Pastoral Letter Blog

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Please see the letter below from David and Stephanie Ringland, our parishioners, about the upcoming Couples Retreat February 21st. This will be a wonderful day for our couples!! This retreat is for couples of all ages and stages committed to growing deeper in love, in faith and in God’s Calling. The day will include meaningful conversations, guided workshops, stories and lunch. This is designed to strengthen connection and renew commitment. We are looking forward to seeing you! God Bless, Fr. Steven ———————————————- Greetings Fellow Parishioners! Are you distracted? There are so many things in the world today that compete for your time and attention, whether it's the late-night work deadlines, the news feed on your cell phone, the ads on the radio, who or what was posted on Facebook, or the what's playing next on your TV....to name a few of them. We have all become desensitized by the remarkable availability of these distractions in our lives. As a result, it has become easier to be drawn away from the relationships that actually matter to us as we focus on those other things. If you have been together for a while, maybe it is the distraction of money, material wealth and competition with a family that seems to be perfect from the outside, or even coveting your neighbor's spouse. It's mostly unintentional, but over time, the detachment and avoidance of the negatives in a relationship can impact a couple and become significant obstacles that can feel insurmountable at times. As we age, just like interest, these things compound and can feel heavy to the point of breaking. We become tired and feel beaten and abused, but can’t identify the source of it. In reality, it is the overwhelming weight of complacency that rests on our shoulders that can lead to finger pointing and accusations when anything goes out of the ordinary. If you have children, like we do, you can see this manifest in the way that their attention is diverted from helping around the house or helping each other, or how quickly a task like homework can evolve into mindless scrolling when an electronic is involved. Their behavior may echo what they see and the complacency that many of us have fallen victim to. That is why when we learned that there would be a couple's retreat in February, we were happy to become involved. Not only is it a great example of how vibrant the parish is here at Immaculate Conception, but it's a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with each other in a no-judgment zone. We welcome the chance to spend some time with each other to rediscover the Holy Spirit's presence within our relationship, and how our love for each other will be magnified by the end of the day on February 21st. Whether you are married, engaged, or a couple that has been dating for 20 years, we invite you to join us for part of a day at a retreat that is guaranteed to be nothing short of profoundly moving and entertaining! Should you know a couple going through a rough patch or one that has been dating for 20 years, bring them too! You may be the catalyst that they need to revitalize their love or finally make the commitment. Childcare will be available during the event in order for you to make your date-day at Immaculate Conception. Your date-night is up to you, but we know that it will be extra special with the one you love. God bless, David & Stephanie Ringland

Dear Brothers and Sisters, This past week, the parish took a bus loaded with youth to attend the March for Life in Washington. It was really a blessing to all of us. We attended an event held on Friday morning by the Sisters of Life. During Mass, New York's auxiliary Bishop, Joseph Espaillat, delivered a passionate and energetic homily centered on the consistent dignity of human life and a full Catholic pro-life ethic, delivered a powerful homily. Drawing from the Church’s teachings and the Second Vatican Council’s pastoral constitution Gaudium et Spes , he invited all in attendance to embrace every aspect of a life-affirming vision, not just select issues. I would like to share some points with you. In his homily, Bishop Joseph Espaillat energizes the congregation by acknowledging their sacrifice in waking early, traveling long distances, and enduring fatigue to be present. Drawing on his own experience of attending the March for Life as a teenager and seminarian, he reassures especially young people that the effort is worth it, emphasizing a repeated refrain: “In the end, love wins.” This phrase becomes the central theme of his message, underscoring that love—not anger, exhaustion, or despair—is the Christian response to the struggles surrounding life issues. Bishop Espaillat situates the pro-life movement within the broader faith and tradition of the Church. He stresses that Catholics do not rely solely on Scripture, but also on Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium. He highlights the importance of Vatican II documents, lamenting that many Catholics—laypeople and clergy alike—are unfamiliar with them despite their relevance. The Church, he explains, has a “constitution” similar to that of a nation: Gaudium et Spes , the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. Focusing especially on Paragraph 27 of Gaudium et Spes , Bishop Espaillat walks the congregation through a list of violations against human dignity. He emphasizes that being pro-life is not a single-issue stance. While abortion is affirmed as a grave moral evil and a central concern, it cannot be isolated from other life issues. The document condemns murder, abortion, euthanasia, suicide, torture, coercion, subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, human trafficking, and exploitative