Sunday, January 11th 2026

Dear Parishioners of Pope St. John XXIII parish family,

Welcome to our celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. In today’s Scripture readings, we hear and witness the purpose of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. He comes to bring consolation to God’s people, to establish justice, and to form a covenant with them. John the Baptist proclaims that Jesus will baptize all with the Holy Spirit. Indeed, Jesus is the fulfillment of all the prophecies of the Old Testament. As we celebrate His Baptism today, we are also reminded of our own baptism and the responsibilities that accompany it.

We have been blessed with beautiful and joyful celebrations throughout the Christmas and New Year seasons. With the celebration of the Epiphany last week, the Christmas season came to a close. I sincerely thank you for your active participation in these celebrations, and I am grateful to all who helped with setting up and taking down the decorations as we now enter Ordinary Time following the Baptism of the Lord. I am very proud of our faith community for your commitment, dedication, and cooperation during this holy season. May the love of God we shared and demonstrated continue to bring us His blessings and guide us in His ways.

As we complete the holiday celebrations, we welcome our students back to school and to our Faith Formation programs. We also warmly welcome our Catechumens and those who are inquiring and seeking to learn more about the Catholic Church. I thank our Catechumens and all our volunteers who faithfully serve in Faith Formation. Because of your dedication, our parish is able to offer programs that support our faith journey from beginning to end, including preparation for Baptism, CCD and Religious Education, First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Adult Education, Marriage Preparation, the Order of Christian Initiation for Children and Adults, Scripture Study, and more. We thank God for the many talented and generous individuals who willingly assist with these ministries.

During the first week of the year, I met with our Parish Leadership Team to review priorities, concerns, and plans for both immediate and long-term needs. We are truly blessed to have qualified and dedicated leaders who help guide our parish, including assisting with budget preparation and setting priorities for the year ahead.

Thank you for your continued love and care for our parish. I am deeply grateful for your support through your time, talents, and treasure. Your generosity helps us maintain our aging facilities and preserve the rich traditions of our parish. Your contributions truly make a difference and help keep our parish vibrant and alive.

We extend our congratulations to all the babies who have received the Sacrament of Baptism and to the couples who celebrated the Sacrament of Matrimony. We also thank you for joining us at Funeral Masses to pray for families mourning the loss of their loved ones, and for keeping in your prayers those who are sick and suffering.

We are especially grateful to our Homebound Ministers for delivering Christmas gifts to many of our homebound parishioners. May you continue to experience the peace of the New Year. Thank you for your ongoing support, and please continue to keep our parish and its ministries in your prayers.

Finally, please mark your calendars: the Vietnamese community will host the annual Sticky Rice Cake (Bánh Chưng, Bánh Tét) celebration on February 5, 6 and 7, from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity—especially for children—to learn about Vietnamese traditions and the Lunar New Year. I encourage parents to have their children participate. We sincerely thank our benefactors who generously donated your time, talents, funds and materials such as banana leaves, glutinous rice, pork, and seasonings to make this event possible and to help younger generations stay connected to their cultural heritage.

May the Prince of Peace continue to guide and bless you all. I wish you a blessed day and a blessed week ahead.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Tuan Nguyen, D. Min

Pastor