Welcome back and happy New Year, my friends. 

The Christmas season is such a special time in our Church, and I am so glad you're with us for it. I hope you were able to attend the Holy Day Masses, seeing the trees, the creche, and the flowers decorating our sanctuaries.

This coming weekend we close out our Christmas season with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. It is a wonderful example of how Jesus comes alongside us in our humanity. Not that He needed to be cleansed, but that in His action, He elevates Baptism to a sacrament. What a wonderful gift to be able to follow and participate in these healing waters of eternal life.

Speaking of participating, we will be foregoing our usual time of Scripture and instead welcoming new members into the group. We will celebrate the Rite of Acceptance and Welcome, including for a few teens who are also desiring Baptism. Some of you may recall that a few weeks back I posted a video about Advent. Adventus—the coming. More specifically, the coming of the Messiah.

We remember that through the Incarnation, He came into the world on Christmas Day, born in a place that literally means “House of Bread.” We also recall the Second Coming in Revelation, when all is stripped away and the New Jerusalem arrives. Then there is the middle coming—the third Advent that occurs every time we gather at the foot of the altar at Mass. Jesus comes to us every time we celebrate the Eucharist.

How are we to respond? What does it mean that the Mass is where the space between heaven and earth collide? Who better to lead than Fr. Daniel, who will join us and discuss his role in consecrating the Host, what it means when he acts in persona Christi, and why the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith.

We also have some important dates coming up, and I will need to register you and your guests for them. On this page, there will be a sign-up. It is for the Rite of Sending and the Rite of Election with the Bishop in February.

As a reminder, the Rite of Sending is where Catechumens inscribe their names in the Book of the Elect, which is then presented to the Bishop.

The Rite of Election is where the Bishop reviews these names and gives his approval for you to proceed in the OCIA process.

Rite of Sending on February 15: Sunday Masses at the Basilica, Holy Family, and Holy Trinity
Rite of Election on February 22: Sunday Mass, 5:00 PM at the Cathedral in Portland

I will need to know which Mass you would like to sign your name for the Rite of Sending. For the Rite of Election, I need to know how many of you will be attending.

For our Candidates, there is a Rite—the Call to Continued Conversion—for you as well. Your name does not get inscribed, but it is read before the Bishop, so please confirm you are going using the same form.

We also have a Cabin Fever Friday on January 16 with the Knights of Columbus and Fr. Dan, where he will host a cribbage tournament as well as other card games. Please mark your calendars and beat the weather with your parish.

I look forward to seeing you all soon.