Exerpt from Pope Benedict XVI's Message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations

A fundamental element, one which can be seen in every vocation to the priesthood and the consecrated life, is friendship with Christ. Jesus lived in constant union with the Father and this is what made the disciples eager to have the same experience; from him they learned to live in communion and unceasing dialogue with God. If the priest is a “man of God”, one who belongs to God and helps others to know and love him, he cannot fail to cultivate a deep intimacy with God, abiding in his love and making space to hear his Word. Prayer is the first form of witness which awakens vocations. Like the Apostle Andrew, who tells his brother that he has come to know the Master, so too anyone who wants to be a disciple and witness of Christ must have “seen” him personally, come to know him, and learned to love him and to abide with him.

Another aspect of the consecration belonging to the priesthood and the religious life is the complete gift of oneself to God. The Apostle John writes: “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and therefore we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren”(1 Jn. 3:16).

With these words, he invites the disciples to enter into the very mind of Jesus who in his entire life did the will of the Father, even to the ultimate gift of himself on the Cross. Here, the mercy of God is shown in all its fullness; a merciful love that has overcome the darkness of evil, sin and death. The figure of Jesus who at the Last Supper, rises from the table, lays aside his garments, takes a towel, girds himself with it and stoops to wash the feet of the Apostles, expresses the sense of service and gift manifested in his entire existence, in obedience to the will of the Father (cf. Jn. 13: 3-15).

In following Jesus, everyone called to a life of special consecration must do his utmost to testify that he has given himself completely to God. This is the source of his ability to give himself in turn to those whom Providence entrusts to him in his pastoral ministry with complete, constant, and faithful devotion, and with the joy of becoming a companion on the journey to so many brothers and sisters, enabling them too to become open to meeting Christ, so that his Word may become a light to their footsteps. The story of every vocation is almost always intertwined with the testimony of a priest who joyfully lives the gift of himself to his brothers and sisters for the sake of the Kingdom of God. This is because the presence and words of a priest have the ability to raise questions and to lead even to definitive decisions (cf. John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis, 39)

Phase 2 of SJB's Stained Glass Windows

Dear Friends in Christ,

The second phase of our stained glass windows should be completed in a few weeks. There are two distinct areas where these windows will be installed, at the front entrance, and the eight small windows above the sanctuary.

Above the front entrance, the large window in the choir loft will depict the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove hovering over the scene of the Baptism of Jesus which is depicted in the bronze doors below. At the very peak of the window is the creative hand of God gesturing downward. These higher windows depict the heavenly sphere, the dwelling place of God.

In the windows below, alongside the bronze doors you will see a continuation of the water and riverbanks that form a background to the scene on the bronze doors. Thus, the water in the lower parts of the six “saints” windows continues throughout as a sign of the water of Baptism whereby we are joined to Christ and become members of His Church.

The eight small windows high above the sanctuary continue the view of the heavenly sphere. The angels that adore before God’s throne are there; they are constantly praising Him. Their postures will portray various attitudes of prayer, from silent adoration to pious supplication. Please stop by the displays in the church vestibule today. You will see some color drawings of the new windows. I’m sure you will agree that they will enhance our place of worship, worthy of the house of God.

As you view these drawings, please remember to offer a prayer of gratitude for our generous donor who made this possible.

A happy and blessed Easter season to you and your family.

Fr. Hildebrand

New Archbishop of Los Angeles

Dear Friends in Christ,

The appointment of Archbishop José Gomez as coadjutor to the Archbishop of Los Angeles may prompt some questions. What is a coadjutor? What is the difference between a bishop and an archbishop, a diocese and an archdiocese?

First, a coadjutor bishop is appointed by the Pope to assist the bishop, like an adjutant to a military commander. He may, as in the case of Archbishop Gomez, also have the right to succeed the present bishop. Since the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest in the country the Holy See has wisely decided to give Cardinal Mahony’s successor a “breaking in” period of nearly a year so that he can become familiar with the tasks that await him when he takes charge next year.

The word “diocese” comes from a Greek word which means an administrative division. A diocese is usually a territory over which a bishop exercises ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The Diocese of Orange, where we live, comprises Orange County and Bishop Tod Brown is the ordinary. Some dioceses cover a larger territory, even several counties.

