Sermon preached at the Sunday Mass on 6th September 2026 at St. Michael's and All Angels' Episcopal church in Corona del Mar, California.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen . Whenever I am here in California, I am taken aback by the beauty of nature: the amazing contrasts between the blue of the ocean, the emerald of the palm trees, and the many colors of the splendid flowers, all enhanced by the fair sun that shines here. Very few places in the world have such natural beauty in quite the same abundance. Perhaps I love it because it reminds me of our Amalfi Coast, blessed with a similar Mediterranean climate, where I spent my summers with my family from childhood. A couple of days ago, I explored the historic side of California and visited the Spanish mission of San Juan Capistrano. What a special place it was. It made me think of the first missionaries who ventured into this part of the world to spread God’s word. One of them was Saint Junipero Serra, who also reflected in his writings on the beauty of this land. I especially identified with one reflection: we have found the que...
