Electronic Newsletter 

Christmas 2020 

Greetings of Christ's peace! We approach the celebration of Christmas this year in very unusual circumstances. Our traditional family and community holiday gatherings are restricted, attendance at Holy Mass curtailed and many remain isolated in their homes for fear of the Coronavirus. For many months, we have lived with the darkness of a pandemic that drastically changed our daily lives.
 
Yet the spirit of the season has not been lost. Driving around we see people continue to decorate our churches, homes, stores and streets with colorful lights, tinsel, ornaments and nativity scenes. Radios and TV's continue to play the Christmas songs we know so well. People still shop in stores and malls to get some things so they can give or exchange gifts to celebrate the feast.
 
So too for all of us, the true meaning of the season cannot be lost. The heart of that spirit is Christ, the Light of the world (Jn 8:12), Yes, we have been living in a pandemic darkness, but that has not dimmed the Light that Christ brings. He strengthens us with the gift of hope that reminds us of the marvelous promises God has made to those who depend on Him.
 
Christ continues to be the source of our strength, endurance and life. In His infinite love, God sent Christ, the Emmanuel who is "God with us" (Is 7:14) to strengthen our faith in the Divine Son who became man for us except sin and for our salvation. His loving and saving presence assures us we are not alone. He comes to heal our afflictions, calms our anxieties and gives us hope for better days the New Year may bring.
 
This is a time for reflection and prayer to put us in touch with the meaning and essence of Christmas. It provides us the opportunity to connect more intimately with God and with each other through our faith, by living in hope and sharing our love especially during these challenging times.
 
Pope Francis reminded us "a crisis is overcome by the antibodies of solidarity." Let us be sources of love and hope for each other by encouraging, affirming and supporting those around us to lift us up and strengthen us on these dark days. I pray that the profound love of God and the light of Christ we celebrate this Christmas during this very unusual year be upon us.
 
A Blessed and Merry Christmas!

Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis, D.D.
Bishop of Salt Lake City
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Islanders Affairs  
News

1.
New USCCB resource! A Treasured Presence: Filipino American Catholics. Get your copy, available now through the USCCB Publishing website, http://store.usccb.org/a-treasured-presence-filipino-american-catholics-p/7-656.htm. 

"Learn about the history, blessing, and promise of Filipino Catholics in the United States ...This timely book comes in advance of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, which will be celebrated in 2021."

2. In the  Pastoral Statement for the 2021 Year of Missio Ad Gentes, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, the Most Rev. Romulo Valles, Archbishop of Davao, states, "The Philippine Church rejoices as it enters a national celebration of the 500 Years of Christianity in our treasured homeland. Five centuries ago we received the marvelous gift of the Christian faith; our hearts overflow with joy and gratitude."

3. Simbang Gabi Mass - During this time of the pandemic, U.S. archdioceses and dioceses provide directives/guidelines for the celebration of Simbang Gabi, a Filipino tradition of Novena Masses (nine consecutive days) held in parishes across the country leading up to Christmas. 8998899 is to Simbang Gabi "a privileged votive mass, i.e., a mass that does not correspond to the liturgical calendar but has a special intention" said Philippines Church historian Most Rev. Rex Andrew Alarcon.

Check an arch/diocese website for updated information. Here are some links: Diocese of Arlington, Archdiocese of Chicago/Asian Catholic Initiative, El Paso Diocese, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and  
Archdiocese of Philadelphia

4. Young Adult Pilgrimage Mass with Bishop John McIntyre, celebrant, Dec. 13, 2020- hosted by Asian Young Adults of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees.

Upcoming Events
Visit our News and Events page for links and PDF's. 
Resources 

Rooted in Tradition: The Chamorro Catholics in the United States (Product Code 7-572) - A new edition to the small book series about a people indigenous to the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific, the Chamorros have a strong Catholic heritage, which they brought with them to the United States.








Resettling in Place: A Vietnamese American Catholic Experience (Product Code 7-480) - This small book is a snapshot description about a community who rebuilt their faith life by sustaining family values, culture, and Catholic devotional practices.









Harmony in Faith: Korean American Catholics (Product Code 7-479) - This small book on Korean American Catholics connects each believer to their roots in Korea, weaving through thick layers of their history of faith.









Product Code 7-606) - This pastoral letter against racism the US Catholic bishops call on fellow clergy and all Catholics to help change racist attitudes and acts to conform to the moral order established by God, in which men and women of all races are honored as brothers and sisters. 

Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs 
US Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church 
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