Dear Parishioners,

Our Christmas Season came to an end this past Monday with the feast of the Baptism of Jesus. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our parishioners who made it a beautiful and festive celebration through music, prayer and artistry of every kind. Now we have returned to “ordinary” time although we know this is no “ordinary” time as we move into the uncertainty of the future with a new administration. We hope and pray that the very real needs of the poor, those without health care, the disenfranchised, the immigrant and all those whose do not share in the wealth of the nation will not be disregarded.

This past week we had our monthly Pastoral Council meeting. The council has your concerns very much at heart and we are hoping that in the coming weeks and months we may be even more effective in responding to the needs and desires of the whole community. We are very aware that some more than others feel a part of Xavier, either because of their long association with the parish or their involvement with specific ministries. We want to make sure that all who come to the parish have a sense of belonging and their presence makes a difference. In the next weeks, Council members and other heads of ministries will be “observing” the life of the parish through our liturgies and other activities. On Saturday February 4th we will gather to reflect together on our identity as a Jesuit Parish and how we can even better serve the spiritual needs of our brothers and sisters.

On a final note, I’m told that our Christmas collection was “down” this year. I’m hoping that we might “raise it up” since it’s essential to support our ministries and ongoing operations. So if you can help, I would be more than grateful.

Sincerely,

Fr Bob