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• Direct service where we roll up our sleeves and actively do/make something to help others in need. Examples of this type of direct service are preparing or serving food in a soup kitchen, painting a room at a homeless shelter, or sorting donations at a clothing bank.

• Ministry of presence where we serve others by simply being with them, sharing time and conversation with them rather than doing some for them. Examples of this type of ministry are playing cards with people at a nursing home or talking with people at a homeless shelter.

At the end of this week, will we have ended poverty in San Diego? No, of course not. But we hopefully will have created new friendships and started thinking about faith and service in a new way… and that is a beginning. Please pray for us as we embark on this journey!
 
Peace,
​Mona

Greetings!

It has been such a busy few weeks for our Parish community and Campus Ministry. Beginning with Ash Wednesday a few weeks ago and running through the Parish Mission last week, oh and throw in the buzz of the Papal visit to the borderland…well, the energy and activity seems to be running on hyper speed. The Spirit is a movin’! That movement of the Spirit was evident this past weekend. A group of 20 retreatants made the trek up the mountain for a one day retreat just outside Ruidoso. We spent time rockwall climbing, ziplining, completing a team building challenge course, praying and reflecting. It was a great opportunity to get away from the stress, build community and reflect on the presence and movement of the Spirit in our daily living. One of our reflection activities was to look back on instances when God’s presence was felt/experienced/ known through our five senses. The individual responses and group discussion were rich and profound. Retreatants shared joyful sounds such as ‘a baby’s first cry’, ‘laughter’, and ‘cello/classical music’ that called their attention to God’s presence. They recognized God’s presence in the taste of ‘the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, and a simple meal lovingly made and shared’. The sobering sight of a homeless man, and the heart wrenching memory of a hug shared with a childhood friend who recently passed away were also graced moments. We all came down the mountain, renewed in our belief that while life may be full of ups and downs, God’s abiding presence accompanies us all on our journey. 



 

Peace, 
​Sal