All Saints

Dear Friends in Christ,

As we enter the month of All Saints and remember our heroes of the past, let’s focus on all that they have done to build up the Church. Recently Pope Benedict canonized Br. André Bessette of Canada and Mother Mary MacKillop of Australia. St. André worked miracles and brought spiritual comfort to thousands who visited him. Mother Mary dedicated herself to educating the poor of rural Australia. Both are shining examples of stewardship because they lived out their baptismal commitment by serving others in the local Church where they lived.

How are we building up our local Church in Orange County? Surely there must be holy people who have been parishioners of St. John the Baptist! These holy men and women of our parish who have died in Christ helped start this parish; they served in parish organizations and worked on parish projects. We should pray for the happy repose of their souls during this month of November.

A good steward serves his/her parish and the wider Church, especially the poor. If you want to donate to the relief effort for Indonesia, please go to the Catholic Relief Services website www.crs.org and make an online donation or mail your donation to the Diocese of Orange and mark it “Indonesia”.

Your call to service includes your local church too. Next weekend you will have an opportunity to become acquainted with the various groups and ministries here at St. John’s. Please consider joining a group and live your baptism in true Christian discipleship. After all, the Lord has given all of us gifts. Sharing our gifts means gaining a heavenly return.

God bless you,

Fr. Hildebrand

Election: November 2, 2010

Dear Friends in Christ,

The General Election is coming soon, November 2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country” (#2240). Voting is both a right and a duty. We have these rights because ours is a government of the people. We have a duty to assist in the governing process by electing public servants who will be responsible for our common good.

What should a Catholic (or any morally upright person) look for in choosing a candidate for public office? There are five modern moral issues that are non-negotiable. How a candidate stands on these issues should indicate whether he/she is worthy of our vote. These issues are: Abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning, and gay marriage. In short, a candidate who opposes all of the above has a true moral sense and deserves our serious consideration. Let’s look at each one as it affects society as a whole.

Abortion kills future citizens and threatens the stability of society because the strength of a society is measured on how it treats its weakest members. Pope John Paul II said in Christifideles Laici:

If, indeed, everyone has the mission and responsibility of acknowledging the personal dignity of every human being and of defending the right to life, some lay faithful are given a particular title to this task: such as parents, teachers, healthworkers and the many who hold economic and political power.(no. 38).

Euthanasia is an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering. It is morally unacceptable and must always be forbidden (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2277). Here again are the words of John Paul II: "All offences against life itself, such as every kind of murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia..all these and the like are certainly criminal: they poison human society (Christifideles, no. 38). Production of human embryos in order to harvest stem cells is immoral because the embryos are destroyed in this process. The same is true for human cloning which is being promoted so that the clone’s organs can be removed to replace diseased organs. This amounts to having a “twin” for spare parts. Such bio-technologies usher in a brave new world completely removed from the moral order.

Finally, recognizing same sex unions as “marriage” is to redefine marriage by removing the essential element of the procreation of children. Such unions are harmful to the proper development of human society. As we enter the voting booth November 2 let us do so as responsible, well-informed citizens. Pick up a copy of our Voters Guide and above all pray for our public servants that moral values and the common good may guide them in all their decisions.

Fr. Hildebrand

Beatification of John Henry Newman

Dear Friends in Christ,

Just a few weeks ago the Holy Father Benedict XVI was in England for a pastoral visit. At the end of his stay he celebrated the Mass for the Beatification of John Henry Newman (1801-1890). Newman was raised in the Church of England (Anglican) and became an Anglican minister. During the course of his studies of church history he discovered that Christianity had divided and that the Church Christ had founded was the Church of Rome, the Catholic Church. He converted to Catholicism in 1845, was ordained a priest in 1847, and created cardinal in 1879.

Here is an exerpt of Pope Benedict’s homily at the beatification: While it is John Henry Newman’s intellectual legacy that has understandably received most attention in the vast literature devoted to his life and work, I prefer on this occasion to conclude with a brief reflection on his life as a priest, a pastor of souls. The warmth and humanity underlying his appreciation of the pastoral ministry is beautifully expressed in another of his famous sermons: “Had Angels been your priests, my brethren, they could not have condoled with you, sympathized with you, have had compassion on you, felt tenderly for you, and made allowances for you, as we can; they could not have been your patterns and guides, and have led you on from your old selves into a new life, as they can who come from the midst of you” (“Men, not Angels: the Priests of the Gospel”, Discourses to Mixed Congregations, 3).

