Are you aware that some critical services offered by the Catholic Church have been cut as a result of recent executive orders signed by the president? One result is the defunding of USAID, the main international humanitarian and development arm of the U.S. government, which has been providing about 50 percent of the funding of Catholic Relief Services (CRS). CRS assists the poor and vulnerable overseas, including emergency relief and human development initiatives.

Matt Bensman has been on staff with us here at Holy Family Parish since August 2018 when he began serving as our Youth Faith Formation Minister / Social Media Coordinator. Later, in January 2024, he began serving as our Director of Family Faith Formation. Over the course of time since then, he has discerned that he needs to spend more time caring for his young family including his special needs son, Theo.

I came across a saint I knew nothing about recently reading Matthew Kelly’s “Saint of the Day” for Jan. 29 – that I share with you. It is St. Gildas the Wise (6th century). While we don’t know a whole lot about St. Gildas, we do know that he was “of the truth.” That may be why he came to be known as Gildas the Wise. After all, wisdom is truth lived. St. Gildas lived the truth by condemning the corruption of British kings and clergy in his book, On the Ruin and Conquest of Britain.

There are many folks around us looking for hope. Maybe you’re one of them. Some have lost loved ones or are dealing with a terminal illness, others are alienated from family members, or have seriously messed up their lives having made bad choices, or have faced daunting challenges they have had no control over such as a loss of a job. They long for some comfort and help to get them through their despair.

This Sunday, the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, is designated as the Sunday of the Word of God. In 2019, Pope Francis instituted this day as the Sunday of the Word of God to remind us of the role of the Word of God in the life of the Church. In the Introduction to the Lectionary used to proclaim the readings at Mass, it explains that “In the hearing of God's word, the Church is built up and grows, and in the signs of the liturgical celebration, God's wonderful, past works in the history of salvation are presented anew as mysterious realities.

We’ve been blessed with Fr. Bill William’s ministry here at Holy Family Parish for over 3½ years. He has been a “God-send” to me serving as a partner in ministry as a Senior Assistant by sharing some of our weekend and daily Masses, funerals, anointings, and confessions. In that time, we have become dear friends as well as colleagues. Additionally, he has become very fond of the many members of our parish who have welcomed him as a special part of our community.

The start of a new year often prompts us to look back at what was, as well as to look ahead at what possibilities there might be. Besides the resolutions to shed the pounds added over time or to recommit to personal goals left unmet, a faith-focused approach to the new year could make quite a difference in how our days ahead unfold.

Recently I mailed out to all registered parishioners a copy of our parish Annual Financial Report. Along with the report, I usually include a request for you to make a once-a-year “grand” gift to the parish to assist with the cost of maintenance, repairs, and renovations since the weekly offertory collection revenue only covers our regular operating expenses.

With both Fr. Bill, our senior assistant, and myself hospitalized recently for different reasons, we have had to re-examine our respective schedules and duties to arrive at a more reasonable activity level that will be more conducive to maintain our health and well-being going forward. Thankfully, Fr Bill is able to continue as our Weekend Assistant celebrating Sunday weekend Masses on a rotating basis with me.

Beginning on Christmas Eve, the Catholic Church throughout the world will celebrate a Holy Year, also known as a Jubilee Year. It is one of the great events of the Catholic Church, which is celebrated every 25 years. It calls pilgrims to Rome and invites Catholics everywhere to focus on the beauties of the faith, to strengthen our relationship with the Lord, and to practice more intently the virtues that make us Catholic Christians, especially the virtues of forgiveness, reconciliation, and charity.

Have you ever thought of yourself as a missionary? I don’t mean the kind that goes off to a foreign country. In Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), he writes about the Church’s missionary role and the need for both clergy and laity to make the proclamation of the Gospel a lived reality in all of what we say and do. He calls for each of us to be “Spirit-filled evangelizers” with a “renewed missionary impulse” marked by a “joy ever new, a joy which is shared.”

In this season of Advent, there are many feelings that arise from memories, present circumstances, and the rush of the season. For some, this may not seem to be “the most wonderful time of the year.” It may be because of the loss of a loved one, being out of work, or feeling overwhelmed with all there is to do. For others, it’s getting caught up in the joy of the season, picking out presents that hopefully will be “just right,” the heartwarming visits with friends and loved ones, or delighting in the colorful lights and decorations.

As we begin the season of Advent this weekend, I invite you to reflect upon what the Holy Family experienced in the time leading up to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and its significance in our present day – using this prayer.

Prayer for the Homeless

O God of endless mercy, in your divine place to save us, your only Son became a person like us in all things but sin.