Dear friends,
We celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany today, recalling the journey of the Magi and the gifts they brought to honor the newborn King. In responsorial Psalm 72, we sing, “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you,” a truth fulfilled by the visit of the Magi and recorded in Matthew 2:11: “They prostrated themselves and did him homage.” The Magi were foreigners, signifying that the new King we celebrate is not meant only for the chosen people of Israel but, rather, for all peoples. Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, speaks of it in his letter to the Ephesians (3:6) when he refers to the special revelation granted him “that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” What a blessing to know that because of this inclusivity, we who have not known him have been made partakers of the divine nature of God through our baptism.
We are still in the season of Christmas! My guess is that many of you have already packed away the Christmas decorations. If so, you have been seduced by the deceptions of the secular world. The Christmas season of the liturgical year continues through the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on 9 January 2022. Please cherish these days, continue to enjoy the music of the season, and contemplate the beauty of the God who became one of us by putting on human flesh in all its vulnerability.
I want to take this time to congratulate Chuck and Linda Morrison, recipients of the Family of the Month Award for December, for their dedication to our parish. Keep the light shining during this year of grace.
Thanks to Susan Answay for orchestrating the Christmas Giving Tree and, as always, thanks to all of you for your generosity. Your love and enthusiasm were remarkable, and I am certain both your kindness and your gifts brought more than a few smiles to those who needed it the most.
Thanks, also, to those of you who have already responded so generously to our campaign 2.0. If you have not yet responded, please take a moment to prayerfully complete your pledge details. If you have not received the mailing from St. John’s, please do not hesitate to let us know by calling the office. 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 is available on our website, www.stjohnviera.org.
Parish life at SJE continues to be busy. January is a month to celebrate for many reasons, and chief among them is the celebration of the 4th anniversary of the dedication of our beautiful sanctuary on Sunday, 16 January, during the 11 a.m. Mass. Our anniversary also coincides with the Feast of Fr. Basil Moreau, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross. In addition, Misty Huff, our Business Manager, will be receiving the Spirit of Holy Cross Award given by the Congregation of Holy Cross for her meritorious service to our parish. A community luncheon will follow in the Holy Cross Hall, with special guests from Notre Dame to celebrate the occasion. Please call the office to RSVP with the number in your family who will be attending as we prepare for this special day.
As an extension of this celebration, we will host a very special concert by King’s Cadence, a gospel quartet, on Friday, January 28, 2022 at 7 p.m. in the church. Wishing each of our families a very happy Feast of the Epiphany! May 2022 bring us joy, love, and peace!
With love, Fr. John