Dear Parish,

Wishing all of you a Merry “Little” Christmas and a Happy New Year. Last week was the Feast of the Epiphany, the day when the wise men brought forth gifts for the Christ Child when they had been led by the star to the place where the new king was born. (I ask your forgiveness that the bulletins were unable to be given then because of a serious error.)They were Gentiles - non Jews - to whom God manifested His Son. This Epiphany, this manifestation of God was not only to “The Chosen People” the Israelites but to all people. The Jews remain the chosen ones because they were selected to be the ones through whom the Christ would come to earth. Now, we, too are chosen. The tradition of gift giving fits far more properly to this feast than to The Nativity we celebrated two weeks ago, as we remember the magi coming to bring gold, frankincense and myrrh for the newborn King. May God be ever praised through our gifts to Him of self on the holy feast of the Epiphany. Fr. Reidy and I want to thank all of you for your prayers, your cards and your gifts during this Christmas season.
Our procession of gifts has been going well over the last several weeks. Many have expressed their approval of this new form of offering ourselves--gifts of time, talent, and treasure--to be joined with the sacrifice of Jesus in the Mass. I humbly ask those of you who are able bodied but have been unwilling to enter into the procession to reconsider. One of the reasons for the change is to keep us alive and well as a parish, committed to looking forward. The timing for this change was ripe since we have already been undergoing changes through the new Roman Missal translation. Remember, even if you do not have a card to bring forward, nor any money nor food shelf nor Life Care Center gift to offer, your coming forward is a “symbolic” act of faith to better participate in the Liturgy. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Jim Wolnik

Church of the Holy Childhood 1435 Midway Parkway Saint Paul, MN 55108 651-644-7495