There’s no more unusual setting to celebrate today’s Feast of the Holy Family than Barcelona, Spain and the towering unfinished sandcastle known officially as the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia.

In 1882, the plan was hatched to build a vast place of worship in reparation for the revolutionary and liberal leanings ofthe city. The modern artist Antoni Gaudi dedicated his life to the project, living in the building, attending Mass daily, and giving up his personal wealth. When people pressed him to pick up the pace, he responded, “My client is not in a hurry.” (Gaudi’s cause for beatification is moving along, and he could be the first professional artist and architect to be beatified.)

The Spanish Civil War, a disaster for the Catholic Church in which thousands of priests, brothers, and nuns were murdered, halted work in 1935. In the 1950s work began anew, speeded up by computers in the 1980s. Still, the final stage of construction is not due to end until 2026. If the original methods had stayed in place, it would take several hundred more years to complete the plan.

So far there are eight towers, with four to go. The highest steeple is three feet shorter than the nearest hill, since the architect didn’t want his work to surpass God’s artistry. The three faces of the basilica each have three doors, with the faces named Passion, Nativity, and Grace. The interior is crammed with geometric figures that almost seem to spin, crazy-quilt windows, spiral staircases, and jumbles of statues and figures. Although inspired by ancient Gothic cathedrals, the style is called Expressionist, and very little is left unexpressed by the masonry.

If you can’t afford a visit, Sagrada Familia maintains a web site, and virtual visits are free.

-Rev. James Field

This inseparable bond between ouracceptance of the message of salvation and genuine fraternal love appears in several scriptural texts which we would do well to meditate upon… The message is one we often take for granted… How dangerous and harmful this is… God’s word teaches us that our brothers and sisters are the prolongation of the incarnation for each of us: “As you did it to one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it to me.”

The way we treat others has a transcendent dimension: “The measure you give will be the measure you get.” It corresponds to the mercy which God has shown us: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you… For themeasure you give will be the measure you get back.”

On this last weekend of 2017 we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. The church wants to show how important Jesus’ family was as he grew up and how important families are to us today. Many of us belong to several “families”: our birth family, our church family, some special families that include us, a small faith community, and more. This is where we feel “at home” and have developed some good relationships over the years.

The second reading for today’s Mass is helpful and tells us what we look for in a “family” and what we want to offer any family that we belong to: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. When we find this in a “family,” we have found a great treasure – this is where we belong.

I hope that you had a Blessed and Merry Christmas and are enjoying these days in the Christmas season. These are busy weekends here in church with the many Masses. Thank you for your Christmas donations, the cards, the gifts, and the greetings. There were many visitors at all of our Christmas Masses from many countries. I hope that we are their “home” away from home for worship.

I am happy to announce that we will have a Pilgrimage in 2018. This will be a 12-day journey, November 5 to 16, to several cities in Poland as well as Budapest, Vienna and Prague. All are beautiful cities with much to see and experience. The cost is $2,899 which includes airfare, hotels, most meals, tour director, transportation and more. There are brochures available at the reception desk, or I can email you the information. Sign up early.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

At this time of year, our hearts are moved even more to generosity.  We buy gifts for those we love, we spend more on special foods to celebrate Christmas and we splurge to express our joy for all the blessings we have in our lives.

Hopefully we also remember the poor and those in need who don’t have the means to celebrate as some of us can.

We ask everyone also to remember the Church at Christmas.

We work hard year round to worship God as Christ commanded us, and to bring the Good News of salvation to all through the celebration of the sacraments and the many ministries we have here at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.

We can only do this because of the generosity of our members and visitors who support our parish.  The Christmas collection and Christmas donations make up an important part of our annual budget.

If you haven’t done so already, please remember to offer a gift to the Church this year at Christmas.  Help us to continue to bring the good news of the coming of the Lord Jesus to all.

You can make your donation online here.

Thank you and God Bless you this Christmas and always.

This is a strange Sunday. The Saturday evening Masses and Sunday morning Masses are for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Then, the Sunday evening Masses are the Vigil Masses for Christmas, plus the traditional Midnight Mass. Here at St. Francis, the Midnight Mass is actually at midnight!

Christmas Day Masses are 8, 9:30, 11 and 12:30. There are NO evenings Masses Christmas Day.

The Gospel for today’s Mass is the account of the angel Gabriel telling Mary that, although not yet married to Joseph, she “will conceive in her womb and bear a son.”The angel concludes with saying, “Do not be afraid for you have found favor with God.”

Many artists over the centuries have captured this event in their paintings and whenever I see one, I pause to study the expression on Mary’s face and the gestures of both Mary and the angel. Each artist has his or her idea of what they want to convey through their work of art. The moment that they are capturing is such an important moment in Mary’s faithfulness to God.

Congratulations to the choir, soloists and musicians for an inspiring and spirited Carols with the Choir last Sunday. It has become a highlight of Christmas here at St. Francis.

I want to express my gratitude for the Christmas donations that have come in so far. This time of year has so many expenses; one of them being the cost of heating our three buildings. You are aware of your own heating bills; ours is generally over $10,000 a month. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

A Very Blessed and Merry Christmas from the Friars and Sta to you and your loved ones!

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.