Fr. Sebastien SASA, PhD, MPA

Father Sebastien Sasa was born in Soa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). After his scientific studies (Mathematics and Physic) -High School, he went to study Philosophy and African Religions at the Catholic University of Congo where he obtained a Master’s Degree with a specialization in Philosophy of Sciences (Epistemology) in 1992. The last year of philosophy, he also obtained the Diploma of habilitation to teach philosophy. He was a professor of Philosophy, Religion and Civic Education at the “Interface” high school, Avenue Bypass – Ngafula/Kinshasa-DRC, 1996-1997.

Immediately he entered the Secular Institute Saint John the Baptist (Sisjb), founded by one of the pioneers of African Theology, Bishop Tharcisse Tshibangu Tshishiku. In 1994, while he was studying theology (second year), he took his first vows. In 1996, he completed theology studies at the University of Saint Eugene de Mazenod (Kinshasa) by obtaining the Bachelor’s Degree in theology with the specialization in Pastoral. On August 1, 1996, he was ordained Deacon in Mbujimayi DRC. Before that, he took his perpetual vows in the Cathedral of Bonzola in Mbujimayi. On November 30, 1997, in his parish of Saint Joseph de Matonge, in the capital of the DRC, he was ordained Priest. He worked for two years in the parishes of Notre-Dame de Graces and Saint Edouard in Binza/IPN (Kinshasa). In 1999, Bishop Tshibangu, the Founder of the Sisjb sent him to study Missiology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome (Italy) where he obtained the Doctorate Degree in Missiology, with the specialization in Pastoral and Missionary Catechesis.

After his doctoral studies, he went to work as "Fidei Donum" in the Archdiocese of Naples (Italy), in the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Portici with the priest George Pisano for twelve years (2005-2017). While he was in the parish, Bishop Tshibangu asked him to study the Sciences of Public Administration. He will study at the Guglielmo Marconi University of Rome - Italy (2014-2016) where he obtained a Master’s degree in Sciences of Public Administration. While he was exercising his ministry in the parish, he was a Professor of Religion in the school of the Sisters (“Istituto Paritario Regina Sanguinis Christi”, Viale Leonardo Da Vinci – Traversa Rocca, 8 - 80055 Portici (NA) – ITALY) from 2015-2017.

Thinking of returning to the DRC, the new Bishop of Mbujimayi, Monsignor Bishop Emmanuel Bernard Kasanda Mulenga sent him as "Fidei Donum" to the Diocese of Salt Lake City (Utah) where he arrived in March 2017. He successively worked in the parishes of Saint Joseph in Ogden (March 2017-July 2017), Saint Ambrose in Salt Lake City (August 2017-July 2018), Saint George (August 2018-July 2020) and since August 2020, he is the current Administrator of the parish of Saints Peter and Paul in West Valley City.

Here are some of his writings:

People of the Sacred Heart, People of the Lame, the Blind, the Imperfect: Following Jesus Christ, living, acting like Him, in Him, for Him and opting for Him in PARISH OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS, At the Gymnasium of Jesus…Under the Shadow of the Spirit, Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 2015-2016, p. 6-8.

Discover the Mystery of Christ, Choose Him and Do the Will of the Father in PARISH OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS, The Christian Adventure in Christ: Full Joy and New Life, Portici, Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 2014-2015, p. 6-8.

The mission of the Church in Africa in the Work of Cardinal Joseph-Albert Malula: Milestones for an African Missiology of Hope, Rome, Pontifical University, 2012 – Doctorate Thesis directed by the Professor (PhD) Guillaume KIPOY POMBA, Fjk– Alberto TREVISIOL e Luciano MEDDI.

Strong in your living faith, walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, in PARISH OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS, Faith is Living with Christ and in Christ: For a Living Faith in the Footsteps of Christ, Portici, Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 2012, p. 4-6.

A Hidden Treasure: Stories of Deep African Wisdom for an Intercultural Dialogue With the collaboration of Flora Staiano, Silvia De Angelis, Paola Borrelli Illustrations by Dario Antonacci (Pleiadi), Torre del Greco, Edizioni Creativa, 2011, 120 p.

The New Africa, the Africa of Life and Hope: Utopia or Reality? Preface to Un sacco di ingiustizie (a cura di Giorgio PISANO), Torre del Greco, Edizioni Creativa, 2010.

L'evangelisation chez Kä Mana, theologien Congolais Lieu et ferment pour la construction d'une nouvelle Afrique Présentation de Mgr Marie-Édouard Mununu Kasiala Préface d'Alex Zanotelli Postface de Flora Staiano, Paris, L’Harmattan, 2009, 213 p. (French Version).

L’evangelizzazione in Kä Mana, teologo congolese Luogo e fermento per la costruzione di un’Africa nuova (Africultura), Presentazione di Mons. Marie-Édouard Mununu Kasiala Prefazione di Alex Zanotelli Postfazione di Flora Staiano, Torino, L’Harmattan Italia, 2009, 207 p. (Italian Version).

Eustachio Montemurro A Prophetic Pastor, in MISSIONARY SISTERS

CATECHISTS OF THE SACRED HEART, 100 Years of the Foundation of the Institute May 1, 1908 – 2008 Servant of God Don Eustachio Montemurro, Portici, Missionary Sisters Catechists of the Sacred Heart, 2008, p. 17 – 35.

Let Yourself Be Guided by the Holy Spirit and humbly live your life of faith in Christ with your brothers, in PARISH OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS, Faith is a network, a home, an encounter: Discovering faith as a personal response Parish evangelization journey, Portici, Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 2010, p. 6-10.

Preface to the book PARISH OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS, The Bible as the Word of God for Life: Parish evangelization journey, Portici, Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 2009, p. 5 – 6.

Evangelization according to Ka Mana, Congolese theologian: Place and ferment for the construction of a New Africa, Rome, Pontifical Urban University, 2003, 136 p. Thesis for the Bachelor's degree in Missiology, directed by the Professor PhD Juvénal ILUNGA MUYA.

The Epistemological Rupture: Continuity and Discontinuity in Gaston Bachelard? Kinshasa, Catholic University of Congo, July 1993. Thesis for the Master's degree in philosophy, directed by the Professor PhD Hyppolite NGIMBI NSEKA.

Epistemological Obstacles in Gaston Bachelard, Kinshasa, Catholic University of Congo, 1989-1990. Thesis for the Bachelor's degree in philosophy, directed by the Professor Hyppolite NGIMBI NSEKA.

Integral Evangelization in Catholic Parish of Soa, Kinshasa, University de Mazenod, 1995, 75 p. Thesis for the associate degree in Theology, directed by the Professor PhD, Father René DE HAES.



THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

I have Witnessed the Affliction of My People: God Loves Us and Frees Us

Dear brothers and sisters,

Last Sunday, we spoke of the Pilgrim of Hope, faithful to the Covenant and sent to transform the world. On this third Sunday of Lent, we will speak of the revelation of the identity of the God of life and the attitude of the Pilgrim of Hope toward the choice he must make during his pilgrimage on earth. Do you know the living God? Do you know his name? Do you know that he is very close to you, knows you, loves you, and sets you free? As a Pilgrim of Hope, are you ready to renounce evil and all forms of slavery? In this world of "coexistence of differences," how can we learn to live humbly?

In this world of “coexistence of differences”, we are invited to know ourselves, to know others, and to live humbly together. Throughout this pilgrimage, we are also called to know the basis, the foundation of our faith; God loves us and frees us from evil, from the slavery of sin.

Identity of God: Kind and Merciful – In the burning bush (encounter with God) (Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15), God reveals his name, and we discover that he loves us and cares for us. His name is: “I am who I am…I am…the Lord.” Six verbs express this discovery well: see, hear, know, come down, rescue, and lead out of. The distant God, Holy, draws close to human beings sees their misery, hears their cries, knows their suffering, descends to free them, and raises them to a new land (milk and honey). He defends the rights of the oppressed (Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11) and is faithful to his Covenant. He is kind and merciful (Luke 13:1-9). Jesus takes his time to exhort us to return to God, to bear abundant fruits of love, mercy, patience, justice, and faithfulness. Lent is a time to rediscover the true image of God (patient and merciful), to be patient and merciful with others. It is a time to see the misery or poverty of others, to come to their aid, and to collaborate in God's work of liberation.

Pilgrim's Attitudes: Renunciation and Trust in God – Faced with this good, patient, and merciful God, the attitude of human beings living in a world in general and widespread crisis must be one of renunciation of sins, evil (1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12), idols of wood or stone, as the Psalmist says, of fasting as pleases God (Is 58:6), of pleasing God, and of not falling back into the slavery of the past. In the trials of life and marriage, the attitude of the Pilgrim of Hope is to trust completely in God, to worship the King of kings, and to believe in His divine mercy. Lent is a time of conversion, of choosing God, of doing good, time of prayer, and of being humble (for we are all sinners). It is a time of returning to God, of freeing the oppressed, of helping others free themselves from slavery.

Lord Jesus Christ, pray for us that we may be holy Pilgrims of Hope who love God and others.

West Valley City, March 23, 2025

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

Pilgrims of Hope: Faithful to the Covenant and Ready for the Transfiguration of the World

Dear brothers and sisters,

After the first week, we are now beginning the second week of Lent. Pilgrims of hope, as Pope Francis says, “Let us journey together in hope.” We are faithful to the Covenant that God made with our "Father" Abraham, and with the strength of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. We are called to transform this chaotic world in which we live. Are you ready to walk with Jesus? How is your experience of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving going? Are you ready to experience the "Stations of the Cross" next Friday to journey together with suffering people, families, marriages, and nations? Are you faithful to the Covenant? How can you, during this Lenten season and even after, be an agent of transformation or transfiguration in your life, your family, your parish community, your diocese, your city, your State, or the Nation?

The Certainty that the Lord Is with Us. Pilgrims of hope, we are together on the journey towards Easter. Today, Jesus, with his transfiguration, manifests his glory. We are convinced of one thing, and we are certain of it: the Lord is with us. The Psalmist (Psalm 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14) confirms this: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?”  In sad or joyful circumstances, we must trust in God. This language of faith opens the way to hope. “I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living.” “Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.” The Season of Lent is a time to trust in God, to have the certainty that he is with us and to seek his face.

Faithful to the Covenant Like Our "Father in Faith." Abraham understood well what we have just said above. In the ritual of the Covenant between Abraham and God (Gen 15:5-12, 17-18), our "Father in faith" discovers the true God, trusts him, and respects his commitments. He remained faithful to God and believed in his words. Without asking many questions, he believes. His life, his plans, his conduct are in harmony with God's Plan. At the end of this Covenant, God gives Abraham two things: descendants (from no children to becoming the father of a multitude) and the land. This is an example of faith that we, descendants of Abraham, must follow. The Season of Lent is a time to remain faithful to God and his Covenant.

Ready for the transfiguration of the world and to manifest the glory of God. God is with us (Emmanuel). His closeness no longer needs to be demonstrated. Jesus Christ is truly present in us. Saint Paul (Philippians 3:17 - 4:1), weeping (in prison), invites us to make Christ the Center of our lives and not our outward practices (circumcision). Saint Luke (Luke 9:28b-36) lets us hear the voice of God asking us to "listen" to his Son, and to trust him. Through baptism, we are incorporated into Him who is the Prophet, the King, and the Priest. Through his transfiguration, he transforms us, gives us the strength to descend the mountain to transform the chaotic world with all its realities. The season of Lent is the time to listen to Jesus Christ, and to transform the world according to God's marvelous Plan.

Saints Patrick, Cyril of Jerusalem, and Joseph, pray for us that we may be faithful to the Covenant, to the Cross of Christ (passion, death, and resurrection), and that we may manifest the glory of the resurrection in our lives as we await his glorious coming.

West Valley City, March 16, 2025

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

Forty Days of Walking with Jesus: Listen, Discern and Encounter

Dear brothers and sisters,

From Ash Wednesday until the Mass of the Lord's Supper, we will have forty days of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. In addition, three words will accompany us during this time: listening and remembering - discerning and professing our faith - encountering God and taking shelter under his protection.

Listening, remembering and offering. This time of Lent is the privileged moment to listen  to God who speaks to our hearts and the time of duty of memory. Take the time to listen, read the Word of God, meditate on it, contemplate it and put it into practice every day (Lectio Divina). I invite you, my brother and sister, to do this Lectio Divina as a family, once a week. The Word that is in your mouth and in your heart (Rom 10:8-13) arouses the desire for conversion, it arouses faith, dialogue and prayer. It helps us to remember all the blessings of God. All that we are and have, all belong to God. We must present to him, offer him the first fruits of our work of our harvests (Dt 26:4-10).

Discern, profess our faith and commit ourselves. The Lent Season is the Time of discernment, of professing our faith, of committing ourselves to help others, to take care of creation. Amid this chaotic world, with so many contradictory voices, it is urgent to train ourselves in spiritual discernment, to profess our faith through a total commitment  to the good, the beautiful, justice and peace. White, black or yellow, we have one Lord, one faith and one baptism. With all our heart, with our mouth and our actions, let us invoke the name of this Lord. Let us work together (unity in diversity). We have forty days to train ourselves in the school of Jesus! In the light of the Word of God, fasting and prayer, we can hear the voice of God and understand his wonderful plan for us, our family of Saints Peter and Paul.

