Dear Parishioners and Friends,
I extend greetings through Jesus Christ the Lord as we begin the Ordinary Time, which our church’s calendar marks as beginning January 10, 2023.
This transition of liturgical seasons allows us to contemplate how God enters and works in our lives. In doing so, we might automatically call to mind the “big moments,” a marriage, the birth, spiritual inspiration, or the positive impact a special person had in your life. Immediate focus on these significant moments makes sense; after all, they’re memorable because they don’t happen regularly. Yet, we cannot forget that God actively speaks to us in our everyday moments too.
I also encourage our entire parish community to remain steadfast in your prayers, and service to build an authentic culture of life. Honoring and protecting life, as created in the image and likeness of God, challenges us to speak up for the voiceless and powerless: the unborn, the poor, the migrant, the ill, the elderly, the intellectually disabled, and the dying.
Together with Fr. Peter and the entire St. CTR parish staff, once again I wish all of you God's blessings for the whole year to come. May God bless you and your families as He blessed Mary, that we too may bring God's love and joy to one another and give Jesus to this world that hungers so much for His presence. May Mary, the Mother of God-the Prince of Peace, continue to intercede for deep and lasting peace in our hearts and in our world. Let us continue to pray for world peace and the end of the war in Ukraine.
Happy, peaceful, and joy-filled New Year 2023!
With prayers,
Fr. Stan
