JANUARY 12, 2025

Today we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord. We should greatly value our baptism! God, our Father, claims us as His sons and daughters at our baptism. It’s one of the greatest days of our life! St. Vincent Ferrer always celebrated the anniversary of his baptism. He often went back to St. Stephen’s Church in Valencia (Spain) to kiss the baptismal font where he was baptized. When St. Josemaria Escriva found out that his old parish Church was going to dismantle and discard the font where he was baptized, he arranged for it to be brought to his chapel and kissed it every time he passed by it.

Now, we don’t need to run to the font where we were baptized and shower it with kisses. But it is important to remember when and where we were baptized. I was baptized on October 16, 1983 at St. Christopher Church in Midlothian. Do you know the date of your baptism? If you remember the Church, you can call the parish office and they’ll be able to look it up. All baptismal records are handwritten and logged in books that the parish will keep forever! All you’ll need to know is the parish (or if the parish is closed, I can help you find where the records are kept) and an approximate date after your birth.

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I’d like to remind everyone that from January 16-25, I will be making a pilgrimage to Rome with the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums for the 2025 Jubilee of Hope. I will be passing through all four of Rome’s major basilica Jubilee Doors. And, this past week, I confirmed that I’ll have the privilege to travel to Bolsena on January 21st and celebrate Mass at the tomb of St. Christina.

Pope Francis chose the theme of ‘Hope’ for the 2025 Jubilee. He proclaimed in his homily opening the Jubilee, “There is hope for you!” That is undeniably true! There is hope for you, and there is hope for all of us as disciples of Jesus Christ.

I ask you again, “what are your prayer intentions?” and “what do you hope for?” Write those intentions and hopes on a small sheet of paper and place them in the container in front of the statue of Our Lady in our Church. I will collect these petitions, prayers, and hopes on January 16th and take them with me to Rome (they will remain anonymous if you choose). I will carry your intentions as I pass through the Holy Doors. I will have them with me as I visit St. Christina, our parish patron. I will celebrate Mass for your intentions each day in the Roman Basilicas. And I will pray for you and your intentions throughout my pilgrimage.

Even 4,000 miles away, you will be close to me and in my prayers - each step of the way.

Oremus pro invicem!

Fr. Ryan P. Brady
Pastor of St. Christina Parish