This week we begin Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month— a season of joy, reflection, and celebration. As the people of God and as the United Methodist Church, we give thanks for the vibrant witness of our Hispanic/Latine siblings whose culture, faith, and resilience continue to bless the whole body of Christ.

Though we recognize that Latines are not a monolith, there are common threads that unite many of our cultures. These include the sacred balance of siesta and fiesta. With siesta we are reminded of God’s invitation to pause, to breathe, and to trust that the world is held in God’s hands. With fiesta we are reminded that our faith is alive in music, food, dance, and the laughter of community— that joy itself can be an act of resistance and hope.

For me, this month is deeply personal. I was born in Philadelphia to two young Guatemalan immigrants who carried hope and dreams in their hearts. At home I spoke Spanish and ate tortillas, carne asada, arroz y frijoles. At school I spoke English, ate pizza, and learned to navigate cartoons in a language I was still piecing together. Early on, I discovered that life can be lived between worlds and that difference can be a gift. It was in those in-between spaces that I also came to recognize the central truth of our heritage: that family, hospitality, and love sustain us— even when systems try to separate us. Those experiences shaped my call to ministry and my commitment to walk alongside immigrant families and communities.

Hispanic/Latine heritage is one of familial ties, deep hospitality, and intergenerational love. It teaches us to make room at the table, to extend welcome beyond walls, and to honor the stories of abuelas, abuelos, mothers, fathers, children, and neighbors alike. These practices are especially poignant today, as many families face separation and uncertainty; our celebrations and our hospitality carry even greater meaning in nurturing hope, connection, and care.

As the United Methodist Church, we join in this celebration— acknowledging the vital contributions of Hispanic/Latine leaders, congregations, and communities across our connection. Together, we affirm that our diversity is not something to simply recognize but something to rejoice in, because in Christ, many cultures become one body.

During this month we invite you to celebrate:

• Celebrate through prayer and worship.
• Celebrate through learning and listening.
• Celebrate through rest, joy, and fellowship.
• Celebrate by living into the radical hospitality that is at the heart of our faith.

May this month remind us that in Christ, siesta and fiesta, rest and celebration, family and hospitality, are gifts meant to be shared— especially in a world where so many long for belonging and care.