Our new associate priest at St. Elizabeth’s name is Father Thai. He is an older Asian man, but he has the passion and energy of a man half his age!

I have heard about 3 of his homilies so far, and he speaks the truth of God right from his heart–it is just so awesome to hear. This homily and his one last week both encouaged everyone to go to Confession. “You commit sin and don’t go Confession but then go to Mass: this is NONSENSE!” he boomed last weekend. I was like, “Alright! Rock on!”.

He said that at a parish he was at some years ago, the people would not listen to his preaching, and so he said he was moved by the Spirit to pick up a candle next to the altar and throw it down the center aisle of the congregation, telling them that if they don’t listen to him, then they are not listening to the man God has given authority to for their own benefit.

I have been a Catholic for 4.5 years now, and he is one of the few priests I have heard who is not afraid to actually tell people what the Church teaches. He told people today, from the gospel, to deny themselves, and then he pointed out how we say we are denying ourselves but really are not, and how to truly deny ourselves (succintly, to fight against your selfishness and tempations of the flesh (lust, laziness, etc.)). He then encouraged everyone to get up 3 times this week at 6 am and come to daily Mass at 7.

I am so excited about he and Fr. Albert, the new pastor, and all the good work God will do through them at St. Elizabeth’s. Some very disturbed people did evil things against our last pastor, who is a very kind priest, and I think these priests were brought in to lay down the holy law. The law is grace and people cannot persist in evil if they hope to for this grace from God. Father Thai is telling that to them and showing them the way God has made for them to turn to him.

This is the kind of stuff I need to be reminded of every single weekend. Thanks be to God!