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A week after the great miracle of the full incarnation - the birth of Our Savior - we celebrate His Mother. Our second reading, the letter to the Galatians, offers us the reason for
our joy –
... the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman… so that we might receive adoption as daughters and sons.
Mary is the Theotokos – God-Bearer. For that great miracle let us give thanks today.
In Her honor, this weekend’s second collection supports the diocesan maternity homes - Annunciation Maternity Home in Georgetown, Our Lady of the Angels Maternity Shelter in Temple - as well as the Church’s efforts to increase respect for all human life from conception to natural death. Our monthly collection for Persons in Need will be postponed a week. Learn more at Maternity Homes.
In this week’s pastoral column, the many volunteers involved in preparing our Church and serving at our Christmas liturgies are acknowledged with gratitude. The issue of reservations for Mass is considered and we’re introduced to
a new message from Pope Francis on the spirituality of
St. Francis de Sales – Everything Pertains to Love. Find it at From Padre Paolo.
The Apostolic Letter of the Holy Father gives us much to ponder on love, charity, and devotion. In it, Pope Francis offers a quote from St. Francis de Sales for our reflection,
“…because it is charity and love that give value to our works.” We offer several opportunities to bring charity and love to our time and place for one day, over eight weeks, or with an ongoing commitment ~
These experiences provide opportunities to meet others with a heart for service and to form new relationships – meaningful connections - as you, as St. Mother Teresa says, do something beautiful for God.
We invite you to consider another beautiful gift of service. We need volunteers to help maintain our livestreamed Mass Broadcast schedule. This ministry of our parish has brought healing, hope, and community to people we’d never expected to reach. Please consider a gift of your time – we’ll provide training. Details are at Help Needed.
This New Year's weekend, our parish offices will be closed on Sunday morning and all day Monday to observe the holiday. We won't offer post-Mass hospitality after any of Sunday's Masses, but look forward to seeing you on Sunday the 8th.
As the new year begins, we introduce you to a saint you may not be familiar with, the patron saint of time. We also offer a blessing that might begin a new tradition in your family for New Year's. Find both at our Gallery of Saints.
Activities on the horizon ~
While we don’t have news on the project development front this week, we do have a Gallery of holiday photos to share with you. Scroll or arrow through them at Christmas 2022.
We send our blessings on this, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and recommend Fr. Paolo's thoughtful Prayers of the Faithful in this morning's Mass.
As we count our many blessings over the course of this eventful year, your generosity of time, talent, and treasure
is at the top of our list.
Thank You for giving!
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