An “archdiocese”, you might imagine, is a larger or more important ecclesiastical jurisdiction. It is like the “capital” of an ecclesiastical province and is headed by an archbishop. Los Angeles is an archdiocese because of its size (it’s the largest in the U.S.) and importance. An archbishop, like other bishops, has immediate jurisdiction only over his archdiocese. However, he does have the right to convoke a provincial council of his bishops and others may appeal to him for decisions made on the diocesan level. Dioceses are grouped into ecclesiastical “provinces” and the archdiocese is the metropolitan see which presides over the province. For example, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and the Dioceses of Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Fresno, and Monterey form the ecclesiastical province of Los Angeles.

Archbishop Gomez is going to have a huge task ahead of him in serving such a large and diverse archdiocese like Los Angeles. Let’s keep him in our prayers that the Lord will give him spiritual strength.

Fr. Hildebrand

Easter

Dear Friends in the Risen Christ,

Can you imagine Easter without the risen Christ? What if Christ had remained dead in the grave? St. Paul responded to this theory by declaring, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain. You are still in your sins” (I Cor. 15, 17).

If Christ had not risen from the dead, there would be no Easter, only “good?” Friday. But not a good day for Jesus and his followers because he, an innocent man, had been brutally killed by an angry mob. He would have passed into the history books as a tragic figure. A world without Easter would be a world without justice where only the clever and powerful survive and the poor and weak are crushed. There would be no hope for humankind beyond this world. The stage would be set for the victory of evil.

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (I Cor. 15, 20). St. Paul and the other Apostles were witnesses who actually saw the risen Christ. They attested to the fact that He appeared to them and showed the marks of the nails. The signs of His passion and death became the tokens of His victory over death. He indeed has risen and our faith is vindicated. From His resurrection follow some wonderful effects.

First, heaven, which had remained closed to humankind, was now open again. Christ broke open the gates of hell and led out all those from the Old Testament who had waited patiently for His coming.

Secondly, Christ’s resurrection makes it possible for all to share in His resurrection. He is the firstborn from the dead, but not the last. We hope to share in His resurrection at the end of the world when “the dead will be raised incorruptible” (I Cor. 15, 52). This is the hope we have for all of our loved ones who have died and for ourselves. For the attainment of this hope we must strive to live in obedience to God’s commandments.

A third effect of the resurrection of Christ is our justification. Christ died for all, “the just for the sake of the unjust” (I Peter 3, 18). By our Baptism into Christ’s death we are joined to Him and our sins are forgiven. We have the possibility of reaching heaven, our true home. The other sacraments also have their power from Christ’s death and resurrection.

In different ways they contribute to our justification so that we can enjoy the friendship of God even here on earth. Besides these and other personal benefits, the resurrection of Christ is
a strong motive for evangelization. The message of the risen Christ is not for us alone; it must be shared with others so that they may know the hope to which we are called, eternal life. This exciting message should be on our lips and in our hearts as we celebrate the joy of Easter. May the graces of this greatest of feasts lead us to proclaim to our brothers and sisters that Christ is alive. He lives for ever. Alleluia!

Fr. Hildebrand

Holy Communion

Dear Friends in Christ,

Now that the flu season is almost over, we will again provide Communion under both species at Mass. This will begin on Easter Sunday (including the Easter Vigil Mass). Over the past months when Communion was distributed under the species of bread alone we were not “deprived” of the fullness of the Sacrament. We should be aware that the Catholic teaching on the form of Holy Communion is that “Christ, whole and entire, and the true Sacrament, is received even under only one species, and consequently that as far as the effects are concerned, those who receive under only one species are not deprived of any of the grace that is necessary for salvation.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #282).

Further, due to the danger of infection from the flu virus, the parish priests judged it prudent to take extra precautions by providing hand cleanser and avoiding hand contact at the Sign of Peace. With the flu danger waning it is possible, according to the culture and customs of the people gathered and in keeping with our Roman Catholic heritage to exchange a gesture of peace in a “sober manner.” A physical exchange such as a handshake or hug is an appropriate manner for our local culture, however a simple verbal exchange may also be appropriate, especially for those who are sick.

Holy Communion under the species of bread and wine will be administered at the following Sunday Masses:

• Sat. 6:30 PM in Vietnamese,
  
• Sun. 9:30 and 11 AM in English, and 2 PM in Spanish.
  

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Mary, Mother of God

Dear Friends in Christ,

If you have seen the movie The Passion of the Christ you know that one of the most striking persons in the film apart from Jesus is Mary, His Mother. She appears in a doleful cameo all along the way of His suffering. The movie makes clear what our Catholic tradition has always held, that Mary accompanied Jesus in all of His sufferings. What Jesus experienced in His body
Mary experienced in her heart.

