January 4th is a First Friday. If you're joining us in
the devotion of The Sacred Heart of Jesus on First Fridays,
don't forget to attend Mass! (Learn more about First Fridays)

We heard this lovely prayer in readings during the Advent season. Take some time this week to learn the Magnificat, the true Christian prayer. (Click here to learn the Magnificat) 

Epiphany Party!
Keep Christmas glowing!

Is it still looking a lot like Christmas? It should be! We're in the midst of the beautiful Christmas season, so it's time to be celebrating! Our Magi are getting closer to the Nativity scene, our Christmas lights are sparkling, and we're sharing gifts and stories throughout these 12 days. We're also getting ready for our Epiphany party! If you haven't celebrated Epiphany before, consider trying it this year over the weekend of January 6th. (Click here for some Epiphany party ideas.)

The 12 days of Christmas may be over on Sunday, but we still have one more week to celebrate the Christmas season. We're going to keep our lights glowing all week long. It will really confuse our neighbors!
 

Epiphany may be the 12th day of Christmas, but this year we get to celebrate for another week! The season is not complete until the Baptism of our Lord, which we celebrate next Sunday. There are no feast days this week, so continue to use your white or gold candle for the Christmas season. (Click here to learn more about the Christmas season)

A solemnity is a day of greatest importance. The celebration starts the evening before the actual solemnity. Easter is our most important solemnity. A feast is the next most important day. It commemorates Mary, the apostles, martyrs and other saints, and the events associated with them. Mass readings often reflect the special feast day. A memorial is a special day, but often an optional celebration. The scripture readings for Mass may or may not be specially selected for the memorial.
 

These lovely candles are  available for purchase through Wolfe's Baldwin Brass Center
Ordering candles from this link  financially supports this site.
Thank you!

Epiphany Blessings!

Ready for a wonderful finish to the twelve days of Christmas? Get some chalk and holy water from your parish and get ready to bless your house for the new year! Click here for traditional Epiphany Blessings.
 

God's love is universal. Is ours?

Our faith in God is well-placed. Every prophecy and promise of the Old Testament has come to fulfillment in Christ. Now that it is Epiphany we can stand in awe and inspiration at the fulfillment of God's plan. The first reading from Isaiah is jubilant. Line after line we hear beautiful poetry, with the writer glorifying in the light of the faithful God. In the second reading Paul tells us that, not only is God faithful, He is also universal. We celebrate being coheirs of the promise of Jesus on Epiphany, a surprising thought for Paul's community! The Gospel is quite clear that even those from afar could recognize the saving power of the newborn King. The Gospel also starkly points out that there continue to be people, like Herod, who are unwilling to accept the heavenly kingdom.

Most of us regularly deal with people who are not (yet!) willing to live a life of Christ. Unfortunately, most of us are, at some time or another, one of those people. In what ways do we each need to open our hearts a little bit more to accept God's promises? What can we do each and every day to help good overcome evil, especially any evil within? Will we recognize Christ when He comes again, as the shepherds and magi did the first time? Do we recognize Him in every single person we meet? We should. He is there.
 

Lectionary readings for the 3rd Week of Christmas: