Latest Message from Fr. Paul Cao – March 8, 2026

PARISH ANNUAL RAFFLES – If you haven’t bought your raffle tickets yet, please do so. I would like to encourage every family to help us fundraise by buying the tickets or selling them to your friends and co–workers. The 1st prize is $5,000, 2nd prize is $2,000 and the 3rd prize is $1,000. You can return your tickets to the Pastoral Center or drop them off in the collection baskets. We will be drawing the winning tickets on Easter Sunday after the 11 AM mass. Thank you for your financial support to our parish community and thank you for all you do to help our parish to grow spiritually strong and vibrant. May God bless you for all your good work!

FISH FRY – Please invite your friends, co–workers, and family to come to our second Lenten Dinner, a Fish Fry this Friday, March 13 from 5 PM to 7 PM in the Gym at St Celestine. This is our second year doing the Fish Fry, so please come to enjoy the fish with tartar sauce, French fries, coleslaw, dessert and coffee included. Pizza will be available by the slice. I hope to see many of you this Friday.

OCIA – The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, also known as OCIA, is for those seeking baptism, those baptized in another Christian tradition who are seeking full communion with the Church as well as baptized Catholics completing their sacraments of initiation. The Sacraments will be celebrated at the Easter Vigil.

The individuals preparing for their initiation into the Christian faith by Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are Makayla Franks, Angela Heredia, Lilian Heredia, Mia Hernandez, Destiny Marroquin, Myla Medina, and Lizbeth Ortega.

Those who are baptized and wish to complete their Christian initiation through Confirmation and Eucharist are Sandra Derrico, Ariyani Diaz, Emiliano Diaz, Jaiden Jaramillo, Troy Morales, Emily Moris, Isabella Moris, Abigail Ortiz-Ferrer, Benjamin Santos, and Nelson Santos.

Candidates for Confirmation are Anabelle Castrejon, Samantha Escalera, Ethan Porter, Joycelynn Reyes, and Eleni Rodriguez.

WALKING TOGETHER – Together I have been invited to participate in an exciting new priest leadership formation program for all priests of the Archdiocese, called Walking Together as Disciples, Shepherds, and Stewards-Priest Leadership in the Context of Spiritual Renewal. This program will take place from Sunday, March 8 to Friday, March 13 at the University of St. Mary of the Lake. Walking Together is designed to provide priests the opportunity to step away from the busyness of daily parish life and reflect deeply on how we are called to be leaders in today’s Church. I will say Masses at the parish on Sunday, March 8 and then will not be reachable until the afternoon of March 13. Please direct any inquiries to the parish staff. Please pray for me during this important time with the Cardinal and my brother priests and know that I keep all of you in my prayers as well.

May God bless you and your loved ones and may the Lenten season help us to be closer to the Lord!

In prayer,
Fr. Paul Cao
Pastor of St. Mother Theodore Guerin Parish

Reflection on Behalf of the Multi-Site Review Committee

It is always hard to make decisions about letting go. As I age and realize all the treasures, I have collected that my family may or may not treasure, I must begin to let things go. I have been a baptized Catholic for over 75 years and belonged to many parishes, worked in many throughout my years of service in the archdiocese. I have observed that my faith, my belief in God certainly has been nourished by all of those places and people. However, my faith is in God and not in a particular parish, building or priest. This recommendation does not come easily, but upon reviewing all we were asked to look at it seems the best direction to ensure that future generations have faith.

A lot of what we looked at was already happening prior to the decision of consolidation from Renew My Church. Decisions were often made on major repair and maintenance issues based on what bills needed to be paid or what needed to be done immediately to keep the building in use. Our Mass attendance was declining at both sites before 2016. Now, we have 5 Masses at two sites and combined attendance is less than 1000. It has leveled off and is not declining.

According to our most recent financial report we have over 2000 registered families.

Asking people to increase their offering or setting a fund to raise a certain amount of money for capital repairs to keep the buildings open and operational is just a Band-Aid and will not benefit the bigger picture of our parish. The decision to close St. Cyprian will only be delayed, not stopped.

Selling the property at St. Cyprian would give the possibility to expand our ministry to the parish, young and old alike. The few activities that remain in the rectory could easily be moved to the St. Celestine site which has many unused spaces.

Fr. Paul has done everything he could during these past 7 years to keep the site open and operational. He has also listened carefully to the advice from the committee that has been meeting these past 6 months. Now, he will need to finalize the plan with the input from the Parish Council and Finance Council before presenting it to our Vicar.

Lois DeFelice

New Assignment for Fr. Paul Cao starting July 1, 2026

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

After almost 13 years of serving as Pastor of St. Mother Theodore Guerin Parish, I am writing to announce that I will be moving to a new assignment on July 1, 2026.

It has been a profound honor to serve the communities of St. Celestine and St. Cyprian. I am deeply grateful to all the staff and parishioners at St. Mother Theodore Guerin Parish. Thank you for the support and friendship you have shown me over the last decade. As I prepare for this transition, I reflect on the many ways I have seen God’s grace at work in our parish. You truly have taught me how to be a good pastor.

Please pray for me as I move on to my next assignment, that I will continue to be a good and effective priest in service to God’s people.

I look forward to celebrating my final Masses with you in the coming weeks and having the chance to say thank you in person. May the intercession of St. Mother Theodore Guerin continue to guide and protect you all.

In Gratitude,
Fr. Paul Cao
Pastor of St. Mother Theodore Guerin Parish