The Church’s focus at this time of the year is based on the theme of the family.

The Family Is Our Connection To God: Likewise, we receive life from God through our parents; they from their parents; and then repeated over and over all the way back to God, who is the author of all life, beginning with Jesus Christ, made in the image and likeness of God.

I am not long back from visiting my family in Dublin. My father, Christy, whom many of you may know, celebrated his 92nd birthday in November. Birthdays, the reception of Holy Sacraments, especially weddings (and also big anniversaries), are the greatest, most joyful family celebrations, as you all know.

Do we still have the witness of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, today? The best way is simply by showing up: attending Sunday Mass as a family is the greatest public witness to the faith we can possibly give. This is how every Catholic family lives out their God-given call as an Evangelizing Community. As Pope St. John Paul the Great wrote:

The parents not only communicate the Gospel to their children, but from their children they can themselves receive the same Gospel as deeply lived by them. And such a family becomes the evangelizer of many other families, and of the neighborhood of which it forms part. (Familiaris Consortio, #52).

Pope Benedict a few years ago said regarding the family in relation to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph:

God had chosen to reveal himself by being born into a human family and the human family became an icon of God! God is the Trinity, he is a Communion of love; so is the family, despite all the differences that exist between the mystery of God and his human creature, an expression that reflects the unfathomable mystery of God as love. (Pope Benedict, Angelus, December 27, 2009).

Let’s make 2024 a great year, through the intercession of The Holy Family. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we love you! A Holy and Safe New Year to you all.

The Catholic Family that “Prays Together, Stays Together”: as Fr. Patrick Peyton always said.

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We are happy to offer a unique opportunity coming to Blessed Sacrament Parish:

Prayer & Life Workshops with Chayito Hernandez in the Parish Hall beginning 2:00pm, Thursday, Jan 11.

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Fr. Kilian, Fr. Williams, Our Deacons and all of our great Parish Staff.

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