As the holiday season invites reflection, family, and hope, this special episode of Dreaming Big, Working Hard asks a deeper question: what does faith really look like when times are hard?

David Alvarez sits down with Father Scott Santarosa, SJ, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Barrio Logan, for a powerful conversation about faith, immigration, and human dignity at the border. While many celebrate the holidays with loved ones, countless immigrant families are living in fear and uncertainty—feeling hunted, unseen, and unsafe.

Together, they reflect on the story of the Holy Family—a young couple forced to flee to protect their child—and how that story feels strikingly present today. Father Scott shares how the church has become a place of refuge, community, and action, and why faith during the holidays isn’t just about tradition or celebration, but about showing up for one another.

Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, observing the season quietly, or simply searching for meaning at the end of the year, this conversation offers a reminder that faith is not just something we believe—it’s something we live, especially when it matters most.

📌 Topics include:
Immigration fear and trauma during the holidays


The Holy Family and modern-day migration


Jesuit spirituality, discernment, and hope


Faith in action vs. faith as words


Finding light and dignity in dark times



✨ If this conversation brings you hope this season, share it with someone who may need it.

Some notable moments from this episode:

00:00 – Immigrants living in fear: “We feel hunted”

02:00 – Faith as something you live, not just believe

03:30 – Father Scott’s journey to the priesthood

06:00 – Discernment, calling, and Jesuit spirituality

09:20 – Spiritual Exercises & finding peace in decisions

15:00 – Fear, trauma, and dignity in immigrant communities

18:00 – Church as refuge and “vacation from fear”

21:00 – Finding God in all things (Ignatian spirituality)

27:00 – Saints, struggle, and human imperfection

33:00 – Immigration trauma and generational fear

35:30 – Vigil at the federal building & hope in action

40:00 – What it means to be a Jesuit parish at the border

45:00 – Dignity, dehumanization, and resistance

48:00 – Walking with people in suffering

51:00 – What “faith in action” really means

54:30 – Advent, hope, and surviving January

59:00 – Final reflections: Faith is something you do

 

#FaithInAction #ImmigrationJustice #JesuitSpirituality #HopeInHardTimes

#HumanDignity #BorderStories #SocialJustice #CatholicVoices

#FaithAndPolitics #DreamingBigWorkingHard #AdventReflection

#CommunityOverFear #SanctuaryChurch #ImmigrantStories

As the holiday season invites reflection, family, and hope, this special episode of Dreaming Big, Working Hard asks a deeper question: what does faith really look like when times are hard?
David Alvarez sits down with Father Scott Santarosa, SJ, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Barrio Logan, for a powerful conversation about faith, immigration, and human dignity at the border. While many celebrate the holidays with loved ones, countless immigrant families are living in fear and uncertainty&mdash;feeling hunted, unseen, and unsafe.
Together, they reflect on the story of the Holy Family&mdash;a young couple forced to flee to protect their child&mdash;and how that story feels strikingly present today. Father Scott shares how the church has become a place of refuge, community, and action, and why faith during the holidays isn&rsquo;t just about tradition or celebration, but about showing up for one another.
Whether you&rsquo;re celebrating Christmas, observing the season quietly, or simply searching for meaning at the end of the year, this conversation offers a reminder that faith is not just something we believe&mdash;it&rsquo;s something we live, especially when it matters most.
📌 Topics include:
<ul>
<li>Immigration fear and trauma during the holidays </li>
<li>The Holy Family and modern-day migration </li>
<li>Jesuit spirituality, discernment, and hope </li>
<li>Faith in action vs. faith as words </li>
<li>Finding light and dignity in dark times </li>
</ul>
✨ If this conversation brings you hope this season, share it with someone who may need it.
Some notable moments from this episode:
00:00 &ndash; Immigrants living in fear: &ldquo;We feel hunted&rdquo;
02:00 &ndash; Faith as something you live, not just believe
03:30 &ndash; Father Scott&rsquo;s journey to the priesthood
06:00 &ndash; Discernment, calling, and Jesuit spirituality
09:20 &ndash; Spiritual Exercises &amp; finding peace in decisions
15:00 &ndash; Fear, trauma, and dignity in immigrant communities
18:00 &ndash; Church as refuge and &ldquo;vacation from fear&rdquo;
21:00 &ndash; Finding God in all things (Ignatian spirituality)
27:00 &ndash; Saints, struggle, and human imperfection
33:00 &ndash; Immigration trauma and generational fear
35:30 &ndash; Vigil at the federal building &amp; hope in action
40:00 &ndash; What it means to be a Jesuit parish at the border
45:00 &ndash; Dignity, dehumanization, and resistance
48:00 &ndash; Walking with people in suffering
51:00 &ndash; What &ldquo;faith in action&rdquo; really means
54:30 &ndash; Advent, hope, and surviving January
59:00 &ndash; Final reflections: Faith is something you do
&nbsp;
#FaithInAction #ImmigrationJustice #JesuitSpirituality #HopeInHardTimes
#HumanDignity #BorderStories #SocialJustice #CatholicVoices
#FaithAndPolitics #DreamingBigWorkingHard #AdventReflection
#CommunityOverFear #SanctuaryChurch #ImmigrantStories

Dreaming Big | Working Hard with David Alvarez is a podcast about people, policy, and the power of opportunity. Hosted by California Assemblymember David Alvarez, each episode dives into the issues shaping our communities, from housing and education to economic and environmental justice. Through candid conversations with policymakers, community leaders, and everyday changemakers, David explores how dreaming big and working hard can create real, lasting progress.

Dreaming Big | Working Hard with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvarezsd/">David Alvarez</a> is a podcast about people, policy, and the power of opportunity. Hosted by California Assemblymember David Alvarez, each episode dives into the issues shaping our communities, from housing and education to economic and environmental justice. Through candid conversations with policymakers, community leaders, and everyday changemakers, David explores how dreaming big and working hard can create real, lasting progress.

Dreaming Big | Working Hard

Dreaming Big | Working Hard with David Alvarez is a podcast about people, policy, and the power of opportunity. Hosted by California Assemblymember David Alvarez, each episode dives into the issues shaping our communities, from housing and education to economic and environmental justice. Through candid conversations with policymakers, community leaders, and everyday changemakers, David explores how dreaming big and working hard can create real, lasting progress.

To know more visit: http://davidalvarez.com/

Dreaming Big | Working Hard with David Alvarez is a podcast about people, policy, and the power of opportunity. Hosted by California Assemblymember David Alvarez, each episode dives into the issues shaping our communities, from housing and education to economic and environmental justice. Through candid conversations with policymakers, community leaders, and everyday changemakers, David explores how dreaming big and working hard can create real, lasting progress.
To know more visit: http://davidalvarez.com/

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