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Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary’s of the Lake:
❶ This SUN we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, which is a reminder for us that Jesus was truly born into our human family –i.e. He became like us in all things but sins. At the same time, we are invited to look up to the Holy Family to pray for our own families in our call to holiness as well! --‘So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect!’ (Mt 5:48)
◆ Jesus, I Trust in You! ◆ Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us! ◆ St. Joseph, Pray for us!
ers and Friends of St. Mary’s of the Lake:
❶ This SUN we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, which is a reminder for us that Jesus was truly born into our human family –i.e. He became like us in all things but sins. At the same time, we are invited to look up to the Holy Family to pray for our own families in our call to holiness as well! --‘So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect!’ (Mt 5:48)
◆ Jesus, I Trust in You! ◆ Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us! ◆ St. Joseph, Pray for us!
❷This coming Wednesday January 1st will be our New Year Day and also the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Isn’t it so fitting & appropriate that the Feast of Mary, Mother of God is celebrated at the beginning of a New Year? For just as January 1st is the beginning of our new year, the Blessed Virgin Mary brought Jesus to the world to mark a beginning of a new phase in our salvation history. St. Paul proclaims: ‘When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman.’ (Gal 4:4). That woman is the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is indeed the ‘Theotokos’ or ‘God Bearer’ or ‘Mother of God.’◆ A reminder: The Solemnity of Mother of God is a holy day of obligation. Please plan to go to church for the Feast either on New Year Eve or New Year Day to glorify God, to honor Mary, and to ask God, through the gracious intercession of Mary, to bless us in our New Year 2020.
❸ Speaking of a New Year, we are speaking of the precious gift of Time! At the beginning of our New Year shall we pray to God: ‘Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.’ (Psalm 90:12).‘May the Lord bless you and keep you! May the Lord let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!’ (Num 6:24-26)
HAVE A BLESSED NEW YEAR 2020!
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới (Vietnamese)
Fr. Philip
❷This coming Wednesday January 1st will be our New Year Day and also the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Isn’t it so fitting & appropriate that the Feast of Mary, Mother of God is celebrated at the beginning of a New Year? For just as January 1st is the beginning of our new year, the Blessed Virgin Mary brought Jesus to the world to mark a beginning of a new phase in our salvation history. St. Paul proclaims: ‘When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman.’ (Gal 4:4). That woman is the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is indeed the ‘Theotokos’ or ‘God Bearer’ or ‘Mother of God.’◆ A reminder: The Solemnity of Mother of God is a holy day of obligation. Please plan to go to church for the Feast either on New Year Eve or New Year Day to glorify God, to honor Mary, and to ask God, through the gracious intercession of Mary, to bless us in our New Year 2020.
❸ Speaking of a New Year, we are speaking of the precious gift of Time! At the beginning of our New Year shall we pray to God: ‘Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.’ (Psalm 90:12).‘May the Lord bless you and keep you! May the Lord let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!’ (Num 6:24-26)
HAVE A BLESSED NEW YEAR 2020!
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới (Vietnamese)
Fr. Philip