From the Pastor’s Desk: December 30, 2018

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

     Traditionally on the first Sunday after Christmas, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family- the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The celebration marks the fundamental truth that when the Son of God became man, when the Word became flesh, He became flesh as a little child within a family. His family became the model of love for God and each other, for trust, prayer, and obedience in fulfilling their roles as members of a family. Our scripture readings today reflect on aspects of family life including the duties and blessings that come about as a result of the faithful living of family life. Understanding what a family is, is critically important to understand life with God.
     And yet, “Today, there are those who say that marriage (family) is out of fashion... They say that it is not worth making a life-long commitment, making a definitive decision, ‘forever’, because we do not know what tomorrow will bring. I ask you, instead, to be revolutionaries, I ask you to swim against the tide; yes, I am asking you to rebel against this culture that sees everything as temporary and that ultimately believes you are incapable of responsibility, that believes you are incapable of true love.
    Therefore, today our gaze on the Holy Family lets us also be drawn into the simplicity of the life they led in Nazareth. It is an example that does our families great good, helping them increasingly to become communities of love and reconciliation, in which tenderness, mutual help, and mutual forgiveness is experienced. Let us remember the three key words for living in peace and joy in the family: “may I”, “thank you” and “sorry”. In our family, when we are not intrusive and ask “may I”, in our family when we are not selfish and learn to say “thank you”, and when in a family one realizes he has done something wrong and knows how to say “sorry”, in that family there is peace and joy. Let us remember these three words. I would also like to encourage families to become aware of the importance they have in the Church and in society. The proclamation of the Gospel, in fact, first passes through the family to reach the various spheres of daily life. Let us fervently call upon Mary Most Holy, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, and St. Joseph her spouse. Let us ask them to enlighten, comfort and guide every family in the world, so that they may fulfill with dignity and peace the mission which God has entrusted to them. -POPE FRANCIS
     Holy Family Sunday is also a special celebration for the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family who serve in our parish. The spiritual foundation of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family comes from the Holy Family whose unity was based on the Holy Trinity. Therefore, "we need to, even in mere fraction, know more deeply the life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Granted God's grace, we have to try to follow in their footsteps" (Blessed Boleslawa Lament). Through fulfilling their charismatic vocation, the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family, called by God, work toward the unity among Christians with love, respect, humbleness, and simplicity toward each other and all people they come in contact with. At the 11:00 am Mass on Sunday, the Sisters will renew their religious vows and promises. Please attend and pray for their ministries.
     On Tuesday, we will celebrate the New Year– 2019! On New Year’s Day, the Church honors Mary under the special title of Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God–  a holy day of obligation.  The title - Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God– is one of the most outstanding characteristics of Mary in her willingness to know and do God’s will. Today as we continue with Christmas joy, we ponder with Mary the Mystery of God’s presence, and thus inspired by her example, we, too, strive to recognize the Word being flesh that found His dwelling place among us.
     On this New Year's Day, together with Fr. Xaviour, the Parish Staff and Pastor’s Advisory Team, I wish you all God's blessings for the whole year to come. May God bless you and your families- that transformed by the power of faith, we may bring God's love and joy to one another and to this world that hungers so much for His presence. May Mary, the Mother of God- who is the Prince of Peace, continue to intercede for deep and lasting peace and true love in our hearts. May the Lord bless you every moment of this New Year 2019!
 
With prayers, 
Fr. Andy