They were Overjoyed at Seeing the Star
We all know and love the story of the three kings who see the star from afar, and who come to kneel and offer their gifts to the true king. The Epiphany, or “manifestation”, is a way in which God calls all peoples, all nations to his Son. It is like the great neon light announcing a new era, now open 24/7, where salvation will be made available to all. God does not keep distance but will walk among us. It is pure good news. I love reading that the Magi were “overjoyed at seeing the star.” It was confirmation that they were indeed on the right path. Instead of just following a mere illusion, or living out an idealistic dream, this was a concrete sign that they were not fooling themselves. No, it was real—a new king was born, and this was a savior for all peoples. Not just Israelites, but even non-Israelites, or Gentiles.
How often do we hope for confirmation that we are on the right path? I think we are always looking for confirmation! As we have made plans to open the Pope Francis Center, we have sought signs of confirmation. One of those was the openness that Sr. Mary Waskowiak and the community of women living in the former convent had to seeking a new home. When they found a new home, I was overjoyed! It felt like confirmation. Another has been the people who have wanted to support this Center financially. While we do not have all of our needs covered, the fact that various people have expressed a desire to support us is a sign. I have been overjoyed as I have received their emails, phone calls, and checks. When we had such consensus on the logo—a warm image of Pope Francis extending his arm as a sign of welcome, I took it as a sign. We were overjoyed when the sign arrived at the office! As various parishioners have volunteered to help work on the Center, I have been overjoyed to see the transformation of the space.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish has a long history of walking with immigrant peoples. That legacy continues into 2026. We are overjoyed at seeing the stars that tell us we need to continue walking this path. We are overjoyed to accompany the good people of Our Lady of Guadalupe.