, sexism, violence, loss of our human dignity.  I also think there are many small ways we bend, or we are bent by others every day. A criticism, a feeling dismissed, a missed opportunity to express thanks, an unheard story, an unconscious bias...a failure to see another with grace. 
 Jesus sees me both when I am bent and when I bend someone else with my words and actions. Both require my awareness and a form of healing, an effort at making things right. Jesus teaches me to be sensitive and alert to the ways I bend others, to learn from my mistakes and change my behavior.  He also teaches me how to stand up straight. It is important that I remember who I am as his beloved daughter. While my wounds make me compassionate to the wounds of others, answering his invitation to stand up straight is important so I can be part of Christ’s body calling others to their full stature as children of God. We all stand up together.                                                   
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio
 
September 12, 2025 - Making Peace with our Ancestors and our Younger Selves
 
I helped lead a retreat at the Mercy Center recently. Our theme was Our Sacred Stories. One of the meaningful activities we did together was a ritual in which participants were invited to make peace with a younger part of themselves or with a parent or relative. It is interesting to ponder what it means to make peace with someone who has hurt us, or to make peace with a part of us we are ashamed of or dislike. Forgiveness isn’t cheap, and it isn’t forced. Sometimes love asks us to hold our anger and hurt long enough to understand it — to “metabolize” it — and then to release it into God’s hands. We consider those who may have made bad decisions that affected us, those who lacked the skills or resources to give us what we needed.  How do we mend our hurts and our hearts?  There is a way to hold our hurts gently, but loosely; to be open to healing even as a part of us might want to hold onto resentment—to hold it like one might hold a butterfly that will fly, with God’s grace, when the time is right. 
At the retreat, we put the things we were ready to leave behind in a symbolic fire of candle lights. We named them and gently gave them back to God to mend for us.
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio
 
 September 13 2025 - Awe and Wonder
 
Last week I watched an interview with William Shatner and Neil deGrasse Tyson. William Shatner, now 94, is the famous actor who portrayed James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series. Neil deGrasse Tyson, 66, is an equally famous astrophysicist, author, and was director of the Hayden Planetarium. They have a new live show called The Universe is Absurd. The two are close friends, and their affection for each other during the interview was tangible and endearing as they laughed and bantered playfully. What struck me most was the sheer joy that Shatner expressed about what he was learning, late in life, about quantum physics and the mystery of the cosmos. DeGrasse Tyson, who has a greater grasp of the science, was no less joyful about the awe and wonder of the universe and its deep, inherent spirituality. 
 
Standing under a blanket of stars at night, listening to an owl’s cry or watching the moon rise is always a deeply spiritual experience for me. I am grateful that science leads us to more wonder and appreciation for God’s miracles of life and time and space, that two seasoned men can share their love and wonder, and that three astronauts were moved to read from the Book of Genesis from the lunar orbit on Christmas Eve in 1968 because nothing else was fitting.
Renee Regacho-Anaclerio
 
 September 14, 2025 -  God so Loved the World
The Gospel reading from John 3:16 was the first verse I memorized as a child. God so loved the world” automatically flows into “that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”  I was raised Lutheran, and I’m not sure if the “penal substitutionary atonement” I was exposed to was preached or whether I absorbed it from some of my born-again protestant friends. However I received it and by college it started to unravel. I just couldn’t fathom a loving God being a punishing God who needed to send his child to die… I didn’t have a deeper theological context, nor a Hebrew understanding of sacrifice.  Over the years, John 3:16 continues to be a beloved verse.  If I were to try to paraphrase my understanding now, it would go something like this:
God so loved the world that he gave himself in human form, came to us in vulnerability, to show us unconditional love, to show us nothing can separate us from Godself. God came as Jesus to teach us how to love, came to us as lowly and poor, came to us as an undocumented refugee escaping Herod, came to turn my value system upside down, came as Love Incarnate.                                                               Renee Regacho-Anaclerio

September 1, 2025 - To Belong
            By American standards I have a below average sized wardrobe.  This includes eight cycling jerseys.  One was a gift, two were purchased because they represent an interest, the rest were acquired in support of fund-raising activities for medicine related causes.  All of them express a desire to be part of a group, that is, to belong.  I’ve had this desire for a long time. I wondered why that is true when the only person I really need to belong to is God and by extension his Catholic faith community.    
            Growing up in a neighborhood where I didn’t look or sound like many of my grammar school classmates caused me to look for groups where I stood out:  the swimmers, the smart kids, an interest in science, all of which set me apart.  Hidden in that search for identity I realize now was also a desire to know what God expected of me.  In high school I gravitated to the smart kids and realized that although smart, I didn’t belong there either.  Not until I reached graduate school, became involved with a Catholic student community, making lifelong friends, did I know that I had found where I belonged.  
            My desire to belong is not unique.  My task is to provide those younger than I with a safe, honest, and compassionate place for them to discover where they belong and what God wants of them, and to accept that decision lovingly and serve them if I can.
Ray Frink
 
 September 2, 2025 - Pass What I Know
            Roman Totenberg was a concert violinist who arrived in the U.S. from Poland in 1938 to pursue a distinguished career playing his 1734 Stradivarius.   The violin was stolen and lost for 40 years.  It was finally recovered and returned to his 3 daughters.  Instead of selling the instrument to a collector knowing that the violin would likely never be played again, they sold it for a lesser amount to a “angel”, an unknown buyer, with the provision that young, skilled, successful violinists could use the violin for years at a time, then pass it to the next generation.   In this story I recognized the call to me to use three of the Spirits gifts: wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.  The daughters had the knowledge that they possessed a unique musical instrument.   They also had the wisdom and understanding that their father, who also taught violin, would never want the voice of a Stradivarius to be silenced.  They chose to forgo great profit to ensure that generations will hear the music that a skilled musician can create.  I have knowledge, some wisdom, and I hope much understanding to pass on to others.   My gifts are different from Roman Totenberg’s.  We are all parts of one body of Christ.  Roman Totenberg’s skill was making a Stradivarius sing and allowing the listener to experienced that joy.  My skill is primarily science and medicine.  I pray each day for the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to pass what I know to future generations.
Ray Frink
 
 September 3, 2026 - Spokes on a Wheel
“If God’s love for me is the hub of the wheel of my life, then that love must radiate in all directions.” (Ray Frink).
 Fate asked me to care for a 1923 Model T Ford.  It was purchased by my family new and passed down.  It has wood spoke wheels and I recently rebuilt one.   Checking the spokes on all the wheels involves making sure they are not cracked, loose, or dried out.   If one spoke is damaged, that can compromise the integrity of the wheel.   This fact struck me as important for my faith in action.  The spokes of the wheel work together to distribute the load it must bear. Each of the twelve spokes carries an equal amount of stress.  If one fails, they will all fail eventually.   God’s love that I radiate equally through the spokes of my life are just like my wood wheels. My love of family, of friends, of fellow parishioners, of neighbors, of strangers, is all drawn from the same source.  If I fail to love in one spoke of life, all are at risk of failure.  The order of importance is which spoke needs the most love and strength.  The other spokes for a moment are lessened and each in turn becomes most important.   My faith in action has different needs of love at different moments, while I continue to share the boundless love from God that I have. This is the proper ordering of love.
Ray Frink
 
 September 4, 2025 - Bath Water
            “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water”, is an expression most people have heard.  It advises us not to discard something valuable when trying to eliminate something perceived as undesirable.  This 500 year old advice permeates many aspects of my faith life and community life.   I am at risk of becoming an untrusting and skeptical believer and citizen.  Personally, I am steeped in the scientific method and trust science.  I am equipped to evaluate scientific opinion and can more easily discard lies. I trust my physicians and scientific leaders who have demonstrated both knowledge and wisdom.   I trust my spiritual leaders because I know some of them personally and have observed the consistency of their faith in action.  I extend this to leaders of the Catholic faith because I believe the Holy Spirit moves in the Catholic Church, I can see the consistency of which I speak, and they demonstrate knowledge and wisdom.   Peter says in John 6:6-8: “Lord to whom shall we go.  You have the words of eternal life.”
            I view the world through Jesus’s eyes with love of God and love of neighbor.   Matthew 5: 17-20: “Do not think I come to abolish the Law and the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill”.  As I move through turbulent times in my Church and in my country, I remember that I must have courage, be kind, loving, merciful and should never throw the baby out with the bath water.  
Ray Frink
 
