Dear Parishioners and Guests, 

Today is already the fourth Sunday of Advent and in just three days we will be celebrating Christmas again. I hope that the Advent season has held moments of prayer and reflection for you on the mystery of God’s love for us in the incarnation of His Son and our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord’s coming on Christmas Day fills us with hope and gives us encouragement that among all our life’s troubles and challenges, our future is secure because, after all, it is in God’s hands. As the calendar year comes to an end, we surely look back on the many struggles that this year has brought us, but we should never miss the blessings which we have received from our loving God. We give thanks to Him for the gifts of faith and trust, life and love, family and friendship, health, but most of all for the gift of His Son, our Savior born in Bethlehem and hopefully in our hearts too. 

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas this year. May the Newborn Jesus bring peace and love into your lives and may we all enter the New Year with a renewed strength and hope to build his Kingdom in our hearts and on earth. As we all unite in joyful celebration of the Birth of our Savior, our entire parish staff wants to wish you joy and health, and, above all, abundant graces. May the Holy Infant fill your hearts with deep faith, hope, and love. 

Every year on December 27th, the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist - our parish patron. One celebrated custom of the Christmas season is the blessing of wine on the Feast of Saint John. According to legend, Saint John was served poisoned wine but survived because he blessed the wine before he put it to his lips. The poison rose from the chalice in the shape of a serpent. In his joyful memory, Catholics bring wine to church, which the priest blesses, turning it into a sacramental called the "Love of St. John." Catholics use this sacramental wine for special occasions throughout the year and to give to the sick. In honor of our parish great patron, we ask you to bring bottles of wine to church next Sunday, December 29th which will be blessed at all masses. 

Merry Christmas to all – Fr. Gregg