Dear Parishioners of Saint Polycarp,
There is a saying, “Time flies”. It is un-imaginable that we are in the first week of May. Around the world, most countries observe the First of May as Labor Day. For Catholics, this first day of May marks the celebration of Saint Joseph the Worker, and the beginning of the Crowning of Marian Month. Saint Polycarp organized a huge and solemn celebration to honor these two important Saints (Joseph and Mary) in the life of the Church. Bishop Timothy Freyer, who was the Celebrant, was moved by the size of attendance.
The month of May has many reasons to be celebrated. Mother’s day falls on May 9. This day we honor and express our special love and gratitude to our mothers who have cared and sacrificed their lives for us. In this month of May, many college students are graduating. It is important to pray for these young graduates as they embark on a new journey of their lives.
At Saint Polycarp, the month of May marks the end of our Faith Formation Program year. Many students have received Jesus for the first time. Preparations for the next fiscal year (2021-2022) are underway. On May 15, the clergy and the representatives of the English—Spanish—Vietnamese community will gather to discuss ways to celebrate the day when we should return to normalcy, and to plan for a parish-wide vision for next year.
For me, the month of May reminds me of my return to Orange County after my doctoral studies in Rome. Looking back, I was a sad moment to see the whole world was shut down because of Covid-19. However, a deep gratitude to the Almighty God for the rare opportunity to be able board the last United flight from Frankfurt, Germany to Washington D.C. at the end of March, and from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at the end of May. It was also during the month of May last year that I received news of my pastoral assignment to Saint Polycarp—my new family.
I would like to conclude this pastoral letter with a scriptural quote from the Book of Job: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1: 21). Saint Joseph and Mary: pray for us!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers at Saint Polycarp.
Father Viet Peter Ho
Pastor.
There is a saying, “Time flies”. It is un-imaginable that we are in the first week of May. Around the world, most countries observe the First of May as Labor Day. For Catholics, this first day of May marks the celebration of Saint Joseph the Worker, and the beginning of the Crowning of Marian Month. Saint Polycarp organized a huge and solemn celebration to honor these two important Saints (Joseph and Mary) in the life of the Church. Bishop Timothy Freyer, who was the Celebrant, was moved by the size of attendance.
The month of May has many reasons to be celebrated. Mother’s day falls on May 9. This day we honor and express our special love and gratitude to our mothers who have cared and sacrificed their lives for us. In this month of May, many college students are graduating. It is important to pray for these young graduates as they embark on a new journey of their lives.
At Saint Polycarp, the month of May marks the end of our Faith Formation Program year. Many students have received Jesus for the first time. Preparations for the next fiscal year (2021-2022) are underway. On May 15, the clergy and the representatives of the English—Spanish—Vietnamese community will gather to discuss ways to celebrate the day when we should return to normalcy, and to plan for a parish-wide vision for next year.
For me, the month of May reminds me of my return to Orange County after my doctoral studies in Rome. Looking back, I was a sad moment to see the whole world was shut down because of Covid-19. However, a deep gratitude to the Almighty God for the rare opportunity to be able board the last United flight from Frankfurt, Germany to Washington D.C. at the end of March, and from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at the end of May. It was also during the month of May last year that I received news of my pastoral assignment to Saint Polycarp—my new family.
I would like to conclude this pastoral letter with a scriptural quote from the Book of Job: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1: 21). Saint Joseph and Mary: pray for us!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers at Saint Polycarp.
Father Viet Peter Ho
Pastor.