Dear Brothers and Sisters,

People are sometimes curious about what I do all day. Fair question. People are also surprised when I tell them that among my priestly duties, not a day goes by that I don’t encounter parishioners who have been afflicted with an addiction. Addiction touches nearly everyone, either directly or through a relationship with a loved one. Sadly, addiction was previously understood as some sort of substance abuse and dependence. The truth is that addiction originates and manifests itself in a variety of ways. Addictions have been linked to increased access to online pornography, legalized marijuana and sports gambling in many states, heightened pressure to meet societal standards, and fewer personal bonds has left our culture looking for love and seeking God in the wrong places.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross has special meaning for me. The year was 1987 and I was just accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Phoenix. On September 14th that same year, Pope John Paul II was in Phoenix. He had a Mass with about 80,000 people and I was able to be an altar server for that Mass!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Church celebrates 2 important canonizations in the universal Church. On September 7th, Pope Leo XIV will canonize two Italians, Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis, who both died young … but not without making their marks in the church and throughout the world.

Soon-to-be-Saint Pier Giorgio Frassatti was born into a wealthy family in Turin, Italy. His parents, however, had a difficult marriage and were only culturally Catholic. He was known as a joyful, adventurous young man and is referred to as the “Man of the Beatitudes.” He loved taking trips to the mountains for hiking and mountain climbing. He was a gregarious and friendly young man who had a great attraction to the Holy Eucharist and helping the poor.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I want to tell you about a very important meeting I had with the bishop recently. He called me up and he wanted me to come downtown to his office. He told me that it was a very important meeting. He wanted to talk to me and to get my thoughts on some very important things. He said the meeting could change my life. Now you all know the bishop. He is a very important person. He is a very powerful person in our diocese.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Pope St. John Paul II often spoke of the New Evangelization. There is a need to re- evangelize and reintroduce the Catholic faith to the world. Our Lord offers everything the heart desires through Him, with Him and in Him. Our Lord came to offer mercy and to gather the lost and forsaken. And by our baptism, we too participate in Christ's salvific mission. In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, He reminds His disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." Matthew 5:14-16

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Jesus says things that can sound rather harsh. He said, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” and “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!” This teaching from Our Lord can be difficult for us who see Jesus as the Prince of Peace. It is easy to see why His words can be very confusing because we usually think of Jesus as bringing peace and love, right?

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Have you heard that the older one gets, the faster time flies. I don’t know if that is scientifically verifiable, but it seems to ring true in my life. Where does the time go? Sometimes in the craziness of life, we can forget to pray. I want to remind you that next Friday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Every Solemnity is a holy day of obligation which means Catholics are obligated to attend either the Vigil Mass on Thursday (the evening before) or one of the three Masses offered on August 15th. We will have Mass at 5:00 p.m. on the 14th. On the 15th, the schedule is the following: 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., and 5:00 p.m. in English.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We are so blessed to have St. John XXIII Catholic grade school as part of our history. For over 26 years, dedicated teachers and staff have educated thousands of young people in the Catholic faith. As we begin our 2025/2026 school year, we give thanks to God for all His blessings as we welcome our students and their families.