Happy Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time!

This Friday, February 2nd is the 40th day since we celebrated the Nativity of the Lord. On this feast, our Blessed Lord Jesus was presented in the Temple by Mary and Joseph. You may have noticed the retention of the Christmas trees. This gave a subtle impression of the Christmas season’s continuation and culmination of this day. Our Mass will be solemn and dark as you enter this morning. All are invited to bring candles of your own to be blessed and then we will walk into the church with different lighted candles.

Happy Sunday!

After praying, fasting and defending the legal protection of the unborn for nearly 50 years, it has been almost two years since the aftermath of the overturning Roe v. Wade. Since then, the defense of human life has gotten more difficult as states are now enacting laws to protect or continue destroying innocent human life.

As a priest, I’m amazed how happily married couples remember the tiniest details of their earliest encounters. They effortlessly report things like: “he wore a blue shirt,” “we ordered brussels sprouts,” “her hair was up in a bun,” and “he spilled shrimp cocktail sauce at my family’s open front door when it was ten degrees below zero,” (that one’s courtesy of my mom). We delight in remembering and speaking of when our new life of love began. The little details are glorious reminders that it’s all real.

Happy Epiphany!

As our Christmas season continues into the Epiphany, we thank God for the beautiful celebrations thus far. I am so grateful for the many volunteers and staff that have been hospitable during our very busy time. A tradition I am encouraging you all to partake in this New Year 2024 is the Chalking of the Doors. On January 6th, our water will be Epiphany Water in our baptismal font. Take some home and bless your homes and families. The fathers of the house preside over the home and bless in the presence of the children and other family members. Here is a modified version.