Posted on January 3, 2025 View all Pastor's Letter
Dear brothers in Christ Jesus:
I hope you had a beautiful start to the Christmas season. This is a time of profound significance for us, a time that has just begun and will culminate on January 12 with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. It’s a time when we meditate on the profound mystery of the incarnation. Let the lights and the mangers continue to grace our homes until that day, as we celebrate with the same faith and love that marked the beginning of this season.
The liturgy of the Church proposes that the Sunday after Christmas be the feast of the Holy Family. It presents Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as examples of faith. It is a day to pray for the families of our parish and all families. It is a Sunday to renew the love between spouses. Today, I always offer one of my masses for the increase of love in families that are so attacked today by the devil. Remember, the family is the heart of the Church and the future of society and the world. Your role in this is invaluable.
The Holy Family is a profound example of how the modern family should be constituted: a father and a mother, and from their love, children emerge. It is the perfect model for growing and living in love. Let us ask this Sunday that our families remain united and continue to be a living testimony of the truth. I thank you all for your tokens of affection and warm greetings, cards, and gifts during this time. As priests, you are our immediate family. Remember that I have my family far from here, and it is almost impossible to see them periodically, but for the love of the kingdom, we decided to embrace this ministry and adopt this spiritual family that you are. Father Ramón and I thank you for making us feel at home. We are deeply grateful for your support and understanding and are committed to serving you to the best of our abilities. We ask for your forgiveness if, at any time, due to the burden and tiredness, we have not served you as you deserve, but do not forget that we are also human beings, and we make mistakes and get tired at the same time.
Next Tuesday is the last day of 2024, a year marked in everyone’s life by all the challenges, joys, and sorrows we have experienced. Each year is different, but each year should help us grow and strengthen our faith. Let us thank God for all the good things we have received this year, and let us pray for those friends and family who will no longer be able to celebrate the New Year with us because they have gone to the Father’s house. May they rest in peace, and may our Father God welcome them into his presence. As we approach the New Year, let us take a moment to reflect on the past year and set our intentions for the coming year. May the end-of-year celebrations not be just another celebration but a time to examine how much we have grown and need to improve.
On behalf of Father Dominguez, Deacon Kapral, and the entire staff, I wish you all a happy New Year 2025.
Happy New Year, I have you in my prayers.
Fr. Alex
