Dear Friends
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The church in her wisdom is holding up the Holy Family of Nazareth as our model. Family life is rooted in the unconditional love of God as witnessed by the Holy Family. The Responsorial Psalm used at the liturgy today exalts the family this way: Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!... Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home! Your children like olive plants around your table.” (Ps 128:1 ff). The recipe to a happy family life is given by St. Paul in his letter to the Colossians: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put-on love, that is, the bond of perfection. (3:12ff). Wow, what an exhortation by Paul to the community of believers who had been set apart by their baptism. If only we can try to apply these virtues, our families would be like being in heaven where true joy and peace and love of Christ would be found. These virtues will be sure glue that can unite us all especially when troubles knock at our doors.
Mary and Joseph had been dealt a nasty card right at the beginning of their family life. Their beloved child is in danger of being attacked and killed. Joseph and Mary at once depart with their child and flee to Egypt not knowing how things would turn out to be. They placed their entire trust in the providential care of the heavenly Father. Let us keep the image of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as our model. Follow the exhortation of St. Paul to the Colossians and “let the peace of Christ control your hearts.”
I take this moment to congratulate Larry and Joyce Wehner who were the recipients of the Family of the Month Award - December 2019. Larry has been helping us with the Maintenance of our buildings for many years. We thank the Wehners for their unconditional love and their commitment to our parish community. Thank you Wehners.
Thanks to all of you for helping reach Our Catholic Appeal Goal! Congratulations to all of you! Your exceeding generosity is greatly appreciated and makes us want to serve with joy.
We will be greeting the New Year 2020 as we step into 1st January. I would like you to leave behind everything that caused you stress and anxiety. Let us enter the new year by trusting in the Providential care of our Father. As one of the bumper stickers says: I’m too Blessed to be Stressed. Please count your numerous blessings and “may whatever we do, in word or in deed, be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father.”
On behalf of Fr. John Patrick, the Deacons and the Staff I extend to you a very
Happy New Year!
May the year 2020 fill your hearts and your homes with the Peace of Christ!
With Love,
Fr. John