The Holy Family of Nazareth – a true model for all families

My beloved parishioners of Blessed Sacrament church,

This year we are in a unique position as we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth on the very next day of Christmas. We had a rather longer Advent season, too, this year before the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord. While the rest of the world is winding down their Christmas celebrations, for us, the Christmas season continues well into January. As we celebrate this beautiful feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth today, let us offer all the members of our own families, both living and the deceased, on the altar for God’s blessings. This is the hundredth anniversary of introducing this feast in the liturgical calendar of the Church. Pope Benedict XV introduced this feast in 1921. By celebrating the Sunday following Christmas as the Feast of the Holy Family, the Church encourages us to look to the Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph for inspiration, example and encouragement. This is a model family in which both parents worked hard, helped each other, understood and accepted each other, and took good care of their Child so that He might grow up not only in human knowledge but also as a Child of God. Jesus brought holiness to the family of Joseph and Mary as Jesus brings holiness to us, by embracing us in His family.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2223) gives the following advice to parents: "Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and unselfish service are the rule.” “Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children.” Remember the famous saying, “The family that prays together, stays together.” Unfortunately, its opposite is equally true. In the picture of the holy family, we see Christ in the center. In our own families, who is at the center of our families? Christ must be at the center, His grace and His peace must reign in our hearts at all times. The feast of the Holy Family reminds us that as the basic unit of the universal Church, and the society, each family is called to holiness.

It is true that we are bidding goodbye to another year that was affected by the pandemic. At the same time, we also can see a few silver rays of hope in the midst of these thick darkened clouds. Let us also try to see different positive aspects that have happened because of this pandemic. One of the blessings that we have experienced during this time was the opportunity for more family time. Whether we liked it or not, this pandemic has kept us together at home much more than usual and enabled us with different family dynamics. It also helped the entire world to slow down from being crazily busy, running from one task to another without any break. Now, we are almost coming back to normal, of course with a few more restrictions. Let us hope and pray that we soon, we will be able to see an end to this pandemic and get back to normal life.

This is my final reflection as your pastor. On this final Sunday of year and my assignment here as the pastor of this wonderful parish, I would like to thank each one of you as dynamic, caring and loving members of this amazing parish community, church of the Blessed Sacrament, for your tremendous support and love. I would like to thank and compliment in a special way, all those who have been working hard day and night to make our parish vibrant and friendly. My appreciation goes to the staff, volunteers and the leadership team. Each one of you try to share your time, talent, and treasure in different ways for the benefit of this community. Everything you do or say for this community is the expression of your love, care and concern for this wonderful parish. It all adds beauty and greatness to the life of this community. All these are the ways how we bring Jesus into the lives of our brothers and sisters, just like the Holy Family of Nazareth did. Surely, it was an honor for me to be your pastor for the last forty-two months. I enjoyed every single day of my ministry here with you. Your care, support and love are so inspiring and uplifting. I learned a lot from every one of you. I am sincerely grateful to you for everything you have been to me and to this parish community. Your prayer ministry for the pastor is indeed a great source of spiritual power for me. Please accept my apologies if I have hurt anybody with my harsh words or reactions. I am also sorry if didn’t grow up to your expectation and disappointed you at some circumstances. Let us keep our friendship and remain united in prayer. May I request your continued prayers as I assure you the same. Please welcome Fr. Jimmy Puttananickal as your new pastor and continue to offer your generous support.

Wish you all a Blessed and Merry Christmas season! May the upcoming New Year, 2022, be an occasion for us to deepen our family relations rooted in prayer and sacraments. Wish you and your family a Blessed and Happy New Year 2022.

Fr. Benny Mekkatt CFIC