Author: Sabina Ruiz

Father Duc’s Weekly Reflection – Dec. 8, 2024

December 8, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

In this week’s Gospel, John the Baptist used the image of a road to describe the preparation to welcome the King: “Every valley shall be filled, every mountain and hill shall be made low. The widning road shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth.” When we understand that the road to welcome the Lord is our own soul, then valleys, mountains, widing roads, and rough places are what prevent God’s love and grace from touching our hearts and transforming them. To recognize these obstacles, we must examine ourselves carefully and regularly.

Another rich image that helps us reflect on the preparation of our souls is the image of a gutter. This season, there is a lot of rain, so we must also clean the trash in the gutters of our roofs so that the water does not clog and overflow to other parts, causing damage to the house. When we use the symbol of God as the source of love and grace, we also compare our hearts to gutters that receive the saving water from God’s heart.

So, in order for God’s love and grace to flow abundantly in our souls, what are the wastes that block the flow of God’s grace?

One of the things that often clogs the gutters is the branches from the trees around the house that fall into the gutters. What are the branches that clog the gutters of the soul? It could be a deep pain caused by someone, and even now, when touched, that wound still stings. It could be a mistake from the past that makes my heart sink every time I think about it. It could also be a disordered passion that has the ability to destroy terribly, and that I have tried many times but still cannot escape.

Besides those bulky branches, there are many withered leaves that will cling to the branches, blocking the flow of the water of grace. There are leaves of greed, although small, but accumulated over time, they can form a dense wall that blocks the flow of water. The more we possess, the more we want to collect, and the more we collect, the thicker and stronger the wall becomes. There are fallen leaves of jealousy and envy, although not revealed on the outside, they silently pile up over the years into clusters, then into a clump, covering the gutter.

Smaller are hairs, feathers, which when mixed with branches and withered leaves, create walls that the water cannot penetrate. Untrue rumors are spread to belittle the reputation of others or to sow bad doubts in the hearts of listeners, thought to be harmless but slowly forming into a bunch, a roll, not easy to remove. Petty lies that are considered insignificant or hidden continue to be done day after day, month after month, until they become a habit; by then the gutter has long been clogged.

And we not only block the flow of grace, but we also make holes in our gutters, allowing the water of grace to dry up over the years. Every time we miss a Sunday Mass, we refuse grace. Every time we are lazy and do not confess or receive communion, we make a big hole in the

gutter of our soul. Every time we have the opportunity to do good deeds and ignore it, we make a hole so that grace is not received. When we have the opportunity to serve, we find all kinds of reasons to refuse, then we close the gutter of our soul.

God’s grace is boundless and endless, constantly flowing into the human soul. It is only a pity that humans keep creating so much debris and garbage that chokes the flow of grace. It is truly a sadness that humans keep making holes that empty out the water of salvation.

Without silently examining ourselves and humbly accepting God’s sanctifying grace, human life will only consist of a series of hopeless and uncertain days, and death will strike at any moment.

Meanwhile, happily, there are still many open and free souls who not only imbibe grace into themselves, but also spread it to their families, friends, communities, and sometimes even influence society and the nation. They become messengers of the Good News, the John the Baptist of the new era. Living near them, others feel peaceful and confident, because they have become effective instruments of the Prince of Peace.

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all,

Fr. Duc

Spend Time in Prayer in our New St. Ignatius Adoration Chapel

Dear Parish Family,

We are excited to invite you to spend quiet moments in silent prayer and reflection at our new St. Ignatius Chapel. The chapel will be open 7 days a week, from 7 AM to 7 PM for Eucharistic Adoration.

This is a beautiful opportunity to deepen your relationship with Christ and find peace in His presence. Whether for a few minutes or longer, we welcome you to visit this sacred space.

Father Duc’s Weekly Reflection – Dec. 1, 20, 2024

December 1, 2024

Dear Parishioners, 

Advent means arrival. During Advent, we prepare for Christmas, the commemoration of the first arrival of Jesus, and for the second coming of Jesus in glory. The preparation is also called waiting for the Lord. 

But when we pause and think carefully, we realize that our entire life is a series of waiting. Parents wait for their children’s graduation, marriage, and for grandchildren. When we get a job, we wait for salary increase or promotion. When we achieve one goal or one milestone, we wait for the next. We cannot wait until we own a home, and then when that is accomplished, we start looking for a larger one. It goes on forever, for one thing arrives, many more are on the horizon. 

