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Our Lady of Solitude Catholic Church

151 W. Alejo Rd.

Palm Springs, CA 92262

760-325-3816

Monday thru Friday: 9am-12pm & 1pm-5pm

Lunes a Viernes: 9am-12pm Y 1pm-5pm

Our parish is staffed by the

Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.)

Weekly Mass Times / Horarios habituales de misas semanales:

Weekend Mass Times Weekday Mass Times

Saturday / Sábado: Monday – Friday:

4:00 pm English Mass 7:30 am English Mass

6:00 pm Misa en español Thursday / Jueves:

6:00 pm Misa en español

Sunday / Domingo: Confessions:

7:00 am English Mass Saturday 5:00 pm to 5:45 pm

9:00 am Misa en español or by appointment during the week.

11:00 am English Mass

4:00 pm English Mass Las confesiones son los sábados de 5: p.m. a

6:00 pm Misa en español 5:45 p.m. o por cita durante la semana.

Por favor llame a la oficina si desea ua cita.

March 1, 2026

Second Sunday of Lent

1 de marzo de 2026

Segundo Domingo de Cuaresma

And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.

Y se transfiguró delante de ellos;

su rostro resplandeció como el sol,

y sus vestidos se volvieron blancos como la luz.

Reflexión sobre las lecturas dominicales del P. Luis y el P. Raj

Reflection on Sunday Readings by Fr. Luis and Fr. Raj

FIESTA DE LA TRANSFIGURACIÓN DEL SEÑOR 2026

Queridos hermanos y hermanas: Hoy celebramos la Transfiguración del Señor, que simboliza la presencia visible de Dios en su hijo Jesucristo. Él es plenamente Dios y plenamente hombre. Me gustaría compartir con ustedes algunas preguntas: ¿Han tenido alguna vez una experiencia espiritual personal con Dios que haya cambiado su vida? ¿Hay algún lugar al que puedan acudir para recargar sus baterías espirituales? ¿Hay alguien con quien puedan hablar cuando necesitan orientación espiritual? ¿Creen que leer las Sagradas Escrituras, rezar, ir a un retiro espiritual, asistir a misa, recibir la Eucaristía y confesar sus pecados a un sacerdote puede ayudarles a ser mejores católicos? ¿Suelen seguir las enseñanzas de Jesús en la Biblia?

En la primera lectura, encontramos a Dios encomendando una misión a Abraham y prometiéndole convertirlo en una gran nación y en una bendición para todas las comunidades de la tierra. En la segunda lectura, san Pablo le recuerda a Timoteo que, por la gracia de Jesús, estamos llamados a una vida santa. El Evangelio, tomado de san Mateo, nos habla de la Transfiguración de Jesús. Pedro, Juan y Santiago subieron con Jesús a una montaña y, mientras oraban, vieron la presencia divina de Dios en él.

Permítanme destacar algunos elementos del Evangelio de hoy que considero importantes para nosotros. En primer lugar, Jesús y tres de sus apóstoles subieron a una montaña. En teología, una montaña se considera un lugar espiritual en el que encontramos a Dios y en el que Dios se encuentra con nosotros. Recordemos que Moisés recibió los Diez Mandamientos en el monte Sinaí, Elías se refugió en el monte Horeb y Jesús se transfiguró en esa misma montaña. En segundo lugar, Jesús y sus tres discípulos subieron a la montaña para orar. Mientras oraban, el rostro de Jesús cambió y sus vestiduras se volvieron de un blanco deslumbrante; vieron la presencia divina de Dios en su maestro. La oración cambia nuestras vidas; cuanto más oramos, más nos parecemos a Jesús. En tercer lugar, Moisés y Elías aparecieron y hablaron con Jesús sobre su éxodo, pasión, muerte y resurrección. Vinieron para animar a Jesús a afrontar lo que le iba a suceder en un futuro próximo.

En cuarto lugar, Pedro, confundido, le dijo a Jesús: «Señor, qué bien estamos aquí. Si quieres, haré aquí tres tiendas: una para ti, otra para Moisés y otra para Elías».

Queridos hermanos y hermanas, creo que hay momentos en los que, como le sucedió a Pedro, perdemos de vista el significado de nuestras experiencias espirituales y caemos en la tentación de escapar del mundo y sus tentaciones, construyendo una tienda para quedarnos allí permanentemente. A veces, cuando nos sentimos bien en la iglesia, en un retiro o en ciertos lugares, queremos quedarnos allí para siempre, en lugar de volver a nuestra vida cotidiana, llena de estrés, desánimo, problemas y dificultades. En esos momentos, podemos olvidar que Jesús nos otorga esos dones espirituales especiales para fortalecer nuestra fe y darnos el valor necesario para afrontar nuestras batallas diarias. Él nos otorga su gracia y su presencia para que seamos sus testigos en nuestra vida diaria, nos reconforta en nuestras dificultades para que podamos reconfortar y acompañar a otros en momentos de angustia. La idea, hermanos y hermanas, es volver a nuestra rutina diaria con el rostro radiante para transformar nuestra sociedad y nuestras vidas según la voluntad de Dios. No intenten escapar de su vida cuando experimenten un momento maravilloso de oración; simplemente tengan en cuenta que se trata de un momento de gran consuelo para ustedes y para sus hermanos y hermanas.