 September 5, 2025 - Change
            “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”  (James Baldwin) Is this a reflection on my Catholic faith right now?  What does it mean to be Catholic in the 21^st century?   Is it the prosperity gospel or Jesus’ gospel?  Is it the status quo, a return to pre-Vatican II Catholicism, or something different?   What is the role of women in the Catholic church?  Is this a call for Catholics to read the entirety of Matthew 19 and live it?  
            I don’t have the answers to these questions.  I know that every day when I ask, Lord, what are we going to do today, I often feel confused and powerless. I make a silent prayer, read the scripture for the day and start with the simple things of life.  I make sure my partner is cared for, my house is in order literally and figuratively, and I seek opportunities to be of service.  I ask myself when did I last check on my sister, my close friends, make a charitable donation, or act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God (Micah 6:8).  If I know there is the near occasion for sin, how do I change course to avoid that. 
            I know I am not alone in these moments.  I hope that whoever reads this and feels similarly recognizes kinship that they are not alone.  Only issues that are faced can be changed and the Spirit is with me all along the way.
Ray Frink
 
 September 6, 2025 - Why?
            One of the riskiest questions for a trial attorney to ask is ‘Why”.  It is also risky for me.  Why do I believe what I do? Why do I feel this way?  Why am I afraid?  Why is it difficult to let go of the past?  Asking the question ’Why? is risky because it exposes me to a new line of reasoning.   I can cause myself to have to rethink a position I am comfortable with or more commonly for me, to seek greater knowledge and wisdom about many difficult topics.  Why is there homelessness when California has the 4^th largest economy in the world?  Why is there food insecurity in an agriculturally productive state like California?  Why are abortions sought?  Why do immigrants leave their native countries?    Why are people addicted to power, wealth, and chemicals?  Why can’t we find common ground to address these questions?   I do not expect there to be simple answers because the most loving answers are typically not simple. 
            Jesus asked why many times.  Why do you doubt?  Why are you afraid?  Why are you here?  Why must I go through this suffering?  The answer is in Scripture.   Jesus often asked rhetorical questions; questions for which he knew the answer.   Jesus wants me to reflect on my life in prayer and reading.  These are conduits for the Holy Spirit to reveal my fears and doubts and how I can face them, discovering the answer to ‘why’ in the process.
Ray Frink  
 
 September 7, 2025 - Common Good
             I have always wanted to live a life where I could help make the ‘common good’ common.   This journey started when I became a lifeguard at 15 years old blessed with skill as a swimmer, moxie, and luck via the Holy Spirit.  I took every opportunity to be the watchful eye.  I was able to attend college and graduate school where I envisioned a career as a scientist, finding new and creative ways to combat viral infections.   The Holy Spirit prodded me to do something different and, blessing me with a supportive spouse, led me to apply to medical school at a time when rejection was more common than acceptance.   In hindsight I can say the Holy Spirit was whispering to me to change course and would not leave me alone.
            Change course I did and after 8 more years, I embarked on a career that involved me in the lives of thousands of patients in an intimate role of listening, thinking, caring, curing, counseling, and consoling.   I was given opportunities to take the meaning of the common good in Catholic teaching and combine it with these traits to occasionally do something extraordinary.  In retirement I hope I have continued to help make the ‘common good’ common.  I see in the parishioners of SSPP and many vibrant Catholic faith communities, that the ‘common good’ is common.  The Holy Spirit speaks to us all at SSPP and calls us to the common good.
Ray Frink  

August 25, 2025 – Unplug
A few months ago, I saw a news story about a high school girls’ softball team who made a bold choice—they traded in their smartphones for flip phones and committed to a month without social media. One of the girls had an MRI at the start of the month, then another when it ended. The results were remarkable: her brain showed increased blood flow and signs of dopamine rebalancing—similar to what happens when someone withdraws from a powerful drug. Social media’s endless likes, comments, and notifications are designed to hook us, giving us tiny hits of pleasure that keep us coming back for more.
In Scripture, we see Jesus regularly “unplugging.” He spent 40 days in the desert and often slipped away from the crowds to be alone with His Father in prayer. If the Son of God needed that time of stillness and renewal, how much more do we? When Sarah and I were on vacation, our time away from the constant pull of social media left us deeply refreshed. Lord, thank You for showing us that rest, silence, and connection with You are not luxuries; they are necessities for the soul.                                                             Kurt Peterson
 
August 26, 2024 – Love your Enemy,
Jesus’ command to love our enemies can feel distant when we picture it only in the context of Roman soldiers and ancient oppression. In today’s world, we may not face occupying armies, but we do live in a deeply polarized society. Political divisions, social disagreements, and cultural differences can turn neighbors into “enemies” in our minds. Sometimes, those who simply think differently than we do become targets of our frustration or disdain. Yet, Jesus’ words still apply—perhaps even more urgently now. Loving our enemies does not mean agreeing with them or excusing harmful actions. It means seeing them as people made in God’s image, with hopes, struggles, and worth equal to our own. It calls me to listen, to seek understanding before judgment, and to respond with kindness when I am met with hostility. This love is not a feeling but a choice—a decision to reflect God’s grace in a world that thrives on division. When I love those I disagree with, I disrupt the cycle of anger and show a better way, the way of Christ. In doing so, we can all become peacemakers in a fractured world.                                             Kurt Peterson
 
 
August 27, 2025 – I Left My Heart
Recently Sarah and I went to San Francisco to visit our son, Spencer, who was there for a music festival with friends. I think the last time we were in “The City” was before the pandemic but being there again that day was wonderful. First, we were with our son. Second, the weather was perfect. And lastly, all our old haunts were still there.
My family, on my dad’s side, was from San Francisco, so it has always held a special place in my heart. One of Spencer’s friends had never been to the city before, so we got to play tour guide. From Fort Point, looking up at the top of the Golden Gate Bridge disappearing into the fog, to the beautiful grounds of the Palace of Fine Arts, to the smells, sights, and sounds of Chinatown and North Beach, the voice of Tony Bennett rang in my head.
On that day, its golden sun truly did shine for us.                                                                                         
Kurt Peterson
 
August 28, 2025 – Love Is a One-way Street
In John 3:16, we are given the clearest picture of God’s love: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that anyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” This verse reveals a love that is pure, selfless, and sacrificial. St. Thomas Aquinas described love as “willing the good of the other.” True love seeks the other’s good without expecting anything in return. It is a one-way street pouring out of oneself for the benefit of another.
God’s love for us is exactly that. He did not wait for humanity to deserve it; He acted first, giving the greatest gift He could offer—His Son—knowing that some would reject Him. A relationship may require mutual exchange but love itself does not demand repayment. Love simply gives, without keeping score, without holding back.
This kind of love challenges me. It calls me to love others even when it is not convenient, appreciated, or returned. It means choosing generosity over self-interest, forgiveness over resentment, and sacrifice over comfort. When I love in this way, I reflect God’s heart to the world—a love that flows freely, endlessly, and without condition.                                         
Kurt Peterson

August 29, 2025 – Removing Bamboo
If you have ever tried to remove bamboo from your yard, you know how insidious it is. Sin can be a lot like trying to remove bamboo. On the surface, you might think you’ve gotten rid of it—just like when we think a sinful habit is gone because we’ve stopped for a while. But underneath, deep in the soul like bamboo’s rhizomes beneath the soil, roots remain. These roots—memories, habits, attachments—store the energy for sin to return. Even the smallest piece left behind can sprout again, sometimes stronger than before.
That’s why half-hearted efforts aren’t enough. Just as bamboo requires deep digging and care to remove all the rhizomes, sin requires a deep, honest examination of my heart. I can’t simply trim the visible stalks and think the problem is gone; I must allow God to reach the hidden places.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is God’s way of digging deep for us. In confession, we name our sins, admit our weakness, and receive grace to heal the roots. God’s mercy is not just a quick pruning—it’s a cleansing of the soil of our souls. Without it, sin will quickly return. But with it, I can live a freer, more fruitful life, knowing the Master Gardener has cleared the ground and planted something new in its place.                                                           
Kurt Peterson
 
August 30, 2025 – Forks in the Road
It was the summer of 1967, and I was about to start high school as a freshman. My friend Ron came over to my house and said he was heading to our brand-new high school—Branham High—to try out for the marching band. He asked if I wanted to come along. I wasn’t signed up for any activities yet, so I told him I’d go. The band teacher, Pete Reinheimer, was only 22 years old and just starting his teaching career. Ron played flute and clarinet, so he tried out for the wind section. I didn’t play any instrument, so Pete looked at me and said, “We’ll have you play drums.” And just like that, I became a drummer.
The following year, our band teacher encouraged seven of us to try out for the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps. The Vanguard was still relatively new, and back then, if you had a pulse, you made the corps. That summer day in 1967 set me on a path that changed my life forever. Being part of something bigger than myself taught me teamwork, discipline, and the value of working hard toward a goal. We pushed ourselves every year, and by 1970 we were national champions and by 1971 we became world champions. 
Recently, five of us, from the Branham Bunch, reunited over Zoom to talk about old times, new times, and everything in between. We even invited our old band teacher to join us. We talked for over two hours, and when we wrapped up, he told us how proud he was of us and the lives we are living now. You never really know what life has in store. If I had told Ron “no” that day, I would never have had the life I have now.                                                                        
Kurt Peterson
 
