Posted on February 14, 2025 View all Pastor's Letter
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,
I hope you have had a blessed week. This Sunday, we will approach the altar table to nourish our hearts with His body and blood, the food to continue our growth and contact with Him.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims the beatitudes and the lamentations. He shows us an inversion of values: what the world considers success, such as wealth, power, possessions, and the fictitious joy and recognition that the world offers, is not always a sign of true happiness; in most cases, it is something temporary. On the other hand, the poor, the hungry, those who mourn, and the persecuted have a special place in the Kingdom of God because they believe in it with their hearts sincerely and, what is more important, they find and rediscover it in joys and sorrows, in health and illness. Jesus invites us to look at life through the eyes of God, where true happiness is not found in material things but in trusting in Him. He reminds us that suffering and difficulties are not signs of abandonment but opportunities to depend more on His love and mercy. Today, Jesus calls us to ask ourselves: Where do I put my trust? Do I seek happiness in passing things or in life according to the Gospel? May this teaching help us live with humility and hope, trusting that God has a plan for each of us. Just as the saints prayed in moments of uncertainty, may we also say: “Lord, help me to trust in You and to live according to Your will. May I not be attached to the riches of this world, but may I always seek Your Kingdom” (Matt. 6:33).
Next Saturday, February 22, we will have the Men’s Encounter at Hannan Hall. We, as a church, are committed to supporting your spiritual growth, and these monthly meetings are a testament to that. The objective is to seek and rediscover the meaning of interior life and focus on the universal vocation of holiness. Everyone is invited to participate after the 8:00 am Mass. Formation and spiritual reflection are important; one of the great dangers I have encountered as a priest is the great lack of desire for the infinite (desire for holiness) in many Catholics; we live a disinterested faith without any objective. These meetings seek to awaken in us that desire for holiness and contact with God in the small things of life.
Lastly, Lent is just a few days away, and we have already begun to prepare to participate in the 2025 Bishop’s Lenten Appeal. This year’s motto is “Abounding in Hope,” which reminds us of this tremendous theological virtue rooted in Jesus Christ and the victory He won for us. “I invite you to allow God’s generous love to be visible through you as you prayerfully consider a sacrificial commitment for this year’s Appeal. Your donation will be used to enrich the lives of others so that the hope of Christ may abound more fruitfully throughout the diocese” (Bishop Burbidge).
I wish you all a good weekend.
Fr. Alex
