Our next Synod Listening Session is scheduled for
Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 10:00am in the church.
Click here for more information about our parish's participation
in the Synod on Synodality 2021-2023.
Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 10:00am in the church.
Click here for more information about our parish's participation
in the Synod on Synodality 2021-2023.
Pastor's Notes
December 31, 2021
The year 2022 is in our midst, another year of blessings from God despite the pandemic and other challenges we had this past year 2021. As people of faith, we are looking forward this year to be full of hope, faith and love, and to be always joyful knowing that Christ Jesus is with us, the Emmanuel. Let us be reminded that God is always faithful to us and this should make us faithful as well to His loving care. And so I wish you Happy and Blessed New Year 2022, that all of your loved ones are safe and sound in God's grace. I hope to see you at the church often this year.
December 25, 2021
On behalf of the parish staff, I wish you and your family a Happy and Blessed Christmas. May the joy that Baby Jesus brings reside in your hearts and homes today and always. God bless you all!
November 23, 2021
I'm sad to announce the death of Anne Marie Burnette, our parish Director of Religious Education, who had been so instrumental in shaping our CCD class these past two years. She had been very helpful and active in our parish ministries and would not even mind cleaning the church with or without companions. Surely as a parish, we will miss Anne and her active involvement in all areas of parish ministries in whatever way she could. In particular, we will miss her leading and reciting in our midst the Holy Rosary before the weekend Mass.
Rest in peace, Anne. May the intercession of our Blessed Mother and all the Saints be upon you. May you enjoy in the loving embrace of our God Almighty in heaven.
October 26, 2021
There have been a lot of good things going on in our parish recently where we saw a lot of people getting and being involved in accomplishing our corporal works of mercy to achieve our common parish goal, that was, to make our parish alive again despite of the threat of the pandemic, many people have stepped up to contribute their talents, time and treasure. It would be too much if I would mention all in this message but I would like to highlight the works of some parish ministries we have.
Recently, we finished the first batch of lectors who joined the Lector's Conference facilitated by Judi McBee and we had another batch last October 23, 2021. Those new and old lectors will be officially installed according to the Rite of the Installation of Lector in the Church at all Masses this coming Saturday and Sunday, November 6 and 7, 2021, respectively.
Last month, we finished our Wall Project by fixing it from almost falling as it was badly as dangerous as it could cause a fatal accident if left unattended. Thank you to Mike Stanger and Pat Narango for spearheading it along with the members of the K of C. This project would have not been finished without the generous support of all parishioners who contributed money to meet our goal of $8,000 to finish the wall.
The parish picnic this year was a great success held at Cacapon State Park. Our parish kids enjoyed their games and many of our parishioners brought their special home baked goodies and dishes to be shared for all. In the same way, the K of C had sponsored two different Pool Parties for parishioners at the Berkeley Springs Pool Park where many of our kids and families enjoyed together. Of course, the food was so delicious.
Lately, our K of C did a recruitment weekend last October 23-24, 2021 in all Masses when our Grand Knight Pat Narango received the Star Award that was presented by our District Deputy Skipper Price and Assistant District Deputy Mike Stanger. The award was a sign of their great works of charity, fraternity and unity. However, to my surprise, the K of C also gave me an Award of Fidelity in recognition of my pastoral leadership, which of course I feel unworthy to receive such an award as I am a daily construction of God. So, I offer this award to all parishioners for their support and prayers to my ministry. I am sincerely grateful for this award.
Finally, I would like to thank all people who helped and still helping in all our parish ministries. To all volunteers who work anytime and all the time without asking any human recognition, I am truly grateful. May God always shower you with his blessings. God bless you.
July 16, 2021
Please put in your calendar the following parish activities:
Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 10am-12noon: New and Old Lectors' Workshop at the Church
Sunday, August 22, 2021 at 1pm-4pm: Annual Parish Picnic at Cacapon State Park CCC Pavilion
September 18-19, 2021: Installation of New and Old Lectors at Masses on Saturday and Sunday (Postponed until futher notice)
Sunday, September 19, 2021: Catechetical Sunday and the Beginning of CCD Class
June 27, 2021
Our parish is in need of the following volunteers:
Lectors
Altar Servers both young and adults
Ushers
Church cleaners
Please call the office for more information. Thank you.
August 3, 2020
It has been a few months already that we have been hit by the pandemic, which in a way has changed our way of worship and even has stopped some to go to church on weekend. But based on our experience this time in our parish, by observing proper protocols, I can say that it is safer to attend the weekend Mass particularly to those who are healthy enough to get around. If you are able to get out of the house and go to malls, grocery stores and parks, maybe you can also go to the church to worship for an hour. Unless you are physically frail, elderly or at the very young age who are so vulnerable to a disease, you can stay at home and attend the online Masses. In short, weekend worship is safer and the church building is disinfected every other Friday, and people during Mass are asked to observe the physical distancing, to wear mask and to sanitize their hands. So, please come back to the Sunday worship...the Lord is waiting for you.
June 5, 2020
Ten years ago, June 5, 2010, I made a promise to embrace the life of priesthood in and of Jesus Christ
at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling. Indeed, time flies when I don't think of it but how short and quick it is when I reflect of God's eternity, that despite His being God, He allows me, the imperfect, to share in the life of His Son's priestly ministry. Therefore, it is through His daily grace that sustains me in my journey, so I thank my Almighty God for this special gift, in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ the Savior. And to the People of God, thank you very much for your prayers and support.
June 3, 2020
We belong to one race, that is, the human race. What makes this race precious is that it is endowed with intellect and will that no other beings have possessed. As St. Thomas Aquinas said, "Man is the crown of God's creation," which means all of us are equal before the Lord, that our colors, black or white or brown, do not matter. Being a precious race, man is capable of achieving human justice and fairness in his earthly life that reflects the Divine Justice and once this ability to reflect is being put aside human society is in danger, if not, unrest, riots, and violence would take over. The sense of profound reflection into the meaningful nature of human person and his or her dignity must be enabled in one's personal life so as one's character is being led into living or leading a life of order, beauty, peace, and harmony. Bringing back into our consciousness the sense of reality as to why we are precious among the rest of God's creation is a way to help us realize that as "being made in the image and likeness of God" we have an inalienable "birth mark," that is Human Dignity. It is that human dignity that allows us to promote justice and fairness, growth and development, peace and harmony, security and solidarity, and especially equality as we are colorless before the presence of God.
May 31, 2020
What a wonderful weekend for our parish as we baptized our catechumen, Linda Jurgensen, and received into Full Communion into the Catholic Faith, Josh Amos, in the presence of their catechists and godparents and the whole community. Also following was their Confirmation. My sincere gratitude to Bob and Eun Yea Williams for providing spiritual guidance and catechetical instruction to our catechumen and candidate.
May 18, 2020
On May 18th, 2009, eleven years ago, I was ordained to the Order of Deacon. How quick the time, how long the eternity. Please pray for me always. Today also is the birthday of St. Pope John Paul II the Great. Let's pray that he will continue to intercede for us.
May 8, 2020
Welcome to the launching of this new parish website, which I have created overnight and continued to be developed with the intention to reach out to you and to bring hopefully the necessary information coming from your parish. Although this is not the best design, its main purpose is to deliver information of what's going on in our church and our parish. Thank you for your patience.
