Posted on January 12, 2023 View all Pastor's Letter
Dear parishioners,
Merry Christmas. Last night at midnight mass we heard the angel’s words to the shepherds. “I announce great joy to you…: Today a savior has been born to you in the city of David, who is Christ the Lord… you will find a child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Lc.2, 9-14). During this time of joy and peace, when God has become like us, I invite you to discover and contemplate the mystery of His birth and His greatness in the simplicity of a newborn. This time always brings joy – hopefully today’s joy will make us meditate and live this mystery as a family and in divine grace. “The grace that has appeared in the world is Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, God and true man. He has come to our history, He has shared our path. He has come to free us from darkness and give us light. In Him grace, mercy, and the tenderness of the Father have appeared: Jesus is Love made flesh. He is not only a teacher of wisdom. He is not an ideal that we tend to. He is the meaning of life and of history that has a spot among us” (Pope Francis).
I thank you all for your expressions of affection and your warm greetings during this time. It is my third Christmas with you and I am very happy to serve you as your pastor. I strive everyday to guide you and show you the path to God. A thousand thanks to all of you who since June 25, 2020 have become my spiritual family. I also thank you for your financial support towards our parish; without your collaboration the parish cannot move forward and thanks to your sharing heart we can move forward.
I cannot stop thanking and congratulating on this Christmas day all our volunteers: lectors, extraordinary ministers, ushers, choir members, and the active members of all the groups and ministries of the parish. All of you are the heart of the parish, I feel very grateful for all the support you bring to our parish community. Thank you very much for all your effort.
Finally, I thank and congratulate the Staff of our parish for the hard work they have done this past year. They have worked as a team and I know they have given their best and will continue to do so. I am very happy with all of them because they are a great team and they give their best to serve you as you deserve it, whilst they always seek to show the face of Christ. For me as a pastor, they are not just employees, they are a family of faith who help me carry this parish forward.
On behalf of Fr. Berghout, the Staff and myself, we wish this Christmas to be a time of hope and spiritual reconciliation. May the grace and peace of Baby Jesus abundantly bless your homes, your families, your intentions and all your projects. We wish you a Merry and Holy Christmas, full of peace and well-being.
Fr. Alex
