Hello friends,

A few days ago we celebrated the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem. Some of us sang the song: Silent night, Holy night. The silence of that night was broken only by the angels praising God and announcing peace to God's people on earth. Now the peace and quiet are gone. Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem during the feast of the Passover. With this we can see that the holy family had their share of problems. If you read the early chapters of St. Matthew and St. Luke's gospels you might get the impression their lives were full of problems.Today's gospel is the only gospel that tells us anything about Jesus as he was growing up. What panic Joseph and Mary must have felt not being able to find him for three days. Every family has good and bad times.

Happy New Year 2019!

Hola amigos,

Acaba de pasar la Navidad en la cual celebramos el Nacimiento del Niño Dios. Ahora estamos por despedir este año Viejo y recibir el 2019. Ojalá y una de nuestras metas para este año nuevo sea ser una mejor persona; ser más parecidos a Jesucristo. Despedimos este año con la Fiesta de la Sagrada Familia y lo recibimos con la Solemnidad de Santa Mariá, Madre de Dios. El proximo domingo celebraremos la Solemnidad de la Epifania del Señor. Ese domingo tendremos un padre visitante que viene de parte de "Food for the Poor," comida para el ambriento. Espero y lo reciban de muy Buena manera. Ese fin de semana yo estare fuera del pais. Yo me voy a tomar unos dias libres antes de comenzar el proximo año escolar. Feliz Año Nuevo 2019 a todos ustedes!

​ Fr. Alex Urena 

Hello friends,

This is our fourth and last Sunday of Advent. You can tell we are getting closer to Christmas by the traditional greeting that shoppers say in the stores: "I think I was next!"

In today's gospel we hear the angel has appeared to Mary and announced to her that God wanted her to be the mother of the long awaited Messiah. The angel informs Mary that her aged relative, Elizabeth, who had wanted all her life to have a baby was now going to have one. Mary, St. Luke tells us, traveled in haste to be with Elizabeth. This was a sign that as the angel said to Mary "Nothing is impossible with God."

With this thought in mind, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas! May the Son of God and Mary, bring you peace, love and happiness to your families and your heart. 

On behalf of the Newman parish staff, receive our love and appreciation for all you for this community. May baby Jesus be born in your heart!


Estimados amigos,

Estamos en la ultima semana de Adviento. Ahora nos preparamos para celebrar la Navidad, el Naciemiento de Hijo de Dios. De parte de todos los que trabajamos en St. Alberto Magno, queremos desearles una Feliz Navidad!j Que el espirtu navideno les traiga paz, amor y felicidad a sus familias y a sus corazones. Gracias por ser parte de esta comunidad. Seguimes rezando para que nuestra misa de Espanol siga creciendo. Nuevamente, gracias por acompanarnos en esta preparacion del Nacimiento del nino Dios.

​Fr. Alex Urena

Hello Friends,

​This third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called "Gaudete Sunday" from the Latin for "Sunday to rejoice". It marks the midpoint of Advent when the vestments become a little lighter and the rose candle on the Advent wreath is lit. The liturgy continues to communicate that theme of joy with rose colored vestments and readings telling us to rejoice.

Last weekend we had the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and then the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe. All of these celebration are for us to rejoice in the Lord and in his mother, our mother. Let's continue to prepare ourselves for the coming of our Savior into our lives. John the Baptist has been inviting us to prepare the way for the Lord.

Queirdos Amigos,

Espero que este tiempo de Adviento nos estemos preparando para el verdadero sentido de la Navidad: el Nacimiento de el Rey del Universo, Jesucristo, nuestro Salvador. Este es el tiempo de las posadas y de muchas otras celebraciones. Ojala y todas estas ocaciones nos estenayudando a acrecentar nuestra fe en Dios. Gracias a todos ustedes que participaron de la celebracion de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe. Como es parte de nuestra tradicion, nos rejocijamos en honrar a la madre de Jesus que Tambien es nuestra madre bajo la advocacion de la Virgen de Guadalupe. Ella Tambien es un signo de gozo para nuestro pueblo Hispano y para toda la humanidad. Por eso es considerada la Emperatriz de America

​Fr. Alex

Hello friends,

Last week I spoke about this time of waiting that we are in. Advent is a time of joyful anticipation, the prophet Baruch says, "to take off your robe of mourning and misery". God is leading his people "with his mercy and justice for company." God's people are "wrapped in the cloak of justice from God," and they "will be named by God forever the peace of justice."

Paul, too, speaks of this joyful time of anticipation, of waiting for "the day of Christ Jesus." He encourages the Philippians and us to grow in "love, understanding, wealth of experience, clear conscience, and blameless conduct." The message of John the Baptist goes along the same lines of preparing the way for the coming of Christ, to make straight the winding and to make smooth the rough ways. We need a "baptism of repentance," a cleansing from the old ways of "greed and darkness" and a commitment to a new way of living.

Hola amigos,

Esta es nuestra segunda semana de Adviento y nuestra segunda semana con nuestra Misa en espanol. Quiero
comunicarles que estoy muy contento por su respuesta a la primera misa. Tuvimos mas de 120 personas que atendieron a la celebracion. Para mi es un honor poder sevir al pueblo de Dios en los dos idiomas. Espero que me alluden a promover esta misa y asi hacerla crecer. A todos aquellos que colaboraron de alguna manera en la celebracion, muchas gracias. Ocumpamos de todos ustedes y ojala en un future cercano mas de ustedes se animen a ayder en los diferentes ministerios que se ocupan en las misa.

​Fr. Alex Urena

Hello Friends,

On Monday, November 26th, Bishop Ramirez and  I had the opportunity to celebrate a 24th anniversary in Guadalajara  with his Excellency Cardinal emeritus Juan Sandoval Iniguez. Many bishops, priests and religious sisters attended this event. It was a beautiful celebration held at the Sand Pedro church in Taiquepaque, Jalisco. It was a such a blessing to be a part of a great event.

I have been conscious of the work and commitments I have in the parish, so I decided to take a few days for myself to reflect on what is to come. This weekend we welcome the Spanish mass in our community. This will be the first time Newman will have a permanent Spanish mass.

A toda la comunidad de habla hispana, quiero darles la bienvenida a nuesta primera misa en Espanol en el Newman Parish. Sinceramente espero que esta comunidad los haga sentir como en su casa. Aqui estamos para ustedes. Que esta experiencia nos ayde a aumentar nuestra fe en Senor Jesucristo. A todos ustedes bienvendios a esta su casa!

Fr. Alex Urena