14 December 2025

Passed Life/Health License Exam (Nov. 2025)

 


Dennis Purificacion has been in education administration, training and certification for 20+ years.  He is a multiple award-winning classroom teacher and taught thousands of students from elementary level to high school and adults.  He is married to Tove Ann and is currently raising 8 kids; his wife, Tove Ann, had 3 miscarriages.  Dennis holds multiple degrees (University of San Francisco magna cum laude & Santa Clara University cum laude) and a doctorate in education administration.  He enjoys sci-fi and superhero movies.

07 December 2025

Homily #280: Preparing for Christmas with St. John the Baptist


                                    Elijah Fed by the Raven by Giovanni Girolamo Savoldoc. 1510




10 a.m.
(includes true story assisting VPD as police chaplain)


8.a.m.


Attacks on religious liberty increase, say cardinal, papal foundation | USCCB https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/attacks-religious-liberty-increase-say-cardinal-papal-foundation 

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Attacks on religious liberty increase, say cardinal, papal foundation
Respect for religious freedom "protects the inner sanctuary of the conscience" and "fosters vibrant communities where people of different faiths can live together, contribute to society and engage in constructive dialogue without fear of persecution," the Vatican secretary of state said.

Cindy Wooden
Cindy Wooden
October 21, 2025
Attacks on religious liberty increase, say cardinal, papal foundation
Members of a delegation from Aid to the Church in Need, a papal foundation, give Pope Leo XIV an advance copy of their annual report on religious freedom during a meeting in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Oct. 10, 2025. The report was released Oct. 21. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

ROME (CNS) -- Religious freedom is not only a fundamental and essential human right, "it is also a pathway to truth and deeper communion with God and neighbor," said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.

However, religious freedom is severely restricted in 62 of the world's 196 countries, affecting around 5.4 billion people; "in other words, almost two-thirds of the world's population lives in countries where serious violations of religious freedom take place," the cardinal said.

Cardinal Parolin was citing information contained in the 2025 Religious Freedom Report compiled by the papal foundation Aid to the Church in Need and released Oct. 21 during a conference at Rome's Augustinianum Patristic Institute.

The fact that the 2025 report runs 1,248 pages, the largest in its 25-year history, "indicates that violations of religious freedom are increasing year on year," the cardinal said.

The report, covering the period of Jan. 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2024, found that "grave and systemic violations, including violence, arrest and repression, affect more than 4.1 billion people in nations such as China, India, Nigeria and North Korea." 

Cardinal Pietro Parolin speaks to reporters
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, speaks with the press after the presentation of the 2025 Religious Freedom Report compiled by the papal foundation Aid to the Church in Need and released Oct. 21, 2025, during a conference at Rome’s Augustinianum Patristic Institute. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Speaking to reporters after the event, Cardinal Parolin cautioned against considering all attacks on Christians in Nigeria as signs of religious persecution.

Citing local church sources, the cardinal said much of the violence in Nigeria "is not a religious conflict, it is more of a social conflict, for example between herders and farmers."

And where Muslim extremists are attacking Christians, he said, they also attack Muslims who disagree with them. "These are extremist groups that make no distinctions in pursuing their goals. They use violence against anyone they consider an opponent." 

Cover of the 2025 Religious Freedom Report
The cover of Aid to the Church in Need's 2025 Religious Freedom Report is seen after it was presented in Rome Oct. 21, 2025. (CNS photo/ACN International)
Aid to the Church in Need listed another 38 countries -- including Egypt, Ethiopia, Mexico, Turkey and Vietnam -- as nations where "religious discrimination" is common. The foundation said that in those countries "religious groups face systematic restrictions on worship, expression and legal equality. While not subject to violent repression, discrimination often results in marginalization and legal inequality."

In Mexico, as well as in Haiti, the report said, "organized crime is a key driver of persecution or discrimination" with priests and other church workers being kidnapped or murdered and house of worship and sacred objects being desecrated in "an atmosphere of blatant impunity" as the government fails to stop the drug cartels and criminal gangs.

