My dear Friends in Christ,
On this Feast of The Holy Family, The Church encourages us to look to the Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph for inspiration, example and encouragement. They were a model family in which both parents worked hard, helped each other, understood and accepted each other, and took good care of their Child so that He might grow up not only in human knowledge but also as a Child of God. Jesus brought holiness to the family of Joseph and Mary as Jesus brings us holiness by embracing us in His family. Parenting has its challenges which makes reflection on and fulfilling their responsibilities all the more daunting. As they heard during their marriage ceremony:”children are a gift from God to you.” Children serve as the joy of their parents’ young years and the help and comfort of their old age. But above and beyond that, they are a gift for which their parents are accountable before God, as they must, in the end, return these, His children, to Him. We pray for our own families and for each member of our parish family. We pray for those families who will be traveling this week that they take the necessary precautions in this time of pandemic and that they return to and from their destinations safely.
It’s amazing how Christmas has come and gone and it feels like it was only yesterday.
May God bless all our families, and on behalf of the entire staff here at Corpus Christi, may you all have a Happy New Year!
May God bless you all,
Father John