How do I see God?
Dear Parish Family,
From time to time I think that it is good to step back and reflect on my image of God. Do I view God as that innocent baby who was born in Bethlehem? Do I view God as a stern judge, just waiting for me to mess up so that He can punish me? Do I see God as far off, distant and aloof, who I cannot approach unless I am groveling and fearful? None of these are how God has revealed Himself to us. Yes, He was born as an infant, grew in wisdom and grace, suffered, died and rose so that we may be forgiven and experience His Kingdom. Yes He is majestic, all-powerful and all knowing, creator of Heaven and earth. Yes God gives us His grace and His life. Yes God will come again to judge the living and the dead. Yes, God is perfectly just and perfectly merciful. But most importantly and significantly, God has revealed Himself as a loving parent who, at times out of love, must correct His children (as does any good parent.) In fact Jesus reveals God, and uses this term to describe God, more than any other: God is love. This does not mean that God will allow anything, this is not love, it is apathy. It does not mean that God is waiting for us to sin; this would be vindictive. God actively seeks us out, invites us to allow Him to enter into our lives, wants to have a relationship with us and is ready to forgive when we sin. Remember Scripture tells us that : “Though your sins be red as scarlet, I will make them white as snow,” and aging, “A humble, contrite heart, I will not spurn.” We should stop trying to make God into an image that we want, or think that we or others deserve. Rather, we should embrace the gift of our loving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who want nothing less for us than to spend Eternity in a loving relationship with God, and our brothers and sisters in faith in His Kingdom.

God Bless, Fr. Dan

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Dear Parish Family,

The feast of the Baptism of the Lord brings an end to the Church’s Liturgical celebration of Christmas and the Christmas season.  His being made known to the nations, we now proclaim the beginning of His public ministry. Jesus is proclaimed by the Father to be His ‘beloved Son,’ and the Holy Spirit  is evident (in the form of a Dove) as there is a total unity and equality among the Three Divine Persons of the Blessed Trinity.  Jesus is acknowledged by John the Baptist as the Lamb of God, the One who has come to take away the sins of the world.  Today, Jesus begins His public ministry, the proclamation of the Gospel, the good News of God’s loving plan to bring healing, hope, forgiveness and salvation to all humankind. This will reach its culmination in His Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Today, we also are reminded of our own Baptism, where we received the grace of the forgiveness of original sin, adoption as one of God’s children, Christ’s sibling and a Temple of the Holy Spirit.  It’s now our mission to continue the mission of proclaiming the Gospel by the witness of our lives.  Offering faith, hope, love and Christ’s redemption to all the world. As we begin this year we should look at and examine how faithful I have been to the wonderful gift of my faith and the graces of my own Baptism.

God Bless, Fr. Dan

Tuesday, December 31st- Holy Day Vigil Mass at 6:00pm

Wednesday, January 1st- Holy Day Mass at 10:00am

Tuesday, December 24

Christmas Vigil Masses- 4:00pm and Midnight

Wednesday, December 25

Christmas Mass- 10:00am

Let the Children Come…

Thank you to all you parents who bring your children to celebrate the Eucharist with us; they are a delight and joy and remind us of how wonderful a gift children really are. Please know that ALL children, no matter their age, are welcome here at St. Francis Xavier and by our Lord. To quote one of my favorite Scripture passages:  “And the people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”

Then he embraced them, blessed them, placing his hands on them.”  Mark 10: 13-15

God bless, Fr. Dan

IT IS TIME TO COME TOGETHER
Dear Parish Family,
This coming Tuesday the election will be over; no matter what the outcome; it is time to put aside all the rhetoric, vitriol and division and remember that we are “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” We are all Americans and we ned to come together, work and pray together so that our children can have a future of peace, freedom and justice. Together, we can pray for all those who were elected to serve with honesty, dignity and integrity.

God Bless, Fr. Dan

Wednesday, November 6th at 7:00pm
St. Francis Xavier Church
It is a tradition at St. Francis Xavier to invite families and friends who have lost a loved one during the past year to a special liturgy that will honor their loved ones.

Join us in remembering and honoring those we love. Please call the parish office and provide us with your loved one’s name and date of death.

The Church Triumphant and the Church Purgative

Dear Parish Family,

In addition to the Church on earth (the Pilgrim Church), the Church also consists of those who have gone before us who are in Heaven (the Church Triumphant) and those who have gone before us who will be in Heaven but are not yet there, those Holy Souls in Purgatory (the Church Purgative).  All three are connected by Baptism and all are called to live in the fullness of the Kingdom of our God.  November 1 we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, not just those Saints who are officially recognized as Saints by the Church, but the uncountable number of others who have achieved the beatific Vision, Heaven, and are celebrating the fullness of life with God, the Virgin Mary and all the angels. November 2 we commemorate All Souls Day, the day we specifically pray for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory.  There is a great deal of confusion about Purgatory; this is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us.  “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so to as achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.  The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory at the Councils of Florence and Trent, The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Sacred Scripture; especially 1 Maccabees 12:46, 1 Corinthian’s 3:15, 1 Peter 1:7.(CCC 1030 – 1031 ff).  We rejoice with those who have gone before us in faith, we pray for those in Purgatory, offer up good words and have Mass celebrated for them.  We acknowledge our brothers and sisters in Heaven and thank them for their intercession of our behalf before the throne of God.

God Bless, Fr. Dan