Christmas Message from Fr. Socorro
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them a light has shone.”(Is.9:2) Those words from prophet Isaiah told of the coming of the Prince of Peace, and of the light and life He would bring.
There may be times in life when seeing the events of the world and the challenges in our own lives, we may experience darkness, but Christmas reminds us that whatever darkness we feel in the world or in our lives, will be outshined by the brightest light. Our suffering, our despair, our confusion will come to an end by some type of “eternal light.” The good news of Christmas is that in the midst of a great darkness there came a light, not just a temporary flicker but an eternal flame that burns to this day.
We are called to be people of Hope, not despair – when we have Hope we keep working harder, we keep praying, trusting and believing that things will be better and brighter. God is not distant but close to us in every way. As we celebrate Christmas, let us be aware that, Jesus – God made flesh and dwelling among us – is the hope we seek. He alone satisfies our deepest longing for meaning and purpose and is the fulfillment of all desire.
This Christmas it is important for us to remember that there is still a reason for us to celebrate. We can and must still celebrate the enduring love of God for us: the God who has never left us despite our tragedies, the God who is continuously assuring us that he is Emmanuel–God with us. And before this unfailing and sublime revelation, we must respond with faith!
May God bless you and your loved ones this Christmas and may all darkness in your lives be removed by the light of Christ, that radiant light that gives us hope even in the dark moments of our lives. My prayer for you is the same as St. Paul’s prayer for the believers in Ephesians 3:17,18, “I pray that you are being rooted and established in love, may have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is.”
On behalf of our parish and school staff I wish you a Christmas full of peace, gratitude, joy and love.
Merry and Blessed Christmas!
Fr. Socorro
Christmas Message from Mrs. Damuth
Dear St. Valentine Parishioners,
“Christ Be Our Light!” is our continued prayer and theme for the 2022-2023 school year. While this is our yearlong focus for the teachers and students at St. Valentine School, it is an especially fitting theme during the Christmas Season.
“Christ Be Our Light!,” shine in our hearts, shine through the darkness. Our school children, from the youngest 3- and four-year-old preschoolers all the way up to grade 8, have been preparing to celebrate the coming of Christ in so many ways. All students have been studying and preparing, attending mini retreats, lighting the advent candles, and praying, as well as participating in charity days of giving for the Capuchin Soup Kitchen basket drive. Our third-grade students worked especially hard during the month of December to prepare the Nativity play that was presented at our Christmas Concert as well as the 4:00 Christmas Eve Mass. Together as a school community we have given daily focus to how we can help spread the joy of Christ’s light to others in our school, home, and community.
In the halls of our school throughout December one could hear our students practicing a beautiful lullaby for the baby Jesus, Silent Night, Holy Night. The students were surprised to learn that this song is not about night or darkness. It is about the light. “Son of God, / love’s pure light / Radiant beams from Thy holy face, / with the dawn of redeeming grace.” Our school community has been focusing throughout Advent on God’s great love for us in sending us his only begotten Son to be a light for all. We are so excited to celebrate Jesus the Light of the world at Christmas!
We are very much looking forward to a long Christmas vacation, but we are also looking forward to carrying on with our theme in the coming year. On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students at St. Valentine School, I wish you and your family a very blessed Christmas season and a happy and prosperous New Year filled with the light of Christ!
Many Blessings,
Mrs. Rachel Damuth, Principal
St. Vincent Pallotti was born in Rome in 1795. He was a well–known priest because many people sensed that God worked extraordinary graces through him. He raised large sums of money and organized schools for shoemakers, tailors, coachmen, carpenters, and gardeners, as well as evening classes for young farmers and unskilled workers. In his lifetime, he founded the Union of Catholic Apostolate. At that time, the Church did not actively involve the laity, but St. Vincent wanted to inspire people from all walks of life to work constantly for God’s kingdom. He called the members of the Union of Catholic Apostolate (laity, sisters, priests, and brothers) to charity, patience, humility, zeal, and love of God. St. Vincent Pallotti died, leaving a legacy that inspires people worldwide. Today the Union of Catholic Apostolate in the United States is composed of the Pallottine Fathers and Brothers, the Pallottine Sisters, the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, and various lay groups.