It’s that time of the year! Gardeners are atwitter, wondering, “Should I start seeds now? Should I wait?” They are like children on a long (or short) road trip asking, “Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” Get ready, spring is here, we’re off to start indoor seeds! 

“In this world you will have trouble.” In the Upper Room of Passover before Calvary’s offering, Jesus comforted his disciples. There will be suffering, he reminded them; there will be persecution, some would face martyrdom. There was no saccharine happiness — no beige discipleship — that would forever mark their footsteps. There would be trouble.

Every Sunday after Mass, Juanita brings Communion to a local long-term rehabilitation facility. She has been doing this for almost eight years, and it is anything but routine. Her ministry began when her pastor asked if anyone in the congregation would be interested in visiting residents at a nearby care center. She volunteered, unaware of the profound impact it would have on both her spiritual life and the lives of those she would encounter.

When Father Jason Keas, pastor of Divine Redeemer Parish, and Capuchin Father Alex Diaz, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, first approached me with a vision of uniting the two parishes into a diocesan shrine, I was touched by the prayerful discernment of these holy men, as well as their humility and charity in being mindful of the needs of each parish as well as the diocese.

Cuando el Padre Jason Keas (párroco de Divino Redentor) y el Padre Alex Díaz (párroco de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) se me acercaron por primera vez con la visión de unir las dos parroquias en un Santuario diocesano, me conmovió el discernimiento orante de estos santos hombres, así como su humildad y caridad al ser conscientes de las necesidades de cada parroquia y de la diócesis.