December 25, 2022 The Nativity of Our Lord To My Spiritual Family of Holy Redeemer and St. Anthony, Tidings of Comfort and Joy: Merry Christmas everyone! A Savior is born for us! His name is Jesus and he is but a tiny baby in tiny Bethlehem! Though indeed God and Ruler of the entire universe, what an amazing thing that our Lord did not come to this earth clothed in power and magnificence. Rather, as Bishop Robert Barron likes to say, Jesus was born “behind enemy lines.” He was born in obscurity and humility. Jesus was clothed in swaddling clothes and not with robes of royalty. He was laid in a manger. His first guests were simple and socially outcast shepherds. Our Lord was born poor so that you and I might become rich! Jesus took on our human condition so that our sinfulness could be forgiven and our dignity restored. Herod tried to destroy him. The devil tried to destroy him. His own people tried to destroy him. But Jesus was victorious over all! This is our cause for joy. If you are blessed to be surrounded by a loving family today, that’s awesome. But if you are grieving the loss of a loved one, or you find yourself alone and lonely, please be assured that the Lord sees you and knows you. He understands your triumphs and your sufferings. Your happiness is his happiness. Your pain is his pain. The Lord created you and he sustains you and he loves you. I love you too, and I wish you tidings of comfort, joy and peace. Merry Christmas everyone and may the infant Savior fill you with his grace!! Parish Stocking Stuffers: 2023 calendars and Matthew Kelly books are available for everyone as you leave Mass today . . . a sincere thank you to our musicians, singers, readers, servers, and all who have made our liturgical celebrations of Christmas so beautiful . . . congratulations to parishioner Joseph Miller who recently earned his Eagle Scout designation. What a tremendous accomplishment . . . congratulations to the numerous Catholic high school athletes in our community who earned postseason awards after their fall sports seasons . . . remember that Fr. Mike Schmitz’s “Catechism in a Year” podcast begins on January 1 . . . our first parish tithe for the new year will be in support of the Mercy Center for Women. Thanks to Pastoral Council member Nadine Pollock for suggesting this recipient . . . for those interested in the implementation of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, parishioner Neil Himber recommends the film “The Letter” . . . I am really excited for the kickoff of our women’s bible study, Walking With Purpose, which will begin in the new year . . . finally, I’m going to be celebrating Christ’s birth at my brother’s in Bradford and taking a couple of days to catch my breath after the busyness of these past weeks. Therefore, there is no Mass on December 26 or 27. New Year’s Weekend Mass Schedule: January 1, on the Church’s liturgical calendar, is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and it’s also the World Day of Peace. Our Mass schedule will be the usual weekend schedule: 4:30 at Holy Redeemer on Saturday (New Year’s Eve) and 8:15 am (Holy Redeemer) & 11:00 am (St. Anthony) on January 1. I look forward to seeing you! Mary, Mother of the Holy Redeemer Pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe Pray for us! St. Anthony Pray for us! St. Joseph Pray for us! Fr. Steve