August 31, 2025 – His Hands
I like doing things with my hands—whether drumming, working in the yard, cooking, or building something from imagination. My dad was the same way. He worked on cars, built furniture, and loved creating. I remember once, after a trip to Mexico, helping him tile our home inside and out. Now, when I work with my hands, I sometimes look down and see his hands in mine. It’s both strange and comforting, a reminder that part of him lives on through me.
This makes me think of Jesus, who was a carpenter before His ministry. He also worked with His hands—shaping wood, building, and creating. But more than that, He built lives, relationships, and hope. When we serve, build, or create with our hands, we are following His example. Just as I see my father’s presence in my own hands, we can also see Jesus in our lives when we act with His love. The work of our hands becomes a reflection of His work in the world. And one day, when others see kindness, service, or love in what I do, they may see the hands of Christ in me also.                                                       Kurt Peterson
 

August 18, 2025 - Could’a, Would’a, Should’a
The words we say during the Confiteor at mass include the words “…I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do…”. I tend to concentrate on the “done” sins and not so much on the “failed to do”.  In particular I think about the situations I could have responded with actions, donations or even prayers and I find reasons to not respond.  I could have-but I forgot.  I would have- but I had something else to do (wash the car?).  I should have-but….any number of reasons.   I have to remember that sin also occurs when I omit doing “what Jesus would do”, and what I am called to do by my profession of faith and identifying myself as a Christian.  Lord Jesus help me to put away the “could’a, would’a, should’a” and embrace the “just do it”.                           Deacon David
 
August 19, 2024 – It’s a Process
Many wise people have contributed their wisdom to my education over my eight decades. One of those to whom I’ve often referred, Sr. Joan Chittister, recently referred to her vocation and to vocations in general as not coming to her or others like a bolt out of the blue but as a process, a “hard, slow process”.  When I think about that I don’t confine my thoughts of “vocation” to those of Sisters, Brothers or Priests but also all of us who  embrace the vocations of wives, husbands, caregivers or any and all occupations.  And, speaking from experience, I can attest to good times as well as hard times in the process of being a husband, father, parole agent, Christian and deacon.  There are the days when, at the end of the day, I think “..it ain’t easy” as well as the times I think “..job well done”.   Jesus, true man, shared these human experiences we have and modelled for us how to experience and enjoy life by living a life of love and service to all, no exceptions.  He, like us, got tired and needed time to rest because his mission was “a hard, slow process”.  Lord, help me to accept the process as you did, with persistence and love.                                    
Deacon David
 
August 20, 2025 -  I’m Fine
People ask me how I’m doing now that I’ve retired.  I’d like to be able to get away with saying something like “I’m fine” but, truth is, life has changed substantially.  I have more leisure time to spend reading or doing things that I’d put off doing around the house but, truthfully, I miss some of the activities I engaged in at the parish (not, however, staff meetings).  When I retired from my career as a parole agent I didn’t miss the work.   There is an element of love in being a deacon which gives that “job” a different perspective.  While I loved being with the parishioners more actively it was getting harder, both physically and mentally, to continue.   I’m still involved along with Jane in some ministries and will continue to help where I am able.  So the answer I respond with to the question in the first sentence above will continue to be longer than the pro forma “I’m fine” although I am fine.  I love you, I miss you. How are you?                     Deacon David
 
August 21,2025 – Compassion
It is becoming more and more difficult to watch the TV news (as it has been since at least COVID) but the ongoing and unrelenting stories of immense suffering and starvation in the Gaza region of Israel, the casualties of war in the Ukraine, and ongoing domestic concerns for the hungry and unhoused here at home batter me day after day.   So I, and I’m sure you too, are faced with the ongoing question of “…what can I do?”.  That question itself means that we are a compassionate people.    Jesus modelled compassion for us in the various parables dealing with pain and hunger and he used those parables to teach how to respond.  Many in our community respond by volunteering in various ministries to serve the poor, hungry and unhoused.  That is good!   But…while meeting the present needs of others the root problems persist and that is where compassion kicks in.    Compassion means more than feeling sorry for but, truly, suffering along with.  History has given us examples of people who did that: Dorothy Day lived with the poverty stricken calling, by her action, attention to what people were enduring and challenging the government and other people to respond.  Likewise, for Ghandi and Mandela and that unnamed solo man who faced off the might of the Chinese military.  Jesus most likely played a part in each of these people’s responses.  So: what can I do? Pray. Give of myself. Live simply. Write a letter.  Pray. WWJD?                               
Deacon David
 
August 22, 2025 - You Get What You Pay For
Jane and I like bargains and “good deals” as do many people we know.  We look for quality and reasonable prices but sometimes, mostly from a pop up on the phone or computer, we go for the “unbeatable” price of the item(s).  I, for instance, saw nice looking men’s dress shoes at $50 a pair so I ordered a black and a brown pair paying less for two than I’d pay for one only in a shoe store. They pinched my toes and were uncomfortably stiff so off to St. Vincent de Paul they have gone.  A $100 lesson.  We have each worked in RCIA/OCIA   for over 35 years and have seen many people go through the process and many times get a question such as “…how long will this take?”.  The only answer that I can give, a very unsatisfactory one, is “…it takes as long as it takes”.   At the end of the journey, those who stay often say something to the effect that they learned so much and developed close relationships with their sponsors, other participants and teachers that they could not imagine not having gone through it in the way it is designed.  I too am a “convert”, pre RCIA, who was accepted for baptism by a priest with whom I’d met with for three months of chats. Truly I knew virtually nothing about the whys and wherefores of the Catholic religion and I can say that I am still learning about Jesus and our Church 65 years later.   Present day catechumens and candidates are getting what they are paying for in terms of knowing the Catholic faith by participating in the OCIA process, however long it takes.  Pray for them.                                     
Deacon David
 
August 23, 2025 – Listen
Many of us who write these daily reflections have written about the most important part of prayer: listening.   I don’t mean to rehash what has already been said but I have to tell you that this is one of the things that I constantly struggle with because, as I’ve said about myself I “should” practice what I preach.  During child raising I’d often ask something like “…are you listening to me?” of my children when it was obvious I wasn’t being listened to.  The shoe is now on the other foot when it comes to praying and I imagine God chastising me for NOT listening to him.  But “…I’m trying” or “I’m too tired” or whatever rationale I come up with (as my children did) at the time doesn’t cut it.  In reading the lives of the Saints it is often related how they’d spend hours, or more, in prayer while I allot perhaps a few minutes at a time in my prayer.  Oh, I thank God or ask God or praise God or struggle to find things to say but, I admit, I spend little time in listening for God.  I know God responds in his own way and in the best way for me, whether I agree or not.  So, please God, forgive me again.   Amen.
Deacon David
 
August 24, 2025 – Journey
Three readings in today’s mass spoke to me of what it has meant over the millennia not only to worship God but to serve God.  I think of my early years as a practicing Catholic having been satisfied with mass on Sunday and prayers before meals and bedtime.  I was, perhaps, the sort of person in Luke’s gospel today who responded to Jesus while on his journey to Jerusalem, saying “We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets”.  They, and I, were passive participants in the journey.  Jesus asks me not  just to be there but to join in the work of proclaiming the good news.  Yes, I do eat and drink of his body and blood at mass but am called to carry on with his mission to ALL people from east and west, north and south, to be known by Jesus and not to hear the words “I do not know where you are from.”  When my journey ends will I hear the Lord say “welcome” or “depart from me.”  It is up to me to use the gifts I receive from the Word of God, the gift of the eucharist and the gift of those who have shared the reality of the good news with me.  My prayer is that you will join me on this active journey.                                                                         Deacon David

Aug. 11, 2025- Making the Bed
Do you make your bed every day?  I was taught to do it as a child and so was my husband, so we never questioned doing it once we were married.  Since we typically get out of the bed at the same time, the job is even easier.  It gives us a sense of satisfaction that even though chaos may reign throughout other parts of our house, our bed is neat and tidy.  If for some reason one of us is sick and the bed doesn’t get made, something feels “off”.
I feel the same way about mealtime prayer.  It doesn’t feel “right” to start eating without first saying a prayer.  If my husband and I are eating with people who don’t pray, we grab each other’s hands, bow our heads, and say a silent prayer.   It wouldn’t feel “right” unless we did.
Thank you, God, for the habits which draw us closer to you.  Help us develop more of them!
Darcy Wharton
 