labor. According to the bishop, Catholics cannot “pick and choose” which lives deserve protection. To do so undermines the Gospel and weakens the Church’s moral witness. He reinforces this point by quoting Fulton Sheen and his own seminary professors: refusing to take a stand on major moral issues is itself a decision and amounts to silent cooperation with evil. By choosing to travel to Washington, D.C., the faithful have already made a decision—to stand publicly for life and truth. Bishop Espaillat explains that disrespect for life poisons society, leading to violence, war, and hatred. When life is not honored—beginning in the womb—all of society suffers. At the same time, he offers hope: the Christian response is to listen, teach, and send. The Church must listen to one another across generations and roles, teach clearly without relativism, and then send disciples into the world as witnesses. Returning to the Gospel, he reflects on King David’s choice of mercy over violence and calls for a consistent life ethic grounded in compassion, truth, and love. Quoting Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis, he rejects the “throwaway culture” and urges defense of the unborn, the poor, the sick, the elderly, and the marginalized. He concludes by encouraging the faithful, especially young people, to respond to opposition with love, to be light rather than hostility, and to remember their mission: they are summoned, appointed, and sent. His final message echoes his opening refrain— love is the answer, and in the end, love wins . God Bless, Fr. Steven 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, As we come to the end of January, it is certainly a good time to have a deep sense of gratitude in recognition that we are truly loved by God and that we are called to spread that love to everyone. Perhaps today we could take some time to think about God’s goodness to us and how He invites us to share our faith with those who have not yet heard the Good News. For our annual Mission Appeal for 2025 (sorry for the delay!), Sister Lisa Valentini, MSC, a Missionary Sister of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, is coming here to Marlborough next weekend to share with all of us about the Missionary endeavors of her Sisters in Mission around the globe. Right now, the MSC Sisters who are serving in a place called Kurugodu in the Bellary area of Karnataka State in India, have a specific project for which they are in desperate need of support: They need to build an addition onto their elementary school. When Sister Lisa was in India six years ago, there were 550 students in Sacred Heart of Jesus School. Now, there are 1,400 students and the school continues to GROW. Sister Lisa will share with us how the children in Sacred Heart are coming to know about Jesus because the MSC Sisters are there. There are two ways of being a Missionary: One is to GIVE by GOING – which is what the MSC Sisters do… the other is to GO by GIVING. . . This Mission Appeal gives us the opportunity to “GIVE” so that we can be a part of the Missionary work of the MSC Sisters. We will be having a second collection next weekend to help them in their mission. We always invite you to be generous to them as God has been generous to us! On a separate but related topic, I would like to highlight that here in the parish, we also have 2 women who are missionaries. Jackie Chung is currently serving the college students of University of Rhode Island in Providence through Focus. Along with other missionaries, they evangelize other young adults who are studying at URI. They try to touch their lives and rekindle God’s love by offering them opportunities to encounter Jesus, either by bible study groups, retreats, or peer to peer conversations. This is her second year. The other person is Janet Guzman. She is in her third year in mission in Turks and Caicos through the Neocatechumenal Way. Although the surroundings are beautiful, she is currently serving the underprivileged local population in a school that the local parish opened a few years ago. The whole school is run by women who have heard the call from the Lord to serve. Some are trained professional teachers while others serve in other capacities. Janet is very happy working with the children and teaching them about the love of God and a few other things. We also have 5 seminarians from the parish. We have one parishioner in a seminary and 4 seminarians that were adopted by the parish. Leonardo Orellana after discerning his vocation, desired to follow the call to be a missionary priest and was assigned to a seminary in Washington, DC. Then we have the guys that you usually see around, Deacon Javier, Alex, Henry, and Michael (that is currently in mission in California). There are a few young people who are also discerning their vocation. Some have felt called to serve God as priests, others as nuns, missionaries, or holy couples. It is very important that we pray for them EVERYDAY! It is not easy to be young these days. There are many challenges that we didn’t face when we were young. We priests also ask for your prayers so that we can continue serving the people and doing God’s work! There is much hope for the future! Although the news and politics seem to paint a gloomy picture, the future is very bright!!! Let us never lose hope! God Bless, Fr. Steven 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, This week I would like to share with you some news from our parish. We had a great year during the Jubilee, with many wonderful events. There are also some updates on other things that are happening that people may not be aware of. Lastly, we have a few upcoming events that I would like to bring to your attention. In the past fiscal year (July 2024–June 