The great Yogi Berra liked to say: “When you come to the fork in the road, take it.” For St. Luke today, this is Jesus’ “fork in the road” moment. Thus far, Jesus has been tempted and rejected; gathered and sent disciples; healed and taught; performed miracles, was transfigured and predicted his own death. He had spent nearly all of his thirty-three years in the backwater outskirts of Galilee, and today, he comes face to face with a decision— where there will be no looking back. And “when the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.” 9:51

As part of a nationwide effort, concerned citizens are visiting the offices of federal legislators to ask that the House of Representatives and /or US Senate conduct immediate hearings on the recent deaths at the hands of ICE/CBP, as well as an immediate formal investigation into the human rights violations reported at the detention camps and the general conditions of the camps. 

Thousands of Catholics, through the efforts of dioceses around California, are contracting their Assembly Members to object to the infringement of religious freedom that SB 360 represents. The bill threatens to remove the right to privacy between a penitent and confessor during the Sacrament of Reconciliation and other spiritual counseling for priests and employees of the Church.

Thank you to everyone who supported the mission and ministries of our parish during the month of May. Our average weekly collection was $19,762 (lowest of the year). You also generously donated to various important causes in our May Second Collections in the amount of $20,093 (not including Catholic Charities – TBD). Our parish needs $20,000 a week for us to meet many of our financial responsibilities. We budgeted our Sunday Offertory income for the first 11 months (46 weeks) at $920,000 and received $978,000. This additional income helps us to pay-down our $2.5 million debt. As you know, we are totally dependent upon you all our parishioners for our livelihood. We are so grateful for the sacrifices you make so that the work of St. Francis of Assisi Parish may continue to impact the lives of so many.

Twin brothers Giacomo and Davide Crespi have always been together, and May 25, 2019, was no different: side by side, along with three other seminary classmates, they received the sacrament of holy orders from their bishop, Gianfranco Agostino Gardin, in the diocese of Treviso, northern Italy.