Merry Christmas From Our Pastor!

Merry Christmas From Our Pastor!

Dear Folks,

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Christmas, as a holiday holds such a powerful sway in our culture because of the emotional power of nostalgia.  We can’t help but recall the powerful memories of childhood.  So much of our character and personalities are shaped in the heart of our families.  It is no wonder that popes have called the the Holy Family “the school of Nazareth.”  To quote Pope Emeritus Benedict, “The house of Nazareth is a school of prayer where we learn to listen, to meditate, to penetrate the deepest meaning of the manifestation of the Son of God, drawing our example from Mary, Joseph and Jesus.”
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.
Be assured of my prayers for you and my prayers of thanksgiving for the work that the Lord is doing in our lives.

pax,
fr mosimann

Christmas Schedule

Christmas Schedule

Click the schedule above for a full size render

 

December 24: 4pm English Mass at St Mary

December 24: 4pm English Mass at Holy Cross Academy

December 24: 6:30pm Spanish Mass at St Mary

December 24: 6:30pm English Mass at Holy Cross Academy

December 24: 8:30pm English Mass at St Mary

December 25: 12am English Mass at St Mary

December 25: 7am: English Mass at St Mary

December 25: 8:30am English Mass at St Mary

December 25: 10:30am English Mass at St Mary

December 25: 12:30pm English Mass at St Mary

From Our Pastor

From Our Pastor

Dear Folks,

‘Twas the Sunday before Christmas, and all through the parish, not a soul was stirring, not even the man who changes the candles….  ok, wait, he is always working.

As I said last year, and last week, and will keep repeating: carefully pick your Christmas Mass!  The Christmas Eve Masses are crazy packed, most especially (and worrisomely) the 4pm here at the church.  So why not come on Christmas morning?  The Masses on Christmas morning are far more prayerful than the ones on Christmas Eve because you are not wrestling with the fire marshal!
But, you ask, “what about our family traditions?”  Change is possible: over the last several years, our family changed some times when we exchanged gifts, pushing some back to the 26th!  All in the name of letting Christmas be more Christmas and less frenzy!

Moreover, last year I spent 48 hours with my family after Christmas, and made a New Year’s resolution to spend more time with my Mom and Dad.  Wow!  Thank you Jesus, little did I know, that I only had six more months to spend with my mother before Jesus would call her home.

This Christmas will be different.  Mom will be missed.  Over the last six months I have become even more keenly aware that we are closest to those whom we love when we are around the altar.  It is only in Jesus that we have communion that transcends even death.  All people, traditions and things will pass, but the Cross remains fixed forever.  Hold onto the altar, Hold onto Jesus, Hold onto all whom you love.

And maybe you could incorporate this quote into your family traditions.  My mother read it every Christmas before any gifts were opened.  I don’t know who will read it this year (likely Dad), but I expect there will be a few misty eyes in the Mosimann house.

 

“And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans–and all that lives and movesupon them. He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit and all that we quarrel about and all that we have misused–and to save us from our foolishness, from all our sins, He came down to earth and gave us Himself.”
― Sigrid Undset

 

Thanks Mom and Dad for giving us the one Christmas gift that matters: Jesus.

 

pax et bonum,

fr mosimann