October 13, 2019

My Dear Parishioners,

   It’s our Catholic tradition to have statues in church to remind us of the holy angels and saints that are with God and with us.  Angels and saints have loved God since the day God created them.  God even entrusts His holy angels to every person on earth, to protect us from the devils and to guide us to heaven.  Saints were born and lived like us, as sinners, but because they loved God so much, others so much and their Catholic faith so much, now they are with God for eternity in complete joy, happiness and peace.  Please know that every time you enter a Catholic Church, you enter God’s holy house with His Holy Angels and Saints.  They are in church to adore Jesus in the tabernacle.  They also join us in singing and praising at the Holy Mass.  So please, do not talk in church, especially after Mass.  All conversation should be in the gathering area.
   About a year ago, someone came to me with the interest of donating a statue for our church.  The person reminded me again last July, so I started working on this project and ordered the statues.  I chose the Holy Family because I want everyone to imitate the Holy Family, that is to love God and to love their own families.  I firmly believe that God gave us each other so that we may love each other and live eternally with God in heaven together.  Let no family be separated from each other in this life or in the next.  Why the statues of Saints Peter and Paul?  Wow, they were Jesus’ beloved disciples.  Peter was given the divine faith in Jesus and built His Catholic Church upon Peter’s faith that was given to him by God the Father.  Jesus also assigned Peter’s successor, the pope, to lead us to eternal life with the infallible teachings.  Saint Paul at first was a stranger and persecutor of Jesus’ community; however, Jesus revealed Himself to Paul and he became the greatest evangelizer of the Gospel to the world.  
   These holy statues were blessed during Holy Mass with our All Saints students on Wednesday, October 9th.  After every Mass, our children pray to the saint of the day, All Saints and to Mary with the Memorare prayer.  Now they can look at Jesus, Mary and Joseph when they pray for their families.  Thank you to the generous donor of these statues and the donor of the security lock for the southwest door of our church.  The statues beautify our church and help us to be like the angels and saints; the security lock makes it convenient for those coming to church and keeps us safer during Holy Mass.  Thank you!
   Finally, there will be no daily Mass from October 14-25, as I will be attending two priests’ conferences.  Fr. Doug Campbell will hear confessions and celebrate our Saturday 4pm Mass on October 19th.  Please pray for my safe travels.  

Love you all, Fr. Hien