AMDG
Dear OSJ Family,
Peace of the New Born King!
We all know well that Christmas has the ability to bring family and friends together and to help us to appreciate the love in our lives that we can often take for granted. This is just one reason that we celebrate Holy Family Sunday today.
During this holy season of giving and receiving God’s love, made manifest for us in the birth of Jesus Christ, let us make every effort to take time to slow down and to enjoy and savor the simple gifts that give real meaning to the season and to our very lives; loved ones, community, experiences and of course our beautiful faith in Christ Jesus born in our hearts this day.
To help us to reflect on these great gifts of God, I offer you these beautiful words of Sigrid Undset, the Norwegian novelist, and convert to the Catholic faith, who was awarded the Noble Peace Prize for her work in literature in 1928. She wrote:
“And when we give each other Christmas gifts in God’s name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans–and all that lives and move upon them. He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit and all that we quarrel about and all that we have misused–and to save us from our foolishness, from all our sins, He came down to earth and gave us Himself.”
On behalf of the Jesuit Community, the Parish Staff, the Parish Pastoral Council and all of our devoted volunteers, committee members, and dedicated ministers at Old Saint Joseph’s, we pray that the message of Christmas, the gift of Jesus Christ, and the inspiration of the Holy Family, fill your life and your new year with enduring joy, happiness and peace. We pray too that our gratitude for all of these gifts will impel us to extend our hands and our hearts in even greater service and care for those most in need within our human family!
May the blessing of the Christ Child, and that of the Holy Family, be with you and yours!
With my esteem and prayers,
© 2015 Fr. Philip Florio, S.J.
Pastor
