There are many ways to stand at the threshold of a new year, and today our community here at Our Lady of Angels Church embodies that range of experience. For some, the past year brought achievements, answered prayers, and milestones reached. We rejoice with them and give thanks to God for the good fruit that has been borne, as we strive for even more blessings. For others, the year was marked by persistent struggles, including setbacks that they were unable to resolve and anxieties that persist to this day. To these folks as well, I wish to speak directly, drawing everyone together around the prayer we offer (here at Our Lady of the Angels Church) before every Mass, a prayer inspired by St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, reminding us why the Church invites us daily to trust God fully and release the burdens we cannot control.
That prayer grounds us in a simple yet demanding spirituality, which emphasizes that we should not let anything disturb us, nor let anything frighten us, because all things pass, while God alone suffices and endures. As we begin this year, that prayer invites us not to deny the weight of what anyone may have endured, but to place them honestly before God. Many in this community have faced profound challenges, including but not limited to immigration uncertainties, the loss of vital family supports, the withdrawal of assistance programs, and the daily stress of navigating systems that feel fragile or unwelcoming. These realities are not abstract; they affect real people, families, and real futures, as well as the real fears of many members of our community.
It is here that my pastoral bond must be named and lived, namely: connection, empathy, understanding, and hope. I speak not as a distant observer, but as one who shares this journey with all of you. I am an immigrant myself, born and raised in Nigeria. Our faith reminds us that Jesus, too, experienced displacement, fleeing with Mary and Joseph into Egypt to escape the danger of death from Herod. Many of you arrived in this land from different geographical locations in a similar spirit, seeking safety, dignity, and the possibility of a renewed life. God was present with you then, and God remains present even now.
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. Mary was part of the Holy Family, which included Jesus and Joseph. Like them, there comes a moment of return after fleeing into Egypt. This return may not always be to a place, but a return to peace, stability, and the freedom of living without fear. For many of you, that return may take the form of lawful recognition in the United States, settled lives, and the confidence to contribute openly to our communities without fear. I want to tell such individuals not to surrender their hope for a better future for themselves and their families. As St. Theresa would say to us, do not burden your hearts with worries beyond what you can carry. Continue to do what is good, what is just, and what builds life. Jesus Christ, our immigrant Savior, the Son of the Holy Mother, Mary, is at work in your experience and will continue to walk with you into this new year. My prayer is that He brings you peace, courage, and joy today and for the days ahead. Amen.
