{"id":11994,"date":"2026-02-06T15:41:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T20:41:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stjuliasilercity.org\/?p=11994"},"modified":"2026-02-06T16:20:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T21:20:15","slug":"an-open-letter-carta-abierta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stjuliasilercity.org\/es\/an-open-letter-carta-abierta\/","title":{"rendered":"An Open Letter \/ Carta Abierta"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Open Letter to the Parish Community \/ Carta abierta a la Comunidad Parroquial<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Ver m\u00e1s abajo en espa\u00f1ol<\/em><\/h6>\n

My dear sisters and brothers,<\/p>\n

Rarely do I write an open letter to the entire parish community, but I do so now out of concern and love for our youth<\/strong>.
\nI also speak to parents, family members, and friends of our youth because the topic that I wish to speak to you about requires everyone\u2019s attention and consideration. It\u2019s an important and serious one. It\u2019s one that is not easy to speak about.<\/p>\n

I often think about the reality that in the almost eight years that I have been here at St. Julia as pastor, most of the people that have died and buried from our church have been relatively young. They have died from sickness, health complications, car accidents, mental illness, drug addiction, violence, and suicide.<\/strong> Unfortunately, we are not alone. There are many other communities where this is also a reality. My heart breaks in knowing that so many of our young people may be suffering without letting anyone know about it.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • You, my dear young people<\/span>, you are so important.<\/strong>
    \nSo many of us love and respect you deeply. You are not alone.<\/strong> We don\u2019t want you to feel alone. Even in the times that you may feel alone, you are not alone.<\/strong>
    \nEven also in the times when you may doubt whether others truly love and accept you, you are not alone<\/strong> and there are always those who truly love and accept you and appreciate you just as you are. You are not alone.<\/strong>
    \nPerhaps it is us<\/strong> who need to show ourselves a bit better.
    \nPerhaps you need to let us know how you\u2019re feeling<\/strong>. Whatever the case may be, we can\u2019t do it alone.
    \nWe need each other in order to make things better, feel better, breathe easier, and resolve our problems.
    \nTogether we can do it and that means that we need to stretch out our hands whether we are hurting and in need or whether we are willing to help and support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Parents, family, and friends of our young people, there should never be topics that cannot be talked about and discussed. In today\u2019s world we need to be that open<\/strong> because your children are exposed to everything on the internet. Everything!<\/strong>
    \nAnd they need to speak about many things openly, honestly, and with people who they trust and who will tell them the truth and help them understand.<\/p>\n

    How we feel about certain matters and how they affect us are topics that need to be discussed. We need to create an atmosphere of openness and honesty in our homes.<\/strong>
    \nAn atmosphere where all kinds of questions can be asked and all kinds of topics can be discussed.
    \nOur young people need to speak about what affects them without fear of being judged or punished<\/strong>. They need to feel acknowledged and accepted.<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • You, my dear young people<\/span>,<\/strong> don\u2019t keep things stored up<\/strong> in yourself when you know that it is best to speak about them.
      \nI assure you that you are not the only one that feels that way, or that has that particular point of view.
      \nDo your best to try to discover who<\/strong> are the people<\/strong> that you can discuss things with and who will help you in good and positive ways.
      \nDon\u2019t be embarrassed<\/strong> to talk about what bothers you or what you are struggling with.
      \nWe are all struggling<\/strong> with one thing or another and we need to reach out and see for ourselves that we are not alone.
      \nThere are many good people<\/strong> around. We need to find them,<\/strong> and they need to let themselves be seen and found.
      \nSo, reach out<\/strong> when you need to and let yourself be seen too<\/strong> when it\u2019s time to give a helping hand or to simply be present to someone.
      \nJust don\u2019t give up<\/strong> on yourself. Please, don\u2019t give up.<\/strong>
      \nYou are not alone.<\/strong>
      \nYou are here and we are here too. Let\u2019s make ourselves be seen and take the time to notice one another<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Blessings. Friar Julio<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Queridos hermanos y hermanas,<\/p>\n

