By adminFrom The Pastor's Desk

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD, JANUARY 4, 2026

Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. We remember the magi, the wise men from the East, who followed a star and found the infant Jesus with Mary his mother. They did not come empty-handed; they brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Edward Burne-Jones - The Adoration of the Magi

Epiphany means "manifestation" or "revelation". In the birth of Jesus, God is revealed to the world. The magi represent all the nations of the earth. Jesus did not come only for the people of Israel; He came for everyone. The visit of the magi is the first sign that the Gospel is for all people, of every race and nation.

There is an old custom of blessing the home on the feast of the Epiphany. Using blessed chalk, one writes above the entrance of the house: 20 + C + M + B + 26. The numbers represent the new year. The letters have a double meaning. They are the initials of the traditional names of the magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. They also stand for the Latin phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which means "May Christ bless this house".

As we begin 2026, let us ask God to bless our homes and our families. May our homes be places of peace, love and hospitality. And like the magi, may we always be seeking Christ, and when we find Him, may we offer Him the gift of our lives.

Pancake and Eggs Breakfast

This Sunday, January 4, Saint John’s is holding a breakfast after the 8:30, 10:30 and 12:30 Masses in the parish center. There is no set cost, but we ask that you make a donation equivalent to the cost of a similar breakfast in a restaurant. The breakfast is a fundraiser for our capital campaign. Please come and enjoy a good meal and the company of your fellow parishioners.

Gospel of Matthew Class

Retired Villanova Professor of Scripture, Paul Danove, continues his weekly Zoom class on the Gospel of Matthew on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30 PM.

If you wish to receive Zoom invitations, please email Fr Tom.

Email Fr. Tom

    2026 Mass Book

    The Mass book for 2026 is now open. If you’d like to claim special days/time for your Masses, please visit our office soon. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9 AM - 4 PM. The Mass stipend is $10.

    Capital Campaign Update

    Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of many parishioners and friends, we have reached our initial goal of $1 Million. This money will be used for critical repairs to the church structure, including the roof and the masonry. However, as we begin the work, we are finding that the costs are increasing. We ask for your continued support as we work to preserve our beautiful and historic church.

    Fr. Tom Betz

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