We all have parental instincts – the desire to take care of others like our own, to be close to the very gift of lives joined together in the bond of marriage, to be responsible for the growth and development of another human being. I find this particularly true from experience – having had the opportunity to babysit my brother’s 7 children at different points during their infant lives. I actually cannot believe that the oldest of them is now 2nd year in college! Where did time go??? I definitely miss them all! (As I write this, I am challenging myself to name them in order!)

October 4 is Respect Life Sunday. Today, more than any other time in collective stewardship of the Church we are blessed to have, we are called to promote life, and to live it to the full – participating in nourishing all lives, from moment of conception to natural death. While not all can be parents, we all have the privilege gift to continue extending ourselves to be instrumental in somebody else’s growth, like in my case – my nephew and nieces – and now to these families and ministries entrusted to my care as your priest.

In this great task, I know that I am not alone – I have the prayers of the Bishop, my fellow clergy here in the Diocese and those I am privileged to have as my priests support groups from the seminaries I called home during my formation years for the priesthood. I also have you, faithful people of Saint Raymond  parish and school community encouraging me, challenging me to always be better, and praying for me. I am truly grateful, and I cannot say this enough: thank you!

In my prayers, I always invoke the intercessions of the Blessed Mother and the saints. We are particularly blessed that just this week, we celebrated noted saints (I personally count on): Saint Lorenzo Ruiz (the first Filipino Saint), Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael the Archangels, Saint Jerome, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, and the Holy Guardian Angels! As we pray to the saints for our various needs and petitions, we are reminded of the seeds planted into our souls, into the very fiber of our being – that seed of love that we must allow to bear fruit that will last.

Peace and blessings,

Fr. Erick