He lived out that profoundly human vision of priestly ministry in his devoted care for the people of Birmingham during the years that he spent at the Oratory he founded, visiting the sick and the poor, comforting the bereaved, caring for those in prison. No wonder that on his death so many thousands of people lined the local streets as his body was taken to its place of burial not half a mile from here. One hundred and twenty years later, great crowds have assembled once again to rejoice in the Church’s solemn recognition of the outstanding holiness of this much-loved father of souls. What better way to express the joy of this moment than by turning to our heavenly Father in heartfelt thanksgiving, praying in the words that Blessed John Henry Newman placed on the lips of the choirs of angels in heaven:

Praise to the Holiest in the height And in the depth be praise; In all his words most wonderful, Most sure in all his ways! (The Dream of Gerontius).

Blessed John Henry Newman, pray for us.

Fr. Hildebrand

Pakistan Floods

Dear Friends in Christ,

In the spirit of the Gospel command to love our neighbor and provide food, drink, and shelter for the poor I am writing this letter to you to ask your help for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan.

You have heard the news about the recent flooding. Here is more about a Catholic organization that is responding and deserves our help in the ongoing effort to bring relief to Pakistan.

After the worst flooding in Pakistan in living memory, Catholic Relief Services is leading an emergency response to help thousands of weary survivors throughout Pakistan
recover and rebuild their lives. More than 17 million people have been affected by the
floodwaters, and more than 4.5 million are homeless. By providing shelter and hygiene kits containing plastic sheeting, bed mats, soap, kitchen supplies, water purification tablets, rehydration salts and covered buckets to store water, CRS is assisting many suffering Pakistanis to survive. CRS is also hiring residents in cash-for-work programs to restore clean drinking water by rebuilding water supply systems.

With your help, CRS will continue to make a difference for the people of Pakistan. (From the CRS webpage). To donate to CRS please go to their website www.crs.org or use the blue Special Offering envelope and include your gift in the collection today. “Whatsoever you did to the least of my brethren, you did unto me” (Matthew 25).

God’s peace and blessings to all of you.

Fr. Hildebrand

Catholic Charities USA

Dear Friends in Christ,

This weekend marks the 100th Anniversary of Catholic Charities USA. I would like to share with you my personal experience with this organization while I served in a parish in Los Angeles. St. Francis of Assisi parish is located in the Silverlake district of Los Angeles, just east of Hollywood. I was associate pastor and then pastor from 1991-2001.

Silverlake is a mixed region of apartments and small family residences along the Sunset Boulevard corridor and wealthy homes in the hills. Most of the parishioners of St. Francis live near Sunset Boulevard. There are numbers of families living in apartments who struggle for their livelihood.

Not far from our parish was the Hollywood office of Catholic Charities. In those years Mrs. Fe Benito was the director and our parish would often send her clients who were in need. Frequently we would send her people who needed help with their rent or utilities. She also provided families with clothing and food. There were parenting classes in both Spanish and English and she kept a counselor on staff.

One of the highlights of the year at Catholic Charities, and one which I will always remember, was the annual Christmas party. Mrs. Benito would plan the party with games, snacks, and singing. She always invited me to come and tell the Christmas story in Spanish. The stage for this was set in a hall complete with a live nativity scene. The baby who played little Jesus hopefully was sleeping throughout the performance. Otherwise things could get difficult!! It was nevertheless a high point in my pastoral life to attend this event.

A few years ago I received a call from Mrs. Benito inviting me to the Cardinal’s Awards Dinner. Having retired from Catholic Charities, she was one of five recipients of the Cardinal’s Award for exceptional service to the Church in Los Angeles. For 100 years Catholic Charities has been serving the poor regardless of race, Creed or ethnic background. Today we have an pportunity to help this organization in our collection. Please be generous.

Fr. Hildebrand

Catechetical Sunday

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today is Catechetical Sunday for the Church in the United States. This year’s theme is “Matrimony: Sacrament of Enduring Love”. Now, at first I was wondering, why Matrimony on Catechetical Sunday? Shouldn’t Matrimony be the theme on World Marriage Day? Then I began to reflect and to read more about this year’s theme and I realized how important matrimony is to catechesis.

