The third Sunday of Advent is the Sunday we light the pink candle and wear pink vestments.  It is Gaudete Sunday, the Latin word meaning, “Rejoice.”  We rejoice because the coming of our Savior nears. I believe these days we do indeed have a lot to rejoice about, and I say this mindful that we live in fear, as people share with me sightings of ICE vehicles in the neighborhood around the church.  So, why do we rejoice?  We rejoice because we have just celebrated the appearance of Our Lady to Juan Diego, that she took on his skin color and language, and she reminded him in the most intimate of words, “Am I not here who am  your mother?”  In the most certain of terms, She stands with us and is with us.  And the Son she bears in her womb comes to save us.  We celebrate her closeness in the beautiful statue of her in our outside seating area that was donated by Ruben Islas in honor of his mother Martha.  Just looking at Mary’s expression in that statue I feel she is alive and with us, and will in her own way protect us.  One of those ways is through a group of young adults help us stand watch for our Sunday masses and Guadalupe celebrations to help protect us.  This group in a real way helps her cover us with with her manto.

We also rejoice because our parish is opening an immigrant resource center in the former convent across the street from the school on Beardsley.  The Pope Francis Center, which is now the official name after getting input from the parish and a variety of people, will hold its inauguration at a special posada coming Thursday, December 18, which is International Migrants Day.  Bishop Michael Pham will help us bless the outside of the building before we open it in January.  We will receive warm welcome that night with plenty of delicious pozole to fill our happy stomachs.  I hope you will come!  We will gather at 6:30 pm in the school yard.

In so many ways God is with us in this time of darkness.  At our parish God comes to us in many ways, and for me the most moving way is how he consoles and comforts us in the presence of one another.  Thank you all for your faith and strength.

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

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

Thank you for your generosity.

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.