THE HOLY FAMILY AND OUR FAMILY

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

As the Christmas Season climaxes into the New Year 2020, we do so by celebrating the end of a decade and the commencement of a new one. In addition, today, the first Sunday after Christmas is celebrated as the Sunday of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Roman Catholic Churches.

Holy Family Sunday, calls on us to model our family on that of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. In fact, with the present indiscipline in our schools, communities and families we will do well to focus on our families in order to contribute to rebuilding our once peaceful homeland, Barbados.

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is given to us so that we can strive to replicate it or better still share in its virtues. We read in John 3:16 that when God chose to show how much he loves us, he sent his Son, Jesus, into our world ... That Son came in and through a family. That coming is graphically expressed in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 2. While the shepherds were keeping watch, they were told by an angel that “A Saviour has been born to you...” When they went in search of the Saviour, Luke says “So they, (the shepherds) hurried and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger...” They hurried to find the Saviour and, in fact, found a family, the Holy Family.

Today let’s us see Jesus in our family and pray that he makes our family a holy family too.

May God bless you and your family and our “WE GATHERING”.

Fr. Clement Paul.                   Rev. Stephen Joseph
Parish Priest.                         Parish Deacon.

EMMANUEL GOD- IS -WITH -US

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

This, the fourth Sunday of Advent heralds the imminent Season of Christmas. It focuses on The Virgin who is with child and who will give birth to a Son, Emmanuel, GOD-IS - WITH-US. Yes, this season is about a birthday of the Word of God who is Jesus and who is a sign that God-is-with-us.

Yes, let’s usher in this beautiful, loving season honoring the Woman who said "yes" to mothering the Word of God, Jesus. Her “yes” to motherhood made Christmas happen. Her “yes” to God brought forth God himself in Jesus. “Come let us adore him” as we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.”

Please remember he is Emmanuel, God-is-with-us.

May the blessing and comfort and joy be ours this Christmas.
 
Fr. Clement Paul.                   Rev. Stephen Joseph
Parish Priest.                         Parish Deacon.

“YOU ARE BLESSED IF YOU DO NOT LOSE FAITH IN JESUS.”

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Today, the Third Sunday of Advent, we are invited to rejoice that the season of Christmas draws near. This Sunday was traditionally called Gaudete Sunday because the New Testament reading for Mass began with the words, “Rejoice in the Lord always...”

Yes, Christmas is already in the air. That calls for rejoicing.

But there are those who will ask ‘...and what is there to rejoice about? There are those who are suffering, bereaved and depressed.’ To them, the Gospel for today proclaims the promise of Jesus, “Blessed are you who have not lost faith in me.” Yes, this may not be a joyful time for some, but it could be a faithful time for all, and especially for all those who in spite of their pain, suffering and/or grief do not lose faith in Jesus. To them he says “Blessed are you who do not lose faith in me.” So, keep the faith no matter the circumstances. You are indeed blessed.

May our faith in Jesus, the Word of God made flesh be deepened as we rejoice in our God who lives among us in Jesus, the Word-made-flesh.

Fr. Clement Paul.                   Revd. Stephen Joseph
Parish Priest.                         Parish Deacon.

“… THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS CLOSE AT HAND...”

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

“Repent for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” On the Second Sunday of Advent the Gospel assures us that God is not far away. When John the Baptist says in the Gospel “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand...”, he is telling us that God is very, very near. So near that he can be touched. This should be welcome news for us, especially at this time, with all the negative and tragic news around us. Today’s Gospel calls on us to look forward in hope for the saving love of our God, the Word-made-flesh who comes to us especially at Christmas.

Yes, Advent, the season of hope, the season of expectation, the time of waiting, is most apt not just because it precedes Christmas but also because it challenges us to face our present volatile activities in some of our homes, wider society and even our schools. Hope is the key to our present malaise. Hope is, to my mind, the confident expectation of the best that is yet to come.

As we prepare this Advent to celebrate the beautiful season of Christmas, let us do so by preparing not just our homes and places for social activities, but more so by preparing ourselves for the coming of the Word-of-God made flesh at Christmas. Yes, hear John the Baptist saying “The Kingdom of God is close at hand” and let’s respond by preparing to welcome Jesus who initiates the Kingdom of God through his birth.

Fr. Clement Paul.
Parish Priest.

Rev. Stephen Joseph
Parish Deacon.