Speaking at the presentation of the report, Cardinal Parolin focused on the Catholic Church's support for the religious freedom of all people, no matter their faith, and on the upcoming 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on Religious Freedom.

The council's support for religious liberty was "a call to action based on the council's belief that God himself has made known to mankind the way in which men are to serve him and thus be saved in Christ," the cardinal said.

And while all people have a "moral obligation" to seek the truth, Cardinal Parolin said, no one can be compelled to do so. 

"One must and can only respond in one way: freely, that is to say, out of love, with love, not by force, because Christianity is love," the cardinal said. 

Cardinal Pietro Parolin speaks at report presentation
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, speaks about the 2025 Religious Freedom Report compiled by the papal foundation Aid to the Church in Need and released Oct. 21, 2025, during a conference at Rome's Augustinianum Patristic Institute. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
On a personal level, he said, religious freedom "protects the inner sanctuary of the conscience, the God-given compass that guides ethical and spiritual choices."

And, he said, on a collective level "it fosters vibrant communities where people of different faiths can live together, contribute to society and engage in constructive dialogue without fear of persecution."

The 2025 Religious Freedom report found that "religious nationalism is on the increase, fueling exclusion and repression of minorities. National identity is increasingly shaped by ethno-religious nationalism, eroding minority rights."

"In India and Myanmar," for example, it said, religious nationalism "drives persecution; in Palestine, Israel, Sri Lanka and Nepal, it fuels discrimination."

The report also found that "religious persecution increasingly fuels forced migration and displacement," with victims around the world fleeing "violence, discrimination and the absence of state protection."

Aid to the Church in Need credited the Vatican's 2018 provisional agreement with China's communist government for "signs of improvement" for the country's Christians but noted that improvement applied only to Christians belonging to government-recognized Christian organizations.

Catholic priests and bishops continued to be arrested or detained for not joining the Catholic Patriotic Association, and in many parts of China anyone under the age of 18 is prevented from attending church or a church-sponsored event, the report said.

With the arrest and exile of bishops and priests, the confiscation of church property and the banning of religious processions and other public celebrations, the situation in Nicaragua also is highlighted in the book.

"During the period under review, hostility toward churches intensified, severely violating the fundamental right to religious freedom," it said.

Aid to the Church in Need also called attention in the report: to "a sharp rise in antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes," including in Europe and North America; arson attacks on churches in Canada; and vandalism or desecration of churches in the United States.
 
# # #

Solidarity with the Bishops and Faithful of Africa Amidst Ongoing Conflicts | USCCB https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/solidarity-bishops-and-faithful-africa-amidst-ongoing-conflicts

WASHINGTON - “We reiterate our solidarity with the bishops and faithful of Africa, as they offer the world a profound witness of respect for human life and dignity amidst ongoing conflicts,” said Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace. 

Bishop Zaidan’s full statement follows:

“We reiterate our solidarity with the bishops and faithful of Africa, as they offer the world a profound witness of respect for human life and dignity amidst ongoing conflicts. 

“In 2025, millions of our brothers and sisters on the African continent live displaced from their homes and communities, forced to flee due to conflict, religious and ethnic persecution, economic hardship and environmental crises. Cycles of deadly violence and resulting humanitarian crises continue to claim thousands of innocent lives in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and throughout the Sahel region. Due to the rise of extremist violence, Christians, Muslims, and other people of faith are increasingly targeted by campaigns of mass killings, abductions, and forced displacement. We remember, in particular, the hundreds of Christian civilians massacred in recent weeks and months in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern regions as well as in eastern Congo.

“We pray that government officials and people of all faiths may work together to bring lasting peace, justice, and security to the continent. We also reaffirm that lifesaving and life-affirming international assistance funding is a crucial complement to these efforts. The Catholic Church and the U.S. government have a shared responsibility to promote the international common good and respect for human life by contributing to international humanitarian and development assistance. 

