With 2018 just about over, what do you hope for, for 2019?
 
The very first thing that comes to mind for me is the continued health and happiness for my family. 

Today is The Feast of the Holy Family and should be seen as every family’s feast day. Today is devoted entirely to the Holy Family as a model for the Christian family life. By imitating the Holy Family in our own homes, we can strengthen our love, protection and the diligent care we have for one another.

 
Our faith lives and our family lives intersect in the most ordinary places; around the kitchen table, putting our children to bed or a phone call to “catch up”. Jesus is present and joyful in all of these moments and drawing us closer to Him even in the most mundane situations.
 
So, as we look forward to a new year, let us count our blessings, hug our families and be devoted to the Holy Family, Jesus’ and ours.

Dear Parishioners,
 
The most important phrase in the Gospel concerns the name given to the Son of Mary and Joseph, “Emmanuel, God is with us”. 
 
The incarnation is complete and the love of Almighty God is revealed in and through Jesus the Christ.  One has to wonder at how many Christians around the world, who will celebrate Christmas this year, actually understand this fundamental part of God’s plan and how many are willing to live it out each day.  All the historical celebrations of events that have gone by always point to the present and to the future and those who occupy that space and time.
 
As I mentioned in my homily remarks some weeks ago, for us every day is Christmas and Easter, as well as every feast we celebrate, because our faith is a lived experience of the past revelation of God’s love for us.  We are called upon not only to remember, but to vigorously re-imagine ourselves as true children of God.  Faith must be alive, tangible and an everyday experience of living out God’s love for us in the way we love and honor each other.

Christmas gifts are purchased—given—received—and eventually, disappear.  Our relationship with Almighty God, exemplified in the glory of the incarnation, is from everlasting to everlasting… a gift to be lived and celebrated each day.

Today begins the season of Advent! Each week Father Michael will light the Advent wreath to symbolize the growing light of Christ. Each candle has its own meaning and is illustrated in the four weeks. Hope… reminding us that Jesus is coming.  Faith… reminding us of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.  Joy… reminding us of the joy to the world experience of Jesus’ birth.  Peace… with the angel’s message “Peace on Earth, Good Will towards Men.” Attending Mass each week during Advent is a great way to keep children focused on the real meaning of Christmas and to prepare for the coming of Christ. 
 
Advent is the season we focus entirely on preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  It is marked by a spirit of expectation, anticipation and longing.  But it is also a feeling of joy, of a spiritual journey as we affirm that Christ has come and that He is always present within us.  It is up to us to bring Him into our hearts and into our lives.
 
As we wait in anticipation and excitement, we have an opportunity to have a clean heart and soul by attending our annual Advent Penance Service this Tuesday, December 4^th @ 7:00 p.m. in our church.  All are welcome to join us to pray together and refocus on God’s presence in our lives.