From our Pastor’s Desk

Dear Family:

Today is a special day! Forty days after Easter, we celebrate Jesus going up into heaven – what we call the Ascension. Sometimes, this day can feel a bit sad, like a farewell. Jesus, our beloved teacher and Lord, is taken away from our sight. But the liturgical readings for today tell us something much deeper: the Ascension is not an ending. It is actually a glorious new beginning, a special job given to us, and a huge reason for our hope.

In our first reading today, we see Jesus with his followers. They are still thinking about earthly things, asking, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus gently guides them away from thoughts of worldly power. He says, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This is so important. The Ascension is not Jesus leaving us for good. Instead, it is Him taking His rightful place in heaven, full of glory. And at the same time, It is Him giving His Church the power for a mission. He does not leave us alone. He promises the Holy Spirit, who will give us the strength to keep His work going, to be His witnesses. The cloud that takes Him from their sight is not a sign of absence, but a sign of God’s presence and glory. He is not “gone” in a way that means He is not in our lives; instead, He is present in a new, universal way, no longer limited by time and place.

Our second reading, speaks about Christ’s high position. God raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in heaven, far above all rulers, authorities, powers, and any name that can be named, not just in this life but in the life to come. And He put everything under His feet and made Him the head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of the one who fills everything in every way. This is our hope! Christ’s Ascension is our own uplifting. Where the Head (Jesus) has gone, the Body (us) is called to follow. Our human nature, made glorious in Christ, is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. This gives us immense dignity and a deep sense of purpose.

So, What Does the Ascension Mean for Us Today? First, it changes where we look. While our feet are on the ground, our eyes are fixed on heaven. This does not mean we escape from the world, but it reminds us of our ultimate destination. It calls us to live with a view of eternity, not getting too caught up in the temporary worries of this world, but striving for Godly things.

Second, it gives us a mission: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt. 28:19-20a). We are to spread the Good News and to increase the number of faithful believers in Christ and His Kingdom.

Third, it gives power to our mission. Jesus goes up, but He leaves us with a job: to be His witnesses. We are called to share the good news of forgiveness and new life with everyone. This witnessing is not just through big, grand actions, but in the everyday moments of our lives: how we love, how we forgive, how we serve, how we speak the truth with kindness. The power for this mission comes from the Holy Spirit, whom we eagerly await on Pentecost.

Fourth, it is the foundation of our hope. We believe that because Jesus, our brother and Lord, has entered into glory, we too are meant for that same glory. The Ascension assures us that death is not the end, and that our struggles here on earth are not pointless. Christ has prepared a place for us.

Finally, it gives us love: “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20b). We are never alone, we are always with Him. We have His words in the Gospels, we have Him in the Eucharist, and we have Him in His Church.

As we celebrate this wonderful feast, let us not focus on a feeling of loss, but on the profound joy and hope that the Ascension brings. Let us look up with longing for our heavenly home, and then look around with renewed commitment to our work here on earth. We know that Christ is always with us, through His Spirit, giving us the power to be His hands and feet in the world, until He comes again in glory.

As you all may know now, last Saturday, May 9th, the Archdiocese of Miami ordained nine men. We are grateful to God for their “yes” in sharing the priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ. One of them, Fr. Michele Sega, has been assigned by Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, to our parish community. Fr. Michele is 29 years old, born in Verona, Italy. He is the first of two children. He loves cars, so much that he wanted to study and work for Ferrari. He speaks fluently Italian, Spanish and English. Fr. Michele will arrive to our parish on June 15th. The arrival of Fr. Michele means thar Fr. Saul leaves us. In fact, he has already left. We wish him well in his new assignment.

A chapter is closing in our Parish and a new one is opening. Nonetheless, we continue to be One Body, One Spirit, One Family! Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Katharine Drexel, Saint Michael the Archangel, St. José Gregorio Hernández, Pope Saint Pius X, St. Teresa of Avila, and St. Charbel, pray for us.

Yours in Christ!
Fr. Omar