Pastor's Page

Fr. Quang Minh Dong Pastor Phone: 634-4154 EXT: 102 Email: frquang@ihmbrentwood.com

Into the arms of freedom A refugee’s journey to the American dream By Aly Brown, Staff Writer Apr 13, 2017

Dear Families and Friends of Immaculate Heart of Mary,

We find it difficult to convey ideas to people unless we can actually show them something, demonstrate what we mean. God, who is invisible and truly beyond human understanding, apparently faces the same difficulty. People want to see, not just listen to an idea. So God gave us Jesus Christ, God made visible in the world.

During these past weeks we have seen how Jesus was revealed as an infant to the shepherds and the magi, and then began his adult “public life” at his baptism by John. Today’s Gospel reading tells us of his “first sign,” providing wine for the wedding guests at Cana.

Of course, even Jesus, God made visible, was not always easily understood in his own day, nor is he even now. So we have to ponder what we see: the poverty and simplicity of his birth, his humility and openness before John the Baptist, his kindness and compassion toward people in their ordinary problems, such as running short of wine at a wedding. Yet it is in coming to know Jesus that we come to know God.

Blessings from Panama. We are experiencing the excitement of thousands of Catholics coming together from around the world. Next Saturday is the 15th Walk for Life that it takes place in San Francisco stand up for the right to life from conception to death. Rally will take place from 12:30PM to 1:30PM at the Civic Center and the walk down Market Street will begin at 1:30PM.

IHM, Pray for us,

Your Pastor,
Fr. Quang

Queridas Familias y Amigos del Imaculado Corazon de Maria,

Nos resulta difícil transmitir ideas a la gente a menos que le mostremos algo, o que le ilustremos lo que queremos decir. Dios, que es invisible y verdaderamente más allá del entendimiento humano, aparentemente tiene la misma dificultad. La gente quiere ver, no solamente quiere escuchar una idea. Por eso Dios nos dio a Jesucristo, Dios hecho visible en el mundo.

En las semanas recientes hemos visto cómo al nacer Jesús es mostrado a los pastores y a los Reyes Magos, y luego empezó su “vida pública” en su bautismo con Juan. El Evangelio de hoy nos habla de su “primer signo”, que es proveer vino para los invitados a la boda en Caná.

Por supuesto, hasta a Jesús, que es Dios hecho visible, no siempre se le entendía en su tiempo y ni siquiera ahora. Por lo tanto, tenemos que considerar lo que vemos: la pobreza y simplicidad de su nacimiento, su humildad y franqueza ante Juan Bautista, su amabilidad y compasión hacia las personas en sus problemas ordinarios, como la falta de vino en una boda. Pero al conocer a Jesús conocemos a Dios.

Bendición desde Panamá. Nosotros estamos experimentando la emoción de miles de Cátolicos que se reúnen de todas partes del mundo. El próximo sábado es la Decima-quinta Caminata por la Vida que tomará lugar en San Francisco. Defiendan el derecho a la vida desde la concepción hasta la muerte. La caminata se llevará a cabo de 12:30pm a 1:30pm en el Civic Center y la Caminata por por Market Street comenzará a la 1:30pm.

Inmaculado Corazón de María, ruega por nosotros.

Su Párroco,
Padre Quang