So, the question is: How is the waiting of Advent different from all other waiting? All non-Advent waiting is for the purpose of relieving some burden or acquiring some desirables. We wait to get something off our back or to possess something we want. But when we get rid of something from our back, something else will jump on, and when we get something we desire, we start seeing something better that we also want. Thus, non-Advent waiting is relentless, endless, and unsatisfactory. It is a perpetual chase after something. 

Advent waiting is different. We do not wait for Jesus to get rid of some problem or to possess him or anything else. Advent waiting is not a chase but a pause. During Advent, we pause to be found by God. 

In the Gospel, remember the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son? It is always God who actively looks for us, seeks us out to bring us home, and embraces us to restore us to wholeness. 

It is no wonder why Christmas night is called Silent Night. All noises, external and internal, must be silenced for us to hear God’s voice. We must pause everything else to wait for God’s arrival. Even gifts, music, and food can distract us from our pause for God. Worries, anxieties, and fears easily block our sensitivity, anticipation, and hunger for God. 

Teresa was a single mother whose husband died a few years earlier, leaving her with an autistic son. Since he left her with enough money to live, Teresa decided to quit her job to take care of her son. Then her elderly widowed father had a stroke and became bedridden. The family wanted to put him in a nursing home, except for her. She was close to him, and she believed that a home would be much better for him. So, she agreed to have him stay with her and her son. 

In the first few months, she was able to handle things well. But the burdens of caring for an ADHD boy with an eating disorder and an invalid father became harder and harder. Though a devout Catholic, Teresa began to question: what serious sins she had committed to be punished with these unbearable burdens. So, sometimes she lost her temper not just with the boy but also with her father. 

One evening, after placing a plate of macaroni cheese in front of the boy, she went to clean up her dad. She frowned as the odor of urine reached her nose. Then she heard “Bang!” The boy slammed his fist on the plate, scattering the macaroni all over the floor. He kept shaking his head and banging on the table. Quickly resting her father down, she rushed over, her shin hitting a stand on her way, throwing her father’s Bible to the floor. She cried in pain, crawling to reach for the Bible. 

Her fingers grabbed on a page, and they ripped it off. She burst into tears, “God, when will you free me from this hellish place? Why does it take you so long to come again?” 

As if to answer her question, through her tears, she still could make out the text, “‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’” 

A chill ran along her spine. She darted a shocked glance at the boy and then the old man – one being fed, and one being clothed. Had she ever considered feeding her son and cleaning her dad as caring for Jesus himself? No, her home is not a hellish place, it has already been part of God’s kingdom. 

Tears streamed down her face. She found herself babbling, “Jesus, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that you have come to me for a long time!” 

Sometimes God hit us on our shin, or on our face, to wake us up from our slumber and our numbness, to help us pause and recognize that God is waiting for us. Indeed, God never stops seeking us and waiting for us. 

So, during this Advent, let us pause now and then. Let us be still and know that God is near, nearer to us than we are to ourselves. 

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all, 

Fr. Duc 

Completed Projects

Your generosity has been a blessing to Most Holy Trinity Church throughout this past year.

Ministry Highlights

Our church community is growing, and you can be a part of this exciting journey. This is your parish—a gift that you will pass on to your children and grandchildren. You are an integral part of this community, and this is your church. Together, we build a legacy of faith for future generations.

Our parish is blessed to use your contributions to grow spiritually, deepen our faith, and
serve others in the following ways:

Nurturing the faith of 584 children in religious education.

Celebrating the Eucharist together
Nine weekend Masses and two weekday
Masses, with an average Sunday attendance of 3,200.

Supporting 14 weddings

Welcoming 92 baptisms

celebrating 161 First Communions

Providing spiritual comfort at 44 funerals.

strengthening 122 youth through Confirmation

Forming adults in faith, with 18 adults completing the RCIA program

Assisting those in need through the Food Pantry and St. Vincent de Paul, which supports over 400 households weekly with groceries and utility or rent

Watch our wonderful Feast of the Most Holy Trinity with Bishop Cantu on May 26, 2024.
Click here
Watch the Easter Vigil MHT Youtube channel

Completed Projects:

Stained-glass windows installation: Completed

Creation of a dedicated Adoration space at St. Ignatius Chapel.

