Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! Yes, we are still in the Christmas Season, so it is right and just to keep wishing Merry Christmas.

Why do we love New Years? Because we all love potential, possibility, and dreams and we are all hoping / praying that 2022 will bring relief! This is a reflection of our soul’s deep desire for God who “makes all things new.” (Rev. 21:5). As finite creatures diving into the arms of the infinite Lord, we will never exhaust discovering new delights and depths of His goodness, especially in the midst of mess. The Lord of the universe was born in a stable with its attendant noise, smell, and privation.

Moreover, I know that all of the best blessings were totally unexpected by me and gratuitous gifts from the Lord. There is nothing that has or will happen that the Lord has not seen from all eternity, including even 2022. He has planned for my welfare since before the big bang. “Who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?” (1 Cor 2:16).

What Jesus desires for us is not a spirit of despair or presumption, but of prayerful trust. Heck, it is even on our money: “In God
We Trust.” Worried about 2022 or even just making it through January? That’s ok, look back and see how the Lord has brought you thus far; he will not abandon you now. Keep looking to heaven and allowing the Lord to strengthen you!

pax,

Father John Mosimann

The Feast of the Holy Family falls right smack between Christmas and the Feast of Mary Mother of God (Jan 1). It is a reminder on the importance of family life. Like our Lord, we are born into a family by divine providence.

I have 23 nieces and nephews, and a great-uncle, many times. Life is such an amazing blessing and mystery. I have observed how life has slowed down for mothers as their life really revolves around her newborn. Ok, slowed down isn’t the best word, as any parent can attest, but many of the things that she would otherwise be doing (social visits, extended family gatherings) just give way to the singular importance of caring for this new child. This has struck me because it is fitting, but also because its timing is causing me to reflect on the birth of Our Lord. We run around ‘getting ready for Christmas’, we celebrate His birth with big fanfare and party, and now?…. Our lives do slow down this week. Thanks be to God! Do our lives revolve around this Child who has been born of the Virgin Mary? In your own experiences of the miracle of life, I hope you can see an image of the Life who has come into the world.

Sometimes folks tell me that their families are soooooo ‘not holy.’ But that’s ok. Remember that the head of the Holy Family is St. Joseph, the only member of the holy family who ever sinned! And Jesus makes us a member of His family, so we do share in its perfection. Seeing that holiness is possible should not discourage us but fill us with hope that God has provided, where we cannot.

May your lives this week be a celebration of the birth of Our Lord with eyes open to see his blessings in the daily lives of your family.

pax et bonum,

Father John Mosimann

P.S. A quick “shout-out” to the Marriage Ministry program, Choice Wine, beginning in just a few weeks. Families are made stronger when couples invest time and work into their marriage. I encourage married couples to consider this program.

Dear Folks,

Merry, Merry Christmas!

May the Virgin Mary and St Joseph help us to live the Mystery of Christmas with renewed gratitude to the Lord. In the midst of the frenetic activity of our day, may this Season give us some calm and joy and enable us to feel tangibly the goodness of our God, who became a Child to save us and to give new encouragement and light on our journey. This is my wish for a Blessed and Merry Christmas. To each and every member of our parish family, to your relatives and to your friends, in particular to the sick and the suffering, as well those who have no one to celebrate this feast with.

Sometimes folks ask me, “How can we make practical changes that bring the faith more directly into our homes?” Christmas is probably the easiest time to do so!

In this bulletin, we offer you a Christmas tree blessing which can be one such way to keep the celebration focused on more than piles of presents. Pray it with your family today: maybe before dinner, or before dessert, or before gift exchanges. I believe in your creativity!

Alternatively, or additionally, will you remember to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus? Why not? Among the many Christmas carols that my family will sing tonight, we will include HBD as the last song before the youngest (great-grand)child blows out Jesus’ birthday candles.

Merry Christmas!