“Dios lo resucitó de entre los muertos” Hechos de los Apóstoles 3:15 La temporada pascual es la más larga del tiempo litúrgico. Esto se explica porque celebramos con gozo y alegría la Gloriosa Resurrección de Cristo Nuestro Señor. Toda la Iglesia y la liturgia se llenan de “tanta alegría y gozo de Cristo Resucitado”. Nuestra comunidad parroquial lo celebra con la incorporación de un par de decenas de niños, jóvenes y adultos que reciben sus sacramentos frutos palpables de la alegría y gozo pascual.

"God raised him from the dead" Acts 3:15 The Easter season is the longest season in the liturgical year. This is because we are invited to share in the joy and peace of the Risen Lord. Therefore, the whole Church and the liturgy are filled with "the joy and peace of the Risen Christ." Our parish community celebrated this gladness with the addition of dozens of children, youth and adults who received the sacraments as tangible fruits of joy that only this season can bring.

“Jesús entró y se puso en medio de ellos” Juan 20:19 San Ignacio dice a las personas que hacen los Ejercicios Espirituales que “debemos alegrarnos y gozarnos de tanta alegría y gozo de Cristo Resucitado”. Se pueden Ustedes imaginar la gran consolación de los discípulos al ver que su Maestro no solo ha vuelto a la vida sino que vuelve para ponerse en medio de ellos como nos lo dice el Evangelio de Juan.

"Jesus came and stood among them" John 20:19 St Ignatius Loyola asked people that make the Spiritual Exercises "to share in the joy and peace of the risen Christ. This joy, like any grace we pray for, is a gift from God; we cannot earn or force it. We simply try to be open to receiving Easter joy by contemplating Christ as he shares the joy of the Resurrection with others". You can imagine the great consolation of Jesus´ disciples to see their Master has not only come to life but returns to stand in the middle of them as we are told in the Gospel of John.

¡CRISTO HA RESUCITADO, ALELUYA! PASCUA 2018 Cristo ha resucitado, aleluya. Qué alegría despertarnos en este domingo en que como Iglesia celebramos la Solemnidad de Pascua. Qué lindo cantar con el salmista que “este es el día que actuó el Señor sea nuestra alegría y nuestro gozo”. Qué dicha saber que “hemos resucitado con Cristo”. Hoy es un nuevo día para empezar de nuevo.

CHRIST IS RISEN, ALLELUYA! EASTER 2018 Christ is risen, alleluia. What a joy to wake up on this Sunday as a community of faith to celebrate the Solemnity of Easter. How appropriate it is to sing with the psalmist, "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad." How wonderful to believe that because of His Resurrection "we too have been raised with Christ". Today is a new day to start again.

The 4th Sunday of Lent is called "Laetare Sunday". "Rejoice" is the first word of today´s entrance antiphon, and we rejoice because we know that the love God bears for us is stronger than any trials, hardships, or sufferings we may endure, even death. We know that the suffering and death of Jesus we are preparing for holds the greatest victory imaginable: our salvation.

El 4to Domingo de Cuaresma es como “Domingo de Laetare”. “Gozo” es la primera palabra de la antífona de entrada. Los creyentes nos gozamos en el Señor porque sabemos que el amor que Dios nos tiene es más grande que nuestros desengaños, sufrimientos e incluso la muerte.Todos los creyentes sabemos que el sacrificio que nos aprestamos a celebrar conlleva la gran victoria de Dios que es nuestra propia salvación.

“Destroy this temple and in three days raise it up” (John 2:19) We’re almost in the middle of Lent. A few weeks ago, we received the ashes and in a couple of weeks we will receive palm branches that will usher in Holy Week. In other words, we are in the middle of the Lenten season. This season started when we recognized that we were sinners, and when we receive palms branches, we will recognize Jesus as the Messiah of God.

“Destruid este templo y lo levantaré en tres días” (Juan 2:19) Ya casi estamos en la mitad de la Cuaresma. Hace pocas semanas recibíamos la ceniza y en un par de semanas más tendremos los ramos que dan inicio a la semana mayor. En otras palabras, estamos en el tiempo medio desde que reconocíamos que somos pecadores hasta cuando con las palmas reconoceremos a Jesús como el Mesías de Dios.

“Este es mi Hijo amado, escuchadlo” (Marcos 9: 7) La escena conocida como la Transfiguración de Jesús a sus discípulos que escuchamos en el Evangelio de hoy nos dice que estos últimos escucharon una voz que les decía “Este es mi Hijo amado, escuchadlo.” La Cuaresma que hemos comenzado hace poco quiere ser este tiempo privilegiado que tenemos para escuchar a Jesús.

"This is my beloved Son, listen to Him" (Mark 9:7) The scene known as the Transfiguration of Jesus in today's Gospel tells us that the three disciples heard a voice from the cloud that said to them: "This is my beloved Son, listen to Him". The season of Lent that has recently begun, should to be a privileged time to hear Jesus.

"Be imitators of me as I am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11: 1) A little over a month ago we were celebrating Christmas. In fact, on February 2nd, we celebrated the feast of “The Presentation of the Lord" with a full Church and the joy of feeling that Jesus is the true light of our lives. A few days into this week we will begin the season of Lent with the celebration of Ash Wednesday.

Hace poco más de un mes estuvimos celebrando la Navidad. De hecho, el pasado 2 de febrero celebramos la “Fiesta de la Presentación del Señor” con nuestra Iglesia llena de fieles y la alegría de sentir que Jesús es la luz de nuestras vidas. Esta semana en cambio comenzaremos la temporada de cuaresma con la celebración del Miércoles de Ceniza.

“She began to serve" (Mark 1:31) In this Sunday's Gospel we continue to hear the first stories of Jesus who heals the sick and afflicted of his time. The curious thing about the service of Jesus for those who suffer is that when he heals Simon, Peter's mother in law, she immediately began to serve them.

“Ella se puso a servirles” (Marcos 1:31) En el Evangelio de este domingo continuamos escuchando las primeras historias de Jesús que sana a los enfermos y afligidos de su tiempo. Lo curioso de la entrega de Jesús por los que sufren es que cuando cura a la suegra de Simón Pedro, ella inmediatamente se pone a servirlos.

“Jesús les enseñaba con autoridad” (Marco 2:21-28) Los dos últimos domingos escuchamos a Jesús que llamaba a sus primeros discípulos para que estuvieran con El. Las próximas dos semanas en cambio escucharemos múltiples historias de Jesús que cura a los enfermos y consuela a los afligidos. El llamamiento y los milagros son solo el inicio del ministerio público de Jesús que cada día se multiplica al mismo tiempo que se multiplica su popularidad.

"Jesus taught them as one having authority" (Mark 2:21-28) In the previous two Sunday’s gospel, we heard Jesus calling his first disciples to be with Him. In the upcoming two Sundays instead we will hear many stories of Jesus healing the sick and comforting the afflicted. Jesus´ calling and the miracles are just the beginning of his public ministry.

Jonah, the Reluctant Prophet Last week I asked one of the altar boys, Carlitos, if he knew the story of Jonah and to my surprise, he said no. Like Carlitos, those who learn of the story of Jonah find it exciting and colorful. It's a story where Jonah has to endure many hardships in order to fulfill the mission God has planned for his people.

"Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3: 9) With the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord we finished the beautiful Christmas season. Our family gatherings and parish meetings are over and the many resolutions for the New Year are being worked on. Now, we are back to the Ordinary Time and we have returned to the regular activities of our daily lives. However, the Church wants us, through the Scripture readings and liturgy, to find the Lord