We cannot imagine the interior sufferings she endured from Thursday night through Saturday. From the cruel scourging, the crowning with thorns, the journey to Calvary, the nails, the spear, and finally to the descent from the cross, she was there with her Son. What a torrent of sorrow for the sinless Mother! And yet she is described in the famous hymn: “At the cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last.” In spite of all the sufferings she endured she was able to stand by the cross. What a model of constancy and inner strength in the face of suffering!

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary remind us that Jesus suffered the worst that human cruelty could devise. Mary was also there; she remained even when the Apostles fled in fear. Her compassionate heart was totally united with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. When we suffer let us remember Jesus and Mary. Our Christian faith should strengthen us in the hour of suffering because Jesus and Mary also went through terrible sufferings. Yes, our God is great not only because of his power and majesty but also because He has become one like us “in everything but sin”. And this “everything” includes suffering. We may not have an answer to human suffering, but we have a God who accompanies us in this “valley of tears”. Christianity is the religion of hope even in the midst of sorrows. In that hope let us continue our Lenten journey
with confidence.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Lent

Dear Friends in Christ,

How is your motivation now that we are 2 ½ weeks into Lent? Have you been faithful to your resolutions so far? Have you slacked off and given up? Don’t lose hope; probably a lot of other people feel the same way. Lenten practices can be renewed and revised. As for motivation, let’s examine why penance is important in our spiritual life.

First of all we have the example of Jesus Himself whose entire life and especially His death was penitential. He was born in a cave. He lived with Mary and Joseph in poverty for most of His life. During His public ministry He declared, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head”(Matt. 8:20). Finally, He died tripped of everything and was even buried in someone else’s tomb. He suffered hunger and thirst and exposure to the elements. And yet Jesus was innocent, free from all sin. He was in no way obliged to do penance to make up for His own sins. As the prophet says, “By his stripes we were healed” (Isaiah 53:5). He suffered; we benefit from those sufferings.

Now let us look at our own situation. We were baptized, which removes all sin and the punishment due to sin (Catechism #1263). However, we are responsible for the sins committed after Baptism. That is why the Church provides for us the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession, so that by confessing our sins we may have them forgiven. Now Confession is not like Baptism, which also removes the punishment due to sin. We confess our sins and receive absolution; after confession we receive a “penance” from the priest. The penance usually consists of prayers and other good works that we complete after leaving the confessional. This is an essential part of the Sacrament of Reconciliation because we not only need forgiveness of our sins, we also need to make reparation for the sins we committed.

Here is an example: A man steals a car, but then is sorry and asks the owner to forgive him. Let’s suppose the owner forgives him. That’s not the end of the thief’s obligations. He has to return the stolen car. Most of our sins don’t have to do with material injustices like stealing, but we still have the obligation to make reparation, either in this life or the next (purgatory) for our sins of anger, pride, lust, intemperance, lying, and any others which offend God and neighbor.

The penances we receive in confession are usually much lighter than what we deserve. In other words, we can’t expect that we will make up for the sins we commit just by saying a few prayers. The season of Lent is our opportunity to make reparation for our sins and even the sins of others, including the deceased. This is possible because of the grace won for us by Christ Who permits the merits of His Passion and Death to be shared through the Church.

Let us look on the cross of Christ to see the price He paid for our sins. United with Him and strengthened by His grace let us continue our Lenten penances, especially our charity. We shall then have greater joy in celebrating the Lord’s Resurrection.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

2nd phase of our new stained glass windows

Dear Friends in Christ,

When you look up to the choir loft or toward the front doors of the church you will see clear glass. This is part of the preparation for the second phase of our new stained glass windows. These windows will complement the bronze doors which depict the baptism of Jesus. Since the Lenten Season is a time of preparation to renew our Baptismal promises, I thought you might like to hear how the new stained glass windows can relate to our spiritual journey.

The large central window behind the choir will have the traditional symbol of the Holy Spirit, the dove hovering in flight. The Spirit is the Sanctifier, Who anointed Jesus as the Christ and prepared Him for His public ministry. At our Baptism the Holy Spirit fills our souls with sanctifying grace and prepares us for our life’s journey toward the kingdom. The stained glass will show rays of light emanating from the Holy Spirit. Above the Holy Spirit, at the top of the window, you will see a symbol of God the Creator. A hand extended downward evokes the Person of the Father Who opens the heavens and announces Jesus as His own beloved Son. His creating hand reminds us that with the coming of Christ the new creation has begun.

