Grand Opening of the Pope Francis Center

“It is better to give than to receive.”  Haven’t our parents told us that since we were children?  That simple phrase expresses part of the core truth of the readings today, but actually the readings go farther, and express the irony that in giving we receive.  If we share our bread with the hungry and shelter the homeless, our light “shall break forth like the dawn, “and our wound “shall quickly be healed,” says the Prophet Isaiah.  This is the explanation of how we are called to be salt and light in the Gospel:  by giving, by sharing.  When we do this, we actually receive.  Feeling bad about yourself?  Feeling low?  Do something to help someone else.  You will almost be guaranteed to feel better.

When then Bishop McElroy came to my installation as Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish over three years ago, he issued us a compliment as well as a challenge.  He said our parish is “the heart of the City of San Diego.”  The compliment is obvious:  somehow this parish, right alongside the noisy and well-traveled I-5 freeway, is a kind of center of the City. And as such it is important.  And the challenge is that we continue to serve as a heart, that we send life into the city, the way a heart sends life through a human body.  

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish has been in the news a lot lately.  Two weeks ago, a procession with some 1,500 people ended in front of our parish, where we together chanted our logo: “We Belong.”  One week ago saw the grand opening of the Pope Francis Center, our new immigrant accompaniment ministry.  I was hearted by how many people came, by the beautiful Aztec dancers, by the smiles on peoples’ faces, and by the words of invited speakers.  I heard one refrain over and over again:  people are happy that something positive is happening to help immigrants in the face of rejection and hostility towards immigrant on behalf of our country.  While we opened this Center to serve primarily you, our parishioners, we of course are open to all, as we should be.  For our parents taught us what Jesus teaches us:  It is better to give than to receive.  When we serve, we are salt, we are light, we are the heart that our parish is called to be.