Now that we are approaching the end of the liturgical year I have been thinking about and deliberating over the many graces that God has poured upon us. I feel so blessed and happy to be part of and especially the pastor of this wonderful community of people who have a great prayerful life and who trust in God’s mercy and constantly raise their souls in adoration and their petitions to God Almighty.
During the hardest times of the pandemic I witnessed how our faithful constantly came seeking our Lord’s comforting mercy and protecting love; there was always someone in prayer at Star of the Sea or at Holy Trinity or in our chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary. We have received financial support from many members of the community who never abandoned their parish, our priests, or our mission; but most of all we have received the powerful, constant prayers of our community who are always united as the heart of this parish. I do believe in the fidelity of God’s promises; I believe as He said, he won’t ever abandon us. His word is steadfast, forever our stronghold in which we find refuge.
Our parish is growing. We are having a great number of weddings and baptisms and our masses are being broadcast; we have almost finished the new gathering room next to our church building at Star of the Sea where there will be new bathrooms; we will have an elevator and new bathrooms at Holy Trinity and we will enhance the gathering room at Holy Trinity rectory…and many other wonderful blessings are happening. Heaven and earth will pass away but his words and promises, his kindness and mercy are with us, sustaining our families and parish life. So don’t ever be afraid. He is the Lord and He is with us.
Let us together open our eyes and see how the Lord loves us and how we have been blessed with his fidelity. Now it is our time to answer Him with faithful service. Let us continue building our parish and glorifying his Holy Name.
Be assured you and your family are in my daily prayers. May the mercy of God and the love of our Blessed Mother be in your heart and in the hearts of those you love.
Fr. Javier