Daily Reflection



Daily Reflection:
Monday, July 20


My Sisters and Brothers in Christ, take some time to reflect up this picture.
 
It speaks to an attitude and feeling that I think we are all in need of during this days…

 
It Fell a Long Time Ago, But It Never Gave Up
 
Fr. Ron Kelso sent me the above picture some time ago. I looked at it once, then again, and then I couldn’t take my eyes off of it.
 
I was mesmerized by it and I couldn’t understand as to why!
 
The tree was felled, yes! And it continued to grow and flourish in new directions and continued to be an object of beauty. Yes. But, why?
 
What enabled that tree to continue to live, and not only live, but live with a new “flourish”, to be a tree causing attention and bringing people to admire it and find meaning in it?
 
I stared at the picture for a long time and finally, “bingo,” it hit me!
 
Why was the tree able to “never give up?” The tree did not have “within itself” to do so…it was able to do so only because it was still “rooted!” It was connected to the earth! Its roots were still surrounded in the ground sapping up the nutrients and water.
 
It was this “rootedness” that allowed it to never give up. The strength to never give up did not come from the tree itself but from its rootedness to the earth.
 
I now looked at this picture with a completely different perspective.
 
This tree can give each of us, human beings, strength and power by its example, but we need to see that the key is its “rootedness,” not some element “within itself” that gave it the power to continue to live and flourish.
What does that mean for us?
 
If we are attracted to this picture and we find energy in it for us, we need to be reminded that we too need to be rooted.
 
As Disciples of Jesus, we need to be rooted. We need to be rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When we are rooted, we can be felled, and we can continue to live and to flourish, just like that tree. 
 
But we need to be rooted!
 
If you are attracted to this picture, if it gives you strength, hope, and perseverance in your life whenever you have been felled, then remember, that you cannot do it by yourself! You must be rooted!
 
Are you rooted in the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ?
 
--Fr. Mike


Join us for Daily Prayer Online
Brother Benno’s
Drive-By Collection
Saturday, July 25, 8:00-10:00am

During this pandemic, Brother Benno’s has been forced to stop its hot breakfast program and go to sack lunches for the needy. Of course this means a different source of food, and they have sent out a request for the following:

Small bags of chips, fruit cups, protein bars, crackers, small juices, Gatorade, and bottled water. They also need hangers, adult diapers, and baby wipes. Finally, they are seeking face masks for the homeless.

Deacon Tom will be in the STM parking lot with his truck, so drive by and drop off your donations. Thank you!



Congratulations to the Children Who
Celebrated Their First Holy Communion
on Saturday, July 11!

The Mass was recorded in case you would like to watch. Click on the image or check the Parish website and select Online Mass.

Please keep these children and the others who will be celebrating their First Holy Communion in the future in prayer.




Attention STM Women!

Watch your mail for an invitation to join the STM Women's Guild for the 2020-2021 year or download the membership info HERE.

Click on the photo to peruse the types of activities and fundraisers we host, understanding that we will make adjustments as needed.

Questions? Email Trish Feeley.


Hello Faith Formation Families!

We would like to share some information about our Religious Education Program (REACH) for the Fall. Please click on the images above for more details and to request your enrollment packet. Thank you!




Many of us make our contributions when we attend Mass each week. Our Parish still needs our weekly contributions even though we cannot attend Mass, so that we can continue providing services and ministering to you. Please consider giving online, using text-to-give, or mailing in your contributions to STM at 1450 S. Melrose Dr., Oceanside, CA 92056. Thank you!

If you know Parishioners or have family/friends who do not have access to email, please share this information with them. Thank you!

If you or anyone you know needs anything, please contact the Parish Office. We are closed but checking voice mail regularly and will do our best to help. You may also call
2-1-1 for assistance with resources of various types.

The bulletin link is available in every email we send (see golden orange button below. People without email or internet access will be able call the Parish Office and leave a message requesting a bulletin via snail mail each week during this time. Thank you!


The Larger Church
Fr. Bejarano Consecrated as
Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego

Father Ramón Bejarano arrived in the San Diego Diocese in July from the Central Valley, where he served as a priest of the Diocese of Stockton for 21 years.

He was consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego on Tuesday, July 14, in a ceremony that was livestreamed. The recording may still be available: https://www.sdcatholic.org/bishops/livestream-of-consecration-mass-for-aux-bishop-bejarano-july-14-2-p-m/

He sent the following message ahead of his arrival:
Dear faithful of the local Church of San Diego and the Imperial Valley:
Greetings from the northern Central Valley. I write this note as I prepare for my episcopal ordination.

I am very happy to be able to carry out the mission that our Lord has called me to do, even though I’m a little fearful. I have been asking the Holy Spirit to help me to be faithful and to be truly of service to the community of the Diocese of San Diego ...

His statement is continued here: https://tinyurl.com/bejarano-sd
(The Southern Cross, July 2, 2020)

 
Solutions for Change FarmBox

We hope you are doing well during this turbulent time. Many of us have been "thrown for a loop" the past couple of months from COVID-19, but the good news is, we are learning to find a way forward, and slowly but surely, able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We want you to know that we have a special place in our heart for your church and the people you serve, and we hope everyone is safe, happy, and healthy. 
 
As you may or may not know, our Solutions for Change has a farm! Solutions Farms provides work development training for the formerly homeless families in our program and funds the transformation of these families. 
 
Pre-Covid, we sold our lettuce to local restaurants. Unfortunately, with business shut downs, we lost these accounts, and a valuable source of funding for our program. We needed to get creative, so we quickly pivoted, partnering with local fruit and vegetable farmers to come out with our own CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Box - Solutions FarmBox!
 
Solutions FarmBox delivers organic fruits and vegetables straight to your front door. The box includes our 100% organic spring mix with local farm fresh veggies and fruit such as avocados, apples, oranges, tomatoes, zucchinis, spinach, strawberries etc.
 
To continue to serve those in need, we offer this CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box for purchase on our website, and 100% of the proceeds go towards solving family homeless at Solutions for Change. 
 
If you would like to purchase a box click here .
If you do not want a box but would like to support Solutions for Change, click here .


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