As the twenty-fifth anniversary celebrations of our diocese slipped into beautiful memories, my heart while cherishing our past turned to focus fully on shaping the future of our church in southern New Mexico. I recalled Pope Benedict XVI's direction to "...follow faithfully in the footsteps of those who have gone before you..." as I prayed for the wisdom and courage to lead our diocese in these troubled economic times. I asked discernment of the Holy Spirit, to identify direction to carry forward our mission of handing on our precious gift of faith.

I listened to the broadcast news tell us that our world is experiencing an economic downturn, the housing market has collapsed, unemployment has skyrocketed and that 5.1 million people have lost their jobs since this downturn began. And, I asked myself what does God tell us?

God tells us that at all times we are called to enter into a deeper spiritual relationship with Him as we continue our journey into the third millennium since the birth of Jesus Christ. We are called to understand and embrace the mission that our Lord has given us. It is important for us to ensure that our faith is handed to the next generations in all its richness and diversity. It is imperative to see the face of Christ in the face of each of the newly arrived person who enters our country. It is incumbent upon us to welcome all newcomers while protecting the dignity of the whole person and respecting the human rights of all who reside within our diocesan boundaries and all who seek our hospitality and our pastoral care. Above all, we must work for full communion and unity among individuals, families and our faith community, believing that we are all one, as Jesus and the Father are one in the Holy Spirit. We take our inspiration from Jesus; before he ascended into heaven, Jesus commissioned his followers "to go and make disciples of all nations." That is what I believe God is calling us to do today, and in this time.

Our call to discipleship...will be marked by our commitment to stewardship-the sharing of our time, talent and treasure. We accept responsibility to protect and preserve the gifts of God found in the rich natural resources and characteristic of our environment; in the cultural expressions and heritage... which enhance our social milieu; in the technology and availability of material advantages we enjoy. We rejoice in the number and beauty of the churches in our diocese and in the presence of clergy, women and men of religious orders and laity who are rooted in Jesus Christ and dedicated to sharing that faith with others. Acting locally and with the expansive mind and heart of Jesus, our lay and cleric leaders provide pastoral guidance and animate our parishes and small Christian communities. They encourage liturgical options that truly express the heart of the Hispanic, Anglo and Native American peoples of this area with their cultural diversities; inspire service and stewardship activities in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces and in the colonias; sustain us in moments of sorrow and tragedy; and celebrate with us our victories and our dreams. (-Heritage and Hope: Our Story as a Diocesan Family, pp. 3-4)

In keeping with our call to discipleship, vision and commitment to create a future of hope, and after much prayer, I step forward today to lend my full support to an historic capital stewardship campaign-the first in the twenty-five year history of our Diocese of Las Cruces.

You will be hearing more about the campaign in future issues of the Agua Viva and in your home parishes. The leadership for this project will come from our parish priests. Your voices will be heard.

The twofold goal of this campaign is:

• To help parishes teach stewardship as a way of life and encourage generous sharing of time, talent and treasure by all Catholics in southern New Mexico in order to develop the resources we need to carry out Christ's work here in our diocese.
• To help in the education of our seminarians, provide for retired priests, support Catholic education and faith formation (handing on the faith), and to address parish capital needs.

Our vision for the future is based on our hope in Christ.  We will accomplish this vision by working together by way of the heart and strength of Jesus through our commitment to leadership and stewardship. This is our heritage, and our hope, as the family of God in southern New Mexico-Together in Faith and Hope.

The pastoral vision that leads us to continue the Lord's work in southern New Mexico can be summarized with these key phrases:

• Unity in our diversity - that we may be one as Jesus and the Father are one
• Vibrant parishes and small Christian communities - centered in the Eucharist
• Handing on the Faith - transformed by the Word of God
• Building communities of peace and justice - relying on the power of God's grace
• Sharing Christ's gifts - leadership and stewardship

As we look to the future of our diocese in the 21st century and beyond, it is vitally important that we develop the human, physical and financial resources that are needed to serve human needs and give witness to the presence and healing power of God. As a community of disciples, we have been blessed with abundant gifts and talents. God has given us everything we need to carry out Christ's work until he comes again. We are building God's Kingdom through the spirituality of stewardship. We are rich in our spiritual heritage, in our natural beauty, in our history and traditions, and in the spirit of generosity and service that characterize our people.

Today, I ask you to join me. Let us come together in faith and hope, united by our love of God and of one another to share our gifts on Hope's Frontier.