As we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, I find myself reflecting on a profound truth: family is not easy. Creating a home where love flourishes, where each person feels safe and valued, requires tremendous commitment and sacrifice—two virtues that seem increasingly rare in our fast-paced, individualistic world. Yet the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph shows us that this difficult work is not only possible but essential.
When we romanticize the Holy Family, we sometimes forget the real struggles they faced. This was a blended family—Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father, yet he chose to embrace Mary and her child with extraordinary love and trust. They were refugees, fleeing to Egypt to escape Herod’s murderous rage, leaving behind everything familiar to protect their son. They lived with uncertainty, making difficult decisions, listening for God’s voice in dreams and trusting even when the path ahead was unclear.
In today’s Gospel, we witness Joseph’s vigilance—his willingness to uproot his family in the middle of the night, to sacrifice security and stability for the sake of love. That’s what family requires: the willingness to put others first, to make sacrifices large and small, to persevere even when it’s hard.
Family life demands hard work from every member. Parents pour themselves out in countless ways—providing, protecting, teaching, forgiving. Children learn to honor and respect, to contribute to the household, to grow in patience and kindness. Spouses must continually choose each other, practicing the compassion and humility that St. Paul describes in his letter to the Colossians: “Put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
Why is this work so worthwhile? Because home is the place where we return to feel safe, to be known, to rejuvenate. It’s where we learn what it means to love and be loved unconditionally. It’s where forgiveness is practiced daily, where joy is celebrated, where tears are shared. Home becomes the training ground for every other relationship we’ll have—teaching us how to be present, how to listen with reverence, how to give of ourselves without keeping score.
Sirach reminds us that “those who honor their father and mother” store up blessings for themselves. This isn’t just about children respecting parents—it’s about the mutual honor that flows through healthy families. When we honor one another, we create spaces where everyone can flourish, where each person’s gifts can emerge, where God’s presence becomes tangible.
But let’s be honest: in our culture today, commitment and sacrifice are countercultural values. We’re told to prioritize ourselves, to avoid inconvenience, to keep our options open. Yet deep down, we know that nothing truly valuable comes without cost. The best relationships—whether in marriage, family, or friendship—require us to die to ourselves daily, to choose love over comfort, presence over distraction.
The Holy Family invites us to embrace this path. They weren’t perfect or problem-free, but they were faithful. They listened to God and to each other. They made room for grace even in cramped quarters in Bethlehem, in flight through the desert, in the simple routines of life in Nazareth.
This Sunday at our 9:00 AM Mass, we will welcome and bless all children who were baptized in 2025 and their families. This is our parish’s way of recognizing the sacred importance of family and faith—of honoring the parents who chose to bring their children into the life of the Church, and of surrounding these newest members of our community with love and prayer. I invite everyone to join us for this beautiful celebration as we ask God’s blessing upon these families and recommit ourselves to supporting them on their journey of faith.
This feast calls us to recommit ourselves to the essential work of building strong families and homes. We will not be perfect, but we will commit ourselves again to be the best we can be. Whether we live in traditional nuclear families, blended families, single-parent households, or communities of chosen family—we’re all called to create spaces of love, safety, and welcome. We’re called to practice the hard virtues: patience, forgiveness, humility, sacrifice.
As we begin this new year, let’s ask ourselves: How can I better honor those in my family? Where am I being called to sacrifice more generously? What small acts of love might I offer today to strengthen the bonds that hold us together?
Speaking of acts of love, I would like to take a few moments to express my sincere gratitude to our wonderful volunteers who so generously gave of their time, talent, and hearts to make our Christmas celebrations so beautiful here at St. Simon.
A special thank you to Clare and the talented Art and Environment Team for all their hard work in decorating the church for Advent and Christmas. The church looked absolutely beautiful and helped set the tone for our prayer and celebration.
It takes a large and dedicated team to put our liturgies together, and I am deeply grateful for their service. Thank you to Meredith, our Liturgy and Music Consultant, for coordinating our liturgies and especially our many Christmas liturgies. I am also thankful for the dedication and leadership of our Liturgy Council:
- Erika Ibarra, our Liturgy Chair
- Margo Isola, Eucharistic Ministry Coordinator
- David Mendenhall, Lector Coordinator
- Carol Karer, Altar Server Coordinator
- Kerby Gerughty, Technology Coordinator.
Thank you all for your coordination, care, and faithful service.
A special thank you goes to all of the children and parent volunteers who participated in the Christmas pageants at the 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM Christmas Eve Masses. They did a wonderful job bringing the story of Christ’s birth to life and reminded us all of the joy and wonder of that holy night.
I am also grateful to ALL our ministers and there were many as we had six Christmas Masses! Thank you to our greeters, ushers, altar servers, lectors, eucharistic ministers, musicians, tech team and all parishioners who so warmly welcomed everyone who joined us for Mass. Your hospitality truly reflects the welcoming spirit of our parish.
To each and every person who helped in ways seen and unseen, please know how grateful I am. Your service is a blessing to our parish family, and through you, the love of Christ continues to shine at St. Simon!
St. Simon is an amazing community and the Holy Family reminds us that family is worth fighting for, worth working for, worth sacrificing for. In our homes, however imperfect, Christ desires to dwell. May we, like Joseph, have the courage to listen, to act, and to create spaces where love can grow—even when it costs us everything.
God Bless,
Fr. Brendan