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.

One of the liturgical trends that I have noticed in my years of priesthood is the scheduling of Christmas Masses on Christmas Eve (before midnight) and less Masses on Christmas Day.  Regrettably I did this in  one of my parishes where, at one time, the only Christmas Eve Mass we offered was overflowing with people.  I said "regrettably" because I have come to see this trend as practically taking Christ out of Christmas (Day) at our churches and in some people's lives.  Most churches have at least one Mass on Christmas Day (which in some places I have served is poorly attended) which means some are celebrating the "religious" aspect of Christmas on Christmas Eve and spending Christmas Day focused exclusively on presents, meals, and family.  While I now choose to promote putting Christ first on Christmas Day by encouraging you to Mass on Christmas Day, I hope and pray that those of you who choose to participate in Mass on Christmas Eve will consciously make some time on Christmas Day to celebrate Christ's birth in some tangible and meaningful way.