At Baptism we become the beloved sons and daughters of God by adoption. Christ, our head, welcomes us into the family of His Church. We are joined to the great family which includes the saints in heaven and the holy souls in purgatory. We prepare to enter the new creation which Christ has established by His saving sacrifice on the Cross. Alongside the bronze doors the windows portray a continuation of the scene of nature with the water and the river banks, reminding us of Baptism.

The new windows are scheduled to be installed in May, during the Easter Season. By then we will have welcomed about 30 new Catholics. They will be washed in the saving waters and will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit at Easter. We will renew our own baptismal promises at Easter to remind us of the Spirit’s action in our lives. As we see the preparations continue and the new windows installed, may our hearts also be prepared and decorated with virtues. Let this Lenten Season be a time of spiritual renewal with prayer, penance, and works of mercy, so that the Easter celebration will bring true joy to our hearts.

May God bless you and may you have a fruitful Lent

Fr. Hildebrand

Our Lenten journey

Dear Friends in Christ,

How has your Lenten journey been so far? Does Easter seem a long distance away? Are you already losing spiritual steam? Here’s a true story for you that will hopefully restore your energy.

As I write this letter Mauro Talini is nearing the end of a 9000 km bicycle trip which began on November 29 in La Paz, Bolivia and ended at Cape Horn (southern tip of South America). Who is Mauro Talini and what was the purpose of this long journey? Mauro Talini, 36, is an Italian cyclist from Viareggio. In 2007 he cycled from Italy to Nordkapp, Norway (northern limit of Europe). Is this a long distance Lance Armstrong? You might think he would qualify for the Tour de France or the Olympics, but that is not his goal. Mauro Talini is diabetic and insulin dependent. His bicycle tours are called “Diabetes No Limits”. He is out to prove that the human spirit is greater than physical obstacles. But his South American tour has another important goal, a spiritual goal, which is the real purpose of his long bike ride.

This time Mauro has adopted an important cause for his bicycle tour, raising funds for the “City of Hope” in Riacho Grande, Brazil. This project is directed by the Father Kolbe Missionaries of the Immaculata (a Catholic secular institute of women missionaries). The Fr. Kolbe Missionaries have been working among the poor of South America for more than thirty years. The City of Hope is currently under construction in a very poor area near Sao Paolo where the Missionaries have an apostolate. Mauro’s trip “1 Bike, 1000 Dreams” hopes to raise money to complete the “city” which will include a welcoming center for children, classrooms, a sporting field, and other buildings. If you would like to check out Mauro’s odyssey and learn more about the project, here are some links (they’re mostly in Italian) www.Maurotalini.it (blog); www.gpsweb.it/talini; www.aipkolbeonlus.org.

For Mauro the bicycle tour is also a journey within, a journey with the Lord. He carries with him only his insulin, a light tent (at times he had to camp out in the Argentine desert), and funds for food. He depends on people along the way for his lodging. His is a journey of hope, for those with physical limitations, for those with spiritual limitations, and especially for the poor of Riacho Grande. He is an example of faith in divine Providence and the power of God that works through grace. Now, did you think you had a cross too heavy to bear? Mauro has a cross too, diabetes, but that doesn’t stop him from making strenuous and long bike tours. Our journey to Easter seems long, but day by day we have God’s promise that He will provide what we need. We only have to ask for it, …and keep pedaling!!

Happy Lent to all.

Fr. Hildebrand

Message from the Holy Father

The Christian Good News responds positively to man’s thirst for justice, as Saint Paul affirms in the Letter to the Romans: “But now the justice of God has been manifested apart from law … the justice of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (3, 21-25).

What then is the justice of Christ? Above all, it is the justice that comes from grace, where it is not man who makes amends, heals himself and others. The fact that “expiation” flows from the “blood” of Christ signifies that it is not man’s sacrifices that free him from the weight of his faults, but the loving act of God who opens Himself in the extreme, even to the point of bearing in Himself the “curse” due to man so as to give in return the "blessing” due to God (cf. Gal 3, 13-14). But this raises an immediate objection: what kind of justice is this where the just man dies for the guilty and the guilty receives in return the blessing due to the just one?

