Well, I missed mass at Holy Ghost again this past weekend. I was at St. Therese in Aurora instead. Two of my children won awards in their annual pro-life poster and essay contest, and they had requested that we attend so that the parish community could give some acknowledgement of this achievement. So, although missing Holy Ghost for a second week in a row was difficult, it was a great moment for me as a father, especially since my home-schooled children performed so well in the filed of contestants which include both kids from the parish school and the local public schools.

One of the really great things about going to St. Therese on Sunday was that it gave me a chance to see Fr. Angel Perez-Lopez, whom I met last may at his ordination, and of whom I wrote about on this blog the last time I went to St. Therese. This young priest (he is not yet 30) is a real blessing to the Church and a source of hope. Fr. Angel is from Spain and attended the Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Mission Seminary of Denver, so at some point he may travel to work elsewhere, but how awesome it is to have him here now. Now the Denver Redemptoris Mater Seminary, like the other around the world, is associated with the Neocatechumenal Way, which has an excellent track record of building communities of faith around the world and a heavy charismatic influence. The Neocatechumenate is a powerfully appealing charism that I’m sure will yield great fruit in the Archdiocese, especially among the immigrant communities, where protestant charismatics and pentacostals have been so busy stealing sheep from Peter’s flock.

Fr. Angel had a column in the bulletin on Sunday that was truly outstanding (in both English and Spanish). It was primarily addressed to couples with children involved in parish activities living in irregular unions (in un-p.c. terms this is known as shacking-up). What was truly wonderful about Fr. Angel’s approach is that he began his discussion by appealing to the love that all parents have for their children. “I’m sure that you want the best for your children. I’m sure that you would be willing to sacrifice anything for them.” And then he continued “What is best for your children?” And then, and this is the truly great part. He attacked the answers that too many social workers, teachers, friends and relatives have given them. “To study and have a career and in this way lift themselves out of poverty is a good thing but it is not what’s best for your children. There are a lot of people with college degrees who are unhappy. Neither is money the best you can give to your children. It also will not bring happiness to them.” Fr. Angel went on to teach, just as a good priest should, especially on the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe that the faith is what is best for children, and then, “But do you think you can give something you don’t have?” “Your children will understand the faith is important to you if you are the first to live it, if you are the first to be active in the parish, and if you are the first to celebrate the sacraments including marriage.” This is, as Fr. Neuhaus might say, “Bracing Stuff.”

But then Fr. Angel ended with the real message. “Don’t be afraid. Christ awaits you with open arms to give you his grace.”

What a blessing we have in this priest. He gives us permission to put Christ first and to serve Our King. He gives us permission to ignore the social workers and the teachers and the relatives and our friends and to answer Christ, and to answer Him for our Children.

Viva Cristo Rey!