Encounter God and dwell in his shelter. Lent is the time of the encounter with God and with our brothers and sisters. In listening to the word of God, in discerning and in praying, we have a personal encounter with Jesus and with the Lord. He is the Most High, the Mighty, the Lord. He is our security (Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15), our refuge. He sends his angels to protect us. Lent is the time to dwell in his shelter. Jesus, in the Gospel of Saint Luke (Lk 4: 1-13) gives us the example. For forty days, in order not to fall into the temptations of Satan (hunger, temporal power and the abandonment of God or atheism), Jesus takes shelter under his Father, he places all his trust in Him and in his Word (always refers to the biblical texts to answer Satan). Jesus is present in the Most Holy Sacrament and awaits us from Monday to Friday, from 8:45 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. “…Come and see…” (Jn 1:45-46). Let us dedicate ten or thirty minutes to adoring the King of kings. We cannot live by bread alone, but by the Word of God. Virgin Mary, intercede for us so that we may have the strength to overcome Satan and fight evil, to remain faithful to God and to profess our faith without fear of anything or anyone.

West Valley City, March 9, 2025

EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

God’s Project: The Salvation of All Humanity

Dear brothers and sisters,

On this eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, God speaks to us about his plan to save all humanity. He has a wonderful plan for us, but he does not save us without us. Through his Son Jesus Christ, he became one of us to bring us Salvation, new life. How does God carry out his plan? My brother and sister, are you ready to accept or not this plan of God? Within your family, within our community of Saints Peter and Paul, how do you behave? What is your regard for others: judging them, seeing their faults or helping them grow in their faith, in their life? What is the role of Christ in this plan?

Giving thanks to God – Man gives thanks to God for his wonders. He sings to his name. He announces his love and his faithfulness (Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16) to those who do not know him or those who refuse his Plan of Salvation. Man trusts in the free, inexhaustible and eternal love of God. Throughout the history of humanity, despite the adventures of man, his errors and infidelities, God maintains his plan to save us. As for us, like the newly baptized in the time of Ben Sira the Wise (author of the book of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus) (Sir 27:4-7), let us follow the moral instructions that he offers us, draw our wisdom from the Law of God and pass them on to future generations. May our words, our language and our social expressions reflect what we really are, the children of God who have a good heart like that of Christ (Pope Francis, Delexit Nos [DN]).

Risen Christ: Victory over Death and Sin - Christ sent by his Father to heal and save men is present in our lives and communities. He loves us and carries out his Father's plan. He has a great heart that welcomes us all. Pope Francis rightly affirms: “Sacred Heart is the unifying principle of all reality, since “Christ is the heart of the world, and the paschal mystery of his death and resurrection is the center of history, which, because of him, is a history of salvation” …. The heart of Christ, as the symbol of the deepest and most personal source of his love for us, is the very core of the initial preaching of the Gospel. It stands at the origin of our faith, as the wellspring that refreshes and enlivens our Christian beliefs” (DN 31 & 32). Christ's victory over death and sin is the victory of God's Project and ours. It inaugurates a new humanity founded on love, fraternity, forgiveness, peace and justice. “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 15:54-58). Each of us has the responsibility to carry out God’s wonderful Plan always and everywhere.

Behavior Between Brothers within the Community  (Lk 6:39-45) – The risen Christ is alive, he is among us, he is our hope, our life, our bread. He loved us and he saved us. In our family, parish or diocesan communities, we who are risen with Christ and healed of our blindness by him, let us look at others as he looks at us. Let us love them as he loves us, let us not judge them, much less seek out their faults. Let us put into practice the exhortation of Saint Paul: “…be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” May this time of Lent be an opportunity for us to strengthen our bonds of fraternity through fasting, prayer and love.

Saints Katharine Drexel, Casimir, Perpetua, Felicity and John of God, pray for us so that we may be true disciples transformed by Jesus with a good heart, trees planted along the river that produce abundant fruits of love, peace, justice, mercy and hope.

West Valley City, March 2, 2025

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Love Your Enemies: The Universal Love that Excludes no One

Dear brothers and sisters,

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” These phrases are the newness of the Gospel of this Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Who is your enemy? Do you have enemies? What do you do with the anointing of God that you have received? What does forgiveness mean to you? Forgetting the past or is it a liberating act that opens the way to the future? Jesus Christ invites us to be merciful as God our Father is merciful, are you too? Are you ready to forgive as God forgives you? What do you do to be able to offer forgiveness to your spouse, your son or daughter, your coworkers, your brother or sister, your friends? Who are your enemies? Are you ready to forgive them today?

In the cultures of the world, we have the precept to love and to love each other. In almost all religions, there is the law of love. To love and to be loved makes us live happily. On this Sunday, Jesus introduces something new: to love our enemies, to do good to them, to pray for them. To be able to live this newness, this radical teaching of Jesus, I offer you three little pieces of advice that the Word of God inspires in me.

Recognize the Mercy, the Forgiveness of God and Practice Them. Our God is merciful, and he is Love. His mercy is inexhaustible. Forgiveness is his being (Ps (103), 1-2, 3-4, 8.10, 12-13 - Lk 6, 27-38). The Israelites will grow up in this culture. In the first reading (1 Sam 26:2.7-9.12-13.22-23), we have the example of King David who does not destroy the life of his enemy Saul, the beautiful King of Israel (1040 BC). He teaches us this: it is possible to be merciful, to forgive enemies and to wish them all the best. David, finding himself in the situation of killing Saul, does not do so. Because he respects God's plan (choice of Saul as King), the human person as the image of God (anointing of God) and life. Forgiveness is understood here as the refusal to take revenge. It does not mean forgetting the past, much less erasing it, but on the contrary the liberation of the person and his openness to the future, to the radiant future of peace and fraternity. For leaders of nations, politicians, community leaders, leaders of social or religious movements or others, we have here an example to imitate to love each other by building a World of love with peace, justice, life and fraternity.

Imitate God to become his children. God loves us, he forgives us, heals us and gives us life. Like the Psalmist who sings with joy, we must bless the Lord, praise him and imitate him. Do to others what we want them to do for us, “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Lk 6:27-38). We Christians, Catholics, we must dominate our violence, our passions, impulses and love one another. To become his children, in his pedagogy, God educates us, transforms us, gives us a new heart, that of the flesh. 

