From the Pastor's Desk (1/11/26)

From the Pastor's Desk
1/11/26

This is My Beloved Son
With today’s Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, our Church season of Christmas comes to a close because the baby has become a man. Jesus’ baptism occurred about a quarter century after His birth and marked a new stage in His life as He leaves Nazareth and begins His public ministry. This Sunday is a chance to reflect not so much on Jesus’ baptism but on our own. For Jesus, John’s baptism signified a turning point as the Lord enters His public ministry to fulfill the words of Isaiah, to give sight and release to every generation since. For us, the sacrament of Baptism is more than a “rite of passage.” It makes us a new creation with a new identity. Do we see our Baptism as something that happened to us years ago as a baby and is now over, or do we see it as a lasting power, call and mission for our adult life? If, after Baptism, there is no further formation and growth in the faith, all the potential, promise and power of Baptism can be neglected and even lost. We can lose the power of Baptism as the key to holiness. When we enter a church and bless ourselves with holy water, we should be reminded of our identity, our Church, and our mission. That self-blessing with holy water should remind us that each of us has been touched and called by Christ personally in Baptism. That spiritual mark of Christ upon us in Baptism can either be a sign of what can happen in our life or what might have been. Our Baptism can be only history, a memory captured in pictures and evidenced by a certificate. It can also be a lifelong commitment that shapes our life now and tomorrow. In Baptism, Jesus gave us an identity, a mission and a destiny. Each time we come to Mass and each time we pray can be a time to embrace that identity, live that mission and take a step closer to that destiny. (Fr. S. Joseph Krempa)

Pondering Our Faith

1. Jesus hears the voice of the Father saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. Do you believe God loves you in much the same way? Where do you struggle to recognize God’s love?
2. What does it look like for you to share in Jesus’ prophetic ministry, begun at his baptism?
3. Isaiah refers to God’s servant as someone who “shall bring forth justice to the nations” and “open the eyes of the blind” – a responsibility that falls to each of us by baptism. Where in your life can you more intentionally seek justice and restoration?

Special Thanks

• Thank you to everyone who worked so very hard to prepare and decorate our churches for the Christmas season. We are blessed to have you. Thank you for sharing your time and talents with our faith community.
• Thank you to all of our Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, Ushers, Musicians, Cantors, and Choir Members for your dedication and service during the Christmas Season. Your preparation, hard work, and attention to detail is greatly appreciated.
• Thank you to our parishioners who shared special Christmas treats, cookies, and goodies with the MQSP Clergy Team. We are most grateful for your thoughtfulness and kindness.
• Thank you to everyone who donated to our 2025 Christmas Flower Fund. Because of your generosity, we were able to provide many beautiful poinsettias for each of our church sanctuaries.
• Thank the following parishioners for taking time out of their Christmas season schedules to assemble our Epiphany Home Blessing Kits: Jacqueline D’Alessandris, Cathy Ebel, Lynn Fusco, Ann Kirstein, Loretta Martella, Elena Orsen, and Helen Pajak. 
• Thanks to our Parish Pastoral Staff for their hard work, especially in the weeks leading up to the Christmas season. I am very thankful for their dedicated work behind-the-scenes in preparing the parish for this busy season. 
• Finally, thank you to all of our faithful and generous parishioners for their continued dedication and support of Mary, Queen of Saints Parish, not only during the Christmas season, but throughout the entire year. 

Looking Ahead
As we look ahead to the next few months of this new year, please be sure to mark you calendar with these important parish events and sacramental celebrations:
 

• MQSP Winter Carnival (SJB Pastoral Center): Friday, February 13 – Sunday, February 15
• Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, February 18
• First Reconciliation: Saturday, March 14
• Feast of St. Joseph Mass & Dinner (ST Church/Titan Hall): Thursday, March 19
• The Resurrection of the Lord: Sunday, April 5
• Sacrament of Confirmation: Tuesday, April 14
• First Holy Communion: Saturday, May 2