Thank You

As I leave St. Edward the Confessor and San Felipe de Jesús, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to God and to you for the past 4½ years. My assignment here came as an unexpected blessing in December of 2018, and now you and I will make the transition to new blessings. As I wrote to you last week, every moment can be a moment of grace. I thank the Lord for his many blessings, and I consider you to be a great blessing in my life. Let’s continue to pray for each other, and let’s never lose sight of our calling to be saints: faithful, loving disciples of Jesus Christ.

Celebrate, Serve, and Evangelize: St. Edward the Confessor and San Felipe de Jesús do these things well, and I hope to keep this threefold vision in my life as I move on to Saints Simon and Jude parish. Thank you for the years we have had together; thank you for your kindness to me; thank you for all the ways in which you continue to build the Kingdom of God in this wonderful place. The Eucharist, Source and Summit of the Christian life, will keep us united in the Lord, and it will be my joy to include you in my Masses.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances. (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

Gratefully Yours,

Keeping in Touch

As you know, one of the challenges of moving is the increased physical distance that will separate us from the friends we have come to know and cherish. Although I will not be far away—specifically, at Saints Simon and Jude parish in Huntington Beach—we all know that life goes on and each of us must “bloom where we are planted.” That being said, I would like to give you a couple of ways to stay in touch with me if you desire to do so. One way to be in touch is through my personal email: fatherphilip@aol.com (notice that “father” is spelled out, not abbreviated, and “philip” has only one “l”). Another way is my personal phone number: 714.673.9272. Whether we remain in touch or not, I do hope we will continue to pray for each other. Prayer can span any geographical distance!

The new administrator of St. Edward the Confessor and San Felipe de Jesús will be Bishop Tim Freyer. I am happy for him, as he will be joining one of the finest parishes in the diocese. I have no doubt that you will make him feel welcomed and supported. As I told the parish staff when I first met them on December 6, 2018, every moment can be a moment of grace. Let’s tap into the graces of the present moment and continue along the path to sainthood. That’s the reason we are here, and that will assure all of us a joyful reunion in the place that knows no “good byes.”

Gratefully Yours,

God’s Plan

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!

How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!

These words, from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, begin our Second Reading for this Sunday. God is great, and his thoughts and plans far exceed anything we can imagine. With St. Paul, we are called to wonder and worship before the ways of God and the will of God. He has called us to the amazing adventure of striving to become saints.

Now this wonderful adventure is about to take a new turn for you and for me. Bishop Vann has asked me to move on to a new assignment. I will be leaving St. Edward the Confessor and San Felipe de Jesús on September 12th. As I think of this news, my heart is filled with gratitude for the 4½ years we have had together. What a blessing it has been to be part of such a loving, welcoming, thriving community! Thank you, with all my heart, for all you have done to make our parish the awesome place it is!

I cherish your friendship and will miss you very much. Let’s remember, though, that we never have to be more than a prayer away from each other. I beg you to pray for me, and I promise to pray for you in return. Along with the prayers, happy memories are sure to fill my heart as I recall the special time during which we have traveled toward heaven together.

Gratefully Yours,