Aug. 12, 2025- The Prayers of Many
Many years ago, I was attending a retreat at Mercy Center in Auburn.  I had the opportunity to witness some of the Mercy sisters in residence as they each wrote a prayer on the back of a brick.  All of the retreat attendees were invited to do the same.  The director of the center told us that these bricks were going to be part of a labyrinth that was being built.  In fact, she invited us to lay our brick (prayer side down) to help form the path.  Knowing that I would someday walk that very labyrinth, I placed my brick in a spot that I would remember.
Nearly every time I visit, I think of the many hands that formed that labyrinth and the hundreds of people who have since walked it with deep prayer intentions.  It makes me consider how often I am walking the paths that others have set.  Who were our forefathers (and mothers) in faith?  Who were the hands that fashioned the house in which I live?  Or the farmers and factory workers whose hands have made my dinner possible?
Thank you, God, for those who have contributed in countless ways to enrich our lives.
Darcy Wharton
 
 Aug. 13, 2025- The Gift of Slowing Down
My husband and I travelled to Italy a couple of months ago.  It was beautiful in so many ways.  One thing we realized is that meals there are not rushed.  The idea of “fast food” would likely repel most Italians.   Whether it was in a restaurant or in our villa (hotel), meals were relaxed and filled with conversation sprinkled with laughter.  We were travelling with 18 people we hadn’t met before but by the end of the trip, we felt like we all knew each other quite well.
In our world which seems to be increasingly fast paced, perhaps I can remember that there is goodness in slowing down.  I can slow down when eating, making decisions, and even waiting in lines.  As Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ wrote, “trust in the slow work of God.”  If God works slowly, then perhaps I can do the same!
Darcy Wharton
 
Aug. 14, 2025- The Gift of Pause
Yesterday I wrote about slowing down.  Today I’m pondering the need to pause.  I recently attended a retreat with Terry Hershey, a well-known speaker.  His topic was The Power of Pause.  After spending a good portion of his life as an overworked pastor who also was demanding of his staff and parishioners, he felt God nudging him to significantly change.  He now speaks of finding God in his garden, in giving sermons to any local wildlife that will listen, and the importance of finding places where we can take a deep breath, relax our shoulders, and settle into peace.
One of my takeaways is that we don’t have to radically change our lives to find peace.  He discussed creating and recognizing “portals” that help us transition from busyness to calmness.  Maybe it’s turning on the light switch before settling into a favorite chair.  Or changing our clothes before stepping into the garden.  These portals can help us prayerfully prepare for an encounter with God.
Loving God, help us look for moments in our ordinary day when we can pause to spend a moment with you.
Darcy Wharton
 
 Aug. 15, 2025- Blessed Are You Among Women
Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This year, it is a Holy Day of Obligation and we are celebrating Mass at 8:30 AM and 6:30 PM. Over the years, I have fielded questions from people who are seeking to understand the reason for the Church’s emphasis on Mary.    While this could be answered differently by individual Catholics, the Church has long held that Mary’s role in our salvation is too important to be overlooked.  As early as the 5^th century, believers began celebrating Mary’s birth into heaven.  In 1950, the dogma regarding the Assumption of Mary became official.
Perhaps the greater question is determining what role Mary plays in our own spiritual lives.  My own relationship with Mary was forged in childhood as I created a little grotto in my grandmother’s yard.  She has been my constant companion and spiritual mother.   
Blessed Mary, watch over us and keep us close to your Son.
Darcy Wharton
 
Aug. 16, 2025-
A Humble Servant
There are so many parishioners who exemplify humble service.  One such person was Milton Goes.  As a parishioner since 1997, Milton and his wife immediately became active parishioners.  It didn’t take long before Milton volunteered his skills as an architect and as a woodworker.   There are several items in the church that Milton either created or improved through his craftsmanship.  He was frequently seen on the grounds and always greeted everyone with a warm smile and handshake.  For the women, a kiss on the hand.  
I cannot remember a time when he was anything but a gentleman, willing to provide service whenever asked.  He would even bring ice cream to the parish staff as a way of thanking us for our work.   
Loving God, our parish is completely dependent on volunteers.  Thank you for encouraging us to use our gifts in the service of all.   And thank you for Milton, a shining example of humility in action.
Darcy Wharton
 
 Aug. 17, 2025- Setting the World on Fire
Jesus tells us in Luke’s gospel that He came to “set the world on fire”.  One commentary indicates that Jesus' expression of eagerness for the fire to be kindled reflects his deep desire for the world to experience God's transformative power. It is a call to recognize the urgency of the present time and respond to the message of the Gospel.  Jesus’ next line is that he has come “not to establish peace but rather division”.  That particular line has always been hard for me to hear.
Jesus’ words are just as applicable today as when He walked the earth.  Division seems to exist in every aspect of human life- in society, families, organizations, and politics.  Jesus seems to be calling me to put Him before anything else, even if that adds to a sense of division.
Loving God, purify me through the fire of your transforming love, and help me to always put you first.
Darcy Wharton

August 4, 2025 – Treasure
 
The first time I felt the sacredness of land was when I traveled to Chiapas, Mexico on a service immersion trip with my students.   What I learned from the people with whom we lived and worked, was that the land was much more than their work or a means to nourish their bodies…it was tied to their spirit.  As such, living and working on the land was a vehicle of prayer for the campesino farmers and their families.  
 
I find myself longing to travel to places where I find a similar encounter of God’s presence.  Whether it be driving to the coast, through the National Parks, or a road trip to Montana, I have found this same connectedness to the land.  Awe and wonder become a prayer as I float on the river, hit the hiking trail, or as I let my feet settle into the sand at the break of the ocean waves. 
“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Luke 12:34).  
-Katie Maynard
 
 
August 5, 2025 – Superglue
 
In my house it is commonplace to find a tube of superglue on the counter from a recent “fix-it” job.  It all comes from my husband’s loving desire to make all things new again; from the tiniest crack in a favorite toy, to a broken handle on a ceramic jug…our girls have come to believe that superglue can fix almost anything.
 
My grandparents were like superglue – from our cracks and fissures, they made all things new. As my grandfather spent this past summer in hospice care, we tried to imagine what our lives would be like without him…and when he passed away just last week, it felt as though I might fall apart.  Not singularly from his passing, but as the last of my grandparents passed away, I wondered if the glue would hold without anyone from that generation to patch me up.
 
My consolation rests in knowing that our faith in eternal life affirms my daughters’ faith in superglue.  You see, the love of a grandparent mirrors the love of God, which can fix almost anything and it never fails.
-Katie Maynard
 
 August 6, 2025 – Broken, Calloused and Worn
 
I have always loved walking into used bookstores, usually with no agenda but to wander through the aisles, run my fingers over the book’s broken spines and flip through their worn pages.  Personally, I have a hard time getting rid of the books on my shelves …perhaps because they represent rare corners of stillness and the gift of being immersed in a story or new ideas.
 
As my parents went through my grandfather’s belongings after his passing, it was clear that he had a similar inability to pass his books along as they were a treasured possession.  Many of the books went to the used bookstore in town, and some of them were passed along to family members.  I couldn’t wait to hold the same book, turning the same pages that took my grandfather to his own space of peace and quiet.  I thought too about the hands that held these books…hands that were once calloused by the labor of forestry and hard work, to the fragile and wrinkled hands of his age.  
 
Our lives are beautiful stories with broken spines, worn pages, held by calloused and fragile hands.  And within lies the most incredible space of beauty, peace and stillness…Be still and know that I am God.
-Katie Maynard
    
August 7, 2025 – The First, Wildest and Wisest Thing
 
A dear friend once spoke to me about the ways in which she used simple everyday tasks as a way to find prayer.  With so little time for quiet prayer in my life these days, I began to see some of the chores and tasks that often leave me exasperated, as opportunities for prayer.  
 
For instance, as I fold laundry, I say a prayer for each person in my family.  The laundry is not so tiny as it used to be, so I pray for the health of their growing bodies, minds and spirits, and for their safety: that their clothing may be comfort and even armor.  As I drive us to and from all things, I pray not only for the safety of our travels, but the lyrics of the songs we listen to on the radio often become a prayer.  
 
Mary Oliver said, “This is the first, the wildest thing, and wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.”  I have found that praying in this way helps me to push back on the anxiety of frenetic pace by embracing a loving attention.
-Katie Maynard
 
 
August 8, 2025 – Salinity
 
This past summer when we road tripped through Utah’s “Mighty Five” National Parks, erosion was definitely the common thread.   At each visitor center and on every hike, we witnessed the ways in which salt, wind and water carve and shape the rock and landscape.  With layers of sandstone striped rocks, arches, canyons, domes and hoodoos (look it up), we were in constant awe and wonder at the incredible and creative power of nature.  
 
Salt, in particular, proved to be a surprising player in the erosion game…from salt flats, to solution pockets in the rocks, it made me think of the centrality that salt plays in our own lives and in our faith.  Mahatma Ghandi marched with thousands to the sea to make their own salt as a means of protest to an oppressive British rule: an economic protest, but also a symbolic one, as salt is critical for survival.  
 
