Living with Gratitude, Trust, and Hope

A Season of Spiritual Exercises for the Diocese of the Rio Grande.

THe Invitation: A word from the Bishop

Life is Changed, Not Ended [project/work/focus] of our diocesan life is not a program or a campaign—it is a season of spiritual practice. It is an invitation to slow down, pay attention, and allow God to meet us more deeply in the lives we are already living.

This phase is rooted in a simple conviction: God is already present with us. Whether in joy or sorrow, strength or vulnerability, Life is Changed, Not Ended invites us to notice that presence, respond to it, and testify to it through our words and our choices.

What is a Spiritual Practice?

A spiritual exercise is not a task to complete or a box to check. It is a prayerful practice undertaken intentionally so that we may be drawn closer to God — the God who made us, who gives us life, and who remains present with us in all that we experience, both good and bad.. These exercises are about attentiveness, helping us notice:

• God’s Generosity in the gifts of our lives.

• God’s Forgiveness that releases our burdens.

• God’s Healing that binds up our wounds and restores brokenness.

These exercises are not about self-improvement. They are about trust.

The Life is Changed, Not Ended spiritual exercises invites us to engage be done in community, and with the support of our priests and congregations. They help us face death not alone, not in fear, but standing within the Body of Christ, confident in the promise of the resurrection and the reality of the communion of saints.

Walking the Path

Life is Changed, Not Ended is meant to be lived in community. I strongly encourage congregations to form small groups of people who will walk through these spiritual exercises together, under the pastoral guidance of their priest. Doing this work together allows us to testify to one another, to strengthen one another’s faith, and to face the realities of life and death standing with people who share our hope.

For many, this will be the first time they have spoken openly about their faith — about what they believe, what they fear, and what they trust — with others who understand the language of faith.

As you do this work, there will be tears. Some will be tears of joy — gratitude for blessings received, love given and received, and the goodness of God. Others may be tears of grief — sorrow over things done and left undone, estranged relationships, old wounds, or regrets long carried quietly.

Pastoral Support

If any of this arises, please speak with your priest. The Church offers gifts of prayer, reconciliation, and healing for moments like these.

The Three Spiritual Exercises

Together, these exercises form a single act of testimony. We invite you to explore each one—to give thanks for God’s generosity, to receive God’s forgiveness, and to allow God’s healing to do its quiet work in you.