“There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone… To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good… All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.” 1 Co 12,4-11

Dear parishioners,

In the words above from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, we have an admirable expression of the mysterious and wonderful way in which the Holy Spirit is at work in all of us, all the time, to make of us together the Church which we are. We are like an organism, “activated” by the Spirit, as Paul says. In this organism, each member, each part exists for the good of the whole, and contributes to it in some way. What a beautiful thought that we are Church together, that we complete one another, that the Church is therefore incomplete when one of us is missing. What a beautiful thought that it is all the work of the Holy Spirit. Each one of us is animated, enlivened by the Spirit to be whatever part of the Church God willed that we be from all eternity. And it’s all God’s doing. Let us rest today in the consideration of this stunning reality and thank God that we are a part of it.

On this first ordinary Sunday after the Christmas season, I feel the need again to thank all those who worked hard, and gave of their time and talents so that we could celebrate the Christmas season as well and as beautifully as possible. As Paul affirms, you are all enlivened, inspired by the Holy Spirit to do the things you do in the parish and for the parish, but that takes nothing away from the debt of gratitude that we feel toward you all. Thank you and God bless.  And now, we need to start thinking about Lent and Holy Week!

Next Sunday, January 23rd, is “Word of God Sunday”, instituted by pope Francis. A Sunday on which we basically just celebrate Scripture, and the privilege that is ours of living our lives in the possession of the bottomless light and gospel which it contains. On this occasion, we will bless your Bibles. We invite you to bring your Bible to mass, if it hasn’t already been blessed. If you don’t have a Bible, now is the time to buy one. Here are suggestions of excellent Bibles provided   by Fr. Gabriel:

  • Ignatius Catholic Study Bible (New Testament only), by Scott Hahn : EXCELLENT
  • The Catholic Study Bible, by Donald Senior, Oxford University Press
  • Catholic Scripture Study Bible, Large Print
  • The Great Adventure Catholic Bible, by Jeff Cavins
  • The Didachè Bible, with commentaries from the Catechism, Ignatius Press

These are not cheap Bibles. All of them are study Bibles. Life-long investment. Some can be found in paperback. Most of them are sold at Amazon.

Here is yet another suggestion of an excellent Bible for young Catholics: Breakthrough Bible. It can be purchased here: https://www.smp.org/product/4141/Breakthrough/ 

Finally, for your peace of mind, this week a company by the name of Zeroblast will come again to disinfect all frequently touched surfaces in the church and rectory. They do this every three months. The substance they apply to the surfaces kills all bacteria and viruses, including Covid variants, that fall on them on contact, for a period of three months. 

God keep us all safe and well as we venture into yet another week of the omicron wave. 

Fr. Guy