A  Message From Father Martin

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 

When things don’t go as planned, I often hear people say, “It’s God’s will.” Similarly, when unfortunate events occur, like accidents, some claim, “God willed it.” I disagree with this mentality, and today’s readings proves that God wants to bring joy into our lives.  
 
If we take the miracle of Cana literally, we reduce it to a one-time wonder and greatly limit its significance. This miracle is not about the power of changing water into wine. We already know how to do that… it happens every year in vineyards and wineries. Instead, the miracle has a deeper and broader meaning, and one that is valid for all ages. It’s about something far more wonderful. In attempt to describe the relationship between God and his people, the Bible uses an image of a bridegroom and his bride and describes the joy God finds among his people, at the wedding feast.
 
The first reading contains a message of hope for God’s people at one of the lowest moments in their history. Jerusalem lay in ruins, and many people were exiled in Babylon. Israel, once God’s bride, is now like a widow bereft of children. However, her husband, meaning God, has not forgotten her. There will be a new wedding feast. God will restore his people. This promise was fulfilled in the return from exile, but more fully and especially, in the coming of the Messiah.
 
It’s no surprise to find that, in John’s gospel, Jesus started his public ministry at a wedding feast. At that wedding, the wine ran out. This was a way of saying that the old religion, the old order had been found waning. The time has come for the promises to be fulfilled. The time has come for a new law and a new spirit. The prophets had foretold an abundance of wine in Messianic days. At Cana Jesus provided just that. All those who tasted the new, agreed that it was better than the old. Notice the sheer generosity of the miracle. Those six jars were capable of holding between 20 to 30 gallons each. We see not only Jesus’ power, but also his generosity. We get a glimpse of God’s love and generosity for us. The new order began with an act of compassion and generosity.
 
What Jesus did at Cana was not a once-in-a lifetime thing. It pointed to what would happen throughout his ministry. Everywhere he went the old was made new. For the widow of Nain, he turned tears into joy. For Zacchaeus, he changed selfishness into love.  For the thief on Calvary, despair became hope.  On Easter morning, he changed death into life. His presence changed lives beyond recognition, and he continues to do the same for those who believe in him and follow his teachings.
 
Jesus transforms our lives into something wonderful. Though difficult at times, he offers peace and hope. He invites us to share in the divine life - nothing less than the ecstasy of Communion with God. However, all of these will remain at the level of theory, unless we experience it in our lives in some way, and I am sure each of us has.
 
Water is a good thing and essential for survival. Wine gives joy and lifts the spirit. Blessed are those who thirst for the new ‘wine’ that Jesus provides. The old is the promise, the new is the fulfillment. Material things are not enough. Jesus brings another dimension to life. He brings joy which the world cannot give. He asked the servants to draw out the water/wine and take it to the steward. Jesus always used human intermediaries to convey his gifts. He asks us to share with others the gifts he has shared with us. We may experience unfortunate events in our lives, but if we look to Jesus, we will find comfort, peace, and joy that only He can provide.  Let us go forth and share that joy in the world with our own lives and experiences. The experiences of joy and love from God. A blessed week to you all! 

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! I wish you and your family a year filled with health, peace, and love. I also want to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your prayers and support over the past year. Together, we were able to accomplish quite a few significant milestones.

With your generous support, we not only reached our goal for the 2024 PSA but also surpassed it. These contributions allowed us to complete several key projects:

• Repairing damaged wood and eliminating termites

• Repainting the church and rectory buildings

• Installing four large LED screens in the church along with six cameras, enabling us to follow the liturgy and livestream Masses for those unable to attend in person.

   A Special thanks to our AV Ministry team for their hard work during every Mass.

• Replacing the sound system with a brand-new one
  
  

These are just some of the major achievements we accomplished last year, and they were all made possible thanks to your dedication and support.

As we begin 2025, we are excited to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our parish. In this spirit, we plan to continue renovating our church with two major projects. It has been 60 years since any substantial improvements have been made to the church building, particularly the sanctuary and landscaping.

For the sanctuary, we already have new drawings and are in the process of seeking approval from the diocese to proceed. As for the landscaping, we aim to enhance the area next to the church in the large parking lot. The dirt ground and bushes near the windows currently lack a welcoming appearance. A design has been proposed to erect a statue of our patron saint, St. Nicholas, in the center of the yard, creating a peaceful space for the faithful to pray.

The estimated cost for these projects is $500,000. Of course, you may ask where the funding will come from. To date, $50,000 has already been donated and designated for the sanctuary project, and we have $200,000 in the building fund. This leaves us needing $250,000 more to reach our goal. To support this effort, we plan to host a fundraising dinner on Saturday, January 25^th in the Parish Center.

We understand these are challenging times for many, but if you feel able to contribute financially to these projects in any way, please do not hesitate to contact the parish office or me directly. We hope for participation from all parishioners so that everyone has an opportunity to contribute and help unite us as a community. Following the fundraising dinner, the sanctuary and landscaping drawings will be displayed in the vestibule for everyone to view. These projects will benefit our community and future generations.

This Sunday is the Baptism of our Lord. Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John, just like everyone else. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, and people needed it. But Jesus had no need for repentance because He is sinless. The water of the Jordan River that day was filled with the sins of hundreds, maybe thousands, of people who came to repent. It was filled with every imaginable evil and all kinds of human immorality. The Jewish leaders of the time refused to enter such waters, because they didn’t want to be seen with sinners. They felt they had no need for repentance and washing. But Jesus was not ashamed to step into the water. There He stood in line, shoulder to shoulder with all sinners. Here, Jesus’ public ministry begins with an act of compassion and solidarity as He takes upon Himself all burdens and sins. This was part of Jesus’ mission on earth. At our baptism, we also received adoption as children of God and a mission to build His Church on earth. May we continue to work tirelessly to spread His Good News in our families and communities. May God bless us all in the new year and continue to guide and protect us.

Father Martin