My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of pastoral concern that I write to you today. The divisions that have persisted within our community—whether born of past wounds, misunderstandings, or the natural challenges of change—have become a barrier to the full communion we are called to as followers of Christ.

Our Lord prayed for unity among His disciples, and He continues to pray for us. In His final moments with His apostles, He prayed: “Father, may they all be one, as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” (John 17:21). Jesus’ prayer was not just for those who walked with Him, but for all of us, that we, too, might be united in Him and with each other.

But the unity Christ desires is not merely a superficial unity, based on external labels or geographic boundaries. It is a profound unity, rooted in the love of God and the sharing of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. This is the true source of our oneness. We are one because we share in the same Christ who died and rose for us. We are one because we are baptized into the same Spirit, who unites us as members of the same family of God. And we are one because we are called to be His witnesses, His hands, His feet, in a world that so desperately needs His love.
As your pastor, I urge you to look beyond the labels of “Holy Rosary” and “Holy Spirit.” These names are part of our history, but they should never divide us. Our true identity is in Christ. We are members of His Body. In this parish, we are not separate, competing factions—we are one family, one body, one Church.

The Challenges We Face
The challenges we face as a community are real, both material and spiritual. The material crisis of our buildings is serious. Holy Rosary Church, for example, has a bell tower in need of repair. I have asked a few architects to provide estimates, and the restoration could cost anywhere between $800,000 and $1.04 million. Additionally, Holy Rosary Church requires two new doors—at a cost of $20,000—and repointing of the entire building, as well as the addition of handicap access.

Holy Spirit Chapel faces its own challenges. The basement floods two or three times a year, leading to issues with humidity that can only be resolved through the construction of new foundations. The roof needs replacing, with an estimate of $100,000. There’s also a need for handicap access, and the six trees covering half the roof need to be cut at a cost of nearly $2,000 each. The ceiling and walls are in poor conditions as well.

In total, the needs across our campuses amount to at least two million dollars—a sum we simply do not have.

Here is where we stand financially:

This totals less than 25% of what is needed.

The Call to Unity and Action

We are facing a situation in which our resources are insufficient to maintain both locations. After much prayer, reflection, and consultation, the Diocese has made the difficult decision that Annunciation Parish must consolidate and worship at one location: Holy Rosary Church. This decision comes after a year of careful study, and it is necessary for the long-term sustainability of our parish.

The Bishop’s decree will take effect on October 1st. We will have an official closing Mass for Holy Spirit Chapel on September 28th at 8:30 AM. From September 29th onward, all regularly scheduled Masses will be celebrated on the Holy Rosary Church campus.

I know that this decision will bring pain and sadness to many of you. The past hurts, the divisions, the misunderstandings—these are all very real. But so is the healing power of Christ. The same Christ who forgave His persecutors, who healed the sick, and who reconciled us to the Father through His Cross, is here with us, calling us to reconciliation and unity.

Now, more than ever, we need to come together as one body in Christ. Let us not allow the wounds of the past define us. Let us not allow the barriers of pride, resentment, or misunderstanding to keep us from fully living the Gospel. Let us be the hands of Christ, reaching out to one another in love and forgiveness.

I invite you today to renew your commitment to our shared mission—to be witnesses of Christ’s love, to serve one another, and to build up His Church. Let us work together in harmony, not for our own glory, but for the glory of God and the good of His people. 

Let us remember the words of St. Paul: “There is one body and one Spirit…one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6). This is the unity we are called to. This is the unity we must strive for.

I am confident that, with God’s grace, we can heal the divisions that separate us and become a true witness of Christ’s love in our community. Together, let us walk forward as one, united in faith, in hope, and in love.

In Christ’s peace and love,
Fr. Victor A. Sierra.
Pastor.