Solemnity of Mary

Today, January 1st, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. This feast answers the question, “Why do Catholics honor Mary?” Non-Christians sometimes believe that we Catholics worship Mary as a goddess who gave birth to our God. They argue that there is no Biblical basis for honoring Mary and that Catholics worship her and make her equal to God. They fail to understand why we honor Mary. They do not understand what we mean by calling her the Mother of God. (Read more…)

Christmas

Dear Parishioners,

The Christmas Gospel speaks to us of a family, rejoicing at a child’s birth, their lives uniquely affected by God’s presence in their midst, responding with faith and trust to their special role in the history of salvation.

The example of the Holy Family inspires us as we celebrate Christmas. As they rejoice at Jesus’ birth, so too do we, remembering the new divine life made possible by Jesus’ life on earth.

I want to encourage you, in as sincere a way as I can, to remember to keep Christ “first” in all you do and say while you are going through your Christmas activities.  By keeping Christ first, we can be sure to reach out to those around us (yes, even those who are rude) with the true message of Christmas, and that is, that Jesus Christ came to earth to seek and to save that which was lost. (Read more…)

A Tradition for Your Eve of Christmas

Many of you took “Oplatki” or “Christmas Wafers.” Sharing the Oplatki on Christmas Eve Dinner is a  millennia old tradition that began in Poland, Slovakia, and Lithuania.

At the Christmas Eve Meal one of the wafers or, a part of one, are placed on each person’s plate. Before the meal, a prayer is said and then beginning with the father and mother of the house, a Sign of Peace is exchanged in the same manner and the wish of a Happy Christmas. (Read more…)