Happy Sunday and Happy New Year!

This Sunday 2023 comes to a close and tomorrow we begin a New Year. Monday will also mark 6 months for me being back here in Flagstaff. As the year closes I can’t help but express my deep gratitude to each of you for welcoming me back so warmly to this amazing community. It has been a great gift to be here and serve this wonderful parish. I look forward to 2024 and everything the Lord has in store for us.

Happy Sunday!

Today is the 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve. I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas! This week, I would like to share with you the famous Christmas sermon from St. Leo the Great. It is a beautiful exposition of the mystery of the Incarnation and the dignity of the Christian.

“Dearly beloved, today our Saviour is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness.

Happy Sunday!

On this third Sunday of Advent we hear from the Gospel according to John. He recounts for us the ministry of St. John the Baptist in the desert and those wondering who he is. He tells them he is not the Christ, but rather, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” This voice in the desert is the voice of the one who calls each one of us to repentance.

Happy Sunday!

This year Advent is rather short. We have just finished the first week of Advent and yet Christmas is two weeks away. This year the 4th Sunday of Advent is December 24th. This means that we will have our regular Sunday schedule and then our Christmas schedule beginning Sunday evening. We are required to attend a Mass on Saturday night or Sunday morning (for our Sunday obligation), and then one of the Masses for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day as well (for our Christmas obligation).

Happy Sunday!

Well, if Fr. Matt’s health has recovered and no other unexpected events occurred, then this Sunday will officially be my installation as pastor. In any case, I am so glad to be back in Flagstaff and to be a part of this parish once again. This past Fri, Dec 1, was Fr. Carlos Gomez’s official start date here at SFdA. I am grateful to have help, especially from someone so experienced as Fr. Carlos. Please keep him in prayer during this time of transition.