Christ the Redeemer
Roman Catholic Church
Phone: (703) 430-0811
Christ The Redeemer Catholic Church
46833 Harry Byrd Highway
Sterling, Virginia 20164New Year 2005
Dear Brothers and Sisters at Christ the Redeemer,
At this time of year we are encouraged with a renewed sense of the blessings of God in our lives. As we begin this New Year 2005 let me wish you even more blessings from the Father in Christ Jesus. May the New Year 2005 be a year of grace and rejoicing in the presence of God among us.
In this Christmas Season we have celebrated Emmanuel, God-with-us. The Father acted in Christ and continues to be an intimate and integral part of our human history. Like Mary we receive a word of hope and that Word continues to grow in our hearts and our homes. The Shepherds in the darkness and the cold came to know the ardent glow of God’s glory, which became their hope to seek out the newly-born Savior. Let us--like them--seek out the Lord among us and encourage one another in the search for his saving action in our lives.
Epiphany celebrates the showing forth of the Savior to the nations. Together let us pray and work for peace, where all the brothers and sisters of our human family may know the peace and justice of God. The Star brought the Wisemen to the discovery of the Christ, who is our light. May that light transform our darkness as we walk in the Christ-mystery of death to life.
New Years 2005 is the celebration of Mary, the Mother of God. Mary is lifted up for us as a sign and invitation to know Jesus, Son of God and Son of Mary. In Mary we find new life and hope, the cause of our joy. In the Word conceived of the Virgin and empowered by the Spirit, new life came and was seen and touched. In this New Year along with Mary, the Mother of God, we celebrate the World Day of Peace. As Mary was attentive to the Word of peace and gave birth to the Kingdom of God among the human family, my prayer is that we stand attentive and open to a new Word of peace. Let us wish each other that peace, which is Christ. Let us work for peace in our land and in the world.
Our hope for the New Year is not in our nostalgia nor pipe dreams. Our hope, rather, is that we have seen and touched the Lord in the worship, preaching, and service which you have given through Christ the Redeemer Parish. Thank you for your faith, for your affirmation of the gospel, and for your love expressed and given so freely. Father Bill, Father Lino, and I join with your staff at the parish in wishing you wonderfully blessed days in the year to come.
