Happy Birthday to our Papa!

Happy Birthday and many blessings to

Pope Benedict XVI!

Stand by our Pope!

I'd listened to the song Lead Me by Sanctus Real many times before and thought how beautiful and well-written it is. It dawned on me how the longing of a good father to care for his wife and children can be so tremendous that it can leave him feeling powerless. He looks to God for help. What a better place that is! - this place where he sees himself in need of God, the One who will see him through. Do listen to the song to capture the father's clamor - with a tinge of melancholy - to guide him, to lead him. Because God, after all, has the stronger hands.

But when my 8-year old sang it to me last night, with a bit of struggle on his part as he was reading the lyrics at the same time, I was immediately taken to a deeper level. I thought of our priests and how each one of them must struggle to make things right for his bride, the Church, and all who belong to her. Then our pope came to mind. Our father here on earth - with all the attacks hurled at him these days - must be struggling so hard to keep our Church standing tall and strong.

We are called to stand by our earthly father, Pope Benedict XVI. Here is how we can help with prayers.

I dedicate this song to our beloved Pope Benedict XVI and to all our priests...

Lead Me lyrics

Sanctus Real - “Lead Me”

I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling
But on the inside, I can hear her saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're in independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

So Father, give me the strength
To. be everything I'm called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love,
Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this our home
Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Holy Saturday

Morning Prayer at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace

Bishop Larry Silva, with Deacon John Coughlin

my son, TJ, holds the book

Paula Manz, cantor

Music Director Calvin Liu, organist (not shown)

Blessing of the Catechumens

Passion of Christ - Holy Friday

At the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace...

Bishop Larry Silva, center

bearer of book, TJ, youngest among my 5 children

Bishop Larry knelt and kissed the cross

Passing of the cross

Getting ready for communion

Easter Triduum - Holy Thursday

Washing of the feet

Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace

Holy Thursday, March 1, 2010

Bishop Larry Silva, presider

Bishop Larry Silva, in his homily, stressed the importance of remembering Jesus at the Last Supper and correlated it to remembering of St. Damien who spent his life caring for those afflicted with leprosy; remembering our brothers and sisters in need, the abused and neglected; re-member those far from church, and bringing them back to the church.

It was a very solemn evening. The choir of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace did a great job at singing songs for Holy Week, which its members have sung for years, to commemorate the events in Jesus' life leading to his death and resurrection.

Our Lord Jesus, the Most High Priest, be praised!