Celebration of the Hispanic Heritage
Once again, let’s celebrate Hispanic heritage month, hoping that God through His Divine Spirit helps us not only to be grateful for the number of immigrants that come to this country to work in the fields, factories, businesses, restaurants and homes, but also to realize that in Christ we are one.
The unity of the People of God is not based solely on having the same liturgical rite or having the same beliefs and sacraments. Everything is important. Thus, to accomplish this unity, we should recognize Christ as the only One who sacrificed His life for us on the Cross and as our Reconciliation with our brothers and sisters before God. He unified us as the People of God, helped by the Holy Spirit and called to build true peace and freedom in unity and justice.
Our celebration is not only to recognize the presence of our brothers and sisters who deepen our faith in diversity and in our traditions, but it is also an opportunity to think about whether we are working together to build the Kingdom of God in our families, our parishes and our Diocesan communities. This is an opportunity to know if we are helping our neighbor, the foreigner and the stranger among us to build the real unity and the authentic communion of the Gospel.
This is why we ask God, and seek the intercession of Mary, to inspire us during the year of St. Paul through the teachings of this Apostle of the people; so that every day our hearts are open to welcome our brothers and sisters and to build Christ’s peace in our communities, using the strength of His Spirit, the grace of His love and the work of all of us who believe in Christ our Lord. May all of us be brothers and sisters and citizens who help to build the Kingdom of God!
Father Fernando Torres