2025), many people accepted the grace of receiving the sacraments. We had 65 baptisms, 95 confirmations, and 82 First Communions. Some of these were received by adults, others by teenagers, and most by children. We also had 29 couples married during this time. Another statistic worth noting is the number of funerals celebrated. We honored the lives of 76 brothers and sisters who were called home to the Lord. Looking back on the year 2025 as a whole, there were many beautiful moments in our parish life. A few are worth highlighting. In January, we took 56 pilgrims to the March for Life, and we will be doing so again this week. We were also blessed to be designated a Jubilee Pilgrimage Site for the Jubilee Year. After forming four planning groups, we began offering Adoration and Confessions Monday through Friday from 6:00–7:00 p.m. Countless people experienced the mercy of God during this time. We also offered talks three times a week—one in each language—with excellent speakers covering a wide variety of themes. Throughout the year, we hosted 11 retreats and welcomed special guests for various events, including Immaculée Ilibagiza and Sean Forrest. We also held our annual Corpus Christi procession and Parish Festival, both of which were very well attended. We began a bereavement ministry and launched a new parish group, Friends in Faith. In addition, we enjoyed several social events, such as fish fries, bingo, Spanish Family Night, and other dinners. We conducted a parish-wide 33 Days Consecration to Mary and celebrated the Marian feasts of Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Aparecida, the Immaculate Conception, and Our Lady of Guadalupe. This last celebration marked the first visit of our Archbishop, Richard Henning. This is a very brief summary of the 45 events we held in 2025. Looking ahead, we will have 24-hour Adoration this Sunday, taking advantage of the holiday. (If you are able, please sign up online so we can ensure all hours are covered.) Then, on Thursday, 55 youth will travel on pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., to participate in the March for Life. On the weekend of January 31–February 1, Sister Lisa, MSC, will be with us for the Mission Appeal. On February 15, after the 11:00 a.m. Mass, we will hold the annual Anointing of the Sick in observance of the World Day of the Sick. As noted on our cover page, we will host a couples’ retreat on February 21. This will be a wonderful opportunity for couples to rekindle their love for one another. Lent will begin on February 18 with Ash Wednesday. Finally, on February 28, Sister Olga will visit the parish to give two talks: one for women and young ladies on vocation, and another open to the public (topic to be determined). One more novelty, we are very happy to introduce you to Ms. Gabriella Lindhurst as our new Music Director. She got her music degrees from Assumption College (Bachelor) and Notre Dame (Masters). She comes from Southborough and has sang and performed in many different places for the past 10 years. Please make sure to welcome her as you see her this weekend.  There are many other things happening in our parish, but I wanted to share just some of them with you. These events are inspired by the Holy Spirit to fill us with grace and bring us closer to Jesus. I understand that some events may feel challenging or even intimidating, but I encourage you to ask yourself, “Is God calling me to attend this?” If you have any questions or need clarification, please feel free to contact the parish office. As John the Baptist pointed Jesus out to those around him, so do we. Hopefully, one day we can all say, “Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” God Bless, Fr. Steven

Dear Brothers and Sisters, This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which brings the Christmas season to its conclusion. On Monday, we enter Ordinary Time. On this occasion, I would like to reflect with you on the meaning and importance of Baptism. In our baptism preparation classes, I often ask parents a simple question: What is Baptism? I invite you to ask yourself the same question. After a long silence, words usually begin to surface—original sin, the Holy Spirit, entering the Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers a beautiful definition in paragraph 1213: “Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit… the sacrament of regeneration through water and the word.” Through Baptism, God forgives original sin, gives us new life in the Holy Spirit, incorporates us into Christ and His Church, regenerates us, and makes us His adopted children, sharers in His divine nature. Practically speaking, as St. Paul teaches, the old person dies in the waters of Baptism, and a new person rises—conformed to Christ, filled with grace, and called to live in His likeness.  However, Baptism is not a magical ritual. It is not simply a matter of “going through the motions” and then moving on with life. The graces we receive must be nurtured in order to grow. The divine life within us is like having a Ferrari parked in the garage but never taking it out for a drive. It is something so extraordinary that, in the early Church, people were willing to die simply to receive Baptism. To share in the life of Christ makes us capable of loving as He loved, forgiving as He forgave, trusting in the Father, and hoping beyond all hope. In the early Church, Baptism was preceded by a long period of formation called the Catechumenate, during which people learned how to live as disciples of Christ. Today, especially with infant Baptism, the Church reminds us that this formation must continue after the sacrament is received. The Catechism (no. 1231) speaks of the need for a post-baptismal catechumenate—a lifelong