5th Sunday of Lent

03-17-2024Pastor's Letter©LPi — Father John Muir

A middle-aged woman sat on the couch in my parish office and recounted to me a shocking list of terrible calamities in her life: addictions, terminal illnesses, financial loss, broken relationships, and so on. She smiled as she did so. “Please forgive me,” I asked, “but you seem to be smiling as you share this.” She said, “Father John, I am totally overwhelmed. But I’m smiling because I just can’t wait to see what good things God does with this mess.” She expected God would manifest His glory when she most needed it.

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Fourth Sunday of Lent

03-10-2024Pastor's LetterFr. Daniel Cruz

Happy Lent!

This week we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph on March 19th! To further add to his honor, the entire month of March is dedicated to him. Pope Leo XIII writes: “The special motives for which St. Joseph has been proclaimed Patron of the Church, and from which the Church looks for singular benefit from his patronage and protection, are that Joseph was the spouse of Mary and that he was reputed the Father of Jesus Christ. From these sources have sprung his dignity, his holiness, his glory.” Ask for his intercession for your families, for fathers and a good model for young men to follow. Here is a prayer from Pope Leo XIII to pray with the family:

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Third Sunday in Lent

03-03-2024Pastor's LetterFr. Daniel Cruz

Happy Lent!

This penitential season contains so many blessings in the ordinary life of the church. Several members of our community will receive some attention and many blessings. Beginning the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays in lent you will notice the newly “Elect” receive three successive rites called “the Scrutinies.” The themes connect closely with the Gospel readings for Mass on Sunday.

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Second Sunday in Lent

02-25-2024Pastor's LetterFr. Daniel Cruz

Happy Lent!

During this time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving here at St. Joan of Arc, we have several opportunities to journey deeper in the faith with daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, Stations of the Cross and our lenten practices.

I want to invite you all to our parish mission presented by Brother Mauricio Torres. Offering a parish mission unites us as a parish to take time and listen to an exhortation during our busy time. It is an intentional occasion of grace to make our blessed Lord a priority in our lives and in our homes. You all are invited to come and experience the mercy of our Blessed Lord through the intercession of the saints. The relics of Saint Padre Pio and Saint Faustina Kowalska will be venerated during the sessions.

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1st Sunday in Lent

02-18-2024Pastor's LetterFr. John Muir

When I feel down, I sometimes watch the famous “Double Rainbow” video on YouTube to feel better. It’s hilarious. A young man camping in Yosemite Park sees two rainbows stretching across the sky. He bursts into a kind of ecstasy. “Double rainbow, all the way! Oh my God!” he announces. Then he starts to weep. He cries out, “What does it mean?” Beneath the humor of his glorious overreaction is the deep intuition we all have, I think, when we see the colorful bow in the sky. This Sunday, God sends a rainbow to Noah, and to us. What does it mean?

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Beginning Our Season of Lent

02-11-2024Pastor's LetterFr. Daniel Cruz

Happy Sunday!

This week we begin our season of Lent with a reminder to repent and remember our mortality. Catholics all over the world partake in this Lenten journey to sacrifice things of this world and turn towards God who has the ability to satisfy our spiritual hunger. This particular journey unites us in prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

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40 Days For Life

02-04-2024Pastor's LetterFr. Daniel Cruz

Happy Sunday!

The time has come for me to be the Keynote Speaker at the Opening Mass for the 40 Days for Life and March for Life Campaign. Although honored and humbled to be able to speak at the start of this campaign, I would appreciate your prayers this week as I address those in attendance.

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