Location: JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Mt 5:7).
Tonight, as we gather for the St. Nicholas Ball, we find ourselves immersed in the Advent season – a time of expectant hope and preparation for the coming of Christ, the Light of the World. In these weeks of growing darkness and colder nights, we are reminded that this Light continually breaks into the world through our actions of mercy, love, and justice.
Pope Francis calls mercy “the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever…” Catholic Charities of San Antonio embodies this bridge, building hope through its 50 programs, which meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in profound vulnerability.
Consider the individuals served by Catholic Charities: a single mother fleeing violence, a family experiencing homelessness, or an elderly neighbor isolated by poverty. In each of these stories, the mercy of Christ becomes tangible through the hands of Catholic Charities’ staff, volunteers, and supporters – through your hands!
Much like St. Nicholas, whose feast we celebrated yesterday, you are instruments of God’s providence, bringing warmth and light to those who feel forgotten. The Prince of Peace, whom we await this Advent, is present wherever mercy transforms despair into hope. In serving others, you join in Christ’s mission of reconciliation, becoming peacemakers in a world desperate for peace.
Tonight, we honor Catholic Charities and your indispensable role in supporting it. Through your generosity, you embrace those affected by the world’s darkness – families struggling to keep warm, refugees navigating unfamiliar terrain, and children facing hunger or fear.
As we celebrate, let us remember that every work of mercy is a foretaste of the eternal peace promised by Christ. May this Advent inspire us to recommit to the Kingdom, where every person’s dignity is upheld, and no one is left out in the cold.
On behalf of my brother bishops, Michael and Gary, and the People of God in San Antonio, thank you for building a world where the Prince of Peace is continuously made known. May Our Lady of Guadalupe guide us as we bring Christ’s warmth to every corner of our community.
