Dear St. Joseph Family,

We continue to watch as our country grapples with the prospect of the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. We have seen protests outside of government buildings, protests outside of private residences, protests inside churches. As I met with some priests today for our monthly prayer gathering, I was startled to hear that some in favor of protecting Roe vs. Wade are planning to make this summer a “Summer of Rage.” Expect to see more protests. Expect to witness more anger. Perhaps even expect to be confronted at our church. When it comes to confrontation in churches, you may have heard of the shooting at the church in Orange County. I am not writing this to scare you. I just want you to be aware of the way in which our society is tending towards. When we have disagreements, we attack one another. This cannot stand. We must choose a different way.

As Christians, we have been shown this other way, this higher way. Jesus taught us in the Gospel passage last week, no, commanded us, to love the way that He loves us, which means compassion, mercy, forgiveness. We do not settle disagreements with attacks, but with charity. This is what St. Paul said, we live the truth in love and grow in closer conformity to Christ (cf. Ephesians 4:15).

This does not mean, however, that we lay down and take the attacks submissively. Jesus said to turn the other cheek, but what that presupposes is that we stand our ground. To turn the other cheek means not to run, but to face one’s oppressor so as to manifest the higher way to them. So, we won’t be closing our doors and stopping Mass, but we do need to be prepared. In the coming weeks, I will be working to put together a day of training for ministers so we can be better prepared if a disturbance occurs during Mass. I would ask you (especially the able-bodied men) to consider signing up to be ushers, and to be trained in how to better look after your fellow parishioners. Sign up sheets will be available in the back of the Basilica after Mass. Also, if you have pertinent experience in law enforcement/security or medical, please let me know.

As I was saying, we are called to a higher way. Below is a photo of the group who prays the Rosary outside of City Hall every 2nd Saturday of the month. Notice anything about them? They all look pretty happy. I have noticed this about pro-lifers; they’re happy, and they want others to be happy too (contrast that to the “rage” of the other side). I’ve noticed that in the people who work at pro-life pregnancy centers. They have joy. Expecting mothers and fathers need that. During a difficult time of welcoming an unexpected pregnancy, they need joy. A new life is a joy, even if for some it is the assurance of difficulties ahead. Yes, children require that sacrifices be made on their behalf, but they bring joy. That is why I have decided to assist a pro-life pregnancy group in our area, Birthright, by donating my paycheck for May to them (about $2,600). As I celebrate the gift of my own life by recalling my birthday on May 24th (the feast day of Mary, Help of Christians), the least I can do is give to an organization that is trying to help the lives of others.

With much love,
Fr. Mario
 



 

Dear St. Joseph Family,
This weekend we celebrate Fr. Sunil’s birthday. Please join me in wishing him a happy birthday. Although he would definitely shrug it off, I feel we owe him a huge thank-you, I know I do. Since I arrived at St. Joseph’s in 2020, Fr. Sunil has never hesitated to step up when I have needed a hand, and he does it always with a smile. Fr. Sunil definitely has the spirit of a missionary, which is one of joy, and this is important for all of us to remember since we are all called to be missionaries.

By virtue of our baptism, we have inherited the mission of spreading the Gospel, the Good News of Christ’s great love for humanity, made manifest through His Passion, death and Resurrection. And we share the Gospel – we evangelize – not only by sharing words, not merely by speaking to others about our faith, but by living lives of joy. And what is joy? As I mentioned in my bulletin article a couple of weeks ago, joy is not the same thing as happiness, which comes and goes based on external circumstances. Joy transcends external circumstances, even difficult ones, since it is based off on an unchangeable truth, we are loved by God.

Pope Francis mentions this in his letter Evangelii Gaudium (“The Joy of the Gospel”) when he says, “the joy of evangelizing always arises from grateful remembrance,” from remembering what God did for us long ago, and from remembering his abiding presence in our lives here and now. With three full weeks of Easter remaining, take some time to ask God to help you remember what He has done in your life, and to pour out within you an increase of joy. Joy, after all, is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Let us never tire of asking for an increase in joy in our lives, since it will help us to become saints. By the way, Pope Francis is canonizing seven new saints for the Church this weekend. Read about them here:

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251190/who-are-the-4-women-being-canonized-as-saints-this-weekend

 I thank Fr. Sunil for his joy; it is a reminder to me of how I can strive to be a more faithful shepherd and follower of Christ. Cheers to you, Fr. Sunil, and to you, my brothers and sisters called to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

With much love,
Fr. Mario

I mentioned this in my homily on Divine Mercy Sunday, when I noted how the “voice” of our culture will tell us that doing certain things, like having an abortion, are tolerable, even merciful. But the truly merciful thing to do is to step into the difficult experience with the other and do something for them. I said, “the world will tell a young mother and father with an unexpected pregnancy, ‘it’s ok to end this child’s life so that you can have your own,’ and claim that this is mercy. The truly merciful thing to do is say, ‘I will enter into this uncertainty with you, I will support you, and God will see you and your baby through it."

This is going to be a challenging time for us as a church going forward, but we can make a big impact. Life is precious. Life is sacred. We must ask ourselves, “what can I do to make someone’s life a little less difficult?” We can support mothers and fathers in the midst of unplanned pregnancies and help them to choose life, because this is what our faith asks of us, and this is what our country was founded on, “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (The Declaration of Independence).

With much love,
Fr. Mario 
 

Dear St. Joseph Family,
May is a very special time in the Church because it is the month that is dedicated to our Blessed Mother, Mary. May 13 is the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, and May 31 is the feast of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. A lesser-known feast day is May 24, the feast of Mary, Help of Christians, which is the main feast day of Fr. Sunil’s order, the Salesians. Mary has played such a huge role in helping so many Catholics grow in their faith, including me, that I thought, “devotion to Mary should be one of my expectations.” Remember that I wrote about these on the First Sunday of Advent. These expectations are that you will (1) read the Sunday Mass readings during the week before Mass. (2) Wear your “Sunday best” outfit to church. You all looked great on Easter; keep it up. (3) Arrive to Mass early. This one still needs some work. (4) Participate at Mass by singing and saying all the responses with boldness. Now, the 5^th expectation, you should have some devotion to Mary. I say the Rosary daily, which may be a little too much for some of you, but weekly should not be difficult, it only takes about 20 minutes. Parents (fathers especially), gather your family for the Rosary on Sunday, perhaps after dinner. Mary is the greatest guide for how to be a disciple of Christ. We need to turn to her, especially during this time when our culture is enticing us with so many lies. Mary, together with Joseph, will keep us grounded in the truth and love of Christ. Here is the Litany of Our Lady, which can be prayed by itself or after the Rosary (cut it out and put it on your refrigerator). May you grow closer to our Blessed Mother during her month of May.
With much love,
Fr. Mario

Lord, have mercy; (Response)
Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy; Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy;
Lord have mercy. Christ hear us; Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven: (response) Have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world: Have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit: Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God: Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Pray for us. (repeat after each title)
Holy Mother of God - Holy Virgin of virgins - Mother of Christ - Mother of the Church - Mother of mercy - Mother of divine grace - Mother of hope - Mother most pure - Mother most chaste - Mother inviolate - Mother undefiled - Mother most amiable - Mother most admirable - Mother of good Mother of our Creator - Mother of our Savior – Virgin - most prudent - Virgin most venerable - Virgin most renowned - Virgin most powerful - Virgin most merciful - Virgin most faithful - Mirror of justice - Seat of wisdom - Cause of our joy - Spiritual vessel - Vessel of honor - Singular vessel of devotion - Mystical rose - Tower of David
-Tower of ivory, House of gold
- Ark of the covenant - Gate of heaven, Morning star - Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners
- Comfort of Migrants
- Comforter of the afflicted - Help of Christians, Queen of Angels
- Queen of Patriarchs - Queen of Prophets - Queen of Apostles - Queen of Martyrs - Queen of Confessors - Queen of Virgins - Queen of all Saints - Queen conceived without original sin
- Queen assumed into heaven - Queen of the most holy Rosary - Queen of Families - Queen of Peace…

- Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
- Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
- Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

- Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

- Let us pray, Grant, we beseech you, Lord God, that we your servants may rejoice in continual health of mind and body and, by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow to delight in joy eternal. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Dear St. Joseph Family,

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Last weekend was a really special time. Not only was it the celebration of our Lord’s Passion and Resurrection, it was the first time celebrating it together with no restrictions since the beginning of Covid, and boy, was it a special celebration. From Fr. Sunil washing the feet of our 9:30am Mass team on Holy Thursday, to the veneration of the Cross on Friday, to the Vigil on Saturday with all its many beautiful parts, most especially the baptisms of Lily and Liza, and finally, the Masses on Easter Sunday. Both the 9:30am and 12pm Masses were packed, so full was 9:30 that we ran out of hosts temporarily (Fr. Sunil ran back to the tabernacle to retrieve the ciborium full of Hosts). After Mass, one of the parishioners remarked to me that that is a good problem to have; better to have many people and run out of Hosts, than to not have many people at all. As I was celebrating the noon Mass with Fr. Sunil in a packed Church, I was thinking to myself, “how awesome would it be if the basilica was this full every Sunday?” And the question is, “why isn’t it?” That is a question for all of us to ask ourselves, because we all have a part to play in filling the Church, and the Easter season is an appropriate time to focus in on this question, since the message of Christ’s Resurrection is why we are here in the first place.

On one hand, we fill the Church by being present ourselves, by bringing our families, especially our children, and why wouldn’t we be at Church every single Sunday? Every single Sunday is a memorial of Christ’s death and Resurrection, which means that every Sunday is a miniature Easter. At every Mass, Jesus enters into our midst and nourishes us with His Body and Blood. I once saw a meme that said, “Sunday Mass should be your excuse for missing everything else.” Too often it is the other way around.

On the other hand, we fill the Church with our proclamation of the Gospel. “I am called to proclaim the Gospel?” you ask? “Isn’t that Father’s job?” No! It is your job to proclaim the Gospel in your life, to your family and to your friends, to your coworkers and to the people you pass on the street, in the grocery store, and even while driving. And the way you do this does not mean that you open up the Catechism of the Catholic Church and start reading passages to them. You preach the Gospel by the way you live, and by the way you treat them, principally, by living a life of joy. Easter is above all a season of joy, which is distinguishable from happiness and pleasure. Those two things are contingent on external circumstances; “I am happy when I have this…” “It is pleasurable to have that…” These things are fleeting. Joy is not, because joy is based on an unshakeable truth, that God loves you with an infinite love, and nothing and no one can change that. This was proven true 2,000 years ago when God became incarnate, gave Himself to humanity, was put to death by them, rose from the grave and said to them, “peace be with you.” Joy is the bedrock of our lives, and shouldn’t we want to share that with others?

The reason you are reading this letter is because the early Church deemed it important enough to share this message, even to the point of death, and little by little, century by century, that message arrived to us. Now, who are you going to share this message with? Again, you do not need to be a theologian or even a catechist to share this. You simply need to have had an encounter with Christ who loves you. Many of us have had these encounters and can recall them with intense clarity, like Thomas in this Sunday’s Gospel (See painting below, “The Incredulity of Thomas” by Caravaggio). If faith has become rote, then we can struggle to pinpoint a precise moment of encountering God; but we can have them. These moments come in many ways, but here are some tried and true ones: Eucharistic adoration, prayers like the Rosary, the Sacrament of Confession, reading Sacred Scripture especially the Gospels, and the Corporal Works of Mercy. Christ will meet us in these moments, just as He met the women and the Apostles after the Resurrection, and when He does, get ready for what the Living God, Jesus Christ will do through you.

May this Easter Season continue to be a time of great joy for you.

With much love,
Fr. Mario

Dear St. Joseph Family,

A blessed Easter to you all! What I should really say is, a blessed Easter to you all! I season m always excited for the Easter season because it is 50 days, culminating on Pentecost Sunday, June 5th. The 50 days commemorate the 40 days Jesus remained with His Apostles from the time of the Resurrection to His Ascension, and the 10 days after when they waited for Him to send the Holy Spirit. That’s the historical-biblical reason for the 50 days. I remember a priest once quipped that the Easter Season is 50 days because Lent is 40 days, and so Easter just needed to be longer to draw attention to the joyousness of the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus; the simple quantity of days (10 more days than Lent) was a way to remind us that Easter joy outweighs everything. I think so too.

If you think about it, it should make you pause a little bit, 50 days! Wow. And as I just stated, this aren ’ t just any normal days, these are days of great rejoicing. These are the days when the Alleluia returns (and should be sung by all with intensity). Alleluia is a Hebrew word that means “ praise the Lord. ’ ” And why do we praise Him? Because He has risen from the tomb, thus putting an end to eternal death. What lies in store for us now is eternal life, life which we will fully experience after we pass from this world, but a life that we begin to experience now. This is a life that comes from following Christ who shepherds us through life s most difficult problems; it is He who shows us that, even amidst these trying times that we all face, we will not be overcome. In fact, it is in the darkness of those times that we see Him so very clearly, for the light shines brightest in the darkness. Our faith teaches us that, even in those dark times, we can still rejoice and sing Alleluia.

During the Cold War, one of the darkest times our world has ever seen, Pope John Paul II reminded the Church of this truth:

We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery Resurrection. “ the mystery of his Death and We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song! ” [quoting St. Augustine]. We are not looking for a shallow joy but rather a joy that comes from faith, that grows through unselfish love, that respects the “ fundamental duty of love of neighbor, without which it would be unbecoming to speak of Joy ”. We realize that joy is demanding; it demands unselfishness; it demands a readiness to say with Mary: “ Be it done unto me according to thy word ”.

It is good to be reminded of this now as we find ourselves in the midst of sin, poverty, and pain, in countries halfway around the world, and in our own. Our Easter joy cannot be shallow. People are suffering, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Some are confused about themselves and their identities. ’ They are starving for that quality of life and love that only a deep faith in Jesus Christ, risen from the tomb, can provide. Don t be overcome by the darkness of the world or let anyone convince you that the Church is uninspiring, boring, or irrelevant. Some people stay away from the Church because they say  "they don't get anything out of it. ”  Let's be clear about something, Christ has risen from the dead, and the Church invites us to rejoice and celebrate this truth, not just for one day, but for 50 days! My hope for us all this Easter season is that we will experience the light of Christ breaking forth into our own lives so that we will not hesitate to unselfishly and joyfully share what we have received and experienced, eternal life!

