Christmas and Caring

Published: December 27, 2020

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

            First of all, Merry Christmas! from me and the rest of the Parish staff: Lorie, Debbie, Carla, Judy, David, and Andy! And I should include in these greetings all who help us minister within our Parish — from lectors and servers and other liturgical ministers to members of our Parish councils, committees, and in particular the Knights of Columbus and our “Ladies of the Cathedral” organizations.

Although this year — like virtually all other activities! — our celebrations of the Lord Jesus’ birth are more understated due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is my fervent hope that they will be more pro­found on the personal, spiritual level for all of us. This is going to take effort, I know. It’s too easy to get kind of depressed and regretful that both our family and Church gatherings are smaller, simpler, and quieter. But rather than sadness, let’s try to recognize that in a sense this makes our experience of Christmas more like that of Jesus, Mary and Joseph: more unusual, more alone, more difficult, and more misunderstood by “the world around us.” There is a depth to this, of emotional closeness to the Holy Family, whose love and care for each other was quite enough for them despite hardship. It reminds us of the importance of our own families and loved ones, who mean more to us than they generally realize! All this can help us to be grateful and full of peace, even in the midst of the closing days of 2020!

And we should not just feel close to the Holy Family and our own loved ones. In one of his recent messages — for the Church’s “World Day of Peace,” observed each year on January 1 — Pope Francis called on not just governments but every individual to foster a “culture of care.” He mentioned four objects which should be our constant concerns:

• care for the dignity and rights of each person, from conception until natural death;
• care for “the common good” as distinguished from individualistic motives and pursuits;
• care “through solidarity,” that is, concrete loving involvement in the lives of others; and
• care of creation and protection of the environment, a favorite concern of him and his predecessor, retired Pope Benedict.

It occurs to me that this little litany offers us all much to pray about, in thanksgiving and petition. It also could well be a framework for more concrete and less self-serving “New Year’s Resolutions.” (hint! hint!) And of course if these ideas of the Holy Father actually do begin to shape our lives and loves, 2021 should be a good bit better than the year before!

                                                                                                In Him who is our peace,

 

                                                                                                 Very Rev. Paul D. Counce

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