Dear Mary Mother of God Family,

One of my favorite Christmas stories is The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry. In the story, a young couple each sacrifices their most precious gift, to be able to offer a gift to the person they love. It is amazing story of Love!

Christmas is a time for us to remember that God has offered the most precious gift He had to us, because of His love for us! Jesus!

These kinds of gifts rarely have to do with money, but instead with our time, our presence, our tears and more. It is about sacrificial giving of self for the other, out of love!

Jesus is that kind of gift to us from God, the Father, a total giving of self, out of love for us!

May our greatest Christmas gift this year, no matter what our circumstances are, be that we recognize the depth and power of God the Father’s love for us, in Jesus and the hope and peace that offers us. May it be a light that shines on and in us!

On behalf of all here at Mary Mother of God, I would like to wish you and your families a most Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year.

Servu, Msgr. Joe