With much love,
Father Mario

Why?
On Palm Sunday we look back at our weeks in the desert where we have tried to follow Christ with varying degrees of success, to approach Easter with hearts renewed. A small group has been working for months or longer towards celebrating the Easter Season in a very special way, by Baptism or full initiation through Christian Initiation (RCIA) or Confirmation Preparation. I asked how they would respond if someone asked them “Why?" Why choose to commit time and energy to become Catholic or to receive the sacraments? Why might a newcomer consider that step? Their abridged answers follow although they'd be happy to share their longer answers if you ask:

• If asked why I started preparing for Confirmation the simple answer would be to get closer to Jesus. In the process, I have gained a love for him I didn’t even know existed. The knowledge and faith I have gained is unbelievable and a true blessing. It is never too late to let Jesus into your life completely. Striving to be like Jesus will change your life for the better and bring you an abundance of joy. --Andrea, preparing for Eucharist& Confirmation
• I have devoted so much time because loving Jesus and feeling loved by Jesus is such a powerful feeling. I go forward with this baptism not only to wash away original sin but to be welcomed into the Church community. In this process I have come across some great encounters with Jesus, feeling that Jesus has chosen me, as I am. My mother and I were talking about me getting baptized. Now that I am 17 years old it was my choice, one of the best choices I've made, to make a commitment to being Catholic and wanting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I gain confidence in myself and go forward in my life with GOD's guidance. Trusting God gives me strength, blessings, and helps me overcome fear. -- Lilyana, to be baptized at Easter Vigil
• At first a curiosity to explore the spirituality that has been a pillar in my wife's life, it's evolved into an experience of enlightenment and self-reflection that become very therapeutic and makes me want to get closer to God and the Holy Spirit. -- David, candidate for reception into full communion
• Although not growing up in the faith, I have seen how being Christian has transformed the people around me. After hearing their stories and being prayed over for the first time, I felt such an overwhelming sense of comfort and protection that I knew this was the path I wanted to commit to. Through this experience and the RCIA process, I came to understand my purpose in life more, which is to share my faith and to serve others. I felt this was the right time to commit to Catholicism because especially after marrying the love of my life, I desired to have that relationship with God. I hope to raise a Catholic family in the future so that they may know God too. --Liza, to be baptized at Easter Vigil
• Catholicism is my history and I want it to be my future. I cherish my childhood memories, asking my mother questions about God and love and being a good person, and it is important to me to build my relationship with God and learn more about Catholicism so that I can one day share those same things with my own children. The process has been so rewarding. I look forward to each session not only learning and my own personal growth but getting to share the experience with others in the same place that I am. There is no age that is too late to build a stronger relationship with God. If I have learned anything it is that he has always been there waiting for me and is now supporting me proudly through this journey. --Veronica, preparing for Eucharist and Confirmation
• It is important for me because I want to become a fully committed follower of Christ. My journey through Confirmation has helped me to grow in my faith, in maturity, and continue to build a strong foundation towards living a life walking with Christ. --Jesse, preparing for Confirmation
• I have learned many things and I find comfort in listening to God's word. I'm a better person allowing myself to be giving, loving, and forgiving towards others. I have also learned it's up to us to spread God ’ s word. We are his messengers not only by words but through actions. I will encourage our children to follow in our footsteps not only being Catholic but living Catholic. --Judd, candidate for reception into full communion

Dear St. Joseph Family,

As we near the end of Lent (2 more weeks), I invite you to do a brief check How have the last four weeks been? Have you been able to fast, pray and give alms? Or have you fallen short of your intended Lenten plans? If you have, don worry. You still have two more weeks, and remember that one of the foundational principals of the spiritual life is that it isn’t about quantity, but quality. Consider what Jesus says in Matthew ’ s Gospel: “ In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them ” return to our Lord; they ’ (Mt 6:7). The point of our Lenten disciplines is to help us make a re to help us become like Him, which doesn ’ t necessarily depend on how much we do. A few moments of honest and humble prayer, a simple fast, a sincere gift, these can have a profound effect on us and others. So, don ’ t feel down if you ate chocolate the day after Ash Wednesday, or if your Bible is collecting dust, or your Rice Bowl is empty. Start again. You can do it.

In the last couple of weeks we have introduced a couple of really easy, yet meaningful, ways to enter into the Lenten season. The St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Legion of Mary are collecting clothes to donate. St. Vincent de Paul is collecting for children and babies, while Legion of Mary is collecting socks for men and women. If you ’ re looking to pray more, the Thursday Gospel reflection group meets during Lent on zoom at 7 pm, and we have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Fridays from 17 pm. You ’6 pm during Lent, followed by the Stations of the Cross.  After Lent, Adoration is the first Friday of the month from 1 re in my prayers as we make this last push to Easter.

As this is the first Sunday of the month, we will be having the normal facilities collection. Your contributions to this collection will help with some new projects that have emerged. The light above the water fountain in the Gathering Space was fixed; I hope to add more lighting around the Basilica in the future to keep us safe and to show off the building at nighttime. One of the windows on the second story of the rector has cracked. The entire wooden frame needs to be replaced. Also, a mysterious bulge in the floor has emerged outside of the reconciliation room. We will have to do a little investigation to see what is causing this, and most likely, retile the floor. Lastly, I am working with a couple of parishioners to make the Flower Room more functional. We are gathering bids for cabinets, and are fixing the window in that room, which also requires custom work. On my wish list for the future are the main doors to the Basilica, which need to be refinished. Not directly connected, but somewhat related, work on the Grotto is progressing. We have sheet rocked the walls and are waiting to have them textured with plaster. Then we will paint the ceiling and refinish the floor. Just a few updates. Thank you for your generosity!

To conclude, I would like to congratulate two of our teens who have received the first ever Basilica Scholarship Award (name is still a work in progress): Ava Harbo and Nikko Flores. I decided to start this scholarship (with funds coming from the rental of the old rectory) in order to draw more of our Catholic families into the high school to keep the Catholic identity strong. This scholarship is awarded to students of this parish, or another local parish, who intend to attend SJND. These students participate actively in the life of the parish, by attending Mass regularly, and who exhibit a love for their faith and a desire to grow in it. Congratulations Ava and Nikko!

If you are a member of the parish and want to know more about our Catholic schools, and how we can help you send your kids to one of them, please reach out to me any time.

With much love,
Fr. Mario 

Dear St. Joseph Family,
I want to thank everyone who helped at the St. Joseph Feast Day celebrations last weekend, from the wine and cheese social, followed by David’s organ demonstration on Saturday, to the BBQ on Sunday. Thank you all! I need to call special attention to Gia De Grano, Eric Bertelsen, and Patrick Thong, the chairpersons for these events. In early February, the Pastoral Council briefly discussed the upcoming St. Joseph Day, but at that time, I didn’t have any plans to host a party. Gia and Eric offered to coordinate one if needed. Then a couple of weeks after that, Patrick asked me what I was planning for St. Joseph’s Day. I jokingly responded, “what are you going to plan?” He took me up on my challenge. And so, the four of us got together, and the rest is history. It was a really blessed weekend, and I hope you had an opportunity to enjoy a part of it, either the beautiful organ music, or the tasty food, but most importantly, our time together. Along with the Sacraments, the time we share together is crucial for our spiritual growth. Just as the Sacraments give us essential life-giving grace, so also, moments like the ones we enjoyed last weekend are critical to our development as persons. We need human contact, especially with people who share our faith. We need to laugh together, cry together, serve together, worship together. These are all moments of love, which point us to the Triune God, who is Love. I am so proud of this community for showing up for one another. 

Speaking of showing up for one another, we will be holding a communal penance service on Monday the 28th, beginning at 6:30 pm. This is a special time for us to gather together in the “wilderness” of Lent and support one another as we prepare our hearts and souls for a fervent celebration of Easter. We held a simple communal penance service in Advent, and it was beautiful. I’m sure this one will be as well. Over the last month or so I have spoken to four different faith formation groups on this amazing Sacrament (1st Communion prep, 1st and 2nd-year Confirmation, and Adult Confirmation). In case you have some trepidation about Confession, here is what I told those groups. First, Confession is not something we “have to do,” but something we “get to do.” Now, if we are aware of having committed grave sin, then we have to go to Confession, but Confession is still a gift. I invite people to think about it this way, look to John 20:19-23, the moment Jesus instituted this Sacrament. It came on the night of Easter, when the Apostles were still afraid for their own lives, and very much ashamed of having abandoned Jesus. What does Jesus say to them when He comes to them? “You messed up!”? No, rather, “Peace be with you.” Jesus gave this Sacrament to the Church not as a punishment, but as a healing remedy. He didn’t want the Apostles, or us, to be bound by the disappointment of our sins. He wanted us to be set free, He wanted us to have peace. So, He instructed us to confess our sins to priests, who is a representative of both Christ our Lord and the Church community. When we confess to a priest, a two-fold reconciliation takes place, with God and also with the other members of the community to whom we are so intimately bound. Even though our sins may be private, they affect the entire Body.  Confessing to a member of the Body restores Communion amongst us all.

No, we don’t have to go to Confession, we get to. When I spoke to those faith formation groups, I invited them to look up this image, Rembrandt’s painting, “The Return of the Prodigal Son” (see Luke 15:11-32). I told them, “this is what happens in Confession.” In the prayer of absolution, the Father embraces us through His Son, in the Holy Spirit. I told them to look up this image because this is the image I chose for my holy card for my ordination to the priesthood. I chose it to serve as a reminder to me of ministry as a confessor. But really, I chose it because this was, and continues to be, my experience when I confess my own sins. “He said to [the older brother]…but now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found’” (Lk 15:3132).  

You may have missed the St. Joseph BBQ, but now, take advantage of this opportunity to gather together once more, this time for a more important event. We are a community called to pray for one another, especially as we confess our sins. To prepare, you can find an Examination of Conscience here (https://sjbalameda.org/examination-of-consciencereconciliation). Go over this list slowly and prayerfully. If you recognize something on this list in your own life, don’t be afraid, confess it with courage, remembering that Confession is a healing remedy, an embrace from the Father that sets us on our feet, restores us to health, and gives us peace.  

With much love,
Fr. Mario 

Dear St. Joseph Family,

In my bulletin article last week (see March 13, 2022 message below), I wrote about the war in Ukraine and how in 1917 Our Lady of Fatima asked for Russia to be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart. On Friday, March 25, during the Penance Service in St. Peter’s Basilica (5 pm Rome time), Pope Francis will pray the prayer of consecration. The service is likely to be televised on the Vatican News YouTube channel here.

This weekend we celebrate the Feast Day of our patron, St. Joseph. We are blessed to be under his patronage, he who is the “Patron of the Catholic Church.” Wow, what a title. This title was given to Joseph by Pope Blessed Pius IX in 1870. Pope Francis celebrated the 150th anniversary of the giving of this title with “The Year of St. Joseph” in 2020. During that year several parishioners got together and read Fr. Donald Calloway’s book, “Consecration to St. Joseph.” They drew many benefits from this gathering. Their gatherings inspired me to start a gathering with the men in the parish, unofficially known as the “Men of St. Joseph.” This has led us to open the group up to the larger community as we go through the series “Into the Breach.” We have a lot to learn from St. Joseph. After all, he, along with Mary, was the main educator of Jesus Christ.

In his letter on the year of St. Joseph (Patris Corde, “A Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis notes two hallmarks of Joseph’s life: obedience and service. Faced with the challenge of Mary’s unforeseen pregnancy with a child not his own, Joseph is first of all attentive to God. Joseph could have succumbed to disappointment, rebellion, and fear, but he chose another path. Francis notes, “Even though Joseph’s fears, God’s will, his history and his plan were at work. Joseph, then, teaches us that faith in God includes believing that he can work even through our fears, our frailties and our weaknesses. He also teaches us that amid the tempests of life, we must never be afraid to let the Lord steer our course. At times, we want to be in complete control, yet God always sees the bigger picture.” Joseph was obedient. 

Joseph was also a servant, not passively, Francis notes, but courageously. Although the events unfolding around him were not what he had planned for, nevertheless, he embraced them, actively choosing to take responsibility for them, knowing that God would provide him with the strength he needed to see them through. Joseph chose to welcome Mary and her child and to protect them. Francis notes that this was the source of Joseph’s happiness, not that he got his way, not even that he sacrificed what he wanted, but that he chose to give himself away as a gift.

This is what Christ calls us to do, to become a gift to others. Here at St Joseph Basilica, there are many ways for you to do this. I hope you will join the community this Sunday at our St. Joseph Feast Day celebration in the high school quad at 1 pm. Many of our ministries will be present at tables to give you more information about what they do and how you can get involved. After two years of being distanced from one another, it is time to come together in the spirit of St. Joseph and serve. What’s more, some of our ministries are in need of replenishing their rosters. Like Joseph, who was courageous in his obedience, do not be afraid to heed the voice of God who calls us out to serve one another. 

Some updates on a couple of projects around the Basilica:

1. We have been receiving many parts of the sound system upgrade. Some of these parts are coming in ahead of schedule after being back-ordered. Some of the parts are still back-ordered. We will begin wiring the space for power soon. We hope to have the speakers installed by May.

2. Work to finish the Grotto has resumed, hopefully, to be completed within a month. The walls will receive a plaster finish that ties into the rock feature that houses the statue of our Lady of Lourdes. It will be a beautiful room for prayer and contemplation.

With much love,
Fr. Mario  

Dear St. Joseph Family,

As we watch the invasion of Ukraine unfold, we continue to pray for peace. Pope Francis has asked us to pray and especially fast for peace in Ukraine. One of the main messages our Lady shared with the shepherd children in Fatima was her desire for the conversion of Russia. Our Lady warned us then that, unless Russia was consecrated to her, peace would not be attained. That was in 1917. Obviously, our Lady’s request went unheeded. Last Friday, I was listening to a program on the Catholic radio station, Relevant Radio (1260 AM), called “Trending with Timmerie.” Timmerie is a young mother who offers insightful commentary on current events. She was talking about Ukraine and made a very compelling argument for why the Russian invasion is taking place. Here is the link to the 10 minute clip that I happened to hear: https://relevantradio.com/listen/ trending-with-timmerie/ 

If you scroll down to March 5, click on the link entitled, “Abortion’s Role in the Russia-Ukraine Crisis and China’s.” You read that right, abortion’s role. In a nutshell, Timmerie argues that Russian’s widespread use of abortion during Soviet rule has led to a “demographic winter,” which means that the rate of procreation is below the rate of replacement, meaning, children are not replacing their parents. This has happened in China as well, which is known for its 1 child policy (recently repealed), which resulted in untold forced abortions. During the 1960’s in Russia, 3 out of 4 (75%) children lost their lives to abortion. In the 1980s, 2 out of 3 (66%) were victims of abortion. In places that have experienced this “demographic winter,” where there aren’t enough people, where there aren’t enough women for the men to marry, history has shown us that war is a typical outcome. Ultimately, Timmerie concludes that Russia is invading Ukraine because “Russia needs people.” 

Timmerie says that the issue is a three-prong ideological problem that we must learn from and fight against. In places like Russia and China, (1) the dignity of the human person has been rejected, the result of a denial of God, which is a tenant of Socialism/Communism. (2) These Socialist societies have rejected the family and parents’ role in educating their children, resulting in the State’s authoritarian interventions, which (3) promote the widespread acceptance of abortion and contraception. Timmerie noted a staggering statistic, that in 1960, the worldwide average of children per mother was 5; now the worldwide average is 2.4. Some people argue that there are too many people on the Earth. The actions of Russia seem to point to a conflicting reality, there aren’t enough people. Whether this is correct, I do not know, but she makes a compelling argument. 

I bring this up (perhaps a little late if you’re reading this on Sunday) because there is a shared ministry between the Catholic Churches in Alameda that is standing up for the God-given dignity of the unborn and against the proliferation of abortion. Each second Saturday of the month, this group meets outside of City Hall to protest abortion generally, but also locally, an entity known as Advanced Bioscience Resources, a former government contractor who supplied fetal tissue procured from aborted babies to be used for research. The federal government worked to limit research done on fetal tissue in 2018; these restrictions were undone in 2021. You are invited to join this group in prayer every second Saturday at 9:30 am. 

