Posted on June 27, 2025 View all Pastor's Letter
Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus and Mary, united in our faith and love for Christ,
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, two irreplaceable pillars of Christianity. The two men are distinct in temperament, history, and mission but profoundly united by their love for Christ and their total dedication to the Gospel.
Peter, the fisherman of Galilee, was called to leave his nets to become a “fisher of men.” An impetuous, sometimes fragile man, he denied his Lord but wept with humility and was restored by the love of Jesus. To him, the Lord entrusted the responsibility of strengthening his brothers and sisters in the faith, saying: “You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my Church” (Mt 16:18). Peter represents firm faith in Christ, the visible unity of the Church, and pastoral service. Paul, on the other hand, was a zealous Pharisee, a persecutor of Christians, until Christ knocked him from his horse and made him his apostle. From then on, he became a tireless missionary, spreading the Gospel to the farthest reaches of the known world. His conversion demonstrates the power of grace, capable of transforming even the most hostile to the Gospel. Paul represents the power of the Word, openness to the world, and a mission without borders. Both died as martyrs in Rome, witnesses to a faith that does not yield to persecution or suffering. Their lives teach us that God does not call the perfect but perfect those He calls. Peter and Paul are models of redeemed humanity, faithfulness in weakness, and love to the end.
This is also the last weekend of June, and this Monday marks the beginning of July, a time when we are already experiencing the summer atmosphere. This period is when many take time off to vacation and spend more time with their families. However, during this time, many people also take vacations from their lives of faith and their contact with God. Some stop participating in Sunday Masses and even the sacrament of confession. Remember, God doesn’t take vacations to shower us with his blessings and graces. When we go on vacation, we must always find a place to participate in the Holy Eucharist because God is always faithful to us, and we should always be grateful for his love and mercy.
Changing the subject, I want to express my gratitude to all of you for your unwavering support and generous financial contributions to our parish. Your generosity has allowed us to complete the 2024-25 fiscal year on a strong note. In my annual financial report, I will provide you with details on our financial performance for the year. What I am sure of is that the coming fiscal year will be a little tighter financially, but I trust in God and His generosity, knowing that we can overcome these challenges. As your pastor, I have endeavored to manage all your donations as best I can and have sought the best interests of the parish. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but our sanctuary is cleaner and more organized. My dream as your pastor is to modernize the facilities and provide everything necessary for our groups and activities; all of this is thanks to your commitment and the unity we maintain. This year, unfortunately, we haven’t reached the BLA goal; we still need to raise 25% of the assigned goal. I ask those who haven’t contributed to do so. I honestly wouldn’t like it if we didn’t reach it this year. If we donate a little together, we can cover the remaining percentage.
Finally, this weekend, we celebrate our Independence Day. It is an auspicious day to pray for our nation, for our leaders, and for the needs we face as a country. At the same time, let’s give thanks to God for all the great and beautiful things we have. As your pastor and on behalf of the entire parish staff, I wish you all a happy Fourth of July. Enjoy it with your family, and hopefully rest and celebrate.
May God bless you all, and Happy Independence Day.
