Dear Parishioners of Saint Polycarp,
Happy New Year! This weekend of the Epiphany ushers us into the year 2026. Joining my brother priests, deacons, religious sisters, and parish staff, I wish you a joyful and blessed year.
The celebration of the Feast of Epiphany focuses on the revelation of Jesus Christ to the three magi, who have also been known in certain countries as the three kings. As scriptures indicated, the magi were people coming from the East; they followed the pattern of a special star which scriptures called the Star of Bethlehem. After having reached Jerusalem and been inquired of the place of the birth of the newborn King, they arrived at Bethlehem and found the Baby Jesus, along with His parents Mary and Joseph. To them, Jesus is the Star of Bethlehem or the newborn King. Many religious hymns and secular songs have been dedicated to Jesus as the Star of Bethlehem or the newborn King.
The revelation of Jesus to the magi speaks of a wider revelation by God to the whole universe. Jesus was born as a Jew, but He is given as gift and Savior to the universe. The magi represent us, who are given the grace of revelation to know and to accept Jesus as our Savior.
As indicated in my pastoral letter on the Third Week of Advent (December 14, 2025), our parish of Saint Polycarp is welcoming a new guest who will be staying with us until the end of May: His name is Deacon Francis Ang. Deacon Francis is a transitional deacon who, by the will of God, will be ordained to the priesthood on the first weekend of June. Please join me to welcome him. A brief biography of him is posted on the parish website. He will introduce himself to us at all Masses in the coming week.
Lastly, as we enter into a new year, I look back at past year and thank God for all of you; I thank God for your faith, fidelity to His Church, and love to this local church of Saint Polycarp. I look forward to this new year with joy and confidence that God is always with us and that He will continue to bestow His blessings on us all. May Mary, Joseph, and the patron Saint Polycarp guard you and your family in God’s love.
Father Viet Peter Ho
Pastor
Recent Pastor Letters
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April 12, 2026
Read more: April 12, 2026Dear Parishioners of Saint Polycarp, Easter greetings and blessings to all. As we enter into the second Sunday of Easter, which is also known as the Divine Mercy Sunday, we are presented with a Gospel account on the Risen Christ who appeared to the disciples. The Gospel of John recounts the event by saying that,…
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April 5, 2026
Read more: April 5, 2026Dear Parishioners of Saint Polycarp, Happy Easter! Christus resurexit ~ Christ is risen! Easter celebrates Jesus’ rising from the death: His rising from the death means that He defeats the greatest enemy that threatens us, His children. No longer does death has power over us. This is what Saint Paul preached to the Corinthians, “And…
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March 1, 2026
Read more: March 1, 2026Dear Parishioners of Saint Polycarp, Lenten greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ. On this Second Sunday of Lent, Holy-Mother Church offers us a beautiful Gospel story of the Transfiguration, in which Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to a mountain and He transfigured before their eyes. This story of the Transfiguration contains some deep…
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January 11, 2026
Read more: January 11, 2026Dear Parishioners of Saint Polycarp, This weekend, Holy Mother Church celebrates the solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord. According to the Church’s liturgy, this solemnity marks the end of the Christmas Season and begins the liturgical Season of Ordinary Time. The Gospel of Matthew for this solemnity recounts the encounter and the conversation of…