Faith and Religion

COMMENTARY: Japan Earthquake, Tsunami 2011

Father Dean

Special Commentary to Bilingual Weekly / Father Dean

STOCKTON, CA -Friday’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan have reminded us painfully of how fragile our lives are – and the infrastructure of our nations. Continue reading »

Sunday Commentary: Christian Mission Today —Crossing the Great Divide

Fr. Dean McFalls, St. Mary’s Church, Stockton, CA
Special to Bilingual Weekly

Last Saturday’s Faith Section readers were treated to a battle of theologies. One columnist took the prophetic stance that modern Christians in a “Post-Christian” era have lost their credibility by focusing more on what they are against than what they are for, and by failing to minister compassion and tolerance. These misled conservatives cling to hypocritical standards which Jesus never intended for his church.  Continue reading »

Commentary: Running from the Pharaoh’s Open Tomb

Fr. Dean McFalls / St. Mary’s Church, Stockton, CA

My brother is booked to fly to Cairo this Monday.   Having flown out from Seattle Thursday night for Amsterdam, he’d originally looked forward to an Egyptian stop-over en route to his mission in Kenya.  “I was hoping to spend a week or so on retreat in a Coptic monastery,” he lamented from the airport just before boarding… “I hope they’ll let me change my itinerary.” Continue reading »

Recording seeks to bring homeless home

Stockton, CA / Benjamin Saffold /Gospel Center Rescue Mission

The Gospel Center Rescue Mission (GCRM) has sanctioned a first-of-its-kind Benefit CD Recording “The New Life Project: Songs Of Brokenness & Healing” & CD Release Concert. Continue reading »

Young Catholics to gather in Modesto

The guitar under Melendez's foot

Modesto, CA / Bilingual Weekly 

More than 1,000 Latino young Catholics are expected to gather at Modesto Centre Plaza for the 2011 Catholic Hispanic Youth and Young Adults Congress. Continue reading »

Choosing Life in a Dangerous World

Fr. Dean McFalls,  St. Mary’s Church, Stockton, CA

The transfer of Representative Gabrielle Giffords to a Houston hospital for physical therapy marks a major milestone in the nation’s recovery from the shocking events of January 8th.  Amazingly, she’s already walking with assistance, and even though she can’t yet talk, her courage speaks volumes. Continue reading »

Sunday Commentary: A Short Life That Spanned the Great Abyss

Between the day she was born and the day she died the world had changed.

Father Dean McFalls / St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Stockton, CA / Special to Bilingual Weekly

If September 11, 2001 – Christina’s birthday – represented one of the lowest points we’ve hit in American history, January 8th, 2011 took us lower still. Continue reading »

Sunday Commentary: The Things We Can’t Control or Understand

BIRDS AND NATURE GOING NUTS
Father Dean McFalls / St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Stockton, CA
Special to Bilingual Weekly

Sometimes nature seems to go nuts.  In fact, it’s been happening since the beginning of time.  We see evidence in fossil remains of species suddenly gone extinct, in layers of sedimentary rock mysteriously devoid of any life traces, in weather patterns turned erratic from eons gone by.  We speculate of super-novas and solar flares bombarding the planet with cosmic rays, of comets shifting earth’s axis and giant meteorites slamming into its porous surface, of catastrophic earthquakes and devastating volcanic activity. Continue reading »

Winging our Way to a Place of Hope and Promise

Fr. Dean McFalls / St. Mary’s  Church / Special to Bilingual Weekly
Wednesday morning, Shreveport got an extra dose of nationwide attention.  
During the Air Force’s late-game victory over Georgia Tech, one of the military’s falcon mascots took off flying.  In fact, it just kept on flying right out of the stadium.  ESPN’s cameras caught it winging its way to freedom. Continue reading »

A Child is Born for Us, a Son Sent from Heaven

Fr. Dean McFalls, St. Mary‘s Parish, Stockton
Special to Bilingual Weekly

Monday at midnight, a knock came on the door.  “Who could that be?” we asked ourselves.  Were we already close enough to Christmas that Santa might be here? Continue reading »

Controversy followed Mahony back to Stockton

A protester holds a poster showiing children abused by priests

Stockton, CA / Bilingual Weekly

Catholic Cardinal Roger Mahony’s participation in Stockton’s annual Lady of Guadalupe procession did not go without controversy. Continue reading »

Feathers prevail in homage

Stockton, CA / Bilingual Weekly

It seemed that downtown Stockton was flooded by feathers and drumming this past Sunday, December 5, 2010. Oddly, this Native American revival wasn’t a celebration to the ancient gods but the encounter of two cultures and transformation. Continue reading »

‘Muertos’ Show come alive at MHC

Stockton, CA /Bilingual Weekly

Malinalzihuatl Argumedo

 (Why so many prayers for these souls? It’s for those who are traversing the darkness of the Earth find the veil and find the light… And who the light but He who made the heavens, the Earth and everything else? …the sun, Tonatiu, the Navel of the whole Universe… He is God, Ce teotl (Malinalzihuatl) Continue reading »

MHC on with Día de Muertos events

Painting by Jorge Elizalde

The Mexican Heritage Center and Gallery is hosting an educational program celebrating the Day of the Dead.  Between November 2^nd and 30^th the center will exhibition a colorful display of  altars, ofrendas and “wall art” created by local artists and community members celebrating this rich Mexican tradition, fusing Aztec and Christian beliefs, honoring the dead. Continue reading »

Catholics fill Weber Point with music

Two spectators show their pleasure as they hear Christian blind performer Sandy Caldera during the Concert of Praise/Festival of Joy, on Sunday, September 5, 2010. Continue reading »