When we are in God’s presence in heaven, we will not only see and witness the presence of God, but also the angels and saints. We will be among them because Christ’s Paschal Mystery will have completely transformed our mind, heart, soul and body! Thus, we are invited, even now, to begin that transformation in this life.

I believe that God calls each one of us, and all of us together, to a spiritual renewal, as we approach and prepare for the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of San José in 2031. Spiritual renewal prepares us not only for our golden anniversary, it positions us to be able to genuinely, joyfully invite others to explore and respond to this amazing invitation from the Lord Jesus — an invitation to friendship, to love and acceptance, to healing and forgiveness, to an eternal life of love, truth, and beauty!

Gratitude: Many in our diocese have taken on a practice of gratitude during the Lenten Season, a laudable spiritual practice. In this spiritual discipline, many have called to mind the various ways — great and simple — in which God has blessed them. I wish to exercise this discipline with you now.

I am grateful for all those with whom I am blessed to carry out the mission of the Church in the Diocese of San José:

• our dedicated and faith-filled priests, with whom I am blessed to collaborate regularly;
• our religious women and men, who have done and continue to do marvelous pastoral work in the diocese and who pray for us daily;
• our wonderful and wise deacons and their wives, their youthful spirits and joyful energy make me younger;
• the hard-working lay women and men who, through their loving and sometimes quiet ministries, help our communities flourish;
• the zealous, committed youth ministers who love and accompany our young Catholics on their spiritual journeys;
• for moms and dads who love, live the faith, and give us examples of remarkably dedicated care for their families, the domestic church;
• for those in their golden years who pray for the Church and for the world, and who grace us with their wisdom and resilient experience in life;
• for those dedicated to teaching and accompanying our children and youth in Catholic schools, catechetical programs, and youth ministries;
• for our young adults, smart and faithful, who energetically help us build a cohesive program of accompaniment of young adults in their mobility, in transitions of life, work, and family, and who help us connect with one another and with Christ;
• for those who sustain spiritually enriching ministries in our church movements, assuring that individuals encounter a personal, loving, and risen Christ Jesus in their lives!

I am also grateful for each and every one who may feel far from the Church, but who search within their lives and hearts for truth, clarity, and meaning in life — may your searching bring you to a loving and faithful God!

Let us all make it a point to practice gratitude — for God is indeed good, all the time!

Bishop Oscar Cantú