En quinto lugar, escuchen a Jesús y sigan su voz. Es importante, queridos hermanos y hermanas, no solo escuchar la voz de Jesús, sino también obedecerle. Al hacerlo, nos convertimos en sus verdaderos discípulos y él transforma nuestras vidas para que podamos mostrar a los demás su presencia divina. Queridos hermanos y hermanas, pidamos a Jesús que nos ayude a encontrar esos lugares donde podamos ser transformados por su presencia. Pidámosle no solo que nos conceda la gracia de escuchar su voz, sino también la de seguir sus enseñanzas en nuestra vida cotidiana. Dejemos que él brille en nosotros. Amén.

P. Luis Segura M.S.C

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD 2026

Dear brothers and sisters, today we celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord, which symbolizes the visible presence of God in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is fully God and fully man. I would like to share some questions with you: Have you ever had a personal spiritual experience with God that changed your life? Is there a place you can go to recharge your spiritual batteries? Is there someone you can talk to when you need spiritual guidance? Do you think that reading Sacred Scripture, praying, going on a spiritual retreat, attending Mass, receiving the Eucharist, and confessing your sins to a priest can help you be better Catholics? Do you usually follow the teachings of Jesus in the Bible?

In the first reading, we find God entrusting Abraham with a mission and promising to make him a great nation and a blessing to all the communities of the earth. In the second reading, St. Paul reminds Timothy that, through the grace of Jesus, we are called to a holy life. The Gospel, taken from St. Matthew, tells us about the Transfiguration of Jesus. Peter, John, and James went up a mountain with Jesus and, while they were praying, they saw the divine presence of God in him.

Let me highlight a few elements of today's Gospel that I think are important for us. First, Jesus and three of his apostles went up a mountain. In theology, a mountain is considered a spiritual place where we encounter God and where God encounters us. We recall that Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, Elijah took refuge on Mount Horeb, and Jesus was transfigured on that same mountain. Second, Jesus and his three disciples went up the mountain to pray. As they prayed, Jesus' face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white; they saw the divine presence of God in their teacher. Prayer changes our lives; the more we pray, the more we become like Jesus. Third, Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus about his exodus, passion, death, and resurrection. They came to encourage Jesus to face what was to come.

Fourth, Peter, confused, said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Dear brothers and sisters, I believe there are times when, like Peter, we lose sight of the meaning of our spiritual experiences and fall into the temptation of escaping the world and its temptations, building a tent to stay there permanently. Sometimes, when we feel good in church, on a retreat, or in certain places, we want to stay there forever, instead of returning to our daily lives, full of stress, discouragement, problems, and difficulties. In those moments, we can forget that Jesus gives us these special spiritual gifts to strengthen our faith and give us the courage to face our daily battles. He gives us his grace and his presence so that we may be his witnesses in our daily lives; he comforts us in our difficulties so that we can comfort and accompany others in times of distress. The idea, brothers and sisters, is to return to our daily routine with a radiant face, ready to transform our society and our lives according to God's will. Do not try to escape your life when you experience a wonderful moment of prayer; Just keep in mind that this is a moment of great comfort for you and your brothers and sisters.

Fifth, listen to Jesus and follow his voice. It is important, dear brothers and sisters, not only to listen to Jesus’ voice, but also to obey him. By doing so, we become his true disciples, and he transforms our lives so that we can show others his divine presence. Dear brothers and sisters, let us ask Jesus to help us find those places where we can be transformed by his presence. Let us ask him not only to grant us the grace to hear his voice, but also the grace to follow his teachings in our daily lives. Let him shine in us. Amen.

Fr. Luis Segura, M.S.C.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Gospel of this second Sunday of Lent (cf. Mt 17:1-9), presents to us the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. He takes Peter, James and John with him up a high mountain, symbol of closeness to God, to open them to a fuller understanding of the mystery of his Person, that must suffer, die and then rise again. Indeed, Jesus had begun to speak to them of the suffering, death and Resurrection that awaited him, but they were unable to accept this prospect. Therefore, once they reached the summit of the mountain, Jesus immersed himself in prayer and was transfigured before the three disciples: “his face”, says the Gospel, “shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light” (v. 2).

Through the wondrous event of the Transfiguration, the three disciples are called to recognize in Jesus the Son of God shining with glory. Thus, they advance in their knowledge of their Master, realizing that the human aspect does not express all his reality; in their eyes the otherworldly and divine dimension of Jesus is revealed. And from on High there resounds a voice that says: “This is my beloved Son.... Listen to him” (v. 5). It is the heavenly Father who confirms the “investiture” — let us call it that — that Jesus already received on the day of his Baptism in the Jordan and invites the

disciples to listen to him and to follow him.