Our faith calls us to be salt and light: flavoring and enhancing the world around us by our life and love.  
-Katie Maynard
 
 August 9, 2025 –Tenacity
 
Deserts, by definition, receive very little rain, making water scarcity a significant challenge for plants and animals in the region.   Temperature extremes, limited vegetation, and harsh sunlight further contribute to the difficulties…yet despite these obstacles, “life hangs on with tenacity.”  We saw this quote at the Arches National Park visitor center, as the exhibit detailed the adaptations of the desert’s flora and fauna.  It was incredible to see the roots of trees arching and clamoring on the rocks, or singular flowers growing from the crevices tolerating the doubts and finding nourishment where they could.
 
In today’s gospel we hear Jesus say that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible.  So, when I find myself in the desert of my own life: a dry prayer life, isolation, hopelessness…with the faith of a mustard seed, I hang on with tenacity. 
-Katie Maynard
 
  
August 10, 2025 – Hope, Wait and Turn Around
 
On our last day in Zion National Park, we awoke extremely early to watch the sunrise.  After hiking in the dark, we arrived at the canyon overlook, found a spot on the rocks and waited.  With towering red rocks and mountains surrounding us, we waited for quite some time for the sun to peak over the mountain, although we kept getting hints of it…as if the sun was teasing us, casting a glow over us as we watched shadows lowering down the length of the cliffs and reflections sparkling in the distance.  And then, finally, the light grew stronger and brighter over the edge of the peak and we began to see the shape of the sun.  It was an incredible sight to see; then we turned around to look back across the canyon and saw the light pouring across the landscape and illuminating the canyon.   It was breathtaking.
 
This is much like our own faith lives: to walk the path of Christ, sometimes stumbling in the darkness of our own choices, to hope and wait for the light, all-the-while getting hints of its power and grace, and then to bask in its glow.  But even that is not the end…we turn around and see what our lives have left behind…the sun revealing its existence and it is breathtaking.
-Katie Maynard


July 28, 2025 - Where Is God? 

As a child I was schooled on the Baltimore Catechism which used a question-and-answer format to teach the beliefs of the Catholic Church. One of the first questions was: where is God? The answer was: God is everywhere. I came to realize that this meant God was within me also. But where? I puzzled over which body part might be God. Was he hidden within my body just like my heart was? I couldn’t see my heart, but I knew approximately where it was in my body. Then I wondered if God might be that little round dot that floated around in front of my eyes when I closed them. Much later as an adult I was reading Paul’s second epistle to the Corinthians when I was overwhelmed with the realization that the spirit of Jesus was fully and totally within me. And that Jesus had to die to release his spirit into the world so that I (we) could have it within me. I was so shaken by the realization that Jesus’s very spirit was in me in a real way that I went into the kitchen for a glass of water and saw that the dishwasher needed loading. As I stuck my shaking hand into a glass to rinse it, it broke and cut the back of my hand. I still have that little scar on my hand as a reminder that Jesus is within me, including in that little scar. Jane Haproff  

July 29, 2025 - God Is Love 

The novel Babel is about the literal power of words. In this Sci-Fi novel, words with opposite meanings are engraved on two sides of silver bricks; the idea being that the tension between the opposites creates an energy force akin to magic. It can change minds, and destroy things as well as heal them, etc. It has set me on a path of thinking about the power of words. As I was praying the words at Mass last week, I was struck by what we were saying when we say: God is love. If we just look at the grammatical construction of that sentence, we’re saying God and love are the same thing. What a remarkable thing to believe! When I experience love, I am actually experiencing God. Yet we use the word “love” so casually in this culture. I love my husband, chocolate, laying on a sunny beach, my children, my friends, reading, watching BBC crime programs, etc. And in each case God is not just there, in some amorphous way but God is really present in that love in a very real and powerful way. And this is not just true for those of us who believe in God’s love and power…it’s true for anyone who loves. Why? Because love is God. The literal power of these words is breath taking for me. 

Jane Haproff 

 July 30, 2025 - God Is So Much More  

As I continue thinking about how we speak of the presence of God I recalled all of the different adjectives besides love we use to describe Him. The responsorial psalm for today says “the Lord is kind and merciful”; we say God is good (all the time!) and that God is merciful, kind, slow to anger, just, gracious and forgiving. These are not just descriptions of how God acts; they are description of what God is, ways in which God makes His presence known. So every time I am kind, merciful, just, etc. I am making God manifest in this world. And when I fail to do so, I obscure the presence of God. Not being a theologian I can’t say exactly that this is sin, but I can ask why wouldn’t it be?  

Louis Evely in That Man Is You wrote many years ago that Jesus was limited in what he could do by his humanity, and the time and place in which he lived. So it is up to me, living in the 21st century, to manifest His presence in the world by acting as He would. Nothing here is new to me. What is new is the realization that relatively ordinary human actions of someone baptized into this body carry an extraordinary responsibility that I used to take just for granted. 

Lord, help me to be your presence in ways and in places I had not earlier fathomed. 

Jane Haproff 

 

July 31, 1015 – As the Spirit Moves 

David and I sleep with the bedroom window open right above our bed. One night as I couldn’t sleep, I lay there watching the breeze stirring the leaves of the bush to the side of the window. Oddly, though, I didn’t feel that breeze right in front of the window. A minute or so later as I felt a gentle breeze blowing in the window I looked out and saw that the leaves of that same bush were not moving at all. I stared out the window for several minutes witnessing this phenomenon repeat itself over and over. I thought about how all of nature responds to the spirit (or the wind) in different ways and at different times. We humans are no different. The spirit moves as it will and we respond differently, sometimes questioning and ignoring, sometimes by being comforted, challenged, or moved to action. But the spirit continues to move over the waters of our lives no matter how we respond, waiting patiently for us to be aware of God’s presence and love. 

Jane Haproff 

August 1, 2025 - More than You Need 

Where was Costco when we were raising a large family? So many things are available there at such good prices and in such great quantity that would have benefited us when our children lived at home. Still it is so easy to see something reasonably priced and pick it up even though it’s more than two people can use, and we have no place for it in our small house. We force ourselves to make a list of needs-only before we go. But that doesn’t stop us from coming home with a thirty-five blue scrubbies, or two loaves of a specialty bread. And the king size jars of things like mayonnaise or ghee?!! So much more than we need. The great abundance of things there came up in conversation recently and someone commented that it reminded them of the abundance of God. At Costco things are packaged in giant sizes, huge boxes and multiples, and isn’t this just how God blesses us, often providing us with more mercy, grace and love than we can imagine? I have found many useful, affordable items at Costco, and now I will recognize the goodness and generosity of God there as well. Jane Haproff 

August 2, 2025 - Imitation 

Recently David and I went out for breakfast. I asked for water and received a wrapped straw with it. I don’t use straws anymore because I hate paper straws and can sip quite easily from a glass. As I reached for the water, I noticed that the vacated booth next to us had r two half empty glasses of water on it, each with a straw in it. Without thinking I unwrapped the straw, placed it in my glass and realized it was plastic. I questioned why I had chosen to use the straw in the first place, when I don’t usually. Then during a family card game my son reached for a glass of water someone had placed next to him, looked puzzled and said: “why did I do that? I’m not thirsty, it was just there, and I drank it”. These examples made me think about why I attend Mass and receive the Sacraments regularly. Even when I am struggling with my faith, it helps to see other people practicing theirs. I am reminded that God doesn’t ask me to feel religious or pious. He asks me to do good no matter how I feel; so when I imitate the actions of good people, I am pleasing Him. And If I can unthinkingly use a straw or drink some water how much more benefit is there in going to Mass out of habit! Jane Haproff 

 

August 3, 2025 - Old Habits Resurrected 

As an adult I left behind some of the faith practices I had learned as a child, but some have returned as I age, only now I have a deeper understanding and appreciation. For example in sixth grade Sister suggested that we prayerfully place our lives on the paten with the Host as the priest offers it up at Mass. She said God would be so aware of his Son that he might not notice me there, but that we would be there with Him anyway. For much of my life I have done this, only now I know that He sees me there with Him too. Another thing I remember from youth is the prayer of the Morning Offering:  

O Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you all of my prayers, works, joys and suffering of this day for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month. 

