Father Val Park

Seminary: Mount Angel Seminary (Mount Angel, Oregon)

Favorite Scripture Passage: "Remain in my love" (Jn 15:9)

This passage to me is what I believe is at the core of what it means to be a Christian. Our Christian life is not simply a matter of  doing things Christian, but it involves our  being Christian. And our being Christian is found upon and grounded in the  love of God (not dependent on what  I do), the love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

It is from this love, the love of the Trinity, that we  receive our  being as children of God. And so, our "being Christian", then involves "being in love", that is, "remaining or abiding in love"
with the one who loves us and gives us our being. 

Hobbies: Watching and playing sports (especially basketball and baseball), hiking, walking, cooking and eating ramen, youtubing, netflixing, sleeping

What I love most about my ministry: Hearing confessions is challenging, but also what I find the most rewarding. People come into the confessional, bringing their brokenness,
wounds, and transgressions, and I witness God's loving mercy transforming them into peace, joy, and love. I get to be a bridge of Christ's loving mercy.