A BIG thank you to everyone for your contributions and donations this past holiday season. They were well received by our neighbors at Sacred Heart! Together we make a difference! Please Click here for the full article.
This weekend we culminate the Christmas season with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In the gospel story this Sunday, Jesus’ identity is revealed. Matthew says: “A voice came down from heaven, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” This is important because it is in the waters of Baptism that we hear God calling Jesus His “beloved Son.” But what does that mean?
The Feast of the Three Kings is called the Solemnity of the Epiphany. It is a day when we remember how God revealed Himself to everyone. No longer was the revelation given only to a certain group of people. No, God chose to manifest His presence to the entire world - Jews and non-Jews. The presence of the wise men symbolizes that divine act of epiphany, a radical act of hospitality.
Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The second reading is one of the most beautiful passages from St. Paul’s letters. It speaks about the attitudes we all need to cultivate in our lives - compassion, kindness, gentleness, and patience. I believe the reading comes to us providentially as we are ushered into the New Year. There is so much uncertainty not only in our nation, but also in the world, and we may feel anxious and fearful. But the message of Christmas challenges us to “bear with one another and to forgive one another.”
JOY - this is what Christmas makes us feel as we look forward to celebrating with our family and our extended parish family. As we anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ nativity and gradually usher in the joyful spirit of Christmas, I encourage everyone to take a moment to savor the remaining days of Advent in stillness, quiet, peace, hope, and prayer. The busyness of the season can rob us of the advent spirit that is so important. We need to make space and time for God. I also invite you all to be mindful of our Christmas liturgies. We will probably see friends and parishioners we haven’t seen for a while. We will have guests. As our Parish Pastoral Plan says, let’s practice Radical Hospitality. Words of welcome, a smile, a handshake, offering a seat to someone during our Christmas Masses are simple, yet meaningful gestures of radical hospitality and I am sure will bring JOY in the life of others.
A season of joy
A season of light
A season so merry
A season so bright
This is my first Advent with you, Holy Spirit Parish, and I am already enjoying the fun traditions our community has - from Advent Wreath Making to lighting the wreath candles in the church at Mass, to parties with friends and families, to concerts and performances at school, to prayerful times singing praise and worship songs and reflecting on Scripture. The season is full of opportunities to make joyful memories. I'm soaking it all in and learning to cherish these moments.
Hello,
We recently launched our parish plan, Radical Hospitality and one of the areas of focus is Worship. As we all explore different ways to get involved and support the mission of Christ and the Church, I asked Ms. Anne Kearns, one of the youth in our community to share with us how she became more involved with our parish’s worship by joining the team of extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist (EMOEs). Thank you to Ms. Anne for sharing her story. Please, read on to find out more!
Fr. Robert
Last year as we journeyed with St. Mark, he started his gospel with: The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In his short gospel, St. Mark helped us understand the truth about Jesus, as the Son of God. In fact, towards the end of his gospel, at the crucifixion scene, he affirms this truth in the words of the centurion as Jesus breathed his last: “Truly this man was the Son of God.” Mark guided us in unraveling the meaning of this title. In short, to be the Son of God means to manifest who God is in His life. Everything He said and did was all about God. As we went deeper into Mark’s gospel, what is interesting to note is that he invited us to discover how we, too, are God’s children. In Jesus and through Jesus, we share in that gift.
A few weeks ago, I told the students that Thank You comes from the word “think.” And they were surprised. I explained to them that giving thanks is connected to the act of remembering. I remember the gift, so I give thanks. I remember your kindness, so I say: thank you. In fact, remembering is the very foundation of the Jewish Passover. Every year they gather because they remember and give thanks for what God did for them - their freedom from slavery. This is also at the heart of the celebration of the Eucharist. We give thanks because we remember the paschal mystery, the passion, death, and resurrection - the Lord, the Christian Passover, Jesus’ passing over from death to new life.
In 2017, Disney released the movie, “Coco.” The story is centered around the beautiful Hispanic tradition called Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. “Coco” follows the journey of young Miguel to find his great grandfather in the land of the dead. The movie is a strong reminder that despite death, family history transcends the years and continues to shape our families for generations to come. “Coco” is a movie that reminds us of the power of family, how bonds and connections with those who died never end and how our traditions and stories keep our loved ones alive.
November is a month of remembering. First, we remember the Saints, the men and women who have been faithful in living the Gospel teachings of Jesus Christ. These are the men and women of the Beatitudes, people who lived out the command of Jesus “to love one another as I have loved you,” and “whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters you did it to me.”
We had a fantastic time at our recent Golf Tournament on Monday, October 20, 2024! It was a beautiful day full of fun, laughter, and friendly competition. Click for more info!
Last Monday was our Annual Golf Tournament. I must say, we were blessed with 108 golfers and over 200 who came for dinner. God graced us with such a beautiful day; in fact, the day was perfect for golf. Parishioners, school parents, and some of our parish friends drove around the lush fairways to play and enjoy the friendly competition. Each stroke was made with confidence as the cup did not runneth over.
November 3-9, 2024 - NVAW is a week-long event held annually by the Catholic Church in the United States. It is dedicated to promoting vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life. The week involves prayer, outreach, and education, with the goal of encouraging and supporting individuals who are considering these vocations. Join us for daily evening conferences & Sacramental celebrations.