St. Bruno Catholic Church

07/01/2022

Thanks Father Michael for 15 years! God bless!!!

Farewell Party for Father Michael Brillantes of St. Bruno's Church, June 19,2022

06/25/2020

Solemn Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist

Summer is here and we hardly noticed it! What with so many things going on in the world? It began last Saturday which is also the summer solstice.

Summer solstice is the day of the year with the longest period of daylight. Measured in Honolulu, daytime was 16 hours and 16 minutes; the sun rose at 4:24 AM, and set at 8:40 PM.

Summer solstice is associated with festivals and rituals. Native Americans do ritual dance to honor the sun. The Aztecs of Mexico used the day as a marker by which to build many of their central structures, so that the buildings would align perfectly with the shadows of the sun. In the Philippines, we had the Tatarin, a pagan fertility ritual in which women dance around a century-old, Balete tree, believed to be where witches live.

Close to the summer solstice, though not related, is Juneteenth, which due to the Black Lives Matter movement has gained popularity. It celebrates the ending of slavery, dating back to June 19, 1865, which explains the name “Juneteenth”, a combination of “June” and “nineteenth”

For us Catholics, summer solstice is associated with the birth of John the Baptist (June 24), which is a solemn feast. No other birthday, except that of the Lord (December 25) is observed as a solemnity; no teven Mary's (September 8) which is just a memorial. JB's birth is six months before Christmas in consonance with what the bible tells us: Elizabeth was six month pregnant when Mary visited her after her conception of Jesus which we call the annunciation (March 25).

The birth of John the Baptist takes place shortly after summer solstice, when daylight begins to shorten; that of Jesus is shortly after the winter solstice (shortest day) when daylight begins to lengthen. This reminds us of the words of the Baptist, “I must decrease and he must increase.”

Just as summer solstice signals the end of spring and the beginning of summer, the birth of John the Baptist represents the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament. JB is considered the last of the prophets and the forerunner of Christ.

The name John is derived from the Hebrew Yochanan which means God is gracious. God is gracious to Zechariah and Elizabeth for in their old age, God granted them a child. God is gracious to the Jews because He sent them JB calling for repentance and preparation for the coming of the Messiah. But, finally, and most importantly, God is gracious because He gave us His son. That is what JB lived for, to point to Jesus who is the perfect gift of God to us. He is the real reason why God is gracious.

And JB made sure that he did his part. He didn't draw people to himself, He directed them to Jesus. He didn't announce and glorified himself. He announced and glorified the Lord.

May our lives be like that of JB.

Good night!

--
Fr. Michael

06/21/2020

Here's the link to a music video in honor of the Blessed Mother:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCG__e5bo3s

The Immaculate Heart is analogous or comparable to the Sacred Heart but with two distinct differences. The love that overflows from the Sacred Heart is towards humanity; the Immaculate Heart is the virginal love of Mary to God the Father and her maternal love for her Son Jesus. Second, the human response to the love of Jesus is to love Him in return; that of Mary, is to imitate her love and unite our love with her in the love of God.

O Mary, conceived without sin.
Pray for us who have recourse to thee.

--
Fr. Michael

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06/19/2020

The first reading is a paean to Elijah.

The gospel is about the Lord's Prayer and Fr. Ron Rolheiser has a very interesting write up on this in his latest column in Catholic San Francisco. He mentioned about his professor during his doctoral studies, an elderly Augustinian priest, who radiated integrity and wisdom. One day, this professor spoke about his prayer life. Fr. Ron couldn't remember the exact words but what the elderly priest said stuck with him.

Prayer is not always easy because we are always tired, bored or caught up with so many things, so the elderly priest said. Then he added, no matter what the time, the situation, he was faithful to one thing: praying the Our Father as best as he could.

Just thing about that, praying it as best as you can. And it's enough. After all, it's the prayer the Lord taught us. Maybe we could do more, a rosary every day or a 5-minute mental prayer or morning prayer, well and good. But if you can't, praying the Our Father as best as you can, with full attention and fervor, is enough.

We say a number of prayers and even Our Fathers everyday but do one Our Father the best you can. It can be the Our Father at mass, at your morning prayer or during rosary, but again, at least once with full attention and fervor.

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Mass is bilingual.
Good night!

