St James Catholic Church

The Sunday after Christmas is dedicated to the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.  We might think they are too remote, too special, too holy to be an effective model for our families.  But, just like our families, they enjoyed good times, but also suffered through terrible hardships.  For example:  a crisis pregnancy, a traumatic childbirth, a flight for their lives led them to flee to a foreign land.  Let this family be the spiritual role model for all families, because the thing they got right is their faith and love that sustains us through both our joys and our struggles.

In more recent times the concept of the traditional family of husband, wife and child has changed radically.  Today in addition to that, we have single-parent families, foster families, separated and divorced families, same-sex marriage families, and what about us single people.  The good news is that we are all a part of a much larger family, the family of God.  That’s one of the reasons we gather every weekend to celebrate as the family of St. James, our church family.  Jesus once asked, “who is my mother and brother and sister?”  The answer was “the one who does the will of my heavenly Father.”  This faithful love enables us to dedicate our time and energy to care for those who need it.  Love fosters compassion, kindness, patience, and mercy.  If that love is weakened and dies, the bonds break and all those virtues wither.  The family of the world suffers when the one who feels unloved or who refuses to love can no longer recognize or accept, compassion, kindness, mercy or forgiveness.

On behalf of the Family of St. James, Fr. George, the entire staff and myself we wish all of you a Happy New Year filled with God’s blessings, happiness, and health.

Love, Peace, Joy

Fr. Bob