As Timmerie says, “God’s vision for the human person, God’s vision for marriage, God’s vision for our children, is what will protect us from what’s happening in Russia, with what’s happening in China, and what will help us to be defenders of other nations, and not succumb to the same ideologies and theologies that are destroying people and the world today. This is how we will have peace, by yes, praying and begging for God’s help, but also by living out God’s vision for the human person.” 

This is one of the reasons why I wanted to host the men of the parish to watch “Into the Breach”, the video series produced by the Knights of Columbus. On Monday, about 20 of us watched the first two videos (“Masculinity” and “Brotherhood”), followed by a good discussion. Catholic men, you are invited to join us for the remainder of the sessions. Your role in your family and the community is critical. As Pope Saint John Paul II once said, “As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live.”  

With much love,
Fr. Mario 

Dear  St.  Joseph Family,
The last couple of weeks I have forgotten to write a bulletin article. The articles are due Wednesday morning, and the days have been moving so quickly I have just lost track of time. The week of Valentine’s Day was especially difficult for me. As you may be aware (since I announced her name at several Masses), a member of our parish passed away that week. Her name is Molly. She was 23 years old. Molly and her fiancé Drew had joined our parish about a year ago and attended the 9:30 am Mass. I was close to them especially because they were beginning marriage preparation. I was very excited to start this with them, as they were going to be the first couple to kick off the new program I had written about, Witness to Love. During that week, I visited Molly in the ICU at Washington Hospital in Fremont and prayed with her and Drew’s family. It was an exhausting week for them, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I want to thank you for your prayers. One of the mysteries of this tragic event is that Molly’s mother was getting word that people from all around the world were praying for her recovery. Sometimes life throws us for a loop. The events that confront us can sometimes be absurd and make no sense. But for those with faith, we know that even the worst tragedies can lead to something good. Molly was an organ donor. We were told that by her death, she will save six people.

During that week, I spoke with my sister about the events that were transpiring. She has an extensive background in ministering to grieving people, having worked many years at Children’s s Hospital Seattle as a social worker, and now as an advisor at a life life ’-- span navigation firm, helping families to gracefully navigate s most challenging circumstances. In our talks, we reflected on suffering, its meaning, and even its value yes, value. In moments like these, as we are confronted by our smallness and fragility, we are reminded of our need for God and our need for one another. It is in those moments that suffering points us to what is of value, the truth that even if we have to walk through crises, we are never abandoned or forgotten by God; He walks with us every step of the way. My sister opined,  “ I don’t know how secular people deal with grief."

In the midst of struggles, as they are happening, it can be so difficult to see God present. There were times that week when my prayers felt futile, but being with that family, praying with them, praying over Molly, sharing stories about her, it became clear that our prayers were being heard. I will hold that week close to my heart for the rest of my life. I shared with some of you that I felt like I learned more about being a priest in that week with that family than I did in seven years at the seminary. Thank you again for walking through it with us.

I share this story with you as we begin Lent because Lent can serve to remind us of similar truths. During Lent, we voluntarily practice mortifications (from the root word mort meaning death). We enter into the desert with Jesus with increased fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. We willingly choose to let go of life’s comforts as a way of reorienting ourselves to what is of value, friendship with God, and the life of faith, hope, and love. Don t be afraid of the desert in your life. Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable in your fragility, or to sit with your own struggles, and those of others. It is there that you will find God, and in doing so, find yourself.

With much love,
Fr. Mario

Dear St. Joseph family,

My apologies for not writing a bulletin letter the last two weeks. Time has been sneaking up on me. As a consolation, I wanted to share my homily from last Sunday with you. I think it will provide a helpful lens through which to view the upcoming season of Lent. As a season of penance, we are called to fast, to give things up. Why? These losses help focus us on what is truly important, that what we already possess - a relationship with God - is worth far more than the temporary things we cling to. Periodically in life, we lose things, or things are taken from us. That's ok. God is with us. We will never lose him.

Since the time I was ordained a deacon in 2017, I have never titled a homily, but I think this week I will. Maybe it has something to do with the Superbowl taking place last week, but I thought an appropriate title for this homily would be “The Biggest Loser.”
In actuality, this title is inspired by the Gospel passage from today, which is a continuation of last week’s passage from Jesus’ the Sermon on the Plain. In that passage last week, we heard Luke’s version of the Beatitudes (cf. Luke 6:17-23), in which Jesus drew our attention to several rather peculiar groups of people: the poor, the hungry, those who are weeping, those who are hated, excluded, insulted, and denounced on account of Him; the losers of the world. And I don’t mean that in a demeaning sort of way. I mean it quite literally. These people have all lost something, possessions, pleasure, power, prestige. And yet, the paradox of the Beatitudes is that each time Jesus mentions one of these groups, he pronounces them Blessed, meaning, that they are the truly happy ones. In a world that elevates these passing things to god-like status, Jesus says that the one who has lost all of them is the one who has actually won.

And now this week, Jesus continues this lesson (cf. Luke 6:27-38) by telling us that we ought to love our enemies, and do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who mistreat us. He tells us that we should allow people to strike us on one cheek and then offer the other one as well, and then let them take from us without asking for anything back. Not a very attractive offer if you ask me. It would be like an NFL scout saying to a young man coming out of college: you’ll practice all day, lift weights and do conditioning until you puke, get beat up by guys who are bigger, and stronger and faster than you, and we won’t pay you anything thing for it. Who would choose this? Jesus’ sermon on the plain confronts us with the same reality. He makes it sound like following Him is a constant and relentless uphill climb in which so much must be sacrificed, compared to so many other options in life that promise us a much easier way. And so, the question we have to ask ourselves is why should I choose this Christian way of life which inevitably leads to these voluntary humiliations and losses?

The short answer is because Jesus told us to, and what Jesus tells us to do is good. The more thorough answer, however, is that he is preparing us for something. Much like that football player, Jesus is training us, getting us into shape, putting us through practice. That’s why we “practice” our faith. We are preparing for something, but what? For life, for life out there, which confronts us with challenges, with temptations, with attacks, and with losses. Jesus is preparing us for these things, because despite them, He promised us something good, “I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). That life, abundant life, is a quality of life that comes only from following Jesus and allowing him to shape, and reshape us, into his own heavenly image, as St. Paul says in the 2^nd reading today.

This is why we come here, to be ready for out there, and if we make it out there, we’ll be ready for up there. Ultimately, heaven is what Jesus is preparing us for, which is the experience of being in God’s presence, of seeing Him face to face, the God who is love. And it’s these daily trials, these losses, that get us ready. Think about it this way: Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who mistreat you. Well, do you think that in heaven, in the presence of our God, who is perfect love, there is anyone who is angry? Jesus tells us to stop judging. Do you think that while in God’s presence in heaven there is anyone judging someone else, asking, “Why are you here?” Jesus tells us to forgive. Do you think that looking upon the One who forgave His Son’s betrayers and executioners (Luke 23:34), there is anyone in heaven who is holding a grudge? Jesus commands these difficult things from us, because He is getting us ready for the life to come, and in order to do that, he asks that we let some things go, that we surrender some things, that we practice losing.

Looking to St. Paul again, we find an apt image to help explain this mystery, the mystery of loss and gain. Paul was a man who willingly let go of much, a comfortable life; he willingly endured much suffering, all the while boasting in his trials and weaknesses, saying that it was when he was weak that he was truly strong (2 Cor 12:9-10). In his second letter to the Corinthians, he wrote to his community, reminding them that they were earthen vessels (cf. 2 Cor 4:5-7) who hold within themselves the treasure that is the Gospel; the good news that God has revealed himself to us, shining on the face of Jesus Christ. And this glorious light, as St. Paul says, shines within our hearts. What a gift. But being earthen vessels, we recognize that we have finite space to keep close the things of value, the things we desire. Paul’s radical message that changed the face of the earth was that it was Christ who lived in him (Gal 2:20), which was only possible after much practice emptying himself out (cf. 2 Tim 4:6).
 “He must increase. I must decrease” (John 3:30), said John the Baptist. That requires a loss of something, an emptying out of ourselves, our desires, our passions, our sins, even our plans, and sometimes our dreams, as good and holy as they oftentimes may be. When Jesus was ministering to the crowds, he told them, “whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Mt 10:39). What a loss, and yet, what a victory.