--
Fr. Michael

06/18/2020

Wednesday of the 11th Week or Ordinary TIme

First of all, here's the link to the latest upload on Rhymes & Rhythm. It's a trio of father and two daughters. Be amazed.
https://studio.youtube.com/video/ORPrWOwwrj4/edit

In today's first reading, the fascinating life story of Elijah comes to a dramatic end when he is carried to the heaven's in a flaming chariot and horses in the sight of an incredulous Elisha.

It is said that of all the prophets and sages in the Old Testament, none had a hold on the popular mind as the prophet Elijah. He mysteriously appeared from an unknown background halfway through the reign of King Ahab (864 BC).

The king had taken as queen Jezebel, a Phoenician, who promoted her own custom and pagan religion. She maintained hundred priests and prophets to Baal and constructed shrines Melkart, the pagan god, and Asherah and with a pagan temple right in the palace. The Israelite priests who protested these sacrilegious acts were suppressed or driven away for Jezebel had control over Ahab.

So enter Elijah. First, he predicted a period of drought to the land. Before he could be arrested for fear-mongering, he fled and sought refuge in the Phoenician border, in a town called Zarephath. There a poor widow provided him food and lodging. Then the poor widow's son died and she blamed Elijah for it. Through the prayer of Elijah, the boy was revived.

When the drought was about to break, Elijah returned to Ahab and challenged the Baal priests to a showdown to prove whose God is more powerful. In Mount Carmel, he suggested that two bulls be cut into pieces. One bull would be set by themt on wood but to start no fire, and Elijah would do the same wiht the other bull. They agreed. The false prophets took the first shot. From morning, they yelled and leapt on their feet, calling on their god Baal to set fire on their sacrifice. At noon, when nothing was happening, Elijah taunted them, "Hey, guys, maybe your god is sleeping. Shout louder so he can hear you." They did but nothing happened. When it was evening, Elijah had his turn. He ordered the firewood to be drenched with water, and then he prayed. Almost immediately, the firewood caught fire. When the people saw this, they fell to the ground saying, "The Lord is God. The Lord is God!" Elijah ordered that the false prophets be arrested and put to death.

One would think that's the end of the story, but not so, for we have Jezebel. The queen was furious. She wanted to exact revenge on Elijah, swearing that she would do to him what was done to her priests. So again, Elijah fled and sought refuge in a cave. In his desolation, he cried to God and God ordered him to come out and meet him outside the cave. And that's the story of how God appeared not in thunder and lighting but in a soft, gentle breeze.

Then, Elijah put his cloak on Elisha and that meant that the passing on of authority, or prophecy, if you will. Elijah had done his part and had chosen a successor. He was ready to depart and he did riding to heaven in a chariot of fire.

Elijah left such an impression on the Israelites, and they believed that he would come back. So for an important Jewish event, it became a tradition to reserve a place at table just in case Elijah would suddenly pop up. That is how respected and revered he was.

Even in the early mission of Jesus, people thought that he was Elijah who came back to life. Such was the hold of Elijah on people's mind and heart.

This leads to a beautiful lesson. If you want to be remembered kindly when you die, live an honorable life. As a Mexican saying puts it, "Vive en la manera que tu quisieras recordado cuando tu mueras." Live in a way that you wish to be remembered when you die.

Good night!

--
Fr. Michael

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06/17/2020

Tuesday of the 11th week of Ordinary Time

With Naboth dead, King Ahab appropriated the vineyard, had it torn down in preparation for the planting of his vegetable garden. What he did not expect to see in that place was the prophet Elijah who proceeded to denounce Ahab, announcing death and destruction to visit him and his clan.

And you know what? Ahab listened and repented. Following the customary way of showing penance, he tore his garment, put on sackcloth and fasted. And God, seeing the repentant Ahab, had mercy on him. But Jezebel was unrepentant. She was a Phoenician and didn't care about the beliefs of the Jews. She died a horrible death.

Many evil deeds are done and continue to happen, but a simple and sincere acceptance of guilt and expression of sorrow wins the mercy of God. The response to the psalm today is worth repeating, "Be merciful to us, O Lord, for we have sinned."

In case you missed the link to the latest music video upload, here it is:

https://youtu.be/UpqMTr4Mcsw

Good night!

