Dear Parishioners and Friends,

There is life after death. Death is not the end but a door to something more. The gospel we read today shows us that there is one of two eternal destinations beyond that door.

As you may know, God is full of surprises! He surprised me two years ago when I was assigned to St. Francis Xavier parish. Now, He has surprised me again as I have been assigned to the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos, California.

The gospel reading for today is very familiar to us. It is the story of the Prodigal Son. The late Fr. Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) wrote a renowned book, "The Return of the Prodigal Son."

On the first Monday of September, the U.S. observes Labor Day, a celebration of the strength and contributions of the nation’s work force. The holiday goes back many years. Congress passed an act establishing it in 1894, and it was promoted by labor unions as they grew in power.