January 1, 2023 To My Spiritual Family of Holy Redeemer and St. Anthony, Happy New Year, everyone! May it be – as they say – the best year ever! As we step off into 2023, I’d like to also look back and say a few words about 2022. We are a parish which strives to pray, to love, and to serve the poor. Let’s allow those categories to frame the following reflections. Prayer: Without a life of prayer, we really have no relationship with Jesus Christ. Prayer is foundational, isn’t it? Looking back on the past year, there were so many profound moments of prayer for us as individuals, as families, and as a parish community. We can think immediately of the powerful 35-hours of Eucharistic Adoration that we hosted here in October. Throughout the year, many of you prayed fervently for a First Communicant or Confirmation candidate. Our recent night of worship with John Finch was a beautiful and musical and heart-filling evening. Some of you, in a profound time of prayer, arrive early at Mass to meditate in the silence. Others stop by Church during the course of the day for a visit with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. First Fridays and First Saturdays provide for time in adoration. During Lent, we prayed the Stations of the Cross. Sometimes, prayer happens in the parish office when sickness or death has brought sorrow and a longing for God’s peace. We’ve prayed for each other and lifted up specific intentions through Flocknote. Day after day, we’ve joined together for the most perfect of prayers – the Holy Mass. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank you for the countless prayers that you have offered for me in the course of 2022. I deeply appreciate those prayers. They strengthen and encourage me. What can we look forward to in this new year? During Lent, we are planning a 3-day parish mission. I’m excited for that! The Eucharistic Revival continues this year and we pray that we continue to deepen our love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. We are laying the groundwork for “prayer teams” to be available after each weekend Mass. And of course, those silent prayers, held close to the heart of every one of us, will continue to be prayed and heard. Love: It’s no secret that we have many older parishioners, and this past year saw us bury numerous folks, some who had been active members of our parish for years. Tears were shed, for sure. Beyond those tears, though, so much love was showered down upon our widows and widowers, family and friends, as we mourned with them and prayed for the deceased. You – as a Catholic family - do an amazing job of wrapping in love those who are troubled in heart! This is true, not only during times of bereavement, but whenever a person or a family is in need of compassion or friendship. Thank you for that! It’s inspiring! Sad times are not the only times which brought out the best of your love last year. When our teenagers travelled west for the National Catholic Youth Conference, you demonstrated great support through your generosity and excitement. When Fr. Dennis of Rwanda stayed with us to share his tragic stories of genocide, you embraced him with genuine love and solidarity. And every weekend at the Masses, I see your smiles, and receive your greetings, and take joy in witnessing your warm and abiding love for one another. From hosting the bishop for Confirmation, to celebrating weddings, to welcoming into the Church our candidates for baptism and full communion, 2023 will provide more opportunities to put on the love of Christ. (continued on pg. 4) January 1, 2023 Holy Redeemer Parish Mary, The Holy Mother of God Synergy Faith Forma on News & Events Upcoming Events January 8th & 29th EDGE K8th **4th & 5th retreat Jan. 8th 8:15 am 12:00 pm January 8th & 29th CREW Grade 9 9:15am10:30 am January 8th & 29th CREW Grade 10 9:15am10:30 am Service to the Poor: Our Lord exhorts us to serve the poor with humility. We are not to stand on a street corner and blow a trumpet for attention. I am hesitant, then, to be too exuberant in listing all that you’ve done for our needy brothers and sisters this past year. Nonetheless, in a spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude, allow me to mention several ways that you, as a Catholic family, were able to be God’s instruments of service to the poor. You give witness to this when you hand me an envelope after Mass and say: “Give it to a family in need.” You bring this teaching to life when you – without any fanfare or desire for publicity – prepare meals for the hungry at the soup kitchen. In the Sheffield community, you helped provide Thanksgiving dinners for numerous needy families. From your generosity, we were able to tithe as a parish approximately $25,000 dollars in this past year. Those gifts went to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico, down-on-their-luck residents of our own communities, and to recovering addicts and former prisoners (just to name a few). With the kind assistance of the Orthodox Church, and thanks to your donations, a good number of homeless folks were given a warm room at the Budget Lodge during this past year. We hosted a gigantic free clothing giveaway in the autumn. You provided formal wear and prom dresses to teens from struggling families. We hosted and you helped with the annual Christmas food box program. And you did this all with a spirit of solidarity and humility. Thank you! Bless you! More than that, you addressed one of the greatest poverties of our day: the poverty of feeling unloved. Whether through a kind word to a guest, by writing a note to one of our shut-ins, when treating a beggar with dignity, or in inviting a stranger to pray, you offered so many gestures of compassion and kindness. Again, thank you and bless you! As we will always have the poor with us, there will, no doubt, be many more opportunities in 2023 to serve the poor and to comfort the lonely. A Final Word of Gratitude: Finally, and on behalf of Deacon Joe, Deacon Ray, and the parish team, allow me to thank you for your many gestures of kindness during this beautiful Christmas season. For your cards, for your dropping by with lunch platters, for your delicious treats, and for your generous gifts – thank you! We are blessed by you! We appreciate you! And we wish you our prayers for a grace-filled New Year! 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