Father Brian was born in Hawaii and grew up in Sacramento. He first felt the call to serve while in college and growing in his Catholic faith. It was “a song in his head” that kept getting louder and louder. He is currently the pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Vacaville, CA.
The Clash Of Two Kingdoms
Sunday November 21, 2021
"Father," said the frantic voice on the phone. "I think a demon is chasing me!" As a priest, calls like this in the middle of the night do not surprise me. I told this trouble person to come into my office early the next morning.
ListenWhy We Need Purgatory
Sunday November 14, 2021
Autumn quickly descends upon us. The days grow darker; leaves fall to their death. The cold chill shivers our spines. The Scriptures readings at the Holy Mass turns our attention to the Last Things -- Heaven, Hell, Death, and Final…
ListenThe Deeper Meaning of Halloween
Sunday November 7, 2021
Last Sunday as I saw many families in costumes, carving pumpkins, and eating candy -- all celebrating the Halloween traditions -- I could not help but smile and giggle (in a very masculine way) . "Do they realize they are behaving like…
ListenHow To Hear God's Voice
Sunday October 31, 2021
In the middle of Wyoming lies 10,000 acres of wide open cattle pasture, at Neo-gothic monastery is slowing rising into the big open sky, stone by granite stone. A group of Carmelite monks, whose average age is a baby-faced twenty-four…
ListenWhy Did Jesus Have To Die?
Sunday October 17, 2021
If someone were to ask you, "Why did Jesus have to die?" How would you answer? In today's Gospel Jesus gives us the answer.
ListenHow To Inherit Eternal Life
Sunday October 10, 2021
If you ever visit the Sierra Valley, take a drive and take notice of the names of the old ranches. You'll begin to see a familiar pattern: Roberti, Magdelena, Dotta, Genasci, Filippini. It recalls a time when this place was settled by the…
ListenMarriage vs. Celibacy?
Sunday October 3, 2021
The tone in his voice changed. "Something has happened in these last few years," he said solemnly. Over ten years had passed since we were ordained priests. Middle age was now quickly approaching; gone were the eager young men in their 20'…
ListenWhat Hell Is Like
Sunday September 26, 2021
In over ten years of priesthood, I've only had two occasions when someone stormed out of the church because of something I said. The most recent occurred last Easter when I brought up the unpopular, often misunderstood topic of hell. Yes…
ListenHow To Be Great
Sunday September 19, 2021
What does it mean to be great? To be amazing? To be beautiful? For many of us, if we want to stand in the pantheon of the elite, we need the right exterior look, the massive bank account, the head-turning car, the stellar home worthy of…
ListenHow To Heal Your Heart
Sunday September 12, 2021
There's no escaping from suffering, no matter how hard we try. The only choice we have is what to do with the pain. The world tells us to medicate the pain, with drink or drugs; ignore the pain through the incessant buying of things. We…
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