“In fraternal unity with the church in Africa, we ask Our Lady Queen of Peace to comfort all those afflicted by violence and grant all people of goodwill the courage to build peace both in their local communities and across borders. As our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has said, ‘May every community become a “house of peace,” where one learns how to defuse hostility through dialogue, where justice is practiced and forgiveness is cherished.’”

### 




26 September 2025

"Three Women" (Edmund Blair Leighton / John William Waterhouse)

2003 Published by ArtBeats, Inc.  Distributed by New York Graphic Society Publishing Group.  "Three Women" Edmund Blair Leighton / John William Waterhouse.  77123



13 September 2025

Baptized 9 with Homily #273 Proclaiming Jesus & Making Disciples with Story of Salvation

 



One of baby girls lost a shoe, so I placed the shoe on the baby and called her "Cinderella" and reminded the people that as newly baptized, she is a "Princess" or "Princess Cinderella" of the Kingdom of Heaven.












15 August 2025

message/mensaje from new DDCM chair; open nominations; update on catechetical guidelines


 Hello everyone,

That was a great and productive meeting this week! Thank you to one and all, especially those who help put together a successful week.

1.) WARM WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS/OFFICERS: As your new chair, I thought I would send some warm messages, particularly for the 3 dioceses that were not represented/present this week, and give some encouraging words. For my first act, I would like to entrust Region XI DDCM to Inmaculado Corazón de María. May she accompany us together on the journey as missionary disciples during this Jubilee Year on Pilgrims of Hope. We have or will have quite a bit of new DDCM members, so my priority as the new chair is to support new DDCM members and to encourage their regional involvement. I recognize that this requires a little bit more flexibility for your first or even second year in a Chancery trying to have a work-life balance, but let's explore in the upcoming months how we can even revise/reform the bylaws to increase newer member participation. This will also allow people to get to know one another more. I plan to reach out to new members.

2.) UPDATE ON CATECHETICAL GUIDELINES DRAFT: A second priority is to advance the catechetical guidelines. Thanks to Sister Celeste for moving us forward; happily, we were able to edit and approve the draft guidelines document this week. The 3 dioceses that weren't there this week can give their final feedback, if any. Thank you to the 10 dioceses that spent hours revising and editing this draft that you see here. The updated catechetical document draft can be found here: ...

I'm also attaching it as a PDF document for those that wish to print it out. As Sister Celeste from the guidelines committee mentioned, after the 3 dioceses that were not represented give their final input and votes, the hope is that, once unanimous, Sister said that we plan to present the draft to the directors for youth and young adult ministry for their feedback in the fall. The state superintendents will provide their feedback, too. Thank you to Sister for her leadership.

3.) THANKFUL FOR DDCM OFFICERS: For those that missed the presentation of appreciation memorabilia, here is a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpWBWYQT3Y0. As Kevin mentioned, his position in Sacramento has been restructured to project manager and so his term of office ended last Thursday; we look forward to working with his successor. Tish (Monterey) is also leaving DDCM in the fall, and Katie (Orange) retired a month ago. Luis (Orange) received on her behalf. These appreciation certificates that were presented to them are also a way to encourage newer members. As Tish said, it was worth it for her to get involved, even after over 22 years in Chancery ministry.

4.) NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR ELECTIONS: We opened up the nomination process for a new Vice Chair and Secretary. Email nominations of names to me before the end of the month, Aug. 31. I've already received a nomination for Vice Chair. Nominations will close in a couple of weeks on Aug. 31, and we hope to have elections in early September.  

The new Vice Chair needs to be a Director. The Secretary can be either a Director or Associate Director.  

An Associate Director can be on DDCM but with permission of their director/supervisor. The decision is for the local Diocesan director to make about having the Associate at DDCM.  

After these two vacancies are filled, in the fall, let's discuss having an Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer as part of the executive team. I've been on the executive team for 6 DDCM chairs (after serving twice as vice chair and twice as secretary), and I think having these assistant roles where 2 people are involved with certain tasks will keep things moving forward and help developing newer members. This is part of the efforts to gradually involve newer members and give them regional experience on DDCM.

Attached is a group photo that we took while on a nice tour to St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park. Hope you like the photo.