Would this not mean that each one receives the contrary of his “due”? In reality, here we discover divine justice, which is so profoundly different from its human counterpart. God has paid for us the price of the exchange in His Son, a price that is truly exorbitant. Before the justice of the Cross, man may rebel for this reveals how man is not a self sufficient being, but in need of Another in order to realize himself fully. Conversion to Christ, believing in the Gospel, ultimately means this: to exit the illusion of self-sufficiency in order to discover and accept one’s own need – the need of others and God, the need of His forgiveness and His friendship. So we understand how faith is altogether different from a natural, good-feeling, obvious fact: humility is required to accept that I need Another to free me from “what is mine,” to give me gratuitously “what is His.”

This happens especially in the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. Thanks to Christ’s action, we may enter into the “greatest” justice, which is that of love (cf. Rm 13, 8-10), the justice that ecognizes itself in every case more a debtor than a creditor, because it has received more than could ever have been expected. Strengthened by this very experience, the Christian is moved to contribute to creating just societies, where all receive what is necessary to live according to the dignity proper to the human person and where justice is enlivened by love.

Dear brothers and sisters, Lent culminates in the Paschal Triduum, in which this year, too, we shall celebrate divine justice – the fullness of charity, gift, salvation. May this penitential season be for every Christian a time of authentic conversion and intense knowledge of the mystery of Christ, who came to fulfill every justice. With these sentiments, I cordially impart to all of you my Apostolic Blessing.

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

St. Joseph’s Hill of Hope

Dear Friends in Christ,

Recently two different persons asked me about “St. Joseph’s Hill of Hope” and so I will use this letter to respond so that all of you can understand the Church’s official position. In my role as pastor I am obliged to protect the flock from error; it is in this spirit that I write this letter.

First, we should be clear about public Revelation, that it ended with the death of the last Apostle. Since then any private revelations have to be approved by the Church Christ founded. Apparitions and revelations of our Lord, our Lady, and the saints over the past centuries have all been investigated. Some of these have received Church approval; some are still under investigation (Medjugorje for example) and some have been explicitly declared to be in error. Such is the case for the following.

St. Joseph’s Hill of Hope, which is located in Brea, claims to be a source of private revelation from God to the late Frances Klug. Purported divine messages began coming through Mrs. Klug back in 1967. In 1980, after an investigation into the revelations, Monsignor Joseph Pollard, theologian for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles reported that the messages were certainly heretical. Here is the conclusion of Msgr. Pollard’s report:

The teachings of the organization “St. Joseph’s Hill of Hope-City of God” are, in their key doctrine, heretical (orginal emphasis). In ancillary teachings, there is an avoidance of the mens ecclesiae (mind of the Church). On both counts I find the “revelations” to be spurious.

In 1981 the bishops of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Orange all signed a document declaring:
This organization, its properties, its activities and its teachings are independent of the Roman Catholic Church, its jurisdiction and its favor. Financial or moral support of this organization by Catholics cannot be construed as support of the Church.

In particular, the President of “St. Joseph’s Hill of Hope – City of God” enjoys no commission from the Church to teach, counsel, or conduct retreats. You should not make donations for building projects for this organization. Nor should you accept literature from them. In spite of what may seem to be authentic teaching, they come from a very dubious source. Remember that even the devil knows how to quote Scripture.

As you know, there are excellent sources of authentic Church teaching which are readily available to all. Highly recommended are the Catechism of the Catholic Church or its shorter Compendium. A book that claims to be Catholic should have the Imprimatur or Nihil Obstat or some other official Church approval. With regard to Bibles, I have often cautioned people that many Bibles in book stores are not Catholic; they are published by non-Catholic companies and omit certain books of the Old Testament that were removed in the 1500’s by the Protestant reformers.

Catholic Bibles will usually say “Catholic edition” or will have the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur. If we remain faithful to the Church’s Magisterium (Pope and Bishops) we can be sure we will not be led astray because Christ promised to be with His Church “to the end of the world”. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, seat of Wisdom, guard us and protect us always.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

St. Vincent de Paul Society at SJB

Dear Friends in Christ,

The pastor of a parish is also the spiritual director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. As you know the Society is our parish’s organ of charitable works. I have spoken to you and have written about our local Conference and their dedicated service to the poor. We must serve the poor because to serve the poor is to serve Christ Himself.

As you can imagine, this past year has seen a dramatic increase in requests for aid. Compared to the previous year the cases handled more than doubled. Here are some of the statistics from President Paul Kelly’s October 2009 Report (Comparative figures for 2008 are in italics):

• 696/331 cases (home visits, motel visits, and persons who called at the rectory),
• 1382/667 food vouchers were distributed,
• 834/425 transportation vouchers (gasoline, bus passes),
• 181/65 persons were provided with lodging,
• 32/19 persons received medical aid,
• 33/23 utility bills paid,
  
• Members volunteered over 880 hours of service, including 3630 unreimbursed auto miles.
  

