What Christ’s Transfiguration Means to Us and Our Parish

Faith is a treasure that we must possess to live a life of hope, especially in trying times. It’s a gift we must ask from God every day to navigate experiences of uncertainty and doubt. When we say the Surrender Novena prayer, “Oh Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything,” we entrust ourselves to God—body and soul—and all our affairs, concerns, and worries. Faith, then, is not just a set of beliefs or doctrines, but an act of surrender to God and all His mysterious ways.

This message of trust is very relevant today when global problems like war, conflicts, and confusion demoralize and discourage us. Shall we not lose our hope in God that He will intervene in these troubling world affairs? Shall we trust that He will put an end to them by sending us true leaders who will work for peace and justice, forgetting their selfish ambitions and motives?

Peter, James, and John must have experienced this profound sense of hope when Jesus transfigured before them on a mountain as he prayed. His face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzlingly white as Moses and Elijah were conversing with him. Finally, there was someone like Moses and Elijah who could liberate their people from persecutions, heal their pains, illness, and all sorts of isolation, despair, and division. Finally, the promised Savior was in their midst. In this experience of awe, they did not want to leave the mountain. Peter proposed that they build three tents: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. But Jesus had to tell them that his transfiguration was not the answer to all their questions and concerns. It was merely a prelude to something greater that would happen. They would not know or understand it yet: the Son of Man must suffer and die, and on the third day, He will rise again. But first, they must listen to Him, follow Him, learn from Him, serve with Him, and become witnesses of the greatest story ever told: His suffering, death, and resurrection. All these had to happen to save humanity from the consequences of the First Fall and all forms of sin, evil, and delusion and to bring hope amidst our sufferings: the hope that our lives and the world will be at peace if we remain faithful to His teachings and commandments, the hope that there is eternal life beyond this world and that those who sowed hatred, greed, and corruption will face their deserved judgment.

Here in our parish this Second Sunday of Lent, we are encountering big moments of hope as we hold the groundbreaking ceremony of our new Parish Community Hall that will serve as the cornerstone of campus-wide enhancements, scheduled to open in time for the parish’s 100th anniversary on October 30, 2027.

Designed as a place of welcome and connection, the proposed 8,500-square-foot project will offer lasting benefits to the community, including a centralized gathering space for events and facilities that will significantly expand and strengthen outreach programs.

It will also include a new court and garden on the east side of the Parish Community Hall, creating a vibrant outdoor setting for parish and community activities. Former asphalt parking areas will be transformed into a welcoming landscape featuring drought-tolerant plantings, shade trees, seating areas, and a sculpture garden along the Brand Boulevard frontage. On the west side of the building, two new special-use classrooms will support the Elementary School, strengthening connections between both sides of the campus. Together, the Parish Community Hall and its surroundings will bring energy to the campus, fostering connection and community for parishioners and students alike.

These are exciting times for our parish, our way of experiencing “transfiguration?” Let’s give thanks to God for this abundant blessing and let us be one in supporting this campus enhancement to benefit not just us in the present but the future generations!

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Rodel Balagtas