HOLY FAMILY – 30th / 31st DECEMBER 2024 –

Dear Parishioners,

Preparing to write this reflection, to a glance at google about what a family is, what I got forms the summary of this reflection.

Families boost our confidence and make us feel loved. They are the pillars of our strength who never fall instead keep us strong so we become better people. We learn the values of love, respect, faith, hope, caring, cultures, ethics, traditions, and everything else that concerns us through our families.

The family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the Holy Family we are celebrating today, reflects these realities. Joseph was a pillar of support to Mary and Jesus, Mary a woman of faith together they radiate the Love of God which is Jesus himself to the world. They never shared away from their responsibilities as parents to their child even though they knew he was a special and a divine child. The protected him, made him loved and groom him in faith, cultures, ethics and traditions.

They never abandoned Jesus even in his youthful and adult life. Family never leaves us alone but they are pillars of our strength to make right decisions about our life. The importance of family cannot be over emphasised in our society today. People suffer depression due to loneliness and lack of family ties and supports. People died alone in their homes without anybody noticing them.

We need the support of our family to achieve our full potentials. The Christian family is based on the model of the Holy Family. A family that; prayed together, socialized and cared for one another, that supported one another in times of troubles and sorrow.

No one was left behind, a family that prays together live together.

As we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, let us pray to God to bring us together as

one family, where love, peace and faith exist.

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!!!

Fr Jerome Otitoyomi Dukiya, CSSp