December 28th, 2025 – The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph
New Year, New Me
Friends, every new year we come up with resolutions for personal growth. We do this not simply because it is tradition, but because we are made with an innate desire for growth. It is within our nature to want to be better. But what does “better” mean for each of us? Broadly speaking, new year’s resolutions often entail some kind of change aimed at attaining habit. But this demands great discipline, and discipline requires order, repetition, and self-control. But all too often we become discouraged by lack of results. The pattern is familiar to most of us – we begin to implement changes with excitement in the pursuit of a good habit until this new order becomes inconvenient, and we simply give up. And just like that, we are back where we first started.
Whether our new year’s resolutions are practical, physical, or spiritual in nature, we need to always have a higher reason for pursuing a resolution. For instance, if my resolution this year is to lose weight, having a higher goal, like good health, will be a greater inspiration. In fact, better health can be achieved even despite the lack of visual results. Similarly, if the resolution is practical, like spending less time on our phones, finding a positive alternative, like reading a book, will be more helpful than simply avoiding screens. So it goes with spiritual resolutions. Anything we propose ourselves, whether that be to acquire a virtue or a habit, we must always have a higher reason in mind. The goal of the spiritual life must always be to please God. Perhaps, the first questions to ask is, “How can I better please God?” Once you know how, think of the practical ways through which you can begin to please God on a day-to-day basis. Then make it a habit.
But habit isn’t just routine; it is a deep, stable quality or disposition that makes a person excel at an action to the point of becoming part of their nature. First, one starts to build habit through repeated acts. Finally, habit is attained when one is naturally inclined to act toward a good. Whether it be to read a book, to exercise daily, or to spend a few minutes in prayer, you know you have acquired the habit when you do it consistently, naturally, and without much effort. If for some reason you skip one day and feel like something is missing, then you know you have acquired habit.
Friends, as we begin to think about new year’s resolutions, let us keep our sight on what truly matters; are we pleasing God with this or that resolution? And what is a realistic expectation given my current state in life? May our new year’s resolutions be inspired by God in prayer. Blessings to all of you in upcoming New Year.
In Christ,
Fr. Ariel
December 21st, 2025 – Fourth Sunday of Advent
“The people who walked in darkness,
have seen a great light.”
– Isaiah 9:1
May the light of our newborn Savior banish the darkness of fear, hatred, war, poverty, and division in our world. May the light of the Christ Child bring you and your family joy, hope, and peace this Christmas and throughout the New Year.
With our love,
Fr. Tim Kitzke, Fr. Brian Mason,
Fr. Silas Henderson, SDS, Fr. Ariel Orozco,
and all the members of the staff of the Family of Five Parishes
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“El pueblo que andaba en tÍnÍeblas
vÍo una gran luz.”
– IsaÍas 9:1
Que la luz de nuestro Salvador recién nacido disipe la oscuridad del miedo, el odio, la guerra, la pobreza y la división en nuestro mundo. Que la luz del Niño Jesús les traiga a ustedes y a su familia alegría, esperanza y paz esta Navidad y durante todo el Año Nuevo.
Con nuestro cariño,
P. Tim Kitzke, P. Brian Mason,
P. Silas Henderson, SDS, P. Ariel Orozco,
y todo el personal de la Familia de las Cinco Parroquias
December 14th, 2025 – Third Sunday of Advent
JMJ AMDG
Dear Friends,
My parents, Leo and Mary Ann Kitzke, graduated from St. Stanislaus Catholic High School on 6th and Mitchell Streets in 1946. I found some high school papers in the attic, and written on most in the top corners of them were the above letters: JMJ and AMDG. No this was not their version of 6-7. It was way more cool and meaningful.
The good Sisters had them write JMJ, for all their written efforts were helped by Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. And all their efforts were AMDG, the Latin abbreviation for Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, translated “For the Greater Glory of God.”
What a wonderful thought for this Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, Rejoice Sunday! The reality we celebrate is Jesus, who with Mary his beloved mother, and Joseph her trusted spouse, gives guidance, protection and real joy as we celebrate the power of love for others, especially the poor and forgotten.
“For the greater glory of God” should be written on every dimension of our lives, every decision, every feeling, every success, every failure! Isn’t that what the birth of Jesus is really about?
And isn’t that the real source of joy – letting Christ be born in our hearts in a new way this year?
With the love of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, to God’s greater glory,
Fr. Tim
December 7th, 2025 – Second Sunday of Advent
Advent is a complicated season. In fact, some might say that it is the most complicated season of the Church Year. Advent presumes that we Christians have been formed in an adult faith that is prepared to celebrate an adult Christmas. And, as we know, Advent isn’t a season that is focused only on the past, because this is the time we focus our attention on One who is among us right now, and who will come in glory in the future.
Advent invites us to reflect on what hope might mean for our Church and the world. However, there is a mistake that we often make in our Advent-hoping. We can find ourselves guilty of hoping for something in these days… a hope for justice, for peace, for equity, for an end to poverty and oppression. Surely these are good and worthy, and Christian hopes.
But that isn’t Advent-hoping. So, then, if Advent isn’t about hoping for, then what is it?
Advent is about hoping in. Specifically, it is about hoping in the power of God and having the courage to trust that all things can be set right and that justice will prevail.
This Sunday, the liturgy is reminding us that we can’t save the world. Only God can bring justice to birth in individual hearts and minds. It is this birth for which we wait and pray during these Advent days.