MERRY CHRISTMAS

The Christmas mystery is revolutionary. It breaks all human imaginations about the Divine. God did not just become human but permanently takes up his dwelling with us. Emmanuel, God-with-us, is too good to be true that many Christians struggle with really accepting the mystery and its practical implications. In fact, most Christians feel more comfortable with the old order, where God is perceived to be far off, and we are left to figure out how to please him and render him a befitting worship. Unfortunately, many are yet to get it.

If God is with us, then his presence must be felt in how we feel every day. For the most part, many Christians feel as if no one is at home. Thus, the one disease many deal with is the illusion of a distant God, who only occasionally intervenes in “our world” and “our affairs.” Emmanuel says, no, God is not away but present. He is with us every day.  God has taken his home with us forever. He lives in us, and we live in him. He tries to remind us of this at every Mass in Holy Communion. It is not accidental that he was born in Bethlehem, a Hebrew word that means “House of Bread,” and laid in a manger, the food trough for animals, and was first shown to shepherds. Every symbol says that God came to become food for his flock, his children, his family.

For our spiritual growth and maturity, it is essential to allow this profound truth to sink in and make a significant difference in how we think and feel about ourselves and our lives.  It is a powerful statement that God values us beyond measure. To turn oneself into food for the other is to place the other above oneself literally. This is the servant Spirit that operates in God, who is Love. Into this Spirit, He draws us for our everlasting happiness and peace in him.    

I wish all our parishioners, their families, friends, and all our visitors a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.  May the joy and peace of Emmanuel remain with us always.    

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE – Fr. Paulinus

FELIZ NAVIDAD

 El misterio de la Navidad es revolucionario. Rompe con todas las concepciones humanas sobre lo divino. Dios no solo se hizo hombre, sino que estableció su morada permanente entre nosotros. Emmanuel, Dios con nosotros, es una realidad tan maravillosa que muchos cristianos tienen dificultades para aceptar plenamente este misterio y sus implicaciones prácticas. De hecho, la mayoría de los cristianos se sienten más cómodos con la antigua concepción, donde Dios es percibido como distante, y nosotros nos vemos obligados a esforzarnos por complacerlo y ofrecerle una adoración digna. Lamentablemente, muchos aún no lo comprenden.

Si Dios está con nosotros, entonces su presencia debe sentirse en cómo nos sentimos cada día. En general, muchos cristianos sienten como si Dios estuviera ausente. Por lo tanto, una de las principales dificultades que enfrentan es la ilusión de un Dios distante, que solo interviene ocasionalmente en “nuestro mundo” y en “nuestros asuntos”. Emmanuel nos dice: no, Dios no está ausente, sino presente. Está con nosotros todos los días. Dios ha establecido su morada con nosotros para siempre. Él vive en nosotros y nosotros vivimos en Él. Él intenta recordarnos esto en cada Misa, en la Sagrada Comunión. No es casualidad que naciera en Belén, palabra hebrea que significa “Casa del Pan”, que fuera recostado en un pesebre, el comedero de los animales, y que se manifestara primero a los pastores. Cada símbolo nos dice que Dios vino para convertirse en alimento para su rebaño, sus hijos, su familia.

Para nuestro crecimiento y madurez espiritual, es esencial permitir que esta profunda verdad cale hondo y marque una diferencia significativa en cómo pensamos y sentimos acerca de nosotros mismos y de nuestras vidas. Es una afirmación poderosa: Dios nos valora inmensamente. Convertirse en alimento para el otro es, literalmente, poner al otro por encima de uno mismo. Este es el espíritu de servicio que opera en Dios, que es Amor. A este espíritu nos atrae para nuestra felicidad y paz eternas en Él.

Les deseo a todos nuestros feligreses, a sus familias, amigos y a todos nuestros visitantes una muy feliz Navidad y un próspero Año Nuevo. Que la alegría y la paz de Emmanuel permanezcan siempre con nosotros.  

FELIZ NAVIDAD A TODOS – Padre Paulinus

Wednesday, December 24                       6:00 pm Mass

Thursday, December 25                 12:00 am Midnight Mass

Thursday, December 25                 10:00 am Mass (English)

Thursday, December 25                12:15 pm Misa (Español) 

MARY, MOTHER OF GOD MASS SCHEDULE

Wednesday, December 31 6:00 pm Mass

Thursday, January 1                     10:00 am Mass

Thank You! To everyone who helped make this drive a success! We received 72 tubes of toothpaste, 87 toothbrushes, 4 containers of floss, 50 sticks of deodorant, 44 bottles of shampoo and soap, 5 bottles of lotion, 1 bottle of sanitizer, 9 razors, 60 calendars and 250 cards! $578 was also raised and this will help with annual Christmas pizza party. What a blessing!

Congratulations to Fr. Jason who was installed as Pastor of St. Matthew’s in Statesboro. We are so proud to be your home parish. Fr. Jason is the son of Billy and Joy Adams and the grandson of the late Pat and Joyce Fitzgibbons.

We were able to celebrate St. Theresa on Sunday, October 1, with an afternoon social. Lots of fun was had by all!

Our Religious Education students presented the Living Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 31, 2023. It was very touching to see them show what Jesus did for us.

We meet to discuss ways to help our Parish. All ladies are welcome. Our President is Martha Walls, Vice-President is Joanne Dawson, and Secretary/ Treasurer is Marlene Kimball.

We meet the second Saturday of each month at 11:00 am in Parish Hall. We invite all the ladies of the parish to come and help support the Parish.

 GOAL $10,594

Amount Given: $14, 56

The Annual Catholic Appeal has begun. This year’s theme is Faith, Hope and Charity. It is
time for us to do what we can to support not only our Diocese but the programs and
ministries that benefit our parish and our Catholic community. The ACA supports the
office of Catholic Schools and the education of our future priest and deacons. The ACA
supports ministries that change lives for the better. We are blessed with much; let us
be a blessing to others. Your sacrificial gift and prayers will help make this year’s appeal a success.

Our parish target is $10,594 and we can do this if, after thoughtful consideration and prayer, everyone participates according to
our ability. Envelopes are available in the Narthex.  Please make all checks payable to the Diocese of Savannah.

Below is the link to the video for this year’s appeal. 

English:https://vimeo.com/785065506

Spanish: https://vimeo.com/785856713

Thank you so much for your generosity.

Fr. Paulinus

As our parishioner, we are pleased to give you a free subscription to formed.org. Entertaining movies, enlightening programs, inspiring talks, and a great selection of popular eBooks—an incredible online gateway to the best Catholic content – all in one place!

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