The Nativity of the Lord: The Incarnation Renewing Our Parish Today
Each year, Christmas invites us to stand once more before the breathtaking mystery of the Incarnation the eternal God taking on human flesh, entering our world not in power or splendor, but in vulnerability, humility, and love. In the Christ Child, we behold the astonishing truth that the Creator of the universe desired to dwell among us, to share our joys and sorrows, to walk with us in every season of life. The Incarnation reveals a God who does not remain distant, but who draws near, transforms, heals, restores, and renews.
This mystery is not confined to Bethlehem or to a moment 2,000 years ago. The Incarnation continues Christ is still coming, still drawing near, still taking flesh in the life of the Church and in the lives of believers. And we see this so clearly in our own parish family. In a profound way, the renewal happening in our community mirrors the renewal brought about by Christ’s birth.
Over the past year, more than 200 new households have joined Mary Mother of Our Savior Parish. Families, young adults, and individuals seeking community, sacrament, and purpose have found their way to us. This remarkable growth is not merely demographic it is Incarnational. It is Christ stirring hearts, gathering His people, and building a stronger, more vibrant Church in the Mohawk Valley.
This same Incarnational spirit is reflected in our strategic planning around the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) survey. Through prayer, discernment, and honest reflection, our parish leadership is embracing the mission Christ entrusts to us: to form disciples, to evangelize, to strengthen families, and to welcome all who seek Him. The Incarnation tells us that God enters real places, real communities, and real moments of history. Our planning efforts are simply our response to that divine initiative an effort to make space for Christ to work powerfully among us.
The Incarnation also reveals a God who goes out to meet His people. That truth lies at the heart of our renewed focus on evangelization. Just as Christ stepped into our world, we are called to step into the lives of others with compassion, humility, and joy, offering them the hope we ourselves have received.
This Christmas, may the mystery of the Incarnation awaken in each of us a deeper sense of wonder, gratitude, and belonging. May Christ God-with-us continue to renew our parish, our families, and our hearts.
A blessed and Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.
Your Servant in Christ,
Father Jason C. Hage, Pastor
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!
Mary, Mother of Our Savior, pray for us!