Dear Friends,

 

Peace and Good!

 

When we first planned the Jubilee celebrations, we had intended to sponsor 50 bottles of wine and olive oil for 50 families. We had hoped that a vintage inspired by St Francis; giving thanks and praising God for our sister Mother Earth would have you use the wine and oil to reach out, reconnect, renew and reconcile with old friends; and toast to new ones. We wanted to collect stories and share them with others – stories of reconciliation, stories of healing and of fraternal relationships. We had hoped to have these stories as part of our Easter sharing. However, because of the pandemic, our shipment was delayed. 

 

Today as we approach Christmas and the close of 2020, we have to admit that it has been a difficult year and one of unexpected changes. In some ways the challenges we face can be mirrored by the circumstances that confronted Mary and Joseph. Their lives were turned upside down by unexpected events too. Mary found herself in a situation; that was not “normal” and that required a faith and a fiat that was more than one could naturally expect; Joseph’s plans for his future were upturned and he had to change his course of action.

 

But it did not stop there. As Christmas approached, things got worse, not better. The decree for the census was promulgated and with Mary heavily pregnant, the couple had to travel, and they found no room in the inn. How bad could it get? I am sure the offering of a stable, was viewed as respite and consolation. Something small, unexpected, perhaps even audaciously crude; yet it told a story of sublime love.

 

In this spirit, we want to engage in a small act of gifting you a bottle of wine and olive oil. We hope it may bring you or your friends comfort and respite. Instead of the original 50 bottles, the story of the sublime love in the manger will see us living our Jubilee motto: “To Life and Blessings”; and so instead of 50, we will now sponsor 50 x 50 bottles! It is a gift from the Parish to 2,500 families.

 

We hope that each family receiving a bottle of wine and blessed olive oil will in turn pay it forward by strongly considering to gift others with these sets of wine and oil; to share with them the blessings that they receive: to soothe, restore, refresh, reinvigorate old friendships and to toast to new ones.

 

You may choose to use the envelopes to assist us in this venture of reaching out to fellow parishioners and friends to pay it forward by helping us finance this project and making a donation to the Parish or by purchasing the wine and oil. They make truly beautiful gifts especially when viewed from the sacred perspectives of “Oil of Gladness” and “Cup of Blessings”.

 

Pax et Bonum

To Life and Blessings!

Friars Esmond, Gerard and Mike