I hadn’t said this particular prayer for years but have found myself lately saying a truncated version of it almost daily as I awaken. I omit everything after the Mass is mentioned, wanting only to unite myself with Jesus on that paten, and picturing that happening over and over again at every Mass throughout the world, me and Jesus in each other, offering ourselves to the Father. I figure that God knows all those other specific intentions. Jane Haproff 

July 21, 2025 - Daring Greatly
One of my favorite authors, Brene Brown wrote about what it means to “dare greatly”.  She quotes Theodore Roosevelt on how it is the person who is “actually in the arena; who strives valiantly; who errs,” that accomplishes things.  Like  the gladiator who fought valiantly in the arena, I imagine Peter similarly as he stepped out onto the water.  Peter knew he couldn’t walk on water, but he dared to listen to Christ’s call to come to him. Peter dared greatly in the face of what he knew was not possible and followed Christ anyway.   When his faith faltered and he looked down, Christ did not disparage him but pulled him up.  It is such a beautiful image and moment to recall.  
Thank you, Lord, for all of the times when my faith has faltered and I  have looked down when you called me out of the boat.  Thank you for lifting me up and holding me in your grasp knowing despite my errors, that I am still loved and called to follow you.                                                                        
Bianca Hennager
 
July 22, 2025 – Mary Magdalene
Today is the feast of Mary Magdalene – one of my favorite saints.  She is a perfect example of redemption and of how God can use anyone regardless of their sinfulness, status, or story for his ultimate good.  Mary Magdalene was fiercely loyal to Jesus and often was with the Apostles during Jesus’ teachings.  Through Jesus, Mary Magdalene learned that she was worthy of love despite her past.  She was a pivotal person present at Jesus’ crucifixion and his resurrection.  As I reflect on my own sinfulness, I look to Mary Magdalene as a role model of conversion, redemption, and unceasing love for Christ.                                                                                                                                                          
Bianca Hennager
 
July 23, 2025 - Stories Behind the Habit
I recently came across a video clip from Sr. Miriam James Heidland stating “whatever we are addicted to is a trauma response to our sorrowful mysteries.”  It blew me away and set me on course to dive deeper into her story.   She speaks so truthfully and heart-filled it is hard not to be moved.  It spoke to me in such a way that was transformational.  It called me to question how I unveil myself and am vulnerable in ways that for far too long I have hidden away.  How can I work to be vulnerable with those I am in relationships with that embodies the model that Christ set for us? 
Bianca Hennager
 
July 24, 2025 - Hearing vs. Listening
In my life I recognize how I approach different types of communication to be a central area of opportunity for growth for me.  I am great at hearing the spoken words, but not always so good at listening to what they mean or seeing what truly may be at the heart of a situation.   One approach that I have been working on to help me with communication is to ask more questions and make fewer statements.  I am not always good at asking questions and sometimes just want to get to the action needed.  A recent example would be when I asked my teenage son to take out the trash.   Taking out the trash is a daily chore of his and I think  I should not have to remind him to do it.  One particular day I waited until the trash was so full that there was no pushing it down.   As the day drew near to a close, he came into the kitchen and upon seeing it full, he added his little piece of trash and walked away.  Instead of asking him “Could you please take out the trash?” I gave an order “Take the trash out now, please”.  Truthfully, I can’t even say there was a please at the end of the statement as I was a bit annoyed it had gotten that full to begin with.  He took out the trash in a bit of a huff as I was interrupting his video game time and after all he was in the middle of an important battle with a friend.   Though trivial this is an example of how I could work on my communications and listen more carefully to those around me.  
Lord help me to be a seeker of truth; to be able to listen not only to the words others may say, but most importantly to their hearts as they say their words.  Help me to see you in them even when I may be rushed, annoyed, or struggling with my own faults.                                                                              
Bianca Hennager
 
July 25, 2025 - A Love for Service
I don’t know when I developed a love for service or if it was something that was innate in me.   Growing up we were expected to help around the house with small and large projects and to serve one another.   That was not something I always enjoyed but I did it out of obligation.  As I approached junior high the focus became less on projects and more centered on helping the community around us.  One Thanksgiving our family went down to LA Mission to serve dinner to thousands of people who faced poverty on a level I could not even comprehend.   The organization was well run, clean, and everyone there was so helpful.  It made a lasting impression on me that doing simple acts of charity could make a difference in the life of someone else.  I came back home from that experience with gratitude and a deep desire to want to make a difference.  Throughout high school and adulthood, I continued to find ways to serve others.  When I am serving others, it is difficult to be mad at the person I am serving or to judge them.  I only see their smiles and appreciation which fills me with such joy.   I often say I get so much more when I serve than when I am being served.    
Bianca Hennager
 
July 26, 2025 - Nana and Poppa
Today is the feast day of the parents of the Blessed Virgin, Sts. Joachim and Anne.  They are the patron saints of grandparents.  I imagine Mary’s parents playing an active role in Jesus’ formative years as family was central during that time.  I am blessed to have my mom live with us and serve as a role model to our children in daily living.  Additionally, my father-in-law lives locally and loves to join us for Mass.   The relationship I see between my kids and their grandparents is something I never experienced.
I was not as fortunate to grow up with grandparents nearby as we lived on the West Coast and all of our extended family lived on the East Coast.  It was important to me that my kids knew their grandparents more than just on the occasional holiday or once a year visits.   When my grandparents passed away, I remember feeling their loss, but it was a strange feeling; like I knew I lost something but wasn’t sure exactly what it was.  
Lord thank you for the gifts of Nana and Poppa.  Thank you for their presence in the lives of our children, to model their faith and tell their stories.  Thank you for giving us the opportunity to experience generations of living under one roof and how that provides a richness more precious than gold.                                                                                                             Bianca Hennager
 
July 27, 2025  - The Power of Prayer
Prayer is powerful in resetting my heart, taking a necessary pause from acting and having a conversation with God on pressing matters.  I heard prayer explained as a way to help align our beliefs with God’s and if we are not aligned then we need more prayer.  Reflecting on difficult times in my life, I can honestly say that is true; when I was struggling to understand, I found myself praying harder and more often.   I think it is equally important to pray just as much when things are going well and to offer up prayers of gratitude.  Gratitude keeps me rooted in seeing God’s hand in the simple and helps me not to take advantage of the gifts given to me.    Additionally, I believe there is power in asking for prayer from others.  When I ask for prayers from my friends, I often feel a sense of peace that I am not alone in whatever I may be facing and a calmness comes over me that I cannot explain.                                                                       Bianca Hennager

July 14, 2025 - A Spiritual Exercise 
A couple of years ago I experienced the nine-month Spiritual Exercises program offered through the Loyola Institute of Spirituality in Orange, California. This was the 19^th Annotation of the Exercises developed by Ignatius of Loyola for those who cannot be away for the standard 30-day retreat. I highly recommend this experience; as in much of life, it is better done in practice than read about in theory. There were many benefits for my prayer life and relationship with God. One of the primary features was to practice ‘Ignatian imagination' where you, the reader of a Gospel passage, put yourself in the scene as an active participant. So, I did not merely read the scriptures. I took a passage, read it slowly and deliberately and put myself into the story as an observer or one of the characters.  I imagined the smells, the sounds, the voice and look of Jesus, the ‘mood’ among the crowd, and other details. I was no longer a third-party reader; through my imagination, I was part of the unfolding Gospel story. 
One of the scripture passages I remember most was the Gospel reading for the Fifteenth Monday in Ordinary Time. I listened as Jesus told me, and the crowd, ‘Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.’ I have read those words many times, but to hear him say it – while looking directly at me, continues to resonate with me up to this day.
Daryl Grigsby
 
July 15, 2025 – Church:   Where You Are Not Alone 
Today is the Feast of St. Bonaventure, Franciscan Bishop and Doctor of the Church. As a Catholic convert, I was unaware of the significance of being named a ‘Doctor’ of the church. The Church, through the Pope, declares one to be a Doctor of the Church based on a life of holiness, and significant contributions to the body of Catholic teaching. In this regard, Doctors of the church, such as Bonaventure, are true gifts to us as members of the Body of Christ. One of the most compelling aspects of being Catholic for me are the benefits from the many gifts present in the communion of saints. That communion includes:  relatives, friends, mystics, teachers, servants, religious, priests, deacons, bishops, cardinals and popes who span both time and distance to offer their gifts to us. Before becoming Catholic I was in the Baptist church. I owe much to that experience, including extensive bible reading, appreciation for gospel music, and enriching fellowship. Yet, I sometimes felt I was trying to figure out how to be a Christian as if no one had gone before me. It was as though I was on a journey alone. We were encouraged to study the Bible, but in retrospect I see I was unaware that for 2000 years before me, Christian believers left a legacy of writings, sermons, teachings and prayers for our benefit. So, on this feast of St. Bonaventure, I encourage us all to explore what he, and others, have taught us about our faith.                                                                                                                       
 Daryl Grigsby 
 
