Happy Sunday!

Last week we published our financial report and this week I would like to publish our pastoral report. This particular report offers insights into our sacramental and pastoral life of the parish. As a parish family, the sacramental life is important to produce an abundance of fruits in the parish. These are simply by-products of living in God and are an authentic embrace of the beautiful and rich liturgy that opens our hearts to encounter God, even in the midst of challenges.

Happy Sunday!

This Sunday we are publishing our financial report for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. My heart is still filled with gratitude for the generous love and support you show in being good stewards to our parish family. My first year I wanted to bring good news with numbers in the black and a profit for the parish. However, in all humility we closed in the red at a loss.

This week we hear of the man who inquires of Jesus how to obtain eternal life. He rejects Jesus’ invitation to sell his goods, give to the poor, and follow Jesus. Mark tells us this devastatingly sad line, “At this saying, his countenance fell and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22). The man’s heart wasn’t centered on Jesus, but on his possessions. Perhaps Jesus intuited this.

Happy Sunday!

The month of October has its traditions and as I write this letter I am not sure if the Arizona Diamondbacks are in the playoffs? Who knows if baseball will see our hometown team. Regardless of the outcome, it was a fun season and great Catholic night at the ballpark.

Happy Sunday!

The General Election season is fast approaching. As faithful Catholics and citizens of the United States, we have a duty and a privilege to vote and elect lawmakers to act on our behalf to govern our state and country as well as ballot propositions which impact our laws. With that being said, all these decisions are entrusted to the people.

As Catholic Bishops of Arizona we want to express our strong opposition to Proposition 139.

If passed, this initiative threatens to enshrine a constitutional right to virtually unrestricted abortion in Arizona.

Happy Sunday!

Our parish has been celebrating 45 years since being established. So many helping hands have worked for decades to make this sacred place a home for worship, adoration, community, family and to live as Christ taught us. When our Blessed Lord asked his disciples: “Who do people say that I am?” It is a great question to ask ourselves. More specifically, “Do people know Christ is present at St. Joan of Arc?”

Happy Sunday!

This week I am grateful for the many volunteers who lend a helping hand in various capacities at our parish. The amount of joy expressed through their servant hearts inspire me to be a better priest. My hope is that you offer a prayer for the volunteers you might see on a daily basis. Many are hidden in the pews and worshiping next to you.

Happy September!

Many schools have resumed and the family routines are in full swing with sports and extracurricular activities. Here at St. Joan of Arc we have seen a steady and quiet month of August and we took this time as a staff to develop our leadership goals. One important reality that came to our team was that of family, a family of faith to be more specific.

Blessed Sunday to you all!

Would you risk your life to receive the Holy Eucharist? An honest question and something to ponder who we receive at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Is He important in your life to risk it all? The strong tone of our Blessed Lord helps us think about what is important in our lives. "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."

This week we hear Jesus say, “He that believes in me, has eternal life” (John 6:47). These straightforward words, uttered by human lips, sound — how to put this? — insane. Who could possibly say such a thing? Jesus says things that are so high, so demanding, so beyond our capacity to fathom, we hardly know what to do with them and (if you’re like me), they usually go in one ear and out the other. So, let us ask: how can believing in him lead to eternal life?

Since my college days I’ve loved a song called “Dance with You” by the rock band Live. It touches on the deep mystical hunger of our heart: “I’ve tasted all the wines/ a half a billion times/ came sickened to your shore/ you showed me what this life is for.” These lines resonate with anyone who has feasted on the good things of this world only to be left spiritually hungover and unsatisfied.