Father Joseph Illo, pastor of Star of the Sea church in San Francisco gave a 10-minute homily on Sunday, June 21. The homily began with reflections on the Sacred Heart of Jesus but ended up about overcoming fear.
“Life has lots of cliffs and chasms but we don’t have to jump off.” As an example of a chasm, Father described a hike four hours east of San Francisco: “I would take youth groups up to Yosemite Falls, the tallest cataract in our country, 2200 feet street down. It was a great hike, four hours up.”
Father mentioned the taking down of statues five blocks from his church.
15-second excerpt from the homily:
“In my own home parish I knew a lot of sad bitter, unfaithful priests. Many had left the priesthood, and I was afraid in the seminary that I would end up like them, a sad, bitter, unfaithful priest. And an older priest said to me, ‘Do not be afraid, because nothing can touch a man of prayer.’ ”
God bless you, Fr. Illo, great sermon. You only met me once, and I am sure you do not remember me as it was only for a few moments, but you are one of my heroes.
EXCELLENT Father Illo! Keep encouraging faith and lead on! We need priests who aren’t afraid to be shepherds and stand up against tyranny.
Yeah, but there is literally no good news in the church these days.
The good news is this: Jesus Christ died so that your sins can be forgiven.
AMEN!!!