Faith and Love. Saint Paul (1 Cor 15:45-49), speaking of the resurrection of Christ, also speaks of ours (that of the Flesh). This question is a matter of faith. Christ is risen and he will also resurrect us (spiritual body). In the meantime, by the grace of the Spirit of God who is in us, we are called, throughout our lives, to become like him, to love, to follow Christ (life) and not the first man Adam (death). Saint Gregory of Narek, pray for us so that we may love one another without excluding anyone, even our enemies.

West Valley City, February 23, 2025

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

On the Way to True Happiness

Dear brothers and sisters,

The sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time confronts us with the situation of choosing happiness or unhappiness, God or idols, life or death, light or darkness, freedom or slavery. Can God abandon us to temptation? Can he curse us? Is he the right counselor? Can we trust him? Should we recognize in Jesus the true Messiah? On the route to happiness, what must we do to get there? As Pilgrims of hope, should we trust in God or in a human being like us? Should we distrust man, the human being or should we work together for the building of the Kingdom of God?

Today more than ever, people are looking for happiness. For some, it is in money, drink, riches. For others, it is in sex and pleasures. For others still in the search for God and his Kingdom, communion with Him. Isn't that true happiness? My brother and my sister, where is yours? The Word of God this Sunday offers us three keys.

Trust in the Lord and place your hope in Him. God loves us and he cannot curse us. He wants our happiness and for us to be happy (Ps 1, 1-2, 3, 4.6). Through the Prophet Jeremiah (Jer 17: 5-8), he instructs us not to choose misfortune, to trust in idols, in alliances contrary to the one concluded with Him. He encourages us not to move away from Him, to make the choice to walk with Him, on the path of freedom (tree planted beside the waters that always bear fruit).

Believing in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Saint Paul (1 Cor 15:12, 16-20) tells us, is the pillar, the foundation of our faith. It is also the key to our happiness: “…if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.” This happiness begins already here below when we “live with Him”, that is to say far from sin, from Satan and all his manipulations. After this life, we will be happy to live with Christ in eternity. So, my brother and sister, do not miss this opportunity!

God’s loving gaze upon us. The poor, the hungry, those who cry, those who are hated, excluded, insulted, rejected (Lk 6:17, 20-26) are invited to turn their gaze towards God as their only strength and hope. God’s benevolent gaze is on them. Jesus Christ, the first to experience these situations, had the constant certainty of his Father’s gaze upon him. He overcame evil, darkness and became the defender of this category of people by offering them joy, liberation, healing and abundance of goods. Jesus, in the Gospel of Saint Luke speaks of this “reversal of situations”. The same thing happened in the Canticle of the Virgin Mary, the Magnificat.

Saints Peter Damian and Peter the Apostle, pray for us, so that we can make the right choice, recognize Jesus as the Messiah, true happiness. Help us to always convert, because sometimes in life we ​​behave like the rich of the Gospel. Accompany us in the effort to support one another in building the Kingdom, without separating ourselves or distancing ourselves from you. Together we will be happy.

West Valley City, February 16, 2025

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

God’s Call to Serve Christ’s Mission

Dear brothers and sisters,

On this fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, the key word is God’s call to serve Christ’s Mission. On this Sunday, the Church celebrates World Marriage Day. How do you respond to God’s call? Like the prophet Isaiah, Saints Paul and Peter, do you know what you are, that is, a sinner? Is God’s grace sufficient for you? Do you know that God loves you with an unconditional love? What do the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ mean to you? Do you know that Jesus’ mission is yours and that of the Church? Are you ready, on the Word of Jesus, to put out into the deep to cast the net for the catch? Are you ready to take the risks of putting out into the deep? Do you give thanks to God for his love, his mercy, his goodness?

God takes the initiative to call people. Like the Psalmist, I bless God for calling me to be at the service of his Son and his Church. “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels, I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name.” (Ps 137 (138): 1-2a, 2bc-3, 4-5, 7c-8). Since the beginning of the missionary adventure, it is God who takes the initiative to call men and women to be at his service and that of his people. He is three times holy, that is to say, other than man. But at the same time, he is so close to us. It is he who takes the initiative to come to us. What an honor! God calls the prophet Isaiah in a vision. Jesus appears to Paul who then becomes the Apostle of the Gentiles. As for Peter, after the miracle, from a sinful man he becomes a fisher of men. How does this happen?

He prepares us to go to the mission. When God calls, he prepares his servants before sending them on a mission. Isaiah recognizes what he is: “Woe is me, I am doomed! …For I am a man of unclean lips”. God through the hands of the Seraphim forgives Isaiah’s sins, purifies him and he enters into a relationship with God (Holiness). Paul  recognizes his life before meeting Christ. Through the laying on of Ananias’ hands and the strength of the Holy Spirit, he is ready for the mission. God’s grace is sufficient for him. It is the same for us today. Peter becomes aware of his poverty: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”

Jesus reassures him by telling him: “Do not be afraid”. My brother and sister, in this year of the Jubilee, have no fear and “Duc in Altum.”

Attitudes for the mission. One of the attitudes is the positive response to God’s call. It must be said that vocation is a personal choice that comes after mature reflection and prayer. Isaiah says: “Here I am,” I said; “send me!” Paul welcomes God’s grace and says: “woe to me if I fail to fulfill it.” (1 Cor 9:16). As for Peter, he trusts the Words of Jesus Christ and offers him his availability. He leaves everything and takes the joyful risks of going to fish for men. This is the mission of Christ. It is yours and that of the whole Church.

The fundamental core of this mission is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who is Salvation for all. Jesus is alive and always present to accompany us, to heal the sick (World Day of the Sick) and to protect marriages (World Marriage Day).

Saints Scholastica, Cyril and Methodius, pray for us so that we may be true pilgrims of hope, authentic missionaries and fishers of men.

West Valley City, February 9, 2025

FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE

Child Jesus: Light of the Nations and Glory of the People of God

Dear brothers and sisters,

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. Also, the Church celebrates the World Day of Consecrated Life. Do we put into practice what is written in the Law, the Word of God? Who is this child of whom the Gospel speaks to us? Is he the King of glory? Is he a priest, a high priest, he whose family does not belong to the class of priests? Is Jesus at the service of his people? Is he the Messiah awaited by the people of God, Simeon and Anna?

Joseph and Mary, the parents of Jesus, faithful to the faith of their parents, fulfill what is written in the Law of Moses. They present their child at the Temple. This makes us understand that Jesus is true man and true God. Saint Luke (Lk 2:22-40) says it clearly: “The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.”

