On Friday, January 23, Our Lady of Peace celebrated a Mass in Solidarity with Immigrants. Deacon Ramon García Degollado shared a powerful message of hope, reminding us that even in difficult and uncertain times, Christ is present among the vulnerable, the hungry, and the marginalized. He encouraged us to respond with love and compassion, seeing God in our neighbors and living out our call to build a more just and caring community. Click to read his full homily.

Over thirty years ago, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a document, Communities of Salt and Light, focused on the role of Catholic parishes as the center of faith in our community. The document stated: 

“The parish is where the Church lives. Parishes are communities of faith, of action, and of hope. They are where the gospel is proclaimed and celebrated, where believers are formed and sent to renew the earth. Parishes are the home of the Christian community; they are the heart of our Church. Parishes are the place where God's people meet Jesus in word and sacrament and come in touch with the source of the Church's life.” 

This past summer, I had the opportunity to witness five weddings—all for people here at OLP! In the recent past, there’s often only been 2–3 parish weddings each year, so this was a big blessing, even though it made the summer a busy time.

Before the big day arrives, I meet several times with each couple to talk about the sacrament of matrimony (the church’s official name for this sacrament). Here’s an overview of what I share with them.

Spring has arrived, bringing with it the promise of new growth and transformation at the OLP community garden project. What began as a vision for native planting spaces has blossomed into a vibrant community initiative, uniting parishioners, neighbors, school staff, and children in a shared mission of ecological stewardship.