formation in faith. It is not enough simply to receive the sacraments; we must allow them to shape our lives. While our parish strives to offer solid faith formation for our children, this formation often ends with Confirmation. But our faith journey cannot stop there. We all need ongoing formation. Here at our parish, we offer opportunities for adult faith formation through talks and through the itinerary of faith of the Neocatechumenal Way. The Church also provides godparents at Baptism, who are called to be guarantors and witnesses of the faith for the child. This is why the Church is rightly serious about the requirements for godparents. They must have received all the sacraments of initiation and strive to live a sacramental life—attending Mass regularly, receiving the sacraments, and living according to the teachings of Christ and His Church. Godparents are meant to be role models and guides in the Christian life. If they do not walk this path themselves, they cannot effectively guide their godchildren in faith. Finally, this leads to the most important question: How do we live our Baptism? Do we act and live as children of God? Do we truly believe that we have a loving Father who provides for us; a Savior who died to forgive our sins and give us new life; a Holy Spirit who guides us and reminds us of all that Jesus taught; a Church who is our Mother, guiding us on our journey; the communion of saints; that all sins can be forgiven when we desire to sin no longer; the resurrection of the body; and heaven? It is never too late to begin again. We are not called to follow the values of our culture, but the values of Christ. The commandments and the Gospel have not changed—why should our faith change? Perhaps this new year is the moment for a fresh start. That divine nature we received at Baptism—like a powerful Ferrari ready to be driven—is waiting to lead us along the path of God. It is never too late. Let us take advantage of this new beginning and start again, living our lives as they were meant to be lived. God Bless, Fr. Steven

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, “We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar.” This is a well-known song that we sing and hear every year during this season. Yet, I wonder how often we pause to reflect on the meaning of these words. As we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany this weekend, I would like to reflect on three aspects of the Magi: they left their homes, they traveled from afar, and they returned by a different way. There are many traditions and even myths surrounding the wise men. Were they truly kings? Were they astronomers? Where did they come from? What gifts did they bring? When exactly did they arrive in Bethlehem? While many of these questions remain open to speculation, there are a few things we know for certain. As the song reminds us, they were men who journeyed from afar, bearing gifts for the Christ Child. Perhaps we imagine their journey in modern terms: three men meeting at an airport, boarding a plane to Israel, then taking a transfer or an Uber while following a GPS pin to the child. But in reality, their journey was nothing like that. These men risked their lives. They faced the harsh elements of the desert and the many dangers of the road—wild animals, bandits, and countless unknowns. They had to renounce the comfort of their homes and the security of familiarity. Yet they were confident in the sign they had seen in the sky. They were people attentive to God, waiting for a word that would point them in the right direction. Pope Benedict XVI once reflected on this profound moment, saying: “The Magi set out because of a deep desire which prompted them to leave everything and begin a journey. It was as though they had always been waiting for that star. It was as if the journey had always been part of their destiny, and was finally about to begin.” As beautiful and inspiring as their story is, we are invited to place ourselves within it. What if we were among them? Would we spend long hours searching for a sign from God? Would we be willing to leave behind the comfort of our lives to begin such a journey? What would we be willing to risk in order to encounter the Messiah face to face? These are questions worth asking, because God desires to reveal himself—have an epiphany—in our lives every day. The real question is whether we desire it enough: what we are willing to leave behind, and whether we are willing to face the challenges that come with following him. Each day we bring many intentions before God. Certain situations reveal our lack of charity, our pride, or other sins, prompting us—after honest examination—to ask God for help. The same can be said of any vice or weakness. Yet the question remains: how far are we willing to go to grow in humility, charity, and holiness? The Magi understood that without the Messiah, everything else lost its meaning. Without a personal encounter with Jesus, all the riches of the world amounted to nothing. They seemed to know this deeply. But do we? Once again, Pope Benedict offers guidance: “The better you know Jesus, the more his mystery attracts you. The more you discover him, the more you are moved to seek him. This is a movement of the Spirit which lasts throughout life.” We also know that the Magi “returned to their own country by a different way.” Their story did not end in Bethlehem; they still had a long journey home, facing the same dangers once more. This time, however, they no longer followed a star. After encountering Christ, the light now lived within them. Later, Jesus would affirm this truth when he said that we are the light of the world. In baptism, we too receive the light of Christ. Pope Benedict describes the Magi’s new mission in these words: “Their task was to guard and nourish it in the constant memory of Christ, of his Holy Face, of his ineffable Love.” This is the mission of every Christian. And I would go even further: we are not only called to guard and nourish the love of God within us—we are also called to spread that love to all those around us.  God Bless, Fr. Steven

