Having just celebrated the great Feast of Christmas, we need to emphasize in our own lives that Christ continues to be born into the world through our words and deeds. Recently, the Bishops of the United States wrote a document on "EVERYDAY CHRISTIANITY." I hope you will find in the paragraphs I have selected a few thoughts that will help you at home and at work as we enter a New Year.

Being a believer means that one lives a certain way - walking with the Lord, doing justice, loving kindness, living peaceably among all people. Christian discipleship means practicing what Jesus preached. Discipleship is found in a relationship with Christ and a commitment to his mission of "bringing good news to the poor, liberty to captives, new sight to the blind and setting the downtrodden free."

For Catholics, this takes on special meaning today. According to the Second Vatican Council, "It is the special vocation of the laity to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God’s will. They live in the world, in each and every one of the world’s occupations and callings, and in the ordinary circumstances of social and family life which, as it were, form the context of their existence. There they are called by God to contribute to the sanctification of the world within, like leaven, in the spirit of the Gospel, by fulfilling their own particular duties."

We welcome and affirm the growing participation of lay women and men in the internal life of the church. Service within the church should form and strengthen believers for their mission in the world. With this pastoral statement we are addressing in a special way the demands of discipleship in the pursuit of justice and peace in everyday activity.

Followers of the Lord Jesus live their discipleship as spouses and parents, single adults and youth, employers and employees, consumers and investors, citizens and neighbors. We renew the warning of the Second Vatican Council that the "split between the faith which many profess and their daily lives deserves to be counted among the more serious errors of our age." By our baptism and confirmation, every member of our community is called to live his or her faith in the world.

Merry Christmas! I pray that you have and will continue to celebrate Christmas in the Spirit of Christ, with all of the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that the Holy Spirit brings (see Galatians, ch. 5).

We welcome into the family of God: John Askins, Christina Hernandez and Alex Vargas who were baptized in Christ.

We pray for the ill: Blake Interdonato, Don Landers, Tony Coogan, Koret Koelman, Terry McLeod, Adela Florez, Ana Cosgaya, Peter Capodonicco, Rosemary McHale, Arthur Candia, Sandra Dill, Jane Lambert, Enese Parenti, Theresa Cook and Muriel Krause.

We pray for the repose of the soul of: Veronica Schaukowitch

Thank you again for our fourteen (14) volunteers of our St. Vincent de Paul Conference that helped me distribute toys - games - hams and turkeys to the twenty-four (24) families in our parish boundaries on Saturday, December 19th. I also want to thank our parishioners for our recent 5th Sunday, 2nd collection, as well as Thanksgiving Day. The checking account was getting a little "depleted" prior to this. A special thanks to the Women’s Guild and the In-Betweener’s for all the gifts given to St. Vincent de Paul that were distributed by our volunteers.

You may join our Parish Community by picking up a registration form at the back of the Church and turning it in by mailing it, dropping it off at the parish office or putting it in the Sunday collection basket.

**COMING SOON!!! (Jan. 10th) Pancake Breakfast sponsored by the 6th Grade outdoor education. More details to follow.

**Notre Dame High School will hold an Open House on Tue. Jan. 12th at 7 p.m. There will be tours, displays, presentations, and other activities that will provide information and an experience of Notre Dame. Students, faculty, parents, and alumnae will be available to answer questions about the unique benefits of an education at Notre Dame High School, Belmont. For more information call the Admissions Dept. at (650) 595-1913, Ext. 320.

**JUNIPERO SERRA HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE - Serra High will be holding its Annual Open House Program for elementary school students, parents and friends on Thursday, January 7th, 1999, at 7 PM. Applications for next fall’s freshman class are currently available by contacting the school at 650-345-8207. Junipero Serra is located at 451 West 20th Avenue in San Mateo.

**Have you registered yet? "Rain Down Your Love on Your People", the Archdiocesan Religious Education Institute is just around the corner. The two day Institute begins with a concert by David Haas, internationally known musician, on Fri. Jan. 29th at 7:30 p.m. On Sat. Jan. 30th, participants will enjoy many different speakers, liturgy, exhibits, and prayer. Institute will be held at St. Ignatius Prep. S.F. Early registration will ensure your choice of workshops. Brochures containing all the details are available at the Religious Education Office 415-565-3650.

**SHARED SCRIPTURE STUDY/ MERCY CENTER - The Book of Isaiah. Wed. 7-9 PM or Thurs. 9:15-11:15 AM. Starts Jan. 6th, concludes Mar. 25th. Call Noel at 650-948-4491 (preregistration preferred).

**Up Coming Retreats...at El Retiro, Jesuit Retreat House 300 Manresa Way, Los Altos, Ca 94022-4646. Please call (650) 948-4491 for more information.

TUESDAY, December 29th
Legion of Mary, 6:30-8:30 PM.....Library

THURSDAY, December 31st
Men’s Club New Year’s Eve Party.....Hall

FRIDAY, January 1st
NEW YEAR’S DAY

SATURDAY, January 2nd
Eucharist Adoration, 9-10 AM.....Church