My dear parishioners and visitors:
“Today is born our Saviour, Christ the Lord” (Psalm 96).
Christmas, the joyful celebration of the Eternal Word made flesh, is one of the most important and solemn celebrations of our Church. It is not a one-day-celebration, but a life-time-celebration to discover its true meaning, then to embrace and celebrate it faithfully and graciously with love and gratitude.
I sincerely invite all of you, my dear parishioners and visitors, to follow the Shepherds’ good example: “let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that taken place which the Lord has made known to us”(Lk. 2:15), by coming to St. Ann’s parish-family, “your new Bethlehem”, to know and to love the Christmas mystery taking place, celebrating and experiencing through the daily and weekly celebration of the Holy Eucharist, through the Faith Education and Bible programs and through various ministries and organizations of the parish.
January 1st is the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God, and also World Day of Peace. There is no better way to welcome the New Year than to come together to sing, pray and celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: the Word Made Flesh, the Emmanuel: God is with us.
My nephew, Hoang Minh Nguyen, has been with you for five months. You are generously teaching and helping him to learn and speak English. Hoang and I are deeply grateful for your goodness and love.
My mother, sisters, brothers, with their families in Viet Nam, Hoang and I wish all of you a blessed Christmas and a blessed New Year. May this Christmas be a source of God’s grace, blessing and new life for all of you. God bless.
Fr. Peter Hoan Nguyen.