Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Christmas joy is upon us! We begin this beautiful season of Christmas with joy in our hearts and prayers for each other. None of us could have ever imagined the trials we were called upon to face over this past year. Let us acknowledge our challenges and celebrate the blessings that have helped us through these difficult and uncertain times. The birth of Jesus reminds us that we are truly loved. God sent his son to bring hope to a fallen world, and we continue to celebrate this hope as we joyfully proclaim our faith – even during the restrictions of the pandemic.
I am deeply grateful for the support that many people offer to the parish community. Although we are restricted in our liturgical celebrations, I believe that through common sense and discipline in following the Covid-19 practices, we all are helping this fight. I would like to share a special word of gratitude for the outpouring support of the giving tree. Both parishes had overwhelming success with this special outreach for families in our communities. You have truly extended the joy of Christmas.
Even though we may be worshiping remotely or spaced out across the church, let us remember to pray for each other. Our spiritual communion at this time is vital to sharing the true meaning of Christmas. Take a few moments to extend a Christmas message to your extended family members, parishioners that you may have not seen in some time, and other neighbors that could use a joyful message. I am a grateful recipient of so many words of encouragement, and I treasure them all. On Christmas Eve I completed my second round of phase two chemotherapy. So far I have been handling it well and hope to take part in some of the Christmas Masses. I also thank you for your kind prayers for my other family members dealing with cancer. It has been a challenging year for my family, but your prayers have provided us with a great source of strength.
Please remember that throughout Advent we have been preparing for the events of Christmas. Take time during the entire Christmas season to meditate on the mysteries that we celebrate over the next few weeks. The celebrations of the Feasts of the Holy Family, Mary Mother of God, the Epiphany, and the Baptism of the Lord are gifts to us that allow us to see how much we are loved by God through the life of His son. These celebrations are an opportunity to continue experiencing Christmas joy into the long month of January.
Christmas Joy!!
Fr. Workman