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 powerfully recall the special 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 Holy Family “the school of Nazareth.” Pope Emeritus Benedict said, “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.”

I remember once watching a young mother spend 5 minutes trying to teach her very young child how to genuflect and cross himself before going into a pew. She was so patient, and calm as the boy flopped around! It would have been so much easier for her to give up and sit in the pew, but I am confident that the lesson taught at such an early age will take deep root. That moment was a glimpse into how you are making your homes schools of prayer.

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 as 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.

And don’t forget to sing Happy Birthday to the Lord of the universe!

pax,

Fr. John Mosimann

Twas the Sunday before Christmas and all through the parish, not a soul was stirring, not even the Amazon delivery person…. Ok, wait, they are always working and lucky for me too! So this year I’ll offer to God: my panicked wait for last minute Amazon boxes, or my anxiety over not being ready. I can hear Jesus saying, “Ready or not, here I come!”

And what preparations did God Almighty make for His coming? One thing: the perfect Immaculate Soul of His Mother. That’s it. They didn’t have a place to stay, they didn’t have a fancy hospital, or a perfectly prepared baby-room. I wish that we could be likewise prepared.

To that end, there are lots of confession opportunities this week. Monday to Friday 11:30am to Noon, and 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Friday are the last scheduled confessions. There are no scheduled confessions on Saturday the 24th.

Furthermore, I say every year: carefully pick your Christmas Mass! The Christmas Eve Masses are crazy packed! So what Mass are you going to for Christmas? Let me encourage you to consider the 6:30pm at Holy Cross, or even better… come on Christmas morning. The Masses on Christmas morning are far more prayerful than the ones on Christmas Eve!

If you must come on Christmas Eve to the 4pm, please remember that the doors of the church will only open at 3pm. You will not be able to come earlier and save seats. And of the 4pm Masses, the one at our school should be less crowded.

pax,

Father John Mosimann