Christmas Season Dec 25th, 2024 -January 7th, 2025
Mass Schedule:
Please Note:
All of our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses will be INDOORS in the Parish Life Center. Please plan accordingly, although we will have limited overflow seating in the Chapel and on the Front Porch, it will still be very crowded. Please consider the weather in case you end up sitting outside in the overflow seating.
We look forward to celebrating the Nativity of the Lord with you this weekend.
Tuesday, December 24th
4 PM English -in the Parish Life Center
6 PM English – Parish Life Center
8 PM Spanish – Parish Life Center
Wednesday, December 25th
12 Midnight English – Parish Life Center
10 AM English – Parish Life Center
ALL of our Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas day will be celebrated in the Parish Life Center, with the overflow option on our Chapel and Front Porch.
Por Favor, tenga en cuenta que la UNICA misa en español para Navidad será la misa de las 8 PM el martes, 24 de diciembre en el Centro de Vida Parroquial. El resto de las misas serán en inglés.
The usage of incense in Mass adds a sense of solemnity and mystery to the Mass. The visual imagery of the smoke and the smell remind us of the transcendence of the Mass which links heaven with earth and allows us to enter into the presence of God. We will be using incense at our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses. However, we appreciate that some people are sensitive to incense; therefore, we will offer one of our Masses without incense. We will NOT be using incense at the 6 pm Christmas Eve Mass this year.
Christmas is one of the most important days of the Church year, second only to Easter itself. It is the feast of the incarnation, the feast of God becoming flesh (the Latin “in carne” means “enfleshment”). It is a uniquely Christian teaching, the Divine choosing to become one of us. Because of this belief, God is not only Transcendent but also wholly Immanent, Emmanuel (God-with-us). While remaining Transcendent (meaning we must rise above our present condition to reach Him), He is at the same time Immanent (meaning He is with us as we rise toward Him). Every Eucharist is like Christmas where the bread and wine are transformed into His flesh, His Body and Blood, and, in a sense, He is born anew on the altar.
The liturgical season of Christmas begins with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve and concludes on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. During this season, we celebrate the birth of Christ into our world and into our hearts and reflect on the gift of salvation that is born with him…including the fact that he was born to die for us.
The Christmas tree and the Nativity scene are popular symbols of the season and a tradition in many Christian homes. It is also traditional to exchange Christmas gifts with family and friends as a way to honor God the Father’s gift of his only son to the world. Having received the gift of Christ, we naturally want to pass that gift along to our loved ones.
Christmas Flowers Donations
Help us decorate the church for the Christmas season with beautiful poinsettia plants. If you would like to make a donation for our Christmas flowers in memory or in honor of a loved one, we will keep them in our prayers during the Christmas Season. Donations can be dropped off in our Offertory Boxes at the weekend Masses or at the Parish Office this coming week.
The Epiphany of the Lord
“As we begin the New Year, may we discover anew that faith demands worship. If we can fall on our knees before Jesus, we will overcome the temptation to set off on our own path.” (Pope Francis, Jan. 6, 2020)
On this Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, we remember that God came to earth for everyone, every nation, every people.
Blessing of the Home and Household on Epiphany
Lord God of heaven and earth,
you revealed your only-begotten Son
to every nation
by the guidance of a star.
Bless this house and all who inhabit it.
Fill us with the light of Christ,
that our concern for others
may reflect your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen. (USCCB 2017)
Below, you will find links to blessings and other content to help you celebrate this season of joy and hope for salvation. – from usccb.org
Christmas resources (usccb.org)