Posted on March 6, 2026 View all Pastor's Letter
Dear Parishioners,
This past Ash Wednesday we entered one of the most sacred and grace-filled seasons of the Church year: Lent. These forty days are a gift — a spiritual journey of conversion, inner renewal, and preparation for the great celebration of Easter. Lent is not meant to be a gloomy time, but a season full of hope, because it calls us back to God, invites us to purify our hearts, and allows His grace to transform our lives.
The forty days carry deep biblical meaning. They recall Israel’s forty years in the desert learning to trust in God; the forty days of prayer of Moses and Elijah; and above all, the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry. Lent becomes our own “spiritual desert,” a place where the Lord speaks to our hearts, strengthens us, and prepares us to enter more deeply into the mystery of the Cross and the Resurrection.
Today, on this First Sunday of Lent, the Gospel presents Jesus being tempted in the desert. We see that He confronts evil not with human power, but with the Word of God and complete trust in the Father. Jesus teaches us that life’s greatest battles are won within — through prayer, self-discipline, faithfulness, and reliance on God’s grace. In the same way, Lent invites us to examine our daily struggles — selfishness, comfort, resentment, indifference — and to allow God to lead us toward a freer and holier life.
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all who have already made their commitment to the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal. Your generosity is a beautiful sign of faith, love for the Church, and unity with our diocese. Through your gifts, many people are helped and the mission of the Church continues to grow. For those who have not yet participated, I invite you to pray and reflect on this act of stewardship. Offering generously to the Lord is always a blessing, and He never fails to reward a generous heart. More information is available in the bulletin, and our Bishop is deeply grateful for your support.
I also want to remind you of our Lenten spiritual practices. Every Friday we will pray the Stations of the Cross — in English at 5:30 pm and in Spanish at 7:30 pm. We continue with our regular confession times, and during Lent we also offer confessions on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm. I strongly encourage everyone to receive this beautiful sacrament during this holy season — it is one of Lent’s greatest gifts.
After the Stations of the Cross, I invite you to remain for a time of fellowship as a parish community. Some Fridays the Knights of Columbus will serve fried fish, and on other Fridays we will share soup or fish tacos. Each Friday of Lent there will be something offered as a simple but meaningful sign of community and Christian fraternity.
May this Lenten season be a true encounter with the Lord for each of us — a time of deeper conversion, renewed faith, and growing hope. Let us walk together toward Easter trusting that God is doing great things in our lives.
With my prayers and blessing,
In Christ,
Fr. Diaz