Most of us grew up in a Catholic family; our experience of Catholicism is directly related to our home life and family practice. For those who did not grow up in a Catholic environment I think you probably developed a “family” relationship with someone who led you to the faith. And now that you are practicing the faith you have met married persons who have been good examples of Catholic living.

Today, as you know, about half of all marriages end in divorce. The statistics for Catholics is about the same. After 26 years of priesthood, I can say that preparing couples for marriage has been one of the most important pastoral tasks. Contemporary couples face many obstacles to their marriage especially from today’s culture of non-commitment, abortion, and contraception. Married love is based on the love of Christ for us. This love must be generous, enduring, and fruitful. Christ asked us to love one another as He loved us. Now He loved us so much that He gave Himself totally by His passion and death on the cross. Husbands and wives should draw strength from the Lord’s sacrifice in making a generous gift of self in their daily life, offering their crosses and sacrifices for the good of their marriage and their children.

Married love is an enduring love. Christ who sits at the right hand of the Father never ceases to intercede for us. Couples should always ask for the “daily bread” of God’s grace to keep their marriage a permanent covenant that endures until death. Finally, married love is a fruitful love. Christ provided the fruit of sanctifying grace so that the Church would continue to grow throughout time by bringing to birth new members in the waters of Baptism. The primary end of marriage is the procreation and education of children. Children are a blessing from God. They help to strengthen the bond between husband and wife. The Church still regards the large family as desirable, in spite of the negative influences of today’s culture. I have known several large families; their members are very happy and well adjusted. Children learn important social skills and the spirit of sacrifice in larger families. May the Lord bless our couples with many beautiful children.

Let us pray today and always for our Catholic married couples and those who are preparing for marriage. May the holy couple, Mary and Joseph, intercede for them with Jesus.

Fr. Hildebrand

Letter from the Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Recently I spent 10 days vacation with one of our priests in northern California. We stayed with his mother who lives in Eureka, California on the north coast. During our stay we had the opportunity to visit Redwood National Park. In walking the hiking trails in the park I was impressed by the magnificent scenery. The redwoods are the world’s tallest trees, some of them reaching heights of over 350 feet; that’s as tall as a 35 story skyscraper. They are among the oldest living things, some of them nearly 2000 years old.

I wondered how these trees get so large and survive the battle for existence in the forest with the constant threat from insects and fires. I found out that redwoods contain a substance called tannin which is distasteful to termites. The wood of the redwood is also resistant to fire, unlike some pine trees that explode in fires because they contain an oily resin. Even though fires burn into the trees (we saw some that were hollowed out from fires), they are able to survive because of the vital power in the outer wood layer.

There are large numbers of elk in the park; we saw several elk grazing on a grassy meadow, the males with their large racks of antlers. They are very majestic looking. Have you ever wondered why elk have antlers? These bone-like appendages are for protection against enemies. In examining all the different plants and animals we find that they are made by design. Nature has provided for their survival and for their propagation. In general we find that nature acts for a purpose and nothing is wasted or useless. Even the little micro-organisms in the lakes and streams have a part to play in the cycle of life. In gazing at the beauty of these natural wonders we recognize the marvelous order in the world.

As humans we are part of this great world of nature, but there is a difference between us and the elk or the redwood. While they have great strength and beauty, they cannot reflect and reason about their existence. As rational beings endowed with reason, we humans not only see the beauty, we find joy in it and can reflect on its meaning. God has made this wonderful world for our benefit. Let us use it wisely as good stewards and remember to thank the God who provided it for us.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

A Letter from our Pastor

From an Address of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, June 1982

To me, the greatest poverty is that [of] abortion: the fear of the child. The child must die; the child must be killed so that we don’t have to feed one more child, we don’t have to educate one more child. Terrible! Terrible! Mother could murder her own child! Terrible! It is the sign of great poverty. And so, open your eyes to come to know.

One evening, a man came to our house and said, "There is a family with eight children that have not eaten for a long time. Do something for them." And I took some rice, and the mother took [it]. I could see from the eyes of the children — God knows how long they had not eaten — their eyes were simply shining with hunger, and big black lines under their eyes. And the mother went out with the rice, and when she came back, I asked her, "Where did you go? And what did you do?" And she said, "They are hungry, also."