This child is the messenger of God, “the messenger of the Covenant” (Mal 3:1-4). He is the one for whom the people of God had been waiting for centuries. He is the child that Simeon and Anna were waiting for. He is the King of glory who enters, who always accompanies his People in their battles (Ps 23 (24):7, 8, 9, 10) and who enlightens all nations.

The child presented today is the Priest par excellence according to the order of Melchizedek. He is not a priest in the manner of those of the first Covenant. Because, as Malachi says, we are in a period when the people are under Persian domination, and they have no king. The priests are the one who are the representatives of God. But there is degradation, the crisis of the priestly class. They are losing their ideal and responsibility, namely, to be at the service of the People of God. Their decisions regarding justice are partial. They are no longer the mediators, members of the people and those who distribute graces, the blessings of God, the holiness of God. Beloved in the Lord, we must pray for our priests, leaders of the Churches and of all consecrated persons so that they may be fully at the service of the People of God. May they be as Pope Francis says (Chrismal Mass of Holy Thursday, 28 March 2013): “being shepherds living with “the odour of the sheep’”. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 2:14-18) presents Jesus as the one who fulfills the institution of the Priesthood. As for the Gospel of Saint Luke (Lk 2: 22-40), we have two people who reveal the mystery of this child that is presented to us today. They are Simeon and the prophetess, Anna. The Canticle of Simeon (Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine) is a thanksgiving and a prophecy (suffering of Mary). It proclaims that Jesus is the salvation of humanity. As for that of the Prophetess Anna, it is a proclamation of the praises of God and speaks of the child Jesus. The two persons teach us how to maintain patience in waiting for Christ, the taste for prayer, fasting, justice and docility to the Holy Spirit.

Saints Blaise, Agatha, Paul Miki, Jerôme Emiliani and Joséphine Bakhita, pray for us so that we may be true disciples of Jesus Christ, men and women pilgrims of hope, in the service of God and that of our brothers and sisters.

West Valley City, February 2, 2025

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Word of God: Living Unity in Diversity and Strengthening the Faith

Dear brothers and sisters,

On this third Sunday of Ordinary Time, we celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God that Pope Francis instituted on September 30, 2019, with his Apostolic Letter “Aparuit Illis”. This Word of God is important for the life of our parish community. It is, in this Pastoral Year 2024-2025, at the center of the life of our parish family. Do I take the time to read the Word of God, to meditate on it, pray it, announce it, sing it, teach it, eat it, proclaim it, listen to it and put it into practice? Is it at the center of my life, of the family, of our parish family? Is your family going to become after Easter a Center for listening to and sharing this Word of life? Is the Bible the Word of life for you and your family, for our parish family?

“The relationship, as Pope Francis affirms, between the Risen Lord, the community of believers and Sacred Scripture is essential to our identity as Christians”. To better know the living Christ, we must know the Holy Scriptures. This is why Saint Jerome affirms: “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ”.

Living unity in diversity. Today’s Word of God helps us understand how to live unity in diversity. On the day dedicated to God, the People of God are gathered around the Law (Neh 8:2-4a.5-6.8-10). The layman and governor Nehemiah, the priest Ezra and the Levites are together (unity) to help the people understand the Word of God and put it into practice in their lives for the reconstruction of their country. Our societies today can be guided by this example of collaboration between these three realities or institutions. Unity in diversity is very important in building the Christian community, the Church. The Church is the Body of Christ. Through baptism, we are all members of this body. Saint Paul (1 Cor 12:12-30), through the language of the body and its members, makes us understand “ecclesial unity and plurality”, the necessity to work together, to collaborate in building the community, the Church (apostle, prophet, teacher; performing miracles, healing, mysterious words, interpreting them). God wanted it to be this way. “So that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another”. Today, we are invited not to divide ourselves among us (white, black, yellow). May each of us do well what we must do, respecting others, because we are all “the image of God”.

The Word strengthens our faith to live free and happy. “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye.” (Ps 18 (19): 8, 9, 10, 15). We must be humble, receive this Law, put it into practice and live happily. The people who listen to the Word of God weep and after full of joy, they celebrate the day of the Lord. Saint Luke (Lk 1: 1-4; 4, 14-21) compiled “a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled” to write it down in an orderly sequence for Theophilus so that he can realize the certainty of the teachings he had received. It is in this Word read that Jesus, anointed,  filled with the Spirit, receives his mission: to bring glad tidings to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free the oppressed and a year acceptable to the Lord. This mission is today ours and it is the mission of the Church.

Saints Angela Merici, Thomas Aquinas and John Bosco, pray for us, so that the Word of God may be present in our lives, families; may it be read, proclaimed, listened to, meditated on, prayed, shared, preached, eaten, sung and put into practice. May it help us to always live happily, united, respecting our diversity and making our faith strong.

West Valley City, January 26, 2025

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

The Holy Spirit transforms everything

Dear brothers and sisters,

With the baptism of the Lord, the Christmas season ended. This Sunday, we begin with the second Sunday of Ordinary Time. The key word of this Sunday is transformation: that of Jerusalem as Mother, bride, abandoned in the joy of God; that of a person by the different gifts of the Holy Spirit and finally that of water into wine by Jesus Christ.

The prophet Isaiah (Is 62: 1-5) speaks of Jerusalem transformed. From “Forsaken”, “Desolate”, she becomes the Consoled, the Bride, the “Preferred”. “You shall be called “My Delight”, and your land “Espoused.” Jerusalem becomes the joy of God. There is a kind of marriage between God and his bride Jerusalem! What joy, what an honor when God transforms your life, your sadness into joy, makes you become a new cup!

In our communities, to each member, God gives them personal gifts or charisms for the good of the community. So, Saint Paul (1 Cor 12:4-11), in the second reading, speaks of the Holy Spirit who transforms the Corinthians differently. The gifts, the services, the activities are all varied, but it is always the same Spirit, the same Lord and the same God. Therefore, we have the unity of the source of origin and the diversity of the manifestations of the gifts and charisms.

Finally, Jesus, in the Gospel of John (Jn 2:1-11), transforms water into wine through the intercession of his Mother, the Virgin Mary. From this first sign of Jesus, his disciples believe Him. Joy dwells in the hearts of the bride and groom and their guests to continue the party. Listening to Jesus, doing what he asks us to do, obeying him, are the three important elements if we want to live happily and be transformed in marriage, priestly life, and the life of the parish community.

Saints Fabian, Sebastian, Vincent, Marianne, Mary and Francis de Sales, pray and intercede for us so that our families, all the marriages in our parish community, may be transformed by the Holy Spirit. May they be, through the real and living presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and the intercession of our Mother Mary, places of contagious hope and joy.

