Sunday, February 1st 2026

Dear faithful Parishioners of PSJXXIII parish Family,

Welcome you warmly to the fourth week of the Ordinary Time. The liturgy of the Word today invites us to reflect on the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes call us to the heights of morality and holiness. Those who live according to these divine precepts are blessed beyond measure. The promises to those who live this high calling are great: They become children of God and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Furthermore, they receive comfort, satisfaction, mercy, purity, and peace. Though the rewards are great, so are the requirements: spiritual poverty, holy sorrow, meekness, longing for righteousness, a merciful heart, purity, peacemaking, and patient endurance during persecution.

The Beatitudes elevate all laws of the Old Covenant. Jesus not only calls us to profound holiness, but He also provides the means to achieve it through His Sacrifice, transmitted through the grace of the Sacraments. To live the Beatitudes is to live in imitation of Christ, who perfectly embodied all virtues in His life, Passion, and Resurrection. Hence, the Beatitudes are not only a moral code we must follow, but they are also a participation in and union with the Son of God, who lived the Beatitudes to perfection. We are called as disciples of our Divine Master to follow Him in His footsteps, that we also could be with Him, where He is.

The middle of this week kick starts the preparation for the Vietnam Lunar New Year celebrations. Though the celebration is itself falls on the third week of February, it requires a lot of preparation. I sincerely thank all the volunteers and the Vietnam leadership team working tirelessly to organize this celebration. Anyone who likes to get a glimpse of the preparation or the celebration itself, you are most welcome. I earnestly urge everyone to pray for the success of this event, at the same time remember to pray for everyone working hard night and day.

I warmly welcome all parishioners to join the Lunar New Year Celebration on Sunday, February 15, in the Parish Hall. This is a special time for our parish family to pass on this beautiful tradition to the next generation by teaching our children how to make traditional New Year foods, such as sticky rice cake, to enjoy with their families as they celebrate this occasion. We also have parish groups practicing traditional dances with drums, as well as traditional songs for the New Year celebration. There will be many traditional New Year performances, raffle tickets for adults, and fun quizzes with prizes for youth. More information can be found on the church bulletin board and in the parish bulletin.

We also begin in our diocese the Right of Election for the OCIA candidates, let us keep them in our prayers and those who are introducing them to our faith and the Faith-Formation team. I also thank all the parents and grandparents who accompany the kids to CCD. It is a great commitment to bringing them to the faith formation, so that they learn about our faith and be deeply rooted in it. I also pray for all the volunteers who assist us in various ministries in our parish family.

St. Rita church is a fundraiser dinner on the 15th of this month. The event starts with the Holy Eucharist at 1pm followed by the dinner. The fund is raised to refund the cost of a new heating system that had to be installed because of the vandalism incurred to the old one. I encourage everyone to assist and support our little church by your prayers, participation and your generous donations.

I invite you to pray for those who are getting married and receiving baptism in our parish. Remember to pray for those who are sick as well as those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones. Assuring my prayers for each one of you, request your prayers for our parish, specially for the PFAC members, who are working so hard to plan for our parish.

You are encouraged to be a Good Stewardship of your time, talent, and treasure to support our parish. Wish you all a blessed day and week!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Tuan Nguyen, D. Min

Pastor