Sunday, February 23rd 2025
Dear Parishioners of Pope St. John XXIII Parish Family,
Welcome to the celebration of the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. This week, we are called to reflect on the high standard set by our Master for all His followers. It is not enough to be passive members of Christs Churchwe are called to be active disciples, living and witnessing Gods love in our daily lives. In the first reading, we see our patriarch David not only forgiving Saul, the first king of Israel who sought his life, but also sparing and saving him. Jesus calls us to the same standardto love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This is because we are not merely descendants of Adam, who was born of dust, but we are descendants of Christ, who was born of water and the Spirit.
It is wonderful to be back in the church for this weekends liturgical celebration. We are blessed to witness the dedication and hard work of our volunteers, who have spent weeks repainting the church. We thank and pray that God rewards them for their love and commitment to our parish. A heartfelt thanks also goes to our benefactors, whose generous financial and material support made this project possible. As we prepare for the centennial celebration of our parishs dedication, it is important that we all come together to make this occasion meaningful and joyful. A 100-year milestone is a remarkable achievement, and we must recognize the sacrifices of those who have made this journey possible. I invite each of you to contribute your ideas, talents, and time to make this celebration a great success.
Next week, beginning with Ash Wednesday on March 5th, we enter the holy season of Lent. This is a time for deep spiritual reflection as we prepare to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of our salvation. Every liturgical celebration requires both physical and spiritual preparation, so that we may fully receive Gods grace and blessings. I encourage all of you to dedicate more time to scripture reading and prayer during this sacred season. Consider forming small faith-sharing groups to reflect on Gods Word, as we do at Visitation Church after Sunday Mass in the hall. These gatherings strengthen our faith community and help us grow spiritually together.
I encourage students to attend Childrens Masses at PSJXXIII Main Campus and St. John of the Woods. A special thank you to the core team for organizing these Masses for CCD classes and youth in our church. I also encourage teachers to arrange for a full church of children at these Masses and remind parents of the importance of bringing their children to church. During these Masses, students are invited to bring school supplies as donations for the poor on a Mission Trip this June. I will personally accompany our youth on this trip, and I look forward to witnessing their generosity and faith in action.
Lent is also a special time to visit and support our homebound parishioners. We are grateful to our Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, who faithfully bring Jesus in the Eucharist to them each week. During this season, let us all make an effort to visit the sick, pray with them, and share moments of joy. If you know of any parishioners, neighbors, or friends who would benefit from a visit by a priest or Eucharistic Minister, please let us know so we can reach out to them in this holy season.
I also invite you to participate in our parish group activities, such as the Saturday Prayer Group at St. Ritas Church and the Senior Luncheon held every other Wednesday at St. John of the Woods. Please refer to the parish bulletin for a complete list of activities at our different parish sites, so we can actively build up our faith community together.
Thank you for being faithful stewards of your time, talent, and treasure in service to our parish. May God bless you abundantly, and may you have a grace-filled week!
Sincerely,
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Tuan Nguyen, D. Min
Pastor