West Valley City, January 19, 2025

Feast of the Baptism of THE Lord

Baptism of Christ: Source of Christian Baptism and its Implications

Dear brothers and sisters,

This Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the source of the baptism of all Christians. What are its implications in our lives, in our communities, our families, our parishes, our diocese of Salt Lake City? How can “the grace of God” received in baptism renew, transform our lives? Through baptism, becoming sons and daughters of God, how can he find his joy in us? On the day of his baptism, Jesus is in prayer with his Father, are we able to pray without ceasing, to be always in contact with God? Does prayer to the Holy Spirit have a place in our lives?

God, in his marvelous plan, wanted to save men. He manifests himself to us. Through the voice of the prophet Isaiah (Is 40, 1-5.9-11), he promises his people: consolation, hope and mercy. His only Son became one of us and came into the world to save us. He gives his life by dying on the Cross to give us life. This is the true meaning of the baptism of the Son of God.

By our baptism, we are incorporated into Jesus Christ, Priest, Prophet and King. “The grace of God” is manifested in us (Tit 2, 11-14; 3, 4-7), in each of us. This water makes us reborn and renews our lives by the gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit. Also, we are called “to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age” and to enter into eternal life.

Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire (Lk 3:15-16, 21-22), we have these implications: new life according to the Spirit and not the flesh, zeal to proclaim the Good News and this with passion, to be messengers of hope, to love deeply all the things of God, to do everything that pleases God, to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), to live as true sons and daughters of God, to listen to the voice of God the Father and put it into practice, to be the voice of God to console his people, to serve our brothers and sisters and the Church of Jesus Christ.

Saints Hilary and Anthony, pray for us so that, through our baptism, incorporated in Jesus Christ, we may be true citizens and authentic Catholics, disciple missionaries of hope and peace.

West Valley City, January 12, 2025

Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord

The Star that Leads to Jesus Christ

Dear brothers and sisters,

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. God manifests himself to his people, to the nations and to all humanity. He is the Star that illuminates all nations and accompanies us to where Jesus is. Like the Magi, do you want to go in search of the Little One who has just been born? Are you ready to listen to the voice of the Angel or that of Herod? How can we follow the Star that indicates the way to Jesus Christ? Are you ready to put your intelligence, your science, your knowledge at the service of life and not of death? In this month of respect for life, are you willing to defend the lives of children? How do we accept brothers and sisters who recognize Jesus Christ as Lord and God? What gifts, presents do you bring to Jesus Christ whom you adore?

In this year of the Jubilee, we are invited to be pilgrims of hope and protectors of life. Pilgrims who follow the light of the Star. Without it, we cannot meet the Child who is born. Since the eighth century, Isaiah has already announced this convergence of all nations, of all the people of Sheba and the kings towards Emmanuel. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah (Is 60:1-6) invites Jerusalem to rise in splendor, to shine, because God made man is in your midst. “…Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.” Saint Paul (Eph 3:2-3a.5-6) ​​adds: “that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel”. We will then understand the manifestation, the epiphany of God to all nations without any distinction. The Gospel of Saint Matthew (Mt 2, 1-12)  presents us with three wise men (Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior). These men of science (Magoi in Greek) are looking for the Star, this God who manifests himself: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” They were looking for God made man. This means that believers  and non-believers, we are “looking for the face of the living God”, the Star that shows the way and rejoices people's hearts.

I invite you, my brother and sister, to let yourself be guided by this Light and you will be full of joy. This joy of the encounter with Jesus Christ, as Pope Francis says in Evangelii Gaudium, no one will be able to take it away from you or steal it. Follow the path of the Magi: study the Holy Scriptures to understand who this Child who was born is and seek him with all your heart to finally adore him and offer him your gifts as the Magi offered him gold (the royalty of Jesus), frankincense (symbol of the divinity of Jesus) and myrrh (symbol of the fact that Jesus was also a man and announces his death on the cross).

Like the Magi, let us be among those pilgrims who listen to the voice of the Angel and do the will of God, who say yes to LIFE and no to death. Let us put all our intelligence, science and knowledge at the service of the happiness of our humanity, our communities, our societies and Churches.

Saints Raymond of Peñafort and André Bessette, pray for us so that, we may always be ready to listen to the voice of the Angel, of God, and to protect life in general and in a particular way that of children and the innocent.

West Valley City, January 5, 2025

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

The Family: Mirror of Divine Love

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On this last Sunday of December, the Church our Mother invites us to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Is this family a source of inspiration for you? Is it a model of understanding, joy, love, respect, dialogue, forgiveness? Dad, are you following Joseph’s advice? Mom, are you following Mary’s advice? And you, young son or daughter, are you following Jesus’ advice? Today, what spirituality accompanies our families? In this Jubilee Year of Hope 2025, is your family organizing a pilgrimage to one of the five diocesan Jubilee Pilgrimage Churches (The Cathedral of the Madeleine, Saint George Catholic Church, Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church)? You parents, are you dedicating your sons and daughters to God? Do you know that your children are from God? In times of crisis in the relationship between you parents and your children, what do you do? Are you ready to go and find your child where he was lost? All of us Catholics, sons and daughters of God, is he the priority of our lives as Jesus does with his Father? In the life of our families, do we keep the Word of God in our hearts?

The family is the first basic element and important both for civil society and for the Church. Jesus, Son of God, entered being part of a human family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph). The family is the source of all human society. For example, we have different forms of human families: the diocesan family, the parish family, the working family, the sports family, etc. All these human families are part of the family of God. We are all sons and daughters of God. The first reading in the first book of Samuel (1 S 1: 20-22.24-28) introduces the family of Samuel. His father is Elkanah. Hannah, his mother, barren as she was, through her prayers and supplications, receives a baby by the grace of God. The name Samuel that was given to him explains it all: “God has heard”. My brothers and sisters, God always hears our prayers. We must trust him and hope like Hannah.

The human family is the Mirror of Divine Love. Saint John, in the second reading (1 Jn 3: 1-2.21-24), affirms that the foundation of all love is God. He is love. We are his family, and we are all his sons and daughters. He asks us two things: to have faith in Jesus Christ his Son and to love one another. In this way, he remains with us and whatever we ask of him, we are sure to receive it.

The family of Nazareth is the model of the family of God. The Gospel of Saint Luke (Lk 2: 41-52) reports it to us in its natural context: Crisis of the child Jesus who becomes an adult and not be founded, crisis of faith of his parents. At the end of all, Joseph and Mary finally understand that this young boy is the Son of God, and he has his mission: union with his Father and giving his life for others. In all our human families, we have much to learn from this family of Nazareth (Jesus, Mary and Joseph): love, respect, dialogue, listening, integrity, doing the will of God, obedience, the silence of Joseph, faith etc. May the Word of God always accompany us in our journey of human and spiritual growth.

