Hello Friends,

I wonder what came to your mind when you heard the readings this weekend, especially the Gospel.  One of the things that we are aware of is that suffering and turmoil have been a part of everyday life, especially for the Middle East people.

The first reading takes us back 600 years before Christ when the land we now know of as Iraq had the name of Babylon and at a time when Babylonians were trying to take Jerusalem. The Babylonians were in power at the time and the Kings Army's goal was to conquer all the nations around them. Jeremiah, God's prophet, told the Jews it was useless for them to fight or try to defend themselves; they should  just go ahead and surrender or Jerusalem would be destroyed. Such talk was viewed as unpatriotic and Jeremiah was considered a traitor. Many of the Jewish leaders decided to kill Jeremiah and they persuaded their King, Zedikiah, to give in to their wishes. He allowed Jeremiah to be thrown into a cistern to die. Later, Ebed-Melech, a Cushite (which means Ethiopian), ne of Jeremiah's friends, persuaded the king to change his mind.

Estados Amigos,

Este fin de semana escuchamos unas lecturas bastante duras y dificiles de entender, especialmente el evangelio. Primeramente, todos sabemos que el sufrimiento y confusion han sido parte de la vida diaria yo cotidiana. Este fue y es el caso de la gente en el Medio Oriente. La primera lectura nos lleva 600 anos antes de Cristo cuando los Babilonios querian gobernar todas las naciones a sue alrededor. Asi que los Babilonicos planearon en conquistar la gran ciudad de Jersusalem. El profeta de Dios, Jeremiah les dijo a los judios que lo lucharon contra los Babilonicos, que era inutil resistirse, por lo que lo miraron como un tradior y trataron de matarlo. Es intersante como Dios nos habla a todos en diferentes manera, aun en medio de desastres.

Fr. Alex Urena

Dear Friends,

The tragic shootings in El Paso, Tx and Dayton, OH have devastated the lives of many people. Many have lost their lives, families and members of these communities are suffering, and the nation suffers with them. We prayed at our Vigil Mass this past Saturday and Sunday Masses for victims, first responders and all who have been in service to helping in these tragic events. Let us all be in solidarity with all of them during this time of mourning and prayer remembering "God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57b)

Fr. Gino
​
Estimados Amigos ,

El pasado fin de semana las tragicos tiroteos en El Paso y Dayton han devastado la vida de tantos personas. Muchos han peridido, las familias y los miembros de estas comunidades estan sufriendo, y la nacion sufre con ellos. Oramos en nuestra misa de Vigilia el pasado Sabado y en las Misas dominicales por las victimas, las familias y los soccoristas y todos  los que han estado al servico de ayudar en estos tragicos acontecimentios. Sigamos siendo solidarios con todos ellos durante este tiempo de luto y oracion recordando a "Dios que nos da la victoria y traves de nuestro Senor Jesucriston" (1 Cor 15:57b)

Padre Gino

Hello Friends,

This past Saturday, I celebrated my first nuptial Mass as a Priest. The couple has chosen I Corinthians 12-31-13:8 as their second  reading. This reading is familiar to many people since it is Saint Paul's "way of love." Reading these verses is a reminder to us what love is truly about. Love is not a matter of convenience or solely an emotion. Love is about fidelity, commitment, and sacrifice. When husband and wife express their love in their daily lives, they communicate to each other and the world the fidelity of  our God. They renew their willingness to be committed to one another time after time over the course of the decades to come. Jesus teaches us everything we need to know about love from the cross, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." Love is sacrificial. The couple give themselves fully to each other without counting the cost so that the other can be a saint. The love shared between a woman and a man in Holy Matrimony witnesses to each other and witnesses to the world the love of Jesus Christ. We are all called to love with fidelity, commitment, and sacrifice according to our own vocations. Let's hear these three world today and let them guide us on the way to love.

Estimados Amigos,

El pasado sabado celebre mi primera misa nuppcial como sacerdote. La pareja habia elegido I Corintios 12:31-13:8 como su segunda lectura. Esta lectura es familiar para muchas personas, ya que es el "camino de amor" de San Pablo. Leer estos versiculos es un recordatorio para nosotros de los que realmente se trata el amor. El amor no es una cuestions de conveniencia o solo de emocion. El amor tiene que veer con la fidelidad, el compromiso y el sacrificio. Cuando el esposa expresan su amor en su vida diaria, se comunican el uno al otro y al mundo la fidelidad de nuestro Dios. Renuevan su voluntad de comprometerse unos con otros una ya otra  vez en las proximas decadas. Jesus no ensena todo lo que necesitamos sabor sobre el amor de la cruz; "Nadie tiene mas amore que este, para dar la vida a los amigos". El amor es sacrificio. La pareja se entrega nacadas completemente el uno al otro sin contar el costo para que el otro pueda ser un santo. El amore compartido entre una mujer y un hombre en el Sagrado Matrimonio se testimonia el uno al otro y es testigo del mundo el amore de Jesuscristo. Todos estamos llamados a amar con fedelidad, compromiso y sacrficio segun nuestras propias vocaciones. Escuchemos estas tres papabras hoy y dejemos que nos guien por el camino del amor.

Padre Gino Wilcox