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January 12, 2026“As our liturgical“Season of Christmas”comes to an end, we graciously remember the dignified environment of our church sanctuaries at St. Malachy, St. John, and Sacred Heart.
During these past two and a half weeks, alongside the inspired hymns of the season, the joy and hope of our faith was brought forth within each Eucharist we gathered together. It may be challenging to be present to the‘spirit of Christmas’in our daily lives going forward, yet our faith always prospers the reality and hope of the verse that is so familiar:“It came upon a midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth,‘Peace on the earth, goodwill to men.’Many thanks for those whose time, sacrifices and participation brought forth the Spirit of this beautiful season within our gatherings for the Eucharist. With faith, our parish and churches will continue to reflect a spirit of hospitality and hope as we move into ‘ordinary time.’May I share a beautiful story of hope that reflects the dignity and courage of our Christian faith within the society around us. (Condensed from, When Life Begins with Death, by Veronica Kabas). Doris and John were expecting their first child. “It doesn’t look good,” John remembers his wife telling him on the phone. Doris’ gynecologist advised her to terminate the pregnancy immediately. Doris and John’s child had ‘13q deletion syndrome’—a rare genetic disorder with minimal life expectancy.Again, urgently recommending terminating the pregnancy so they could start focusing on having a healthy child.
The doctor’s advice was clear, and so was Doris and John’s certainty that they would not be following it. Through a pro-life association the young couple learned of St. Josef Hospital where couples who wish to welcome a child with debilitating or life-threatening diagnoses are supported in realizing their dreams. For Sister Teresa, ethics officer at St. Josef, it is clear that every life has equal value, whether it lasts a second or ninety-eight years. The focus is not on prolonging life at any cost, but on the question: How can we treat the child with as much dignity and love as possible. Doris and John felt relief at being accepted for who they were—parents of a severely disabled child whose life they wished to honor and welcome. Anna was born on June 27, 2021. As it turned out, Anna managed everything herself (at birth). John added,“Considering that we didn’t know if she would even survive delivery —if it would be her death—it was incredibly beautiful.”As he speaks, there is something in his eyes of that special sparkle fathers have when they boast about their children’s achievements. Though Anna only weighed a delicate three pounds, a week later the new parents were able to take their daughter home. Dr. Schiller of St. Josef Hospital tries to guide parents to live asfully as possible in the present moment—in the here and now. Let it be a moment for joy, love, and gratitude. In the early morning of May, 2022, just six weeks shy of her first birthday, little Anna died. “We would have loved to experience so much more with Anna,”her parents admit.The beautiful thing about our story is that for us, there are no unanswered questions“ Anna’s story has a beginning, a middle, and an end.”As part of St. Josef ’s care program, parents are encouraged to take advantage of counseling with psychologists and pastors after the death of a child. Every year a memorial service is held in the chapel—a sense of community creating a place of remembrance for the parents and shared memories.Deciding to accept a child despite the prediction of a limited or minimal lifespan means accepting life as it comes. Life cannot be planned; it cannot be controlled; it is not always fair—but it is valuable in all its aspects. The fact that abortion was presented as the obvious best way out of their difficult situation still upsets John. To him, it’s an indication of how society treats people with disabilities.“Where do we draw the line when we begin judging someone as worthy of living—or not. . . .I am grateful to Doris for her motherly love that she wanted to let Anna live. It’s the greatest, the most precious gift she could ever give me.”Today Doris and John have a second child, Marlene. When asked about her older sister, the two-and-a-half-yearold responds with“Anna!”as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Anna’s story is not a tragic secret; nor is it for her parents. Rather, it is a quiet reminder of how vulnerable—and therefore how precious —every life is. A reminder that as humans, our fragility is not a weakness, but rather a great strength that can call forth the ability to love—even when we have to let go.God Bless, Fr. TimFYI:“Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.”(Rose Kennedy)