Saints Sylvester, Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzen, pray for us  so that we can follow the wise advice of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and that we grow like Jesus in size, age, wisdom and holiness of life.

May our families become places of peace, hope, love and sharing in this New Year 2025, Year of the Jubilee of Hope.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025!

West Valley City, December 29, 2024

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Meditating with Mary Waiting for Her Child

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we have the person of Mary (Myriam), the “Princess.” Like Mary, are you ready to believe in the fulfillment of the Word of God in your life, that of your family, of our parish community of Saints Peter and Paul, of our Diocese of Salt Lake City? The child of the prophecy of the Prophet Micah is peace. How can you realize this peace in your family, your work, our parish, our Diocese? Like Mary and Jesus, are you ready to do the will of God? Like Mary and Jesus, do you have faith in God? Like Mary, do you have the “missionary urge” to go and announce the Good News to the other members of your family, to your friends, your neighbors, in all the streets of West Valley City?

Myriam, the Princess, as Saint Luke (Lk 1:39-45) tells us leaves her city, the comforts of her home, “set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah” to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Where is your “missionary enthusiasm” to go out, to go and announce the wonders of God? While waiting for her child, she thinks of others, especially Elizabeth who is also waiting to have a baby. We must think of serving others rather than thinking of serving ourselves! Give us Lord, the missionary willingness to go and sow and announce Peace, justice, love, joy, reconciliation.

Between the two women Mary and Elizabeth, a sincere dialogue is established. There is joy between the two cousins. Elizabeth can have a baby. Myriam comes to share this joy with her by bringing her peace (Shalom) through her greeting. We too, we must become missionaries of Peace today. Elizabeth, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” cried out the canticle that we pray every day when we pray the Rosary and recognizes that Myriam is the “Blessed One.” Praying with your Rosary, my brother and sister, sing this song with joy and trust in God. Let the Holy Spirit complete his work in you.

With Mary, at the end of this Advent season, let us enter the logic of fidelity to God in small things, in simplicity. The Prophet Micah (Micah 5:1-4a) announces a hope: the birth of the future “ruler” of Israel” who comes from “Bethlehem-Ephrathah”, the smallest of the clans of Judah and who will give his people security and peace.

Saints Stephen, John, Holy Innocents and Martyrs, pray for us so that, like Mary and Jesus, we may do the  Will of God (Heb 10:5-10). Here we are, Lord, at Saints Peter and Paul, to do your will and build together our parish community, which is on the way with Mary and Joseph, towards Bethlehem to receive the “Child-God”.

West Valley City, December 22, 2024

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Advent, Time of Waiting, Time of Joy! “What Should We Do?”

Dear brothers and sisters,

Today we celebrate the third Sunday of Advent which is also called “Gaudete” which means Rejoice. After receiving baptism, waiting for the coming of Jesus, “what should we do?” What do you do during this time of waiting? In ten days, our Savior will be born, are you joyful? How do you receive the great gift of Christmas which is Jesus the Son of God?

All over the world, we have the joy of celebrating the great feast of Christmas, the great Gift that God wanted to give us: Emmanuel. In Mexican culture and in our parish community, from Monday the “Posadas” begin. The Philippians   begin the celebration of “Simbang Gabi”. As for the Cubans and those of Puerto Rico, they celebrate the “Parrandas”. Christmas is a  time of sharing, of offering hospitality, of solidarity. On Wednesday, December 18, we will celebrate International Migrants Day and on Friday, December 20, International Human Solidarity Day. These are opportunities for us to share our joy and the blessings that God offers us with others.

The Prophet Zephaniah (Zephaniah 3:14-18a) speaks to us today of the joy of Israel because of God’s presence in their midst. Saint Paul (Phil 4:4-7) invites us to “rejoice in the Lord always.” There is no more sadness, worry, and much less fear, because God has taken charge of his people. Pope Francis, in the first sentences of his Apostolic Exhortation   Evangelii Gaudium (#1) states this: “With Christ joy is constantly born anew.” Maranatha, come Lord Jesus, do not delay! This Jesus is present in the Word of God, in the Eucharist, in your brother and sister, in the poor, the sick, the migrant, in the silence of your heart, etc.

In the joyful expectation of Jesus Christ, what must we do? There is only one thing we must do: announce the Good News. Who must do it? To whom must we announce it? Saint Luke in the Gospel (Lk 3:10-18) speaks to us of John the Baptist who reveals his identity and announces this Good News to the crowds who had been baptized, to the tax collectors and to the soldiers. After repentance, baptism and especially that “with the Holy Spirit and fire”, what should we do? These three categories can represent each of us or the situations in which we may find ourselves. We need the zeal to proclaim the Gospel with passion and enthusiasm, the love of God and of our brothers and sisters, the courage and audacity to bear witness to Jesus Christ. We must do it not only with our  lips, but with our  life (helping the needy, being honest and responsible in everything you do, honoring your position, not being violent, being just and having love for a job well done). Saint Peter Canisius pray for us and help us to serve, give and help always with joy.

West Valley City, December 15, 2024

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

John the Baptist: Our Spiritual Guide for This Advent Season

Dear brothers and sisters,

On this second Sunday of Advent, the Church offers us John the Baptist as our spiritual guide during this Advent Season, a time of preparation for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. The three readings of this Sunday show us how we must prepare ourselves spiritually, emotionally and materially to correctly receive the Kings of kings. Are you ready to receive, with joy and dignity, Jesus, the Son of God and your brother? Are you ready to “take off your robe of mourning and misery”, to “put on the splendor of glory from God forever”, “wrapped in the cloak of justice from God”, to “bear on your head the mitre”? Are you willing to “turn to God” (metanoia) and abandon injustice, pride, enmity, the unbridled pursuit of money, pleasures, honors, etc. Are you ready to receive the Word of God, the Word of life as Saint John the Baptist did? Do you want to change your life to be an authentic catholic and faithful citizen? What do you do with the baptismal graces that you have received and that make you a new man or a new woman? Are you ready to go and announce, with joy and love, the Good News in all the streets of West Valley City? Do you want to lend your voice to the Lord so that he can use it to proclaim his wonders: peace, justice, forgiveness, mercy, hope, etc.

In the first reading, the prophet Baruch (Bar 5, 1-9) offers us a message of hope and trust. My brother and sister, you who are going through difficult times because of mental, spiritual, physical, emotional health problems, because of your work, your migratory situation, God is with you, and he takes care of you and your situation. “Life and happiness are still possible after bitterness and darkness.” He invites you to “take off your robe of mourning and misery”, to “put on the splendor of glory from God forever”, “wrapped in the cloak of justice from God”, to “bear on your head the mitre.”

