Posted on December 26, 2025 View all Pastor's Letter
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I hope you all had a beautiful and blessed celebration of the Lord’s Nativity. Let us remember that Christmas has not yet ended; on the contrary, we are just beginning this wonderful season of grace. While many have already moved on and returned to their daily routines, for us as believers the joy continues until January 11, when we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. During these weeks, we continue to contemplate the great mystery of God made man—the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. May our crèches and Christmas lights remain shining as signs of faith and reminders that Christ is alive and present in our homes.
This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, a beautiful opportunity to look toward the home of Nazareth and rediscover the ideal God intended for every human family. In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we see the love that unites, the faith that sustains, and the hope that guides. They, too, faced difficulties—poverty, exile, and uncertainty—but their trust in God kept them strong and united. I invite you to pray this Sunday for all our families, that they may be places where peace, respect, and forgiveness reign. The family is the heart of the Church and the first school of love.
We live in times when the family is often misunderstood or even attacked. The world proposes models that do not reflect God’s plan. In contrast, the Holy Family reminds us that true love is born of mutual self-giving and strengthened through prayer. For this reason, at one of my Masses this Sunday, I will offer special prayers for all the families of our parish, asking the Lord to bless them, keep them united, and renew in every couple the grace of their marital love.
I also wish to express my heartfelt gratitude for all your kindness during this season—your greetings, cards, and thoughtful gestures. You truly are our closest family. My own family lives far away, and I am not always able to visit them, but the Lord has given me a spiritual family here among you. Father Ramón and I thank you for your closeness and for making us feel at home. If at times, due to the weight of responsibilities and fatigue, we have not been able to serve you as we would wish, we ask for your understanding. Please know that we always strive to give our very best in the service of Christ and all of you.
Next Wednesday we will bid farewell to the year 2025—a year filled with challenges, joys, and many lessons. Let us give thanks to the Lord for all that we have experienced and entrust the coming year to His loving hands. Let us also remember our loved ones who have gone to the Father’s house. May these end-of-year celebrations be not only moments of festivity, but also times of reflection, as we ask ourselves how much we have grown in faith, love, and generosity.
On Thursday, January 1, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God—a holy day of obligation—and the World Day of Prayer for Peace. We will have a Vigil Mass in Spanish on December 31, and on Thursday, two Masses in English at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.
On behalf of Father Domínguez, Deacon Kapral, and our entire parish staff, I wish you a happy and blessed New Year 2026. May the Child Jesus renew in your hearts the gifts of faith, joy, and peace. Please know that you are always in my prayers.
With affection in Christ,
Fr. Diaz
