Three of our friars went to the Youth Day at the LA Congress today. Each of them represented a different province ministry. Br. Barney, campus minister at Villanova Preperatory School in Ojai, CA helped to chapereone the freshmen class to youth day. Fr. Max brought along the Junior class from St. Augustine High School in San Diego. While Fr. Mark came with the Our Mother of Good Counsel Youth Group from Los Angeles. The day celebrates and builds up high school aged youth in the region, with many youth groups, confirmation classes, and schools participating. So many people participate that the crowd is seperated onto two "tracks" and so the Archbishop celebrated Mass for each group throug
The Our Mother of Good Counsel parish community celebrated Fr. Jim Mott, OSA's 80th birthday on Sunday March 10th, 2019. After the morning Masses parishioners gathered in the Church hall to celebrate the life of their pastor. Amidst the celebration, Fr. Jim also announced his retirement from full time active ministry. 80 years is a tremendous milestone for any friar, and to still be working full time as a pastor at 80 is a testament to Fr. Jim's passion and love for the people of Our Mother of Good Counsel. He will now enjoy some well deserved rest as he lets go of administrative duties while still living in the parish community. Happy birthday to Fr. Jim Mott, ad multos annos!
The 2019 spring vocation discernment retreat was held at St. Augustine Monastery, San Diego this past weekend. The weekend featured the visit of two discerners, one of whom has previously attended a retreat with us, and another who is just starting to discern a vocation in general. The weekend was organized by friars in formation at the Monastery, with Br. Mauricio Morales, OSA, Br. Arturo Renteria, OSA, Br. Adnan Ghani, OSA, and pre-novice Ramon Riesgo taking the lead and setting the schedule for the weekend. They were joined by Associate Vocation Director Fr. Mark Menegatti, OSA, who came down from Los Angeles to offer support and encouragement over the weekend. The vocation weekend feat