Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

On behalf of the staff and clergy at Holy Family, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas!  When we think of Christmas, usually we always think of Christmas gifts.  I’m sure many if not all of us have been thinking:  what am I going to get for the person who I really love and care about - my spouse, son, daughter, mother, father, etc.?  There is joy on the part of both the giver and the recipient of a gift.  For the giver, it is joyful to see the reaction of the person receiving the gift - knowing that you have been a cause for someone else’s joy by giving them a gift.  For the recipient, it is such a joy to know that we are special in someone’s eyes - that someone actually took time out from their life because they want to see us happy.  This is exactly how it is with God:  with great joy, God the Father gave us the greatest present a human being can experience:  the gift of His Son who is the deepest fulfillment of the human heart.  It gives God great joy to see His beloved sons and daughters receive the gift of His Son.  And as we experience the saving power of the gift of Christ, we come to recognize how amazing this gift is.  As the expression goes:  “the gift that keeps on giving”, this is true with Christ - our relationship with Him grows and develops organically through both the joys and the sorrows of life.  So this Christmas season, let’s remember that all of us are precious in God’s eyes:  that God wants us to be happy at the deepest level of our soul. Let’s take time out and remember that today we receive the Gift whose very Self is the satisfaction of our heart’s deepest yearning.  

                                                                                   Your Brother in Christ,

                                                                                                                                Fr. Chris

PATRONAL FEAST DAY:  Holy Family Catholic Church is celebrating our patronal feast day!   You are invited to come and celebrate with us our spiritual heritage and Catholic identity.  We will begin on Thursday evening, December 29^th at 7:00 pm with a Holy Hour of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to include vespers and benediction followed by a high Mass on Friday, December 30^th at 10:00 am.  Immediately following the Mass, we will have a luncheon in our parish social hall.  We hope you can join us! Please pick up a FREE ticket, in the main vestibule, for the luncheon so we know how much food to prepare.

Christmas message ~ As shepherd of the Diocese of Austin, I wish all the people of the diocese a blessed and holy Christmas as we celebrate the incarnation of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, who through his birth united heaven to earth and brought us salvation and hope. Blessings upon you and your loved ones, especially in the new year.     Bishop Joe Vasquez

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ATTENTION PARISHIONERS ~ On Saturday, January 7^th, at 10:00 am in Andre Hall, the Knights of Columbus will sponsor a Rosary to Our Lady of Fatima for world peace and for the conversion of sinners.  The Rosary will be prayed every Saturday at 10 am.  All parishioners are encouraged to attend.  Our Lady of Fatima asked that we pray the Rosary to help us follow the ways of Christ.  Please come and join us and help fulfill Her wishes.

NO CLASSES Dec 18^th – Jan 4^th.  Sunday classes will resume on January 8^th / Wednesday classes will resume January 11^th. 

OUR THANKS TO ALL THE DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS that helped decorate the church for Christmas.  We appreciate that you take the time during your busy Christmas schedule to lend a hand.

 We regret if some of the names on the Memorial Flower Contribution list are misspelled.  We were unable to make out the spelling of some of the names.

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