Posted on April 27, 2026 View all Pastor's Letter
Dear brothers and sisters,
On this Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Church invites us to contemplate one of the most beautiful and consoling images of Christ: Jesus, the Good Shepherd. In the Gospel, the Lord says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (Jn 10:27). These words reveal not only the closeness of Christ to His people, but also the deep, personal love with which He guides, protects, and sustains us.
The image of the Good Shepherd is rich in spiritual meaning. Jesus is not a distant leader who governs from afar. He is the Shepherd who walks with His flock, who knows each one by name, who seeks the lost, strengthens the weak, and leads His people to life in abundance. In Him, we see the tenderness of God and the fidelity of One who never abandons His own.
This Gospel also reminds us that the Christian life begins by learning to recognize the voice of Christ. In a world full of distractions and competing voices, we must become more attentive to the Lord through prayer, silence, the sacraments, and trust in His word. To follow the Good Shepherd means to live with the confidence that His path—even when challenging—always leads us to truth, peace, and eternal life.
Because this Sunday is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday, the Church invites us in a special way to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. We need generous men willing to give their lives in service to the Gospel and to God’s people. We need shepherds who will imitate Jesus with humility, courage, compassion, and fidelity. I ask all of you to pray earnestly for an increase in vocations, especially from among our own families and parish community. May the Lord continue to raise up holy priests who will shepherd His people with the heart of Christ.
As we reflect this week on the Lord’s faithful care for His flock, I am also grateful to share an important moment in the life of our parish school. It is my joy to announce—just ahead of our broader community communication—the appointment of Mrs. Erin Meunier as the next Principal of Queen of Apostles Catholic School.
After a thorough and prayerful search process, the search committee and I are confident that Mrs. Meunier is the leader God is calling to guide our school into its next chapter. I am especially grateful for the many strong candidates who expressed interest, and for the thoughtful and dedicated work of our search committee throughout this process.
Mrs. Meunier brings strong instructional leadership and a deep commitment to Catholic education. As Principal of St. Joseph’s Regional Catholic School in Beltsville, Maryland, she has led growth in enrollment, strengthened academic programming, and deepened Catholic identity. She also brings prior teaching experience at St. Theresa in Ashburn and St. Veronica in Chantilly, giving her a strong understanding of the Diocese of Arlington and its educational mission. Mrs. Meunier will formally begin her role as Principal on July 1, 2026.
As I share this joyful news, I also wish to express my deep gratitude to Dr. Kristie Meyers for her years of dedicated service, leadership, and many accomplishments in our school. We are sincerely thankful for the many ways she has supported our community and advanced the mission of Catholic education at Queen of Apostles.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our search committee for their generous assistance, wise counsel, and steadfast support throughout this important process. Their dedication and prayerful collaboration have been a true gift to our parish and school community.
May the Good Shepherd watch over you and your families, and may He bless you with peace and strength in the week ahead.
In Christ Jesus,
Fr. Diaz