Installation of Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue in Trinity Center Plaza


A Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima

A Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima
Installation of Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue in Trinity Center Plaza
Creation of a dedicated Adoration space at St. Ignatius Chapel.
Support Our Mission

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Vietnamese St. Joseph the Workers Group, led by Paul Nguyen, for their remarkable dedication and hard work in completing the installations of the St. Ignatius Chapel, the Marian Shrine, and The Sacred Heart of Jesus statue. They embodied the spirit of St. Joseph in their skillful craftsmanship and unwavering devotion. Their contributions will bless our parish for generations to come. We blessed the chapel on Thanksgiving, Thursday Nov. 28, 2024.

The Vietnamese St. Joseph the Worker Group’s commitment to these projects – working tirelessly, often late into the night – reflects an extraordinary level of faith, love, and service to our parish community. Through their efforts, not only have these beautiful spaced space been brought to life, but their labor has also resulted in significant cost savings for the parish.

Thank you to all of our contributors. This is your community space. If you have not contributed already, please prayerfully consider contributing to this project.

Ongoing and Upcoming Projects:

Vestibule Renovation and Restroom Expansion: as soon as permits from the City of San Jose are granted we will begin this exciting project.

Trinity Center Roof Maintenance

Church HVAC System Installation: This installation is essential to address the
heat inside the church and ensure year-round comfort for parishioners.

Thank you, again!

The parish and all of our sacred spaces—our church, our grounds, and the places where we come together in prayer and fellowship—are not just bricks and mortar; they belong to you, to your families, and to all who call this parish home. These holy places are here for you to find peace, renewal, and strength in the presence of the Lord. You and your loved ones are always welcome to come and enjoy the blessings of our shared faith.

As we continue to grow in faith and community, please know how much we value your involvement and how grateful we are for your commitment. May God continue to bless you and your families abundantly.

Contribute Here

Father Duc’s Weekly Reflection – Nov. 24, 2024

November 24, 2024

Dear Parishioners,


On the feast of Christ the King, I invite you to reflect on the story of a king. It is the story
of The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. Prince Edward was the first son of the King of
England, so he was also the crown prince who succeeded his father. When Edward was born, the whole country was filled with joy after many years of waiting. The King declared Edward’s


birthday a national holiday, and ordered all places to hold banquets to celebrate. People danced and prayed to God for Prince Edward. On the same day, a boy named Tom was born in a dilapidated house in the slums of London. When Tom was born, his mother cried like rain, because she did not know how to feed him. His father cursed him as an unfortunate, redundant son. When his alcoholism took hold, he abused his wife and children mercilessly. Although Tom was taught to read and write by a loving priest, he eventually had to beg.


One day, while wandering around begging, Tom approached the royal palace. He kept
staring at the splendid palace. He was so fascinated by the magnificence of the palace that when the guard shouted to chase him away, he still did not hear. The angry guard was about to raise his hand to grab the boy’s neck and beat him up. Coincidentally, Prince Edward was walking inside, and saw this and stopped the guard. Seeing a boy of the same age, Edward invited Tom to visit the palace.


Of course, before taking the beggar boy to visit the palace, the prince had to let him
bathe and change his clothes to suit the palace. Because they were the same age and stature, Edward lent Tom his royal robe. When standing in front of the large mirror, both were amazed because they looked exactly the same. The only difference was the beggar boy’s skinny body and messy hair. That could change very easily, the prince chuckled.


After Tom had been groomed and fed for a while, no one could tell who was Edward and
who was Tom. Then a bold idea came to the prince’s mind. Tom would stay in the palace and
play the prince, while Edward would leave the palace and wear the ragged clothes of a beggar. When he got bored, he would change back.


Of course, the courtiers all thought there was something wrong with the prince, because
his behavior had changed so much. But when they let the prince judge a problem, his mind was still clear. So they thought it was just a change of puberty. As for the beggar boy, oh my, he suffered all kinds of mistreatment and ostracism. At home, he was scolded like a dog, and when he went out, he was bullied and humiliated. Wherever he went, he was either bullied or shunned. When he was hungry, he begged and no one gave him anything. When he was so hungry that he stole, he was beaten up.