[“They” were her] next-door neighbor. She knew they were hungry. I was not surprised that she gave, but I was very much surprised that she knew, because in sorrow like that, in a suffering like that, very often we have no time to think of others. And yet this tremendous woman had the courage to love like that. Great love.

This is something we have to learn from the poor people; they are very great people. You don’t know what is hunger. You have never experienced that. But one day, I picked up a child — six, seven years old — from the street, and I could see the pain of hunger in her face. So, I gave her a piece of bread. And then I saw the child eating the bread, crumb by crumb. I said, "Eat, eat the bread." And then she looked at me and said, "I am afraid when the bread will be finished, I will be hungry again."

See, that little one, so small, has already tasted the pain of suffering, the pain of hunger. And this is what I want you… [to do]: open your eyes.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Dear Friends in Christ,

August 26 was the 100th birthday of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. Most of us remember this little nun who did so much good for the poor in India. Most of us remember this little nun who did so much good for the poor in India. I was privileged to hear Mother Teresa speak once in 1982 at Thomas Aquinas College. Here is an excerpt of her speech:

“I hope you have learned to pray. And if you have learned to pray, that is your strength, that is your joy. And through this life of prayer, make sure — the fruit of prayer is always the deepening of faith. And the fruit of faith is always love. And the fruit of love is action. We must put our love for Jesus in the living action.

How do we do that? If we do it with Jesus, if we do it for Jesus, and if we do it to Jesus, then we know that we are with Him because He has said so.

This is not an act of faith, to believe that I am doing it to Jesus. Jesus has said, "Whatever you do to the least of My brethren, you do to Me." And also the condition — in our last day when we come face to face with God, we are going to be judged by what we have been to Him, and He says, "I was hungry; and you gave Me to eat; I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was homeless, and you did it to Me." There is no imagination, no maybe.

Just as we believe that two and two make four — we don’t need to believe that; we know it is like that — so [it is the same] when Jesus has said, "You did it to me," that presence. And to be able to do that, we need the Eucharist, we need Jesus in the Holy Communion, we need the Bread of Life. That is why Jesus made Himself Bread of Life to satisfy our hunger for His love. And then He makes Himself the Hungry One so that we can satisfy His hunger for our love…

And how do we have to do that? Where does it begin, this love? At home. And how does this love begin? [The] family that prays together, stays together. And if you stay together, you will love one another as God loves each one of you, as Jesus wants us to love one another — not in sadness, but in joy. To think that I can love God in my brother, in my sister — it is a wonderful thing.”

Let us pray for that spirit of love that Mother Teresa had for others.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Summer at SJB

Dear Friends in Christ,

Our summer cleaning is over and school begins tomorrow. The summer has been a slower season, but we have had some interesting summer activities which I’ll describe for you. In spite of our limited resources we were able to afford some small improvements. We removed some old plants and added some new flowers and shrubs around the rectory and in the rectory garden. Irrigation lines were repaired, trees were trimmed, and the school has a new tree in the yard. A new landscape company is caring for the church and school grounds.

There have been some important spiritual activities this summer too. Our new evangelization team goes out on Saturday afternoons to visit homes in our neighborhood. I accompanied them on a recent Saturday and blessed the home of a family. They are encouraging people to come to Sunday Mass, receive the Sacraments and become active in our parish. Please pray for them. Do you think God is calling you to this ministry? Please speak to me about this possibility.

The slower summer schedule has permitted me to do some extra reading. During July and August I am meeting with our permanent deacon candidate. We are studying together St. Augustine’s book On Christian Doctrine, which explains how to interpret the Bible. It has been a challenging but rewarding experience. St. Augustine is a great guide for understanding difficult Bible texts. If you are ready for a challenge you will find interesting insights into many Bible passages by reading this book.

Speaking of St. Augustine his feast is coming up this Saturday. He is an important saint for Norbertines because we follow his Rule in our communities. The Rule begins with a passage that could apply to all of us. “Let us love God above all things, dearest brothers, then our neighbor, for these are the chief commandments given to us.” There is a challenge that doesn’t require too much reflection. May the Lord help us to live this commandment day
by day.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Consecration to our Lady

Dear Friends in Christ,

Last week we explained the doctrinal basis for consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This weekend we will renew our consecration on this feast of the Assumption. There are four practical aspects of consecration to our Lady that will help us to live this consecration day by day.

