Dear Parishioners,

I would like to thank everyone who participated in the Together Let Us Go Forth~Juntos Sigamos Adelante Campaign. I really appreciate your generous and sacrificial giving to support the campaign. This weekend I invite those who have not yet participated to join us in supporting the campaign by filling out a pledge card to be fulfilled over the next 5 years. We all have different reasons whether or not we choose to participate in the campaign. Personally, as a religious Priest with a Vow of Poverty, even with my meager income, plus my financial obligations to my Religious Order and my family, I have enough reasons not to participate in the campaign. However, like an African Proverb says, “No matter how short a man is, he too can see the Sun.” I chose to support the campaign because I wanted to be part of this historical moment. My participation is my way of saying “thank you” to the Diocese of Phoenix and to the St. Benedict community for the love and support I have received.

Dear Parishioners,

Over the past three months, I have visited and met with a number of families in our parish community to get to know them and to hear their concerns, questions and suggestions regarding our parish community, as well as to discuss the ongoing diocesan wide campaign, Together Let Us Go Forth ~ Juntos Sigamos Adelante. During our visits, many families shared with me their struggles and how they arrived at the decision to give sacrificial financial support to the parish weekly collection, parish building campaign and now the diocesan campaign. I thank all of the families who gave me the opportunity to visit them and those who have already participated in both the parish building and the diocesan campaign. Because of your support, you are helping us reach our goals.

Dear Parishioners,

Finally, we have come to the last week of preparation for our long-awaited Parish BBQ and Boot Scoot, coming up this Saturday, November 16. Don’t miss out on the fun! Lots of food, fellowship, silent auction items, music, dancing, entertainment and more. Invite your friends and neighbors to come join us. Remember to buy your ticket for the dinner this weekend or this week at the parish office. Much thanks to those on the Event Committee for all the planning and dedication to ensure that we have a successful celebration. I look forward with excitement to a wonderful and memorable evening on Saturday.

Together Let Us Go Forth~Juntos Sigamos Adelante

Dear Parishioners,

Welcome to the month of November. In the Church tradition, the month of November is a period dedicated for prayers for the dead. On Nov 1, the Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints when we thank God for the lives of all the dead who have made it to heaven. On Nov 2, we celebrate the Memorial of All Souls when we pray for those who have passed and are still undergoing the period of purification in Purgatory before they can be admitted into heaven. On the Church’s teaching on Purgatory, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that:

“All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire” (CCC 1030 -1031).