FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK……                      JANUARY 2, 2005

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

The Christophers is an organization of men and women who take a particular concern or issue in our society and make it the topic of a discussion folder that is distributed to local parishes, schools, retreat houses, and diocesan centers as an informational pamphlet to help ordinary people apply the Gospel to practical real life situations. Perhaps you have picked up one some time or other in the past. The Christophers have a motto that states: "IT IS BETTER TO LIGHT ONE CANDLE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS."
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. The word "Epiphany" comes from the Greek language and is translated into English as "to shine a light on someone or something." It recalls when God shone the spotlight upon His Son, Jesus, in presenting Him to the whole world through the visit of the magi who came from the East to see "THE NEWBORN KING OF THE JEWS" (see Matthew 2: 1-12). The magi were led by the light of a star to where the child Jesus was staying. In their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh which they presented to the Christ-child God revealed Jesus' destiny: the gold reminds us that he came to be our glorious King; the frankincense reminds us that this human baby who was born in a manger in Bethlehem is none other than God come in human flesh; and, the myrrh reminds us that Christ came to die on the cross for our sins as myrrh was a burial spice used to prepare bodies for burial in Jesus' day.
Epiphany also serves to remind us that God still wants His light to dispel the darkness of injustice, hatred, violence, division, and indifference in our present world by letting His light shine through our own personal witness and example and, like a brightly shining star lead others around us to the only true light of the world, Jesus, as we put into practice the values of God's Kingdom: justice, love, peace, unity, and compassion in whatever situations we face in the ordinary course of our daily lives. This is done by lighting one candle at a time every day of the year. This is how we can make Christmas last all year long!
 
                              Sincerely yours in Christ,

                                     Rev. Raymond J. Tintle, OFM
                                                    Pastor