Grabado en la parroquia de San Patricio, Watsonville, CA durante Cuaresma, 2026. Basado en mi libro, Maximizing the Mass, publicado por RC Spirituality en inglés y disponible para comprar aqui.

Plática 1

Plática 2

Plática 3

I was blessed to celebrate Christmas with my family without too many pastoral commitments. On December 17th the news reached me that the new bishop for the diocese of Monterey had been appointed. Since then his installation date (when he takes the reins) has been announced: February 19th. I hope to meet with him soon after.

On January 1st I celebrated Mass for the faithful at Holy Trinity in Greenfield, then on January 5th I started a full time substitution at St. Patrick’s in Watsonville for the pastor the three months. I’m grateful to be working basically full time again, and also for having a fuller parish priest experience. Only about two weeks have passed, and you never know what to expect and when. We have our scheduled celebrations, sacraments, and meetings, but when people see a priest, they draw closer for prayers, blessings, encouragement, and advice.

Being back more regularly at a parish also means I’m back on an emergency call line for sick calls. As I write this, I’ve visited people in Watsonville Community Hospital twice (two visits, three ailing people) and two homes. Situations I could have never imagined have crossed my office doorstep, and I have seen prayer, advice, and encouragement is what everyone needs. I’m also grateful the associate pastor (right now parish administrator) has helped me, since he has more parish experience than I do. I’m now busy again and it has been very beautiful and fulfilling. All the Masses are livestreamed, so if you want to see me in action, you can use this link.

On January 15th I celebrated the funeral and celebrated the life of my aunt and Godmother, Marie Maglich, who passed away on January 4th. As I was growing up, the Maglich family lived just down the street from me, and I can remember the times she baby sat for me, whole lamb barbeques at her home, and the last few years I would visit her in Chico. She passed with all the sacraments and at peace. I’ll never forget the perpetual twinkle in her eye, which she shared with her brothers and sisters, and her smile. Spavate slatko draga Teta Marija.

This morning the Vatican published the appointment of the new bishop for the diocese of Monterey.

Here’s all the information I know: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/12/17/251217c.html.

No word on when he will begin his new assignment. For me, I consider it an early Christmas gift. Let’s keep Bishop-designate Ramon Bejarano in our prayers, Bishop Slavomir for holding down the fort, and the diocese.

Last weekend I celebrated the Eucharist for the first time in a California Mission: mission San Juan Bautista, founded in 1797 (history). It was the third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), when the old rose colored candle and vestments represent the dawn of salvation that will break out into Day on Christmas with the birth of Our Savior. A mission dedicated to St. John the Baptist was the perfect place to consider Advent and Christmas. Advent, unlike Lent, is characterized by joyful anticipation of the coming of the Savior after the dark ages of sin after the Fall.

December has also been a time of joyful anticipation for me. I am still waiting for the new bishop to be appointed, and preparing to cover at St. Patrick’s full time in Watsonville while the pastor is on sabbatical from January to March. In yesterday’s Gospel St. John the Baptist sent word from prison to Jesus to ask if he was the Messiah. Jesus told the messengers to tell John what they had witnessed: miracles and blessings. Good things are happening with the coming of Christ, but on the Lord’s time table. While things sort out for me I continue to live with joyful anticipation for Christmas and the new year. I hope you all do too. Merry Christmas (in advance).