As we near the end of the liturgical year, before the new year begins on the first Sunday of Advent, the readings always get apocalyptic, that is to say, they speak of the end times.  If you read them, and you felt afraid, you are not alone! From Malachi:  “Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and evildoers will be stubble . . . will set them on fire.”  Yikes!   And Jesus is not much better: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom . . . there will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues . . . they will seize and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons . . .”    This is a picture of fear and dread.  Thankfully the gospel ends on a hopeful note.  “You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.  By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”  

Perseverance.  What does that mean?  When I asked a couple of young adults, they immediately talked about their parents, and how they have persevered.  “While they have faced incredible obstacles, they have not allowed themselves to be overcome,” these young people said of their parents.  “Instead, without making a big deal, they have just kept going, kept working, kept providing, kept being there for us.”  It was moving to hear them speak of their parents in this way.

We are going through hard times not unlike what we read about.  People are being arrested after spending decades as trusted members of our communities, and they are even going to detention centers and in some cases being deported.  These are hard times.  And yet, the call to persevere continues.  It is what Christians have done our entire faith journey.  And one of the key ways we persevere is by leaning into each other.  In coming to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, we feel a sense of welcome.  We are reminded of our worth, of our dignity, of the fact that we all have papers: our baptismal certificates!  This weekend and next, we celebrate who we are by registering as parishioners and by belonging fully.  Belonging to one another, belonging to this parish, helps us persevere.  Do not miss this opportunity to be counted among the registered members of Our Guadalupe Parish.

We invite you to visit the “Other Announcements” section to learn about additional events and activities happening in our parish.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be counted among the registered members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. Join us on Sundays, November 16 and 23!
Come and register, and pick up your envelopes. Your participation is very important to our community. 

We will present photos and brief biological information about various Jesuits from our province who are in the formation process. Please pray for them!

The celebration will take place on Sunday, December 7.

For questions, please contact the Confederación Guadalupana chairperson, Lucia Gutierrez at (619) 565-0279 or Alejandra Diaz at (858) 490-8306.

The Diocese of San Diego takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and addresses them promptly, confidentially, and with integrity. To report any incident of sexual misconduct, please contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator.
Criminal abuse that is reported or suspected is reported to law enforcement in accordance with civil law.

Mary Acosta

Coordinadora de Asistencia a Víctimas

(858) 490-8353.