The New Year 2010
Dear brothers and sisters at Christ the Redeemer,
We mark the beginning of the New Year 2010 with diverse gatherings and celebrations. In the parish community we mark New Year's Day with the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, and join with the universal Church in praying that day for peace in our world. Most of us are blessed with gathering with friends and family in our homes and around our tables. In all these things we give thanks for the year past and we look for the blessed presence of God in the newly begun year.
We have our quieter moments of reflection and prayer, but there is something affirming and restorative in coming together as a community. We seem to remember better together as we raise a cup of blessing and share food with family and friends. It is not unlike the early Christian community in the Acts of the Apostles in their "gathering in their homes and sharing all things in common." May these comings together allow us to discover the Lord among us.
Often, the Lord gathers us to hear his Word and to be fed at his Table here at Christ the Redeemer. One of our blessings from my perspective as presider at Sunday Eucharist throughout the year is the number, diversity, and shared faith of our parishioners. As one of the priests of the parish, we have been blessed in coming together - sometimes in laughter and celebration and at others with tears and sadness. Together as a community of faith, we have discovered the Lord's death and rising as the life-giving presence of Christ among us. May the New Year provide us with opportunities to gather to the praise and glory of the Father.
Our difficult economic times have offered us opportunities to serve our brothers and sisters with food, shelter, companionship, and financial support. The needs of our community have brought us together, more in communion of mind and heart with each person in our community and, not least of all, with the Lord. May we continue to know that blessed mission.
We are fortunate in offering Christian hospitality to many in our parish. We have discovered that hospitality blesses the giver as well as the receiver. Most obviously, we have continued to interact and celebrate with our Hispanic brothers and sisters. Sunday Eucharist offers yet more welcome among many groups. Of a Sunday, gathered at the Lord's Table, are Afro-Americans, Euroamericans, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Indians, Koreans, Japanese, with yet others newly arrived from Africa and South America. In receiving one another, may we receive the Lord himself in the days to come.
The new liturgical year has given us the joy in celebrating the Lord among us at Christmas and Epiphany. That same Lord moves with us in the days to come of 2010. May the Lord give us confidence and perseverance in the days to come in seeking his ways among us.
The Friars, Father Lino, and the parish staff join in wishing you the Lord's blessings in overflowing measure.
