The Feast of the Holy Family falls between Christmas and New Years, and is a good reminder that family life is such an amazing blessing and mystery. I have observed how life has slowed down for my sisters and nieces as their lives now really revolve around their newborns. Ok, slowed down isn’t the best word, as any parent can attest, but many of the things that they would otherwise be doing (social visits, extended family gatherings) just give way to the singular importance of caring for a new child. My sisters have dropped everything to be with their new grandchildren.

I hope you have enjoyed some slow down time with your family!

Also, tomorrow is the Feast of Mary Mother of God! We will have our usual Sunday morning lineup of Masses, ending with the Spanish Mass. Thus no evening Masses on the 1st, and hope the priests and parishioners will watch football!

Finally, we are closing out our memorial brick program for the “Loaves and Fishes” wall in the Holy Cross Academy Expansion today (December 31st). If you drop the form in the basket or in the office the next few days, we can make it work. Thanks to all who have made our Capital Campaign so successful!!

pax,

Father John Mosimann

T’was the day before Christmas, and all through the parish, not a soul was stirring, except for everybody, because it is the 4th Sunday of Advent!

So what Mass are you going to for Christmas? This is where I could exhort you to pick a less crowded Mass tomorrow, but I am sure that you have set your plans by now, and I think I’ve done that enough by now.

I know I have written before about how important is was for me to see the family Christmas tree on Christmas morning! As I got old enough to help Santa Claus, I would help in most any way possible, except not the main family tree. I held onto that little tradition as a simple joy of Christmas, and nothing could match the wonder of going down the basement stairs to see the tree!

I hope you have some simple pleasures like that planned. I have come to appreciate how much work Santa Claus put into making that moment special. No wonder they wanted to sleep in!

As a pastor, I have also come to appreciate even more how much work goes into everything we celebrate. St. Mary’s army of elves and reindeer, is the many volunteers decorating, musicians practicing, servers training, workers cleaning, sacristans, Knights of Columbus trying to keep the parking lot moving, and many more.

pax,

Father John Mosimann