A Christmas and New Year Message from Rev. John William

Opening Prayer:

God our Father,
Every year we rejoice
As we look forward to this feast of our salvation.
May we welcome Christ as our Redeemer,
And meet him with confidence when he comes to be our judge,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,God,
forever and ever, amen.

Upcoming Events:

Weekly Holy Hour With the Lord:
Wednesday’s from 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Where: St. Anne Church
“Again, I say to you, If two of you agree on Earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.” (Matthew 18:19)
Brought to you by: St. Anne’s Catholic Women

Friday Night Bible Study with Steven Adams & John MacMaster:
***NO CLASS 12/23 or 12/30. WILL RESUME JANUARY 6, 2023***
Day: Friday’s | Time: 6:30 – 7:30pm
Where: Maria Hall at St. Anne Church
Join Steven and John for a bible study series on Friday nights.
Soup and bread will be provided.

BECOME A KNIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS:
FREE MEMBERSHIP – Now through December 31^st
It will make you a better husband, a better father,
a better Catholic and a better man!

Calling all Catholic men 18 and older. Now is a great time to join the Knights of Columbus. If you can please scan the QR code, enter your information and use the FREE code BLESSEDMCGIVNEY for a FREE membership as an online member. The Knights are a Catholic fraternal organization that actively supports the teachings and values of the Catholic Church.  Whether you have 2 hours a year or 2 hours a month, show your support for our faith and sign up.

Call Joel Kendzorski, Diocesan Membership Director, if your interested in joining or to answer any questions you may have. Phone (989) 766-2124

Catechism Quote for the Week:
Why Did the Word Become Flesh?

CCC 456: “With the Nicene Creed, we answer by confessing: “For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.””

CCC 457: “The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God, who “loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins”: “the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the world”, and “he was revealed to take away sins”: Sick, our nature demanded to be healed; fallen, to be raised up; dead, to rise again. We had lost the possession of the good; it was necessary for it to be given back to us. Closed in the darkness, it was necessary to bring us the light; captives, we awaited a Saviour; prisoners, help; slaves, a liberator. Are these things minor or insignificant? Did they not move God to descend to human nature and visit it, since humanity was in so miserable and unhappy a state?”

CCC 458: “The Word became flesh so that thus we might know God’s love: “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.””

CCC 459: “The Word became flesh to be our model of holiness: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me.” “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” On the mountain of the Transfiguration, the Father commands: “Listen to him!” Jesus is the model for the Beatitudes and the norm of the new law: “Love one another as I have loved you.” This love implies an effective offering of oneself, after his example.^”

CCC 460: “The Word became flesh to make us “partakers of the divine nature”:”For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God.” “For the Son of God became man so that we might become God.” “The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods.””

Catechism of the Catholic Church, Number 456-460.