More than 800 years ago, St. Francis of Assisi made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the Middle East seeking to bring the wisdom and peace of the Lord Jesus to the region.  As the people of the Holy Land, Iran and all the region of the Middle East endure the mounting violent conflagration, the humble testimony of the Holy Poverello urges us to continue the spiritual works of prayer, fasting, and works of mercy relying on the divine mercy of God to bring forth the fruits of reconciliation and peace.   The alarming, destructive havoc afflicting our brothers and sisters makes our Lenten observance more urgent.  

Pope Francis, in his encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Dilexit Nos, quoted Saint John Paul urging us to entrust ourselves to the heart of Christ in doing the work of reparation in this troubled world.  

With faith in the Risen Lord, we share the sad news of the passing of Deacon Robert Shauger of Holy Trinity Parish in El Dorado Hills. Deacon Shauger entered eternal life on February 14, 2026, at the age of 85.

Ordained to the diaconate in 2005 in San Francisco, Deacon Bob faithfully served the Diocese of Sacramento for more than ten years. Through his ministry at Holy Trinity Parish, he assisted at the altar, proclaimed the Gospel, and accompanied the faithful with a spirit of service, prayer, and pastoral care. His dedication to the Church and love for God’s people were a quiet but lasting witness of faith.

Please join us in praying for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his wife, Grace, his family, and all who mourn his passing.

February 19, 2026

Bishop Soto, the Department of Catholic Schools and the faithful of the Diocese of Sacramento are grateful that the incident involving a former student attempting to enter St. Mary Parish School’s Ash Wednesday Mass with a gun was resolved safely and that no students, teachers or staff were harmed.

The off-duty law enforcement parents of the St. Mary community who were volunteering their time to act as parent observers for the school Mass prevented the former student from entering the Church and detained him until on-duty police arrived. We are grateful for their vigilance and the safety protocols in place at St. Mary School.

This incident has raised concerns amongst our school communities regarding school safety, specifically at Mass. Please be assured that the safety of our students remains our highest priority.