Here are some of the figures from the Society’s 2009 financial report (2008 figures are in italics):

• $51,862/$23,349 total charitable disbursements for the year
• $39,441/$23,983 donations for the year from parishioners ($20,255 carried over from the previous year)
• $1202/$1327 donations from Society members
• $9,038 balance as of September 30, 2009
  

The primary source of funds for the St. Vincent de Paul Society are three annual collections for the poor:

1. Ash Wednesday
2. Holy Thursday
3. Thanksgiving Day.
   

In addition, the Society receives the contents of the poor box (located in the church vestibule) and envelopes provided in your annual offertory envelope packet.

I wish to thank all the members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society for their dedicated work, which I witness daily here at the rectory office. I also invite you to join in this blessed work of serving Jesus in the poor. I also want to thank each of you for your donations to this charitable organization and for your continued commitment to sustaining its outreach to the poor of our area. If we persevere in our charity we can hope to hear the Lord say, “Well done, good and
faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matt. 25, 21). May we all hear these words one day.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Water and SJB

Dear Friends in Christ,

The American author and humorist Mark Twain once said, “Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody.” Now the water we have seen this past week was certainly no moderate amount and it has hurt a lot of people in southern California. In the past week’s news you may have seen some of us as we slogged through the water in the parking lot.

Fortunately some of our parishioners saw us trying to deal with the “lake” in our parking lot on Monday and pitched in to help bail out the water. Some of us were interviewed by the reporters. I like what Fr. Norbert said. It was pretty bad but nothing like what they’re experiencing in Haiti. I write this column on Thursday, Jan. 21 so that it can be sent to the publisher for printing.

After Monday’s flash flood we have seen a lot more rain, but we have been able to dry out our classrooms and re-open the school for Thursday. I hope that when you read this on Saturday evening or Sunday we will have a break from the rain. We all wanted to see more rain to alleviate the drought,…but not so fast!

Please join us in praying for protection from these storms. Meanwhile, speaking of Haiti, you probably heard that they suffered a strong aftershock this past week which frightened everyone, and still they are looking for survivors. Millions are suffering in this tragedy, but persons of good will from all over the world are responding to help the people. We are especially grateful to you for your generosity in the special collection for Haiti. We collected nearly $17,000 for this effort which will go to Catholic Relief Services. CRS, which has a base in Haiti, has transformed a golf course near Port-au-Prince into a refugee camp. They are providing food and hygiene items to the many people who are homeless as a result of the earthquake. They have also managed to keep open a quake damaged hospital to serve the thousands of injured. If you were unable to donate to the collection last week you will find an announcement with an address for CRS for sending donations on page 3 of this bulletin.

Other organizations here in Orange County are sending aid to Haiti. We hope to provide more opportunities for you to help the people of Haiti. Our youth group is planning some benefit events that we will announce here in the bulletin and from the pulpit. Here at home we are helping the poor in our area through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. This weather is very hard for the homeless, and they are coming to our door for help. Have you ever thought of joining our St. Vincent de Paul Society? Have you used your St. Vincent de Paul envelope lately?

Have a good week and try to stay dry.

God bless you and your family,

Fr. Hildebrand

Haiti

The recent earthquake in Haiti has shocked the world. We have seen images of mass destruction, and we have heard the cries of the afflicted people. The sheer volume of this tragedy defies description as the news media uncover more stories of woe in this impoverished nation. Our hearts go out to these poor people, but our minds cannot grasp the meaning of such a terrible loss of life and property inflicted by nature. We are tempted to cry out like holy Job in the Bible, protesting to heaven over the suffering of millions of innocent human beings. What meaning can we find in this situation? Does our Catholic faith have any answers? Natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes are physical evils that result from the imperfections of the natural world. St. Paul reminds us that “all creation groans and is in labor…waiting for the redemption” (Romans 8: 22-23). The Catechism explains it this way:

“But why did God not create a world so perfect that no evil could exist in it? With infinite power God could always create something better. But with infinite wisdom and goodness God freely willed to create a world ‘in a state of journeying’ toward its ultimate perfection. In God’s plan this process of becoming involves the appearance of certain beings and the disappearance of others, the existence of the more perfect alongside the less perfect, both constructive and destructive forces of nature (like earthquakes). With physical good there exists also physical evil as long as creation has not reached perfection (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #310).

