I write this message en route to New Orleans to attend the National Convention of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) from August 14-18.

I will be joining a number of our parishioners from Saint Raymond’s who are representing our local CDA Court, as well as the CDA State Board in California where I serve as Spiritual Chaplain for the last 4 years.

I have always been grateful for the ministry of CDA in the parishes where they are represented, and I admire their efforts to continue reaching out to other communities to spread the values of “unity” and “charity” which are their battle cry and mission.

I am not only an eyewitness to this, but a recipient of their support – both spiritually and financially – as a seminarian assigned at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Brentwood where there was a CDA Court – still in its infancy at that time in 2014, yet already taking care of vocation such as mine.

As I now take on the responsibility and privilege of being the National Spiritual Chaplain of CDA, I pray that we will all be inspired to be united in charity, committed to be sisters and brothers to each other, and focused on the missionary journey ahead – with our Eucharistic Lord as our constant companion and Our Blessed Mother as our sweet intercessor.

I thank the Lord every day for the different opportunities He gives me to love and serve His people in ways that I am able, and being your priest here at Saint Raymond’s is an every day blessing for which I will always be grateful.

In Unity and Charity,
Father Erick

(For the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2024)