The term ‘rejoice’ is used five times in today’s readings and what I understood from Luke’s Gospel is that regardless of our circumstances, knowing that God is always with us, we can find a reason to rejoice.  We are living in a very difficult time, a time when families could be separated, leaving children behind. This may be especially true for someone near and dear to us. Let us put our full trust in our Lord, knowing that anything that tries to tear us apart will not be able to harm us.  

We read, “I have given you the power to ‘tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.” Do you wholeheartedly believe that nothing will harm YOU? At times we may find this difficult to comprehend, but we are told, word for word, “nothing will harm you.” A wise woman has told me multiple times, “God says ‘worry about my things and I will make sure I take care of your things.’” I’ve been raised, especially as of recently, to do God’s work and everything else, will be taken care of by Him. I started to believe in this so much that it is now the reality I live. I sincerely believe that my job is to do God’s work, for the families, young adults and parents in our parish, and God will take care of the rest without me having to overthink.   

As the Director of Faith Formation, I’d like to remind all parents of this: you can be the person who helps your child, your spouse or family member fall in love wholeheartedly, with our Lord. You can help them believe everything that He promises us, even that ‘nothing will harm you’ and help them see that without Him, life can feel exhausting and pointless. You may be thinking to yourself, “Well, even I don’t have that strong of a relationship with God, how am I supposed to teach that to anyone else?” Through our Faith Formation programs, Family Catechesis, Special Religious Education, Confirmation or O.C.I.A., our Catechists can help you build the relationship you’re looking for with God. We just need your YES and He will do the rest.  

Our Faith Formation programs will begin in September, and I hope that you take this as a calling for your child or yourself to complete the sacraments needed. This could be your opportunity to welcome peace into your home.  

The Diocese of San Diego takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and addresses them promptly, confidentially, and with integrity. To report any incident of sexual misconduct, please contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator.
Criminal abuse that is reported or suspected is reported to law enforcement in accordance with civil law.

Mary Acosta

Coordinadora de Asistencia a Víctimas

(858) 490-8353.