Dear Parishioners, Thanksgiving Day is not part of the culture I grew up with, it is not a holiday that we celebrate in the Philippines; but I believe that it is truly something that should be celebrated all over the world. It is a wonderful practice that builds relationships not only among people but also and more importantly, it builds relationship with…

Dear Parishioners, As a priest and as a person with love and hope for babies born, I am saddened that part of the money I pay on taxes will continue to fund abortions because Measure 106 did not get enough “Yes” votes. I will continue to pray for an end to abortion and healing for the women and men who fell victims…

Dear Parishioners, I am sharing again the Archbishop’s letter for all of us regarding M106. Please read: Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Praised be Jesus Christ! With your help, Oregon voters were able to get an important, statewide citizen initiative on the November ballot. Measure 106 is the Stop Taxpayer Funding for Abortion measure. Through the Oregon Health Plan, Oregon taxpayers fund ten abortions every day. It is…

Dear Parishioners, This week and probably next week as well, I will share the Archbishop’s letter for all of us regarding M106. Please read: Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Praised be Jesus Christ! With your help, Oregon voters were able to get an important, state-wide citizen initiative on the November ballot. Measure 106 is the Stop Taxpayer Funding for Abortion measure.…

Dear Parishioners, Today’s gospel is the same gospel story of the more familiar version from St. Matthew. But in St. Matthew’s version of the gospel, the one who approached Jesus to talk to him about having places of honor beside Jesus was the mother of the brothers James and John. In both stories Jesus Christ’s response is the same – “You do not know what you are asking for, can…

Dear Parishioners, “It’s a great time to be a Catholic priest!” That was one of the things that the Archbishop told us during our Convocation two weeks ago. It is interesting because when the news of the cover up of the abuses that happened some years ago in a diocese in the east coast came out, my initial reaction – to be honest – was discouragement. I was so…

Dear Parishioners, Thank you for all your prayers for our Annual Priests Convocation. Spending some time with my brother priests is always refreshing. Although Convocations are always mostly work, we still find time to socialize and share experiences in the ministry and that is very encouraging especially because we find support with each other. This year’s Convocation focused on Pastoral Planning for…

Dear Parishioners, I would like to ask you to join me in praying for all of our brothers and sisters who are preparing to receive the sacraments. We have children who started their classes to prepare for their first Confession and first Communion – I don’t know if you still remember your first Confession and first Communion, but I am sure that…

Dear Parishioners, Last week, Archbishop Sample sent a letter to all priests encouraging us to pray the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel after each parish Mass. He also encourages all of the Catholic faithful in the whole Archdiocese to pray it daily. So from this Sunday (September 23, 2018), we will pray the prayer to St. Michael at all Masses before…

Dear Parishioners, A new school year is once again upon us. To our young, I wish you well in this coming school year! It is a new beginning with new and infinite possibilities. Remember to keep the faith and pray always. For those who are going away for college, take an item of faith with you and use it as a reminder of home. Remember always that God is…

Dear Parishioners, I would like to again take this opportunity to ask all of you to pray and do penance and sacrifices for the healing of our Church. The Body of Christ is wounded and is in need of healing. Let us together pray for our journey to healing and for our strength as a community of faithful followers of Jesus Christ.…

Dear Parishioners, Happy Feast Day! On Wednesday, August 15th, we will be celebrating our parish feast day. Normally we celebrate our feast day with a picnic the Sunday before, but as announced, we are moving our parish picnic to next month, (September 9); so I hope you will all come here at OLM on Wednesday to celebrate with a Mass the Solemnity of our Blessed Mother’s Assumption. It is…

Dear Parishioners, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the proper dispositions we should have in the celebration of the Eucharist, particularly when we are in procession to receive the holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ during Communion. I think it is wonderful that our community is so friendly and welcoming and it is beautiful to see how parishioners will sometimes go out of…

Dear Parishioners, Recently I received a note from one of you asking if I could “give a lesson/task we should do for the week to complete and have a new one each week.” That is really a great idea and I have some priest friends who do that during their homilies – in their parishes but especially to children whenever they do…

Dear Parishioners, I would like to share with you some of my insights and reflections during our past clergy retreat. Again, I would like to thank you for your prayers for all of us priests, we do need it. And be assured of my prayers for all of you as well. Speaking of prayer, one of the things that we as priests were…