Christmas Greetings

Dear friends,
Once again, we arrive at that wonderful day called Christmas.  It is a day we are reminded of God’s unlimited love for each of us as we celebrate the birth of his son.  A birth, not in a palace but in a slum on the edge of a nowhere place called Bethlehem.   A humble birth for the salvation of the world.

As we celebrate, we have many things to give thanks for.  First of all, our resilience to the pandemic that still affects us today.   We have stood together, and we can now celebrate together in the church.  Something that was only a pipedream last year.  Second, the outpouring of care for each other.  People checking on friends and neighbors.  Our willingness to resume our outreach to the homeless and the hungry.  And finally, our unwillingness to stop progressing as a parish.  We have not allowed sickness and fear keep us from moving forward as a parish.  The perfect symbol of this is the new altar we are celebrating Christmas with.

These accomplishments were not easy.  We are still fighting a pandemic that has now killed over 800,000 of our fellow citizens. (One out of every 100 of our seniors.)   We still wear masks at mass to show our love of each other as we continue the good fight.   But as the Christmas story tells us out of darkness comes a wonderful light.

Christmas reminds us that even in dark moments the light of Christ still shines and invites us to move forward toward a new dawn, a new hope.  Jesus, born in the worst circumstances possible, hounded by the authorities and eventually an illegal refugee reminds us that hope and goodness always prevails.  Perhaps in this struggling time we need to ask ourselves.  Do we really believe this?  Are we ready to live that hope and goodness out with our families and neighbors?  Or do we feel more comfortable in the darkness filled with anger and resentment.  In the darkness there is no hope just resentment, hate and a feeling of helplessness.  Christmas calls us to follow Jesus and walk in the light of hope.  Will you join me there?  

On behalf of our staff and the Salvatorians privileged to serve you, I wish everyone of you a blessed Christmas and happy new year.   With God’s blessing and light, I firmly believe we will continue our journey to a better life.
Yours in the Savior,

Fr. Tom