5.) SAVE THE DATES: Gracie (Stockton) will send out the Minutes from this week when they are ready. Thank you for taking notes, Gracie. Please save the dates for the next general DDCM meetings in the Fall 2025: ....

Thank you, everyone. And thank you especially to His Excellency, Bishop Marc of Los Angeles, for accompanying us. Many blessings upon summer and your fall season.


Tu hermano, and your servant,

Dennis

--


Deacon Dennis Purificacion


Director, Department of Religious Education | Diocese of Santa Rosa


985 Airway Court, Santa Rosa, CA 95403


(707) 566-3313 | srdiocese.org




Stay connected with us on The Vine e-newsletter!

27 July 2025

Benediction for U.S. Military Servicemen Going on Deployment




- Attended Mass with Family
- Benediction for U.S. soldiers 
- Park time with family
- Celebration of Goddaughter's Baptism Anniversary

17 July 2025

Comment on World Youth Days

Commented on EWTN clip on World Youth Day (WYD):

I saw St. JP2 at WYD Denver 1993 and again in WYD Toronto in 2002. He was more beautiful than ever in 2002. At WYD 2002, I proposed to my now-wife at Our Lady's Chapel in St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto while African bishops were celebrating Mass that morning in the background. We later left to be with the Pope, and I was elated that she said yes. Before flying to WYD Toronto, I got my now-wife's parents blessing, a ring, and a blessing from my pastor who later married us. We stayed in separate rooms and didn't live together until we were married in the Church. We've been in Holy Matrimony for 22 years now, and I've been in Holy Orders (Diaconate) for 11 years raising 8 children (& 3 miscarriages of our little ones in God's merciful arms). I owe alot to the World Youth Days. Im proud JP2 Generation. Thank you for posting this. All for Jesus and Mary!

14 June 2025

Baptism of 13 Babies/Toddlers with Homily #267

Thank you, God, for calling these little ones to your Kingdom through the holy waters of Baptism:

198) Aria Felise (During attendance, I called this baby's name last, but she was the first to be presented to me for Baptism, so I said, "The last shall be first."

199) Kaleb Alexander (The godfather spoke to me afterwards, and I gave him and his fiancee a blessing in front of the altar.)

200) Amelia

201) Valerie (newborn)

202) Mona Penelope

203) Zachary Elias

204) Kataleya Klaire

205) Alexandra

206) Isaiah Jude (I called the baby "Prophet and Apostle" since he carries the name of the Prophet Isaiah and the Apostle St. Jude Thaddeus.  Dad told me he himself was named after another person in the Bible, Joshua, and I told him my favorite passage from the Book of Joshua was, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.")

207) Tahlia Luna (The godfather, Michael, read from the First Letter of Peter.  And we did this to the memory of my former student of mine, Marrianne, his sister, who was killed many years ago.)

208) Liam (toddler for whom I gave extra chrism)

209) Brady Angelo

210) Anastasia




08 June 2025

St. Ephren, Deacon, Doctor (Official Teacher) of the Church, Founder of a Theological School

Even though Deacon Ephren's theological school isn't around as such (perhaps it is around but in a different form), it still made a difference to the Church of his time I'm sure.  I pray that MSI likewise made a difference for the Church of our time.  Thank you, Brother Deacon, for your example.  Blessed be God!

MSI gives God thanks for 17 years of service & sunsets in 2025 (Blessed be the Name of the Lord!)

MSI 15th Commencement Exercises (Class of 2024)

