Saint Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, Phoenix, AZ Blog - Pastor's Letter

Consecrated in the Truth

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Not long after my brother’s first child was born, a beautiful little girl named Mary Elise, I asked him what it was like. Was he nervous? Overwhelmed? He said, “When I first held her, I was in such shock. I think I just said, ‘I am your dad. I am your dad.’” That moment marked a deep transformation for him. He was not just holding a baby; he was stepping into a new identity. Over the years, I have seen him live his fatherhood with quiet sacrifice, joy, and faithfulness. It started with that moment of truth.

You Will Never Be Abandoned

Sun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700

In my family, we can hardly speak about orphans without tears. My father was adopted as a baby. He frequently told us stories of how his parents welcomed him not just into their home but into their hearts. It was never merely a relocation or a legal transaction. It was the joy of being chosen, of receiving a family, a name, and a place where he belonged forever. Even in his later years, recalling that gift still moves him to tears of tender gratitude.

To Know Him is To Know Life

Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 -0700

We generally approach life with the question, “What can this do for me?” We try a new workout, a low-carb diet, intermittent fasting, or a new career path, hoping it will make us healthier, stronger, happier. The assumption is that if I invest in this, I’ll eventually reap some benefit, or I won’t do it.

It is easy to think of faith the same way: if I really practice my faith, what will it do for me? Will it make me calmer, more moral, more successful?