As we locally celebrate the Solemnity (feast day) of Saint Luke and our being one church family in liturgy and through our parish picnic this weekend, I wanted to thank our loving Father God for having Saint Luke as our patron Saint. Having an evangelist and a faithful disciple who has done an extensive study about the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ and life of the early church is a great blessing.  I also wanted to thank everyone of you and honor those before us for answering the call of discipleship in this part of the peninsula. Looking back and around, we have so many blessings to be grateful for, from having a place to worship and to having a family we can journey together in faith and action.
 
It is very interesting that Saint Luke mentioned the word temple at the beginning and at the end of the Gospel. At the beginning, the priest Zechariah was in the temple, and at the end, the apostles frequented the temple after the ascension of Jesus. And why is that? We know that in the temple, a sacrificial offering is done with the use of an animal to express one’s repentance and reconciliation with God. That is why he is represented by an ox, an animal that was used in the sacrificial offering. Is he not then telling us that our proper relationship with God should be the center of our lives? Then, in place of an oxen, Christ offered his life at the Last Supper and at the Cross so that we may be restored in our relationship with God and be redeemed. That’s why we have the Mass. That is the reason why we have this beautiful church. That is why we continue to worship and practice our faith.  
 
The population of Foster City is around 33 thousand. We have an estimated 963 registered families, an average of 30 daily Mass participants, 388 on weekends, and 12 active ministries. Indeed, we are grateful for what we have accomplished, yet at the same time, we have more ministry to do. In many ways, we have proclaimed the greatness of the Lord, and in so many times, we have invited our families and friends to join us in our worship here at our church. Let us continue to do that.
 
On behalf of Fr. Manuel, Deacon Mar, Deacon Dave and the parish staff, I greet you once again a blessed Solemnity of Saint Luke and I thank you for allowing us to serve you and with you. We are very hopeful that with the Grace of God, we continue to build our St. Luke parish in love and in truth.
 
Sincerely yours,  
father Al