From Christmas to Epiphany: Unity in Faith and Worship

“May all kings bow before him, all nations serve him.” – Psalm 72:11

Merry Christmas once again brothers and sisters as we reach the second Sunday of our season of rejoicing in the gift of the Incarnate King. This Sunday we continue our reflection on the mystery of Christ’s birth by calling to mind the journey of the Magi to Bethlehem on the day we call the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

We were overjoyed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to welcome nearly 2,500 individuals through our doors to pray together the Holy Mass and rejoice in the commencement of this wonderful season of peace and joy. This included 1,350 persons at our 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass which is likely the most attended Mass in our entire Diocese each year. We are grateful that Mass attendance was up by nearly 150 people from last year’s Christmas Masses.

Amid the frenzy of activity here in our Church building throughout the days of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was the continuing of a new tradition here at Saint Patrick Parish: the offering of a Christmas Mass in Spanish. This was our second consecutive year and we were pleased to welcome nearly 140 people for the Mass with more than 100 being from among our Hispanic community. As Epiphany Sunday reminds us of God’s saving plan for all the nations we were thrilled to see individuals hailing from Ecuador, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Cuba, and perhaps other nations as well.

A special part of the Mass was that a collection was taken up during the preparation of the gifts for the purpose of purchasing a Spanish Book of the Gospels. For previous Masses in Spanish, I would simply print the Gospel reading in Spanish and tuck it inside the English Book of the Gospels that we use at Sunday Masses. Our Hispanic community responded with abundant generosity, easily covering the amount needed. You will hopefully see the Spanish Book of the Gospels up in our sanctuary next to the English version within the next few weeks.

As Father John mentioned in his bulletin article last weekend, we will begin this weekend offering a monthly Mass in Spanish on the first Sunday of the month. This Mass will be offered at 1:00 p.m. Prior to the Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available in Spanish from 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. and after the Mass we will gather downstairs from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to begin catechesis with adults who are seeking to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. If there is anyone interested in assisting with these once-monthly afternoons of worship, catechesis, and service, please send me an e-mail and I would be grateful to connect with you. You do not need to speak Spanish to be involved in helping with this ministry.

Gracias a Dios.