Dear parishioner,

Merry Christmas. I desire to come in person to give you my greetings. That being impossible, I wish that the joy and peace of the divine infant fill your hearts and lives.

On that silent and holy night, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, joy and peace descended upon earth. Today in that same Holy Land, there is neither joy nor peace. It is in turmoil. The turbulence there emits ripples of anxiety in the hearts of all peoples. The world thirsts for peace and joy.

At the first Christmas, the angels sang: Peace to people of goodwill. Where there is will, there is a way. We should pray that people of goodwill throughout the world, including us, may increase and multiply. Mother Teresa said, “Peace begins with a smile.” So, let there be peace on earth, and let it

begin with our smiles. May God smile on the New Year and let it be luminous, gracious, and prosperous for us! Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Fr. Peter