Beloved Parishioners,

Today my reflection focuses on the second year of TILMA of the seven-year pastoral plan of Bishop John Dolan of our diocese. Last year he instituted a seven-year pastoral plan that will end in 2031 to mark the five hundred years of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Saint Juan Diego.

In the first year, the bishop invited us to reflect with the tender heart of our mother Mary of Guadalupe and to step out and become evangelizers with the ten hopes of the year of jubilee proposed by Pope Francis. The focus in that first year was to ignite our diocese, our parishes and our families with the flame of hope that our belief in Christ affords us.

In this second year the theme is called El Camino Real (the True and Royal Road). He wants a deeper commitment to the issue of evangelization as we walk on this road with faith and trust bearing joyful witness that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. I would add that joyful witness to one’s faith in following Jesus as the way the truth and life is the greatest way to evangelize. When we follow the path of Jesus, we bear a true witness with joy because to follow the true road is to follow the way to life. The way to life is no other way than Jesus himself who guides us in the right direction.

The two foundations on which this year’s theme El Camino Real center are the apparition to Saint Juan Diego and the second is the USCCB pastoral vision for the Hispanic ministry. In the words of the Bishop Dolan people want to know the way and Christ is the only way that is credible and authentic. There is no other way that guarantees life except in Jesus. As Juan Diego was interrupted on his way to Mass, given a very important message so Jesus meets us at various paths of our lives. When we allow Jesus to lead, when we follow his direction and guidance, we are sure to be in the right direction.

We as a parish are encouraged to rediscover that Jesus is as the only way that leads to true life. At times we fall into different paths in our search for a way but rediscovering that Jesus is not just the true way, but the way himself calls us to share that testimony with other people we encounter. This can be done by following the example of Juan Diego who goes to share his testimony with others.

Another aspect of this second year of the TILMA is a call to strong faith, belief and trust in Christ who is our way that leads to eternal life. The world today is confronted with so many crises, war, political turmoil, family disintegration, and economic instability. We are called to deepen our faith, trust and confidence in God that he walks with us even amid all these challenges. God never abandons us as his love endures forever.

Finally, as a parish every second Sunday of the month a part of the TILMA will be shared during the Sunday homily to help us dive deeper into a better understanding of meaning of the TILMA and Our Lady of Guadalupe. On the second Friday of the month the school kids will have the opportunity to be educated about TILMA. The committee for the celebration would equally be sharing slides and reflection in the bulletin to assist us enter the spirit of the bishop’s pastoral plan.

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