Looking back at the weekly messages of Father Paul Counce, first published in The Carpenter, our weekly Parish Bulletin
Published: December 25, 2015
Merry Christmas! Since this week is pretty busy week around here, just like it is in your own home, this means that we all should make, first of all, a deliberate effort to slow down!
How? Make time for prayer, including personal, private contemplation of the mystery of God’s only-begotten Son taking on our humanity to save us. Sure, participation at holy Mass is a wonderful and necessary way to join yourself to the Lord properly at this special time, but in all honesty, going to church isn’t enough. Jesus saves us personally as well as communally: each of us needs to spend prayer-time alone with Him to express fully our gratitude to Him for what He has done.
Next, convey your love and appreciation for all of the special people in your life. Includes family and friends, of course, but also the others who mean a great deal to us but whom we tend to overlook when we get too busy. Remember, too, that Christmas presents are not enough! Be sure to say “thank you” to convey how you really feel. Also, a visit, a shared meal, an actual conversation, a handwritten card or note, or at least a phone call are other ways to show love and appreciation, and are often the best ways.
Lastly, think about how you intend to change for the better as a result of your deepened faith. Don’t make un¬realistic “New Year’s resolutions” for 2016. Rather, become more active in practicing the faith, truly virtuous as well as more prayerful and generously charitable. If we’re not better for it once it’s over, Christmas would be pretty much a waste of time, don’t you think?
This Bulletin covers a two-week period of time, so there won’t be another until the one dated January 10, 2016, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This year on that day we’re going celebrate the universal call to holiness begun in Holy Baptism: the 10 am Mass that Sunday we will be an “International Mass,” highlighting the many cultures and languages of our parishioners and society. We’ll try to welcome everyone in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Korean, Vietnamese, and so forth. We’ll do our best, also, to make the music and presentation of some of the Scriptures and Prayers of the Faithful multilingual as well. Make a point of circling the occasion on your calendar: it should be inspiring, and even a bit fun!
