Pastor's Corner

with Fr. Sean Weeks

Father Sean Weeks is a native Californian, born in Anaheim and raised mostly in Lancaster, CA. His favorite part of his priestly ministry is gathering for Mass with his people and preaching God’s word and offering the sacraments. His dog, Sarge, makes him laugh everyday.

Assignments since being ordained to the priesthood on 29 May 2004

Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of the Lake in Lake Oswego
Pastor at Our Lady of the Mountain in Ashland
2011 - Pastor at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Portland

Father Sean's Weekly Message

September 27, 2026

"'Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God.' Why? Because when they encountered Jesus Christ, who 'did not regard equality with God something to be grasped,' they found in him everything they needed to be happy. And that is what made it easy for them to leave behind their grasping ways and obey the one who himself became 'obedient to the point of death.' If someone 'turns from wickedness and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die' because that person has found Jesus Christ, who is infinitely more attractive than the false delights of wickedness." (Magnificat, September 2026, pg. 369)

Our gospel passage this Sunday is a parable directed to the scribes and elders of the people in Jesus’ day. This is a teaching that challenges the rebel in all of us. It reminded me of a conversation I had with Karie Connor, a member of our School Advisory Council, we were speaking about leadership. I was mentioning to her about a difficult conversation I had with someone and how in the end, the person agreed with my assessment and was “self-aware” that my assessment was spot on. Karie quickly added, “yes, but now will they self-regulate”? This was a game changer for me as a minister. Our society celebrates people who are “self-aware” but once we are aware of a personal defect, it is time to move to “self-regulation”. Jesus, calls us to “repent”, to turn away from where we know we are, cling to the gospel, and put it into action. The scribes and elders of the people were those who said “yes” to God, but were not faithfully engaging the work in the vineyard.

Mensaje semanal del Padre Sean WEEKS

27 de Septiembre de 2026

«"Los publicanos y las prostitutas entran en el Reino de Dios". ¿Por qué? Porque al encontrarse con Jesucristo, quien "no retuvo ávidamente la igualdad con Dios", hallaron en él todo lo necesario para ser felices. Y eso fue lo que les facilitó dejar atrás su actitud de aferrarse a las cosas y obedecer a aquel que se hizo "obediente hasta la muerte". Si alguien "se aparta de la maldad y practica lo recto y justo, ciertamente vivirá, no morirá", porque esa persona ha encontrado a Jesucristo, quien es infinitamente más atractivo que los falsos deleites de la maldad». (Magníficat, septiembre de 2026, pág. 369)

El pasaje del Evangelio de este domingo es una parábola dirigida a los escribas y ancianos del pueblo

en tiempos de Jesús. Es una enseñanza que desafía al rebelde que todos llevamos dentro. Me recordó

una conversación que tuve con Karie Connor, miembro de nuestro Consejo Asesor Escolar, mientras hablábamos sobre el liderazgo. Le comentaba sobre una conversación difícil que había tenido con alguien y cómo, al final, esa persona estuvo de acuerdo con mi apreciación y fue consciente de que mi diagnóstico era totalmente acertado. Karie añadió rápidamente: «Sí, pero ¿ahora sabrá autorregularse?». Esto marcó un antes y un después para mí como ministro. Nuestra sociedad celebra a las personas que tienen «autoconciencia», pero una vez que somos conscientes de un defecto personal, es momento de pasar a la «autorregulación». Jesús nos llama a «arrepentirnos», a apartarnos de nuestra situación actual, a aferrarnos al Evangelio y a ponerlo en práctica. Los escribas y ancianos del pueblo eran quienes decían «sí» a Dios, pero no se dedicaban fielmente a la tarea en la viña.