First, our union with Mary requires a strong prayer life. Everyone is involved in activity in our busy world, work, family, church, school, and many other areas. We need time to re-charge spiritually so that our lives reflect our Christian commitment. Mary was also a busy person. She had to care for the Child Jesus as well as the home at Nazareth. The Holy Family was poor and so she had all the work of maintaining, cooking, cleaning, and child care without any of the modern conveniences of today. In spite of the hardships Mary had a deep prayer life which made her radiant with God’s love.

Secondly, we imitate Mary by obedience. Mary was always obedient to God’s will from the moment of her consent at the Annunciation to the sorrowful acceptance of her Son’s sacrifice on Calvary. We know that our true happiness lies in conformity with God’s will even when this seems very difficult. For Mary there were many difficult times, the miraculous pregnancy, the journey to Bethlehem, the flight into Egypt, the hardships of Nazareth, following Jesus in his public ministry, and finally the great trial of His passion and death. Mary’s acceptance of these trials as God’s will should inspire us also to accept our trials with patience.

In addition, we should always obey the Church’s Magisterium and our bishop when they teach in matters of faith and morals. Jesus said to His apostles: “He who hears you hears me” (Luke 10: 16). When we listen with obedient ears to the apostolic teachings in the Bible, when we heed the Holy Father’s advice and are faithful to the Church, we know that we are doing the Lord’s will. Love is the third sign of our consecration. Jesus says, “This is how all will know you for my disciples: by your love for one another” (Jn. 13: 35). Mary is the model for the disciple. Her love for Jesus was supreme, and her love for us is shown in her role as mother of the Church. We return this love by our consecration which perfects our union with her for the good of the Church and the salvation of others.

The last element in our consecration is suffering out of love. We know that Mary accepted sufferings as part of God’s plan. Her presence at the foot of the cross is proof of that. When we consecrate ourselves to Mary we make over our sufferings to her so that she can use them for the salvation of souls. The challenge for us is to suffer out of love. St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose act of consecration we will recite today at Mass, made the ultimate offering of his life to save another man from death. He was able to do this because of his consecration to Mary the Immaculata.

We may not be called to give up our life as a martyr, but we can offer all of our sufferings daily in prayer and in union with Mary. Let us renew our consecration today with great confidence that Mary will help us to grow more and more like her Son.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Assumption of Mary

Dear Friends in Christ,

Last year in August at the beginning of our 50th Anniversary celebrations we made our parish consecration to Mary. This year Mary’s feast of the Assumption falls on Sunday, August 15 and I think it is appropriate to renew this consecration as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary. This week and next week I will devote to catechesis on Marian consecration.

What is Marian consecration?

All of us as baptized persons are consecrated (set aside for God). We “put on Christ” as St. Paul says (Gal. 3, 27); the white baptismal garment is a sign of this consecration. We are members of Christ’s Mystical Body, the Church. Mary is the Mother of Christ and also Mother of the Church. Jesus entrusted Mary to St. John as He was dying on the cross. “He said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’”(Jn. 19, 26-27). St. John at that moment was our representative, standing in for all those who live by the cross of Christ. Therefore, all who want to follow Christ, as St. John did, should take Mary as a mother.

Because of her Immaculate Conception by which she is free from all sin, Mary is full of grace by the power of the Holy Spirit. At the Annunciation the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.”(Lk. 1, 35). Mary’s union with the Holy Spirit is so powerful that she is the one through whom the Holy Spirit dispenses His graces. This is the teaching of one of the greatest Marian theologians, St. Maximilian Kolbe. Of our consecration to Mary St. Maximilian says, “By linking our lives to Mary’s through consecration, we too become channels of grace”. In this way we not only benefit ourselves, but we become instruments in Mary’s hands for the salvation of others.

As Vatican Council II teaches, calling upon Mary’s intercession “does not hinder in any way the immediate union of the faithful with Christ, but on the contrary fosters it” (Lumen Gentium, no. 60). Our union with Jesus is actually strengthened by our consecration to Mary. Like the beloved disciple, St. John, let us take Mary into our “home” that is into our hearts by consecrating ourselves to her. It is a sure way of holiness and leads to salvation.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Legion of Mary

Dear Friends in Christ,

Recently you heard about our parish evangelization group and perhaps you would like to know more about what they are doing and why. There is a precedent for this activity and knowledge of its history will hopefully show why it is important for the Church.

