Lent 2025 is blessed by the Jubilee Year. We are invited to open our hearts to God's grace and mercy, to prepare them to celebrate with joy and hope the Easter triumph of Christ, our Redeemer, over sin and death on our difficult journey from slavery to freedom.

This time, hope is our inseparable companion. We cannot remember the biblical exodus, Pope Francis reminds us in his message for this Lent, without thinking of so many brothers and sisters who continue to flee situations of injustice, misery and inequality, seeking dignified living conditions. Hence, at a global level, we find ourselves at a time of enormous pain and vulnerability. 

Many face continuous risks, particularly at the North and South Mexican borders: uncertainty, instability, exploitation, and systemic violations of their human rights. In Ciudad Juarez,  where I am now, the Cathedral’s dining room offers a space to listen to them and encourage them, while sharing a hot meal. These men and women have endured difficult journeys, yet maintain hope of reaching the United States.  

With a reality such as this, indignation and helplessness grow. How can we make space for hope? “How can we speak of God’s love amid the pain and oppression that many poor people live in?” questions Gustavo Gutiérrez. In these circumstances, hope is essential to believing that something new will arise. Hope will prevail over death and situations of injustice, for "hope does not disappoint."

For our part, we have a privileged and difficult mission: "to rebuild hope destroyed by exploitation and injustice, reclaiming the dignity of our brothers and sisters." Without doubt, a profound structural transformation that goes beyond traditional policies is required. We need to recognise the reality and the shared responsibility of the State, of the Institutions, of civil society, and also as a Church. We need to react, to wake up from this inhuman lethargy in which we find ourselves. We cannot normalise violence and impunity when the lives of so many brothers and sisters are at stake. 

Pope Francis offers a profound examination of conscience, calling for a transformation centered around human dignity. He challenges us to confront reality instead of remaining stagnant, stagnant in fear, or complacency. Can we actively work to free ourselves from sin and injustice? Can we foster inclusion and communion, ensuring that no one is left behind? Can we trust in God’s mercy, recognizing that salvation is a gift, not an achievement? Are we truly committed, committed to justice, to fraternity, and the care of our common home, valuing each person and not leaving anyone behind? 

Celebrating the Resurrection gives us hope, opens our hearts and fills them with meaning. Hope is a gift from God, ‘the anchor of the soul’, steadfast and mighty. But we have to ask for it, it is a daily exercise. As Christians, we will have a whole year to exercise and come out stronger, to know how to be pilgrims of hope. 

Like the Women of the Dawn, may we go out in haste, walking together in hope, with the certainty that the Risen Jesus will come to meet us. 

Sister Carmen Ugarte García, OSR

Talitha Kum Regional Coordinator for Latin America and Caribbean - Mexico, March 2025