Brothers and Sisters,

Merry Christmas!

Do you ever feel small? Forgotten? Overlooked? In his reflection for the Jubilee Year (the 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation of our Lord), Bishop Bruce Lewandowski reminded us of an extraordinary truth: “God wants us to feel big.” That’s why he became so small. He entered the world as a vulnerable newborn, embracing our humanity in its simplest form. Why? Because he wants us to know how precious we are to him. God does not forget us. He does not forsake us. We are irreplaceable in his eyes, and he loves each of us personally, deeply, and unconditionally.

At Christmas, we often find ourselves drawn to nostalgia. It doesn’t quite feel like the season until we’ve revisited beloved traditions—whether it’s Ralphie’s quest for a BB gun, Kevin’s clever defense of his home, the Grinch’s expanding heart, or Scrooge’s joyful redemption. Yet Pope Francis invites us to focus on a more profound, enduring hope: the hope that comes from God alone.

Pope Francis calls us to remember. Remember Jesus, the One who brings light to our darkness. Remember those who need him most: the prisoner, the sick, the young, the migrant, the elderly, and the poor. Why? Because in remembering, we proclaim that no one is forgotten. Even when family ties are strained, friends overlook our struggles, and the world whispers that we are insignificant, God remembers us.

Our modern lives—so fast-paced, stressful, and overburdened—can cause us to forget this essential truth: God sees us. He draws near, walking alongside us in every moment. Emmanuel means God is with us. Jesus is the unshakable sign of God’s presence and love. Yet the enemy seeks to make us forget. Why? Because forgetfulness leads to hopelessness, and hopelessness tempts us to seek comfort in anything but God.

In recent months, I’ve been deeply reminded of my sacred duty as your pastor: to intercede for you, to walk with you through your fears, hopes, struggles, and sorrows, and to lift you in prayer. While I am human and may, at times, falter under the weight of life’s demands, I remain steadfast in my commitment to pray for you. And where my prayers might fall short, take heart in this unshakable truth: God never does. He holds you in his care without ceasing.

This calling to remember is not mine alone. As members of this parish family, I urge you to pray for one another. What does that look like? It begins with stillness. Take time to reflect. Remember the person or family who usually sits near you at Mass but hasn’t been there recently. Remember the friend who seems burdened or lonely. Remember those mourning losses or celebrating life’s joys. In prayer, ask God to show his love to them—and listen as he nudges you to reach out. A simple act of kindness can remind someone that they are valued, loved, and not alone. A community that abides with one another in faith is the kind of parish we are called to be: one that remembers and reflects God’s love. That is what Christmas reveals to us—not only once a year but every day.

This Christmas season, as we carry the spirit of remembrance and love into the Jubilee Year, Archbishop Lori will lead us in a symbolic act of renewal. He will open the center doors of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen during the Feast of the Holy Family this Sunday at 11 a.m. Mass. This act of opening the doors is more than a tradition; it is a call to action. It reminds us that God constantly opens doors for us—doors to hope, renewal, and deeper faith. Step through those doors. Come to the Lord, kneel before the Christ Child in prayer, and encounter the infinite mercy and love he offers.