Author name: Essjay Peatoo

Today we remember and celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus. It might be true to say that the focus of attention leading up and during the celebration of the Nativity is Jesus.  Today, however, we take time to acknowledge the whole family! There is often a sense of nostalgia […]

Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Innocents, the earliest martyrs for the Church.   These innocents were the young male infants of the town of Bethlehem who were killed by order of King Herod the Great of Judea in his futile effort to try to destroy the coming Messiah and King.   The

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. John, apostle and evangelist.   Born in Bethsaida, John was a fisherman, called by Jesus while mending his nets. He became the beloved disciple of Jesus and wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles and the Book of Revelation. On Christmas, we discussed the beginning of John’s gospel

Here we are, the day after Christmas, the day after the wonderful scene of Mary holding her newborn infant in a cave just outside of Bethlehem.  In today’s readings, the scene has shifted to a place outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem. It is not a tranquil scene but one of mob violence

The Birth of Jesus is so important to our salvation that the Church devotes five different sets of Scripture Readings, with five different sets of prayers for the Mass, within a thirty-six-hour period starting with the liturgy for December 24th. They all have different messages for us, centering on the Incarnation of God in the

So here we are. Almost Christmas.  Most of us have spent the last several weeks getting ready.  Trees bought and decorated. Gifts bought and wrapped.  Holiday parties.  Family gatherings.  Cookies left out for Santa.  Cards and letters sent far and wide.  All wonderful. And here we are. In this place.  Together with family and friends

The readings for Advent are filled with a sense of expectation: hope for a time of peace; hope for a time of healing; hope for a time of light; hope for the coming of the Savior. Yet as important as it is to “keep our eyes on the prize,” we must not let our focus

If we are going to be a part of this Christmas story, we are called to make the hard choice to love. I don’t use that phrase “hard choice” lightly. I use it because loving this world, and loving one another, requires something from us. It requires us to invest in others. It requires us

This week we are counting down as the great feast of Christmas approaches, as its light begins to blot out the lights of the individual days as planets are blotted out when they appear too close to the Sun.  The great “O Antiphons” at Vespers are worth celebrating even if Vespers itself is not part

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) We are in the season of Advent, and Christmas is nearly