One of the greatest things that has happened to our beloved parish this year is the official commencement of perpetual Adoration in our Divine Mercy Perpetual Adoration Chapel on April 21, 2025. I feel so blessed that the Lord gave me the privilege of ensuring that this tremendous treasure of our parish was built. I am so grateful that he used me. Since its opening, we have not only had a record of over 350 committed adorers but also Adoration going on uninterrupted 24/7.

Relics are physical objects that have a direct association with the saints or with Our Lord. They are venerated (not worshiped) as tangible memorials of holy people and events. The practice has roots in early Christianity and is based on the belief in the power of God's grace working through the saints and their remains. The veneration of relics is supported by passages like 2 Kings 13:21, where a dead man comes to life after touching the bones of the prophet Elisha. In the early Church, Christians gathered at martyrs’ tombs to celebrate Mass, believing that their closeness to the remains of the saints brought them spiritually closer to God. Now, in each altar as a connection to the early life of the church, first-class relics of saints, typically of a martyred saint, are embedded inside the altar, and that is true for us here at OLMC.

Traveling through Italy, I visited numerous churches that were exquisite in their beauty, from large Papal Basilicas to small local parishes, and were constructed in a variety of times over the course of history, each with their era’s distinctive marks. These churches, from the more simple ancient churches simply decorated with early frescoes, to the lavish baroque basilicas gilded with gold and porphyry all display a commitment to making the most beautiful house for our Lord that they could at that moment.

Dear Friends,

I joined the priests of our diocese for our annual retreat two weeks ago in my favorite retreat center, the Redemptorist Retreat Center at Picture Rocks in Tucson. Each time I go there, I am inspired by the words written near the tabernacle, which read: “The Desert will lead you to your heart where I will speak.” However, though the retreat was very inspiring and our retreat director, Fr. Lorenzo, was very engaging, this time, nothing struck a particular chord in me to validate this sentence until a brief encounter with a couple I met on the last day of my retreat at the reception.

Ten days ago, on May 8, 2025, Robert Cardinal Prevost was elected Pope, taking the name Leo XIV. This day he was elected, May 8, is a feast day of St. Michael the Archangel, commemorating his multiple apparitions atop Monte Gargano in southeastern Italy since the year 492. This feast day used to be celebrated throughout the world, but has now often been neglected.

Dear Friends,

When the announcement of the new pope was made on May 8th, I was in a hospital bed in the emergency room battling an illness. All of a sudden, my phone went ballistic with messages informing me of who the new pope is - Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, an American-born Augustinian missionary! What? I unconsciously reacted. At a human level, I was thrilled that the new pope and I both share the name Robert and both of us are Americans of dual citizenship. But I was also shocked, like I believe many were, because though holding a prominent position in the Vatican, little was known about him. Besides, many more still never expected an American to become a pope at this time.

The first U.S.-born cardinal, Robert Francis Prevost, has been named the Roman pontiff on Thursday, taking the name Leo XIV.

Following the opening Mass (The Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff) on Wednesday, 133 cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel later that day to begin the conclave. To elect a new pope, a two-thirds majority was required, meaning at least 89 votes were needed out of 133 electors. On Thursday afternoon in Rome, the white smoke indicated the new pope had been selected.

While I was in Italy, we celebrated Mass in the Catacombs of Rome, surrounded by the tombs of the early Christians, as well as by where some of the early Popes used to be buried. There were buried martyrs, clergy, families, and children; all Christians who lived the faith even through persecution. We celebrated Mass in a similar way to these early Christians, who celebrated the Mass atop the tombs of the Martyrs, sometimes even becoming martyrs themselves in the process. Even through the centuries of time that have passed between then and now, we share the same faith as the faith of our forefathers.

Today I am writing to you from Italy, where only a few days ago, I attended the funeral Mass of Pope Francis. I had planned for this trip many months ago to go for the Jubilee Year, and was going to be at the Canonization Mass of (soon to be Saint) Carlo Acutis, but just 3 days before I left, Francis passed, causing the Canonization to be postponed. A trip for jubilation turned to a trip for mourning.

Dear friends,

The past thirteen or so days have been marked by significant events that have rocked the world to its core. First, though expected, was the horrific death of our Lord Jesus Christ and his glorious resurrection three days later on Easter Sunday. Just as the Christian world was rejoicing and celebrating this centuries-old momentous event, Pope Francis died the next day on Easter Monday.

Dear friends,

This weekend, we celebrate the feast of the Divine Mercy. The devotion to the Divine Mercy has its roots in the visions and writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who lived in the early 20th century. This is how it happened: In 1931, Saint Faustina began experiencing visions of Jesus Christ, which she recorded in her diary. These visions revealed the infinite mercy of God and the need for humanity to trust in His goodness. Jesus asked Saint Faustina to spread the message of Divine Mercy and to establish a feast day in honor of His mercy.

The Paschal Candle represents Christ, the Light of the World. It is blessed and solemnly processed into a darkened church at the Easter Vigil, bringing the Light of the Risen Christ into the church. The beeswax of which the candle is made represents the sinless Christ who was formed in the womb of His Mother, as is paralleled in the Exsultet, a proclamation chanted at the Easter Vigil: "a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light, for it is fed by melting wax, drawn out by mother bees to build a torch so precious."

Dear friends,

I want to wish you all a Happy and Blessed Easter! As we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on this glorious Easter Sunday, let us rejoice in the profound truth that shapes our faith: He is Risen!

In the darkness of the tomb, Jesus Christ conquered death and sin, emerging victorious in the light of eternal life. This triumph is not just a historical event but a living reality that not only transforms our lives today but forever.

Dear friends,

Before Vatican II, the reading of the Passion, which we hear today, was greeted with absolute silence. No homily. Even the concluding acclamation: “The gospel of the Lord,” was omitted. So, on a day like this Palm Sunday, I sometimes feel that the most eloquent response to the word of God we have is silence because even the best of homilies could be a distraction from the deep meditation in which many of us find ourselves at the end of the story of the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. But then also, I am aware that a good homily might be useful to direct and focus our meditation in the right direction.

Coming up in 6 days, we arrive at the most important Mass of the entire church year, a beautiful and majestic hours-long tapestry of symbolism, poetry, and powerful scripture recounting the story of Salvation History. This is the Easter Vigil. This Mass is also when the Church grows since the Easter Vigil is the night when catechumens can receive the Catholic sacrament of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion on the same night. The Easter Vigil is a one-of-akind Mass, more different than a regular Sunday liturgy than any other Mass of the year.

Dear friends,

Last week's blessing of our Perpetual Adoration Chapel was a momentous occasion for our parish. It was a special day filled with joy, gratitude, and a deep sense of reverence that radiated throughout the entire liturgy. I have heard so many testimonies to this fact from many of you who attended the blessing Mass led by bishop Nevares.

The most sacred three days of the entire year in the Church is the Sacred Triduum, encompassing Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. The liturgy, and yes, it is a single liturgy that spans the course of three days, is a tapestry of symbolism, poetry, and sublime beauty.