Pastor’s Note 1/4/26

Dear Parishioners:

If we envisioned the Christmas event as concentric circles, we would notice how the news of the newborn Child ripples outward. On Christmas itself, that glorious day, our attention is drawn to the Child, the manager, the long-awaited birth of the Savior. We give thanks to God the Father for sending his Son Jesus as our King and Redeemer, coming among us as one of us, in gentleness, humility, and closeness. Then we widened out last weekend to view the Holy Family, the family unit of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as this blessed community of family where God’s grace is to be found, where God’s love is to be shared, where God’s presence abides and radiates. And now the circle of influence of Christmas frames out farther. On this Epiphany, the Scriptures would have us see to all the nations, to all peoples. This is represented by the appearance of those Wise Men, or Magi, who come from the East to visit and pay homage to the newborn King. Here, the news spreads far and wide, taken to understand that the news of Jesus’ birth and presence in our world is to reach all the world. This Epiphany is a chance to consider how we are involved in that, how we are agents of that movement outward, how, in many small and wonderful ways, the Light of Christ shines on others precisely through our witness.

Also, I do want to thank everyone for the generosity offered for Fr. Sampson’s village in Nigeria. While he had planned to be traveling there this month, present geopolitical circumstances make the trip at this time untimely. Please keep his family and people in your prayers, and we will provide further updates on future plans.

God’s peace,

Fr. John