Dear Parishioners,

Three weeks from now, we celebrate the OLMC Festival. Come one, come all to share together as a community of faith, called, baptized, and sent to spread the good news by our lives. "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20).

A couple of weeks ago, Pope Leo XIV convened an Extraordinary Consistory, that is, a special 2 day meeting with all the Cardinals of the world. A Cardinal has two distinct roles in the life of the Church: 1) To elect new popes, and 2) To discuss with and advise the Pope on important matters of the Church.

Dear Parishioners,

I am currently chairing an ad hoc committee that Bishop Dolan has set on the presbyterial council to write a policy on retirement for diocesan priests in the diocese of Phoenix. Part of the initiative I took was to sit down recently and speak with some retired priests whose opinions I respect, so as to gather their experiences. Allow me to share one of the pieces of feedback I got, which moved me deeply. My retired priest friend said:

Merry Christmas! Today, on the last day of the Christmas season, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, commemorating the occasion of St. John the Baptist baptizing our Lord in the Jordan River.

Dear Parishioners,

As your pastor, my goal, as I have repeatedly told you, is to help lead you to heaven, and our mission as a parish is to help everyone who walks through our doors to heaven. This continues to be a great blessing and joy for me to walk this journey of faith with you. I love you deeply, and I am grateful every day for your commitment to our parish, our school, and to one another. It is in this spirit of gratitude and love that I invite you to participate in our second Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and School Endowment Drive.

Merry Christmas! In two days, Pope Leo XIV will close the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, officially bringing to a close the 2025 Jubilee. This Jubilee has been a blessing to me, as I had the privilege and joy to take three pilgrimages to Rome during the Jubilee, passed through all four Holy Doors, attended the Funeral Mass of Pope Francis, and attended the Canonization Mass of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati and St. Carlo Acutis. The Jubilee year called the entire church to journey (even if only spiritually) together to renew ourselves as pilgrims of hope, bearing in mind always that Hope [in Christ] does not disappoint.

Dear Friends,

We have just passed the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and we will now enjoy a little more light each day. Christmas itself is a feast of lights, isn't it? Trees are brought into homes and made radiant with brilliant lights; yards and streets are also illuminated; stores are decorated with lights. The whole world is illuminated. In other ways, too, our lives are aglow with light. Families come together and are sometimes reunited after many years; kind wishes and gift-giving strengthen bonds of love and friendship, and memories are brought back to life while new memories are born. These events of grace truly light up our lives.