Posted on October 24, 2025 View all Pastor's Letter
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 18:9–14) presents two men who go up to the temple to pray: one a Pharisee, confident in himself and convinced of his own righteousness; the other a tax collector, a sinner who can barely raise his eyes to heaven.
Jesus teaches us that the most authentic prayer is not born from pride or merit, but from humility of heart. This parable reminds us that God is not impressed by appearances—He looks at the heart. He does not seek polished words or external achievements, but the sincerity of a soul that knows it depends entirely on His mercy and love.
I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who, last weekend, participated so generously and joyfully in our Offertory Increase Program. Your response has been truly encouraging and a beautiful sign of your love for our parish. Thank you for believing in the mission we share, for trusting in the Lord, and for your faithful support of the pastoral, educational, and spiritual work of our community. Every commitment, whether large or small, is a concrete expression of faith and gratitude to God.
For those who haven’t yet had the chance to complete their commitment, I warmly invite you to bring this intention to prayer during the week. Ask the Lord, “What do You want me to do for my parish?” and listen quietly to His voice in your heart.
In this weekend’s bulletin, you will find the commitment form for our Offertory Increase Program. I encourage you to fill it out and return it to the parish office. You can also do it quickly and conveniently by scanning the QR code found on the pews. This will take you directly to our online form, which takes only a few minutes to complete after Mass. At the end, you’ll find a link where you can set up or review your online giving through Pushpay, our electronic donation platform.
Please remember that the goal of this program is not to ask anyone to increase their giving, but to invite all parish families to be faithful and consistent in their weekly offertory support.
What strengthens a parish is not the amount each person gives, but the love and regular commitment with which we all participate. Queen of Apostles is not just a place we visit on Sundays—it is our spiritual home.
Here we pray together, grow in faith, educate our children, and from here we are sent forth as disciples of Christ. Like any family home, our parish has ongoing needs: maintaining our facilities, supporting our ministries, and caring for those who serve day after day. Just as every household depends on a steady income to meet its responsibilities, our parish relies on the faithful generosity of its members to carry out its mission joyfully.
I also want to remind you that next Saturday, November 1, we will celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. This year it is not a Holy Day of Obligation, so we will have only one Mass at 8:00 a.m.
On Sunday, November 2, all of our Sunday Masses will be offered for All the Faithful Departed. This is a special opportunity to pray for our loved ones who have gone before us into the Father’s house. Special envelopes will be available in the church where you can write their names and intentions to be included in the Masses of that day.
Finally, I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the many birthday greetings, kind words, and prayers you have shared with me. I am deeply touched and blessed to serve as your pastor and to walk this journey of faith alongside you.
Thank you for your affection, your prayers, and your constant support—you truly make this parish a family of faith where everyone is welcomed and loved.
With gratitude in Christ,
Fr. Diaz
