A Christmas Message from Fr. Scott
Dear Friends in Christ,
With deep joy and gratitude, I extend to you my prayerful best wishes for a holy and blessed Christmas.
During this Advent Season, it has been my prayer that each of you would find opportunities to reflect on your own faith and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. Whatever it is that our hearts and souls desire, whether we realize it or not, our ultimate desire is Jesus Himself. For this reason, we are filled with joy and consolation at Christmas to know that all that we hoped for has been fulfilled in the person of the Christ Child.
In the midst of all our current challenges and concerns, the love of God the Father is made manifest to us in the wonderful gift of His Son, Jesus. With the angels in Bethlehem, our faith moves us to sing: “Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth!” We recognize that true peace on earth flows from our recognition and praise of God in our lives.
So, as we celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas, let joy be born in our hearts not just on Christmas day, but the whole year; not just the whole year, but our whole lives. Let us inspire this world, that can seem so lost in darkness, with the light of Christ in the light of our joy. Let us welcome family and friends. Let us welcome strangers and travelers in our midst who may join with us to celebrate the Eucharist. Make room in the pews; greet them with a welcoming smile and gracious hospitality those like Mary and Joseph, who are seeking room in the inn. Let us not send them away to be born in a manger like the baby Jesus.
Christmas has a way of bringing to Church individuals and families who, for various reasons, have not been to Mass or the Sacraments for months or years. What a wonderful and grace-filled opportunity to put aside past differences and old habits and begin anew that prayerful relationship with the Lord and His Church community. I extend to all of you an open, grateful heart of welcome. Together, may we grow in strength and grace to know and celebrate together God’s presence in our lives and His dominion over all things of this world. To celebrate the wonderful Feast of Christmas, our Christmas Mass times are 5pm and 10pm (with Carols being sung starting at 9:30pm) on Christmas Eve and 8am, 10am and 12noon in Spanish on Christmas Day. If you are returning to Church from a long absence, or even a short one, let the joy of this celebration fill you. Let the light of Christ into your lives and into your hearts that your hearts may grow “three sizes” this day and return to the joy of celebrating the Eucharist today and every week of the year.
My thanks to all of you, for all you do even through the tough times. It is with humble joy that I give thanks for the honor of serving as your Pastor. As you know, our parish is dependent upon your weekly offertory to meet our financial obligations.
For those who are able, please continue your charitable giving to our Parish especially for Christmas. Please know how grateful I am for your contributions and most of all for all of your prayers and support.
May our Lord Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, bless you, your families and loved ones at this blessed time of hope and grace. May Mary, the Mother of the Child Jesus and our Mother and St. Joseph watch over you and our beloved St. Joseph Parish always. May God bless you this Christmas, may all darkness in your lives be removed by the light of Christ. May your hearts be filled with the Joy of Christ’s birth and may you be missionaries of that joy, Amen.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I hope to see each of you in Church. May Christ abide in your hearts always!
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Scott
