Sanctifying Grace & Some Statistics

Dear Friends in Christ,

            With the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Church concludes this joyous Christmas season.  I want to thank all those who contributed in any way in support of our Christmas Masses and for you, our faithful parishioners, who worship with such intentionality and support the mission of our parish week after week.  Please keep Fr. Felix in your prayers.  He departed last Sunday evening for his home country of Nigeria to visit with his family and friends and will return the first week of February. 

             In the Gospel for this Sunday, taken from Matthew Chapter 3, we are told that the Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove, “And a voice came from the heavens, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”  It was at this moment that the mystery of the Holy Trinity was revealed.  While Jesus had no need of baptism, his act of humility and oneness with all those who were being baptized by John the Baptist, as they confessed their sins, was a turning point in Jesus’ public ministry.  Why was God the Father well pleased?  God the Father was well pleased in His Son because Jesus symbolically took the weight of our sins upon himself when he was submerged in the river Jordan.  His willingness to be baptized by John bore witness to his willingness to love to the end, from the Cross.  As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are invited to love in the same way, through the sanctifying grace of Baptism and our particular state in life, either through the Sacrament of Matrimony, the celibate priesthood or consecrated life, or as a celibate single person.

           Before I conclude with some statistical data from the past year, I want to implore you to pray for an increase both in priestly vocations from our parish as well as vocations to sacramental marriage.  It has been 25 years since a priestly vocation was born from our parish, with Fr. John Williamson being the last.  I am happy to report however that one young man in high school has expressed interest to me in a priestly vocation and a recent college graduate as well.  In 2025, only six marriages were celebrated.  Now some couples are married at other churches, but the reality is that most marriages are no longer celebrated as a sacrament.  The good news is that these same couples are bringing their children for baptism.  Last year we had 109 baptisms.  We also offered 114 funerals.  Finally, we have our largest OCIA class in several years, an encouraging sign to be sure.  For our part, relying on His grace, let us live our particular vocation with zeal and humility and let us promote by word and example vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life, and sacramental marriage.

In Christ,