From the Pastor:
I'm sure you’ll join me in thanking the many people who helped to make our Christmas Masses beautiful and inspirational. We are grateful for those who decorate the church, water the flowers, and keep it looking nice. I’m also grateful for the musicians and choir for enhancing our prayer time together in church. God’s blessings to all of you throughout the New Year. May the days ahead be filled with peace and joy!
As we continue to celebrate the Christmas season, let us remember to visit the manager scene often. It is there that we experience the mystery of God’s care and concern for us. As we gaze upon baby Jesus, we recall that His presence is to bring about the possibility of salvation by dealing with human sin. As each of us deals with the sins in our lives, our families begin to look more and more like the Holy Family.
This Sunday our liturgical focus is on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Praying for holy families has been one of the focuses of Bishop Thomas since he has been here with us in our diocese. This is because he knows that the family is the most fundamental and important foundation of society. However, for the Church to fulfill her God-given mission, holy families are needed. Holy families do not come about without effort, even great effort at times. For this to happen, two things are needed. The first is the vision of what a holy family is, and secondly, the desire to be that. God’s grace is available to help us if we call upon it in prayer and turn to it in moments of need.
It is God who made us male and female, similar yet different. Why? God tells us in the first pages of the Bible – to come together in an inseparable life-long union for the purpose of the family. A man and woman become one in their relationship as husband and wife, and together with the children God gives them, they care for and love each other. The family is meant to be a mini church where they pray together, parents teach their children about God, the Bible is read, and the commandments are lived. That is simultaneously a privilege and responsibility.
The key to holy families is parents putting God first in every aspect of their personal life, marriage, and family. When this doesn’t happen, it is usually because our commitment to God is lacking, or the enticements and pleasures of our society have taken the place of Christian activity within the home. If God isn’t first, then we never become who and what God created us to be, and that is the ultimate tragedy. Just like other things in life, holy families require dedication, sacrifice, and commitment, especially from parents.
In the New Year ahead, let’s keep our eyes focused on the holy family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It is there that Pope Francis wants us to look for hope. Let the holy family be a model and example for all of us. May we strive to live the faith and virtue in each of them.
Happy New Year!
Fr. Miller
From the Finance Department:
Happy New Year! With the start of the new year, the Finance Office will begin preparing the written acknowledgments for parishioners’ tax-deductible contributions that were made during the 2024 tax year. Parishioners who made contributions of $250 or more for the year will receive a letter no later than January 31. For parishioners who made a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from a retirement plan, you will receive a separate written acknowledgement for this type of contribution. Thank you for your generous support to the parishes during the past year!
Another relevant tax related topic is the Diocese of Toledo Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). Ohio has a program that allows Ohio taxpayers to receive a 100% tax credit against Ohio income tax liability for contributions made to a certified Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). The maximum tax credit is $750 for an individual and $1,500 for couples filing a joint return. To claim a 2024 Ohio Scholarship Donation Credit, you must make your donation before April 15, 2025.
Donations to the Diocese of Toledo SGO can be directed to any Catholic school in the Diocese of Toledo. SGO donations directed to St. Mary School and St. Peter School are awarded as scholarships to our students. This is a great opportunity to provide tuition assistance to our Catholic families who wish to send their children to our Catholic schools. Also, because the parishes subsidize the cost to operate the parish schools, these donations help reduce the schools’ operating cost to the parishes. For the current school year, St. Mary School awarded $23K in scholarships and St. Peter School awarded $50K in scholarships from Diocesan SGO 2023 tax year donations.
Donations must be made to the Diocese of Toledo SGO, not directly to the parishes. The Diocese will send you an acknowledgement of the donation to upload with your Ohio income tax return. To learn more about these tax credits or donate, please visit the Diocesan SGO website: www.dotsgo.org. You can also access the website by scanning the QR code on the graphic in this bulletin. If you need assistance with this, please call the Finance Office at 419- 524-2572.
Thank you again for your generosity. May God continue to bless us in the days ahead.
Paula Nestor,
Finance Department Manager