Dear Parishioners,

This year I invite us to make a conscious decision to live Lent and Easter as one great 90-day journey: forty days of Lent flowing into fifty days of Easter. The Cross only makes full sense in the light of Easter. Without the Resurrection, the Cross would seem like defeat. But because Christ is risen, His love in and through the Cross becomes our hope, our confidence, and our new life.

Dear Parishioners,

We have begun our Lenten journey with the theme: Love In and Through the Cross. My hope for each of us is simple, that during these sacred days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we will come to know more deeply how much God loves us.

This weekend's Gospel brings us into the desert with Jesus as He faces temptation. We see that His strength comes from His closeness to the Father. The same is true for us. Temptations are part of every human life, and they always will be. But even greater than temptation is God's powerful grace. We can be confident in His Word, which protects, guides, and saves us.

Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday brings us to the threshold of Lent, a sacred season when the Church invites us to return more deeply to the heart of God. Ash Wednesday is this coming week, February 18th, and I invite you to join us for one of our four Masses with the distribution of ashes. As we begin this holy season together, you will find a special bulletin insert outlining many opportunities for deeper prayer, reflection, study, and community, all meant to help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Dear Parishioners,

In this week's Gospel, Jesus proclaims a powerful truth to His disciples, and to us: "You are the salt of the earth ... You are the light of the world." These familiar images are not compliments; they are a calling. Salt gives flavor and preserves what is good. Light brings clarity, direction, and hope. Notice that Jesus does not say, "You should become salt and light," but "You are." This is our identity as His disciples.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your generous response to our Mission Engagement program.

As Christians, we are all called to imitate Christ, proclaiming the Gospel with words and actions so that the world may come to know and love Christ.

Dear Parishioners,

The life of a Christian is one of continual conversion and transformation, of allowing Christ to shape us more fully into His likeness. This does not mean that Jesus takes away who we are; rather, He takes the goodness already planted within us and perfects it. He transforms our hearts to reflect His love, His mercy, His kindness, and His intimate relationship with the Father.

Dear Parishioners,

We now enter a brief period of Ordinary Time in our journey of faith. While it may seem "ordinary" in name, this season invites us to something truly extraordinary: to bring good order to our daily lives by placing the Lord at the center of all we do. Ordinary Time reminds us that holiness is lived out not only in great moments, but in the rhythm of everyday life; through our work, prayer, family life, and even our leisure, when all is directed toward God and His goodness. Let us renew our commitment to live with purpose and order, rooted in Christ.

Dear Parishioners,

Merry Christmas! Yes, we are still celebrating Christmas. As Catholics, today's Feast of the Baptism of the Lord brings the Christmas season to its sacred conclusion and opens the door to Christ's public mission.

The Baptism of the Lord is a profound moment in the life of Jesus and in our own lives of faith. Jesus goes to the Jordan not because He needs repentance, but to sanctify the waters of Baptism for all time. As He enters the water, the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father proclaims, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." From this moment, Jesus begins His public ministry - teaching, healing, forgiving sins, and driving away the power of evil.

Dear Parishioners,

Merry Christmas and Epiphany blessings! The word Epiphany means "manifestation" or "revealing." We often use it to describe a moment of insight, when something once unclear suddenly makes sense. Today, on the Solemnity of the Epiphany, we celebrate God's great revelation: His love made visible for all nations in Jesus Christ.