Fr. Brian Soliven Sermons

Last weekend we kicked off the beginning of our Faith Formation year with free pastries and surgery confections. I’m always amazed how doughnuts and coffee bring joy to our hearts. Thank you to the hard work of Martha (our coordinator for our Religious Education program), her assistants, Armida, and Sr. Laura, and the rest of the volunteers. We have an amazing community here at St. Mary’s of selfl...

In today's Mass, we hear that "seven demons" were cast out of Mary Magdalene. It makes us wonder, what is the purpose of demons anyway? Renowned Exorcist, Fr. Carlos Martins, asks this very question when he performs exorcisms: For what purpose were you created? The answer they give is the original intent of God for these spiritual beings. However, they rebelled against their design and became part...

We can easily believe the lie that we have to be perfect before we can even walk into a church. Not here at St. Mary's. We're a place for sinners who are tired of trying to satisfy our deeper thirst with the saltwater of the world. We want sinners, who desire to be saints.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If hi...

The 2nd Century Christian writer Tertullian, famously wrote, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. " During those early centuries of our history, being a Christian often meant death. Violence was the favorite weapon of our enemies to cower us to renouncing our faith in Jesus Christ. However, it had the opposite effect. The bravery of our ancestors only inspired others to join "the W...

¿Cómo queremos ser recordados cuando muramos? Cuando finalmente llegue nuestro fin, las palabras que la gente dirá sobre nosotros serán nuestro legado. Las historias que la gente contará sobre nosotros serán un testimonio de cómo vivimos. ¿Qué dirán? El fue amable. Era un padre amoroso. Sacrificó su vida por el bien de la familia. ¿Era una persona de profundo amor por Jesucristo? Era un cristiano...

How do we want to be remembered when we die? When our end finally comes, the words that people will say about us will be our legacy. The stories that people will tell about us will be a testimony to how we lived. What will they say? He was kind. He was a loving father. He sacrificed his life for the good of the family. He was a person of deep love for Jesus Christ? He was a faithful Christian. St....

We're all experts at hiding from our wounds. We have our go-to bottles of alcohol; we buy more things. We run from silence. You name it. Regardless of how we cope, the result is always the same -- ignore the pain. Jesus wants to heal us. Yet, he uses the most unusual, counterintuitive path. He uses a piece of wood.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely t...

If people despise you because of your faith, it's a sign you're living your Christianity well. In today's Gospel, our Lord tells us directly, "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!"  (Cf. Luke 6:20-26).  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s...

In today's Gospel, we witness Our Lord calling the 12 Apostles for the first time. For the first century hearer, this detail is life-changing. It means only one thing -- the ancient prophecies are being fulfilled.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer...

El miércoles pasado, agregamos un nuevo horario de Misa, durante la semana, a las 6:30am. Esperamos brindar una oportunidad a las personas que deseen recibir a Jesús en la Eucaristía antes de ir a la escuela o al trabajo. Con nuestro antiguo horario de Misas, lo hacía difícil que fueras a Misa si tenías una mañana ocupada. Revisé las iglesias católicas locales, desde Dixon hasta Fairfield, y la si...

Last Wednesday, we added a new Mass time during the weekdays, 6:30am. The hope is to provide an opportunity for people who would like to receive Jesus in the Eucharist before they go to school or work. With our old Mass schedule, this made it difficult if you had a busy morning. I looked up the local Catholic churches, from Dixon to Fairfield, and the situation was the same. If you wanted to make...

The woman foretold by God after the fall of Adam and Eve is now born (Cf. Genesis 3:15). The mother from whom Christ would come forth has arrived. The ancient serpent seethes in anger, knowing his days are numbered. His dark kingdom will soon crumble, not through strength of arms but through the humility of a young maiden who will courageously whisper, "I am a servant of the Lord; let it be done a...

This morning in the Gospel reading, Jesus gets into Peter's boat. This has always been seen as God's invasion into our lives, despite our ugliness. He wants us. Often times we wrongly think that we have to be put together, perfect, and ready to encounter God. The opposite is true. It's all God's initiative.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to...

