May 24, 2020

My Dear Parishioners,
     Prayers and blessings from our Lord be with you all.  Please join me in expressing our sympathy to the families of Michael Sowell, husband of Peggie, and Robert Gammon, spouse of Karen.  These two gentlemen recently passed to eternal life.  Let us pray for the repose of their souls and the blessings of God to their families during this difficult time of loss and sadness.  May God ease their pains and bless them with the trust that they will see their loved ones again in God’s kingdom.  Jesus, we entrust Michael and Robert to your divine mercy. 
     It has been very quiet at All Saints in church and in school due to the pandemic.  Please know that we do have daily Mass, Tuesday to Friday at 8am; weekend Masses are Saturday, 12noon and 8pm, and Sunday 8am in English.  Sunday 8pm Mass is in Vietnamese.  This is a temporary schedule due to the pandemic.  We are slowly having more people come back to our weekend Masses.  Let us pray that everyone will be safe and that we always live with Jesus in us. 
     All Saints Catholic School: Congratulations to all our children for you have persevered and successfully advanced to the next grade and level of education, especially our eight graders to the high school level.  We thank God for each and everyone of you and may God keep you safe through this summer.  May you continue learning throughout this summer, especially from your parents and siblings.  On behalf of our school parents and parishioners, THANK YOU to our All Saints’ teachers, volunteers and parish staff for your service and ministry to our church and school.  We are blessed to have you and your stewardship.  We love you all.
     We also give thanks to God for the men ordained to the deaconate and priesthood this week for our diocese.  May they imitate Jesus our Lord, Savior and Redeemer, throughout their religious life to preach the good news and to bring God’s love to all people.  For almost 30 years, this was the first time that I was not able to attend an ordination, due to the pandemic.  Space was limited at the ordination Masses; therefore, I gave up my place so that the candidates can be with their immediate families who have been supporting them, loving them, and praying for them.  Congratulations Brothers!  Thank you, Jesus, for all those who love you and are willing to be you to others, Fr. Hien
     PS. I’m blessed to be a priest for 20 years on May 27th with my brothers, Fathers Joe Eckberg, Eric Weldon, and Joseph Tatro.