Thursday, December 16, 2004
Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

We’re entering the second half of the Advent Season of waiting, and we’ve been seeing and listening to Christmas in the market place since …well, it seems for a very long time. Christmas Season actually begins on the evening of December 24th and continues until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord which will be celebrated on January 9th this year. Consider the “feeling” we create by giving and receiving presents followed immediately by removing all the signs of Christmas Joy. Isn’t it kind of like saying, “Whew, finished another mad dash and made it through the holidays?” Many of us begin to celebrate Christmas by going to Mass, sharing a special meal and exchanging family gifts. For others, Midnight Mass is a special tradition. The variety of how we celebrate reflects the many family and ethnic traditions that make Christmas so wonderful. Perhaps, before you open gifts, you might gather with your family and special friends and offer a prayer, like:

Loving God, giver of all gifts, we thank you for these gifts before us. We have carefully chosen each one and wrapped it with love. As we now offer them to one another we thank you for the love we share and the joy you have given us by your coming among us.

Or, simply:

Loving God, thank you for the love we share and the joy you have given us by your coming among us.

Please note the schedule for our liturgies. There will be a Communal Penance Liturgy on the Monday before Christmas and I’d encourage you all to be a part of it. With Christmas on Saturday, the schedule is a bit confusing…so please keep the schedule safe and handy.

Peace and All Good,

Fr. Richard Juzix, O.F.M.