More than half of Lent 2023 is officially in the books, so perhaps it’s time for a metaphorical locker room speech to get us fired up for finishing strong. Maybe you’ve had the best few Lenten weeks of your life, and you are getting more than usual out of our traditional practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. If that’s the case, good for you, keep up the good work, and imagine me giving a rousing discourse that encourages you to finish strong. The more likely scenario is that you have trailed off from your Lenten resolutions, and you are headed for a Lent where you went in like a lion but come out like a lamb, and not even a Paschal Lamb at that. If that’s the case, know that you are in good company, and there is still time to pick yourself up, embrace your Cross, and follow Jesus more closely. Our Lord is not to be outdone in generosity, and any efforts we make at renewing our commitment to loving Him more this Lent will not go unnoticed. Easter is on the line, and the more we commit to preparing our hearts for it now, the greater our joy will be at the Savior’s Resurrection. Go get ‘em in the second half. Click on title for full column.

One of the reasons for doing Lenten disciplines—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—is to help shed our spiritual blindness. I pray that your Lenten disciplines are bearing fruit for you and helping you to see the Messiah and His love for you more clearly. When the Resurrection comes, we pray that we may be able to see and know our Lord more clearly. However, our journey doesn’t end with Easter. While our Lenten disciplines may come to an end, Easter Is still a time to rest with Jesus. That being said, I have an invitation for all of you. Click on title for full column.

As we find ourselves in the full swing of Lent, there are two things I wanted to communicate to the Family of Parishes; one is a word of gratitude, and the other is preparing for something exciting. First, as you have probably heard, our Director of Family Evangelization, Jose Martinez, has accepted another position as a Director of Evangelization in another family of parishes, and is moving on from us. We are excited for him in this new opportunity, but also sad to see him go. He remains in our prayers and we are currently looking at how to continue moving forward with the important work he has started here in our parishes.  Click on title for full column.

A thank you followed by a change in the Words of Absolution during confession. Thank you all for an incredible weekend with Craig and Ramiro from Hope of the Poor. The Masses went well, and the Holy Spirit was really moving with their Spanish and English missions. Thank you for all those who prayed, came, and generously gave. Craig told me regarding the donations, “I will carefully take their gifts to the poor and serve them with their gifts!” Gracias a todos por un fin de semana increíble con Craig y Ramiro de Esperanza de los Pobres. Las Misas salieron bien y el Espíritu Santo realmente se movió con sus presentaciones en español e inglés. Gracias por todos los que rezaron, vinieron y generosamente dieron. Craig me dijo con respecto a las donaciones: "¡Llevaré cuidadosamente sus ofrendas a los pobres y les serviré con sus donativos!". Click title for full column.