Dear Fellow Parishioners, Last Monday night, SV hosted our Lenten Reconciliation Service. After a handful of years of COVID-suppressed demand, this service attracted more people than I have ever seen. We had 9 priests and began hearing confessions shortly after 7 p.m. and I didnāt finish until about 9:45 p.m. I understand that many people […]
Dear Fellow Parishioners, I spent a good part of my day off writing this weekās āPastorās Deskā before receiving Bishop Vasaās statement on the dioceseās intention to file for bankruptcy protection. His statement is sobering to read, as it provides the frankest and fullest account of events leading up to this bankruptcy filing. Though it […]
Dear Fellow Parishioners, What is the attraction of Ash Wednesday for so many, even those who attend church only a few times a year? Part of the appeal is its universality, as any living person from the Pope on down can receive ashes. Iām almost certain that our attendance at SV was noticeably larger this […]
2023 Lenten Regulations for the Diocese of Santa Rosa āThe Lenten Season has a double character, namely to prepare both catechumens and faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery. The catechumens, both with the Rite of Election and Scrutinies, and by catechesis, are prepared for the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation; the faithful, ever […]
Dear Fellow Parishioners, This is the final of four articles on the late Pope Benedict XVI. The conclave of 2005 which elected Pope Benedict XVI was the first to be housed in Casa Santa Marta at the Vatican, built by Pope John Paul II for that purpose and for housing visiting clergy at other times. […]
Dear Fellow Parishioners, This is a third reflection on the life and ministry of Pope Benedict XVI. It will focus on his election and the first partof his papacy. Due to limitations on space, a fourth (and final– I promise!) reflection will be in next weekās āPastorās Desk.ā For at least a century, Vaticanologists have […]
Dear Fellow Parishioners, The following is the second of what was originally intended to be a two-part series of reflections on Pope Benedict XVI. The first part dealt largely with his earlier life. Due to space limitations in this weekās bulletin, the series will need an extra week. This second part will deal largely with […]
Dear Fellow Parishioners, By the time this appears in the bulletin, the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will have taken place. After nearly 10 years as Pope Emeritus, he left the public life of the Church as quietly as he entered it. To place Benedict XVIās life in better perspective, it might be useful […]