​A mother always has the best interest of her children at heart...

​The best of all Christmas presents is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. For this reason, it is most appropriate that we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph during the Christmas season. This feast provides us with the opportunity to reflect upon the gift and importance of our relationships with our mother, father, brothers, sisters, spouse, children, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.

A Blessed and Merry Christmas to you brothers and sisters! 

As we celebrate this Christmas, I'm especially struck by the first words proclaimed after Jesus is born.  The angel says to the shepherds “do not be afraid.” These words were also used in the events leading up to Christ's birth. The first thing the angel Gabriel says to Mary at the Annunciation are “do not be afraid.” Similar with St. Joseph, the angel says to him in a dream, “Do not be afraid Joseph to take Mary as your wife.” Why would the first words God has proclaimed to the human race on the birth of His Son be “do not be afraid”?  

​We are now on the fourth Sunday of Advent, and as the song goes, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! We anticipate with the ancient Scriptures the birth of One who promises hope and peace to our weary world. 

​We are now very close to celebrating Christmas Day! The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin for “rejoice.” This Sunday is so named because today’s Mass begins with the antiphon from Philippians 4:4,5, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.” As we light the rose candle on this Third Sunday of Advent, the church once again bids us to be joyful, insisting that we have every reason to rejoice.

​The Second Sunday of Advent challenges us to prepare a royal highway in our hearts for Jesus so that we may receive Him as our saving God.