Greetings!
"It's the most wonderful time of the year," goes one of the familiar songs you may have been hearing on the radio since Halloween. For some of us, the month of December does feel like the most wonderful time of the year, but for others, it's a mixture of complicated emotions.
The reality is that, as adults, we can start to lose the holiday magic we felt as children - whether we're traveling to in-laws' for big family gatherings, hosting Christmas in cramped quarters, struggling financially, grieving a loss, or dealing with difficult relationships. And in the midst of the twinkly lights, jolly Santas, and non-stop cheery Christmas music, we can forget the reality of the first Christmas: Mary and Joseph were poor travelers, Jesus was born in a stable, and the first people who visited them were strangers! There was no neighborhood potluck or family gift exchange or traditional holiday decorating.
We are reminded of what Servant of God Dorothy Day once wrote, "I'm so glad that Jesus was born in a stable. Because my soul is so much like a stable. It is poor and in unsatisfactory condition because of guilt, falsehoods, inadequacies, and sin. Yet I believe that if Jesus can be born in a stable, maybe He can also be born in me."
God did not come into the world only for the rich and powerful, the well-liked and perfectly put-together; He came for all of us, no matter our health or happiness or status. He came 2000 years ago, and He is with us even now, asking to make His home in our hearts.
Whether you're already dragging your feet through Advent, navigating heavy emotions and trials, or just longing for a little bit of calm and quiet, we pray that you find peace in the Child Jesus and joy in your loved ones this season.
Blessings,
The Marriage & Family Ministry Staff
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Preparing for Christmas in 5 easy steps
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My wife and I have learned that preparing for Christmas is incredibly important. We prepare for everything we consider important in life, and when we prepare for Christmas, the season seems to last longer. When we prepare for Christmas, we are happier and our experience is richer.
So we have designed a five-step process that we use to prepare for Christmas.
I hope you can use it to maximize your Christmas experience.
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4 Advent and Christmas traditions to start as newlyweds
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This article is from the popular Blessed is She blog, and while its content is addressed to women, this is relevant for both spouses! When you focus your attention from your past to your present—your marriage, your story, what the two of you value most, and what you hope your legacy will look like—planning meaningful Advent and Christmas traditions together becomes a joyful challenge. As well as carrying on the most beloved and precious of each of your family’s Christmas traditions,
here are some considerations to make as you start new ones,
plus ideas for what they may look like.
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3 things to know when going back to Mass on Christmas
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You’re home for the holidays, and it’s Christmas Eve. The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, but before you start exchanging gifts, everyone hops into the car and heads to church. If it’s been a while since you’ve been to church, you might be feeling nervous about fitting in. Or maybe you’re just tagging along because it’s one of those family traditions. In either case, you’re not alone. As you shuffle past all the poinsettias and nativity displays into your pew,
here are three things that might help you unlock what’s going on and maybe discover something new.
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Podcast: Holidays with In-Laws & Outlaws
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Thanksgiving and Christmas are times of great joy and celebration, but can also be times of unprecedented stress and conflict. Buying gifts, traveling to see extended family, keeping traditions are all important aspects of the holidays. How do Catholic families enjoy this while also keeping Christ as the center of our holidays? How do we love our families while we are striving to keep the peace and make everything perfect for our kids?
Listen in as we discuss these challenges
and ways that we have dealt with them in our household.
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How to deal with grief during the holidays
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People often seek help for the immense sorrow that starts surfacing right around Thanksgiving, whether from the loss of a child, grandparent, or other loved one. Christmas music, holiday parties, and festive decorations that were meant to bring joy, served as painful reminder of loss. Like most people experiencing loss, the holiday season was the most painful time of all. If you're wondering how to get through the holidays this year without your loved one,
these strategies can help.
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Marriage Tip of the Month
To prepare for Christmas as a couple, ask for forgiveness for ways you've fallen short in the past month. If you're both Catholic, set aside a time to go to Confession together then go out to eat.
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Ireland Pilgrimage - Info Night
Wednesday, December 11, 7-8pm
St. Therese the Little Flower, South Bend
Thursday, December 12, 7-8 pm
St. Charles Borromeo, Fort Wayne
We're going to Ireland! This information session will walk through the itinerary of the
Ireland Pilgrimage
and provide ample time for your questions. We'll also discuss ways to overcome financial barriers to make this a reality for you. Scholarship funds are available!
Contact:
Fort Wayne: Crystal Serrano-Puebla
South Bend: Sean Allen
More Information
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Young Adult Retreat 2020 Theme:
Anointed
Saturday, January 18, 9:00am - Sunday, January 19, 1:00pm at Lindenwood Retreat & Conference Center
We are anointed with Sacred Chrism oil at Baptism and Confirmation as the sacramental sign of receiving the Holy Spirit. What does this anointing mean for your identity and purpose in life? How can you live more fully through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit?
Join fellow young adults in our 20s & 30s for a chance to explore ways of increasing the role of the Holy Spirit in your life! Enjoy relevant talks, inspiring music, Mass, Adoration, Confession, and social time. Includes overnight lodging, lunch and dinner on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday.
Cost: flexible
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Hope for the Journey
Spiritual, emotional, and practical support for couples who have experienced or are experiencing infertility or secondary infertility
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Spiritual, emotional and practical support to families suffering miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss.
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Miriam's Blessing
Comprehensive support to parents who receive a poor prenatal diagnosis, provided through three distinct phases: the pregnancy, the birth, and postpartum.
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NFP: Local Resources
Diocesan approved classes and resources for Natural Family Planning
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