Merry Christmas!
Yes, we are still in the Christmas season and today we celebrate Holy Family Sunday. Today’s feast is a reminder that every family is called to be holy in imitation of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The Holy Family provides a model for how we should act whether we are a family of one or twenty, a biological family or an adoptive one, a created family or a blended family. If we are in a familial situation, we are called to be holy.
As Paul’s letter to the Colossians tells us, “Put on…compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another…and over all these put on love.”
As we enter into the New Year, may each of us strive to put Paul’s words into practice not just in our families, but in our schools and workplaces, our churches and social gathering spaces, and our sporting arenas and shopping centers as well. May we learn to live as one family, seeing each other as brothers and sisters striving to love one another as Christ has loved us.
Today we end the year of grace 2023 and ring in the New Year. While tomorrow, the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, is NOT a holy day of OBLIGATION, you may wish to attend Mass to start the New Year of 2024. We will have Mass at 9:45 AM on Monday, January 1, 2024. Regular office hours and services resume on Tuesday, January 2nd beginning with 8:30 AM Mass.
May you and your family continue to have a wonderful Christmas Season and a happy New Year!
Msgr. John