Then Edward heard that the courtiers were preparing to crown Tom king, so he decided
to return to the palace. As soon as he reached the gate, the guard grabbed him by the neck and pushed him to the ground. The more he argued that he was Prince Edward, the harder the guard stepped on his head. Finally, Edward had to use the prince’s seal as proof before the guard believed him.

After restoring the crown prince’s throne and becoming king, Edward rewarded Tom with
the position of manager in the royal palace. After that life-changing event, both Edward and Tom had profound changes. But the greatest and most wonderful change was in the king’s personality. King Edward understood what it was like to be poor and unjust, what it was like to have a broken family, what it was like to be humiliated and ostrasized. Thanks to that, Edward became a kind, just, and wise king like never before.


Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe, took on our sinful and beggarly condition and
gave us His glorious royal robe. Do we trust that: God understands all our suffering and
weakness? And most of all, do we believe God wants us to fully enjoy His most precious gifts?

Christ’s kingly role is not expressed through power and money, position and talent, but through boundless mercy, ultimate sacrifice, boundless trust in the will of the Father. If we want to live in the style of the King of the Universe, we should not rely on power, rush to grab money or to seek fame, consider talent as lasting value, and especially put ourselves above others. If we keep pursuing ambition, at the end of our lives, we will discover that it is all just an empty illusion. The more we cling to it, the more suffering and pain we will have. Then when we have to stand before the Supreme Judge, who is also the King of the Universe, our beggarly identity will be completely bare.

When we reject the kingly identity that Jesus came down to teach and exemplify, we continue to take on the identity of a beggar, no matter how much silk and velvet we are covered with on the outside, no matter how many people around us are praising and flattering us. The kingly identity is linked to the truth. The beggarly identity is hidden in darkness. Christ the King of the Universe wants to give each of us the kingly identity. Do we want to exchange with Him?

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all,

Fr. Duc

Father Duc’s Weekly Reflection – Nov. 17, 2024

November 17, 2024

Dear Parishioners,

The movie Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is the story of a man about to be hanged. Enemy
soldiers march him out to a bridge across Owl Creek. They take a board and place it so that half if it rests on the bridge and the other half extends over the edge of the bridge.

Then one of the soldiers stands on the half that rests on the bridge, and the condemned man is made to walk out and stand on the half that extends over the edge of the bridge. Next, the man’s hands and legs are tied, and a rope is dropped from the top of the bridge and put around the man’s neck.

When everything is ready, the commanding officer barks the order. The soldier steps off the
board and the condemned man plunges downward with the rope around his neck.

Then something strange happens. The rope breaks, and the man goes plummeting into the river far below. Down, down into the water he sinks. As he does, he’s aware that he’s alive and struggles to free his hands and feet. Miraculously, he manages to untie himself.

Realizing he has a second chance at life, the man begins to swim down the river. As he does, he passes a tree branch floating in the water. He is struck by the beauty of the leaves on the branch. He marvels at the intricate pattern of veins in the leaves. Then the man sees a spider spinning a web. He is struck by the beauty of the web and the tiny drops of water clinging to it like sparkling diamonds.

He feels the wetness of the water on his body. He looks up and sees the blue sky. Never has the world looked so beautiful to him. Suddenly the soldiers on the bridge begin to fire at the man. He fights his way through a hail of bullets, past a water snake, and over a waterfall.

Finally, he swims ashore totally exhausted. He drops to the sand and rolls over and over. He
looks up and sees a flower. He crawls over to it and smells it. Everything is so beautiful; it’s so great to be alive.

Then a bullet whistles through the trees, and he leaps to his feet and begins to run. He runs and runs until he comes to a house with a white fence around it. The gate swings open mysteriously. The man can’t believe his eyes. He is back home safe. He calls his wife’s name, and she comes running out of the house, arms outstretched to greet him.

Just as they embrace, the camera takes us back to Owl Creek Bridge. This time, we can’t believe our eyes. We see the body of the same man plunge downward with the rope around his neck. Then we see his body swinging back and forth, back and forth. The man is dead.

We are left stunned. All the effort, the running, the second chance were pure make-believe. The man had not escaped after all. He merely imagined that he had in the split second as he fell to his death.

