Posted on July 3, 2025 View all Pastor's Letter
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Last week, I was deeply blessed to take part in the Jubilee of Priests, celebrated in Rome from June 25 to 28. This sacred and historic gathering brought together priests from every corner of the world, united in faith and fraternity, around our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. On Friday, June 27, the Holy Father presided over the solemn ordination of 32 new priests—a moment of profound joy and grace for the entire Church.
St. Peter’s Basilica, filled with faith and devotion, became the witness to this unique moment when the Successor of Peter reminded the world of the greatness and beauty of the ministerial priesthood. During his homily, Pope Leo XIV spoke words that deeply touched my heart, and I wish to share them with you:
“The priesthood is the living sign that God does not abandon His people. In every priest, the Church recognizes the presence of the Good Shepherd, who gives His life for the sheep and never tires of seeking those who are lost.”
These words, proclaimed with the power of the Holy Spirit, reminded me that the ministry we share every day is not merely a human service but the continuation of Christ’s own love in the midst of the world.
What moved me most was the palpable universality of our Church: priests of every language and culture, united by the same faith, the same mission, and the same Gospel. Seeing young men ordained by the Pope, I gained a deeper understanding that the priesthood is not a privilege but a total surrender—a call to be a bridge of communion and mercy.
Being so close to the Holy Father, receiving his blessing, and hearing his fatherly exhortation renewed my faith and my own priesthood. It was a moment of profound prayer, in which I felt the embrace of Christ, the Good Shepherd, telling me, “Take heart, I am with you always.”
In the midst of prayers and hymns, I remembered each of you, my parish community, whose prayer and affection sustain my vocation. My experience at this Jubilee confirmed for me that we are one family, one Church—universal and missionary—called to proclaim Jesus Christ with joy.
I would like to conclude with another phrase from the Pope’s homily that I will keep in my heart as a beacon for my ministry and that I wish to share with you: “The priest is not the master of the Gospel but its humble servant. He does not proclaim his own ideas but the Word that saves. He does not seek applause, but the conversion of hearts.”
I invite you to continue praying for all priests, especially for those newly ordained who are beginning their journey. May this Jubilee be a time of grace and renewal for the entire Church. I have returned home with my heart set ablaze and with the certainty that it is worth giving everything for Christ and for all of you.
With gratitude and affection in the Lord,
Fr. Diaz
