Easter Letter 2025

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If today you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. Psalm 95:7-8

 

     Brothers and sisters, we live in times of great challenges: violence, loss of values, economic uncertainty, lack of charity, mental health struggles, anxiety, depression, climate change, pollution, and ecological damage, as well as family members or friends without proper documentation and the fear they experience. All these are signs of a world that is increasingly distancing itself from God, revealing the emptiness in the human heart when His presence is lacking. In this Lenten season, we are invited to pause, reflect, and return to the Lord. It is a time to recognize our need for His love and mercy, allowing Him to renew our lives and guide us toward true peace.

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     The Lord’s Easter invites us this year on a very special journey: the Jubilee 2025, a time of grace and spiritual renewal for the entire Church. Pope Francis has called us to live this Jubilee year under the theme: "Pilgrims of Hope."As pilgrims, we move forward in life with the certainty that the Risen Christ goes before us and calls us to trust fully in His love.

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     When we plan a trip, we think about the destination, preparations, itinerary, and companions. This Jubilee Year is a spiritual journey in which God invites us to rediscover the joy of the Gospel. He calls us to strengthen our faith, renew our hope, and live with greater charity. But to do so, we must open our hearts to His voice, leave behind what holds us back, and embrace the newness of the Risen One.

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     Lent is a time of conversion, a pause in our journey to look within ourselves and renew our relationship with God. Now, at Easter, we are invited to step out of our fears and securities to embrace the new life that Christ offers us. The Lord has risen! And with Him, our entire being is called to rise and walk in the light. We are called to be disciples of hope in times when God is being removed from people's lives, resulting in a world marked by violence and indifference. By listening to His voice, let us not harden our hearts so that we may make the Kingdom of God present: a kingdom of peace and justice; of love and compassion; of accompaniment and community.

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     During this spiritual journey, we have experienced moments of grace in our community: times of reconciliation, prayer, and encounters with God. Let us continue walking together in this Jubilee Year, actively participating in celebrations, pilgrimages, and works of mercy that help us grow in holiness.

In this time of hope, I invite you to be living witnesses of the Resurrection in your homes, workplaces, and communities. May the love of Christ transform our lives and inspire our generosity with the parish, collaborating according to our possibilities to sustain its evangelizing mission.

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     As a community, we are aware of the economic challenges many families face, but we also know that generosity is a seed of blessing. Therefore, we invite you to participate in our Easter Exhortation, contributing a special donation of $150 per family (DONATE Online), or according to your means. Your support allows our parish to continue offering spiritual programs, sacraments, and assistance to those most in need. Likewise, if each family committed to giving a weekly offering of $15-20, we could continue strengthening our faith community.

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     May this Easter, the Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope, guide us on this Jubilee journey to live with renewed hearts the joy of the Gospel and the certainty that the Lord walks with us.

 

Happy Easter of the Resurrection!​​​

Father Sergio de la Torre - Carrillo

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