Saint Paul the Apostle, Donald Jackson, St. John's Bible, 1998

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

This weekend, we celebrate the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, the feast day of parish and of the Paulist Fathers. It also marks the beginning of Catholic Schools Week, a time in which we celebrate Catholic education and, in particular, our school.

Paul, who thought he knew everything, is struck to the ground at noon, when the sun is at its brightest. He lays on the ground with his eyes closed. He is blinded by a Light he had never known. The Light that is the Risen Christ, who does something remarkable and unbelievable. The Light blinds him so that he might see life in a new way.

His blindness takes Paul into relationships with people he had previously disdained and persecuted. People like Ananias. The people of The Way, Christians who were brothers and sisters in the Jewish faith.

Sometimes the life experiences knock us to the ground, where we can choose if we are going to open our eyes. So much is possible when we admit that we do not know everything. In 2024, our divided political landscape requires a certain humility, one that sees that we are all the clay from which God formed us.

We need Paul's conviction that flowed from his conversion: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)

We are one.

We are one with Dan Macalinao, our Paulist seminarian who served among us during his pastoral year (2021 - 2022), who is now a deacon and preparing for ordination to the priesthood in May, will join us at all masses. He will invite your participation in the Annual Paulist Appeal.

We rely on your support for our Paulist community. We are one with you in our mission to welcome all to the Church.

We only discovered in December that the Archdiocese would not be able to offer the formation program for adults seeking confirmation. We are grateful to Joan Doyle, Father Peter Abdella who are offering the Adult Confirmation program here in our parish (info below). Sorry for the late notice, but if you know of anyone who would be interested, please refer them to us.

See you at the Pancake Breakfast on Sunday!

Saint Paul the Apostle! Pray for us!

Happy Feast Day!

Peace, love, and blessings, 

Father Gilbert Martinez, CSP

For the healing, comfort, and peace of the sick, for Terra Geisler, Josephine Andrews, NyAnn Clifton, Mark H. Bramhall, Christine Costumbrado, Jim and Eileen Gaffney, Ruben Torres, Megan Moloughney, Harold Slade, Laurie LaShelle

For the eternal rest of our beloved departed, Edward Joseph Rollerson, Nathan Gage Ingram, Christopher J. Chambers, Christopher Murray, Jamie Bueno, Matilda Callahan-Wright, Robert Ross, Carmen Abdullah, Odette Harmel, Tatiana Melguizo, Eddie Merrins, and Saul Canet, may they rest in peace.

For peace in every nation: may the light of the Holy Spirit transform hearts so that all may seek the way of peace together and comfort the wounded and grieving, let us pray to the Lord:

Thanks to our St. Paul's Habitat for Humanity team, who helped build a new home a couple of weeks ago! Rick Bisetti is our team leader. You may contact him by email here. There is another opportunity to participate in a special event, Build for Unity over two inspiring days on February 2 & 3 with a unique opportunity to work together with people of diverse faiths to make a tangible impact by constructing much-needed affordable housing in our community. There are two impactful ways to participate: You can make a difference by either donating, volunteering, or both!