Posted on January 5, 2024 View all Pastor's Letter
Happy New Year, dear parishioners!
We started a new year a week ago, and I am sure we have asked God for His guidance and protection to live in this new stage. I remind you that Christmas is not over yet. This Sunday, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. Today, Jesus manifests himself to all peoples as a sign that his incarnation is universal for all men and women on earth, that on this particular Sunday, we pray for the unity of nations and especially for unity in our country so that there are no more divisions, but that we create bonds of unity and peace.
I like how the prophet Isaiah begins by exhorting us in the first reading, “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.” (Is 60:1). That light that the prophet had seen is the same star that the Magi see in the East, as many other men also saw it, but only the Magi discover its meaning. Others see it as something that seems admirable but does not affect them. And so they don’t react. The Magi realize that, with it, God sends them an essential message for which it is worth carrying the inconvenience of leaving the comfort of safety and risking an uncertain journey: the hope of finding the King takes them to follow that star, which the prophets had announced, and the people of Israel had hoped for centuries.
Jesus Christ crosses many people’s lives, but like the star, many are not interested. A small effort would have changed their lives; they would have found the King of Joy and Peace. This requires the goodwill to seek Him, move, and ask without becoming discouraged, like the Magi, leave our comfort in our routine, and appreciate the immense value of finding Christ. If we do not see Him, we have not found anything in life because He alone is the Savior: to find Jesus is to find the Path that leads us to know the Truth that gives us life. And, without Him, nothing at all is worth it.
Like the Magi of the East who do not remain stagnant in their comfort, I also invite you that in this New Year, we dare to participate in parish activities and all the projects that we are creating as a parish. I have so many dreams and purposes for our parish, projects, and dreams that we cannot achieve without your participation. In this New Year, we will work on forming our ministries and emphasizing spirituality and prayer; the only way to move forward is to promote evangelization and spiritual growth. Together with the pastoral council, we will begin to work to give our parish more life and enthusiasm. We must also remember that this year, we celebrate the fifty years of the founding of our diocese. It will be an event of great magnitude for our particular church.
Finally, I want to remind you that this year, from July 17 to 21, the 10th National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana; it will be a meeting of faith at the national level, as a Diocese and, of course, as a parish, we will participate and prepare for this congress. I encourage all ministries and movements to reflect on the Eucharistic mystery. We must stop to meditate, delve more deeply, and learn more about the great gift that Jesus has given us by staying in the Eucharist. Don’t hesitate to contact the parish office if anyone wishes to participate in this conference.
Have a blessed week.
Fr. Alex