First, let’s look at the Gospels. We know that Jesus sent out his Apostles to preach the Gospel and they went two by two to towns and cities. Later, after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the Apostles separated and founded churches in various countries. The Church is by nature missionary, which means, that she continues to seek new opportunities to spread the good news of salvation. For this reason there are great missionary saints like St. Francis Xavier who spread the Gospel in the Far East and our own California Apostle, Blessed Junipero Serra.

In modern times lay people have been involved in missionary work. We have Lay Mission Helpers who work with clerical and religious missionaries in developing countries. We have the Legion of Mary, founded in 1921 by Frank Duff in Ireland, which blends spiritual and apostolic work.

One of the main works of the Legion of Mary is house to house visitation. In this work the Legion members visit homes in the parish and inquire about the Catholics present and whether they may need the Sacraments. They also invite inactive Catholics to return to Church and provide information about the local parish by leaving copies of the Sunday bulletin. Our evangelization group is very closely modeled on these home visits ofthe Legion of Mary. They gather at our church and receive a priest’s blessing before they go out to visit homes in the parish. They present Catholic literature approved by the pastor that encourage active participation in the Catholic Church. They have been studying Catholic Doctrine and are well-prepared to engage persons in dialogue and answer questions about the faith.

Members of our Legion of Mary Praesidium have joined these young people in their visits, and we have already seen some good fruit of their efforts. People they have visited have contacted us and are interested in learning more about the Catholic faith. One of these days you may hear a knock on your door and open to find a parishioner asking you about your Catholic faith. Please welcome them and encourage them in this excellent work.

All of these parish evangelizers have a personal prayer life that nourishes and strengthens their apostolic work. Please pray for them so that the kingdom of God will continue to spread in north Costa Mesa.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Social Justice

Dear Friends in Christ,

Last week I wrote about some of our dedicated parishioners who work quietly but faithfully in various ministries around the parish. This week I would like to focus on a ministry that has not been operating fully in the past year, social justice. First, let’s examine why the Church wants us to be active in this area.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines social justice as providing “the conditions that allow associations or individuals to obtain what is their due, according to their nature and their vocation”(no. 1928). It flows from the Lord’s commandment to love our neighbor. When we respect the rights and dignity of others, regardless of race, creed, nationality, or religion we are practicing social justice. We are called to be a neighbor to those in need in the spirit of the Good Samaritan.

The Popes for more than 120 years have written extensively about social justice. Their encyclicals have covered questions about labor relations, economic policies, poverty in undeveloped lands, migration of peoples, and many other topics. The fact that most people in the world live in poverty should prompt us to ask not so much what is being done about it but what are we doing about it. Right here in our area there are opportunities to promote justice. We just need to be more aware of them.

The Diocese of Orange has an Office for Respect Life, Justice, and Peace which coordinates events and provides educational opportunities to raise awareness of social justice issues. At present our parish has a respect life representative, but we do not have a social justice representative.

Please ask yourself if you feel God’s call for this important ministry to His people. If you are interested or know of someone who would be ideal for the position, please contact me, and I will put you in contact with other representatives in our area. The Diocesan Office provides regular meetings of social justice representatives who network on events throughout Orange County.

May the Lord bless you all for the love you show to the least of His brothers and sisters.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Ministries at SJB

Dear Friends in Christ,

You know of course that a parish like St. John’s requires a staff of paid individuals who work to fulfill the mission of the Church. Some work directly to promote this mission, like the pastor and vicars; others work in ancillary positions like the maintenance staff and secretaries. All are needed, just as all the members of the body are needed for the proper functioning of the body even though some have humbler functions than others.

Beyond the paid staff, however, the parish has volunteers whose work is no less important. These men and women give of their time and skills to spread the Gospel, minister to the needy, and provide for other services that are very important in fulfilling the parish mission. I would like to provide you with three examples of volunteers whose invaluable help is a real gift to our parish.

First, let’s look at the mission of being mindful of the poor. A member of our St. Vincent de Paul Society is available one day each week to respond to calls for help from persons in need. This member comes to interview the client and discerns whether or not the need is legitimate and then decides how the Society will help the person. This takes time, patience, and compassion. Members of the St. Vincent de Paul society are heeding the Lord’s call to feed the hungry and provide drink to the thirsty. They are truly blessed.

