Our Humble, Beautiful Church
This weekend “humility” is the word of the day in the readings. We hear some form of it three times in the first reading, and in the second reading and gospel we hear similar terms. It is who we are called to be. “Humility” comes from “humus” or the “ground, the earth, the soil.” We are called to be connected with the ground, to be rooted. Our church, our parish is a grounded, rooted, humble church. If we look at our location, we are in a part of San Diego that is humble, noisy, right alongside the ever-moving Interstate 5 freeway. Our building itself is simple. It is not adorned with gold or marble. And there are signs of age and wear, of course.
But at this church people who like it find what they are looking for. Many have told me that it reminds them of a church in Mexico, and it makes them feel like they are at home. People also find a lively community of people who are welcoming. And now people come to us because we are willing to put our faith in action, to organize, to move outwards to affect positive changes in our city, county, and country. The procession last Sunday through Barrio Logan, with 1,500 people, was a sign of that. Our richness, our wealth, is not in our décor, and under my leadership it never will be. Rather, our wealth is what is inside: the people, and our desire to walk with people in their lives as they are.
This weekend we officially open a new ministry of the parish, the Pope Francis Center. It is an immigrant accompaniment ministry. It arises because as we attempted to serve the needs of migrants, fresh from other countries, knocking at our door in October of 2023, we realized that many of our own faithful parishioners have needs as immigrants that we were not serving. We felt a common call to ask if there was something we could do for our own people. We hope in this Center to help people connect with resources, spiritual and emotional accompaniment, and legal services. This Center represents for me yet another jewel in the crown that is this parish. It will help us stay rooted in the needs of you, our people. It will help us stay close to the ground, to the earth. It will keep us humble. Our humble, beautiful church.
But at this church people who like it find what they are looking for. Many have told me that it reminds them of a church in Mexico, and it makes them feel like they are at home. People also find a lively community of people who are welcoming. And now people come to us because we are willing to put our faith in action, to organize, to move outwards to affect positive changes in our city, county, and country. The procession last Sunday through Barrio Logan, with 1,500 people, was a sign of that. Our richness, our wealth, is not in our décor, and under my leadership it never will be. Rather, our wealth is what is inside: the people, and our desire to walk with people in their lives as they are.
This weekend we officially open a new ministry of the parish, the Pope Francis Center. It is an immigrant accompaniment ministry. It arises because as we attempted to serve the needs of migrants, fresh from other countries, knocking at our door in October of 2023, we realized that many of our own faithful parishioners have needs as immigrants that we were not serving. We felt a common call to ask if there was something we could do for our own people. We hope in this Center to help people connect with resources, spiritual and emotional accompaniment, and legal services. This Center represents for me yet another jewel in the crown that is this parish. It will help us stay rooted in the needs of you, our people. It will help us stay close to the ground, to the earth. It will keep us humble. Our humble, beautiful church.
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Thank you for your ongoing support!
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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.
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Criminal abuse that is reported or suspected is reported to law enforcement in accordance with civil law.