July 16, 2025 – An Experience of God 
The reading from today’s Mass is perhaps one of the most well-known Old Testament passages ever. In Exodus 3, Moses is tending to his father-in-law’s flock and arrives at Mount Horeb where he sees a bush that is burning yet not consumed by the fire. Intrigued by this amazing sight, he moves toward the burning bush. As he comes closer, God calls his name, not once, but twice. God then asks him to remove his sandals, for the ground on which he stands is holy. Moses’ encounter with God is a well-known story and is the beginning of his call to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. Moses is a seminal figure in the Old Testament. He confronted Pharoah, is part of the first Passover, leads the people through the Red Sea, receives the Ten Commandments, and has many other transformative encounters with God. I wonder if Moses is any different than any of us. While we may not have seen a burning bush or have been asked to remove our sandals we may have had an experience that informed and fuels our ongoing relationship with God. Once while attending a New Year’s Eve silent vigil at the Camadolese Monastery of the Risen Christ in San Luis Obispo, I sensed God’s presence as I never had before. Search your memory and recall your own unique and enduring encounter. 
Daryl Grigsby 
 
July 17, 2025 – Learning from Jesus 
Today’s Gospel reading for Mass is often cited when we are stressed, disturbed and otherwise burdened. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said,  
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, 
 and I will give you rest. 
 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 
 for I am meek and humble of heart; 
 and you will find rest for yourselves. 
 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." 
 I was struck by something important on this for my own journey. I found it interesting that twice, Jesus mentions we will find rest in him.  In thinking about this, I realized that rest is an important complement to our ongoing vocation. We need rest from time to time, because our life, our family, our work, our vocation, our ministry requires energy, commitment and focus. We are not to be always at rest, for there are many needs in the world that God asks us to address. If I worked constantly, I’d be in an unhealthy state of busyness. If I always rested, the needs around me might go unnoticed and unmet. Jesus asks that I learn from him, and I have so much to learn. Though often found healing, serving, feeding, embracing and teaching, the New Testament also often talks of his spending alone time with God for rest and refocus. Let me continue to learn from Jesus.
Daryl Grigsby 
  
July 18, 2025 – Giving Thanks to the Lord 
The Psalms are an amazing source of wisdom, lamentation, prayer, encouragement, and inspiration. The Responsorial Psalm for today’s Mass is Psalm 116, ‘how shall I make a return to the Lord, for all the good he has done for me?’ This could easily be my daily prayer every morning. Often people hint that Catholics and other people of faith do ‘good works’ or go to church out of guilt or obligation. The truth is, that for me I am answering the Psalmists question, ‘what is the best way for me to return, out of gratitude, all the good God has done for me?’ I recently was reminded of a common prayer practice where you begin your day remembering, with gratitude, at least three blessings from the previous day. Whenever I do this, (which is frankly not often enough), I am amazed at how many gifts I should be thankful for. There  are the larger items that have been part of my entire life, my family, relationships, experiences, and other gifts. Then there are those events and encounters which may have happened just days or hours before. Either way, whether looking long-term or near term, I am amazed at how many gifts and blessings I can recall. The Psalm, however, asks us not just to dwell on what we have been given. We are asked, out of sheer gratitude, to consider and act on what concrete prayers and good works we can do in response to God’s grace and mercy.            
Daryl Grigsby 
 
July 19, 2025 -  Chosen, Beloved and Accepted 
In Matthew’s Gospel 12:14-21, Jesus realizes the Pharisees are plotting to have him killed. This is not some mild opposition, or verbal criticism; but rather, a plot to end his life and get rid of his annoying message forever. The Gospel writer then quotes Isaiah 42, which notes Jesus is the chosen servant, the beloved one in whom God delights. What a reassuring message for us all. In the midst of life’s troubles and setbacks, in the midst of opposition, criticism, and turmoil, God’s message to Jesus applies to each of us as well. Jesus tells us we are chosen, beloved and accepted by God. What an encouraging and amazing thought! In my Catholic life, in my calling to follow what I believe God is asking of me, I could face some hardship and difficulty. While it would be comforting to believe in a ‘Prosperity Gospel’ where all is good and wealth abounds, that is not the way of Christ. Nor is it our calling. As I confront struggles and challenges, I will try to recall that Isaiah’s words apply to me as well. ‘Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight.’ These are not words I embrace with arrogance or pride, but in humility and gratitude as I walk in the knowledge that God has called me to participate in His vision for the healing of the world.
Daryl Grigsby 
 
July 20, 2025 - The Holy Trinity 
The first reading in today’s Mass is from Genesis 18.  In this passage, on a hot day Abraham is near his tent, and ‘the Lord’ appears to him.  ‘Abraham, looking up, saw three men standing by.’ He asks that they do not go past their servant; since they have come this close, let him give them refreshment. Biblical scholars suggest that this scripture hints of the Holy Trinity. The Lord’s appearance to Abraham is in the form of three. The Russian painter Andrei Rublev has depicted this Genesis account in a famous icon. It may be that you have seen this powerful image. There is a practice called ‘visio divina’ in which we select an icon, art or visual image, and cast our eyes and thoughts intently and prayerfully on various elements of the art. Visio divina, when employed on Rublev’s Trinity icon, can be profoundly illuminating. I try to make this a recurring prayer practice. I was struck once by insights from Henry Nouwen. He noted the three Divine Persons are sitting around a table, or altar, with room for us to join them. The three Persons of the Holy Trinity have room for us to join them in their relationship of love. 
Daryl Grigsby                           
 

July 7, 2025 - VBS
A few weeks ago, SSPP hosted its annual Vacation Bible School. This was (assuming I’m counting correctly) my 14th year of participating in VBS. I haven’t missed a single one since I started when I was four years old! I remember a few years ago I had wanted to go to a Girl Scout summer camp, and the one I wanted to attend was during VBS. In the end, I didn’t go to the camp because VBS was that important to me. Upon reflecting on my many summers of VBS, I realized that it has never not been fun. It has always been a sort of magical experience and a great opportunity to grow in faith, from when I first experienced VBS as a participant, and now through the eyes of younger generations as a leader. I hope it continues its magic for many years to come.
Sarah Pipitone
 
July 8, 2025 – VBS Part 2
This year I was a leader for the Red River Otters, one of the youngest groups, with kids ages five and six. I have decided that this age range is the best age range for a multitude of reasons, but by far my favorite thing about it is that these kids have no filter. They say exactly what they think, when they think it, no hesitations, and it has led to some really beautiful moments. For example, on the first day they walk up to one another and simply ask to be friends (the answer is always yes), or they get asked a question about Jesus and the answer is an unequivocal “because he loves us.” It was a good reminder that sometimes things are much simpler than we make them seem.
Sarah Pipitone
 
July 9, 2025 - Hypocrisy
A few weeks ago my dad and I were cooking for a large group of Scouts during a leadership course that my older brother was running. To feed 70 teens and adults for a week takes a lot of food, so shopping for this camp was a unique experience. There is nothing quite like pushing six carts filled to the brim with food around a Safeway. At one point, I noticed a man with several containers of cherry tomatoes in his cart, and wondered what business he had with so many tomatoes. Then I looked at my cart, which was overflowing with juice and pretzels exclusively, and had to laugh. Who was I to judge!? It reminded me of the beginning of Matthew Chapter 7, “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?” Though my experience was humorous, it reminded me that I can get so caught up in what others are doing that I forget to examine myself before passing judgment.
Sarah Pipitone

 July 10, 2023  - VBS Part 3
I promise I’ll stop talking about VBS after this, but on the last day one of the leaders made an analogy for the Holy Spirit that really stuck with me. We were discussing Pentecost during the “Bible Adventure” station, and talking about how the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit so they could be sent out to spread the word of God. The station leader held up a flashlight with no batteries, which, obviously, didn’t work. Then she added the batteries, and the flashlight flickered to life. The lesson was that the Holy Spirit is like the batteries - without them we cannot shine God’s light on others. For me, the Holy Spirit has always been the most confusing part of the Trinity. Now I have a clearer understanding of the way it moves through us, almost like a power source, so that we can shine the light of Christ on others.
Sarah Pipitone
 
July 11, 2025 - Me?
When I was first approached about writing these reflections, I was shocked. Me? No way! What did I have to say? I had been reading the daily reflections for a couple of years and felt like I couldn’t possibly impart the same wisdom or insight as the other writers. However, I took a moment to reflect on how many saints, members of the clergy, and even characters in the Bible had that same reaction: Me? No way! And yet God worked His wonders through them, guiding them as they share His words and His works. I can only pray that He will guide me as well. 
Sarah Pipitone
 
July 12, 2025 - Commas
I am aware that there is a proper way to use commas. There are rules, and a structure, and definitely a right way to use pretty much all punctuation. However, I have no idea what these rules are. Mostly I use them whenever they feel right and then hope for the best. So far, I’ve been okay. Recently, I noticed a parallel can be drawn in the way I pray. Sure, there are written prayers and structured meditations and the like, but those haven’t worked for me. Instead, I pray when and where it feels right. The good news is that, unlike the “grammar police” with commas, God doesn’t mind sporadic and rambling prayers, I think He cares more that we’re making an effort.
Sarah Pipitone
 
July 13, 2025 - Gang’s All Here
A couple of weeks ago I looked across the church during Mass and realized that nearly every nine o’clock regular was present. It felt good to see all the familiar faces: from the families squished together in the pews, to the group of older folks that sit behind my mom, to some people I’ve never really met but have come to recognize after seeing them week after week. Something I’ve always admired about SSPP is that we have such a strong sense of community, so much so that I can miss people I don’t know the names of simply because I don’t see their faces in the congregation. Feeling such a strong connection through this parish and through our shared beliefs was so beautiful and poignant that it nearly brought me to tears.
Sarah Pipitone
 
 June 30, 2025 - Hold on to Faith, Let Go of Fear
 
I’ve always been a worrier... .but I’ve come a long way towards keeping my fears in check. I used to worry about everything and everyone: family, friends, the homeless, work, finances, crime, terrorism, war, natural disasters… big things, little things, even insignificant things. There was an endless “worry list”  in my mind that I couldn’t turn off.
 
