The past two weeks we have witnessed the coming of winter a bit later than we may have wanted. I suspect most people, even those who dislike (or abhor) the winter season, would welcome, or at least tolerate, it more readily if it decorated the days of Christmas with a blanket of beautiful snow. That was not the case this past year of 2023 which hosted one of the mildest winters on record.

In an era dominated by smartphones and digital technology, the traditional paper calendar may seem like an antiquated relic from a bygone era. In 2011, I officially switched from my five-year calendar/planner, which sat with heavy prominence on my desk, to a digital calendar that automatically syncs with my phone. Admittedly, the digital calendar is much more convenient and efficient, and once I made the move, I had no regrets. Yet, I still miss some of the nuances of using a paper calendar.

Dear Parishioners,

Greetings to all in this holy time of Christmas. Today’s feast of Epiphany is one of several solemnities that is woven throughout the Christmas season. In the Eastern Church, this feast was celebrated even before December 25th was observed as the Lord’s Nativity. If we step back and view the entire Advent/Christmas cycle (which includes Epiphany) from beginning to end, we see that it possesses a dynamic movement that unifies those unique biblical events that we read about in the liturgies of this season. This movement can be summarized in four phrases.