The Missions: San Francisco and San José

Unless the mission is oriented by charity, that is, unless it springs from a profound act of divine love, it risks being reduced to mere philanthropic and social activity...Consequently, being missionaries means loving God with all one's heart, even to the point, if necessary, of dying for him. - Pope Benedict XVI

Published by frgee on Thursday, March 10, 2005 at 5:11 PM.

it's amazing how amazing God really is, especially when you think He can't amaze you anymore, He amazes you yet again. case in point: the parish stands on a basic city block, with the exception of a double lot on one corner, adjacent to the school. this space is occupied by an older man who refuses to tend the land and the house. somehow, by God's grace, he approached us to sell it - we had no money. then the money came. then we worked and haggled and finally decided on an amount. then the judge did the paperwork. then the judge claimed that the "cost" of the paperwork was 16,000, 10 percent of the purchase cost. i told the deacon to go ahead and pay it, but to let the diocesan lawyer know about it because it sounded like he was taking us to the bank. so, the deacon goes over to the judge and says, "we'll pay it, but i need a receipt to give to the diocese." the judge says, "16,000? i meant 6,000." so there you have it, the church now owns the entire block. we will take apart the old house and make a nice little half-court for the school kids so they no longer have to recess in the middle of the garden...and hopefully, if God continues to Will it, build a house which could be used for a family who God might send down to the mission.

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