FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Dear St. Mary’s Parishioners:
Greetings to you from St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park! This last week, classes resumed at the seminary following the summer break. On Monday afternoon, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, celebrated a special Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit to mark the beginning of the academic year. All the seminarians and faculty members participated in the Mass. Those of us who are priests con-celebrated the Mass with the Archbishop. In his homily, Archbishop Cordileone quoted from Pope Benedict XVI’s address to Catholic educators during his visit to the United States in April 2008. In his talk, the Holy Father noted:
Education is integral to the mission of the Church to proclaim the Good News. First and foremost every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth (cf. Spe Salvi, 4). This relationship elicits a desire to grow in the knowledge and understanding of Christ and his teaching. In this way those who meet him are drawn by the very power of the Gospel to lead a new life characterized by all that is beautiful, good, and true; a life of Christian witness nurtured and strengthened within the community of our Lord’s disciples, the Church.
Archbishop Cordileone spoke about the importance of the seminarians having a deep friendship with Jesus and allowing Him to lead them to greater holiness. To bring the point home, at the end of Mass, we participated in a Eucharistic procession around the entrance grounds of the seminary. Whenever we participate in a Eucharistic procession, we are reminded that Jesus is leading and we are following. And to follow, we have to be attentive and docile to his leadership.
As we begin a new academic year, I think of our students and teachers at Notre Dame School and in our religious education program. Also, I think of those who attend one of the many public schools in Vacaville and the students at St. Patrick St. Vincent High School in Vallejo. I think of our parishioners who attend the Valley of the Sacred Heart Academy and the Chesterton Academy in Dixon. Last academic year, with all the COVID restrictions, in-class instruction was especially daunting for our students, teachers and administrators. This year is starting out with some of the same challenges. But if we stay focused on Jesus, He will lead us through. The sea may be rough, as the apostles experienced when they were out fishing, but they were consoled that Our Lord was with them. The more we are “drawn by the very power of the Gospel to lead a new life characterized by all that is beautiful, good, and true,” as Pope Benedict said, the more Jesus will live in us and work through us.
St. Monica, whose feast day was on Friday, certainly knew that. She was the faithful mother of St. Augustine who never stopped praying for his conversion. Her patience and perseverance paid off towards the end of her life, when her son repented of his sinful ways and was baptized. Eventually, Augustine became one of the greatest Doctors of the Church. St. Monica could pray for her son because she loved Jesus with all her heart and trusted that Our Lord was in charge. St. Monica’s beautiful witness is important not only for all mothers, but also for all fathers. Parents, through your prayerfulness, perseverance and holy example, you will bring your children to Jesus and help them grow in friendship with Him. On the cover of this bulletin is a copy of a painting of St. Monica and her son. Their close friendship is evident in their body language. But their body language also points to their friendship with Christ. Mother and son gaze towards the heavens as if they both know that what binds them together is their Creator and Redeemer. They recognize Jesus in each other and know that their ultimate destiny is to be united with Him, the Father and Holy Spirit eternally in heaven. As we make our own pilgrimage through this new academic year, may we keep our eyes fixed on Christ and our hearts and minds focused on our ultimate destination.
May you have a blessed week!
In Christ,
Father Berg