Solemnity of Pentecost
June 8, 2025
Dear Friends and Families of the Maris Stella Institute,
Greetings in Christ Jesus Our Lord and Savior! May the power of the Holy Spirit be with you and yours on this glorious Solemnity of Pentecost! Today marks the 17th liturgical anniversary of the founding of the Maris Stella Institute. So, not only Happy Birthday to the Church, but also Happy Birthday to MSI! We give God praise, glory, honor, and thanksgiving for all the blessings bestowed upon MSI since that first day of its existence on the Vigil of Pentecost, May 10, 2008. Today, I have some very important news to share with you.
Firstly, allow me a few moments to reflect upon the past year, for even with less time and less personnel, MSI was able to still operate and offer more programs and activities than in past years. For example, last year in 2024, we were able to use our Koch Foundation Grant, together with the continued prayerful, professional, and material support of our generous donors and volunteers, to operate yet another successful and fruitful year of MSI.
By God’s grace and mercy, MSI was able to provide…
1. for the first time, 1st Sunday Mini Retreats at St. Basil’s Catholic Church in Vallejo, California, from July thru November 2024, where about 50-70 people were served or participated as a whole;
2. 2nd Saturday Adult Basic, Advanced, Master Catechist, & Continuing Formation Classes at Holy Family Catholic Church in American Canyon, from July thru November 2024, where about two dozen were served or participated throughout the year;
3. Regular Online Makeup Classes for Basic, Advanced, Master Catechist, & Continuing Formation Classes via our Webex platform, where a handful of individuals were able to take advantage of and participate in this almost weekly 5-month series of makeup classes. The success and completion of these online classes facilitated the maximum number of graduates and awardees at last December’s graduation, which included 2 MSI Grand Master Catechist Recipients, 1 Master Catechist Candidate/Graduate, and 2 Basic Catechist Candidates/Graduates;
4. A 12-hour Silent Retreat endorsed and jointly sponsored by both the California Knights of Columbus & MSI at St. Isidore’s Catholic Church in Yuba City, CA, on Sunday, October 13, 2024. At least two dozen individuals were participants for the entire retreat and over a hundred were involved with the parish sponsored Marian procession & Benediction with Fr. Avram Brown, one of our very own faculty members. We also had a total of four priests (Fr. Chuck Kelly, Fr. Fred Kutubebi, Fr. Raj Derivera, and Fr. Ryan Mahar) available to hear confessions during the retreat and one deacon, Deacon John Thoo, who assisted with both leading Liturgy of the Hours as well as the additional exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament;
5. Graduation Mass, Ceremony, and Reception / Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon on Saturday, December 14, 2024, with Fr. Gary Sumpter, Spiritual Director of MSI, as both the Mass Celebrant and Commencement Speaker. Fr. Fred Kutubebi and Fr. Bala Putchakayala were also present and participants in the awarding of graduation diplomas and V-stoles.
Secondly, although we had a very busy and successful formation year last year, it is with a heavy heart that I share publicly that on Good Friday 2025, the Maris Stella Institute Board of Directors voted unanimously to dissolve MSI as a 501(c)3 nonprofit because of 1) a lack of regular, larger, more substantial funding and 2) committed personnel.
I realize that this may come as a shock to some people, but those of us who have been very much involved with the day-to-day operations of MSI the past couple of years have noticed a more urgent and greater need for regular, larger, and more substantial funding as well as regular committed personnel to keep MSI alive and strong. Unfortunately, things have remained largely the same the past couple of years, and it is no longer sustainable to keep MSI operational.
We do not understand why Our Lord permitted this death of MSI, but we place all our trust and confidence in His great love for us and for MSI, who has, always and everywhere, tried to remain faithful to Him and His teachings, to continue His mission “to make disciples of all nations,… teaching them all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). With our eyes fixed on Christ Crucified, and our hearts united with Mary’s at the foot of the Cross, our hope and consolation at this time is in God’s Word from the Book of Revelation: “’He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.’ The one who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new’” (Revelation 21:4-5). If Our Lord one day calls us to start anew and build an even better Catechism training institute one day, such that the “new MSI” is like MSI in a new, glorified, and resurrected state; then, may it be so, whether here on earth or one day in heaven. But for now, may we be like faithful Job, in his brokenness and pain, and say with one united voice, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21)! And although MSI as a nonprofit organization is ceasing to exist, the spirit of MSI, consecration to Jesus through Mary, will continue to live on in the hearts of all those touched by MSI. Viva Cristo Rey! Ave Maris Stella!
Thank you for being part of the MSI Community all these years! I especially thank those of you who have given so much of yourselves to MSI through your continued prayers, professional, and monetary support, through your great labor of love for Christ’s mission. I do hope and pray you’ll stay in contact with me by connecting with me on Facebook, Messenger, LinkedIn, and Telegram.
It’s been a joy, honor, and blessing to serve you and journey with you towards our Heavenly Homeland. Let us be saints together!
Your Sister in Jesus through Mary,
Tove Ann
--
Tove Ann Catubig Purificacion, Ph.D.
President
MARIS STELLA INSTITUTE
Your Catechism Training Institute
P.O. Box 10061
American Canyon, CA 94503
toveann@marisstellainstitute.org
Ave Maris Stella * Profer Lumen Caecis
Hail, Star of the Sea, Send Forth Light to the Blind!

