Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus our Lord,    

As one more year becomes part of our history, I extend to our beloved parish community and to all of our families my heartfelt wishes for a happy, holy, and blessed New Year 2026. This New Year opens before us as a Holy Year, reminding us that time itself is a sacred gift entrusted to us by God.

As we begin the year, it is always a good moment to encourage one another to remain faithful to the traditions handed down to us by our fathers and mothers, our jiddoos and sittoos—traditions of faith, commitment, and love for the Church. With your continued participation, support, and generosity, Holy Family Parish remains alive, growing, and able to build a strong Church for future generations.

The arrival of January often brings reflection on time—past, present, and future—and on the different stages of life: childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age. Each New Year reminds us that we grow one year older and that life is fragile and precious. When we look back over the past years and recall how many loved ones—young and old—we have lost, we are reminded of the urgency of faith and the hope of eternal life. I pray that the Lord may keep you safe and in good health and fill your days with His peace.

The New Year also reminds us that Jesus Christ is the center of history and of the universe—the Alpha and the Omega. All of human history is measured in reference to Him: before Christ and after Christ. Every important moment of our lives—our births, baptisms, marriages, and even our deaths find meaning in the Nativity of our Lord. How blessed we are that time itself is sanctified by His coming among us.

In moments of loss, we entrust our departed loved ones to the mercy of God through our prayers and the Holy Eucharist, confident in the Lord’s promise of eternal life. At the same time, the birth of a new child brings hope, joy, and renewal. As we begin this New Year of our Lord 2026, we ask Jesus to keep us firm in faith, strong in hope, and faithful witnesses of His love and grace.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the parishioners and friends who shared Christmas and New Year greetings, cards, and gifts with me. Your generosity is deeply appreciated and will be used for the support of the poor and the needy, both here in the United States and in Lebanon. I also thank all those who serve our parish with dedication: the parish and finance councils, Ladies Society and Merry-Nites, Faith Formation team, choir, Men’s Club, MYO and MYA leaders, décor and maintenance teams, and our parish staff. Your service and commitment are a blessing to our community.

A special word of pride and gratitude goes to the Holy Family choir for their remarkable participation in Handel’s Messiah at Carnegie Hall in New York on December 1. This historic performance, alongside choirs from across the country and with a full philharmonic orchestra, was a tremendous success and a memorable achievement for our parish.

I also thank the MYO team for their efforts in revitalizing youth activities for ages 13–17, and the MYA team for their work with young adults. Our gratitude extends to the Faith Formation team for their perseverance and dedication as they prepare our children for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion this coming May.

Holy Family Maronite Catholic Church continues to be a place of faith, hope, charity, and authentic Christian love. As one family, we are called to witness the peace of Christ. On the first day of the year, the Church invites us to pray especially for peace in the world—particularly in the Holy Land, the Middle East, and Lebanon, where Christianity continues to bear witness amid great challenges. May the light of Christ shine upon all nations, and may the United States remain a land of faith, peace, and prosperity.

January also includes the Feasts of the Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord, celebrated on January 6, with the traditional blessing of water. On this occasion, we joyfully extend our congratulations to Chorbishop Sharbel Maroun, whose birthday, baptism, priestly ordination, and episcopal honors all occurred on this meaningful date.

Thanks to your generosity, we have made significant progress toward the funding of a limited expansion of our church facilities. The building committee and councils continue to work carefully on this project, and parish meetings will be held to address details and costs. We also remember with gratitude our beloved deceased benefactors, especially Arthur K. Nasseff, on the second anniversary of his passing, and we pray for the repose of his soul and the souls of all our departed parishioners.

Finally, let us pray for the unity of the Church under our Holy Father, Pope Leo, and for our Maronite shepherds—Cardinal Bechara Peter of Antioch and Bishop Elias Zaidan. We pray that the Lord may guide and strengthen them in their ministry.

May the Lord bless you abundantly in this New Year 2026 and fill your lives with His grace.

With prayers and blessings,

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Father Emmanuel, Pastor +

Copyright (c) 2026 Holy Family Maronite Church, Mendota Height, MN 55118 (v.26.2.a)