Deacon's Corner
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a Thank you From our Deacons-October 16, 2024
First and foremost all glory and praise to God, the Almighty Father, to His most charitable son and glorious gift of the Holy Spirit.
There aren't enough words to express what your support means to us, but here are three prayers we hope do justice:- To our wives- Lord, before I heard your call to orders, you had already given me the fullness of my heart in her, my bride. Thank you for our wives. You are who called us to maturity in love of Christ. Lord, bless our wives beyond all telling and see her safely into holiness and life; life abundant. Amen.
- To our shepherd, Fr. Rudi- You have brought a light to our community that we treasure. Thank you. Our souls are nourished by your words. We are often moved by what you say. You have a true gift and we are very grateful for it. Your dedication is inspiring to all of us. The spiritual guidance, hope and strength you give us is invaluable and we are eternally grateful. You truly reveal "Persona En Cristi". Amen.
- Parishioners of Our Lady of Grace- As we walked into the church we found ourselves greatly moved with humility and appreciation. "We are just servants, Lord" we prayed. Thank you for the kind words of support and encouragement, for your gifts and most of all for your prayers.
Dear God,
You created a home for your son in Nazareth; help all of us to create a home for him and for each other here at Our Lady of Grace. Guide our hearts to welcome the stranger, to feed the hungry, to encourage the weary, to clothe the poor and the naked, and see in all of them and in each other, the face of Christ. Send your spirit to fill our hearts, stir our imaginations and inspire our souls. Help us to continue the work your son began in our friends and neighbors. Keep us always vigilant and alert to the needs, sufferings, hardships and hopes of those we serve so that we may serve them with fervor and faith. Bless Our Lady of Grace with the gifts we need to accomplish all you ask of us. Give us wisdom, patience, fortitude, passion and resolve and help us to love one another in spite of our frailties, our weaknesses and our differences. May we appreciate with every passing day this simple truth: Our obligation doesn't end on Sunday as we leave the church but continues every day, as we carry Christ into the world. "Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord".
Your servants in Christ,
Rev. Deacon Joe Morin & Penny
Rev. Deacon Manuel Lopez & Lupita
Rev. Deacon Daniel Romo & Adrienne
Rev. Deacon Ted Hernandez & Rosa
Deacon Emeritus Ernest Hernandez
& Deacon Candidate Manuel Lopez, Jr. & Veronica
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A MEssage from Deacon Daniel~
Sometimes green pastures don’t look so green do they? And the waters-they’re certainly not still. Often, the path before us looks dark and storm-filled. Truthfully, even when our circumstances look grim our Good Shepherd is near and working on our behalf. We can find joy and peace in him in the midst of our hardest circumstances. If our Good Shepherd laid down his life to save us, then we, his sheep, can trust he knows best and only leads us down paths which work out for the good and his glory. As we walk through life, God is shaping us into his likeness-the most gracious thing he can do. It is important to remember when experiencing suffering, that our Good Shepherd takes us into his arms and carries us. He is very near to us, strengthening us in each moment to endure all trials.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)As we face our greatest challenges, we can cast our anxieties upon him, knowing he cares for us and gives us strength to endure all trials. He is God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3) and promises never to leave us even as we face grief, suffering, and challenges. We can take refuge in knowing we will be comforted under his care, David faced great suffering when he wrote this Psalm. He truly felt as though he was walking through the valley of the shadow of death as ge was pursued by his enemies who sought to kill him. He took comfort that he would dwell in the house of the Lord for all eternity regardless of his circumstances. Nothing could steal his salvation-not even death. This is why he could boldly proclaim that his “cup overflows.” His portion was Christ. We also have been given this portion. Therefore, we can believe that goodness and mercy follows us all the days of our lives, even though we sometimes wrestle in trusting that God’s plans are good. His plans lead us to righteousness and give us more of himself. In suffering, we may lose much, but we gain much more. We got more of Jesus, and this is a good and merciful gift. We trust that he will see us through.
~Deacon Daniel Romo
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MESSAGE FROM DEACON JOE MORIN
We are in a “new way” of life this year with the COVID 19 pandemic—more prayers have been spoken. Not just here but all over the world, it is more clear to us that we must keep God in our life to help us be strong in our faith with our families.
The readings for this 24th Sunday tell us to always forgive others from our hearts so that we can receive forgiveness—if we don’t forgive, we won’t be forgiven.
Many are suffering—due to illness, fires, hurricanes, financial problems, depression, and worldwide disorders… But God sent His Son who died for us—to give us love, peace, joy, forgiveness, and family.
I thank God for letting us be a part of this parish family, even if we have to social distance to be together for Mass. Please remember to support the parish during this time of need with your generous talent and treasure—persons are needed to do media, live streaming (Saturday, 5:30 Mass), and to help after Mass to disinfect the pews.
This week, ask yourself – Who is most in need of my compassion this week? What is keeping me from serving God with an open heart?
Please remain safe, wash your hands, and social distance.
Your brother in Christ ~~~ Deacon Joe
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