Now that the Christmas Season is officially over, I want to thank you for your participation in our various Christmas and New Year’s liturgies, your thoughtful wishes and gifts, your generous donations for the needy through the Mass of Concern collection and the food items for the Food Bank, the numerous gifts brought by the parents and children given to the ‘Share The Warmth’ organization, your contribution to the parish through the Sunday collections, and your joyful and prayerful spirit during the whole Christmas season.

I encourage all of us to take a moment to appreciate the holy moments experienced during the past two weeks. Reflect on the beautiful scripture passages we listened to, read the Christmas cards you received one more time, read the Christmas texts you received, reflect on what was, and maybe reach out to someone you didn’t get a chance to connect with. Savour these moments, and ponder the wonder of the Incarnation all Christians celebrated.

Accept my deep appreciation and gratitude to all who contributed to the various services: the Lectors, Eucharistic ministers, Servers and Ushers, Catechists, David Barrington and his assistants who decorated the Sanctuary and Church, all the parishioners who made a donation for the purchase of our flowers and decorations, Wilfrid, Damon and the team who set up the Creche outside the church, and Joel Peters our very competent and excellent Choir Master, and the wonderful Choir members who enriched our services with their remarkable singing.

The Christmas message is that we learn to love and serve one another and to care for those for whom the Christ Child was born.

Let us pray for the triumph of peace in the world, especially in the Middle East, Ukraine and Russia, for the freeing of hostages, for refugees and all fleeing violence, the persecuted, the displaced and the suffering everywhere.

May the New Year be Blessed and Happy for you and your family.

– Father Mac Eachen