Merry Christmas!

Christians around the world continue to celebrate the great mystery of Christmas: the Incarnation, God becoming flesh and dwelling among us. This mystery was unfathomable to the people of Jesus' time, and in many ways, it should still leave us in awe today. It reveals the astonishing, generous, and tender love God has for His people. God did not choose exaltation or privilege, but humility. He entered our world vulnerably, revealing that our journey of faith is one of humility, tenderness, and loving care for one another.

In Jesus, God desires to be close to us and to walk with us in the ordinary rhythms of daily life. He joins us not only in our joys but also in the messiness, struggles, and uncertainties of life. Christ's humanity reveals God's deep desire to be in relationship with us, to be our companion and friend on the journey. And yet, the great mystery remains: this same Jesus is also fully God and our Savior. Truly unimaginable. A love only God could give. Emmanuel - God is with us! May you allow Jesus to guide you, heal you, lead you to holiness, and give you confidence in His abiding love.

The Solemnity of the Holy Family is celebrated on the weekend after Christmas, and I always find it a blessing that we honor the Holy Family at a time when many of us are spending extra time with our own families. These are the people God has chosen to place in our lives to help us grow in holiness. One of my frequent sayings is, "The hardest people to live with are the people you live with." Behind that thought is a simple truth: those closest to us know us best - and we know them best. Our strengths and weaknesses are revealed in the daily realities of family life and community life; and it is precisely there that we are called to holiness.

We could choose isolation, avoiding the vulnerability of relationships, but that is not how God created us. We are made for relationship; family, community, and communion. It is through God's grace and strength that we learn to love more fully and grow in holiness. Let us embrace our relationships with God's amazing love, drawing strength from the example of the Holy Family. May Mary, Joseph, and Jesus be our companions and guides as we journey together toward holiness.

January 1st is a Holy Day of Obligation, the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. We will celebrate a Vigil Mass at 4:00 pm on December 31st, allowing you to begin the New Year at Mass and then continue your celebrations, ringing in the year of the Lord 2026. We will also have Masses on New Year's Day at 9:00 am and 11:00 am. I invite you to begin the year by giving thanks to God and entrusting the days ahead to the loving intercession of Mary.

Next weekend, January 4th, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. At that time, each family will receive Holy Water and blessed chalk to mark the doors of your home and bless your house for the New Year. Your home is the place of the domestic Church; the family. This simple yet powerful blessing reminds us that God dwells with you, offering His presence, love, and protection throughout the year.

Please remember to leave some Christmas decorations up throughout the Christmas season, which concludes on January 11th. Christmas is not just a single day but a season rich in mystery and hope, a reminder that Jesus truly dwells among His people.

Finally, I want to express my gratitude to God for the many people who came to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord with us this past week. So many were moved by the beauty of our church and the spirit of welcome within our parish community. I trust that God plants seeds of grace in every heart and that He rejoices whenever His children find their way home. Thank you for your patience, hospitality, and commitment to our faith community. We pray that every soul may come to know what we have found in our Savior, Jesus Christ, and in the gift of our Church community.

Thank you for your generous support during this season. Fr. Ryan, our staff, and I have enjoyed many cookies and treats, but even more so, we are humbled by the abundance of kindness and generosity you have shown us through greetings, cards and gifts. Please know how deeply appreciated you are. We are grateful to walk this journey of faith with you here at Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.

May the light, peace, joy, and hope of the newborn Jesus fill your families and your hearts as we respond to His call to holiness and life in Him.

Christmas Hope,

Fr. Fred

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