The excessive mental and emotional strain affected my health, causing high blood pressure, sleepless nights, anxiety, nausea, digestive issues, and more. The stress literally made me sick. I eventually realized that ninety-nine percent of the things I agonized over never amounted to anything. The things I feared would happen, never did. I was getting myself all worked up for nothing. I chose to turn my fears into prayers and offer them up to God.
 
As I’ve gotten older, I still worry, but not at the same unhealthy level as before. When I reflect on how far I’ve come, I’m grateful for the inner peace I now feel through the grace of God.  I am determined to move forward and not let fear consume me. I will continue to lean on faith, prayer, and positivity to lessen the weight of worry. I pray that others   can hold on to faith and let go of fear too.
 
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4: 6-7
 
Maria Montalvo
 
 July 1, 2025 - Ouch! Okay, Okay, Lord.
 
Even though it’s painful, I laugh now every time it happens. It’s become more than just a coincidence. When I get unreasonably upset about something and overreact to a situation or start rushing around the house like a crazy woman, I injure myself. I have slipped, tripped, hit my head, stubbed my toe, run into the furniture, slammed the drawer on my thumb, cut my finger, broken my nail…the list goes on. It always hurts and inevitably stops me in my tracks. It triggers an undeniable moment of clarity which helps me put things in perspective. It forces me to question myself. Why am I so upset? Is this a productive response to the issue? Am I setting a good example for my children? I see these incidents as God’s way of getting my attention, telling me to calm down, take a deep breath, rethink what I am doing, and turn to Him for guidance. It always helps. Now when it happens, I laugh in pain as I respond crying out, “Ouch! Okay, okay, Lord. I Get It.” At times like this, His message is painfully loud and clear!
 
Maria Montalvo
 
July 2, 2025 - Be Like Christ
 
In the early 90’s there was a Gatorade commercial which had a catchy tune, amazing footage of basketball superstar Michael Jordan, and the slogan: “Be Like Mike. Drink Gatorade.” It was a hugely popular campaign which aimed to influence both kids and adults to drink Gatorade like Jordan because it could enhance their athletic skills too. It became one of the greatest and most memorable sports commercials of all time.
 
I thought of this commercial after hearing a homily recently by a visiting priest who did life-changing missionary work for communities in Africa. He told us about a little girl who was adamant that he was Christ. She yelled out calling him Jesus, over and over again. His stature, generosity, and loving actions must have convinced her that he was Jesus. The priest’s message was that all of us can be like Christ to others. Our actions can emulate His so closely that people are able to see Christ through us, with us, and in us.
 
As Catholic Christians we are called to campaign for Jesus Christ. We have the ability and opportunity to influence others by how we live, what we consume, and the messages we convey. In essence, we are walking advertisements for The Lord. I pray that I can meet this challenge on a daily basis with a genuine heart and effective humility.
 
My slogan: “Be Like Christ. Spread Peace, Hope, and Love.”
 
Maria Montalvo
 
July 3, 2024 - Am I Progressing?
 
When asked how I’m doing I often respond by saying, “I’m hanging in there!” I say this in all honesty because, while things may be going well, there’s usually something I’m trying to get a better grip on in life. Despite the challenges, I try hard to maintain a positive attitude and not lose hope.
 
I was surprised when my mother and some friends expressed concern about my “hanging in there” response even though I said it with a positive tone of voice. They felt it implied I was in a precarious situation. My mother said she stopped using this expression because she thought it sounded negative. She’s been dealing with some health issues and instead of saying she’s “hanging in there” she chooses to say that she’s “progressing.” This implies forward movement and improvement, which more accurately describes how she’s doing.
 
My journey with God is similar, since I am not a perfect human being. Am I just hanging in there or am I progressing?  Sometimes I have setbacks. I may take one step forward, then two steps back. But, as long as I get back on track, and am moving forward in the right direction, I know my relationship with Him is improving. If my path is leading me closer to God, then I can confidently say I’m progressing. And that, I believe, is pleasing to Him.
 
Maria Montalvo
  
July 4, 2025 - Free Me Lord
 
As we celebrate our nation’s independence today, I can say I’m proud to be an American and grateful for the freedoms I have living in this amazing country of ours. The current political turmoil and division, however, is frightening and unfortunate. I hope and pray we can move forward with tolerance, acceptance, and respect as the “United” States, upholding the fundamental rights of all our brothers and sisters. May the effort continue.
 
While we benefit from individual, social, and religious freedoms in our country, feeling true freedom within ourselves on a spiritual level is another challenge, but equally important. We can appear to be free but still be internally enslaved by various afflictions which negatively affect our beliefs, words, and actions. A healthy relationship with Christ can make all the difference.
 
Dear God,
I reach out on this Independence Day seeking a deep and liberating connection with you. Free me Lord from all barriers including sin, guilt, fear, selfishness, resentment, greed, arrogance, jealousy, dishonesty, anxiety, insecurity, and hopelessness. Grant me peace, comfort, and strength so I may reach my full potential as an individual and a member of these great United States. Let freedom ring with your resounding love so that it echoes the sound of hope on earth, throughout the heavens and in my heart forever. With gratitude I pray, knowing all things are possible through you.
Amen
 
Maria Montalvo
 
 July 5, 2025 - Let's Make The Weeks Count
 
It was an eye-opening experience when our oldest daughter turned 25. During her birthday dinner, she told us about an app that calculates the number of weeks one has lived, the number of weeks left (based on average life expectancy), and the percentage of one's life already gone. As I get older, believe me, I feel my clock ticking. But, for her at 25, it was an unsettling realization that, statistically, 1/3 of her life had actually passed. I reminded her, and the rest of our kids, that living to a ripe old age is not guaranteed. Our lives can change in an instant. But instead of dwelling on what has passed or worrying about what may come, we should make the most of the present because we just don't know what tomorrow will bring.
 
Birthdays are great reminders to be thankful for the past, happy in the present, and hopeful for the future. They are occasions to celebrate the day we were born -- God's precious gift of life. Its quality is not measured by the time I have in our life, but by the life I have in my time. Whether it is long or limited, any amount of time is a blessing. With God’s help I can live it to the best of my ability, each and every day.
 
Instead of counting the weeks, l’ll try to make the weeks count…giving thanks for all of God’s blessings along the way.
 
Maria Montalvo
 
 July 6, 2025 - One Bread, One Body
 
One Sunday in church, my family and I sat in the very front row. Usually we sit towards the back and sometimes even stand against the back wall. Personally, I like to see the congregation, plus standing is easier on my back. On this particular day, sitting in the front presented a fresh perspective. I could see details I simply hadn’t seen before, from the linens on the altar and the glistening chalice, to the entire baptismal font and the crucifix towering over me. The sunlight shone through the stained glass on the ceiling, casting a warm glow over everything. Even the choir sounded different, but just as beautiful as always.
 
The most profound effect on me occurred during communion. Standing in the front row after I received communion, I was so close to the Eucharistic Minister, I could have reached forward and touched her. With this proximity, I saw her hold up the host and heard her say “The body of Christ,” over and over again with pure but gentle affirmation. And I heard every “Amen” in response, proclaimed over and over in a hundred different voices - young, old, soft, and strong. I looked up occasionally, and watched as people of various ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities received the body of Christ — as one body of Catholics, united in faith. Led by familiar faces in the choir, the communion song was  “One Bread, One Body,” a favorite of mine. Overcome with emotion, I could barely sing. Tears of joy and gratitude rolled down my cheeks. I felt the Lord’s presence so strongly, it was absolutely undeniable. I truly believe God wanted me to have a front row seat that day for a reason. It was an experience I’ll never forget.
 
Maria Montalvo