Conversion or returning to God is the second way to prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus Christ. Saint Luke (Lk 3:1-6), in the Gospel, presents the political and religious contexts in which John the Baptist will carry out his itinerant mission. He receives the Word of God and becomes a great evangelist, “A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”

In his message, he invites us to conversion, to radical change, to return to God. This return, through baptism, which incorporates us into Jesus Christ, strengthens our faith and gives us the strength to become the voice that cries in the wilderness, true and authentic evangelists.

Love, joy, communion, affection for others, prayer are the fruits that are generated by this returning to God. Saint Paul (Phil 1, 4-6.8-11), in his letter to the Philippians speaks to us about it. These are important elements in missionary activities. Together with Jesus Christ, we have the mission of building a new humanity made of fraternity, mercy, forgiveness, justice and peace. Our Lady of Loreto, of Guadalupe, Saints John of the Cross and Lucia, pray for us so that we change our lives and become true partners of Christ in the transformation of the history of our humanity.

West Valley City, December 8, 2024

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Advent: Always Be Vigilant and Pray

Dear brothers and sisters,

On this Sunday, December 1st, first day of the month, first day of the week, first day of the Season of Advent, first day of Liturgical Year C, we enter fully into one of the highlights of the Catholic Church.

This Liturgical Season of Advent is a time of prayer, meditation, new beginnings, hope, reflection, intimate communion with God and preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Word of God this Sunday speaks to us of the three comings of the Son of Man. Christ came to Bethlehem after the prophets’ announcements, he comes every day into your life as he does into that of the Thessalonians, and he will return one day. Are you ready to welcome Him? Is there space in your heart, in your life, to receive Him? Are you vigilant and praying so that Jesus does not pass by the “door” of your heart without entering it? How will we prepare ourselves personally, as a family and as a parish community, for the coming of the Messiah? In this world shaken by conflicts, wars, climate change, epidemics, ever-increasing poverty, what hope can Jesus bring us?

A Time of hope and a new beginning. Faced with the growing insecurity in Jerusalem, the dominant Babylonian power, the tiredness and suffering of the people of God, there comes, through the mouth of the Prophet Jeremiah (Jer 33:14-16), a message of hope for this people. From the ashes of his temple and the ruins of his city, a King, from the family of David, comes to free the people of God. His name is "The-Lord-is-our-righteousness”, and his mission is to exercise law and justice. Today more than ever, our parish community, our country and the whole world need to listen to this message, to welcome the King. “Maranatha”, come Lord Jesus, King of kings for a new history with you, for the construction of a more just world, that loves peace and respects the rights and dignity of every person.

A time of waiting, liberation, prayer and action. Saint Paul (1 Th 3, 12 – 4, 2) in the second reading and Saint Luke (Lk 21, 25-28.34-36) in the Gospel speak to us of the coming of Christ. Saint Paul offers us the true attitude to hold during the time of waiting: “…make you increase and abound in love… strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness… to please God… do so even more”. As for Saint Luke, here is what he gives us as advice: “…your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life… Be vigilant at all times and pray.”

My brother and sister, this Jesus comes every day, in every event of your life: when you receive him in the Eucharist or when you are in prayer. We have understood that he needs our hands and feet for the realization of the new history, of the new world of peace and justice. Therefore, during this time of waiting, I invite you to lead an intense Christian life of communion with Jesus in prayer (personal, family or community) and the sacraments, of discernment to understand God’s will for you, of preferential choice for the poor, of existential ethical choice, of daily commitment to social issues, justice, peace and the protection of the earth.

Saints Nicholas, Ambrose and Francis Xavier, pray for us, so that during these four weeks to come our attention may not be fixed on Christmas shopping or the superficiality of the offers of these holidays. May we always be vigilant, in prayer and in action to receive our Savior Jesus Christ.

West Valley City, December 1, 2024

Jesus the King of kings: at the Service of God and of Men and Women

Dear brothers and sisters,

Last Sunday, the Word of God spoke of terrifying and apocalyptic images. But in the end, Jesus gave us a message of hope, to gather all men and women from the four winds. On this last Sunday of Liturgical Year B, we celebrate the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Jesus Christ is the King of kings, at the service of God, of men and women, bearing witness to the truth. He loves us to the point of giving his life for us. Is it the same for you? Are you joyful when you are at the service of God and others? Are you ready to give your life for our community of Saints Peter and Paul? Do our political or ecclesial leaders listen to the voice of Christ, of the people?

Jesus is not the King in the way of those who have power today. Kings, those who have power in this world, govern their people by skill, cunning and intrigue. They are sometimes able to use lies, force, crimes, bombs, missiles, injustices and arrogance to consolidate their power. They dominate everything and go so far as to seek out territories to conquer. They sometimes speak in the name of the people, but their thoughts and actions are oriented towards their personal interests and those of their friends, followers and relatives. In these days when our people here in the United States have chosen our political leaders, we hope that it will not be so for them. We pray for them that the Lord will give them a “new heart… a heart of flesh” (Ez 36:26), so that they can lead us with honesty, integrity, a sense of the common good and this in truth.

Jesus is King according to the line of king Melchizedek who is “righteous king” and “king of peace” (Heb 7:1-3). He is the Son of Man who receives “domination, glory and kingship”. According to the vision of the prophet Daniel (Dan 7:13-14), his kingship is eternal. Saint John (Rev 1:5-8) affirms that he is “ruler of the kings of the earth”, “the King of the Universe”. This kingship, as Jesus himself declares, “does not belong to this world” (Jn 18:33b-37). Jesus, by coming into the world, wanted to establish the Kingdom of God his Father which is of peace, justice, love, sharing and mercy. Every day, in the powerful prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, we ask for this kingdom: “Thy kingdom come” (Mt 6:10; Lk 11:2). Today more than ever we need it. Jesus is at the service of his Father by bringing us salvation. By his death and resurrection, he saves us from sin, from eternal death. During his life on earth, he was at our service by feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, freeing the captives, the oppressed, the possessed and restoring women to their place in society.

By our baptism, we are incorporated into Jesus Christ. We are kings, prophets and priests. As kings, we must exercise our royal mission by serving our families, our parish and diocesan communities, our city of West Valley, our state of Utah and our country the United States of America. Saints Andrew and Catherine of Alexandria, pray for us, that we may always be, with love and commitment, listening to the voice of Christ, serving God and our brothers and sisters.

West Valley City, November 24