The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
 
According to Luke's Gospel, after their purification, the parents of Jesus "brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord" (2:22). After offering all the required sacrifices, they gave Jesus to Simeon and " he took him up in his arms and blessed God" (2:28). The blessing also extended to Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph. The Holy Family is a model for all Christian families. To thrive and play their God-appointed role in the world, families need graces of blessings, and families should seek blessings from God. We need blessings imparted on them so that they may receive special graces to live a life dedicated to Christ and his Gospel. Also, our families need blessings to ward off the influence of the evil one. In the birth of Jesus, God sets in motion the victory over death, sin, and the devil. Our families must respond to God's invitation to receive from Him blessings that support and protect our families.
 
The solemnity of  Mary, the Holy Mother of God, falls on the octave of Christmas. Ordinarily, it is a holy day of obligation, but we will NOT observe it as a day of obligation this year because it falls on a Monday (you are highly encouraged to attend mass nevertheless). We will, however, honor our Mother with a recitation of the Holy Rosary before mass. We will offer our rosary intentions for God's manifold blessings on our family. On New Year's Eve or New Year, it is customary for families to gather at "the table or at the Christmas tree or manger scene for a Blessing of the New Year" (Ordo 25). We will carry out these blessings at masses this weekend and on  Monday. Please find time as a family to offer these blessings together at home. Please do the blessings around your Christmas tree or nativity set.
 
 
Traditionally, at mass, the priest offers the family's blessing at the Feast of the Holy Family. Thus, it shall be for our parish. However, I have adapted and elongated this pious act by scheduling an Eucharistic adoration for the Evening of Epiphany when, in a more significant and solemn way, the Eucharistic Jesus Himself would impart solemn blessings on all families in our parish and beyond as we wrap up the Christmas season, which ends officially on the Baptism of the Lord, the following day. There will be an Epiphany of Blessing on January 7 at 7 pm. You would want to take advantage of this opportune moment of grace. So, save the date.
 
We have come to the end of 2023 and look forward to the beginning of 2024, the year of Grace. We must approach it with faith, hope and love. May God bless us with all the necessary graces to live for Him continually. I am thankful for all you have done to support me and the parish this year. My gratitude goes to everyone and church societies who gave gifts of money, talent, and time in the service of our beloved parish. May God reward you generously.
 
I again renew my blessings upon you; may you continue to have a Merry Christmas season and a grace-filled New Year!
 
In His Grace,
 
Fr. Alayode Bernard Oniwe, OP
 

​Beloved in Christ,
 
Think of Mary. Think like Mary. The Gospel according to Luke tells us that the angel Gabriel appeared to "a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary" (Lk 1: 26-27). The fulfillment of hopes of ages past takes place in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Her son, Jesus, is the one God promised to rule over the house of Jacob forever and whose kingdom will have no end. The conception of Jesus in the womb of the virgin is the beginning of a unique event in the story of our salvation. The incarnation, the coming of God into our world in the flesh, is the work of the Holy Spirit, who overshadowed Mary. Full of grace, Mary says "yes" to God's plan because she must have thought of nothing else more edifying and glorifying of God. The virgin must have wondered how God's mysterious plan of redemption was going to work out since she was a virgin, and her fiat would have exposed her to shame and reprobation. Yet, she agreed to God's plan for her. Whenever you are in a situation beyond comprehension, consider Mary's fiat: let it be done to me according to your will, O Lord.
 
"And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." (Lk 2:19). All the events that unfolded before Mary- the virginal conception, the miraculous birth, the message about the child brought by the shepherds, all these amazing interactions of the divine with human experience occupied the heart of Mary and filled her with faith, hope and joy. Mary's thoughts must be our thoughts as we celebrate Christmas. We must let our hearts be nourished and strengthened by the birth of Jesus Christ. We must consider the ways of Mary, her trust in God, and her yes to God. We must keep all the things concerning the birth of Jesus in our hearts, reflecting on them all through the Christmas season and beyond. How do we do this? Think of Mary. Think like Mary. Meditate daily on the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
 
We must continually turn to the Sacred Scriptures and prayers to understand the meaning of these and their purpose in our relationship with the son of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, born to us on Christmas night. Our hearts must meditate on the beautiful and spiritually rich Christmas cards and carols we are encouraged to meditate upon and sing respectively throughout the season. Mary gave birth to Joy, a joy to the world, on that Silent Night, a Holy Night. In like manner, our hearts must give life to Christ as we let the message of Christmas touch and transform our souls and those we come in contact with. The message of the birth of the Messiah is built on humility, love, grace, and joy. We must strive to live out these virtues daily. If we must understand the meaning of Christmas, we must think of Mary and like Mary, who personifies all these virtues.
 
