Saturday, December 20, 2014

Fr. Chuck's Column, Sunday, Dec. 21


Christmas is almost here!  It is not too late to invite a relative, friend, neighbor, co-worker to join you at Mass for Christmas.  It could be the very best Christmas present you give this year!
Our Christmas Masses fill up, especially the 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.  There will also be a family Mass at 5:00 p.m. at Christmas Eve at the University Catholic Center, just two blocks from our church.  They have more room.  Even so, last year they also filled up.  Other Masses for Christmas (9:00 p.m. here on Christmas Eve and 10:00 a.m. here on Christmas Day) are much less crowded, and I urge you to consider attending one of these Masses instead of the 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.  All these Masses are wonderful, joyful celebrations.
If you are travelling over the Christmas holiday I pray that your journeys are safe, that your time visiting family and friends is relaxing and joyful, unburdened by overly-high or unrealistic expectations.  While you are away please remember you can always stay up-to-date with St. Austin’s Parish by checking out the parish bulletin and other news on our fantastic parish website: www.staustin.org.  You don’t need to miss out on anything of the many activities here by simply staying in touch on line.  You can even follow my bulletin column and my homilies on my blog, at www.ckullmann.blogspot.com.  If you forget that there is a convenient link to my blog on our parish website.
Next Sunday is the Feast of the Holy Family.  This is an especially important year to pray for all families as we have just finished an Extraordinary Synod in Rome on the family, and next year have the Ordinary Synod on the family.  So be sure to pray for all families, especially those experiencing stress and problems due to war, violence, drugs, illness, economic hardship, migration, and on and on. 
On behalf of the entire Parish Staff here at St. Austin’s Church, and the Paulist Fathers here in Austin, I wish you and all your family a Blessed, Joyous and Merry Christmas!  

No comments:

Post a Comment