From the Pastoral Team
From Our Pastor
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
At this special and sacred time of the year, I wish to extend to you and your loved ones Christmas greetings and best wishes for the New Year. While we might recall difficult times and frustrations in 2022, we continue with faith, love, joy, and hope, in 2023.
The talent you share from ministering at Mass to making others feel Christ’s compassion and love by visiting the home-bound, bringing a meal, or just a smile to many, is impressive.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas, let joy be born in our hearts not just this Christmas day, but the whole year; not just the whole year, but our whole lives. Let us inspire this world that can seem so lost in darkness with the light of Christ in the light of our joy. Let us welcome family and friends. Let us welcome strangers and travelers in our midst who may join us to celebrate the Eucharist. Make room in our celebrations; greet them with a welcoming smile and gracious hospitality those like Mary and Joseph, who are seeking room in the inn. Let us not send them away to be born in a manger like the baby Jesus.
If you are returning to Church today from a long absence, or even a short one, let the joy of this celebration fill you. Let the light of Christ into your lives and into your hearts, that your hearts may grow “three sizes” this day and return to the joy of celebrating the Eucharist today and every week of the year.
My thanks to all of you who have been faithful parishioners, for all you do even through the tough times. It is with humble joy that I give thanks for the honor of serving you as your Pastor. Thank you for all your support and prayers. “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the City of David, a Savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Lk2:10-14)
May God bless you this Christmas, and may all darkness in your lives be removed by the light of Christ. May your hearts be filled with the joy of Christ’s birth and may you be missionaries of that joy, Amen.
Peace and all good — Fr. Oscar Mendez, OFM
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