Fr. Mike is on vacation

Fr. Mike will be on vacation from October 12-October 22.

Notes From Fr. Mike

This coming week, from Monday, October 5 to Thursday, October 8, Bishop Steinbock and all the priests of the diocese will be at St. Anthony's Retreat Center, and we ask that our parishioners keep us in prayer during this time.  Father James Torrens, S.J. will be the retreat master this year.  Fr. Torrens lives and serves in the Diocese of Fresno at the Jesuit House, located at the Pastoral Center.  Communion Services will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

 

Today is Respect for Life Sunday in our country.  On this day, we as Catholics are reminded about the sacredness of life, and that we must protect life, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.  This means that life, in all forms, and it all its stages, must be protected.  We must be able to provide adequate health care for all human beings, including our children, who are most vulnerable.  This also means that the Catholic Church is squarely against the death penalty, for it is still the taking of a human life, no matter how one might want to justify it.  Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI have clearly made this case.  Life is precious and God has given this gift so that we might all have the full potential to live up to the many gifts awaiting all of us.

 

We also know on the other hand, that God is full of mercy and compassion.  There are those who have made the decision to have an abortion, and later come to regret this act.  In the Church, we have Rachel's Project, in which those who have had abortions can come to a special retreat to heal the pain that abortion has had on the person, to have them consider receiving reconciliation, and move on in their lives.  Several retreats are held at St. Anthony Retreat Center towards this goal, both in English and Spanish.  For more information, you can contact the parish office.

 

Thank you to those who made the feast of St. Therese a beautiful experience last Thursday morning at Bass Lake.  It was a moment of grace as we ask for her intercession and blessing.  Did you know that the very first church dedicated the Little Flower in the world is in Fresno?  The Diocesan Shrine of St. Therese in the Tower District is a beautiful structure, and if you have not yet visited the church, stop by sometime.  Father Michael Burchfield, once my associate, is now pastor.

 

Following next weekend Masses on October 11th, I will be leaving for a ten day journey to the People's Republic of China.  Another former associate, Fr. Joel Davidilla, now pastor in Tehachapi, is leading this group.  Fr. Joel was a missionary priest who from Hong Kong would sneak into China to celebrate secret Masses wherever it was illegal for Masses to be celebrated.  He eventually came to the states, and is now a diocesan priest here.