Fr. Simon's Letter - January 9, 2022

Celebrating baptisms is one of my most joyful duties and one that carries great responsibility. I have the joy of knowing that I am facilitating Jesus’ reaching out to wash away someone’s sins and pour the new life of the Holy Spirit into them, making them God’s children and new members of his Church, our spiritual family. I am reminded of how important it is that the adults in the RCIA program are prepared for the commitment to live their new life. With infants I am reminded of the Church’s charge to me that if I baptize, I must have a founded hope that the child will be raised in the Catholic faith. This is dependent on the parents. Throughout the baptismal ritual there are questions, gestures and directions that remind parents of their responsibility.

We are aware that the new life transmitted in baptism must be nurtured. Our baptismal commitment, perhaps first made by our parents, requires ongoing renewal. Renewal of baptismal promises is a part of the ritual for the sacrament of confirmation. During the Easter season at Mass, we as a congregation renew our baptismal promises, and in every Mass, especially when we come forward to receive Holy Communion, as individuals we renew our baptismal commitment. Our ‘Amen’ at Communion says: “Yes Lord, I know that you have saved me from my sins. You have given me new life and now you nourish me so that I can better live that life,” which makes us comfortable in heart and mind and soul.

The feast of the Baptism of the Lord which we celebrate this weekend marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of Ordinary Time that extends to March 2, Ash Wednesday.

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And a special thanks…

At this time, on behalf of all, I wish to express a word of gratitude to the many who made it possible for us to celebrate the beauty and the mystery of the Incarnation.

To the members of the Men’s Club who braved the cold to set up and take down the repaired and restored Nativity scene, that many have captured on their digital devices, may it be imprinted on our hearts…

To Mary Asnis and Gia DeCarlo and their team of helpers who decorated the inside of the basilica, enhancing the beauty of our worship space…

To the ushers, sacristans, altar servers, lectors and eucharistic ministers, volunteers for the drive-thru Communion, for helping us celebrate the mysteries in a dignified and reverent manner… 

To Dr. Ken Sotak, Paul Scavone, the musicians and choir for giving us a taste of heavenly music… 

To our maintenance staff, who put up the lights outside, made sure the basilica and its facilities were ready for the celebrations… 

To all others who in one way or another contributed their time and talent to enhance our experience of Christmas at the basilica…

Thank You!

Blessings!!