Before looking ahead, always with hope because of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, I look back with thanks to God for many blessings.  I thank God for those who were so thoughtful and generous to me at Christmas.  The cards, spiritual gifts, and other gifts are signs to me of your goodness and appreciation for my ministry to you.  I thank God for those who participated in our Christmas liturgies, including those who decorated our church so beautifully for the Christmas season.  Finally, I thank Ed Keearns and all the many people who helped in providing a joy-filled Christmas for so many needy children.  From those who gave monetary gifts, to those who bought presents, to those who delivered food and presents and those who put the boxes together to serve over 50 families.  It shows, once again, that Christ is very much alive and working to inspire so many people in this wonderful community of faith.  May God continue to lead and inspire us as we begin a new calendar year.

Contrary to the message we get from the secular world, the Christmas season begins with the Masses of Christ and goes until the feast of the Baptism of The Lord (this year on January 9).  In the first week of the Christmas season, which is called the "octave of Christmas", we celebrate many significant feasts - St. Stephen (December 26), St. John the Apostle Evangelist (December 27), the Holy Innocents (December 28) and this year, the Holy Family (December 30). These are all wonderful celebrations that invite us to gather as a church family for Mass on these days.  Please make your Christmas season a blessed one by celebrating all aspects of this wonderful time of year.

A Blessed Christmas to everyone who is with us this weekend.  To our parishioners who are here regularly at Mass and some in other activities and ministries, I thank you for the gift of God has made you for Him and for others.  To those who live in the Village who we don't see very often, I hope and pray that The Lord will lead you back to a regular practice of your Catholic faith.  If I can help in any way, please call me at 209-2502.  To our visitors who are here with family or for other reasons, I say welcome to you.  Please come back to celebrate Mass with us when you are in our beautiful area.