Recently, Archbishop Gomez asked me to become the assistant Vicar of Clergy for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. 

This position requires a six year commitment, three of which I will serve as the assistant, followed by three more years as the Vicar of Clergy. 

This office cares for the well being of all the Priest in the Archdiocese of…

March 18, 2012

Fourth Sunday of Lent: 2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23; Eph 2:4-10; Jn 3:14-21

One of my favorite stories is that of a famous scientist who after giving a lecture was asked what had most shaped his life.  He responded that he had started off as a misbehaving child that moved from one school to another because of his lack of control.  Finally his mother put him in a Catholic school.  On the first day of class he stepped in the room and was startled when he saw the…

March 4, 2012

Second Sunday of Lent: Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Rom 8:31b-34; Mk 9:2-10

It is always a great joy to witness the pride and hope on the faces of parents as they bring their children to the Church to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.  A number of times parents have even brought their parents to the parish on their way home from the hospital.  They are always filled with great hopes and dreams for their children, aspirations that they will be healthy, happy and…

February 26, 2012

First Sunday of Lent:  Gn 9:8-15; 1 Pt 3:18-22; Mk 1:12-15

The Sunday readings for lent begin with God's Covenant with Noah and his sons after the great flood where it rained for forty days and forty nights.  The following are some good points that we can learn from Noah: Don't miss the boat. Don't forget that we're all in the same boat. Plan ahead, it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. Stay fit, when you're 600 years old, someone might ask you…

This article appeared on the Feb.10th Issue of the Tidings and can be found here : http://www.the-tidings.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2039:what-is-at-stake-in-the-mandate-debate&catid=101:viewpoints&Itemid=389

The federal government’s new…

February 12, 2012

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time:  Lv 13:1-2, 44-46; 1 Cor 10:31-11:1; Mk 1:40-45

Throughout its history, leprosy has been feared and misunderstood. For a long time leprosy was thought to be a hereditary disease, a curse, or a punishment from God. Before and even after the discovery of its biological cause, leprosy patients were stigmatized and shunned. For example, in Europe during the Middle Ages, leprosy sufferers had to wear special clothing, ring…

January 29, 2012

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Dt 18:15-20; 1 Cor 7:32-35; Mk 1:21-28

Hollywood loves movies dealing with absolute evil bringing fear into the lives of ordinary people.  The evil comes from vampires, psychopathic killers, zombies, ghosts, demon possessions and anything else that can be dreamed of that will bring fear to an audience.  The scarier the movie and the more evil the antagonist, the more popular the movie will become.  The plots of these films are…

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: 

 Jon 3:1-5,10; 1 Cor 7:29-31; Mk 1:14-20

 The world was shocked when the Cruise Ship Costa Concordia hit a reef off of the Tuscan island of Giglio.  We were even more saddened when we heard that the Captain brought the boat close to the coast to impress a head waiter who was from that island.  Even more troubling are the reports that he fled his ship in time of need and even when he was ordered to return by the Coast Guard, he refused to return…

Sunday January 15,2012

Second Sunday In Ordinary Time

This Sunday begins "Ordinary Time".  It is often misunderstood as being ordinary time as opposed  to extraordinary times like Christmas or Easter.  Actually it comes from the LatinTempus per annum which literally means, "Time through the year." Throughout Ordinary Time we remember how our faith touches our lives at every moment during the year.  And we begin “this time” and the new liturgical year recalling…

December 25, 2011

Christmas Day

Today we celebrate one of the great mysteries of our faith, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, became flesh, humbling himself to take upon our human nature. The world celebrates this day. Even those without faith decorate their houses with lights, place a tree in their house and buy each other gifts.…

December 18, 2011

Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38

There is a story about a rich man who gave a…

December 11, 2011

Third Sunday of Advent: Is 61:1-2a, 10- 11; 1 Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

As a priest for over twenty-one years I have had the privilege of being a part of many different families, sharing in their joys and sorrows. Priests are called more often for the sorrows, but on occasions we are also some of the first to share in the joyful news. That was the case a couple of years ago…

December 4, 2011

Second Sunday of advent: is 40:1-5, 9-11; 2 pt 3:8-14; Mk 1:1-8

Most of us have been watching San…

Readings for The First Sunday of Advent:

Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Mk 13:33-37

When I was young I…

November 20, 2011

Readings for The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ The King: 1 Ez 34:11-12,15-17; 1 Cor 15:20-26,28; Mt 25:31-46…

November 13, 2011…

November 6, 2011

Readings for Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Wisdom 6:12-16; 1 Thes 4:13-18; Mt 25:1-3…

October 30, 2011…

October 23, 2011

Readings for The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Ex 22:20-26; 1Thes 1:15:c-10; Mt 22:34-40

Today's Gospel again has Jesus being challenged by the Pharisees; however, His response was not one that would have been very difficult for the people of His day to accept. For the first part of the answer He quoted the book of Deuteronomy "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." (6:5) All Jewish…

October 16, 2011

Readings for The Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Is 45:1, 4-6; 1 Thes 1:1-5b; Mt 22:15-21…