Dear Parishioners of Saint Polycarp,

Warmest greetings from the Lord Jesus to all of you. Last weekend, on the Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, our parish celebrated two events: The first was the commencement of the Jubilee Year and the second the Feast of Saint Polycarp—our Patron.

With heartfelt gratitude to the Almighty God, I join my brother priests (Fathers Luis and Nicolaus) and deacons (Ramiro, Larry, Tri, and Juan) to thank those who helped and participated in this solemn and joyful celebration. In particular, I thank the Parish Pastoral Council (the English, Filipino, Hispanic, Vietnamese community), the Knights of Columbus, and the Youth Ministry (DMA, LOL, and TNTT) for coming together to plan, organize, set-up, and clean-up. Many who attended the Holy Mass and the light reception in the patio expressed their joy and gratitude to all of you. I pray and hope that we continue to be “Pilgrims of Hope” throughout this Jubilee Year.

On this Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time, we as “pilgrims of hope” are inspired by the Gospel message to look at our very self. The first step in looking at oneself is to recognize and know that each of us is made in the image of God (imago Dei), or each of us is a child of God: “For every tree is known by its own fruit.”  To say that we are made in the image of God, or to say that we are recognized by the root of our own fruits, is to say that there is hope for us for we belong to God as His children. Many people who have gone astray during their adolescent or young adult years often return to God because they know that their earthly root is from God.

The second step is about fraternal correction— that is, such a correction should begin with the examination of oneself. That is why, in the Gospel Jesus says, “Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye, when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.” This saying of Jesus on fraternal correction helps us to see that none of us are perfect, for we always hope in God for His mercy.

March 5 marks the beginning of the Season of Lent with the celebration of Ash Wednesday. One of the ancient formulas for the distribution of ashes calls and reminds us to look at ourselves: “Remember you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”  The First Reading from Prophet Joel on Ash Wednesday also calls us to “return to the Lord. Render our heart, not our garments.”

With my brother priests (Fathers Luis and Nicolaus), I invoke the divine blessing upon each one of you. May Our Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph, and the Patron Saint Polycarp intercede for you before the Throne of God always.

Father Viet Peter Ho
Pastor