Greeting's from Fr. Dave

I am struck every year by how fully and deeply we Catholics celebrate Christmas. In addition to our Advent weeks of preparation and anticipation, when we actually get to Christmas itself, we unpack the true significance of the Birth of Jesus in profound ways, beginning the following day.

On the 26 ^th, we celebrate the feast of the martyrdom of St. Steven, the first martyr. Golly, following Jesus is serious business! On the 27 ^th, we celebrate St. John, the author of the fourth Gospel, and the one who so elegantly described Jesus as the WORD that became flesh and dwelt among us. On the 28 ^th, we honor the Holy Innocents — all those infants King Herod put to death in his efforts to maintain power when he heard about Jesus’ birth.
 
Then on the 29 ^th, St. Thomas Becket, another one who stood absolutely firm on the truth of who Jesus was and what that meant in lived life. Last weekend, we celebrated the Feast of the Holy Family, and this weekend is Epiphany — all continuing to delve deeply into the reality and significance of Jesus Christ.
 
Epiphany means literally “to show” or “to reveal”. The visit of the Magi reveal that the infant Jesus was truly the newborn King, the long-awaited Savior of all. Remember, the Magi were not Jewish, but were wisdom seekers from the East — and it was they who recognized in Jesus as the Christ.

Pope Francis wrote so clearly that everything we do as a religion is about revealing Jesus to our world, and assisting each person coming to know him personally:
 

“Jesus is the fresh living water for which we thirst more than for anything else, which he alone can give and nothing else can replace; we lead all to see Him, perfect happiness, when nothing else can satisfy, we lead all to realize their most secret dreams, which no worldly power or pleasure can promise to fulfill!”

 
May this New Year draw each of us into an ever deeper relationship with Jesus and embracing of his vision for human existence!


Scam alert. Emails have been sent using a derivative of my parish email address, asking for funds for me. Please disregard! I assure you, no one on the parish or school staff will be soliciting for funds.


Congratulations to Kim Nguyen and Mike Fantazia, who were married here on December 28 ^th! Blessings to you both, and to all our married and engaged couples.

Congratulations and blessings to Samantha Agamata, Liam Bui, Londyn Dean, Ky Nguyen, Arabella White, and Logan Young, who were baptized this weekend!


Funeral services are planned for Vern Newton on January 12 ^th, 11:00am here at Holy Trinity. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, rest in peace.