Welcome to our January 2025 Newsletter. Happy New Year to all of you! Below you will find what's happening this month. If you have any questions about anything you read here, please just respond to this email or you can use the color boxes throughout that will take you to different sources for more information.
Our website also has a calendar on the home page where you can find a quick glance at all that is happening at our parish. Check it out!

Why do we celebrate the Holy Name of Jesus this month? 

This name was given to Mary and Joseph to be the name of this child that would be born. And because of its power, we invoke the name of Jesus when we pray, when the Church administers the Sacraments, prays for the sick, casts out evil and so much more. All we do is through His Name because He is our everything.  

 

O Merciful Jesus, Who didst in Thy early infancy commence Thy office of Savior by shedding Thy Precious Blood, and assuming for us that Name which is above all Names; we thank Thee for such early proofs of Thine infinite love. We venerate Thy sacred Name, in union with the profound respect of the Angel who first announced it to the earth and unite our affections to the sentiments of tender devotion which the adorable Name of Jesus has in all ages enkindled in the hearts of Thy Saints.

Animated with a firm faith in Thy unerring word, and penetrated with confidence in Thy mercy, we now most humbly remind Thee of the promise Thou hast made, that where two or three should assemble in Thy Name, Thou Thyself wouldst be in the midst of them. 

Come, then, into the midst of us, most amiable Jesus, for it is in Thy sacred Name we are here assembled; come into our hearts, that we may be governed by Thy holy spirit; mercifully grant us, through that adorable Name, which is the joy of Heaven, the terror of Hell, the consolation of the afflicted, and the solid ground of our unlimited confidence, all the petitions we make in this novena.

Oh! blessed Mother of our Redeemer! Who didst participate so sensibly in the sufferings of thy dear Son when He shed His Sacred Blood and assumed for us the Name of Jesus, obtain for us, through that adorable Name, the favors we petition in this novena.

Beg also, that the most ardent love may imprint on our hearts that sacred Name, that it may be always in our minds and frequently on our lips; that it may be our defense and our refuge in the temptations and trials of life, and our consolation and support in the hour of death. Amen.

On January 1, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. If you'd like to learn more about our Blessed Mother, check out this video. It's part of the Footprints of God series, by convert and Catholic speaker, Stephen Ray. You will be amazed at all there is to know about this beautiful woman who was the mother of God, our Savior Jesus. 

BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT IN THE NEW YEAR!  

Finding New Life in the Spirit Seminar will be held in the church beginning January 16th - February 27th. The seven weekly sessions will take place each Thursday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. The seminar has been attended by millions of Catholics and is an introduction to a life lived in the power and joy of the Holy Spirit. It is designed to deepen your prayer life and bring you into a closer relationship with God. Each session will give you a greater awareness of the presence and working of the Holy Spirit in your life—the grace and gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is a beautiful preparation for Lent. Register below or call Maria Rhodes for more information at 325-513-4810.

As the new year starts, what better way to work on that resolution to learn more about your faith and scripture than to join us on Tuesday evenings while we study the Book of Psalms. The Psalms have been an integral part of the prayer life of the church for centuries, as a part of each Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours which are prayed by all priests and many lay people each day. There is plenty of room for you in our group and we’d love to have you. We meet in the Parish Center room 202 from 6:15-8:00 p.m.  Contact Pam Mann at 325-668-8595 with any questions. 

This group will resume on January 9. We will go over the answers for Lesson 11. Even if you haven't been coming, it's not too late to start. Come join us and dive right in! 

This year we are studying THE EXILE AND THE RETURN
For many, the Exile to Babylon is an unmitigated disaster. Yet throughout, God speaks to His People with words of reassurance and comfort. Further, on their return to Israel, the Jews rebuild on stronger foundations. See Daniel prophesy and Esther deliver her people, participate in the adventures of Tobit and Judith, stand by as Ezra and Nehemiah rebuild the nation, and finally witness the heroic struggle of the Maccabees. The lessons learned by these holy men and women apply to us now. The main lesson is -God is faithful and will never abandon those who trust in Him.

Study materials are provided by The Catholic Way Bible Study group. If you are interested in joining us or have any questions, contact Susan Englerth at 325-201-4394.

Join us in the church at 4 pm for Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and Praise Music as we begin the year with prayer. This adoration is specific for families and children. After Adoration, we have a potluck fellowship time in the parish center. You can use the button below to sign up to bring something or just show up with whatever you're craving. We would love to have all of you join us! 

Beginning January 20th, the men of our parish are invited to join Exodus 90 on a ninety-day journey to greater spiritual freedom. Focused on daily prayer, acts of discipline to bring order to our lives, and regular fraternity, Exodus 90 has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of men throughout the world. It’s time to take a leap of faith to follow the Lord more fully in our lives, entering more fully
into the great adventure God has planned for our lives. Watch the video below that explains more about it. If you have questions, please reach out to Matthew Dane at 325-234-7589. More info will be coming out soon. 