Secondly, let’s consider how volunteers respond to spiritual needs. Approximately 60-70 homebound or convalescent residents receive Holy Communion weekly from our ministers to the sick. A minister to the sick carries the Eucharistic Lord to these people who are unable to come to Sunday Mass. The minister offers love and compassion to those who have very little human contact because of their physical limitations. Jesus said, “I was sick and you visited me”. Our ministers to the sick receive a blessing from the Lord for their generous service.

Finally, I ask you to recall what happened at Mass today. You heard the readings proclaimed by one of our lectors. An usher may have helped you find a seat. You were probably met at the door by one of our greeters. These persons are volunteers who are here to serve you as members of the church.

Join me today in thanking the volunteers of the past who spent years in service to the parish. Let’s also thank the volunteers of today who continue to promote the Church’s mission, even in hidden ways. May the Lord continue to bless us with generous volunteers. Our parish depends on such gifted people.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Supporting SJB

Dear Friends in Christ,

Let me take this opportunity to thank all of you who responded to my recent appeal for help. Our parish’s financial situation continues to be very delicate. Please continue to support us through the summer. With some people gone on vacation, it’s challenging to keep up with bills.

As you can see from our PSA thermometer, we are getting closer to our goal. So far we have collected about $63,500 which is about 80% of our goal. Once we reach our goal of $80,000 we will begin receiving rebates, which will help us to get through these slower weeks. If you participated last year in PSA but have not committed this year, I invite you to consider the following:

Think of what St. John the Baptist means to you, a place where you have long-lasting friends, a growing community of faith with groups for all ages from the young to the mature, a liturgical life you have grown to love and cherish. Then consider how much you are currently giving to the parish and how you could pledge to the PSA. A pledge means giving over a number of months.

Even a small pledge of $200 could be spread over the next four months. It would be complete in November with payments of only $50 per month; that’s only about $12 per week. You spend about the same for a meal at a family restaurant or at the movies. Reflect on the blessings the Lord has provided, the needs of our church, and pray about how God wants you to respond.

We are waiting for final figures from our parish festival. You will see the results as soon as we can provide them. With more time during the summer months, why not use the time to build up your spiritual life? Our chapel is air conditioned and provides a quiet place for prayer. You could sign for one hour a week and read a good spiritual book.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

CFCA at SJB

Dear Friends in Christ,

I have extended an invitation to Rev. George Knab O.M.I. to come to our parish on the weekend of July10-11, 2010. Father Knab will speak to you about the work being done by Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, and how this provides a trustworthy way to actively participate in the social outreach of the Catholic Church and answer the Gospel call to serve the poor.

CFCA is a lay Catholic organization that has served more than 6000,000 children, youth and elderly in 24 developing countries since 1981-empowering them to make more choices in their lives, live with dignity and reach their potential. CFCA’s unique sponsorship program is highly personalized. It matches a child, youth or aging person at a project overseas with a sponsor in the U.S. who cares about and encourages them.

For about a dollar a day, a sponsor helps to provide much-needed nourishing food , medical and dental care, the chance for a child to go to school, livelihood programs for families and much more. All of these efforts are directed at affirming the dignity of every person in their local community. Please join me in welcoming Father Knab to our parish.

Sincerely yours in Jesus Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Festival

Dear Friends in Christ,

When you read this we will be in the midst of our parish festival. I hope you and your family will spend some time at the festival and enjoy the food, games, rides and entertainment.

A few years ago we decided to link the festival with the feast of our patron St. John the Baptist. This is traditional in most parishes, especially when the patron feast falls during the warmer seasons. At Mass this weekend we are celebrating the feast of St. John the Baptist to focus on our patron and ask his intercession for all of us.

The festival has a two-fold purpose. First, it is a community building event. Parishioners come together to interact with each other and to meet in an environment that is family friendly and conducive to socializing. Relationships are formed and strengthened. We have an opportunity to celebrate spiritually at Mass and socially at the festival.

The festival is also a fund raising event. We depend on its proceeds to pay our bills and salaries during the slower summer months. What we can save is kept for emergency expenses and projects for improvement of our facilities.