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, During these days of Christmas, I would like to reflect with you on the figure of the shepherds. They were simply minding their own business, as on so many other nights, watching over their flocks. We might be tempted to imagine them as admirable people, faithfully and diligently doing their work. However, in the time of Jesus, shepherds were not regarded as great individuals—certainly not as role models. They were often viewed with suspicion, considered unreliable, even labeled as thieves or liars. Because they worked at night and rested during the day, they were frequently absent from the synagogue and were thought to be neglectful of prayer and religious observance. Yet, remarkably, these were the very people chosen by God to be the first to receive the announcement of the birth of the Savior. Saint Luke tells us that an angel appeared to the shepherds, bringing them “good news of great joy for all the people: for today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:10–11). At that moment, the shepherds faced a choice: they could have continued minding their business, dismissing the angel’s message, or they could believe and act upon it. They may have been tired after a long night’s work, perhaps tempted to remain where they were. But that is not what happened. Saint Luke tells us that they “went in haste” (Lk 2:16). They did not worry about what others might think of them or whether they would be believed given their poor reputation. They hurried to find their Savior. And although they brought no material gifts to Mary and Joseph, they offered what was most precious of all—their hearts. During this Christmas season, we are invited to imitate the shepherds. Perhaps, like them, we have not been the best Christians lately. Maybe our Mass attendance or prayer life has been inconsistent. Yet, just as God chose the shepherds, He also chooses us. He reveals His Son to us and entrusts us with the mission of sharing the great joy of Christmas. Now we face the same decision: will we take the time to seek the Lord, or will we continue with the routines of daily life? We may feel tired, distracted, or even surrounded by darkness. Nevertheless, this encounter with Christ has the power to change our habits, our beliefs, and our lives. God invites us to come before Him and offer our hearts, so that we too may return to our daily lives “glorifying and praising God” (Lk 2:20).  The light that shines in the darkness, foretold by the prophet Isaiah (cf. Is 9:2), has been given to us. Even today, many people are hungry and thirsty for God, longing to see the light. God has chosen us to be His messengers, His angels, in the world. In the Christmas story, the angels repeatedly tell us, “Do not be afraid,” for God is with us. Therefore, do not be afraid to open your heart to Jesus and to share the joy of Christmas with all people. On behalf of all the staff of Immaculate Conception, we wish you and your loved ones a blessed and holy Christmas season. May the newborn Christ fill your hearts with His peace, joy, and love. Merry Christmas and God bless you. God Bless, Fr. Steven

HISTORY OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE Dear Brothers & Sisters, Trees have always had a great importance for primitive men: they signaled the presence of water, offered shadow, were used for tools, used for fire, gave fruits for nourishments... For this reason, trees became religious objects, they were worshipped not for what they are but for what they revealed: the divinity of a God. It is next to oak adored by pagans that the first Christmas tree is born in the 8th Century thanks to the missionary work of St. Boniface. Saint Boniface was a bishop and Apostle in Germany and in those lands he had converted many pagan tribes. His work was not easy and even if they converted, many times they faith was weak and they would fall back into old customs. During the Christmas night of 724, Boniface went to the Oak of Thunder of Geismar, which was adored by the pagans as an image of the God Thor. They would offer human sacrifices next to the oak to gain benevolence by the God. Boniface stopped this barbaric act and took an ax and started cutting down the oak tree. At that point, a strong wind started blowing and the tree fell and broke in 4 parts. Behind the oak there was a fir tree (Christmas tree). Therefore, Boniface began a simple catechesis for these men who lived their lives at the rhythm of nature and announced to them Jesus Christ: his birth, his death, and his resurrection out of love for man. He told them that among the trees that are dead because of the loss of leaves, the evergreen fir tree was the image of Christ, the living. This tree full of light was the symbol of him who is the light of the world and with his birth leads us to God who dwells in light. In the end, he invited them to put candle lights on that tree in honor of the birth of Christ and with the wood of the fallen oak tree he made them build a chapel in honor of St. Peter. Years later, this tradition crossed the border of Germany and reached the royal palaces of Austria, France, England, and even Russia. The Christmas Tree and the Nativity scene were very common in all of Europe until the protestant reformation. Lutherans forbid the use of sacred images and the nativity scene was suppressed. The Christmas tree became more and