Hello friends,

I am writing to you from Costa Rica.  I chose a beautiful place to refresh and re energize and I continue to think and pray for you.The people of Costa Rica have a logo that says: "Pura Vida". 

There are two abiding and important religious questions, both significant but one more important than the other, that we tend to confuse in their order of importance. The first on e is "What is God like?" This is a theological question of enormous importance, and exploration into God, and important question to be investigated reverently in prayer and systematically in study and reflection. The second important question is "What must I do?" "How should behave?" This is a question of moral theology, of religious ethics, a question of moral right and wrong.

Most of us tend to put the second question first, and to leave the explanation into God for others who are more powerful, more intellectual and more faithful. We want to make sure we live within our moral boundaries which are to do the right thing, do good and avoid evil. 

Today's Gospel story of the Prodigal Son tells us a lot about what God is like. Some would call it the story of the Prodigal Father because it presents for our consideration a wonderfully generous, warm, forgiving, understanding father who runs out and literally trips over himself in his hurry to gather up an errant son in a forgiving embrace. Jesus is painting a portrait in his story, a portrait of his Father. Jesus is telling us here what God is really like.

Estimados amigos,

Saludos desde Costa Rica. Me tome la libertad de descansar unos cuantos dias y visitar el mundo. Este es un pais muy hermoso y su gente muy amigable. Aqui tienen un dicho que todo mundo usa: "Pura Vida" y "mae" Pura vida ese un dicho para referise a que todo esta bien o correcto. El otro "mae" es un seudonimon que quiere decir: "hombre" "tu", etc. En general ha sido una bonita experienca.

Ahora permitanme escribirles un poco sobre la historia del Hijo Prodigo. Algunos se refieren a esta historia como las histroia del Padre amoraso, del Padre que perdona. En realidad hay muchas maneras de como analizar esta historia. Pero no cabe duda de que una de esas interepretaciones es el amor de Padre hacia su hijo se ha descarriado de camino. El Padre no lo duda en salir a recibirlo con los brazos abiertos y abrazarlo como lo que es, su hijo. Esta es una manera de explicar el amor tan grande que tiene Dios por nosotros. Ojala sepamos regresar a retomar ese amor que Dios tiene por ti y por mi cada vez que le fallemos.

​Fr. Alex Urena

Hello friends,

Las week I had the opportunity to visit one of our seminarians, Patrick Montgomery. He is finishing his third year of Theology at St. Mary's Seminary in Houston, Texas. Patrick passed the seminary evaluation and is looking forward to be ordained a transitional deacon on June 7,2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was a short but fruitful visit. In the next few weeks, I will be visiting Dcn. Gino in Chicago as he prepares to be ordained a priest in our diocese. We have another three seminarians at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio: Franky Rios, Alfredo Jaras and William Contreras. Franky and Alfredo are finishing their philosophical studies. Bishop Gerald would like them to apply to Mundelein seminary in Chicago.

On a different note, I want to thank Fr. Tom McCarthy for his time, talent and teaching. Thank you to all of you for attending our Lenten mission. I hope we all have a better understanding of "What does it mean to be Catholic today?"

Estimados amigos,

La semana pasada estuve visitando uno de nuestros seminaristas, Patrick Montgomery. El esta cursando el tercer ano de Teologia en el seminario de Santa Maria en Houton, Texas. Estuve con el por dos dias y atendi su evaluacion final de este ano. Le fue muy bien. Ahora estamos ahciendo panes para su ordenacion a la ordern del diaconado transitorio que esta pllaneada para Junio 7, 2019. Tenemos otro diacono transitiorio, Gino Wilcox que sera ordernado sacerdote en Mayon 24, 2019. Tenemos tres seminaristas en San Antonio: Franky, Alfredo, Y William. Los primeros dos estan por graduarse de la filosofia. El obispo Gerald quiere que ellos continuen sus estudios en el seminario de Mundelein en Chicago. Asi que sigamos orando por mas vacaciones.

Fr. Alex Urena

Dear Friends,

A man named Paddy (which is short for Patrick) came from Ireland to Boston. In a very short time, he began the practice of going to the local bar after work and ordering three beers. He wanted them served to him all at once. After a few weeks the bartender asked Paddy "Why do you insist on having all three beers served at the same time?" Paddy explained that when he lived in Ireland, he and his brothers always got togehter after work for a beer. He wanted to keep the spirit of getting together even though they still lived across the sea. A few months went by and one day Paddy came in and ordered just two beers. The bartender was concerned and asked if something happened to one of his brothers. Paddy said "No, it's nothing like that. You see it's Lent now and I've given up beer for Lent."

Every year on the first Sunday of Lent, we hear about Jesus going into the wildness for 40 days to fast and pray. This gospel is meant to inspire us to make these next 40 days a spiritual preparation for Easter through prayer and sacrifice. Paddy had the idea that this is  time of sacrifice, but he wasn't going to overdo it! 

There are an infinite number of things we can do to make these days special. Our goal can be to give up something such as actions or habits or attitudes that get in our way as we try to love God and others. Our goal can be positive as we try to do things that can help us grow in our love for God and others.

Estimados amigos,

Con las celebracion del miercoles de cenia comenzamos la cuaresma. Aunque este dia no es dia de obligacion, vemos como tanta gente particia de la misa y de la imposicion de la ceniza. Esto nos esta indicando que este dia es un dia especial porque nos conecta a algo mas profundo. Este tiempo de cuarsema, nosostros intencionalmente entramos en las practicas de ayunar, orar y hacer caridiad. El miercolos se nos recordo la importancia de estas intenciones. Hay que ver que es lo que nos motiva a hacer estas practicas. Ojala y nos sea para que otros miren lo que hacemos y nos echen porras, pero ojala sea para nuestra propia transfromcion. Jesus nos invita a entrar a esta cuaresma en lo que hacemos y nos echen porras, pero ojala sea para neustra propia transformacion. Jesus nos invita a entra a esta cuaresma en lo mas secreto de nuestro corazon. Ahi es donde la verdadera transformacion ocurre, esa transformacion que nos llevara a la Pascua.

Fr. Alex Urena

Hello friends,

Just imagine what the world would be tomorrow if all the Christians who heard this Gospel that is being proclaimed today in every corner of the world, were to listen intently, heed the message, and put it into practice. Hear once again the words Luke has Jesus saying to his disciples: "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and the gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." There you have the makings of a personal transformation and a social revolution. Just imagine what the world would be like on Monday morning if all the Sunday churchgoers throughout the world who heard those words translated them into action?

Hola amigos,

Imaginense como seria el mundo manana si todos los cristianos que eschuaron este evangelio que se esta proclamando hoy en cada rincon del mundo, escucharan atentamente, prestaran atencion al mensaje  y lo pusieran en practica. Escuchen una vez mas las palabras que Lucas tiene Jesus diciendo a sus discipulos (un mensaje que Jesus seguramente nos repetiria hoy a todos nosotros): "No juzguen y no seran juzgados, no condenen y no seran condenandos, perdonen y seran perdonados. Den y se les dara: recibiran una medida buena, bien sacudida, apretada y rebosante  en los pliegues de su tunica. Porque con la misma medida con que median, seran medidios." Ahi teneis los ingredientes de una transformacion personal y una revolucion social. Imaginese como seria el mundo el lunes por la manana si todos los que van a misa el domingo en todo el mundo escucharan esas palabras y las pusieran en accions!

Fr. Alex Urena

Hello friends,

Last weekend I presented to the parish our new goal for United in Ministry 2019. Our goal for this year is $85,850.94. If we come together as a parish, this goal should not be a burden. I encourage you to pray about how you can help contribute to this worthy cause.

In this weekends Gospel, the God-man Jesus is  pictured in a natural and familiar setting, alongside a lake, mixing with fishermen who were repairing thier nets. He steps  into the boat belonging to Simon, and pushes off a bit from shore. From the boat, he taught the crowds gathered along the shoreline. When he finished teaching, he apparently decided to display his supernatural power, to establish, if you will, his credentials with these good but ordinary fishermen. Jesus sets them up for a miraculous catch of fish, a great haul, so great that their nets snapped under the weight. "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, " Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." From that moment, Simon became a fisher of men. I wonder if any of that applies to us now?

Hola amigos,

La semana pasada les presente nuestra la nueva meta que tenemos para este 2019 en Unidos en Ministerio. Nuestra meta es juntar $85,850.94. Ojala y todos podamos contribuir con lo que puedan para esta cuase. Dice el dicho que de grano en grano, la gallina llena el buche. Con el dinero que cada parraquia aporta en Unidos en Ministerio, la diocesis provee diferentes ministerios a traves de la diocesis. Esto ayda con la educacion de los diaconos permanentes, con la formacion de neuestros seminarists (futuros lideres en la Iglesia), para la educacion Catholica, y  muchas cosas mas. Asi que les pido por favor que consideren ayudarnos en esta cuasa. Recuerden que si juntamos mas de la meta, ese dinero se no regresa a la parroquia para hacer trabajos en los ministerios y para la manutencion de la iglesia.

​Fr. Alex Urena

Hello friends,

This weekend we heard one of the best known and best loved passages in Scripture. St. Paul's' description of love. What is so beautiful about this passage is it deals with the ordinary, everyday kind of love that ordinary living requires. Paul describes this kind of love by telling us what love is not rather than what love is. It is not jealous, pompous, rude or selfish., it is not short-tempered nor does it hold grudges. It is patient and kind and trusting and willing to put up with all kinds of little annoyances. This is not about falling in love. Paul is talking about our ordinary day-today- contact with other people, some of whom we may not care for, but whom we learn how to be kind to. Practicing this ordinary kind of love doesn't always sweep us off our feet, but it does bring a kind of joy, because our vocation and our fulfillment in life is to learn how to love one another.

Hola amigos,

En este cuarto domingo del tiempo ordinario, escuchamos sobre la vida ordinaria de Jesus. Tambien escucuhamos a San Pablo hablarnos de algo ordinario que deberia de existir entre todaos nosotros: el amor. La segunda lectura de la primera carta de San Pablo a los Corintios es muy popular en las bodas. Es como si furea un poema que describe el amor de la pareja. En realidad, es un pasaje que habla sobre el amor que se tenian los premeros cristianos y el amor que todos deberiamos de compartir unos con otros. Habla sobre lo ordinario. Ojala y estas palabras de San Pablo nos hagan refeccionar sobre como estamos manejando ese tipo de amor con los demas. Al fin de cuentas, el amarnos unos a otros es el primer mandamiento.

Fr. Alex Urena

Hello friends,

Today's second reading to the Corinthians, St. Paul says: "Brothers and sisters; As a body is one through it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ...you are Christ's body." A phrase attributed to St. Teresa of Avila says that "Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks out with compassion upon the world. Yours the feet with which he chooses to go about doing good. For as he is the head, so you are the members, and we are all one in Christ Jesus." We should take those words quite literally today. Christ no longer walks the earth unless feet like yours are there to take him where he would like to go. He has no hands, unless you offer him your own, to reach out and touch people who live now in oppressive conditions. Yours are quite literally the eyes though which he can  look out on our world today, so punishment, oppressive working conditions and repressive rule. Take his perspective on addiction and hunger, on disability and discrimation. Christ has no eyes on earth, but your eyes, so go out and take a look from his perspective.

Querido Amigos,

La segunda lectura de San Pablo a los Corintios nos habla sobre la unidad. Nos dice que todaos somos partes de un mismo cuerop, el cuerpo de Cristo. Este presenta una realidad y responsabilidad que todos tenemos hacia cada uno de nuestros hermanos y hacia nuestra iglesia. Que bonito es cuando todos trabajamos parejos, cuando ponemos en practica nuestros talentos que Dios nos ha dado. Los invito a participar de la vida de nuestra comunidad en diferentes maneras. El Domingo pasado exprese la necesidad que tenemos acomodadores, sacristantes, mas miembros en el coro, etc. Asi que hay se los dejo da tarea. Si el Senor te esta llamando a servirlo a el y a tus hermanos el cualquier manera de estos, no te de miedo. Hay que poner nuestros talentos al sercicio de los demas. Recuerda que todos somos parte de un mismo cuerpo, del cuerpo de Cristo.

Hello friends,

Years ago, the account of the miracle at Cana was the Gospel reading at every wedding Mass to show Christ's blessing on the marriage. The tradition of the Church has seen this miracle at Cana more widely as part of the epiphany of Jesus. "Epiphany" mean revelation or disclosure. Our liturgical tradition has seen three moments as a kind of "rolling epiphany" of Jesus our messiah. The first epiphany was to the Magi when Jesus was revealed as Savior to all people. The second was Jesus' baptism in the Jordan, which we celebrated last Sunday. The third miracle is at Cana when Jesus is revealed as the One who can change water into wine. Here we see the transforming power of Christ not only over water, but over human lives. It's about Jesus changing the ordinary things of our life into places of extraordinary grace.

Hola amigos,

Como han de ver, los colores de la iglesia y de los vesitmentos del padre han cambiado al color verde. Esto quiere decir que ya nuevamente en Tiempo Ordinario. Estaremos de este color hasta que llegue las cuaresma a principios de Marzo. En este segurndo domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, nos encontramos con el primer milagro que hace Jesus al convertir el agua en vino en las bodas de Cana. El evangelista Juan lo describe como un signo. Este es una manifestacion de quien es Jesus. Que el tiene poder para transformer no nomas el agua en vino, sino tambien para transformarnos a nosotros en mejores personas. Asi que no duduemos del poder de Dios.

​Fr. Alex Urena