Beginning on January 15 we will be starting a series on what it means to be Catholic. We will meet at St. James of the Valley from 7:00 to 8:00 pm in the Media Room. The topics will be publicized in the bulletin and on Flocknote. Come to any or all of them and learn more about what it means to be Catholic and to live out our faith. Everyone is welcome! Our first two topics will be: On January 15, Fr. McCullough will be sharing about Mary and the Saints. Why do we as Catholics view our predecessors in faith different than our Protestant brothers and sisters.   January 22, Deacon Steve Ryan will be giving an overview of the seven Sacraments.   Please join us as we investigate our faith Tuesday evenings beginning at 7:00 pm at St. James of the Valley.

He did it for me…. The celebration of the solemnity and the season of Christmas left in my mind this thought: Whatever Jesus did, He did it not for Him but for me. During my fifteen years of priesthood, I realize that the celebration of each solemnity, feast and ordinary Sunday as well as daily Mass and prayers have a special message to me for each day. I strive to deepen each prayer and celebration with prayer of meditation and contemplation that open the mind and the spirit of the faithful to the understanding of the mystery celebrated and to the Holy Spirit who gives new life of grace in Christ. While loneliness and solitude for a priest can be challenging, I have come to find that only prayer of the heart consoles me, comforts me and helps me build a strong relationship with Jesus as I learn to speak with him in the circumstances of each day. I am still learning to elevate my prayer to the level where I see that each moment of my life is a moment of prayer. Click on title for full column

Recently I was discussing medieval Catholic literature with some friends because, you know, I’m so cool and that’s the kind of thing cool kids talk about. One of the things we discussed was how saturated with Catholicism the worldview of the authors of that period truly was. Everything in the characters’ lives was centered around the Church and the liturgical life. Even the references to calendars and dates were structured around the liturgical seasons and major feast days. Nowadays if you told someone that you were going to plan a party sometime in Michaelmas or were celebrating the Octave of Christmas, they might have you committed. Even telling people that the “Twelve Days of Christmas” are the days after December 25 and not before, they might accuse you of out and out heresy. Click on title for full article.

Of all the treasured traditions in my family, the ones that surround our celebration of Christmas are probably my favorite. The pumpernickel and sausage “hanky-pank” appetizers on Christmas Eve, fighting with my cousins over the rarest pieces of beef tenderloin at Christmas dinner, making risotto with my mom; they’re all near the top of the list. I’m sure there are non-food related traditions as well, but since we’re talking about family, it’s safe to assume that if we’re together, we are probably eating. <>Click title for full column.

Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24 St. James of the Valley 3:00 pm & 5:00 pm Our Lady of the Rosary 4:00 pm St. Matthias the Apostle 4:30 pm & Midnight  Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25 St. Matthias 9:00 am Our Lady of the Rosary 10:00 am St. James of the Valley 11:00 am Mary, Mother of God, Monday, December 31 St. Matthias 4:30 pm Mary, Mother of God, Tuesday, January 1 Our Lady of the Rosary 9:00 am St. James of the Valley 11:00 am