And our Catholic Church is not short of victors, who like St. Paul, let go, not without struggle, but with courage and grace, nonetheless. These are the saints, the blessed ones, who knew that when the vessel of their life was emptied of something, it didn’t have to stay that way; that something else, something good, perhaps even something better, could take its place. I often think of St. Maximillian Kolbe who was sent to Auschwitz during WWII. He sacrificed himself, willingly giving up his own life so that a father could live, and when Maximillian was insulted by the guards, “who is this dog?” they asked him, he did not return an insult, but replied, “I am a Catholic priest.” What love. “No greater love has a man than this, to lie down his life for his friends” (John 15:13), Jesus told us. What victory, what gain. Maximillian was ready for heaven, because he had already been living it on earth.

   Is it easy to be a Catholic? No, it is difficult. In a world that offers us so much, we are asked by our Lord to deny ourselves, to empty ourselves, to lose ourselves, to die to ourselves. This takes humility. When someone slaps us on the face, we are humbled, we are embarrassed, we lose something: our confidence, our self-esteem, our pride. But Jesus tells us that we are not to try to replace what has been taken away, because in that fragile vessel of our heart where that thing once lived, a space has been created for the Gospel, for the light that is Christ to take possession of. A place for love, for goodness, for blessing, for generosity, for mercy. And when this happens in our own lives, this repetition of emptying and filling up with the things of God we draw closer to heaven.

So, I ask you, have you lost something in your own life? Has something been taken from you? Have you ever felt like a loser? Well, it’s ok to admit that. Jesus lost something too. He was struck on the cheek; He had his cloak torn from his body; He was judged unjustly and condemned. We could say that He was the biggest loser of us all. But because he lost so much, he was free within to be completely filled with what truly mattered, His Father’s love. And in turn, He loved those people who mistreated him, he forgave them, and in doing so, he showed us that he hadn’t lost anything at all. He had brought heaven down to earth.

So remember, if life knocks you down,  if it chews you up and spits you out, if it takes away something, you have not lost everything, God is with you. And if you let go of these things, trusting in Him and his light, then the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you. A good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.

Dear St. Joseph family,
Last week we had some problems with our bulletin. Apparently, the company that prints the bulletins ran low on ink and was unable to deliver the usual number of bulletins. Thus, I would like to recap a little of what I shared last week. Last week I shared an article from the SF Chronicle about the family from Haiti that will be living in our community, in one of the apartments above Blue Dot Café. Here is the original article in case you missed it.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/A-Haitian-family-risked-their-lives-to-make-it-to-16695358.php

And here is a second article, which gives an update on the mother’s birth:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/Is-a-Haitian-family-s-struggle-to-reunite-in-16827232.php

As you read these articles, it is crucial to keep in mind a couple of the key tenets of Catholic Social Teaching, the dignity of the human person and solidarity. Why do we help people in need? Because of our inherent dignity. We are made in the image and likeness of God (Latin, imago dei), which means we are made for God, to know God, to know God’s love for us, and to make a free choice to love God in return. Each and every person is created for this purpose and for this end. When we look at one another, especially the poorest and most neglected, we ought to see each other the way God sees us, with this inherent dignity; we were made for God, who cherishes each of us with an inestimable love.

From this truth flows the principle of solidarity. Being made in the imago dei, being made for God who is Trinity, we are made for community. The Trinity is a community of persons who give themselves to others completely. God the Father and God the Son give themselves to each other completely, and as a result a third Divine Person, the Holy Spirit, proceeds. Being made in the imago dei, we have an innate desire to live in communities, to give ourselves to others, and to receive the gift others make of themselves to us. Solidarity is a recognition of this interdependence, that we cannot exist on our own, that we need one another. The poor, the refugee, the isolated need us, and in a mysterious way, we need them, for through them, we learn to love and in doing so, meet God.

On a separate note, you may have heard of Governor Newsom’s decision to let the mask mandate expire for vaccinated persons. See the website for Alameda County’s Public Health Department and how this decision affects us:

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx

This means that next Sunday you may see many people inside the basilica not wearing masks. This doesn’t mean you have to stop wearing your mask, only that it is no longer required for vaccinated people. As for the outdoor quad Mass, masks are not required for anyone, but if you wish to continue to wear your mask, please feel free. At this time, I am not sure how the Diocese will respond to this news and if they will require masks for certain ministers; I will keep you posted on this.

Lastly, the furnaces in the basilica have been installed and are working. Thanks be to God!

With much love,
​​​​​​​Fr. Mario
 

Dear St. Joseph Family,

Several months ago, I wrote to you about a plan to rent out the San Antonio house (formerly the priests’ residence) to a local group, The Oakland Catholic Worker (OCW). For several months in the Fall, OCW resided there, but decided it would be better for them to rent a place closer to their main facility in Oakland. Since then, God has provided us another opportunity to participate in the spreading of the Gospel. In early January, I notified you that a local Alameda ministry, Shelter in Peace, would be renting an apartment from the parish that is above Blue Dot Café. We now know who the family is who will be residing in that apartment, a Haitian Mother and three children, who fled Haiti in 2016 for Chile, and came to the United States in the Fall via the Southern Border, a perilous six-week journey through 10 countries. Here is the link to the entire article about them from the SF Chronicle. Please read it to learn more about them and their journey.

(Photo: Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle)
https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/A-Haitian-family-risked-their-lives-to-make-it-to-16695358.php#photo-21817639

This family’s story fits in well with something the Church is celebrating this week, National Marriage Week. Their story is about a husband and wife who are risking literally everything for their children. This is what husbands and wives are called to do; it is their mission, to give of themselves to their spouse, and to their children. And this is a difficult task; marriage is hard! But when God created marriage, He endowed it with special gifts and graces to help couples carry out their mission. Those who are bound together in the Sacrament of Matrimony especially, are united in a special way to Christ so that their love is taken up into His own. So, let us pray for our married couples who have been entrusted with the task of being mothers and fathers, and of leading each other to heaven.

Last week I notified you about the rollout of a new marriage preparation ministry. Holy marriages are obviously something that I want to foster here at St. Joseph. But really it is all the vocations that we should be praying for and encouraging, which include the religious life, single life and priesthood. At the end of the month, St. Patrick’s Seminary will be hosting a discernment retreat for young men who are thinking about priesthood. If you are one of these men or have any questions about discerning your vocation, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. This is what I am here for.

Lastly, we have finally begun installing the new furnaces in the Basilica. It took some time to get the contract worked up from the Diocese, but work has started! Thank you for your patience.

