FM"s Message | Sunday, January 7th

Happy New Year to one and all. This Sunday we begin the new year by celebrating the feast of the three kings or the Epiphany of the Lord. I have recalled this Sunday before during homilies. Wearing my Father’s bathrobe, using a decorated hockey stick for a staff and carrying a box adorned with costume emeralds etc., for the incense, gold and myrrh, we would have a big procession through the church on this day. Just about every family in the Religious Education program was represented and one of our parish priests said that if this had really happened, (i.e., all those wise men at once), Mary would have fainted almost immediately trying to feed then and care for Jesus and the church would have enough incense to cover every bad odor ever. It is wonderful moment in which the church helps us to remember that Jesus came for the whole world and that wise people seek Him and having encountered him return home capable of “another way.”
Tomorrow, January 8, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, the official moment in the adult life of Jesus that the Holy Spirit descends on him and we are instructed that this is God’s son and with him God is well pleased. (Mk 1:9) This is something that all of us may allow ourselves to hear. We are God’s children and with us He is well pleased. This is the place from where our dignity and humanity can be understood. We are God’s Children, whether we have wandered in from somewhere else after examining other wisdom practices or traditions or whether we are cradle Catholics, born into this faith from the beginning. For us, our baptisms signal that we too have been invited to go by,” another way” this is the same way that the three wise men returned home. They avoided evil and the false purposes of Herod as they returned to their homes and after our Baptisms, we too are given the Grace to avoid evil. We are also reminded that we are to bring our gifts to God. This day also signals the end of Christmas season and we return to Ordinary time until the 14th of February when the romantic season of Lent begins.
I also want to give another reminder to all about the Grateful Discipleship program.  Thanks again to all those who signed up, for different ministries, offered their time and talent and for those who prayerfully increased their giving for this year. I hope that we will soon see and hear about the effects of this initiative. Across the archdiocese, we have been hearing that all those who have participated in this program have seen increases in participation on all three levels of GDP.  We will be in touch with all those who indicated they were interested in serving in some capacity. In this this new church environment, all are expected to complete a CORI form and attend a workshop entitled Protecting God’s Children.
This past month was a period of transition for parish as we said goodbye to Charlie Joyce our minster for the Latino community, to Maeve Moriarty who is now responsible for our bulletin, but has stepped away from the administrative assistant position, and for Deacon Jesús Peña, who is taking another assignment in the Archdiocese. I hope you will join me in being grateful to all of them for their service and pray for them as they continue their paths. Ad Multos Anos.
Peace,
Father Murray

Building News. During the Advent season we were offered 100 chairs that were no longer being used by another parish. They are very nice, and we will use them to replace the chairs in the hall at IC. The other chairs, we will keep and allow people to use them as necessary. This is the last call for the Bingo tables at the SJ Hall. We are going to recycle them. They are great for outdoor events, very sturdy. You can speak to Father Murray about them.