The Virtuous Life

We are all here for a reason. Ultimately, that reason is to give glory to God and to become saints in heaven. It’s important to take a step back from our other goals in life to remember the final goal. It gives meaning and purpose to our lives. Of course, in striving to become saints we do encounter obstacles. Most likely, we fall from time to time in various ways; then, hopefully, we allow the mercy of God to pick us up, free us from sin, and help us to move onward and upward.

One of the great masters of the spiritual life, St. Francis de Sales, reminds us that the most effective way to avoid sin is to cultivate virtue. Focusing on leading the virtuous life keeps us positive as we work towards our heavenly goal. And where do we start? There are seven principal virtues in the Christian life; all other virtues come under the heading of one or more of these seven. First, there are the three theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity. They are called “theological” because they deal principally with our relationship with God (although Charity certainly should be part of our relationships with one another). Then there are the four cardinal virtues, so called because the Latin word cardomeans “hinge,” and many other virtues depend on these four as a door depends on its hinge. They are Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance.

As with all things Catholic, I refer you to the Catechism of the Catholic Church for more information on the virtuous life. (See especially Part Three, Article 7.) Also, remember that you can get lots of good information on Catholic living from the website “Formed.” Together let’s journey forward in living the virtuous life!

Gratefully yours,

Meet Dr. Anne Herrick

In this picture you see me with our new Director of Faith Formation, Dr. Anne Herrick. Anne joined our parish staff last Monday. She will be teaching RCIA and Adult Confirmation class, and will be supervising the rest of our Faith Formation staff. Anne comes to us with excellent academic credentials, extensive experience as a teacher and catechist, and great devotion to her Catholic Faith.

An Arizona native, Anne earned her B.A. at the University of Arizona. She went on to earn her Master’s degree and Doctorate at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She has taught religion in various Catholic high schools; she has also taught on the university level, and she is currently on the faculty of the Diocese of Orange Emmaus Institute. She has wide experience of various aspects of parish life.

All of this reminds us to pray for Anne and for all who are involved in Faith Formation in our parish. It’s so important for all of us to keep growing in our faith, and the ministry of Faith Formation helps people to do just that. We are truly blessed to have the gift of faith; let’s keep it going and keep it growing.

Gratefully yours,

An Evening of Encounter

I would like to invite you to a special event. We are calling it “An Evening of Encounter,” and it will take place in our church on Thursday, October 21, from 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm. The idea behind this event is that everyone who takes part will experience the presence of the Lord in a new and inspirational way. There will be inspirational music, a great talk by an outstanding guest speaker, adoration of the Eucharist, and the availability of Confession and individual prayer.

This evening is planned for adults of all faiths. While we are especially hoping for a large number of young adults, the evening is completely open to adults of all ages as well as teens. The evening is planned as a meaningful experience even for those who are not accustomed to attending Mass, and those who are trying to find their way in the spiritual dimension of life. Whether you feel close to the Lord or distant from him (or somewhere in between), this event is for you. In other words, we are casting the net as far and wide as we can, and hoping to reach as many people as possible. Please spread the word and bring your friends!

Gratefully yours,