God’s mysterious Providence allows physical evils to remind us of the transitory nature of our existence. How brief and fleeting is our sojourn on this earth! The Psalmist reminds us: “Man’s days are like those of grass; like a flower of the field he blooms; the wind sweeps over him and he is gone, and his place knows him no more”(Ps. 103: 15-16). The disaster in Haiti has brought about one very good result, the outpouring of charity from nations around the world, including our own. The disaster of sin had the result that “God sent is only Son” out of love for us sinners, so that we could be saved from eternal disaster. While we cannot humanly understand why natural disasters occur, we can view them with the eyes of faith, believing that the ways of God’s providence will finally be understood when He has guided creation to its final end, when all things will be one in Christ.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

SJB 50th Anniversary Celebrations

Dear Friends in Christ,

We continue our 50th Anniversary celebrations on Jan. 23 with our Winter Dinner Dance. I hope most of you will join us for this event, which will be one of the three biggest Anniversary celebrations this year.

The Dinner Dance will feature the voice of Father Augustine as emcee. You will have a chance to bid at a SILENT AUCTION. Great music will fill the air for your listening and dancing pleasure, prepared by my old friend Leo Raab, who has over 30 years of experience! This weekend is the last one to take advantage of special pricing for this great event, which you won’t want to miss.

Please stop at the table outside Mass today to purchase your tickets and come to celebrate 50 years of St. john the Baptist parish!

Have you made a New Year’s resolution? Here’s a suggestion. Sign up for adoration one hour a week in our Blessed Sacrament Chapel. You will find the spiritual benefits that many parishioners have experienced by spending an hour with the Lord.

Please remember to lock your cars and keep valuables out of sight when parking in our lot. We have had four cars burglarized between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2. The incidents occurred during Masses, both in the evening and during the day. Our security guard does watch for persons who act suspiciously, but he cannot be everywhere at once.

Thank you for your help in this matter,

Fr. Hildebrand

Pope Benedict’s message for World Day of Peace (Jan. 1)

Dear Friends in Christ,

A happy and grace-filled New Year 2010 to all of you!

Here is a passage from Pope Benedict’s message for World Day of Peace (Jan. 1).

If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation. The quest for peace by people of good will surely would become easier if all acknowledge the indivisible relationship between God, human beings and the whole of creation. In the light of divine Revelation and in fidelity to the Church’s Tradition, Christians have their own contribution to make. They contemplate the cosmos and its marvels in light of the creative work of the Father and the redemptive work of Christ, who by his death and resurrection has reconciled with God “all things, whether on earth or in heaven” (Col 1:20).

Christ, crucified and risen, has bestowed his Spirit of holiness upon mankind, to guide the course of history in anticipation of that day when, with the glorious return of the Savior, there will be “new heavens and a new earth” (2 Pet 3:13), in which justice and peace will dwell for ever. Protecting the natural environment in order to build a world of peace is thus a duty incumbent upon each and all. It is an urgent challenge, one to be faced with renewed and concerted commitment; it is also a providential opportunity to hand down to coming generations the prospect of a better future for all. May this be clear to world leaders and to those at every level who are concerned for the future of humanity: the protection of creation and peacemaking are profoundly linked! For this reason, I invite all believers to raise a fervent prayer to God, the all-powerful Creator and the Father of mercies, so that all men and women may take to heart the urgent appeal: If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation.

The Holy Father’s appeal would make a good New Year’s resolution for us. We could resolve to be more frugal, less wasteful, more sensitive to our natural environment, and thus more respectful of God’s creation. We might begin with praying for a greater respect for life, especially the greatest resource on earth, human life.

May the Lord bless you during this New Year.

Fr. Hildebrand

Merry Christmas!

Dear Friends in Christ,

Merry Christmas! Our Christmas celebrations at St. John’s have been attended by large numbers of people, for that we are grateful. We want to share the joy of our Savior’s birth so that many more will come to know and love Him. May His Name be praised. Sincere thanks to all of you who gave us cards and gifts. Your kindness will have its reward. I would also like to thank all those who made our church’s celebration so festive, especially our environment committee and parish musicians.

A happy and healthy New Year 2010 to you and your families.

Fr. Hildebrand

Advent Penance Services

Dear Friends in Christ,

During the past two weeks I have assisted at a number of Advent Penance Services both here and in other parishes. In addition there have been extra confessions for the students both here and in other schools. The Sacrament of Penance is truly one of the greatest gifts the Lord has given to His Church. Many people have received the gift of grace and spiritual healing through this Sacrament, which is a real encounter with Christ, King of Mercy and Spiritual Healer.

