Around the Parish – December 25, 2024

As we gather to celebrate the birth of our Savior at this most holy time, our hearts turn to the humble shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem. I cannot help but think of my favorite Christmas tradition: watching A Charlie Brown Christmas. Every year, I get goosebumps when little Linus steps onto the stage, clutching his blanket, and proclaims with such hope and trust the very words of scripture that we hear in tonight’s Gospel: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) These words, so simply and beautifully spoken by Linus, capture the meaning of Christmas in a way that is timeless and profound.

Imagine the hope that must have surged within the shepherds as they heard the angel’s words and saw the heavenly host praising God. In a world often marked by uncertainty and hardship, these shepherds were entrusted with the most astonishing news humanity had ever received. Emmanuel, God-with-us, had come. The hope they experienced was not fleeting; it was a hope grounded in the fulfillment of God’s promise to His people.

This hope continues to resonate through the ages, calling us to trust in God’s enduring presence among us. As Pope Benedict XVI once wrote, “The one who has hope lives differently; the one who hopes has been granted the gift of a new life.” And as Pope Francis has reminded us, hope is not passive; it is “a door that opens onto the future…an anchor we throw to the other shore.” Hope requires trust that God is indeed with us, even amid life’s challenges and uncertainties.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we are invited to embrace the same hope that animated the shepherds that first Christmas night. Just as they journeyed to see the Christ Child and left glorifying and praising God, we too are called to encounter Jesus anew and to proclaim His love and mercy to a world in need. The presence of Christ in the Eucharist, in the Church, and in our daily lives is the ultimate sign that God is faithful to His promise: He is Emmanuel, God with us.

Let this Christmas be a time when we open our hearts to the hope that Christ brings. May we, like the shepherds, be moved to action, sharing the good news of God’s love and drawing others into the joy of knowing Christ. And as we journey through this Jubilee Year, may the hope of Christmas inspire us to trust more deeply in God’s providence and to be bearers of His light to the world.

From all of us at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, may you and your loved ones have a blessed and hope-filled Christmas.

Pax et Bonum, Fr. Andy

The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions

The Mass is considered the greatest prayer of intercession in the Church. This is because it is the perfect offering of Christ to the Father, making present the Paschal Mystery of His death and resurrection. Traditionally, a Priest may be requested to offer a Mass for a specific intention, even if the requester cannot be physically present.

Offering Masses for the Deceased:

Having a Mass offered for a deceased person is an ancient and commendable practice. A Mass is offered to pray for the departed, that they may find peace in heaven. Since each Mass holds infinite value, requesting one or several Masses is of tremendous benefit to the person prayed for, as well as their family, who can take comfort in knowing that their intention is united with the prayers of the Church.

The Mass: Center of Christian Life:

Every Mass is a precious gift from God. It is the center of the Church’s life, known as “the source and summit of the Christian life,” because in the celebration of the Mass, we are brought back to Jesus’ Last Supper, the first Mass. We consciously recall the love of God poured out for us through the life, death, and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ. At each Mass, all the intentions of God’s people, both living and deceased, are included. As Pope Paul VI noted in his motu proprio “Firma in Traditione,” the faithful, moved by an ecclesial and religious sense, join their own sacrifices to the Eucharistic sacrifice, participating more intensely and supporting the Church’s needs, especially its ministers.

Requesting a Mass Intention:

Anyone may request a Mass Intention for a living person, a deceased person, members of a family, or a special intention appropriate to the celebration of the Eucharist, such as World Peace, Vocations, or Respect for Life. The Church allows only one intention per Mass.

Offering a Mass Stipend:

The normal stipend offering for a Mass is $10. However, a Mass Offering can be more or less than the suggested amount, depending on the financial position of the person requesting the Mass. Envelopes for Mass intention requests are available at the entrances of the church. These envelopes can be placed in the collection basket or returned to the parish office. The requester may also ask for a card to be sent to notify someone that a Mass Intention has been requested (one card per intention). Please note that the name of the person(s) requesting the Mass is not announced.