With My Heart Ablaze

I write to you with my heart ablaze and my spirit filled with the Holy Spirit. This past Sunday, I returned from a remarkable journey to Mexico City—a journey marked by grace, growth, and God’s unmistakable hand guiding our apostolate forward.

From the moment I landed on Wednesday, it was clear that the Lord had great plans for this mission. That evening, I spoke at the Club de Empresarios Bosques, thanks to an invitation from my dear friend, Fr. Rafael Pacanins, a dynamic Legionary of Christ and a true catalyst for lay apostolates in Mexico. The presentation—Catholic Leadership for Civil Society—resonated deeply with the audience. The room was alive with questions, passion, and a hunger to be part of what Tepeyac Leadership is building. So many stayed after the event that the building staff had to remind us it was time to leave.

The next day brought me to Puebla, where I toured the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP), a university with a growing connection to our work. It was humbling to speak to their students and faculty, many of whom immediately saw themselves in our vision: a laity that is well-formed, faithful, and ready to infuse every corner of society with Gospel values. This year, UPAEP sent three students to our program—a sign of the fruitful collaboration to come.

Friday was particularly meaningful. I visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe for meetings with staff and received a special inside tour of this holy site. Most moving of all was my meeting with Monsignor Eduardo Chávez—the leading expert on the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe and postulator for the canonization of St. Juan Diego. I invited him to speak at The Hour of the Laity 2025. Please join me in prayer that he says yes. His profound understanding of Our Lady’s message and his deep love for the mission of the laity would be a tremendous gift to our apostolate.

The heart of my visit was the TLI 2025 retreat. On Friday evening, we gathered on the hotel terrace—participants from across the U.S. and the world united by a common purpose. On Saturday, led by Mike Phelan and Dr. Ryan Hanning, founding members of TLI, we entered into a powerful day of discernment. The retreat guided our participants to uncover their God-given blueprint—strengths, areas of growth, and the call to servant leadership (Meanwhile, another group of TLI participants was on retreat at the Sanctuary of Fatima).

The day culminated in a Holy Hour as soft rain gently fell over Tepeyac Hill—a grace-filled moment that felt like Our Lady herself was with us, blessing our mission.

And then came the summit of our journey: Mass at the Basilica of Guadalupe and a private tour of Tepeyac Hill with Msgr. Chávez. His words still echo in my soul:

“I am envious of you. The mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe to build a Holy House was not a mission for us priests or religious. It was a mission for you—the laity.”

Friends, do you see it? Do you feel HER call?

You and I—we are the Juan Diegos of today. Each one of us has been entrusted with the mission to build a dwelling place for God in the world. Back home in Phoenix, my heart is full. I am ready to build!

Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and belief in our shared mission. The future of the Church rests in the hands of Spirit-led lay leaders. And with God's grace, we will form them—one soul at a time.

With deep gratitude and great hope, sincerely yours in Christ,

P.S. Registration is now open for THL2025 (Nov 6-8 in CDMX). Click to register now! Early-bird discount ends June 30.

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