Dear friends,
We celebrated together our four-week Advent preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ on 25 December, and now the secular world tells us that Christmas is over. NO! Please do not give into such deceptions. The Christmas season of the liturgical year has just begun, and catholics celebrate its beauty and joy through 9 January 2022, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Please cherish these days, continue to enjoy the music of the season, and contemplate on the beauty of the God who became one of us by putting on human flesh in all its vulnerability.
This weekend, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, and the theme of Christmas continues. We cannot be fully immersed in the mystery of God pitching his tent among us without the cooperation of Mary and Joseph, and He longs for our cooperation as well to bless our families with the same holiness of obedience to the Father’s will. Today, Luke presents the story of Jesus remaining in Jerusalem after the feast of the Passover and those agonizing moments when Mary and Joseph returned to search for him; we can only imagine the relief they must have experienced upon finding him in the Temple and the very cheeky answer Jesus would give them. But the beauty comes in the way Mary and Joseph handle Jesus’ response, in how they begin to collect all of these treasures and ponder them throughout the course of their lives. Our children, too, give us ample reason to be stressed about their attitudes and behaviors, often in stark contrast to how they were raised. Look to Mother Mary and Joseph for their guidance and inspiration.
Moving on to SJE family matters, I am once again amazed at your generosity with our campaign 2.0. If you have not yet responded, please take a moment to prayerfully complete your pledge details. You may also donate directly to St. John’s from your IRA retirement fund. And for those of us who are used to giving online, please know that it isavailable on our website, www.stjohnviera.org. If you have not received the mailing from St. John’s, please do not hesitate to let us know by calling the office.
On Friday, 31 December 2021, the last day of the year, we will pray in thanksgiving for all the blessings we have received by spending an hour in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 4 to 5 p.m. Immediately following, we will celebrate the Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.
Saturday, 1 January 2022, is the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Although not a Holy Day of Obligation this year because it falls on a Saturday, we will celebrate with Mass at 10 a.m., a great way to begin the New Year. The Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord will be celebrated at 4.30 p.m.
Please know that the office will be closed beginning 24 December to give our staff time to celebrate with their families. We will reopen on Monday, 3 January 2022.
The month of January will be another busy one as we celebrate the 4th anniversary of the dedication of our beautiful sanctuary. This year, we will celebrate it on Sunday, 16 January, during the 11 a.m. Mass. In addition, we will take a moment to recognize Misty Huff, our Business Manager, who will be receiving the Spirit of Holy Cross Award given by the Congregation of Holy Cross for her meritorious service to our parish. A luncheon will follow in the Holy Cross Hall, with special guests from Notre Dame to celebrate the occasion.
Wishing each of our families the protection and guidance of the Most Holy Family of Nazareth!
May 2022 bring us joy, love, and peace!
With love,
Fr. John