Thank you for your support of our parish. My recent appeal to you brought a generous response from some of you. I hope that all of you will be able to continue to commit a percentage of your treasure to our parish.

My best wishes for a relaxing summer vacation (even if it has to be a “stay-cation”). If you are travelling don’t forget that Sunday Mass is still an obligation. It can be interesting to visit a local
parish church where you are travelling. When I was in college I worked in Grand Teton National Park during the summer. Every Sunday I helped the local pastor with Mass in a little log chapel.
Many people from all over would come to Mass. It was a great experience. For information about times and locations of Mass at your destination please go to www.masstimes.org.

See you at the festival,

Fr. Hildebrand

Feast of Stt. John the Baptist

Dear Friends in Christ,

The feast of our patron saint John the Baptist draws near. We are very blessed to have such a powerful saint to watch over our parish community. As you know the Church normally celebrates a saint’s day on the anniversary of his/her death, their “birth into heaven”.

In the case of St. John the Baptist we also celebrate his birthday. The Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist is June 24 (this Thursday). Because of his importance for us, we will celebrate the Mass of St. John the Baptist next weekend in conjunction with our 50th Anniversary Festival.

Here are some lessons we can learn from our patron’s life. Even before he was born John leaped in his mother’s womb for joy in the presence of the Lord, who was hidden in Mary’s womb. Let us remember to welcome unborn human life with joy, always rejecting the evil of abortion. St. John prepared the way of the Lord by his preaching and baptism of repentance. By our example we can prepare hearts to receive the grace of God. Perhaps we can encourage someone to become a Catholic or reach out to a lapsed Catholic to return.

As a model of the spiritual life, St. John the Baptist teaches us to allow Jesus to increase while we strive to decrease our pride. Jesus called John a shining lamp. May our patron guide our steps and strengthen our heart so that we will give a good example to others. St. John was so committed to the truth that he was willing to lay down his life. May his witness to truth keep us committed to learning the truth and
living it with love and sacrifice. St. John the Baptist, pray for us.

Sincerely yours in Christ and St. John the Baptist,

Fr. Hildebrand

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SJB Festival Opening Ceremony

• When: June 25 at 3:00 pm
• Where: Under the Big Tent
• Invocation by Fr. Hildebrand
• Greetings and Proclamations by Civic Leaders: Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Assemblyman Van Tran, City Mayor Alan Mansoor
  

What a great way to start the Festival!

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Dear Friends in Christ,

This past week we celebrated the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In fact, June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart.

Some of us may remember in years past groups dedicated to the Sacred Heart and songs honoring the Sacred Heart. In our parish the Vietnamese community has a group called Men of the Sacred Heart.

What are we talking about when we speak of devotion to the Sacred Heart? Certainly we do not refer simply to the physical fleshly heart of Jesus alone. Here is how the Catholic Encyclopedia explains it:

“The worship, although paid to the Heart of Jesus extends further than the Heart of flesh, being directed to the love of which this Heart is the living and expressive symbol. On this point the devotion requires no justification, as it is to the Person of Jesus that it is directed; but to the Person as inseparable from His Divinity. Jesus, the living apparition of the goodness of God and of His paternal love, Jesus infinitely loving and amiable, studied in the principal manifestations of His love, is the object of the devotion to the Sacred Heart, as indeed He is the object of the Christian religion.”(New Advent website, Catholic Encyclopedia, Article on the Sacred Heart).

“The love of Christ gathers us together” says St. Paul. As humans we are drawn to Jesus because of His love for us. That love was manifested most perfectly in His offering of His life on the cross. After His death we recall that a soldier pierced His side with a lance and from his heart flowed blood and water, a sign of the saving Sacraments of the Church.

The Norbertine St. Herman Joseph is one of the earliest devotes to the Sacred Heart. He composed poems honoring the Heart of Jesus in the 12th century. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun of the 17th century is known as the Apostle of the Sacred Heart. She is said to have seen Jesus, Who gave her the famous promises of the Sacred Heart, which include the First Friday devo-
tions. Quoting the words of Jesus to her, St. Margaret Mary relates the prom-
ise related to the First Fridays as follows:
I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that its all-powerful love
will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of
consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under my
displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, my divine Heart making
itself their assured refuge at the last moment."

Heart of Christ we sing your praises, well-spring of eternal love.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand