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

Hello friends,

I am happy to be back in town with you after taking a week off after New Years. I had the opportunity to visit several places in Mexico. After spending a couple of days in Puerto Vallerta, I went to Nayarit, Arandas, Jalisco, San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato. These were all beautiful places to visit and highly recommend you visit a town or two.

​

Hello friends,

Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany. The word Epiphany comes from a Greek word which means coming to light or appearing. The shepherds who lived in the area of Bethlehem had already had their epiphany when the angels announced the birth of Jesus.

Today we commemorate God's revelation of the coming of his Son to the Magi. Magi is a term that designated persons who were priests of a pagan cult and were experts in astrology, interpretation of dreams, and various other occult arts. Their primary job would be to act as advisers to the rulers of the people of Persia (ancient people who lived in modern day Iran). As advisers to the king and this court, they would have studied the stars for messages from the gods. As pagans, they remind us that Christ's saving light meant for people of every race and every nationality.

Queridos amigos,

En esta fiesta de la Epifania del Senor, celebramos que Dios se sigue manifestando a todo el mundo. Esta manifestacion no quedo solo en los reyes magos que siguieron la Estrella, sino que Dios se sigue manifestando a todo aquel que abre su corazon a el. Ojala y nosostros estemos atentos a los signos de los tiempos para reconocerlo en su creacion, pero tambien en el projimo. Este fin de semana el padre Ryszard Polek esta visitando nuestra parroquia y estara hablando sobre la necesidad que hay de atender y ayudar al pobre. El esta aqui representando a "Food for the Poor"

Fr. Alex Urena

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

Hello Friends,

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. This is the last Sunday of the liturgical year and we honor the lord Jesus today as a King whose Kingdom is eternal in time, universal in scope, and very personal in power. This feast of Christ the King was made a Church-wide feast in 1925. At that time there was Bolshevism in Russia, and fascism in Italy. Soon there would be Nazism in Germany. Now, that is all gone and Jesus Christ's Kingdom remains. When human history is finished and after the collapse of every human kingdom, there will be only Jesus Christ. Only the Kingdom of Christ is enduring and eternal. 

This is the last Sunday of the liturgical year which means we are approaching Advent. Advent is  a time of preparation, of waiting for baby Jesus to be born. As we prepare ourselves for the new liturgical year, Advent, we as a community of St. Albert Newman prepare ourselves for the beginning of our first Spanish mass. We welcome international students from Latin America and the Spanish speaking community to be part our parish. Pray that Christ the King brings all of this to fulfillment.

​Fr. Alex Urena