He merely imagined that he had gotten a second chance at life — a life he suddenly saw in a
different way, a life he suddenly saw through new eyes. For the first time, the man saw the world for what it is — a beautiful place. For the first time, the man saw life for what it is— a precious gift to be shared with those we love. How differently the man would have lived his new life if he had really escaped and had really been given a second chance!

Today’s gospel invites us to reflect on the moment when we will meet Jesus at the end of our lives or at the end of the world — whichever comes first. It invites us to ask ourselves: How satisfied will we be at that moment with the quality of our life? Unlike the man in the story, we have a second chance to prepare for that hour — beginning right now.

What will we do with our second chance? Will we sincerely try to make an effort to love, as
Jesus did? Will we sincerely try to make an effort to serve, as Jesus did? This second chance is also the last chance, and it can end any moment.

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all,

Fr. Duc

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Fr. Duc’s Message of the Week

Dear Parishioners, 

One of the worst personality flaws is self-pity. For those who are physically handicapped, self-pity will stunt all development and multiply their disabilities, because they only focus on what they don’t have and ignore all they have. Even for those who are not handicapped, feeling sorry for oneself for whatever reason – being poor, lack of opportunity, bad health, etc. – will never help them overcome that disadvantage, and the burden only gets worse. 

On the other hand, focusing all what we do possess to make up for our handicaps or disadvantages will help us overcome them and even achieve the impossible. One such person is Bob Wieland. Bob Wieland lost both his legs to a land mine in Vietnam while trying to save a fellow soldier. As Bob would say about his recovery from his devastating wounds, “I lost my legs, but I didn’t lose my heart.” 

Bob began a grueling weight-lifting program and eventually set four world records in power lifting. In 1982, Bob Wieland set a goal to walk across the United States of America—on his hands. It took him almost four years to complete the walk. His purpose was to raise money for programs for Vietnam veterans. When someone asked him what motivated him to set such a tremendous goal, he replied, “To encourage those with legs to take the first step in faith to please God.” 

For the blind man Bartimaeus in the gospel for this Sunday, he lost his sight but still used his other faculties well, especially his hearing, speech, and mobility. Most importantly, he did not feel sorry for his blindness and never lost hope. When he opened his hands for handout, his ears never stopped listening for something he did not know. 

Then out of the cacophony on the street, he recognized the name of Jesus, the famous healer. Then, no one could stop him from shouting, “Jesus, Son of David! Have pity on me!” Bartimaeus did not pity himself, but he knew he needed pity from Jesus. The crowd tried to shut him up and hands pulled his cloak down. But his voice only became louder. And Jesus heard him, called him over, and cured him. 

Had Bartimaeus closed his ears and kept his mouth shut, he would have never been able to see. 

Let me tell you about a man who was very much like Bartimaeus. Kyle Maynard was born with a condition called congenital amputation. He has no lower arms and hands, and no lower legs or feet. Kyle’s parents were concerned that their son would face numerous challenges in life. They raised their son to be as independent as possible. When Kyle became a toddler, Kyle’s dad decided that Kyle would have to learn to feed himself. They loved and encouraged their son, but they also let him struggle and fail at simple daily tasks—walking, eating, dressing himself—so that he would learn a sense of determination and responsibility. And when Kyle questioned why he was different or why people stared at him, his grandmother Betty taught him that God had made him special for a reason. 

With his family’s encouragement, Kyle began playing football at age eleven, then tried out for the wrestling team. Kyle was extremely strong, but he had some serious challenges wrestling against able-bodied opponents. He lost his first 35 matches, but he didn’t give up. Kyle’s coach came up with new wrestling moves that took advantage of his strength and made it more difficult for his opponents to pin him. Soon, Kyle was winning matches, and eventually finished 12th in the National High School Wrestling Championships. 

After graduation, Kyle became a record-setting weightlifter, an extreme athlete, a motivational speaker and a best-selling author. He is also the first quadruple amputee to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the fourth highest mountain in the world, without the use of any prosthetic limbs.    

As Kyle says, “I believe God made me the way I am in order to show people that there is no amount of adversity that a single person cannot overcome if they trust in themselves and trust in the will of Jesus Christ.” 

So, whatever disadvantages or handicaps we have to face, do not let them define who we are, but turn to God for encouragement and guidance and use them as a springboard or a goad to reach for the impossible like Bartimaeus. God never disappoints us. 

In the Most Holy Trinity and in solidarity with you all, 

Fr. Duc