_ America is rich with various cultural traditions. Along with ethnic foods, music, and art, religious cultural traditions express themselves with distinct radiance. One such tradition are the Mexican festivities surrounding Our Lady of Guadalupe, which will take place tomorrow. On an early December dawn in 1531, the poor indigenous man Juan Diego met the Mother of God. All around her, the cold desert blossomed with flowers and birdsong. Mexico will never forget that morning, and neither can the rest of the Americas. I invite you to share this Dawn with St. Juan Diego, his fellow Mexicans, and the Blessed Mother. The Festive Mass is at 6am tomorrow (Monday), and if you want the full experience, “mañanitas” at 5am, and rosary at 5:30am, in the church.

_   And now an Announcement. I will be leaving St. Joseph’s on August 1, 2012. Bishop Blaire has given me permission to spend three years as chaplain to Thomas Aquinas College near Los Angeles for three years. I came to St. Joseph’s in September 1999 and was named pastor on July 1, 2000, for a six-year term, renewable once. In 2006 the Bishop renewed my term for another six years. Over the past five years I’ve been asking to spend some time in college work after my second term was complete. It will be very hard for me to leave our parish. It is the longest I’ve ever spent (13 years) in one place all my life. I have developed a deep love for this parish and her people, and I think the parish also loves me, despite my human inadequacies. It will be most difficult for me to leave you. And of course many of you will find the transition to a new pastor difficult as well. I am fairly sure, however, that it is God’s will, and I do look forward to working with Catholic students and faculty. The Bishop’s office and I hope to name a new pastor in a few months and to work on a smooth transition. I will reflect more on what this parish means to me in months to come. Please pray for me.