For Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in San Bernardino, the 2025 Jubilee Year has not just been a time for reflection on the motto “Pilgrims of Hope,” it is a call to action in hope, mercy, reconciliation, renewal and charity.
“The most important thing about the Jubilee, is that it has an internal impact, especially on the renewal of faith and the experience of church in a parish, and in community,” said Father Francisco Varela Delgadillo, Administrator.
While all Catholics are invited to celebrate the Jubilee Year, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in San Bernardino celebrates two jubilees, including the 100th anniversary of its founding.
“Our parishioners have a double reason to renew our enthusiasm and live our faith as Catholics,” Fr. Varela said. “We try to live and transmit our faith just like those people who founded the parish a hundred years ago, with humility, with love, with tenacity, and apostolic zeal,” he added.
Fr. Varela draws inspiration from the Jubilee Year to foster hope and strength among the people. Every parish ministry at Our Lady of Guadalupe is immersed in holy works of faith and mercy.
Ricardo Quintero, at 19-years-old, coordinates the Youth Group. Its members have prepared food to feed people on the streets and at a hospital; prayed for 50 hours before the Blessed Sacrament; and prayed a rosary on a walking pilgrimage to a local mountain while carrying the Blessed Sacrament. Quintero described the joy youth experienced serving others and praying as “Beautiful ways to get closer to God.”
Margarita Romero heads the New Alliance Ministry to help people with addictions. Her group has done charitable works at pantry centers for people who are in rehabilitation.
“The Jubilee has given us great hope to pray for families affected by addictions that can be healed with God’s love and mercy,” Romero said.
America Gutierrez coordinates the Ministry of Proclaimers of the Word. Her ministry’s works of mercy and community service, which is a main characteristic of a Jubilee year, has made a deep and personal impact on her.
“The Jubilee has been something I had never experienced, even after 28 years serving the Church. It is something that leaves you full of the spirit of God,” Gutierrez said.
Juan Luis Magana heads the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and have invited neighbors to join in Jubilee activities and some decided to remain active in church, even joining his ministry. “It’s my second Jubilee, but I did not pay much attention to the last one and that’s the big difference,” Magana said. “This time, wherever we are, we are practicing our faith.”
Jorge Valencia heads the Evangelization Ministry that has visited other parishes to pray while caring for people in need of food and hygiene products.
“Above all, we try to imprint Christ in each of the people we meet daily,” Valencia said.
Araceli Gonzalez leads the Altar Servers Ministry, and they have also participated in Works of Mercy during the Jubilee year.
“For the Jubilee, we went to the Loma Linda Children’s Hospital to pray and bring hope to sick children and their families,” Gonzalez said. “Our altar servers are learning that with God everything is possible.”
One of the parish’s altar servers Melissa Alvarez, a 15-year-old, described how Jubilee activities impacted her sense of Church.
“We have more than 50 altar servers getting to know each other and connecting with God. It’s a beautiful experience,” Alvarez said.
Angie Morfin heads the Guadalupanas group, which has served the parish for 95 years. Her group’s focuses on charity and evangelization.
“The Jubilee of Hope is important for us because it helps create unity among all the ministries and connects us with our community,” Morfin said.
Josefina Oropeza, who leads the Prayer group, helped organize nights of prayer, holy hours, retreats and vigils highlighting the Jubilee.
“The Jubilee has been very impactful and comforting, above all, giving us hope,” Oropeza said.
In his letter announcing the Jubilee Year Bishop Alberto Rojas wrote that it calls Catholics to “Carry the hope of Christ in our hearts and to share it with the world. Knowing that hope is an antidote to the strife and suffering in our communities.”
Parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe live by those words everywhere they go, and the fruits are evident.
Dr Rubén Barrón is a Catholic spiritual director and freelance writer based in Yorba Linda.