Pastor’s Letter: January 4, 2026

Pastor’s Letter: January 4, 2026

2 Jan 2026 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear St. Philomena Parish Family,

Blessed and joyful 2026 to you all! May the Lord bring you all many graces and blessings in this coming year. I want to begin with a heartfelt thank you to all who have been making this Christmas season so wonderful—thank you all for such kind words and generous gifts. Know that I am joining my thanks for you with the perfect thanksgiving of our Savior in the Mass!

As we celebrate this weekend the Solemnity of Epiphany, you might recall that “Epiphany” is a word that means “to make known” or “to make manifest.” We celebrate this weekend that Jesus is made known as Savior for all the world! During this time of year, the Gospels especially help to show us who Jesus truly is—they point Him out as true God and true man, the perfect Savior the world has been longing for. These moments can be so helpful for our faith, since Jesus, in His humility, often blended in and was known as the “son of a carpenter.” Just as His full glory was often veiled during the time He walked on the earth, so too Jesus is often veiled under the appearance of bread when He is present in the Holy Eucharist. For us, this isn’t a surprise—Jesus has asked us for faith.  Recall after the Resurrection when St. Thomas made statement of faith after Jesus showed him the nail marks. “Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’  Jesus said to him, ‘Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed’” (John 20:28-29).

Perhaps this is a great opportunity to jump back into our review of the Sacraments, picking up with the Eucharist. “At the Last Supper, on the night He was handed over, Our Lord instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of His Body and Blood, to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until He should come [again on the last day]. In doing this, He entrusted the Church with the memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of devotion, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, and a paschal banquet in which Christ is received, the soul is filled with grace, and there is given to us the pledge of future glory.” This quote from Pope St. Paul VI (MF) highlights for us many glorious aspects of the Most Holy Eucharist. Since the Second Vatican Council said that the Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life (CCC 1324, SC 47), we do well, then, to reflect on some different aspects of the Eucharist, including: The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist; the Eucharist as Sacrifice; The Eucharist as a Sacrament of Communion and an expression of unity; and the Eucharist as participation in the Heavenly Banquet. Each of these aspects remind us what a truly amazing gift we have from Jesus being with us in the Eucharist!

One of our newest saints, St. Carlo Acutis, is especially known for his great faith in the Eucharist. In many ways, this Italian teenager (+2006) lived a typical life: school, friends, sports, and video games…yet also had a great devotion to the Eucharist. In the Book she wrote about him, his mother Antonia wrote: “One of his gifts was the ability to spend time with both kids his own age and with adults. I remember that he loved to play with Legos and make videos with a small camcorder, but if there was someone who could not afford to buy a toy, he was always ready to give them his. In addition, he was able to spend hours playing by himself without bothering us adults, simply drawing his favorite cartoons with some pencils and paper” (My Son Carlo, p.99). Of course, his faith was also clear early on.  According to his mother, Carlo wrote soon after his first Communion, “To always be united with Jesus: this is my life’s goal” (p.117).

His mother also noted that after his First Communion, Carlo began to go to Mass and Eucharistic adoration every day. He said:  “If we truly reflect, we are much, much luckier than those who lived more than 2000 years ago with Jesus in Palestine. The apostles, the disciples, and the people of those times could meet him, touch him, talk to him, but they were limited by space and time.  Many had to travel for miles on foot to meet him, but it was not always possible to approach him because he was always surrounded by crowds. Just think of Zacchaeus, who climbed a tree to see him. All we need to do, however, is going to the nearest Church, and we have “Jerusalem” right outside our front door!” (p.211).

As we celebrate Epiphany this weekend, we can think about the wise men and shepherds who were able “to behold him.”  But the words of St. Carlo also remind us that we also can receive that same gift if we look upon Jesus in the Eucharist with the eyes of faith.  He truly is there!  Know of my prayers and blessing for this week!

In Christ,
Father Luke