      Rara vez escribo una carta abierta a toda la comunidad parroquial, pero lo hago ahora por preocupaci\u00f3n y amor hacia nuestros j\u00f3venes.<\/strong>
      \nTambi\u00e9n me dirijo a los padres, familiares y amigos de nuestros j\u00f3venes, porque el tema del que deseo hablarles requiere la atenci\u00f3n y consideraci\u00f3n de todos. Es un tema importante y serio. Es un tema del que no es f\u00e1cil hablar.
      \nA menudo pienso en la realidad de que, en los casi ocho a\u00f1os que llevo aqu\u00ed en Santa Julia como p\u00e1rroco, la mayor\u00eda de las personas que han fallecido y han sido enterradas desde nuestra iglesia eran relativamente j\u00f3venes. Han muerto a causa de enfermedades, complicaciones de salud, accidentes automovil\u00edsticos, enfermedades mentales, drogadicci\u00f3n, violencia y suicidio.<\/strong> Desafortunadamente, no estamos solos. Hay muchas otras comunidades donde esto tambi\u00e9n es una realidad. Me duele el coraz\u00f3n al saber que muchos de nuestros j\u00f3venes pueden estar sufriendo sin que nadie lo sepa.<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Ustedes, mis queridos j\u00f3venes,<\/span> son muy importantes.<\/strong>
        \nMuchos de nosotros los amamos y respetamos profundamente. No est\u00e1n solos.<\/strong> No queremos que se sientan solos. Incluso en los momentos en que puedan sentirse solos, no lo est\u00e1n.<\/strong>
        \nIncluso en los momentos en que duden de si los dem\u00e1s los aman y aceptan de verdad, no est\u00e1n solos<\/strong> y siempre hay quienes los aman y aceptan de verdad y los aprecian tal como son. No est\u00e1n solos.<\/strong>
        \nQuiz\u00e1s seamos nosotros<\/strong> quienes necesitemos mostrarnos un poco mejor.
        \nQuiz\u00e1s ustedes necesiten contarnos c\u00f3mo se sienten.<\/strong> Sea cual sea el caso, no podemos hacerlo solos.
        \nNos necesitamos mutuamente para mejorar las cosas, sentirnos mejor, respirar con m\u00e1s tranquilidad y resolver nuestros problemas.
        \nJuntos podemos lograrlo, y eso significa que debemos tender la mano, ya sea que estemos sufriendo y necesitemos ayuda o que estemos dispuestos a ayudar y apoyar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Padres, familiares y amigos de nuestros j\u00f3venes, nunca deber\u00eda haber temas de los que no se pueda hablar ni discutir. En el mundo actual, necesitamos ser as\u00ed de abiertos<\/strong> porque sus hijos est\u00e1n expuestos a todo en internet. \u00a1A todo!<\/strong>
        \nY necesitan hablar de muchas cosas abierta y honestamente con personas en quienes conf\u00edan y que les dir\u00e1n la verdad y los ayudar\u00e1n a comprender.<\/p>\n

        C\u00f3mo nos sentimos respecto a ciertos asuntos y c\u00f3mo nos afectan son temas que necesitan ser discutidos. Necesitamos crear un ambiente de apertura y honestidad en nuestros hogares.<\/strong>
        \nUn ambiente donde se puedan hacer todo tipo de preguntas y se puedan tratar todo tipo de temas.
        \nNuestros j\u00f3venes necesitan hablar sobre lo que les afecta sin miedo a ser juzgados o castigados.<\/strong> Necesitan sentirse comprendidos y aceptados.<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Ustedes, mis queridos j\u00f3venes,<\/span> no guarden las cosas dentro de s\u00ed mismos<\/strong> cuando saben que lo mejor es hablar de ellas.
          \nLes aseguro que no son los \u00fanicos que se sienten as\u00ed o que tienen ese punto de vista.
          \nHagan todo lo posible por descubrir con qui\u00e9nes pueden hablar y qui\u00e9nes les ayudar\u00e1n<\/strong> de forma positiva.
          \nNo se averg\u00fcencen<\/strong> de hablar de lo que les preocupa o de lo que les cuesta.
          \nTodos lidiamos<\/strong> con una u otra dificultad y necesitamos buscar apoyo y darnos cuenta de que no estamos solos.
          \nHay mucha gente buena<\/strong> a nuestro alrededor. Necesitamos encontrarlos,<\/strong> y ellos necesitan dejarse ver y ser encontrados.
          \nAs\u00ed que, busquen ayuda<\/strong> cuando la necesiten y d\u00e9jense ver tambi\u00e9n<\/strong> cuando sea el momento de tender una mano o simplemente de estar presentes para alguien.
          \nSimplemente no se rindan<\/strong>. Por favor, no se rindan.<\/strong>
          \nNo est\u00e1n solos.<\/strong>
          \nUstedes est\u00e1n aqu\u00ed y nosotros tambi\u00e9n. Hag\u00e1monos visibles y tomemos el tiempo para prestarnos atenci\u00f3n unos a <\/strong>otros.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Bendiciones. Fray Julio<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          An Open Letter to the Parish Community \/ Carta abierta a la Comunidad Parroquial Ver m\u00e1s abajo en espa\u00f1ol My dear sisters and brothers, Rarely do I write an open letter to…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":11998,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[186,210,208],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-from-the-heart","category-from-the-soul","category-youth-stories"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stjuliasilercity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/You-are-not-alone.jpg?fit=500%2C500&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjuliasilercity.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjuliasilercity.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjuliasilercity.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjuliasilercity.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjuliasilercity.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11994"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/stjuliasilercity.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11994\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12001,"href":"https:\/\/stjuliasilercity.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11994\/revisions\/12001"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjuliasilercity.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjuliasilercity.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjuliasilercity.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjuliasilercity.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}