--

Fr. Michael

Showcasing parishioners' musical talent

06/16/2020

Monday of the 11th Week of Ordinary TIme

King Ahab was a fair and just man. He wanted the vineyard of neighbor Naboth, and turn it into his vegetable garden. So, like a good neighbor, he asked Naboth to sell him the lot at a fair market value or exchange it for a better vineyard. It was a pretty decent proposal. But Naboth wanted the vineyard to remain as it was; more importantly, it was an ancestral property, and that piece of land was his connection to his past. He would not sell.

King Ahab could have simply grabbed the land but he would not. He was a decent man so he left it at that. But he was obsessed with that vineyard. Greed consumed him. He would not eat. Jezebel came to his rescue. Hey, get up from your lethargy. Eat, relax and be merry and I will take care of your problem. She did. Through cunning, manipulation and treachery, Naboth ended up dead, and Ahab took possession of the vineyard.

That's the problem with greed. It drives one to resort to measures, fair or foul, to satisfy it. No, Ahab himself didn't do anything evil, but he would have known what Jezebel was up to and he didn't stop her.

But no crime goes unpunished and that's the reading tomorrow.

Good night.

--
Fr. Michael

06/15/2020

Feast of the Sacred Heart

Friday, June 19, is the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
There will be short Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 6PM in the church

Edit - we will have Rosary in Church

06/15/2020

Schedule of Weekend Masses

Next weekend, we will add a 6PM Sunday mass to the present weekend masses. Herewith is the mass schedule for the coming weekend.

Saturday, June 20
4:30 PM in English
7:00 PM in Spanish

Sunday, June 21
10:00 AM in Spanish
12:00 PM in English
6:00 PM in English

06/13/2020

Friday on the 10th week or Ordinary Time

The word of God came to the prophet Elijah to come out of the cave where he was hiding from the wrathful Queen Jezebel and meet God outside. Elijah did.

Then there came a strong and heavy wind, but God was not in the wind. Next came an earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake either. There followed a fire but God wasn't there. Then there was a tiny whispering sound, and Elijah detected God's presence there.

We often associate God's presence with dramatic events in nature, and that maybe so, but God also speaks to us in the ordinary daily events of our lives. We can discern his presence in a sunrise, a blooming flower, the chirping of birds, the laughter of a child or even in the breath that we take. Be grateful even for the littlest thing in life for everything is suffused with the presence of God.

Good night!

Fr. Michael

06/12/2020

Rosary and Novena of the Sacred Heart (Day 1)

06/11/2020

Mass for Peace and Justice

To be a salt of the earth and light of the world also means that you treat everyone fairly, with no discrimination. Don’t be a racist. To be a racist is to have an attitude and do actions that put down other people because of the color of their skin. That is right.

In his letter to the people of the Archdiocese of Boston, however, Cardinal Sean wrote that racism is more than a personal attitude. It is ingrained in the system. It is embedded in the structure.

Racism is a vestige of slavery that has been long abolished, but which continues to manifest itself in the dehumanizing attitudes that foster discrimination, inequality and violence. The good cardinal avers that, like COVID-19, it can infect any person without regard to religion or ethnicity. Racism is a social and spiritual disease that kills people.

The death of George Floyd at the hands of the police makes clear that racism is a very serious problem in our society.

We can do something about racism. We can build up our communities and strengthen our solidarity. The church teaches that we are a community of people of all colors: black, brown, white and, yes, yellow. We are all created in the image of God, and are brothers and sisters. We should stamp out from our minds that anyone is less human and all are deserving of respect and love.

Not only that, as again Cardinal O’Malley pointed out in his letter, we are called to oppose discrimination in any form and to stand against injustice of any kind. To violate that human dignity is to dishonor the presence of Christ in every person.

Let me end with a verse from the prophet Isaiah, which is the reading chosen for the special mass for Peace and Justice this morning.

The Archbishop asked us priests to have celebrated yesterday's mass, which was George Floyd's funeral, for peace and justice. However, I only found out about the memo after I already did the mass, so this morning the mass was for that purpose.

Here's the quotation from Isaiah:

“Right and justice will dwell in the desert and justice abide in the orchard.

Justice will bring about peace; right will produce calm and security.

My people will live in a peaceful country.” (Isaiah 32, 17).

May it be so.

Good night!

--
Fr. Michael