In the beginning of the year, I had the privilege and honor of visiting Lourdes, France with my older brother. During our visit, we encounter our loving Mother Mary by an aromatic aroma of mossy fresh roses while we were praying the Rosary with other pilgrims at the Grotto. That aroma of love has now guided me to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Northridge. In some form or way, our Mother Mary has called me to be next to her and for the next 10 months I will be part of this vibrant and enriching community that lives by its motto of “Embracing, Equipping and Accompanying God’s People,” just like our Mother.
Entrusting my vocation in Mary’s hands, I took a step of faith towards my internship year with an open heart of service and love. Like our Mother, who ran to Saint Elizabeth to help her during her pregnancy, I have come to a community to serve and learn from such holy people. Fr. David Loftus, Msgr. Peter Moran, Fr. Daniel White and Fr. Jerry O’Keeffe have been great workers in God's vineyard for many years and now they are mentors to me and to so many other seminarians that have been assigned as interns at this parish for the past years.
Likewise, I am grateful for the Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart, who have been a true blessing in my vocation and the vocation of many holy families at the parish. By their example of life, my time at the parish, both in learning and teaching the faith, has grown through their example of life, and through their loving way of encountering each person on their path of seeking God.
As Saint Paul VI stated, “Only in the Mystery of the Incarnate Word does the Mystery of Humanity take on Light,” thus we are invited to live in holiness, together in Jesus Christ, as brothers and sisters of one God.
My continual growth in spiritual life is key to further the relationship with the Divine, who seeks us at every moment. While the past month I missed the brotherhood of communal prayer at the Seminary, now that I am entering my second month, I have grown to seek God in prayer despite the busyness of parish life. I am learning to lean on the chest of Our Lord as Saint John did, and to listen to the rhythm of His heart. I am learning to keep His same tempo.
May all the faithful keep all seminarians across the world in their prayers as we enter deeper into the mystery that Our Loving Father is calling us to be. Blessings to All.
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