 

27 May 2025

My Son, Who Received His First Communion, Asked to be an Altar Server After Hearing Announcement at Mass

He asked to be an altar server, after he heard the invitation announcement at Mass. 

So we supported it.  And we went to the first day of training. 

He received his First Holy Communion recently. 

He also said that he wanted to be part of the kids band.

I am grateful. 

10 May 2025

A Thought About the "Peter the Roman" Private Revelation Prophecy of St. Malachy

I gladly submit this personal opinion on this private revelation to the judgment of Holy Mother Church.

https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/understand/paintings/the-crucifixion-of-saint-peter/


I made this comment on this website: https://youtube.com/watch?v=K1Y8Ml8AF-8&lc=UgyUwFojYfhGlmQDqJZ4AaABAg&feature=shared

If we want to fit Leo into the St. Malachi private revelation prophecy of Popes, then one possibility is that because Leo XIV came from the USA, a superpower, which is like a new Rome, another superpower, that makes him part of...Rome.
The USA did not exist during St. Malachi's time, so Peter the Roman is a good way to describe someone from a new Roman Empire-type of country like the USA. Everyone today thought it would be a cardinal with Pietro in his name or maybe take the name Peter II, but it would be sufficient that he simply come from the USA, a new Rome.
Also, good points in this talk about Leo XIII and Leo XIV on social teachings, St. Michael, era of peace, etc. If there is a declared WWIII, having an American Pope could help stop war or alleviate war to usher in Our Lady's promised era of peace. Leo XIV's first words Urbi et Orbi afterall were "Peace be with you."
Leo XIV's dad has French roots and also served in the U.S. Navy during WW2, and his mom has Italian roots.

Comment for Chris Sanders:
Thanks, Chris.  This was breaking news to hear from you that the new Pope's dad was a U.S. Navy veteran.  I'm glad he's a Navy brat like me; my dad honorably served for over two decades.  Word internally among Catholic circles was that Leo was downplaying his American side bc the USA is a superpower, but I read a comment from someone who I don't think is Catholic that the Pope shouldn't do this and just bring his background to the role.  This includes Leo being the son of a U.S. sailor.  BTW, he voted Republican in GOP primaries, but he can be 'progressive' on social issues without compromising the more doctrinal Catholic Church teachings.  I hope he and POTUS can work together to bring an era of peace based on God to the world.



27 April 2025

Homily #265b: The Shocking Good News of Divine Mercy on 2nd Sunday of Easter!

Homily #265b: "The Shocking Good News of Divine Mercy on 2nd Sunday of Easter!"
by Deacon Dennis Purificacion
Divine Mercy Sunday 2nd Sunday of Easter April 27, 2025


"The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment" (Diary 699).




A lady standing next to me in Confession line on Saturday showed me this.


1. Resurrection of Jesus
2. St. Faustina, Secretary of Divine Mercy
3. College of Cardinals Meet to Elect a New Successor of Peter



 

21 April 2025

Condolences Received From Police Chaplain Colleagues For Death of Francis




Chaplains:

Hello Chaplain Dennis, my wife and send our Condolences to you and the Church at the passing of Pope Francis ✝️. You are in our Prayers 🛐


Me: 

Thank you, dear friends, for your thoughtfulness.  Please remember us in your prayers to Jesus.

V/R,