more widespread. That’s why for Catholics the tree was a protestant innovation. Only at the beginning of the 1800 Catholics began to use the Christmas tree again. In the Vatican, beginning in 1982, the Christmas tree has always been next to the Nativity scene. John Paul II on December 19 2004, during the Angelus, said: “Next to the crib, as in St Peter’s Square, we find the traditional Christmas tree. This too is an ancient tradition that exalts the value of life, for in the winter season the evergreen fir becomes a sign of undying life. Christmas gifts are usually placed on the tree or arranged at its base. The symbol thus also becomes eloquent in a typically Christian sense: it calls to mind the tree of life (cf. Gn 2: 9), a figure of Christ, God’s supreme gift to humanity. The message of the Christmas tree is consequently that life stays evergreen if we make a gift of it: not so much of material things, but of life itself: in friendship and sincere affection, in fraternal help and forgiveness, in time shared and reciprocal listening.” Address of his holiness benedict xvi to pilgrims from Walloon, Belgium who had come to bring as a gift to the holy father the Christmas tree which will decorate St. Peter’s square in the Christmas season - clementine hall Friday, 18 December 2009. “In the forest the trees are close to each other and each one contributes to making the forest a shady and sometimes dark place. And here, chosen from among a multitude, the majestic fir that you are offering me today is lit up and covered with sparkling decorations like as many marvelous fruits. Having abandoned its somber dress for a scintillating splendor, it is transfigured and becomes the messenger of a light that is not its own but bears witness to the true Light that comes into this world. This tree’s destiny is comparable to that of the shepherds: while they were watching in the shadows of the night, here they are illumined by the Angels message. This tree’s destiny is also comparable to our own, for we are called to bear good fruits to show that the world has truly been visited and redeemed by the Lord. Standing beside the crib, this fir, in its own way, demonstrates the great mystery that was present in the simple, poor place of Bethlehem. To the inhabitants of Rome, to all the pilgrims and to all who will visit St Peter’s Square through the television images broadcast across the world, it proclaims the coming of the Son of God. Through this tree, the ground of your land and the faith of the Christian Communities of your Region greet the Infant God, the One who came to make all things new and to call all creatures, from the humblest to the most exalted, to enter into the mystery of Redemption and to be associated with it.” God Bless, Fr. Steven

Dear Brothers & Sisters, It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… I hope the nativity scene, the trees, the lights, the gifts, and the Christmas carols are helping you prepare for the big day! If not, hurry up with your preparations! This weekend we celebrate Gaudete Sunday , which translates to “ Rejoice Sunday .” This expression comes from the Introit (entrance antiphon) of the Mass: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.” The priest wears rose (not pink!) as a sign of the sun that is just about to rise on the horizon, representing the imminent coming of Christ. Although we are living through one of the darkest times of the year, we know that the Light is coming. Sin and suffering have an end. We are almost there. The first reading speaks of how everything dead, feeble, or broken will be transformed—and will rejoice. St. Paul cautions us to be patient. The Lord is near, but not yet. We are very close, and if anyone is not ready, there is still time! A couple of weeks ago, we heard St. Paul’s exhortation: “It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Rom 13:11–12) However, not everyone rejoices at this time of year. I want to acknowledge all those who struggle during this season. For some, this will be the first Christmas without their father, mother, husband, wife, child, sibling, or another loved one. Whether they are far away, estranged, or have been called home to the Lord, not being able to celebrate such an important moment with them is very hard. Instead of laughter, there may be tears. Instead of a house full of people, there may be only a few—or no one at all. There are also people who must be away from their families this Christmas. I ask each of you reading this letter to say a prayer for them this weekend. In your Christmas gatherings, when you pray or say grace before the meal, remember them. If you know someone who has recently lost a loved one or is separated from their family, please be especially considerate. A small gesture can go a very long way. I also want to take this opportunity to publicly thank all the people who worked so hard these past days with the Novena, the Consecration to Mary, and the celebrations of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. They did a fabulous job organizing everything, decorating, and cleaning up. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! And thank you as well to all of you who participated in these events—it would not have been the same without you. Finally, next week we are preparing for our Immaculate Conception Christmas Concert! It will be an opportunity for the whole parish to come together and celebrate each other’s cultures. Children and adults from all three communities are preparing to share their Christmas joy with us. I invite you all to come. It will take place Sunday, December 21 at 3 PM . Feel free to bring others as well. We will have refreshments afterward.  …and don’t forget to keep Christ in Christmas!!! God Bless, Fr. Steven