October 01, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, This weekend we kick off our annual respect life month. This time gives us the opportunity to learn more about the Lord’s command that we uphold human life, especially advocating for those who are most vulnerable as well as support the efforts that support the lives of those who are threatened. The risks to life include abortion, euthanasia/assisted suicide as well as a variety threats during the course of life. Today, I would like to focus on abortion. During the first year of his papacy, Pope Francis addressed a group of doctors and asked them to remind people that “in all its phases and at any age, human life is always sacred…Every child who, rather than being born, is condemned unjustly to being aborted, bears the face of Jesus Christ, bears the face of the Lord, who even before he was born, and then just after birth, experienced the world's rejection”.

Sometimes the Church is criticized for “only caring for the baby while in the womb.” However, our life centers and crisis pregnancy centers support both the parents and the child before, during and after the birth of a child. We offer free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, prenatal vitamins and maternity clothes. After the birth of a baby, we offer diapers, wipes, baby clothes, etc. every month. Additionally, we offer emotional support, spiritual support, do whatever we can to walk with the moms, dads and children. Lastly, knowing that many women choose abortion because they feel they have no other choice, we offer post-abortion healing and support through our office of family life. I hope that you will be generous in supporting the good work of these ministries as well as consider becoming a volunteer in one of the centers.

Let us pray that we may support all those who are suffering, especially women experiencing a crisis pregnancy. Bishop Tim Freyer

September 24, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, A couple of people have asked me about what I plan to change in our parish or what is my agenda for the parish. I have no plan to change anything at this time as I do not really know you or the parish. My first task is to pray with you, to get to know you and to listen to you. When I was a new pastor the most common questions I asked were, “What did you do last year?” and “How did it work out?” I will be counting on you, the good people of our parish, to share with me your hopes and dreams for our community, how we can be build on the good that has been done over the years at St. Edward’s, and how I can be of service to you. This will help me to discern with you in the weeks and months to come where the Lord is calling us to go as individuals and as a parish.

Others have asked me about my interests/hobbies, etc. I love being a priest/bishop and so tend to throw myself into my ministry. Apart from that, I enjoy visiting with friends, traveling (last month I was able to visit Scotland [as I am not THE bishop of Orange, I was given a diocese that used to exist that no longer exists—a titular diocese. Mine is in Scotland so we had an amazing day seeing the old Cathedral—now Scottish Presbyterian--as well as visiting the present Roman Catholic diocese]), baseball, reading religious books or mysteries. Please know of my prayers for you this week,

Bishop Tim Freyer

September 17, 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Please know that you have been in my prayers over these past few weeks as you say goodbye to Fr. Philip and wait for me to come as the temporary administrator. I also ask that you continue to pray for Fr. Philip as he begins his ministry at Sts. Simon and Jude Church; I am sure he will be a great blessing to the people of Huntington Beach. A little bit about myself: I am an only child of two only children and was raised in Huntington Beach. After graduating High School I entered St. John’s Seminary College, and four years later, St. John’s Seminary (both in Camarillo, CA) where I studied theology for four years. As I priest I served at St. Hedwig in Los Alamitos, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Catherine of Siena, and then as pastor of St. Mary’s in Fullerton and St. Boniface in Anaheim. I was then asked, after consultation with all the priests of the diocese, to be the vicar for priests, caring for our priests and supporting their ministry. On January 17, 2017 I was blessed to be ordained a bishop and have been honored to serve as one of the auxiliary bishops here in our diocese. Having served at Our Lady of Fatima in San Clemente and then being moved to St. Catherine of Siena in Laguna Beach, I felt like I skipped over St. Edward’s so am delighted to be able to finally serve in this vibrant community. For decades St. Edward’s has rightly had the reputation of being a strong, active and generous faith community. I look forward to getting to know you and to support the good work that you are doing for the Lord. The plan is that I will be with you until the end of June, at which time you will receive your new pastor. Please be patient with me as I will be balancing my responsibilities here with my responsibilities at the Diocese. My present plan is to be at the parish on weekends as well as one or two weekdays each week. I am grateful to Frs. Aristotle and Mauro who are already collaborating with me to ensure that you receive the best priestly support and ministry possible. I look forward to getting to know you, Bishop Tim Freyer