Pastor's Message

Feast of the Holy Family- December 28, 2025

“The family is beautiful for the problems it poses and the rewards it brings! In sum, it is the perfect setting for rearing a child.”  Pope Paul VI

             The celebration of Christmas continues, for this solemnity is celebrated for eight days. The Christmas Season, then will last until the feast of the baptism of the Lord although some dioceses end the season end at Epiphany 

            After the Eternal Word of God; Jesus, took on our mortal flesh and entered into our time, the next mystery dawned unto us! God the Father, entrusted the care of His Son to a to a husband and wife; to Mary and Joseph; ordinary people; and the three became a Family

           God by entrusting his Son to a family affirmed the importance of this unit in its functions and limitations! This is the unit built in love and for love; It enables love to be transmitted, experienced and shared! It’s a unit governed by principles, at different times; many times, called to, selfless-giving and sacrificial generosity.

           The first and second readings of today, presents us with such challenges; “Wives, be subject to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children obey your parents … for this is what pleases the Lord.

          “Fathers, do not provoke your children lest they become discouraged.”

         “Whoever respects their mother is like one who lays up treasure. The Person who honors their father will have joy in their children.”

          Pope Leo XIV, in his message on Holy Family urged us to imitate the Holy Family of Nazareth as a model; “The Perfect model for all families; the model that forge love, and model of holiness, where God dwells, offering lessons in faith and mutual support and beacon of hope.”

          Pope Paul VI in 1964, reflecting in today’s Gospel and the troubles with King Herod; would write; “The family is beautiful for the problems it poses and the rewards it brings! In sum, it is the perfect setting for rearing a child.”

          Imagine the problem in the Gospel of today; It would be a nightmare for any parent; Jospeh and Mary with a young infant are commandment to take a very lengthy journey to Egypt to save the child for the wrath of Herod; “Joseph, get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.””

         We witness the greatness of Joseph, again; He is silent! We read; “Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod.”

         Then we read “This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord though the Prophet, Out of Egypt I have called my Son.”

         Joseph and Mary are at the core of God’s plan to save humanity, and none of them question; they heed the Will of the Lord in sincere and absolute obedience.

         May the Lord grant us the grace to emulate them.

                                                                                                                                                †