With much love,
Fr. Mario

Dear St. Joseph Family,

In my bulletin article for the Feast of the Epiphany (the first weekend of January), I mentioned how I would be working to implement a new marriage preparation ministry called Witness to Love. You can explore the website here. I am happy to announce that the ministry is up and running. It is important for me to bring this to your attention because, as I mentioned in that bulletin article, the genius behind Witness to Love is that it revolves around the engaged couple choosing a mentor couple to walk with them, and this mentor couple can be any couple from the parish. If you are a married couple in the parish, that could be you. On the website, the creators of the program explain the importance of a mentor-based program this way:

In the most recent Synod [on the family] there was a call for a Marriage Catechumenate to address the reality of isolation and lack of parish involvement that is leading to so many divorces of today’s young couples. Witness to Love addresses this urgent pastoral issue so engaged couples experience the Church not as strangers, but as a committed and life-giving family of faith. Mentors who meet the basic requirements of this model become an essential part of the catechumenate team as the “trusted” means of communicating what must be revealed about marriage through Jesus to the engaged couple. Trust is required to believe that marriage is a means of salvation that should always be indissoluble, unitive, and procreative. It is within the trusted relationship between the mentors and the engaged that the marriage remains strong, is formed from love, is strengthened by good catechesis and is nourished by prayers and a sacramental life. Deep conversations, encounters with Christ, and renewal are available consistently for both the mentors and engaged couple.

If you are asked to be a mentor couple, and feel unprepared, do not be afraid. The program has everything you need. You do not need to be a theologian or expert in marriage counseling. The main requirement is that you are committed to supporting the engaged couple.

These are the other “basic requirements” for being a mentor couple. A mentor couple is a couple:

• Whom the engaged couple both admire.
• Whom the engaged couple both are comfortable with. 
• Who practices and is active in their Catholic Faith. 
• Who attends church regularly. 
• Who has been married in the Church for five years or more. 
• Who are in good standing with the Church (i.e., married in the Church). 
• Whom the engaged can look at and say “I would be happy to have a marriage like that,” or “I love the way they talk to each other and to their kids.” 
• Who attends the same parish where the engaged couple will be attending after the wedding. 
• Whom the engaged couple feels will hold them accountable, inspire them, and challenge them. 
• Who is, preferably, not an immediate relative. 
• Who will take their role seriously. 
• Who is not a peer or a “buddy.”

Dear St. Joseph Family,
I would like to share the “poem” by Howard Thurman that I mentioned in my homily last weekend. Feel free to cut it out and put it on your refrigerator or use as a bookmark.



I am really impressed by this idea of prolonging the Christmas message. Personally, I find it hard to move away from the Christmas season, but if you are like me, this truth, which Thurman speaks of, can help. The message, and the work, of Christmas continue because the work of Christmas is the work of salvation. This is why Jesus Christ was born, to save us, which, on the one hand, He did once and for all 2,000 years ago, never to be repeated. And yet, in a mysterious way, He calls us to experience this work anew, to be witnesses of it unfolding in our lives, and on a deeper level, to also be participants in His work. Not that we are to be the saviors of others, but rather, conduits of Christ’s saving love. Through our concrete acts of love (kindness, patience, mercy, etc.), which can be the ordinary, daily tasks we carry out, the love of God flows, which in turn draws people into an encounter with the Savior, much like what happened with the shepherds, who, after encountering the Christ child, went and proclaimed this news to their region (cf. Luke 2:20). This work is ongoing, and you are called to participate in it fully. Don’t lose sight of this mission now that the Christmas season has passed. There are many lost still to be found; many broken that need a healing touch; many hungry (both physically and spiritually) who need to be fed. Sometimes, these people are in our own homes.

Having shared this poem, I would like to also remind you of my four expectations for Mass for this new year, as I see them as simple ways to enter more fully into this mission of participating in the work of salvation. Mass is where Christ draws us most completely into this work, and so, we must prepare well. If we do, then we will have a more fruitful celebration of Mass, which in turn leads to a more fruitful sharing, and proclamation of the Gospel.

You can find my longer explanations of these expectations from the original bulletin on the first Sunday of Advent, which can be found on our website.

1. Read the readings sometime before Mass, preferably several times throughout the week. God speaks to us through Scripture, and He will say something to you as you read ahead.
2. Wear your “Sunday Best.” Be intentional about picking special clothes to wear to the most special thing you will do all week, Mass. Yes, Mass is the most special thing you will do all week!
3. Arrive to Mass early. At Mass, Christ enters into our midst and presides over our ceremony. We have to be prepared to welcome Him into our church and into our hearts. Try your best not to rush to Mass, but prepare a calm heart for Him with a few minutes of silent prayer in the church.
4. Participate boldly. This is the fruit of prayerful preparation. If we are conscious that Christ is leading us in worship, we won’t be able to resist singing and saying our responses with joy! Do not be shy about participating in Mass. The world does not need shy Catholics, but joyful ones.

With much love,
Fr. Mario

Dear St. Joseph Family,

My prayers are with you as we continue to forge further ahead into this surge of the most recent Covid variant, Omicron. I ask that you increase your prayers for health care workers especially. We have many of these valiant people in our community, and I know that the stress they are under at this time is a significant burden to bear. Pray for them, and reach out to them, offering words of encouragement, as well as other forms of support, like a homecooked meal. During this time, we may feel the temptation to further distance ourselves from one another, and while we may need to be more cautious when it comes to physical distancing, we should not sacrifice the social connections that are so vital to our wellbeing, connections that, at a minimum, can be easily maintained through the technology we all possess.

I would like to take this time to focus on a special group of people who have helped me through the pandemic since its beginning; you know them as the BRAT (Business Resumption Advisory Team). For almost two years now the BRAT has helped me wade through the plethora of public health and diocesan notifications and regulations in order to come up with protocols that fit our parish. They helped me design drive-through Communion, and the return to indoor Mass, which to my knowledge, did not result in one outbreak of Covid, unlike at some other religious institutions around the area. This was due to the BRAT’s diligence. What other parish had three separate seating sections, as we had at our outdoor Mass, to give at-risk persons a little extra buffer of protection?

It may seem counter-intuitive, but at this time, I have decided to bring the BRAT to a close. After nearly two years, I, like all of you, have developed a greater knowledge of the virus and of what steps we can take to mitigate its spread. With the measures we have in place, thanks to the BRAT’s assistance, and with the medical interventions available to us (vaccines/therapeutics, effective masking), we will make it through this surge.

This does not mean that I am letting my guard down. I will continue to monitor the circumstances closely, as well as consult with trusted individuals on a needs-be basis. Together, we will use the knowledge we have acquired to keep ourselves and others safe, and remember, the obligation to attend Mass does not apply to those who are sick. Stay home if you develop cold/flu-like symptoms.

Please join me in thanking the BRAT, all of whom not only volunteered for this ministry, but also either had another position in the parish, or volunteered to take on other volunteer positions. They are Eric Bertelsen (usher coordinator), Teresa Courville (usher at 9:30 Mass), Gia DeGrano (usher at 9:30 Mass), Anne Marie Fourre (director of Faith Formation), and Stan Schonberg (Business Manager). Thank you all!

Switching gears, I want to mention the Walk for Life, which will be held on Saturday, January 22. The Walk, which began in 2005, has steadily grown. Beginning with roughly 7,000 attendees, it has reached an estimated 50,000 in recent years. The message of protecting the life of the unborn is not going away, but is only getting stronger, as people come to see that abortion not only ends the life of an innocent individual, but also hurts the parents as well. As an educated, advanced society, we should be able to offer more choices for these parents, choices that seek to preserve life and prevent a lifetime of emotional pain. This is a tragic issue, but you should feel a sense of pride that many of the leaders of this movement are Catholics, especially Catholic women. These people are guided by our faith, which sheds light on the fundamental truth that all people, no matter how young or how old, deserve respect, since they are made in the image and likeness of God. All people have an inherent dignity and value that is priceless and must be preserved. Unfortunately, not everyone, not even all Catholics, are in accord with the Church’s teaching on this issue. Thus, I would like to suggest that, if you are in this group, you consider attending the Walk, which begins with a rally in Civic Center Plaza on Saturday the 22nd at 12:30 pm, followed by the walk to the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero. Come and experience the people (whose numbers may be diminished this year due to the Covid surge). Come see the families, the young adults, the women, who are there to pray for those who have been impacted by abortion, and for its end.