We had a festive and beautiful gathering at Ed & Roberta Brandecker's home in the hills where we ate sweets, sang carols, and exchanged gifts. We were extra blessed by the presence of Father Nilo and Father Fred. Hidden talents came to light and were enjoyed by all as Fr. Fred sang in German while Ed played Silent Night on the accordion! 

We are excited for the New Year! January is full of blessed experiences for Young Adults, including leading praise and worship music, volunteering together, and a fun bowling night! (Details coming soon.)

If you have a heart for young adult ministry? Do you have any ideas for future events? Would you be willing to host a gathering, lead a devotion or discussion, or mentor a young adult? Please let Kate Ferguson know (katecards@gmail.com or 214-532-6707. Thanks!

Knights of Columbus- Free Throw Championship on January 12th- 

Ages 9-14 

Location - Youth Building 

Time- 1:15 pm - If you are interested in Pre-registration, Contact Angela.

Come one, come all & bring a friend!

Youth 2000- Jan 24th-26th- Grades 6th-12th- St. Ann’s Midland What is Youth 2000? Youth 2000 is a retreat in which young people express their love for the Eucharist, inspire devotion to Mary, encourage young people to benefit from the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and help develop their passion and knowledge of the Scriptures and the teachings of the Church.

Upcoming Events: 

What is Steubenville?

This conference is open to all students who will have completed grades 8 through 12 by this summer. We currently have about 20 seats available. If your youth is interested, please let me know as soon as possible. This summer event has the potential to change their life.

Cost for each student will be $200 - 1st payment of $50.00 due Jan 10th (non-refundable), 2nd payment due Feb 21st -$50.00, 3rd payment March 14th- $-100.00

*All money turned in by May 1st

Our youth are involved in many exciting activities right now. I want to assure you that a calendar will be sent home on January 8th, when Faith Formation (RE) classes will resume. As we embark on this new year together, may it be joyful and led by the Holy Spirit.  

Thank you again for your support & Shalom my friends, 

Angela Garcia

CYM

If you have any questions about these events, you can reach Angela at 325-280-8668.

Would you like to join our Prayer Chain and become a prayer warrior lifting the intentions of our people to the Lord? We need people who have a heart for intercessory prayer and can be confidential with the prayers that come in. If you'd like to join the prayer chain group, please use the button below. If you would like to submit a prayer request, you can visit our website anytime and use the form there to submit a request for yourself or a loved one. 

All couples who are celebrating their church wedding anniversaries of 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and above in the calendar year of 2025 are invited to the Diocesan Marriage Jubilee bilingual celebration on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., at St. Stephen Parish in Midland, Texas. Renewal of their commitment will take place within the Mass. A light reception will follow. Those who attend the Mass can pick up their      certificates at St. Stephen Parish that day. For registration information, please contact the parish office at 325-692-1820. The deadline to register for this celebration is Monday, January 13, 2025. 

Holy Family Catholic Church gives a warm welcome and compassionate support to refugees and immigrants. Parishioners show generosity in various ways to help persons from abroad. Amani Group is a ministry, within Holy Family Catholic Church, assisting refugees and new immigrants resettled in Abilene, as they adjust in learning English, striving to be immersed in the new culture, and finding a welcoming community. Our outreach is mainly through monthly gathering as families in homes to pray the rosary, followed by a time of fellowship sharing a meal and discussing various topics.
 
Refugees are individuals forced to flee their country, and they have left behind or lost their loved ones, land, and their way of living. Immigrants made the hard decision to leave their native country, seeking better conditions to sustain their families lives with dignity. Both groups of individuals have gone through inconceivable hardship, yet sustained by their faith, they demonstrate an incredible resilience. Here they are hoping to find a new home, a chance to achieve dreams, and a place to practice and grow their faith.

As many of the Amani Group members have experienced similar patterns of a new country establishment, they work closely with the new resettled families to reach out for basic needs (food, clothing, household items, school supplies), reinforcing fellowship and integration (collect of items for Christmas baskets for the most in need, monthly families gathering to pray rosary followed by a potluck, skills teaching or development, assisting with job applications,…), and mostly to provide information and resources to continue fully living the Catholic faith in the parish (rides to Sunday Mass, meetings to share the scriptures readings in the native languages, parish activities registration,…). As new needs to overcome unique and challenging situations emerge, we are called to keep our hearts open to a compassionate and creative care reflecting the love of Jesus Christ. Please consider joining us in prayers for peace in the world and efforts to the works of mercy sharing and bringing joy to these new neighbors. We are looking for individuals who could use inventive available resources to build a refugee program such as teaching English for other language speakers, to assist newcomers with church activities and participation and help with a better integration.

For more information, contact Marc and Mia 325-271-8933.

Many of you have participated in the popular Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year Podcasts with Fr. Mike Schmitz. We hope you will join in this year with the newest series on the Rosary. See the link below for more information. We have links below for the Bible and Catechism in a year as well because they are both valuable resources for you. Please check them out.