Father Mike's Message - 01/08/2023

Happy Feast of the Epiphany!  We celebrate the magi who followed the star to find the newborn Messiah.  This feast celebrates that Jesus is made known to the world as the Son of God and that all are invited to welcome him into their hearts.  Let us pray for a deeper faith in Christ and a growth in the way we live out that faith in our daily lives.  As we get back into gear after the Christmas holidays and look out to this year of 2023, it might be a good opportunity to pray for guidance and ask the Lord where he wants us to change and to ask him to help us be more aware of and attentive to his presence with us.
 
Next Sunday we will have our January Parish Breakfast from 7:30 - 11:00 a.m.  All are invited!  Special thanks to the Unnerstall Family (Children of Elmer & Julia Unnerstall) & Dave & Lucy Tobben our sponsors for this month’s breakfast.  Their sponsorship helps us to support the organizations of our parish as the proceeds of the breakfast go directly to help them in their various projects and ministries.  Thank you for your support.  Hope to see you there!

Prayer for the Repose of the Soul of
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Father, eternal shepherd, hear the prayers of your people for your servant Benedict, who governed your Church with love.
 
In your mercy, bring him with the flock once entrusted to his care to the reward you have promised your faithful servants.
 
May he who faithfully administered the mysteries of your
forgiveness and love on earth, rejoice with you for ever in heaven.
 
In your wise and loving care, you made your servant teacher of all your Church. He did the work of Christ on earth.
 
May your Son welcome him into eternal glory.
 
May your servant whom you appointed high priest of your flock be counted now among the priests in the life of your kingdom.
 
Give your servant the reward of eternal happiness and let your mercy win for us the gift of your life and love.
 
We entrust your servant to your mercy with faith and confidence. In the human family he was an instrument of your peace and love.
 
May he rejoice in those gifts for ever with your saints.  Amen