“Arise and Eat, Else the Journey Will Be Too Great for You.” (I Kings 19:7)

Mass Intentions Week of December 31

Sat.        Dec. 30        5:00 pm      People of the Parish

Sun.       Dec. 31      10:00 am      †Joseph Hoffmann                                                              2:30 pm   People of the Community

                                6:00 pm      †Herman Terhar

Mon.     Jan. 1          10:00 am   †Milan Remington

Tues.     Jan. 2           5:30 pm     Peace

Wed.     Jan. 3          10:00 am     Good Health

Thurs.    Jan. 4           5:30 pm      †Pat Maxwell

Fri.        Jan. 5           8:00 am      For a Safe Delivery &                                                          Thanksgiving for Prayers                                                       Answered            

Sat.        Jan. 6           8:00 am      Maryann Nordaune

                                5:00 pm      People of the Parish

Sun.       Jan. 7         10:00 am      †Joseph Hoffmann

Hispanic                  2:30 pm      People of the Community

6:00 pm †Joseph Hoffmann

Mon. Jan. 1 10:00 am People of the Parish

Readings for the Week

Monday:       Nm 6:22-27; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21

Tuesday:       1 Jn 2:22-28; Jn 1:19-28

Wednesday:  1 Jn 2:29 — 3:6; Jn 1:29-34

Thursday:      1 Jn 3:7-10; Jn 1:35-42

Friday:          1 Jn 3:11-21; Jn 1:43-51

Saturday:       1 Jn 5:5-13; Mk 1:7-11 or Lk 3:23-38

[23, 31-34, 36, 38]

Sunday:         Is 60:1-6; Ps 72; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

A happy and blessed New Year to all

 Sunday, December 31st, celebrates THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND

JOSEPH.  This time of year family is most important and probably family members are the

closest any time of the year.  Today's feast celebrates and prays that the unity and love that we all long for we will find most emphatically in family life.  We know that in family life Jesus himself “advanced in wisdom, age and favor before God and man.”  The prayers of the Mass ask God to help us “live as the holy family,” that we be “taught the sanctity of human love” and be shown “the value of family life.”  Tonight, if you do not do so already, begin a family practice of parents praying a blessing over their children at nighttime prayer time; or offer a special prayer for blessings on your family members who are now on their own, away from your family life.  Centered, faithful and caring family life is the core of church and society.  There is much strength and wisdom from God that is available to be faithful to that mission; we just need to ask, receive and use what God gives in response to those prayers.

New Year's Day, tomorrow, honors MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD, the GOD-BEARER.  This is an ancient title for Mary, and defined as a doctrine of faith in 431 (the Council of Ephesus).  This feast is celebrated on the octave day of Christmas, the season that revels in the coming of the Word of God (Jesus), made flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary.  Aware at the beginning of the new civil year of God being with us in and through Jesus, Son of God and Son of Mary, we know we can continue our growth in being one with Him who is one with us.  Through Him we have a deeper conviction that we can bring His healing, care, forgiveness, love and union with God to each other and to all people. 

We will pray hard and work hard to make this a year of peace!      —Father Ralph

 

 

Beloved, we are God’s children now;

what we shall be has not yet been revealed.

                                                    —1 John 3:2a