All Saints vs. Halloween
10-27-2019Letter from the PastorFr. Don Kline, V.F.Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The way our culture currently recognizes Halloween is more than scary... it is wrong. Let me attempt to clarify a few things. This week we will celebrate the Feast of All Saints, which is celebrated every November 1st. This celebration dates back to the fourth century. It was originally called the Feast of All Martyrs and it was celebrated on May 13th. The words “martyr” and “saint” originally meant basically the same thing — someone who is a witness to Christ even unto death.
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Consecrate Your Family to Jesus through Mary
10-20-2019Letter from the PastorFr. Don Kline, V.F.Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of our parish, the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Phoenix, and the Jubilee Year of the Family, Bishop Olmsted invites all Catholics in our diocese to consecrate their family to Jesus through Mary. I encourage each family of St. Bernadette and St. John XXIII to make this consecration together.
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Respect Life Month
10-13-2019Letter from the PastorFr. Don Kline, V.F.Dear Brothers and Sisters,
A few years ago, I was blessed to be able to visit the Island of Molokai where St. Damien De Veuster and St. Marianne Cope ministered to lepers. Several people afflicted with Leprosy or Hansen's disease, who are now cured, remain on the Island. If I had to guess, I would say they prefer to be hidden from the world after being treated so harshly when diagnosed.
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Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord
01-05-2020Letter from the PastorFr. Don Kline, V.F.Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany. What exactly is an epiphany? Some would say that it is a sudden, profound realization of something important; a breakthrough; a deep and profound understanding of something once mysterious. The Church uses the term to describe God as being made manifest in Jesus Christ.
On Christmas, we focused on Jesus' humanity. On Epiphany, we turn our attention to Christ's divinity. We pause here today, just like the wise men, to pay this Divine Child homage and adoration as only a true King deserves. Next week we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, a dramatic leap forward in Jesus' life when we celebrate the initiation of Jesus' public ministry.
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