Dear Parishioners of Saint Polycarp,
As this Pastoral Letter is written, October is around the corner. I hope October will provide more pleasant weather. At Saint Polycarp, your spiritual house, October marks the beginning of the Marian month; October is also the month to pray for the dignity of human life. On Friday, October 07, which is the Feast Day of Our Lady of the Rosary, our parish will gather to celebrate Our Blessed Mother, with the intention to pray for the Revival of the Holy Eucharist, for the youth, and for the respect of human life. The Eucharist is mentioned because it is the summit of our faith. From the Eucharist flows the fountain of grace, blessings, and salvation-- only from the Eucharist, life is guaranteed. Our Blessed Mother was chosen to carry that fountain of grace, which is Jesus, in her womb. She was chosen because of her faith or her “YES to God.
The Gospel this weekend speaks of faith. The disciples, even though they had witnessed the power of the Lord and had been living with Him, continued to ask Jesus for an “increase in faith”. Oftentimes, people associate faith with an object or a material thing that they can obtain and purchase or trade. For me, faith is about having a relationship with God. Faith opens the door of our hearts to a special relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ. Like any other healthy and sacred relationship, faith needs to grow and deepen each day. To ask for an “increase in faith” is to grow closer and deeper in the love of Our Lord Jesus. Our Blessed Mother Mary is a beautiful example; her faith grows stronger because of her closeness to the Lord.
Your spiritual family of Saint Polycarp takes the opportunity of the Marian month to offer you an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord through the Holy Mass and the 48 Hours of Adoration. We invite and encourage you to come and spend time with Our Lord Jesus Christ. At the Holy Mass, Christ is made present: He is waiting patiently for you! Do not be afraid to say “YES” to the Lord.
Regarding the youth, the parish through the Faith Formation Programs has been hosting a series of workshops on mental health. We invite experts to the parish to help our parents to have a better understanding of how to deal with certain mental issues that our young people are facing today, especially emotional, sexual, and drug-abuse issues. Our hope in providing such workshops is to promote a healthy family and a healthy society, in which our young people can grow in confidence and respect for their bodies.
Lastly, a healthy society and a healthy youth population cannot be ignored without a healthy understanding of the issue of human life. Certain California legislators have tried to promote a wrong understanding of the basic dignity of human life through Proposition 1. To counter such false understanding from these legislators, the California Bishops Conference is asking us to vote NO to this Proposition: NO to Prop 1.
Together with our Bishops and priests, I offer my prayers for you. May Jesus, who is the Life and the Salvation, be the center of your faith and your life. May Our Blessed Mother and our patron Saint Polycarp assist you to choose and fighting for the dignity of human life always.
Father Viet Peter Ho
As this Pastoral Letter is written, October is around the corner. I hope October will provide more pleasant weather. At Saint Polycarp, your spiritual house, October marks the beginning of the Marian month; October is also the month to pray for the dignity of human life. On Friday, October 07, which is the Feast Day of Our Lady of the Rosary, our parish will gather to celebrate Our Blessed Mother, with the intention to pray for the Revival of the Holy Eucharist, for the youth, and for the respect of human life. The Eucharist is mentioned because it is the summit of our faith. From the Eucharist flows the fountain of grace, blessings, and salvation-- only from the Eucharist, life is guaranteed. Our Blessed Mother was chosen to carry that fountain of grace, which is Jesus, in her womb. She was chosen because of her faith or her “YES to God.
The Gospel this weekend speaks of faith. The disciples, even though they had witnessed the power of the Lord and had been living with Him, continued to ask Jesus for an “increase in faith”. Oftentimes, people associate faith with an object or a material thing that they can obtain and purchase or trade. For me, faith is about having a relationship with God. Faith opens the door of our hearts to a special relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ. Like any other healthy and sacred relationship, faith needs to grow and deepen each day. To ask for an “increase in faith” is to grow closer and deeper in the love of Our Lord Jesus. Our Blessed Mother Mary is a beautiful example; her faith grows stronger because of her closeness to the Lord.
Your spiritual family of Saint Polycarp takes the opportunity of the Marian month to offer you an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord through the Holy Mass and the 48 Hours of Adoration. We invite and encourage you to come and spend time with Our Lord Jesus Christ. At the Holy Mass, Christ is made present: He is waiting patiently for you! Do not be afraid to say “YES” to the Lord.
Regarding the youth, the parish through the Faith Formation Programs has been hosting a series of workshops on mental health. We invite experts to the parish to help our parents to have a better understanding of how to deal with certain mental issues that our young people are facing today, especially emotional, sexual, and drug-abuse issues. Our hope in providing such workshops is to promote a healthy family and a healthy society, in which our young people can grow in confidence and respect for their bodies.
Lastly, a healthy society and a healthy youth population cannot be ignored without a healthy understanding of the issue of human life. Certain California legislators have tried to promote a wrong understanding of the basic dignity of human life through Proposition 1. To counter such false understanding from these legislators, the California Bishops Conference is asking us to vote NO to this Proposition: NO to Prop 1.
Together with our Bishops and priests, I offer my prayers for you. May Jesus, who is the Life and the Salvation, be the center of your faith and your life. May Our Blessed Mother and our patron Saint Polycarp assist you to choose and fighting for the dignity of human life always.
Father Viet Peter Ho