The joy of Christmas does not end on Christmas day; it endures liturgically until the Baptism of the Lord. Keep the joyful heart and atmosphere alive all through the season of Christmas. Keep the joy and light of Christmas alive in your homes, and spread the good cheers everywhere you go. We will do this splendidly as a parish on the Night of the Epiphany of the Lord, January 7, at 7 p.m. With our young adult musical band, the Forgven, we shall have a parish Holy Hour of blessings, grace, and healing prayers. Jesus, the incarnate word of God, will be exposed and devoutly carried around in a monstrance for adoration in our church. We want to praise, thank, adore, bless, and petition God for his goodness as we begin the new year. Please make attendance at this special hour of grace a priority. Jesus will bless you and your family.
 
On behalf of Deacon Gregory Amarante and the parish office staff, I wish you a joyous Christmas and a grace-filled New Year.
 
In His Joy,
 
Fr. Alayode Bernard Oniwe, OP
 

​Beloved in Christ,
 
As we enter the final days of advent, we have a cause for rejoicing. Gaudete, rejoice! This is the liturgical clarion call this Sunday. In 1 Thessalonian 5, St. Paul asks us to rejoice always. With the theme of rejoicing in the nearness of the coming of Jesus Christ in mind, I want to express my joy at the visit of our shepherd, Bishop Timothy Senior, to our parish last Sunday. He presided at the 10:30 am mass and shared a message of consolation and reconciliation with us. Many of us not only attended the mass but attended the reception as well and got to meet with the bishop. Seeing a long line of people chatting with the bishop as they went toward the food and refreshment table was beautiful.
 
I rejoice at the fellowship we all had. I am glad that we were able to pull off a successful celebration. All thanks to all who brought desserts and drinks. Special thanks to our CCW and others who helped prepare things and clean up after. Thanks to the St. Michael Guards and other liturgical ministers. All of you are a source of joy to us all. Our parish comprises lovely and joyful people, and my name is Joy (Ayo). There is a cause for rejoicing here!
 
Please remember that next Sunday is the last day of Advent, immediately followed by Christmas Eve masses on Sunday and a mass on Monday, Christmas day! Two consecutive days of obligation occur next week. What a double blessing we have ahead of us. Double graces in the offing. Plan to attend masses on both days of obligation. The bulletin contains all the days and times. Also, this is a reminder that our Advent parish mission is tonight. The Irish Tenor, Mark Forrest, will be with us again this year. Do not miss it.
 
Be joyful!
 
Fr. Alayode Bernard Oniwe, OP
 

 Beloved in Christ,
 
"Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight the path of the Lord" (Mk 1: 3). St Mark begins his gospel account with the insightful preaching of John the Baptist in the desert. Echoing the prophecy of Isaiah, John the Baptist reveals a clear and deep understanding of what the season of Advent is all about. It is a  period of sincere preparation of a path through our hearts for Jesus to come in. Someone said about our Christian faith as a journey, not a destination. We are on a journey through the desert to the promised land. We can liken this preparation period to the exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt to the promised land. We embark on this path of purification to prepare our mind, soul and body for Christ at Christmas and his second coming in glory at a time we do not know.
 
How do we "make straight the path of the Lord" as we "await new heavens and a new earth"(2 Pt 3:13)? The way, the path through the journey, is a life that anticipates the Coming of the Lord by constantly conducting ourselves "in holiness and devotion" (2 Pt 3: 11). The voice and the message of Advent preeminent preacher, John the Baptist is evident- a "repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Mk 1: 5; see Acts 3: 19-21). Repentance is an English word derived from the Greek "metanoia" which means a change of mind and heart, a new way of seeing that is interior and transformative. To straighten the path for Jesus to come into our hearts depends on a sincere examination of our lives and an honest confession of our sins. Repentance helps us prepare the way of the Lord. Making a U-turn in our life, from following our selfish will to embracing the will of God, should be our goal at this time of the liturgical year.
 
I provide opportunities for you to prepare for the coming of the Lord at Christmas and glory at the end of time. Prepare by attending our parish penance service scheduled for Friday, December 15, at 7 PM. You also have time between Sunday masses in Advent, 9:15- 10:15 AM, to go to confession. Of course, there are other penance service options in our Lancaster deanery. Look out for dates in the bulletin.
 
Let me make another pitch for our parish Advent mission to be led by the International Irish Tenor, Mark Forest, next Sunday at 7 PM. You want to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to aid the preparation of our hearts for Jesus' coming. Come with your family, and invite your friends. Let me take a quick look back at last Monday's parish monthly Eucharistic Adoration. It was a beautiful moment of silence and songs in worship of our Lord. We had a good attendance and we prayed well. The Forgven band and I plan to have a Night of Epiphany Eucharistic Adoration to mark the conclusion of the Christmas season. This one-of-a-kind joyful celebration is scheduled for Sunday, January 7, 2024. Please save the date in your calendar and look for more details on the event in subsequent bulletins.
 
Lastly, we look forward to Bishop Timothy Senior celebrating the 10:30 AM mass for us today. We are blessed to have our shepherd with us and eagerly await his Advent message for our parish. 
 
Let the preparation for His coming continue in earnest.
 
With Hope and Peace,
 
Fr. Alayode Bernard Oniwe, OP