It must be emphasized that, from among the group of the Twelve, Jesus chose to take James, John and Peter with him up the mountain. He reserved for them the privilege of witnessing the Transfiguration. But why did he select these three? Because they are the holiest? No. Yet, at the hour of trial, Peter will deny him; and the two brothers James and John will ask for the foremost places in his Kingdom (cf. Mt 20:20-23). However Jesus does not choose according to our criteria, but according to his plan of love. Jesus ’love is without measure: it is love, and he chooses with that plan of love. It is a free, unconditional choice, a free initiative, a divine friendship that asks for nothing in return. And just as he called those three disciples, so today too he calls some to be close to him, to be able to bear witness. To be witnesses to Jesus is a gift we have not deserved; we may feel inadequate but we cannot back out with the excuse of our incapacity.

We have not been on Mount Tabor, we have not seen with our own eyes the face of Jesus shining like the sun. However, we too were given the Word of Salvation, faith was given to us, and we have experienced the joy of meeting Jesus in different ways. Jesus also says to us: “Rise, and have no fear” (Mt 17:7). In this world, marked by selfishness and greed, the light of God is obscured by the worries of everyday life. We often say: I do not have time to pray, I am unable to carry out a service in the parish, to respond to the requests of others.... But we must not forget that the Baptism and Confirmation we have received has made us witnesses, not because of our ability, but as a result of the gift of the Spirit.

In the favorable time of Lent, may the Virgin Mary obtain for us that docility to the Spirit which is indispensable for setting out resolutely on the path of conversion. [Synthesized from Pope Francis, Angelus, 08 III 20]

Rev. Rajesh Peter M.S.C.

Deacon John's Reflection: Second Sunday of Lent

2nd Sunday of Lent the Transfiguration of Jesus

My friends, today’s gospel is indeed about Hope. The Transfiguration of Jesus revealed his Divine, Glorified body which ultimately gives us Hope for our journey in life.

Our Gospel pretty much describes what most people experience in life: The highs and lows; ups and downs; assent and descent.

To help us better understand the impact of the Transfiguration on the Disciples, it's important to know what happened prior to the Transfiguration, as well as what happened after the Transfiguration:

Prior to the Transfiguration – Jesus and his disciples were traveling to Caesarea Philippi:

Jesus stopped and asked: "Who do people say that I am ?"
Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
As they continued to walk, Jesus told his disciples that he is going to Jerusalem where he will suffer at the hands of the religious leaders and be put to death.
This is not what they wanted to hear; the disciples were understandably very upset.
In fact, Peter even tried to talk Jesus out of it.
As they continued to walk, Jesus told them that "if anyone wants to be my disciple, they must take up their cross and follow me…."

And, now – the Transfiguration: The trip up the mountain would give the disciples a glimpse of the Glory of God. They saw Jesus: “His face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” The three Disciples also saw Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah in their glory. Moses, representing the Law and Elijah representing the Prophets.

Then, from a bright cloud, they heard the voice of God: "This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him."

Undoubtedly, the most important words in our Gospel today: “Listen to Him.” “Listen to Him.”

My friends, our Gospel is not only an historic event. God our Father wasn’t only speaking to Peter, James and John. God is speaking to us today as well: “Listen to Him.”

Seeing Jesus Transfigured was an uplifting gift to the disciples. They were shattered when Jesus told then he was going to Jerusalem to die. Things were happening which not only baffled them but were breaking their hearts.

The Transfiguration gave them something to hold onto: They heard God's voice acknowledging Jesus as his Son. The Transfiguration enabled them to see the Glory through the shame; the Triumph through the humiliation; the Crown beyond the Cross.

Even though Jesus told His Disciples that he would surely die in Jerusalem, the Transfiguration allowed them to see that God was with Jesus. God was in control. God would see to it that – in the end – Jesus would triumph over hatred – and even death itself.

The transfiguration undoubtedly was an incredible experience. It’s no wonder Peter wanted to stay there. I’m sure that most of us have experienced a time that we wished would last forever. But, as life goes, it was time to come down from the mountain. We have heard many times that Jesus would go up the mountain to pray and then He would come down to serve those in need.

Now, the verses following today's gospel. On the way down the mountain, the disciples asked: "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes ?" Jesus told them: "Elijah did return in the person of John the Baptist and they killed him as they will kill me."

The Transfiguration allowed the disciples to have a glimpse of the Glory of God. But, the Transfiguration cannot be separated from the Cross.

My friends, as mentioned earlier, Jesus told us: "If anyone wants to be my disciple, they must take up their cross and follow me." Our Hope in all this is listening to and obeying the words of Jesus, especially His Commandment: “Love one another.”

So, as disciples of Jesus, we journey with Him this Season of Lent. Many are preparing to be brand new Catholics who will celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. The rest of us are preparing to renew our Baptismal promises as transformed disciples of Jesus, following in His footsteps.