Friends of Cristo Rey,

Thanksgiving and the beginning of Advent fall together this year. I have always enjoyed this time of the year. The short days invite us to more quiet time as we prepare, wait, and long for Christmas.

My imaginative prayer often has me at the Annunciation with Mary and Joseph. A young woman and a young man living in the small town of Nazareth. I imagine they were praying, looking and listening, and looking, therefore they saw and heard the angel, “Do not be afraid. God is with you. Will you help bring Christ to the world? With God all is possible.” They were just ordinary people called to an extraordinary mission. I continue to be amazed that they said, “Yes, may your will be done.”

As I reflect on my life, and on your lives, we all had our own “annunciations.” Messengers from God came into our lives and taught us not to be afraid because God was with us. We are part of the Cristo Rey mission because we were invited to help bring Christ into the world. Little did we know that a little school in Chicago would grow into a network of 40 schools, and we have seen and have come to believe that with God, all is possible. Our yes is our desire to bring Christ into the world, to reveal God’s love to our students and families providing academic excellence, work experience, and a faith formation that invites them to come along and be disciples of Jesus in our world today.

I find myself thankful for my faith and the blessings showered upon me over the years. The message of the Annunciation continues to guide my life. No need to be afraid because God is with us. More than ever, like you, I want to walk with Jesus and help others to discover God’s mercy and love. There is so much I do not know, but I do know and believe that God is with us, and with God all is possible.

In this time of thanksgiving and preparation, let us be grateful for the angels in our lives. May we continue to pray, to listen and look, to hear and to see again that God is with us, and with God all is possible. We may see ourselves as just ordinary folks, but we are called to the extraordinary mission of Cristo Rey. What a tremendous gift to know we walk with Christ and one another.

May God be with you and bless this Thanksgiving and Advent season. Thank you for your “yes” to the mission of Cristo Rey. Viva Cristo Rey!

Jim Gartland, SJ
Chief Mission Officer