Dear Agathians:

The holidays are difficult times for many people, especially those who are sick and homebound, the elderly in nursing homes, even priests who live alone in their rectories.  Even for those who are remembered and visited, depression often sets in after the visits.  Likewise, for lonely clergy, it’s usually after the celebrations, when they return to their rooms by themselves, that loneliness hits them.

That’s why I was so grateful that many parishioners left messages of care and promises of prayer for Deacon Joseph during his COVID quarantine.  Some also brought him food and drink.  Many doctors and nurses have told me that the road to recovery depends not only on medicine and treatment, but in large part on faith and affection.  Your thoughts and prayers certainly strengthened Deacon Joseph in his isolation.

Every Christmas, we are invited to reflect on the first chapter of Saint John’s Gospel, in which we are told that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14).  In this year of shutdowns and social distance, this message becomes even more meaningful.  Christ doesn’t just save us from a distance.  He becomes one of us and dwells among us, so that there would be no distance, whether social or spiritual, between him and us.

This is what I will be reflecting upon as I prepare to celebrate Christmas this week.  I hope you will, too.  No matter what you are going through, no matter what you are dealing with, no matter how difficult life has been for you and your family, remember: Christ dwells in the midst of it all.  Come to him, talk with him, invite him in, and you will never be alone!

— Fr. Vincentius Do, Pastor