Dear Parishioners,

With today's feast of the Lord's Baptism we commemorate another "Epiphany" or manifestation of Jesus. This manifestation is not of the child Jesus lying in a manger but of the adult Christ who comes to the river Jordan to be baptized by John. Although Jesus is sinless and has no need of a ritual purification, he nonetheless steps into a river to demonstrate his solidarity with sinful humanity whom he has come to save. As he emerges from the waters of chaos Jesus is revealed as God's Beloved Son chosen to reveal God's love to the world.

This baptismal feast brings the Christmas season to its solemn conclusion in one sense. In another sense it launches the direction to which the Christmas season summons us all - that of being Christ in our world for one another. This is powerfully expressed in the following reflection by Nathan Mitchell.

We are urged to move quickly beyond the intimate scene of Jesus' birth toward the more challenging vision of his baptism. In short we are asked to move in the direction of life itself: from concern for intimacy to concern for community.

A Christian parish becomes its best self when it accepts the challenge of community. The parish community, as the real expression of a local church, cannot limit its attention to the search for justice and intimacy among its own members; it must be prepared to take up the cross, standing against evil and injustice wherever they exist in the world. This may seem like a harsh message for the Christmas season, but in fact it is the church's message at all times, in all seasons. There is, ultimately, only one mystery Christians celebrate: the paschal mystery, Jesus' dying and rising in a new human community called "church."

As this year's Christmas season draws to an end I wish to thank all our staff and parishioners who gave so generously of their time, talent and treasure so that the celebration of the Lord's Incarnation could be profoundly meaningful. Our liturgical rites were exuberant, beautiful and wonderfully attended. Our outreach activities brought hope and comfort to many who were in need. The holiday leisure and Christmas vacations we enjoyed gave us opportunities to renew friendships and family relationships. In all of this we hopefully enjoyed some quiet moments of reflection and prayer that deepened our gratitude and wonder at the mystery of the Word made flesh.

May God bless our parish community of St. Joan of Arc in this new year of 2026 and may we be empowered to continue the good work that God has begun in us.

Blessings,

Fr. Gabriel O.S.B.

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