If we had faith the size of a mustard seed, we could move mountains. Jesus assures us that our faith in him is our greatest gift and power. Faith can move mountains. As we move forward to become a new parish, our faith will help us in many ways. Faith will keep our focus on Jesus who is the center of our hearts and lives. Faith will help us believe in our future as a believing community bringing the good news to all we meet. Faith will help us come together as one great family dedicated to serving God in our sisters and brothers. Our faith will empower us to do great things, things we think are impossible. Like the mustard seed, we will start small but then grow into a stronger, wiser, more loving community.

We will continue to do what Jesus commands and then we will do more together. We will discover new and exciting ways to minister, to follow the Lord as disciples. Built on the foundation of our faith in the person and presence of Jesus, we will become bolder in our efforts to build his kingdom, We will grow strong as a family of faith committed to the values, gifts and promises of the gospel. We will be the answer to the prayer of Jesus that we may be one. We are good and faithful servants and stewards of the gifts of God. We have always been and will continue to be the people of God who transform the worlds in faith, hope and love. 

We now have a timeline for the practical steps we need to take to bring two wonderful families of faith, Saint John Capistran and Saint Thomas More together. I will be sharing that timeline with you in weeks to come. Lyricist Cy Coleman once wrote, “It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish,” We have had a great beginning and now we look to come to the finish, not of our mission, but of our new beginning built on the foundation of what we have accomplished in faith. We pray that God will bless this effort as we move ahead. We pray and know that God will be with us on this journey. After all, we have moved mountains before and look what God has done with us, for us and through us. May God now bless the work of our hands and our hearts.
 
A Note of Thanks:
 
Thanks to all of you who made my 40th Anniversary and my recent birthday so memorable. I am so grateful and blessed to be here with you and I am humbled by your faithful and loving support and friendship. You are a gift and blessing I treasure each day. Thanks so much for your prayers, cards and gifts. Thank you for the gifts of your faith, hope and love. You inspire me and make me a better priest and person each day. With love and prayers today and always,
Fr. Peter