Dear Parishioners, the mystery of Pentecost is the event of the Church's true “baptism,” birth and beginning. However, this event is ongoing. The Church in fact lives constantly from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, without which she would exhaust her own strength, like a sailboat without the wind. Pentecost has been renewed in the church in special ways throughout its entire history. Especially in the Church’s liturgy, use of Scripture, the Catechism, Councils, the lives of the saints, works of mercy, missionary activity, etc. Thus, there is no Church without Pentecost. And we must also add that there is no Pentecost without the Virgin Mary.

Dear Parishioners, this Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. The Ascension is a necessary link in God’s plan for the renewal of the world. Jesus couldn’t stay here, “My Kingdom is not of the world.” The essence of this world, God’s creation, is good but is under the ancient curse of darkness and corruption. This world cannot keep him, he must go away and prepare that place, a new creation, without death, darkness, evil, corruption… Jesus must Ascent to heaven. Jesus goes to prepare a place for each of us. A permanent place. Not like all the moving around that most of us do in this world. When I do the math, I have lived in over a dozen “places” so far in my life. Jesus prepares a perfect place, a “home” that will remain forever. A place in the Father’s house, in the Father’s heart who loves us. I know, as we should all know, that heaven is our permanent “home." (click for more).

Dear Parishioners, This Sunday is Mother’s Day. A time to reflect upon motherhood and honor our mothers. My mother passed away in 2009, but her influence is lasting especially on her eight children. She took her responsibly as a parent and mom seriously and did not concede or relegate to anyone her parental authority as a mom. Our Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children and that family is the “domestic church.” The domestic church means that parents are the first teachers of the faith to their children, for which, as St. Pope Paul VI said of the family, “there is no substitute.”

May is a beautiful month. A month of new life. The month of flowers and the month of Mary. The weather is starting to warm up, especially after a particularly cold winter… Soon the scent of lilac will be in the air. I love lilacs because the house I grew up in Kennewick we had a whole row of lilacs along our fence and loved their smell and the beautiful colors, my favorite was the deep purple. (Click for more)