(Teens Are Christians Too)
all a safe and very Merry Christmas. Enjoy and treasure
this time with your family and friends. Youth meetings
will resume on Sunday, January 14. Middle school 5:30�6:30 pm
followed by high school 7�9 pm. Please read The Branch and
check out the Web site for updates on youth meetings and events.
Mark your calendar for our fundraiser at Applebee�s in Woodhaven
on Monday, January 22, and Thursday, January 25. Applebee�s will
donate 10% of your table bill when you present the flyer insert from
The Branch to your server. We have great teens and young adults in
our parish, please help support them in their efforts to earn money
for their holy pilgrimage to Sydney, Australia for WYD 2008!
Thank you for your support.
Confirmation classes begin on Sunday, January 7, 6�8 pm. Classes
continue every other week through March. Attendance at all
classes is mandatory!
AChristmas Reflection: Mary�s Dream�I had a dream Joseph. I
don�t understand it, not really, but I think it was a birthday
celebration for our son. I think that was what it was all about. The
people had been preparing for it for about six weeks. They had
decorated the house and bought new clothes. They went shopping
many times and bought elaborate gifts. It was peculiar, though,
because the presents weren�t for our son. They wrapped them in
beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them
under a tree. Yes, a tree, Joseph, right in their house. They
decorated the tree also. The branches were full of glowing balls
and sparkling ornaments. There was a figure on the top of the tree.
It looked like an angle might look. Oh, it was beautiful. Everyone
was laughing and happy. They were all excited about the gifts.
They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our son. I don�t
think they even knew him. They never mentioned his name.
Doesn�t it seem odd for people to go to all that trouble to celebrate
someone�s birthday if they don�t know him? I had the strangest
feeling that if our son had gone to this celebration he would have
been intruding. Everything was so beautiful, Joseph, and everyone
so happy, but it made me want to cry. How sad for Jesus�not to
be wanted at his own birthday party. I�m glad it was only a dream.
How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real. (Author Unknown)
Think about it��Jesus is the Reason for the Season.� Keep Jesus
in your home and heart this Christmas.
Blessings,
�Pat O�Hara
