Father Reggie’s comments
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010Dear Beloved Parishioners,
In the name of our Pastor, Fr. Pierre, I, your new Parochial Vicar, Fr. Reggie Carreon, want to convey to you a joyful greeting in Pauline way “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 1:16. Our dear Pastor requested that I would fill in his column in the weekly bulletin “A Letter from our Pastor” during his much needed vacation. For those who do not know me yet, your priest-servant is a “bona fide” Filipino, born and grew up in the Philippines. I studied in the minor seminaries of Pampanga and Pangasinan and graduated in the major seminary of Vigan Ilocos Sur and then ordained as a priest in the holy year of 1975. As a young priest I was assigned for 2 months as an assistant Parish Priest in my hometown, Concepcion, Tarlac, where the late Ninoy Aquino was born, the
father of our15th President, Noynoy Aquino III. After that assignment I became a Parish Priest for 27 years in different parishes of the Diocese of Tarlac. On a Sabbatical leave in 2003 I visited my sister in Arizona, USA and became a visitor-Priest in the Diocese of Phoenix. In January 1, 2004, with my working visa, I began my pastoral ministry as an associate pastor at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Sun City, Arizona. On June 1, 2010 I was transferred to St. Steven’s Catholic Church as a Parochial Vicar till the present time. In the next issue, I will write about my pastoral experiences about working in a senior community parish and the Filipino Catholic Community of Arizona.
The reading for this Sunday have direct application to us as we try to live our Christian vocation in the secular world. They speak of God who calls us to focus our attention on ever lasting values, not on earthly vanities. In the end, the only riches that are worthwhile are lives so transformed by the Word of God that we reach out to others in the Spirit of Christ.
The first reading is a stark reminder of the emptiness of pursuing only on earthly goods. “Vanity of vanities all things are vanities!” (Eccl. 1:26) In the second reading, St. Paul teaches the Colossians that just as Christ has been raised from the dead, they can rise with Him and seek what is above. (Col.3:1). In the Gospel, Jesus instructs us to be rich in what matters to God. As a piece of advice, therefore, for those who have many things in life, the excessive love of wealth is the worst of all evils in the world and for those who have enough to make life worth-living, the correct use of God’s gifts to us like time, talents and especially treasures, is the root of all goodness not only in this life on earth but also in the next. Make use of your wealth to attain heaven and don’t forget to support our parochial projects for more room in religious education.
May God reward you a hundredfold for your generosity. Till the next bulletin…
Your Parochial Vicar,
Fr. Reggie
Registration RE
Monday, July 5th, 2010Friday, June 25th, 2010
OFFICE ADDITION UPDATE
We have received all the necessary permits from Maricopa County and our construction project to expand St. Steven’s offices is underway! Here’s what you can expect to see in the next 4-6 weeks.
- Site and building pad preparations are underway and will continue for the next 3-4 weeks. The foundation for the new building should begin in mid-July.
- Demolition of the interior of the existing Parish offices will begin in the next few days.
- A dry well has been installed in the north end of the parking lot to handle storm drainage.
Please take note of the following:
- The normal exit to Dobson Road is open but is restricted to one lane only. Please use caution.
- There will be no lighting in the parking lot until late August. At that time lighting over the north side of the lot will be returned. Lighting for the entire parking lot will not be available until very late in the project.
- Offices for Father Pierre, Father Reggie, the Business Administrator, Accountant and Parish Receptionist have been temporarily moved to the south side of the courtyard, door #8 (the John the Baptist room).
Thank you for your understanding and patience as our project to provide much needed additional space progresses.
