Christ came on earth to reveal an extraordinary message, the message of love, joy and happiness. Christ asks us to have love for one another, to be reconciled to one another, to accept one another. Each of us has been entrusted with a special gift, a sacred responsibility: to show others how the mystery of God is among us. With gratitude for how you have graced the last several years of my life journey, I am holding you in heart and prayer this Christmas season, asking God to bless you with courage and peace.
We wish you a Wonder-filled Christmas and every blessing as we welcome the Christ-Child into our hearts and into our homes. The heart of the Christmas story is that in Jesus ‘God has visited his people’. Let us make him welcome. I pray for all that the grace of the Christmas message will brighten our lives, renew our faith and strengthen our bonds of friendship. The message of the Christ-Child is a message of peace, goodness and hope. It is a message that our world needs to hear today.
Here at St. Hyacinth, we are endeavoring to work in many and diverse ways to continue to forward this message of Jesus. On a personal level, we are greatly heartened and encouraged by the number of people who attend Church and continue to support our parish. As pastor I am so uplifted by the huge number of people who minister alongside us. In truth these volunteers are the heart of the parish. Working together we aim to have a parish that is inclusive where everyone is and feels welcome. As my 10th Christmas here at St. Hyacinth, I have been made to feel tremendously at home, and for that I thank so many of you who have welcomed me.
The message of Christmas keeps hope alive in our hearts because it is a message that tells us God-is-with-us, Emmanuel. We pray that the presence of the Christ-Child will grace your home during this Christmas season and throughout the coming year.
As we celebrate the birth of our Savior at Christmas, I pray that the light of Christ will shine in the hearts and homes of all, especially the families of St. Hyacinth. Jesus is the Light which is the hope and joy of men and women all over the world, the radiant light of God’s glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. I am holding you all in heart and prayers this Christmas season, asking God to bless you with courage and peace. Please, don’t forget to say AMEN this Christmas!
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to all! Fr. Reginald Samuels