When a person has finished his/her confession the priest sends him/her forth in peace. This peace is often reflected in the penitent’s voice which expresses genuine thanks for the gift of God’s forgiveness. Having celebrated the Sacrament of Penance myself many times, I still feel that sense of a burden lifted, a joy of spirit, knowing that the Lord has forgiven me.

Hearing confessions is essential to our priestly ministry; at times it can be tiring. However, I find that this ministry is also very rewarding. When a priest absolves a person from their sins, he is really acting in the Person of Christ. The priest is God’s agent of mercy, extending mercy to all those who come with a contrite heart.

What a great way to prepare to receive the Christ Child! He was born in the cold and poverty of a stable long ago in Bethlehem. Today He wants to dwell in our hearts. May these hearts be made ready to receive Him with love.

If you have not made your Christmas confession yet, I would encourage you to take the opportunity tomorrow, Monday at 7:30 PM in the church. This time period will replace our regularly scheduled Thursday confessions since this Thursday is Christmas Eve.

Let us pray for one another at this joyous season of God’s love.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Advent Season

Dear Friends in Christ,

We are now more than half way through our Advent season. As we continue preparing gifts, parties, and cards let us not forget two classes of people who are in danger of death during this holy season, our unborn children and our military on active duty.

The Christmas season includes the feast of the Holy Innocents on Dec. 28. For more than twenty years St. John’s has hosted the pro-life march and Mass of reparation for abortion. This public witness for life has drawn large crowds every year, and it is my wish that our parish’s 50th anniversary should be marked by an even larger attendance. Christmas is about a Child who was born to save us from our sins. Christmas is for children. Let’s pray that America will embrace its children, especially those not yet born. Let us also pray for our government leaders that they will exclude abortion coverage from the national health care program. This needs our very fervent prayers and sacrifices since the stakes are high. Our unborn children have no voice unless we speak for them and in their defense.

At Christmas time we must also remember our military brothers and sisters on active duty away from their families in foreign lands and often in danger of life and limb. If you know a soldier, why not include him/her on your Christmas card list? More important, remember our service personnel in your prayers. Pray that the Lord protect them and bring them home safely. Offer your Christmas Mass and Communion for them. There is no better gift.

Meanwhile let us accompany Mary, the Mother of Jesus during the remainder of this Advent season. She brought forth the Author of life and wants us to recognize Him in the poor and the forgotten. May Mary help us to understand the true meaning of Christmas so that we may come to know and love her Son Jesus more perfectly.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Second Sunday of Advent

Dear Friends in Christ,

On this Second Sunday of Advent we begin to hear about our patron St. John the Baptist. Today’s Gospel is from St. Luke. Here is a commentary on this passage by Fr. Tony Kadavil: John called people to repent as a way of preparing their hearts and lives for the Lord's visit. He is calling us, too, to get ready for something so great that it fills our emptiness with expectation. A smooth road means nothing to God, but a repentant heart means a great deal. Hence, the truly important goal for us is to prepare our hearts to receive the Lord. By emphasizing the last line of the quotation, "All flesh will see the salvation of God," Luke stresses the universal aspect of God's salvation. Having begun the section with a list of rulers who did not bring wholeness or salvation, Luke ends with the expectation of a true Lord Who can bring these about. We don't live in a perfect world and we don't look to this world to see God's salvation. For salvation, we have to look to Jesus -- Jesus present in Scripture, Jesus present in the sacraments, Jesus present in our coming together in his name, Jesus present in the lives of his followers. Perhaps if we began to see Jesus in each other and in ourselves, and started to treat one another (and ourselves) as we would treat Jesus, more of the world might come to see God's salvation.

The Jordan River was the place that represented the border between the desert — where the Jews had wandered aimlessly for 38 years after centuries of slavery in Egypt — and the Promised Land. By preaching his message there, John was inviting the Jews of his day, to come out of the bondage of slavery, to leave their faults, their wandering, and their sinful lives behind, and to enter into the Promised Land full of God’s blessings. The Fathers of the Church have called the Sacrament of Reconciliation our “second baptism,” in which we’re brought back to the Jordan and cleansed internally as we were on the day of our Christening. Advent, like Lent, is a season given to us so that we may repent of our sins and be reconciled with God and His Church by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Please take advantage of confessions during this holy season, following the wise counsel of our patron saint: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”

Advent blessings to all.

Fr. Hildebrand