This morning we kicked off our inaugural 6:30am Wednesday daily Mass. It's my hope to serve the needs of the people who desire to receive Jesus in the Eucharist before going to work or school. I thought if we could get 15 people, it would be a good start. To my shock, 46 came! Glory to Jesus Christ.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generou...

We are blessed to have many marriages take place here in our parish. Not just our own parishioners, but people from neighboring cities as well. It’s a very photogenic church, from the fountain courtyard in the front, the long aisle, and the Spanish-style sanctuary. It makes a beautiful backdrop to any wedding. As anyone who has been involved in the planning of a wedding, they know it takes a lot o...

Without God, our lives have little lasting meaning. We're told life is about the pursuit of things and pleasures, with no reference to the deeper aspects of our hearts. Even so, we intuitively grasp that were made for more. Follow that instinct.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, co...

If someone asked you, “Why are you Catholic?” How would you respond? It’s an important question for us to reflect upon. Why are we Catholic, as opposed to another religion? If you drive around Vacaville, there are plenty of other options to go to on a Sunday. If you go down the street, there will probably be a better, more exciting preacher. Another church may have a more lively youth group or pla...

Si alguien te preguntara: "¿Por qué eres católico?" ¿Cómo responderías? Es una pregunta importante sobre la cual debemos reflexionar. ¿Por qué somos católicos y no de otra religión? Si conduces por Vacaville, hay muchas otras opciones para asistir a servicios el domingo. Si vas por la calle, probablemente habrá un predicador mejor y más divertido. Otra iglesia puede que tenga un grupo de jóvenes m...

Believing that Jesus is God in human flesh is a hard sale. I get it. He looks like a man, talks like a man, and seems oddly like a man. When Nathanial in our Gospel reading today hears about Jesus, he rightfully scoffs, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (Cf. John 1:46). Despite he's initial hesitation, Nathanial will be the first one in the New Testament to see passed the surface and penetra...

There will come a time in our life when our faith will be tested. It must be so. An untested faith is no faith at all. We will hear a quiet voice slithering into our ear, "You don't need to go to Mass anymore. You're tired. You deserve to rest. God understands if you need an off day. After all, he's merciful, remember." Reject those lies. Instead, our faith must be relentless like the Caananite wo...

If you want to make a good living, open a psychic storefront. When I lived in Sacramento, my normal driving route took me past a popular "psychic" with a red Porsche parked in the drive way. I didn't realize it could be so lucrative. It dawned on me, this is nothing knew. There will always be a ready market of people willing to consult soothsayers and palm readers to get answers when life becomes...

Think of the person who hurt you the most. It's often the people we love. That's the heavy, piercing edge of entering into a relationship with another person. We give them access to our fragile hearts. Sometimes, they sadly can take this gift and smash it over and over again. To this, St. Peter asks Jesus, " Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?" (Cf. Matthew 18:21) Hi...

Let's be honest, gossiping is fun. It makes us feel good, strong, and part of the in-crowd. However, in today's Gospel, Our Lord tells us to resist this fallen desire within. The Christian must strive higher. He gives us the way.  --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian’s homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supportin...

Why are we so drawn to nature? Something in us longs for it, like the proverbial moth to a flame. With the eyes of faith, the answer becomes clear when we ponder the simple question -- who made it? Our Heavenly Father did. Everyone implicitly or explicitly, I dare say, who treks through Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, the Grand Canyon or the beaches of Hawaii, is fundamentally looking for God...

If tomorrow morning you saw headlines on the news, “Pastor of St. Mary’s Arrested For Bank Robbery”, many of you would be rightfully shocked. Some of you may even think, “I knew that priest was weird!” or “It doesn’t surprise me. Something was always off about that guy”. Many Catholics and non-Catholics may even say, “See! That’s why the Church and religion are horrible.” While all these sentiment...