Welcome

Christmas is almost here. This Tuesday on December 17th, the focus of the season of Advent changed. We found ourselves looking primarily forward to the return of Jesus at the end of time for the majority of the season; the tale-end of Advent, always starting on December 17th, invites us to remember the coming of Jesus as the child of Bethlehem. In the first reading this Sunday we hear the Prophet Micah speaking of Bethlehem. The Gospel tells us of Mary’s visitation to her cousin Elizabeth where Mary finds her faith in the words of Gabriel confirmed by the fact that Elizabeth is with child. What both Bethlehem and Mary have in common is that no one would have expected either of them to have anything to do with the coming of the Messiah; Bethlehem lacked the glory of its neighbor Jerusalem, even though Bethlehem truly is “David’s city.” Mary was a girl from a non-descript family in a back-water town called Nazareth, a town of maybe two-hundred people or so at the time. However, with both Bethlehem and Mary we see God doing wonderful things in and through them. As we prepare to approach the manger, may it remind us that God performs some of his greatest acts in the unlikeliest of situations with some of the unlikeliest people. If God chose for the birth of his only begotten son to take place in these circumstances then why do we at times think that God is limited by the circumstances of our individual lives? Psalm 126 declares “the Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” The birth of our savior truly is a great and wondrous thing, but the goodness of God is not locked in the past. God is still looking to do great things in our lives. Like Mary, may we open our hearts in faith to the power and possibility of God’s action in our lives. As we approach the great Solemnity of our Lord’s Nativity, I encourage you to keep the Church’s celebration of Christmastide. Don’t fall into the world’s trap of leaving Christmas behind on December 26th. Keep your home and heart festive as the Church celebrates the coming of the Christ child through the varying feasts of Christmas up to the feast of the Lord’s Baptism on January 12th. Fr. Chris Sabbatical Bishop Paprocki has granted me an abbreviated sabbatical for two months in late winter 2025. I originally was to go to study in the Holy Land last year, then this year, but the political situation did not allow for it. From February 4th thru April 8th, I will be on a mini-sabbatical at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Southern Indiana, alma mater to myself and Fr. Alex. A sabbatical is meant to be a time for prayer and renewal and also study; during that time I will be doing research (and hopefully begin writing) for my doctoral dissertation in canon law. While I am gone I do not foresee any changes in the day to day life of the parish. You will likely see a visiting priest here or there as I will try to have someone rotate in to take a different Mass each weekend so that Fr. Alex does not have all four, as well as having another priest take one of the week day Masses. You’ll receive more information from me in the new year when the final details are worked out. No Wednesday Exposition December 25th and January 1st There will be no exposition of the Blessed Sacrament the following two Wednesdays being that they are Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Wednesday exposition will resume on January 8th.  On behalf of Father Alex, Deacon Scott, and the parish & school staff, I wish you and yours a Blessed and Merry Christmas. May the Lord turn his tender face to you and gift you the joy and peace that come from him alone. God bless you! Father Chris House