If you cannot make it to the Walk, or are not comfortable attending, then consider joining us for an evening of Eucharistic Adoration the week leading up to the Walk, or for silent Adoration on the day of. You might even look into the leading ministries of the pro-life movement, like Students for Life and Liveaction, or the life of some of the leaders of the pro-life movement, like Abby Johnson, a former employee of Planned Parenthood, who left that job after what she experienced there. Her testimony led to the creation of the movie, Unplanned, which is available on Amazon.

The Church teaches that this issue is the preeminent issue because it is a direct attack on human life. Therefore, let us pray for the courage to face this issue, and to do what we can to help make a difference, by prayer, and by reaching out to help parents who find themselves faced with an unplanned pregnancy. Three local ministries you can get involved with are 40 Days for Life, Birthright of Concord, and Options Health. These people and their child deserve our help, and we have much to offer them.

With much love,
Fr. Mario

Dear St. Joseph Family,

Happy Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord. With this celebration comes the conclusion of the Christmas season. As I remarked in my bulletin letter for Christmas Day, it is a peculiar notion for the Church to include our Lord’s baptism in the season that focuses on his birth. And yet, this is what the Christmas season is all about. It is about orienting us to the reason why He was born, why he was sent to us by the Father, his mission, which is what we profess every Sunday in the Creed: “For us men, and for our salvation, He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit, was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man.” He was born to save us. C.S. Lewis, the 20th century English author put it this way, that Christ’s coming as a child in the outpost of Bethlehem was akin to a ruler sneaking behind enemy lines to reclaim his rightful rule. And this did not happen right away; the Christ child needed time to grow and mature, but when the time had come, Christ was baptized as a sign that it was time to accomplish His mission of salvation.

As we celebrate our Lord’s baptism, I invite you to ponder the meaning of your own baptism. Pope Saint John Paul II once said that his baptism day was the most important day of his life. Why? Because this day marked a new beginning for us, and set us out on a new trajectory. For one, our baptism conformed us more to Christ as we became adopted sons and daughters of the father; we inherited His Holy Spirit and became His temple. What’s more, we became like Christ in that we too were given a mission, a mission that we hear proclaimed by the Prophet Isaiah from Sunday’s first reading: “Comfort, give comfort to my people” (Is 40:1). We are called and sent like Christ to be heralds of the Good News that God has come to us to comfort us, to shepherd us, his flock, whom he gathers, carries and leads with care (Is 40:11). This message is yours to share. It was tasked to you on the day of your baptism, that most important day of your life, which is why I always encourage people to find out the day of their baptism and to celebrate it. Mine is December 20th.

As your shepherd, I am always looking for ways for us to participate in the mission given to us by our Lord. Last year I notified the parish that we would be partnering with the Oakland Catholic Worker (OCW) by offering them the old rectory residence on San Antonio Avenue. I moved out of that residence about a year ago and moved into the residence above the offices in hopes to put that space to better use. In August OCW moved in; you may remember meeting the family one Sunday after Mass. Since then, the community there has discerned that the San Antonio house does not satisfy their housing needs. They relayed to me that it is a lovely residence, but it is just a little too far away from their community in Oakland. Thus, they will be moving out shortly. Although I was saddened to hear this, I believe this is the right move for OCW, and we will continue to support them however we can as they will now try to find housing closer to their headquarters.

Moving ahead, the plan is to place the San Antonio house on the market for any interested party to rent. But this does not mean that our charitable mission has come to an end, quite the opposite. Toward the end of November, the Welcome the Stranger ministry approached me and asked if they could temporarily use one of our apartments above the Blue Dot café to house a refugee family from Afghanistan, a family which had been evacuated from the Kabul Airport in August. I let them use the apartment for $1. This arrangement has worked out so well, that Welcome the Stranger has asked to rent the apartment long-term, for slightly more money.

As a parish, we have been blessed with these commercial and residential properties; I am not sure of any other parish that has something like this. We could take full advantage of these and rent them to obtain maximum profit, but our mission as a Church calls us to something different. Our faith teaches us that material goods are not ends in themselves, but are to be used for the good of other people. We are called to be stewards of these things, of property and money so that they can further the proclamation of the Gospel. God gives them to us so that He can help us to bring that mission to fulfillment, to comfort the people who are in need, as Christ comforts us.

With much love,
Fr. Mario

P.S. As the Coronavirus continues to surge, the recommendation to wear N95 or KN95 masks is becoming more prominent. Besides those, surgical masks are recommended. Cloth masks do not provide as much protection as these. Consider making the change to a more protective mask, as well as taking a supplement of Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Zinc (in consultation with your doctor).

Dear St. Joseph Family,

Happy New Year! The new year is always an exciting time because of the implied potential for all of us to make a new start. Although a new start can happen at any time during the year, there is something about a new calendar year that inspires us to make the necessary changes; to eat better, to exercise more, to turn off the tv and read a book periodically. The question is, will we stick with these resolutions? As we make these important changes in our daily lives, consider making some spiritual changes as well. Don’t just eat better food at mealtime, come to daily Mass if you can and be nourished by the Bread of Life. Don’t just exercise your body, exercise your spirit with increased daily prayer; start small, five minutes a day. You can try sitting in a quiet place, and lighting some candles before a crucifix or an icon, and simply repeating in your mind the name of Jesus. This is an ancient practice that I practice in my daily prayers. Lastly, get involved, volunteer for something, join the Knights of Columbus or St. Vincent de Paul, or even usher at Mass. When I finished college, I began to participate more at church, attending daily Mass and singing as a cantor; this changed my life for the better. More frequent participation in the life of the Church, in the Sacraments, in prayer, will change your life too.

As we enter into the new year, I have two ministries I would like to start to help our parish grow, which I will need your help to get going. The first is called Alpha. Alpha was developed in England and has grown worldwide. It is an evangelization ministry that takes place over 11-weeks, consisting of a meal, followed by a short video on the faith, and concludes with a discussion. Alpha provides a casual, non-judgmental environment for people to explore Christianity, and can take place in the parish, homes, cafes, or restaurants.

The second ministry is a marriage preparation program called Witness to Love. Marriage prep is one of my favorite things to do as a priest, but couples preparing for marriage need guidance from married couples. Witness to love does this, and in a very unique way, by having the engaged couple choose a mentor couple who will walk with them through the program. Parishes that have implemented Witness to Love have seen much growth and invigoration, not just in the couples preparing for marriage, but in the entire community, since mentor couples are chosen from any willing couple in the parish.

These programs will keep us busy growing spiritually, but we have to continue to grow physically, and by that, I mean the physical property. We have several maintenance projects on the horizon in addition to the replacement of the furnaces and the ongoing sanctuary/altar project. This project will resume shortly with a second round of presentations for those who are new to our parish. Our sound system project hit a snag when we found out that the speakers would be delayed due to the microchip shortage. We expect to resume work on updating the sound system in the Spring. The roofs on the belltower and the office/rectory have leaks, and maintenance will be taking place to fix these. As for now, I am making periodic trips into the attic to empty buckets of water after it rains. It goes without saying that this will be a busy new year. At one point, this parish had a facilities committee; I think now is the time to begin that again, and so, if you have experience in building construction/maintenance/contracting, I welcome your assistance.

When you have a 100-year-old building, you have issues like these, which all require significant amounts of money. If only we had a wise man to bring us a gift of gold now as he did for Jesus at His birth. Alas, we do not; but we have each other. And so, I end this letter at the beginning of the year with a word of thanks. Thank you for giving so generously to the parish. Your generosity allows us to maintain this historic building that so many have called home for so long, and that many more will be able to call home for years to come. I look forward to growing with you spiritually in the new year. Happy New Year!

With much love,
Fr. Mario