Thank you for your generous response to our collection for St. John’s Hospice. Each Advent season you respond so enthusiastically to the needs of St. John’s, and you lovingly open your coffers to share your blessings with others. Thank you for also your generous donations to our Christmas Flower collection. Your tremendous response and thoughtfulness enable our worship spaces to be enriched so wonderfully for the Christmas season. Thanks.
Thanks also to Deacon Charlie, our Church decorating committee, and to our many young Confirmation candidates who have given of their time so freely to decorate our Churches for the Advent and Christmas seasons. The beauty of our worship spaces truly reflects the love that you have for God, and Our Lady. Your perception of how the graceful grandeur of a church leads its congregation in praise of the Almighty is truly manifest in your artistry. Thank you again and blessings!
Mass Readings – Holy Family – 28 December 2025 Cycle A
Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 – How does respect for parents keep one from sin? / Who is the eldest member of your family? Who is the youngest?
Responsorial Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 – R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. – What does it mean to fear the Lord? Why does it lead to prosperity? Why is “Fear of the Lord” one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit?
Colossians 3:12-17 – Why does St. Paul describe the virtues as clothing? Are you overdressed or underdressed? Which of these is missing from your closet? / Why does St. Paul emphasize love, peace, and thankfulness? Which virtue do you emphasize?
Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 – Do you travel spontaneously or do you prefer time to prepare? / When have you departed from somewhere hastily? What was the reason? / Why did St. Joseph receive two dreams about his return to Israel? Why wasn’t all that information shared in the first dream? Does God ever revise his plans for you? Do you cooperate with his revisions?
Prayer of Blessing for the New Year:
Remember us, O God;
from age to age be our comforter.
You have given us the wonder of time,
blessings in days and nights, seasons and years.
Bless your children at the turning of the year
and fill the months ahead with the bright hope
that is ours in the coming of Christ.
re there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope; You are our God, living and reigning, forever and ever. R/. Amen.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
R/. Amen. Let us bless the Lord. R: Thanks be to God.
Mass Readings – Mary, Mother of God – 1 January 2026 Cycle A
Numbers 6:22-27 – What are the ways in which the Lord has blessed you? What blessings do you need for the New Year?
Responsorial Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 – R. May God bless us in his mercy. – As we prepare for the 250th anniversary of our nation, in what ways is God known throughout America? In what ways does he still need to be known? Who is responsible for making him known? / Who do you know that needs to have the face of the Lord shine upon them? What can you do to make that happen?
Galatians 4:4-7 – When is the fullness of time? Do you trust that God continues to be actively present in your life regardless of the number of grains of sand yet to cascade in your hourglass? / What proof do you need to accept that you are an heir to the promises of God?
Luke 2:16-21 – How effectively are you making the message known about the Christ-child? / With what level of frequency do you reflect upon your faith and your relationship with God? / What is the story associated with your name? Is your name unique or is it shared with others in your family?